Sunday’s Premier League action saw wins for two title challengers in the shape of Tottenham and reigning champions Manchester City. Here is what happened in those potentially vital wins:
Spurs scrape past Leicester
Tottenham were far from their best as the north London side defeated Leicester 3-1 at Wembley in the day’s early kick-off.
Leicester actually enjoyed the brighter start to the game, but it was the home side that took the lead on 33 minutes. Kieran Trippier found Christian Eriksen with a short corner, the Dane crossed and centre-back Davinson Sanchez powered a diving header past Kasper Schmeichel in the home goal.
Leicester had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot on the hour mark. Jan Vertonghen fouled James Maddison in the area and substitute Jamie Vardy saw his penalty kick saved by Hugo Lloris just seconds after coming off the bench.
Eriksen doubled Spurs’ lead on 63 minutes, beating Schmeichel with a dipping strike from the edge of the Leicester box. The visitors looked to be back in the game with just 14 minutes left, as Vardy atoned for his earlier miss by scoring from close-range.
However, Spurs sealed maximum points in the first minute of stoppage-time, as Heung-Min Son found the net from a swift counter-attack.
The victory kept Tottenham’s faint hopes of winning the title alive, although Maurizio Pochettino’s side are five points behind both Manchester City and Liverpool in the race to be champions. Leicester remain 12th place in the top-flight table.
Aguero stars as Citizens trounce the Blues at the Etihad
City were four goals up within the first 25 minutes. It took City just four minutes to go ahead, as Raheem Sterling smashed an effort home at the far post from eight yards. Sergio Aguero should have made it two soon afterwards but produced a horrendous miss from close-range.
The Argentinian did get on the scoresheet on 13 minutes, though and with a superb effort too. He picked up the ball 30 yards out, control the ball before firing a powerful effort past Kepa in the Chelsea goal, giving the Spaniard no chance.
Aguero added his second on 19 minutes, latching on to a terrible headed backpass from Ross Barkley to slot home from ten yards out. City were four up on 25 minutes, as Ilkay Gundogan’s effort from the edge of the area beat the visiting goalkeeper.
Sergio Aguero came close to scoring his hat-trick after half-time, but his headed effort came back off the bar. The striker did score his hat-trick on 56 minutes though from the penalty spot after Cesar Azpilicueta had fouled Raheem Sterling.
Sterling completed the scoring with ten minutes left on the clock prodding home from an Oleksandr Zinchenko cross after an excellent pass from David Silva.
City overcame any talk of complacency to return to the top of the table on goal difference. Pep Guardiola’s side remains favourites to win the Premier League title. Chelsea have dropped down to sixth place on goal difference.
Will Manchester City retain their Premier League crown?
