The data stay coming for Erling Haaland at Manchester City. The losses are mounting for Frank Lampard at Chelsea. City’s 3-1 win over Leicester on Saturday, which moved the protecting champions 3 issues at the back of Premier League chief Arsenal, used to be inevitably propelled through Haaland although the prolific striker had simply 45 mins at the box.
By the time he used to be substituted at halftime, the Norway global had scored two times — one from the penalty spot, every other a clipped end following Kevin De Bruyne’s via ball — to transport to 32 league targets for the season. That left Haaland tied with Liverpool ahead Mohamed Salah for probably the most targets in a 38-game Premier League season. Salah’s haul got here within the 2017-18 marketing campaign.
Also learn | Depleted Real Madrid beat Cadiz sooner than go back and forth to Chelsea
Haaland will without a doubt transcend that, and could also be on the right track to damage the document for a 42-game marketing campaign, which stands at 34 targets and is collectively held through Andy Cole (at Newcastle in 1993–94) and Alan Shearer (at Blackburn in ’94–95).
John Stones used to be the opposite scorer for City, which has received 10 immediately video games in all competitions and is piling the force on Arsenal in a identify race that appears destined to visit the general weekend. Arsenal visits West Ham on Sunday.
While there may be nonetheless a lot to play for on the peak of the league, Chelsea’s woeful marketing campaign is finishing with slightly a whimper as Lampard, the intervening time supervisor, fails to get anything else out of a squad assembled at such nice expense.
A 2–1 house loss to Brighton used to be a 3rd immediately defeat for Lampard since he got here in as an alternative for the fired Graham Potter till the top of the season. Chelsea is languishing in eleventh position with seven league video games ultimate and a few enthusiasts had been noticed appearing their fury against the membership’s co-owner, Todd Boehly, who used to be within the administrators’ field.
“In terms of performance, that was the most disappointing one because we were well beaten in the basics of football,” Lampard stated. “Brighton are an incredible crew, and they may be able to carry out like that in opposition to somebody within the league. But we had been quick.
“A backyard quick, a take on quick, a fighting-duel second quick. When that is not proper, you might be now not going to win video games.”
The fit at Stamford Bridge got here between video games in opposition to Real Madrid within the Champions League quarterfinals. After a 2-0 loss in Spain on Wednesday, Chelsea hosts the protecting champions on Tuesday.
TOP-FOUR RACE
The race for Champions League qualification may have two extra groups concerned. One of them is Brighton, which is now simply seven issues off the highest 4 with a recreation in hand, and every other is Aston Villa, which beaten third-place Newcastle 3-0 after a double through Ollie Watkins. Villa, which has received seven of its final 8 video games, is in 6th position and best six issues at the back of Newcastle and fourth-place Manchester United.
“We are speaking a couple of tough subsequent goal we will have, however now not now. Not now,” Villa manager Unai Emery said of a top-four finish. “We can think about being a candidate for a Europa (League) position but the top four is very, very difficult. Of course if we keep winning we can add for the next weeks, but not now.”
Fifth-place Tottenham’s hopes had been harm after a 3-2 loss to relegation-threatened Bournemouth, which scored its winner in stoppage time. Spurs are 3 issues above Villa and 3 at the back of Newcastle and Man United.
Tottenham heart again Davinson Sanchez got here on as an alternative however used to be booed off the sector as he used to be himself substituted through intervening time supervisor Cristian Stellini, having inadvertently arrange Bournemouth’s 2nd purpose through Dominic Solanke.
relegation struggle
At the opposite finish of the standings, last-place Southampton is working out of time to maintain its top-flight standing after a 2-0 house loss to Crystal Palace, which has received 3 in a row below intervening time supervisor Roy Hodgson. Southampton are 4 issues from protection and feature seven video games ultimate.
Everton are best out of the ground 3 on purpose distinction after shedding at house to Fulham 3–1. Wolves moved seven issues transparent of hassle through beating Brentford 2–0 at house.