Premier League: Surprise Monday results changes table dynamic
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts in the dugouts during the Premier League match against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Monday night football isn’t usually about drama. The annex to the weekend football is usually about fulfilling fixtures: Fulfil the fixture, bank the points, move on.
That looked to be the case again last Monday. Manchester City travelled to Everton knowing a win was essential to keep pace with Arsenal in the title race. And then there was Nottingham Forest dilemma of facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge needing a win to avoid being dragged further into the relegation mire, while still looking to rest some players for their crucial Europa League knockout clash with Aston Villa on Thursday.
Yet most of us thought it would follow the expected script. City would go to Liverpool take on a difficult and determined Everton but eventually impose their will on the Toffees. Down in London, one presumed that even a faltering Chelsea would get their act together to beat a relegation troubled side fielding a weakened squad, especially at home.
Maybe because it was a bank holiday and not just a regular Monday, but the sides decided to put on a show, and the script was well and truly ripped to pieces.
Maybe the less surprising one of the two eventual outcomes was the Chelsea v Forest result. Sure, Forest were in a lowly 16th spot and had some of their reserves on the pitch. But they were playing a Chelsea side that look increasingly like a group of bewildered kids who have lost their teacher while on a school trip to Paris.
Any semblance of a team structure or a gameplan seems to have deserted the Stamford Bridge youngsters, as Forest inflicted a six straight league defeat on them, the side’s worst run in 33 years.
But for two FA Cup wins against Leeds and lowly Port Vale breaking up the sequence, Chelsea would be on a 10-game losing streak.
Up north, on Monday, City looked to be on their way, as expected, when Jeremy Doku superbly broke the stalemate just before the half-time break. We presumed they’d push on in the second and consolidate their title aspirations. However, the early second half action was defined by comical mistakes and lackadaisical defending, which saw Everton bag a shock equalizer and then go on to go 3-1 up with a brace from Thierno Barry while in between a powerful set-piece header from a corner by Cork’s Jake O’Brien had stunned Pep Guardiola and his title hopes.
It appeared to be heading for a complete shock but in the 16 minutes remaining and seven minutes of added time, City scrambled to find two goals. One from Erling Haaland and another screamer from Doku to salvage a point. But it felt like the damage was done when the full-time whistle was blown. The title chase is no longer in City’s hands and Arsenal have one hand firmly grasped on the trophy.
In a way, the Monday results may have taken a significant piece of the excitement and tension out of the season run in.
Arsenal have steadied the ship since losing to City back in early April. Back-to-back Premier League wins against Newcastle and Fulham put them back at the head of the table, while two well-handled games against Atletico Madrid and a place in the Champions League final will boost their morale no end ahead of Sunday’s game against West Ham.
It also returns the early pressure back on City, who face a difficult home tie against a Brentford side eagerly seeking European football of their own come season’s end.
Forest’s Chelsea win means they are effectively safe and the battle to get out of the last relegation spot is down to the a straight fight between the two London sides West Ham and Spurs, as to who goes down. At this stage, it looks most likely that Spurs are in the better position. A couple of good results has steadied the ship, and they face a now safe Leeds side on Monday, who have little to play for.
West Ham’s task is far tougher. Arsenal arrive on Sunday with the chance to slam the door shut on City’s title hopes. The Hammers can take some comfort from being at home — and from the possibility that Arsenal arrive tired or nervy after midweek commitments — but this Gunners side looks ready for the moment.
Sunday’s game will go a long way to deciding the final look of the table and who celebrates in glory and who prepares for Championship football next season.
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