Five things we learned in the Premier League

Editorial

9. april 2017

Victories for leaders Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United preserved the status quo at the top of the Premier League this weekend.

Here are five things we learned:

Chelsea are showing title grit

For the first time in their commanding campaign, Chelsea could feel a title challenger breathing down their necks when they kicked off at Bournemouth. Would the leaders crack under the pressure? On the evidence of a clinical 3-1 victory that restored their seven-point lead, the answer is a resounding no. Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-0 rout of Watford had trimmed the Blues’ lead to four points and with a trip to Manchester United looming next weekend, Antonio Conte’s side could not afford a snooze in the south-coast sunshine. Taking the lead through Adam Smith’s early own goal, Chelsea cruised through the gears, with Eden Hazard’s deftly taken second and Marcos Alonso’s sublime free-kick wrapping up the points. With seven games to go and 15 points needed to be crowned champions, it’s advantage Chelsea again.

Age is just a number for Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic compared himself to Benjamin Button, the film character played by Brad Pitt who ages in reverse, after his side’s 3-0 win at Sunderland — and with good reason. His opening goal was his 28th of the season in all competitions and, even more impressively, the 250th goal he has scored since turning 30. Now 35, Ibrahimovic is playing as well as he ever has and his goals are helping United keep in touch with the top four. With Juan Mata the only other United player in double figures this season, manager Jose Mourinho will hope his talismanic Swede continues to resist the ravages of age over the season’s closing weeks.