Izuchukwu Okosi
The English Premier League and other leagues around the football have resumed after the international break which produced teams that have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup or are on the brink of doing or not.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelLiverpool kept the pressure on title rivals Manchester City as goals from Diogo Jota and Fabinho secured a 2-0 home win over Watford, the Reds’ 10th consecutive Premier League victory.
The Anfield success briefly took Jurgen Klopp’s side top of the table, but they were overtaken again a few hours later as Man City matched their result, beating Burnley 2-0.
City returned to the top of the table as goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan gave them a 2-0 win at Burnley.
Pep Guardiola’s side had been overtaken as leaders by Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Watford at Anfield earlier in the day, but the champions responded and maintained their record of winning all 23 matches they have led this season.
The opener came in just the fifth minute as Raheem Sterling cushioned the ball into the path of De Bruyne, who lashed in his 10th Premier League goal of the season, reaching double figures in the competition for the second time.
Twenty minutes later Sterling provided another assist, playing a one-two with De Bruyne and cutting the ball back for Gundogan to finish.
City missed chances to cut into the five-goal difference by which they trail Liverpool, coming closest when Gabriel Jesus’s shot was deflected on to a post.
Guardiola’s side are on 73 points, one ahead of Liverpool ahead of next weekend’s top-of-the-table meeting at Etihad Stadium.
Burnley remain 19th on 21 points, four from safety and having played an extra match than 17th-placed Everton.
Three quickfire goals including Christian Eriksen’s first in the Premier League since 2019 helped Brentford stun Chelsea 4-1 for their first victory at Stamford Bridge since the 1939.
Chelsea took the lead on 48 minutes with a stunning strike from Antonio Rudiger, who smashed in from 35 yards.
But Brentford replied only 100 seconds later as Vitaly Janelt drilled in a shot from the edge of the area.
The visitors went in front after 54 minutes as Eriksen tucked in Bryan Mbeumo’s cross from close range following a counter-attack.
Janelt dinked Ivan Toney’s through-ball over Edouard Mendy to score his second on the hour before substitute Yoane Wissa added a fourth with three minutes remaining.
Brentford climb to 14th with 33 points after a third win in four matches.
A first defeat in seven leaves third-placed Chelsea on 59 points.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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