Published on :
After the delicious Arsenal-Manchester City (1-2) on Saturday, the Premier League gave birth to a new superb shock Sunday, January 2 between Chelsea and Liverpool (2-2). But by parting back to back, Blues and Reds still lose ground on the leader City in the race for the title.
In these times of new wave of Covid-19, the small pleasures are not to be neglected. For those who love English football, the first two shocks of this year 2022 are excellent remedies for the disaster. On Saturday, Arsenal and Manchester City delivered a little match-making treat at the Emirates Stadium. And this Sunday January 2, Chelsea and Liverpool have also set the bar very high during the 21st day.
However, the visitors showed up helpless at Stamford Bridge: goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defender Joël Matip, striker Roberto Firmino and coach Jürgen Klopp were missing because they were positive for the coronavirus. Thiago Alcantara, Divock Origi (injured) and Andrew Robertson (suspended) were also absent. That didn’t stop Liverpool from delivering a top-level first half hour.
A first period of fire
It will be necessary to see to what extent the CAN 2022 whether or not to trouble the Reds. The Sadio Mané-Mohamed Salah tandem has, in any case, shone for his last appearance before the meeting in Cameroon. The Senegalese hit the first by hooking his compatriot Édouard Mendy before opening the scoring (9th). Then, the Egyptian broke by mystifying Marcos Alonso and shooting in the closed angle (26th). Against his former club, the Pharaoh demonstrated remarkable technical mastery.
Caught by the throat in their lair, Chelsea found the resources to resurface in a flash before the break. From a perfectly balanced volley from entering the area, Mateo Kovacic relaunched the Blues (42nd). And Christian Pulisic, launched by N’Golo Kanté, equalized in extra time and in a crazy atmosphere (45 + 1e). What to delight most of the spectators of Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City big winner of this weekend
In the second half, no goal was scored, but the two teams printed a hellish pace. And if the nets have not shaken, it is also because the two goalkeepers have achieved feats. Already brilliant in the first act, the Irishman Caoimhin Kelleher, replacing Alisson Becker, signed a superb reflex parade once morest Pulisic (62nd). A little earlier, Édouard Mendy, with an exceptional leap, had prevented Salah from scoring on such a splendid lobed strike (57th).
Until the final whistle, the suspense remained. On arrival, the draw seems logical in view of the spectacle offered. But he does business neither for Chelsea, nor for Liverpool. Each earns a point and remains in his place: the 2nd for the Blues (43 points), the 3rd for the Reds (42 points). And during that time, Manchester City takes the lead … The Cityzens have 53 points, the biggest gap on their runner-up since the start of the season. The title race is not over, but this weekend the Skyblues clearly and mathematically took over the competition.
Outstanding again. 👏 pic.twitter.com/fe0uAQS9Xb
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 2, 2022
.