Manchester Metropolis slumped to a scarcely credible eighth defeat in 11 video games on Sunday — this time towards Manchester United — leaving Pep Guardiola flummoxed however handing Ruben Amorim an enormous enhance.
With the highlight off them, Chelsea moved simply two factors behind long-time Premier League leaders Liverpool, with a 2-1 win towards Brentford.
Wolves sacked Gary O’Neil after a fourth straight defeat whereas Southampton axed Russell Martin following a 5-0 hammering by Tottenham.
AFP Sport appears at three speaking factors from the Premier League weekend.
– Solutions elusive for Pep –
It’s troublesome to argue that Metropolis are actually experiencing a full-blown disaster.
Guardiola signed a brand new two-year contract final month at some extent when Metropolis had misplaced 4 in a row, saying he didn’t really feel he might depart the membership at a troublesome time.
Now he’s going through questions as to how — and when — he can cease the rot after a painful 2-1 defeat to United, who had gained simply certainly one of their first 4 league video games underneath Amorim.
Guardiola supplied a harsh self-assessment after the defeat, which got here courtesy of a Bruno Fernandes penalty within the 88th minute and an Amad Diallo winner two minutes later.
“I am the supervisor and I am not ok, easy as that,” he stated.
Midfielder Bernardo Silva was even harsher, evaluating Metropolis’s collapse within the last minutes to an under-15s staff.
Metropolis have matches arising that look winnable on paper — towards Aston Villa, Everton and Leicester — however with each defeat the size of Guardiola’s process appears extra daunting.
Two-horse race?
Earlier this month Liverpool had a nine-point lead on the prime of the Premier League — now it’s down to simply two.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have gained their previous 5 video games to shut the hole on the Reds, who nonetheless have a match in hand.
Liverpool confirmed spectacular energy of character to twice come from behind for a 2-2 draw towards Fulham on Saturday regardless of enjoying the majority of the sport with 10 males.
However their momentum has slowed, with the Fulham end result following a 3-3 draw final week towards Newcastle.
Free-scoring Chelsea have taken full benefit, climbing above London rivals Arsenal, runners-up up to now two campaigns, to stake their declare as Liverpool’s principal challengers.
The Blues completed final season strongly underneath former supervisor Mauricio Pochettino however few anticipated Maresca to grasp his transient so shortly.
The Chelsea boss is keen to say they don’t seem to be within the title race however the desk suggests in any other case.
O’Neil, Martin axed over relegation fears
Gary O’Neil and Russell Martin paid the value for his or her golf equipment’ Premier League struggles.
Martin’s sacking was introduced shortly after a sobering defeat to Spurs, who scored all 5 objectives at St Mary’s within the first half on Sunday.
Wolves suffered a harmful 2-1 loss to relegation rivals Ipswich at Molineux on Saturday, after which O’Neil stated he was struggling to assist his staff address the “actual primary stuff”.
Wolves, second from backside of the desk, are 5 factors from security.
However their plight shouldn’t be as perilous as that of Southampton, who’re observing a right away return to the Championship.
Martin departs having taken simply 5 factors from 16 video games, leaving Southampton 9 factors adrift of security.
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