Week 33 of the English Premier League is now history after Chelsea racked up the final win of the weekend beating West Ham at Stamford Bridge to climb into third.
The Chelsea crowd decided to give Maurizio Sarri a break on a night that saw his side move into third in the English Premier League (EPL) table after recording a third successive victory.
At this point in the season, only Liverpool and Manchester City have more points. Yeah, Arsenal and Spurs both have a game in hand, making the move potentially fleeting, and yes, Chelsea has put in some dismal performances this season.
But.
And you can forget everything before the ‘but’, right?
They are a 10/11 shot to finish in the Top 4, and if they don’t qualify for the Champions League through that door, the Europa League offers another handle to pull with Slavia Prague standing in the way of a Semi-Final spot.
Typically, when the home fans stop whinging about Sarri’s style of play, the topic of conversation flows to Eden Hazard’s contract. The critical piece of paper containing the 28-year-old’s signature is worth nothing beyond 2020, and the Belgian showed once again why he could choose any club in the world should he decide to leave.
Hazard’s performance was world-class, epitomised by a Diego Maradonaesque opening goal in the 24th minute. Hazard picked the ball up ten yards inside his half. A Cruyff turn saw him turn to face the West Ham goal and he weaving through five players like a skier gliding past flags, before smashing the ball into the corner of the net.
Hazard then became the provider with a beautiful long rake that found the run of Callum Hudson-Odoi who produced a fine save from Lukasz Fabianski.
More chances came Chelsea’s way with Gonzalo Higuain smashing the post, and Hazard looking like he had earned a penalty after a poor challenge from Marko Arnautovic, only for the referee to dismiss the notion like a Polar Bear dealing with a goldfish.
West Ham had chances too.
Kepa Arrizabalaga blocked a low drive from Manuel Lanzini, Aaron Cresswell sent a rocket inches wide of the post from just inside the left-hand corner of the box, and Marko Arnautovic saw his far post header cannon off a defender with the keeper nowhere in sight.
Despite the chances, Chelsea dominated the game, and it the man of the match, Hazard had the final say, scoring his 16th EPL goal of the season in the last minute of the game.
The loss is West Ham’s third in four games. They are in 11th spot, four points behind Watford and Everton.
EPL Wk 33 Results
Man City 2 v 0 Cardiff
Southampton 1 v 3 Liverpool
Huddersfield 1 v 4 Leicester
Newcastle 0 v 1 Crystal Palace
Bournemouth 1 v 3 Burnley
Everton 1 v 0 Arsenal
Chelsea 2 v 0 West Ham
EPL Standings
1. Liverpool – 82
2. Man City – 80
3. Chelsea – 66
4. Spurs – 64
5. Arsenal – 63
6. Man Utd – 61
7. Leicester – 47
8. Wolves – 47
9. Everton. – 46
10. Watford – 46
11. West Ham – 42
12. Crystal Palace – 39
13. Bournemouth – 38
14. Burnley – 36
15. Newcastle – 35
16. Brighton – 33
17. Southampton – 33
18. Cardiff – 28
19. Fulham – 17 (R)
20. Huddersfield – 14 (R)
EPL Odds
To Win
Man City 8/15
Liverpool 6/4
Relegation
Cardiff 1/12
Brighton 14/1
Burnley 20/1
Southampton 40/1
Top Four
Spurs 2/7
Arsenal 10/11
Chelsea 10/11
Man Utd 11/4
Top Goalscorer
Sergio Aguero 6/4
Mohamed Salah 11/4
Harry Kane 7/2
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 6/1
Current Top Scorers
1. Sergio Aguero – 19
2. Mohamed Salah – 18
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 17
4. Harry Kane – 17
5. Sadio Mane – 17
Next Manager to Leave
Maurizzio Sarri 5/1
No Manager to Leave 15/8
Jan Siewert 6/1
Neil Warnock 10/1
