AFP
Manchester City moved a step closer to being crowned Premier League champions with a 2-1 win against Leeds on Saturday as Chelsea finally won for the first time under caretaker boss Frank Lampard.
Just hours after the pomp and ceremony of the coronation of King Charles III in London’s Westminster Abbey, City underlined their desire to extend their own reign as they chase a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.
Ilkay Gundogan scored City’s goals in the first half, before missing a late penalty that set up a tense finale when Rodrigo got one back for Leeds.
City held on to climb four points clear of second placed Arsenal.
In tribute to the King, the national anthem was played before kick-off at all four afternoon Premier League games.
But it is Pep Guardiola who lords it over the Premier League and the City boss is on the brink of a leading his team to a third successive title.
Arsenal can close the gap on City to one point if they win their tricky trip to third placed Newcastle on Sunday.
However, Guardiola’s men will have a game in hand on Arsenal after that fixture and need three wins from their last four matches to be certain of retaining the title.
Relentless City have won their last 10 league games and are unbeaten in 20 matches in all competitions.
Defeat in Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge left Leeds one place above the relegation zone on goal difference.
With Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Real Madrid on Tuesday in mind, Guardiola made seven changes to his starting line-up.
City went ahead in the 19th minute after pinning Leeds deep inside their own half in a blistering start.
Riyad Mahrez was the catalyst with an incisive pass that picked out Gundogan and the German midfielder netted with a fine low finish from just inside the penalty area.
It was the same pair at the heart of City’s second goal eight minutes later.
Mahrez cut his pass back to Gundogan, who took a touch before sweeping a clinical strike into the far corner from 20 yards.
After Gundogan hit the post with a penalty awarded for Pascal Struijk’s foul on Phil Foden, Guardiola was furious that Erling Haaland did not take the spot-kick.
Guardiola’s angst grew when Rodrigo punished a mistake from Manuel Akanji to slot home in the 85th minute, but Leeds couldn’t complete the comeback.
Chelsea won for first time in Lampard’s second spell in charge, beating Bournemouth 3-1 to end a six-match losing streak.
Conor Gallagher headed Chelsea into a ninth minute lead, diverting N’Golo Kante’s cross beyond Neto.
Chelsea’s fans responded with ironic chants of ‘we are staying up’ in reference to their unusually low league position.
Matias Vina equalised with a 21st minute curler, but Benoit Badiashile volleyed in Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick for his first Chelsea goal in the 82nd minute.
Joao Felix’s 86th-minute strike wrapped up Chelsea’s first victory in 10 matches in all competitions.
Chelsea are up to 11th place but are still in danger of finishing in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 1996.
Harry Kane moved into second place in the Premier League’s all-time scoring list as his goal sealed a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace.
The England captain broke the deadlock in first half stoppage-time with a powerful header from Pedro Porro’s cross.
Kane climbed ahead of Wayne Rooney onto 209 Premier League goals, with Alan Shearer’s record of 260 in his sights next.
Sixth placed Tottenham are six points adrift of the top four after winning for the first time in five games.
Toti Gomes’ first goal for Wolves — a ninth minute header from Ruben Neves’ corner — sealed a 1-0 win against Aston Villa
In Saturday’s late game, Liverpool host Brentford looking to close the gap on fourth placed Manchester United.
AFP
