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City can thank Foden

A Phil Foden goal eight minutes from the end of regulation time saw Manchester City double their lead over Liverpool, who do not play in the league this week, caught up in Sunday's League Cup final at Wembley versus Chelsea.

With 66 points, they are now six lengths ahead of the Reds, but they can thank their young prodigy for having pulled them from a match where Frank Lampard's players were heroic in engagement.

This will not console the Toffees, who could have benefited from a penalty at the very end of the match, and who find themselves just above the red zone, with a small point ahead of the first relegation player, Burnley.

In the end, it was a small mistake by the central hinge of Everton that allowed Foden to deceive Jordan Pickford, who had been very good until then, and to alleviate some of the doubts born of the defeat against Tottenham (3-2 ) last week.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden opens the scoring against Everton on Matchday 27 of the Premier League on February 26, 2022 at Goodison Park in Liverpool Oli SCARFF AFP

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MU too clumsy

Manchester United did a bad job in the Champions League race by being unable to capitalize on their many chances against Watford.

The fourth-placed Red Devils have 47 points but fifth-placed Arsenal are just two down with three more games to play.

For Watford, 19th, this point is a small sign of hope which brings them back four lengths from Leeds, 16th with the same number of matches as them.

The match was particularly marked by the gesture of solidarity of the two teams towards Ukraine, when they regrouped behind a sign with the word peace in six languages, including Russian, before kick-off.

The post found by Cristiano Ronaldo in the fifth minute set the tone for a match where, with only three shots on target out of 22, the Red Devils lacked precision and success despite a performance where everything was not to throw away and where the mood was right.

Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo after a missed chance against Watford on the 27th day of the Premier League on February 26, 2022 at Old Trafford Stadium Lindsey Parnaby AFP

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Tottenham show no mercy for Leeds

Tottenham have taken advantage of the current big problems in the Leeds defense to relaunch themselves in the race for the Champions League.

With 42 points, Spurs remain seventh but are only five points behind Manchester United who have played two more matches.

Leeds are now just two steps ahead of the red zone, with more matches played than their pursuers and coach Marcelo Bielsa seems more than ever in the hot seat.

Matt Doherty (1-0, 10th) and Dejan Kulusevski (2-0, 15th) quickly put Spurs in a very good position before Harry Kane drove the point home (3-0, 27th) before even half an hour of game.

The joy of Tottenham's Swedish midfielder, Dejan Kulusevski (d), after scoring the 2nd goal against Leeds United, during the 27th day of the Premier League, on February 26, 2022 at Elland Road Jon Super AFP

At the very end of the match, Kane offered the fourth goal to Son Heung-min (4-0, 85th), the 37th goal scored in the league by one of the two on a pass from the other, which makes it the the most prolific doublet in the history of the Premier League ahead of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard with Chelsea.

The joy of Tottenham's South Korean striker, Son Heung-Min, after scoring the 4th goal against Leeds, on a pass from Harry Kane, during the 27th day of the Premier League, February 26, 2022 at the Stade by Elland Road Jon Super AFP

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Newcastle spoil Eriksen's return

On a weekend when, even on English sports grounds, the atmosphere is weighed down by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the return to football of Christian Eriksen eight months after his cardiac arrest is perhaps the only positive spark.

The Dane, who has been living with a defibrillator since this accident on June 12 against Finland at the Euro, came into play to a long ovation from the public, in the 52nd minute of the match.

Several banners and messages in his honor were visible in the public.

Brentford's Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen prepares to return against Newcastle on the 27th day of the Premier League on February 26, 2022 at the Brentford Community Stadium Geoff Caddick AFP

Unfortunately for him, his side, who have taken just one point from eight games, were trailing 2-0 and playing with ten since Josh Dasilva was sent off in the 11th minute, a score he hasn't could evolve.

Brentford's Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen tries to dribble past his Newcastle counterpart Joe Willock during the Premier League matchday 27 on February 26, 2022 at Brentford Community Stadium Geoff Caddick AFP

An excellent result for the Magpies, on the other hand, who reach their best ranking of the season (14th), just ahead of their hosts of the day, even if the red zone is only four points away.

© 2022 AFP