Coming off the back of 3-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu to Real Madrid on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side bounced back to winning ways by taking a big step towards another Premier League title.
The Citizens thrashed Newcastle United 5-0 to open up a clear three-point lead between themselves and closest rivals Liverpool FC.
Arsenal made up ground in the race for a Champions League place, while at the other end of the table, we have Roy Hodgson’s Watford side relegated and Leeds United dropping into the bottom three following their 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium to Arsenal.
Here, Odds to BetOn news and media agency takes a look at some of this weekend’s major talking points below;
Manchester City gazumped on Liverpool’s slip
With three games left to play in the Premier League, Man City responded to their latest Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid by taking advantage of Liverpool’s slip to move three points clear at the top of the table. Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Tottenham Hotspurs on Saturday before City brushed aside Newcastle United on Sunday in an emphatic 5-0 win at the Etihad Stadium. City, who now boast of a better goal difference over the Merseyside, face trips to Wolves, and West Ham United before closing the season at home against Steve Gerrard’s Aston Villa as they bid for a possible fourth domestic crown in five years.
That said, Manchester City are 2/5 to retain the title, ahead of Liverpool at 7/4. All odds courtesy of Online Slots Canada are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Gunners steal a march for a top-four finish
The race for the last two Champions League spots is a three-horse affair between London arch-rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. Chelsea dropped more points after being held at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers and sit one point in third position ahead of Arsenal, who made hard work of a 2-1 home win against 10-man Leeds United. Tottenham now sits four points behind their North-London rivals following their one-point at Liverpool. Manchester United, on the hand, now face a fight for a top-six finish following their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening.
Frank Lampard sees light at the end of the tunnel for Everton
Everton, one of the six clubs never to have been relegated from the Premier League, gained more momentum in their bid to extend their 67-year stay in the English top-flight by clinching their first away win since August with a 2-1 victory at Leicester City. This was just their second league win on the road this season and their first back-to-back since September. This win also lifted the Toffees out of the bottom three, one point above both Burnley and Leeds United, with a game in hand on both and four games left to play for.
Leeds United slide into the bottom three
Leeds United now found themselves in the bottom three for the first time since September after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal. The Yorkshire club showed a somewhat embarrassing first-half performance, which saw them go 2-0 down inside 1-0 minutes before skipper Luke Ayling was sent off. Jesse Marsch’s 10 men rallied in the second-half, pulling a goal back through Diego Llorente, and with games against Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford to come they will be hoping there are more twists in the fight to beat the drop.
Watford follow Norwich through trapdoor
Watford’s swift return to the Sky Bet Championship was confirmed after their 1-0 defeat at boss Roy Hodgson’s former club Crystal Palace. It is the second time in three seasons the Hornets have been relegated from the Premier League and they must search for a new manager to lead their bid to bounce back, with Hodgson set to retire at the end of the season. Watford never looked like preserving their top-flight status during the run-in and a six-game losing streak has seen them join Norwich in the second tier. What a farewell!
