Cole Palmer's late introduction against Brentford raised eyebrows this past Sunday. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
The race for Uefa Champions League places in the English Premier League became even more congested at the weekend after challengers Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest all stumbled.
Fulham also hauled themselves back into the frame with their shock win over leaders Liverpool.
Forest, who are on 57 points in third place behind table-topping Liverpool and Arsenal, will feel that this could yet be their year. Their narrow 2-1 defeat away against high-flying Aston Villa didn’t prove too costly.
They are still four points clear of Chelsea in fourth (52 points). Manchester City are a place and a point behind them, with Villa one point further back in sixth.
All of the top six teams have played 31 games with seven more to go. Newcastle United were in seventh place on 50 points, with two games in hand, ahead of last night’s game against Leicester. A strong run in from Eddie Howe’s team could see them leapfrog a number of teams above them and return to Europe’s top table.
Fulham are dark horses in eighth place on 48 points. Considering the stakes, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was criticised for leaving Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Cucurella and an in-form Pedro Neto on the bench after Thursday night’s win over Tottenham.
The visitors struggled to break Brentford down in the first half. Palmer and Jackson were able to inject life into the Chelsea attack as all four players were brought on in the second half. Brentford held on, however, denting the Blues’ Champions League hopes in the process.
Maresca defended his team selection in his post-match media conference, suggesting not all of the rested players were 100% fit after returning from recent injuries.
The suggestion is that he may have had one eye on Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter-final. It is gamble that could backfire spectacularly, should the Bues miss out on both fronts.
With fifth place likely to be good enough to secure Champions League football next season for Premiership clubs, the run in promises to be an exciting one. It may have seemed unthinkable, but Manchester City could yet miss out.
Pep Guardiola’s team have a been a pale imitation of former City sides, especially since the early loss of Rodri. After failing to break down the Red Devils in the derby, they face tricky fixtures against Crystal Palace and Everton next.
Meanwhile, Southampton became the first team to be relegated from their Premier League this season at the weekend. Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham sealed their fate, and a quick return to the Championship for the promoted side.
Manager Ivan Juric resigned in the aftermath.