I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again...It's a good thing I don't gamble on the EPL. While I got most of my relegation-race predictions right, I would have missed every single match involving the top 5 this weekend.
Liverpool 0 - Chelsea 2
I completely wrote off Chelsea's chances of winning at Anfield. I obviously underestimated the largeness of Mourinho's bus. Chelsea parked it in front of the Anfield goal, putting 10 behind the ball and frustrating Liverpool all match.
As reported before the weekend, Chelsea fielded a very weakened team--including a rare start for Tomas Kalas. It didn't matter. Chelsea left no space for Liverpool to get in behind. And they beat the most in-form team in the league at Anfield.
Perhaps Mourinho revealed the Reds' kryptonite. For as good as they've been all season, Liverpool really struggled when they weren't able to get their extremely fast players in behind the opposing defense. Mourinho outcoached his former pupil, Brendan Rogers. At the end of the match Rogers looked like he was going to weep.
Liverpool may have missed Jordan Henderson, but I doubt he would have been the type to open up Chelsea's wall of defenders. Simply, Liverpool needs a few more clever, creative players to open up a conservative defense like Chelsea's. They are completely reliant on Suarez in this area. Players like Coutinho and Joe Allen need more space than Chelsea afforded yesterday.
Even Gerrard is more of a long passer and set-piece taker. Chelsea started Mikel, Ivanovic, Kalas, Matic, and Ba. These players neutralized Liverpool's set pieces and headed away Gerrard's long passes.
I realize this is easier said than done. Mourinho's tactical pragmatism is obvious. There's a reason the man has won everything, everywhere.
Demba Ba capitalized on a Gerrard slip to put Chelsea ahead. Chelsea scored again in stoppage time as Liverpool pushed everyone too far forward searching for an equalizer.
Going into the weekend, I thought Arsenal had a faint chance of catching the Blues at 3rd place. Those hopes are dead now. But Chelsea's title hopes aren't dead yet. Neither are Liverpool's for that matter. But both do still need help. 2 more wins won't do it alone. They now need City to slip up.
Crystal Palace 0 - Man City 2
Palace had the second-best form in the league before losing at home to City. They don't anymore.
To be fair, I thought Yaya Toure was still injured, and Toure scored City's magnificent 2nd goal. Palace had secured their top flight status before even taking the pitch Sunday, and they played like a team whose job was done.
\City's 2 first half goals was enough to secure 3 points. They now sit 3 points behind Liverpool and 2 behind Chelsea with one game at hand on their title rivals. Crucially, City has an 8 goal advantage on goal difference. Having won the league on goal difference two years ago, City is in a great position to do exactly that again.
Next up for City: suddenly struggling Everton.
Southampton 2 - Everton 0
Two own goals won the match for Southampton in a match that almost surely kills Everton's chances of playing in next season's Champions League.
The Toffees have dropped unexpected points to Palace and now Southampton in the run-in. Perhaps they were looking ahead to next week's match against City and forgot that beating Southampton was no guarantee. 7 Everton players missed the match through injury, including both first choice center backs.
Southampton took advantage. Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, and Luke Shaw all played well as they seek to earn a spot on England's World Cup squad. Jack Cork and Nathaniel Clyne were outstanding as well.
The Saints were in the 3rd tier of the English League just 4 years ago. Their rise has been truly remarkable. If Southampton can keep the core of this team together next season, they could push on and make a real challenge for a Europa League, or even a Champions League position. Southampton's team is very young and very talented. With another year of experience under their belt, there's no telling how well this team can do.
Sadly, I doubt the core of this team will stay together long enough for the Saints to reap significant rewards. The Saints face many ominous questions in the summer. Shaw and Lallana will almost surely get bought by a bigger club. Manager Mauricio Pocchetino has yet to extend his contract. The Saints will have a lot of work to do to keep the progression of their team moving forward.
But the main result of Saturday's match is that Arsenal now only needs to win 2 of their next three games to guarantee 4th place. That starts with Newcastle today.
More to come on the Arsenal-Newcastle match on the blog tomorrow.
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