Manchester United missed the opportunity to climb the league after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. It was a game full of talking points but one which United never looked like losing, something they haven’t done since October. That point keeps United in 6th place, two behind Liverpool and with an inferior goal difference. Bournemouth remain in 14th place and move a point further from the relegation zone. The draw brought only their third point of 2017 but the Cherries have not won since New Year’s Eve.
Tottenham now sit just seven points behind Chelsea in second thanks to a late win over Everton at White Hart Lane. Having survived a comeback to win their 12th home game of the season, they are now six points ahead of Arsenal in fifth. Everton remain in 7th having lost for the first time in ten games. They did not lose much ground in the league thanks to the results of those around them but missed an opportunity to improve on their position.
Manchester City are one point behind Spurs in 3rd and could climb above them with a mid week win at home to Stoke. This weekend saw them comfortably beat Sunderland 2-0 away, their eighth win in 11 games. Sunderland however remain bottom of the league and are now six points from safety. With one win in 10 and just nine goals in that time, they are at risk of being cast adrift at the bottom.
Liverpool moved into the top four following a convincing 3-1 home win against Arsenal. It was their third win in a row and following a difficult start to the year and they remain unbeaten against the league’s top seven. The victory moves Liverpool above Arsenal in the table by two points and level on goal difference. Arsenal slip to 5th but still have a game in hand over the Reds. They have won just once in their last six away games now and are losing ground on those above.
West Brom put in a disappointing display as they lost 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace. It was their first defeat to a team below them since September and keeps them four points behind Everton and the European places. Palace move out of the bottom three courtesy of that win which was their third in the last five games. They are now three points above Middlesbrough and level on goal difference in the race for survival.
Stoke City move back into 9th in the table after a routine 2-0 win at home to Middlesbrough. Stoke have lost at home just three times this season and are five points behind West Brom in the table. Middlesbrough fell into the bottom three with that loss and have now scored only three goals in the last 10 league games. They have one of the best defences in the league but without goals they will continue to slide into trouble.
Southampton’s 4-3 win away at Watford moved them into the top half of the league. It was their second win in a row after a previous run of just one victory in seven. Watford drop down to 13th after their first defeat at home since the beginning of January. Both teams should be fine however going forward and finish in mid table.
Burnley were denied their third straight draw thanks to a last minute goal from Swansea. That defeat was the tenth time they have lost on the road this season. They now fall to 12th in the league, nine points above relegation. Burnley should have enough going forward to survive but with two more away games before they face Tottenham at home it is a difficult run coming. That win continued Swansea’s impressive form and gives them five wins in their last eight. They now sit in 16th, 5 points clear from the drop zone.
Leicester’s second consecutive 3-1 home win saw them move five points above of the bottom three. They continued their turn in form since Ranieri’s departure with the win over Hull. With many of the teams above them scoring points this weekend, Hull now slip further from safety. Four points is the gap between them and 17th and they really need to pick up some points to go with their improved performances. With just one win in six,
West Ham face Chelsea at home in tonight’s late kick off. A win for West Ham will move them back into the top half, where as Chelsea can extend their lead at the top back to 10 points.
By the time United next play in the league they will have two games in hand over Liverpool. Victory in these games could see them move into the top four, however the side really need to turn dominating draws into victories to challenge at the top.