PL 2016: Fabregas strike takes Chelsea to the top, United gets past Crystal Palace

Fabregas
Fabregas celebrating after his goal against Sunderland on Wednesday. Image Source: PL twitter

Internet Desk: Chelsea took the best form of Arsenal’s slip to strengthen the leadership of the Premier League. Cesc Fabregas scored the winner to secure a narrow margin win at Sunderland and put the Blues with a six-point lead in first place.

Liverpool also took advantage of the Gunners’ snub and rose to second place, albeit with the same points (34) from the team led by Arsene Wenger. Lallana (2) and Origini were the service markers in the triumph over the ‘afflicted’ Middlesbrough, 3-0.

With the result, Antonio Conte’s team remain at the top of the English Premier League, with Arsenal losing to Everton, no team can take the lead.

The Blues got under a lot of pressure and tried to start the count at the opponents’ home, while the home team defended itself as best they could. At 40, Fàbregas made a good play with Willian, received the ball and kicked the back of the net, making it 1 to 0.

In another match, a late strike from Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Manchester United a vital victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening, as the Reds ran out 2-1 winners at Selhurst Park.

The Swede fired home with just two minutes of normal time remaining to secure the three points, after James McArthur had cancelled out Paul Pogba’s first-half opener.

Ahead of the game – United’s third in the space of six days – Jose Mourinho delivered on his promise to rotate players during a busy December, making four changes to the side that beat Tottenham.

Wayne Rooney was among those recalled to the starting line-up, and the captain had an early opportunity to break the deadlock, but couldn’t direct his header on target from Juan Mata’s cross after five minutes.

In truth, the hosts were hardly afforded a touch of the ball during the opening stages, with an eventual string of passes being greeted by cheers from the home fans. As has been the theme in recent weeks, Mourinho’s men were well on top, and went close again when Pogba curled a long-range effort over the bar.

Last-ditch defending then denied Rooney a clear goalscoring chance on 24 minutes, as Eric Bailly – slotting in at right-back in the absence of the suspended Antonio Valencia – burst forward from defence to provide an inviting low cross.

Bailly was involved again in a similar situation on the half-hour mark, this time picking out Rooney successfully. The Reds skipper looked for Ibrahimovic with a first-time pass, but the ball just skipped away from the Swedish striker. At the other end, Palace’s first real attack of note came via former United man Wilfried Zaha, who twisted and turned to find space on the left, but couldn’t pick out a team-mate with his delivery.

United were then denied twice in quick succession by Wayne Hennessey, as the Palace keeper firstly thwarted Rooney and then Pogba, who had both found space well inside the area. With just seconds remaining before the break, the Reds’ patience finally paid off, as Ibrahimovic chested Mata’s free-kick into Pogba’s path, allowing the Frenchman the easiest of finishes from six yards.

In another Premier League clash, Manchester City had goals from Zabaleta and David Silva to beat Watford 2-0 at Etihad. The team lost many chances and stopped at goalkeeper Gomes and on the beam, but managed to break the negative sequence that accompanied the team of Pep Guardiola.

City remain in fourth place, now with 33 points. Watford is in the middle of the table, in 11th with 21.

Pressured by two defeats in a row in the Premier League, Manchester City came on at full steam. Nolito began as center forward in place of Agüero and Yaya Touré in the vacancy of Fernandinho, both suspended.

Playing at home, the Citizens went up and pressed Watford. Goalkeeper Gomes was one of the great protagonists, making two beautiful defenses in finalizations of Belgian De Bruyne. The Brazilian would take action again, stopping Nolito.

Gomes could not hold Zabaleta. On the left hand side, De Bruyne crossed in the measure to the Argentine, free, stove the nets. At the end of the initial stage, the City lost Gündogan, who felt pain in the knee and gave rise to Fernando.