Monday 7 December 2009

Chelsea slip up

Since I tipped Chelsea to challenge for all four competitions they entered last week after they had humbled Arsenal at the Emirates, they have been knocked out of one competition and stumbled in another.

It is typical of the perverse nature of football!

Super-rich Chelsea were beaten on penalties in mid-week by Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup, and on Saturday evening lost 2-1 to even-richer Manchester City, to a goal resulting from a handball, as Frank Lampard missed a penalty and Carlos Tevez hit a superb free-kick winner.

Chelsea have already qualified for the next stages of the Champions League and will win the group, so their game against Apoel Nicosia of Cyprus on Tuesday is hardly important, but they will be keen to get back to winning ways.

Next up in the league is Everton, who will be boosted by yesterday’s comeback to draw 2-2 with Tottenham.

With Manchester United notching up an impressive 4-0 win at West Ham on Saturday, Chelsea will have half an eye over their shoulders, but they still look strong enough to be the team to beat in their priority competitions of the Premier League and the Champions League.

Meanwhile Arsenal continue to sweep aside all but the very top opponents, and their 2-0 win against Stoke keeps them in sight of the leaders. The fourth of the Big Four, Liverpool, were unimpressive again, only managing a goalless draw at Blackburn, and slipping down to seventh.

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