Staff Reporter.
Chelsea moved within touching distance of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a narrow 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca’s side now sit second in the table two points behind the Reds, who have the advantage of having played a game less.
However, Chelsea’s seventh consecutive win in all competitions will only serve to underline their status as genuine title contenders.
Marc Cucurella’s first-half header set them on their way against Brentford, with the left-back stealing in to nod in from Noni Madueke’s curling delivery from the right wing.
However, he was later shown a second yellow card after the final whistle to sour the evening for the Spaniard, who had scored his first goal since May 2022.
Chelsea’s second came in the closing stages when centre forward Nicolas Jackson sprinted on to Enzo Fernandez’s pass to dispatch a low shot past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken into the right corner.
The Senegal international’s effort came as Thomas Frank’s side threatened to level in a match which the hosts had largely dominated.
Christian Norgaard’s volley was superbly saved by home goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while Fabio Carvalho was unable to convert a gilt-edged opportunity – rattling the Chelsea crossbar, from close range.
However, the hosts were still made to hold on in a nervy finale after Bryan Mbeumo registered his 10th top-flight goal of the season, with a well-placed finish past Sanchez.
Meanwhile five goals in a rampant first half earned Tottenham Hotspur a stunning victory at St Mary’s Stadium to heap pressure on Southampton boss Russell Martin.
Elsewhere Manchester United struck twice in the closing minutes to stun Manchester City in a dramatic derby conclusion at Etihad Stadium.
City’s boss Pep Guardiola delivered a brutal self-analysis as he told Match of the Day: “I am not good enough. I am the boss. I am the manager. I have to find solutions and so far I haven’t. That’s the reality.
“Not much else to say. No defence. Manchester United were incredibly persistent. We have not lost eight games in two seasons. We can’t defend that.”
Guardiola suggested the serious renewal will wait until the summer but the red flags have been appearing for weeks in the sudden and shocking decline of a team that has lost the aura of invincibility that left many opponents beaten before kick-off in previous years.
He has had stated City must “survive” this season – whatever qualifies as survival for a club of such rich ambition – but the quest for a record fifth successive Premier League title is surely over as they lie nine points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.
Their Champions League aspirations are also in jeopardy after another loss, this time against Juventus in Turin.
City’s squad has been allowed to grow too old together. The insatiable thirst for success seems to have gone, the scales of superiority have fallen away and opponents now sense vulnerability right until the final whistle, as United did here.