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City take back their property

Overtaken on Tuesday by Liverpool, who crushed Manchester United (4-0), the defending champion responded with a long success in emerging against Brighton (3-0).

The Citizens, with 77 points, regain a narrow lead over the Reds in a thrilling crossover for the title.

At the break, however, it rumbled in the bays of the Etihad, as the locals broke their teeth on the beautiful defenses of Seagulls, who remained on two convincing victories at Arsenal (2-1) and Tottenham (1-0).

With a small shot on target at the break, we were very far from the usual Sky Blues standards.

It took a little help from the visitors to unblock the situation, Riyad Mahrez (1-0, 54th) and Phil Foden (2-0, 65th) benefiting from an opposing deflection to score.

Manchester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez opens the scoring on Brighton's Premier League matchday 30, April 20, 2022 midfielder Riyad Mahrez (R) shoots and scores his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 20, 2022. Oli SCARFF AFP

Bernardo Silva, with a nice shot to effect, concluded the mark and allowed the whole stadium to breathe a sigh of relief (3-0, 82nd).

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The Blues not yet healed

After coming close to a feat in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid and qualifying with mastery for Sunday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace (2-0), Chelsea once again put on a worrying face against neighbors Arsenal.

Thomas Tuchel's men remain 3rd with 5 points ahead of Tottenham (4th) and Arsenal (5th) who have one more game, but the way worries, Chelsea having still paid cash for their lack of defensive efficiency.

Between a goal offered by Andreas Christensen with a back pass that was too short (0-1, 13th) and a lost ball in their camp, followed by several favorable counterattacks and a victorious point a few meters from goal (2-3, 57th), Eddy Nketiah was the big beneficiary of this unexpected feverishness.

At the very end of the match, Cesar Azpilicueta was nicely trapped by Bukayo Saka who cunningly obtained a penalty before converting it (2-4, 90+1).

Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka converts his penalty against Chelsea's Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, during the late match of the 25th day of the Premier League, April 20, 2022 at Stamford Bridge Stadium Glyn KIRK AFP

The goal of Emile Smith-Rowe, with a beautiful shot low to the ground perfectly placed, at the entrance to the surface (1-2, 27th) was unstoppable.

With 11 goals conceded in the last 3 home matches, Tuchel has his work cut out with his rearguard.

That said, the attack of the Blues did not shine either, like a tenured Romelu Lukaku, but left after an hour of play under the whistles.

Timo Werner had equalized on a shot from 18 meters deflected by an opponent (1-1, 17th) and Cesar Azpilicueta, who was playing right piston, had to find himself receiving a center from Mason Mount in the area, where we would have rather expected an attacker, for the second goal (2-2, 32nd).

After three defeats in a row, Mikel Arteta's men are back in the race for the C1 and the final sprint with the Spurs, who are ahead of them on goal difference, promises to be exciting.

Arsenal's Spanish coach Mikel Arteta congratulates his players after their 4-2 victory over Chelsea in the late match of the 25th day of the Premier League, April 20, 2022 at Stamford Bridge Stadium Glyn KIRK AFP

The two teams will meet again on May 12 for a late match that will probably be very expensive.

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Everton hope, Newcastle blow

Thanks to a goal from Richarlison in added time (90 + 2), which responded to the opener by Harvey Barnes in the 5th minute, Everton took a vital point for their hopes of maintaining, at home against Leicester ( 1-1).

Frank Lampard's men offer themselves a 4th point lead over Burnley, first relegated, with an equal number of matches, before going to Anfield Road this weekend for the derby and receiving Chelsea.

For its part, Newcastle dominated Crystal Palace (1-0) and can already plan its next season in the Premier League with confidence.

© 2022 AFP