Paris (AFP)

Olivier Giroud celebrated on Sunday his establishment of a winning goal for Chelsea (2-1), synonymous with a 4th qualifying place in the Champions League, while Everton defender Lucas Digne stood up to Liverpool (0-0 ) in the Mersey derby.

- No truce for Giroud -

Holder of five matches in a row before the Covid-19 came to freeze the season and author of important goals against Everton and Tottenham, the Chelsea striker continued his momentum by scoring the winning goal against Aston Villa (2-1). A pivotal strike for a capital goal in the race for the Champions League. Surrounded by fast players, Giroud brings, as in the French team, his quality of deflection, in the aerial game and his realism in front of goal. Even the announcement of the arrival next season of the German Timo Werner, for 60 million euros, does not seem to disturb the 33-year-old world champion, recently extended by one year. It is a "very good signature" for the club and "an additional motivation for all attackers", forced to leave their "comfort zone", commented on Canal Plus the ex-attacker of Arsenal, also in competition with Tammy Abraham who replaced him 11 minutes before the end of regular time.

- No worries for Kanté -

He had been one of the players not to live well the return to the training, even obtaining the permission of Chelsea and his trainer to continue to get back in shape at home at first. But it did not appear on Sunday, N'Golo Kanté delivering a solid, clean match, with his usual mobility. What prove that he is not distracted by the insistent rumors suggesting that the club would like to sell it to finance its summer shopping which is not yet finished.

- Worthy faithful to the post -

Facing Liverpool, European champion soon to be crowned in his kingdom, Lucas Digne has spent a lot of time filling the gaps on the left flank of Everton's defense. He did it with application, by kicking a ball in the feet of the Japanese Takumi Ninamino (29th) or by clearing with authority in front of Trent Alexander-Arnold (70th). His tackle late to Sadio Mané at the hour of play, in addition to earning him a yellow card, offered the Reds a free kick well placed, but wasted by the visitors (63rd). In this archi-dominated match dominated by Liverpool, the French international showed very little offensively.

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