Manchester City regain lead at Liverpool, Cheslea surprised at home by Christian Eriksen’s Brentford

Manchester City quickly reclaimed their throne. In front of the score at the start of the match, the formation of Pep Guardiola greatly facilitated the task at Burnley (0-2), on Saturday, to settle again in front of Liverpool in first place in the standings. Humiliated by Brentford on his lawn (1-4), Chelsea lived a much less jovial afternoon, after having nevertheless opened the scoring. Arsenal could take the opportunity to get closer to third place on Sunday, following this 30th day of the Premier League.

This trip to Burnley was a trap on paper for Manchester City. After a draw at Crystal Palace before the break (0-0), three days before a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atlético Madrid, a week before a shock against Liverpool, who had temporarily resumed the first place before this meeting, there was reason to be wary among the Citizens. But doubt, there was no Kevin De Bruyne and his partners.

City easy, Chelsea crushed

The Belgian has indeed evacuated all pressure after only five minutes of play, by magnificently concluding a cross from Sterling (0-1, 5th). Twenty minutes later, the English winger, untenable on the right throughout the match, this time served Ilkay Gündogan for the break, on a similar action and a no less qualitative finish (0-2, 25th). At the break, the case was already heard, and City had regained its first place for a small point. Next Sunday, it is therefore the Reds who will tackle this crucial shock in the shoes of the hunters.

Another team expelled: Chelsea. The Blues, under pressure from Arsenal’s good outings in recent weeks, fell dramatically on their lawn against Brentford (1-4). The formation of Thomas Tuchel seemed to have done the hardest by opening the scoring on an improbable long shot from Antonio Rüdiger (1-0, 48th). But the Bees, overexcited, overturned the table. Bryan Mbeumo served Vitaly Janelt (1-1, 50th) then Christian Eriksen (1-2, 54th) in quick succession, the Dane confirming his superb return to competition.

Janelt offered himself a double after a fluid movement at three (1-3, 60th) and Yoane Wissa again proved all his qualities off the bench (1-4, 87th). A real slap for the Blues, who had the balls to come back in this meeting but missed narrowly, like the many chances of Kai Havertz. If Arsenal win at Crystal Palace on Monday night, the Gunners will return to within two points of the podium. Chelsea will have to quickly raise their heads, since it is Real Madrid who will go to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

In the other matches of the afternoon, Wolverhampton gave themselves a good dose of hope in the race for Europe by dominating an unexciting Aston Villa formation (2-1). Leeds, for their part, believed they had a third straight victory in the league thanks to Jack Harrison (1-0, 29th), but the direct free kick specialist, James Ward-Prowse, still (superbly) struck (1-1, 49th). We will also remember the penalty missed by Neal Maupay in the goalless draw between Brighton and Norwich (0-0). A Norwich always last, behind Burnley.