'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What a mid-week of Premier League action we just witnessed. Goal fests, shock results, scares for the top six clubs, comebacks, red cards, contentious moments and totally intriguing drama in the race for the title, top four and the relegation battle.
Liverpool remain top of the league and increased the gap to Manchester City to five points. Tottenham reduced the deficit to City to just two points and Arsenal leapfrogged Chelsea into the top four on goal difference.
Manchester United move within two points of Chelsea in fifth. Fulham remain in the bottom three despite their impressive comeback. Cardiff and Huddersfield are the other teams that make up the bottom three.
Here's a look at five things we learned from matchweek 24 of EPL action:
Trending
#1 The Premier League is the best league in the world
Forget the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, the quality of players in LaLiga and all the El Clasico noise. Real fans know exactly which competition turn to when they want to enjoy an absorbing, competitive and interesting round of fixtures.
In terms of competitiveness and drama, the Premier League is far and away the best league in the world. No other league runs any close. You simply cannot predict what will happen in an EPL fixture on paper. The PL will always make sure you eat your words.
What a match week. After the earlier round of matches, the discussion all around was that City had slipped up and handed free rein to Liverpool. Leicester stepped up, fought and made sure the title race will still remain red hot.
A league in which four of the top six teams lost points in the same round of fixtures. It doesn't get any more intriguing than this and the doggedness of the "smaller" teams must be applauded. For the neutrals, if such a thing even exists, it must make for very enjoyable viewership.
With the run-in fast approaching and uncertainty across the Premier League table, it will make for even more interesting round of matches. Bring it on.
#2 The title race is still on
After City's surprise slip up at St James' Park on Tuesday, it seemed like Liverpool will pull clear of the Citizens and make it a more comfortable margin for the run-in. However, a dogged Leicester City outfit clawed their way back from a goal down at Anfield and denied the Reds three very crucial points.
There would have still been 14 rounds of fixtures left to play. However, a seven-point deficit would have been a hard one to take on for City both physically and mentally. They also remain in the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League, thereby increasing the strain on the team.
The Leicester draw increases the gap to five points but it is clearly still going to be a very tight title race. A loss and a draw for Liverpool coupled with two City wins will close the gap down and leave the teams level on points and hoping on goal difference.
City remain in the title race and will be hoping that Liverpool's slip will come sooner rather than later.
#3 The North London clubs profit
The big winners from this matchweek must be the two North London clubs. Arsenal and Tottenham were the only teams in the top six to win their respective fixtures this matchweek.
Tottenham, still without Dele Alli and Harry Kane, finally found a way through a resilient Watford outfit who were looking for a first-ever double over Tottenham. Craig Cathcart capitalised on uncertain goalkeeping by Hugo Lloris to put the Hornets in the lead.
Heung Min Son, who just arrived back from the Asian Cup, proved his worth to the side as he levelled proceedings after the break. Fernando Llorente scored the winning goal in the closing stages, handing all three points to Spurs.
On the other hand, Arsenal went into the top four after defeating a Cardiff outfit clearly distressed by the disappearance of their club record signing, Emiliano Sala. Aubameyang and Lacazette scored the goals that downed the Bluebirds and took the Gunners level on points with London rivals, Chelsea.
Arsenal entered the top four and Tottenham closed the gap to City to just two points. It was a great round of fixtures for the North London outfits
#4 Sarriball is the problem, not the strikers
65 minutes, 29 touches, 18 completed passes and 0 shots. One can be forgiven for assuming this stats are that of a defender or a defensive midfielder. However, the above stats are that of Gonzalo Higuain on his PL debut vs Bournemouth.
Fans and pundits have moaned all season about a lack of a lethal frontman at Stamford Bridge. The frontman favoured by the manager finally arrived and has just had this numbers on a debut to forget.
It is not a striker problem that is plaguing the London club, it is a Sarriball problem. The system has too many flaws that can be easily exploited by the opposition and Maurizio Sarri has bluntly refused to even consider a change.
Chelsea are an easy team to play against at the moment. One just needs to mercilessly press Jorginho and properly mark Eden Hazard and the Chelsea rhythm and threat is considerably divided. Bournemouth did that to good effect and absolutely mauled Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium.
Possession just for the sake of it, unwillingness to adapt systems and a gaping hole in the defence have led Chelsea fans to begin to wonder if Sarri is really the man for the job.
If the Italian tactician refuses to adapt his team to the opposition and remains enshrined in his ways, it may cost Chelsea a place in the top four. United and Arsenal have closed the gap to them while Tottenham are pulling away from them.
#5 Son Heung-Min is a manager's dream
Being the manager of a top football club is very difficult. The pressure is always on from the fans, players, the owner, the board and pundits. Ultimately, the manager takes the blame for poor results, whether as a result of decisions made by himself or circumstances beyond his control. The manager eventually gets the sack and the cycle begins again.
On the other hand, having an absolutely committed quality player is a manager's biggest dream. Mauricio Pochettino must absolutely enjoy having the South Korean, Son Heung-Min in his team.
Having just returned from the Asian Cup, Son was thrust into the lineup as a result of a vastly depleted squad. The South Korean captain did not disappoint his manager as he put in a very committed performance capped off with his equaliser in the second half.
A difficult quality player can be a nightmare for a manager but a committed quality player is the stuff of dreams.
