After a poor run of results, despite playing decent football, Leicester City sacked Claude Puel Sunday
There were not many people that thought Chelsea would outplay Manchester City Sunday in the Carabao Cup final.
But for large stretches of the match, that is exactly what happened. Chelsea went toe-to-toe with the holders for 120 scoreless minutes, and had some of the better chances.
Then it all fell apart for the London club; somehow, after such a galvanizing display of Sarri-ball, Kepa Arrizabalaga managed to destroy everything in a crazy final few minutes of extra time
Manchester City found a way to win the cup, with a 4-3 win in penalties. Arrizabalaga was in net for Chelsea during the kicks, after he refused to leave the field in the final minutes before the penalties. An enraged Maurizio Sarri watched on as his team missed two penalties, before Raheem Sterling converted to give Manchester City the first of four possible titles this year.
It was a wacky end to the weekend, with teams now back on the pitches around England (and Wales) Tuesday and Wednesday for more mid-week action.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Friday
Cardiff City 1-5 Watford
West Ham United 3-1 Fulham
Saturday
Burnley 2-1 Tottenham
Bournemouth 1-1 Wolverhampton
Newcastle United 2-0 Huddersfield Town
Leicester City 1-4 Crystal Palace
Sunday
Arsenal 2-0 Southampton
Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool
CARABAO CUP FINAL
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, City wins 4-3 on penalty kicks
WEEKEND’S THREE STARS
Troy Deeney, Watford
When Deulofeu was not scoring, it was this man, who had a brace and an assist, in the 5-1 win over Cardiff. Deeney rated out at a 9.61 on Whoscored.com.
Gerard Deulofeu, Watford
The forward scored the first Hornets’ hat trick in the Premier League, and added an assist, to keep his team in the seventh place Europa League position. Deulofeu was the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with a perfect 10 rating.
Wilf Zaha, Crystal Palace
It was a strange game, but the Eagles scored four times, led by Zaha. The winger had a brace, including the game-winner, to earn Whoscored.com Man of the Match honors with an 8.35 rating.
Sarri-vederci? Manchester United sends Chelsea crashing out of F.A. Cup
WITH CITY AT WEMBLEY, LIVERPOOL, TOTTENHAM BOTTLE CHANCES
This was the perfect weekend for Liverpool and Tottenham to pick up three points, and either put some space between it and Manchester City (Liverpool) or make the title race tighter (Tottenham).
But while the Reds now sit on top of the Premier League table by a point, Sunday’s 0-0 draw with injury-ravaged Manchester United may end up costing Liverpool dearly.
United was forced to make all three subs before halftime, with one of the substitutes (Jesse Lingard) having to be subbed for after he replaced Juan Mata. Marcus Rashford was hobbled from the first few minutes, so the Red Devils were effectively playing with 10 men.
Liverpool put just one shot on target all afternoon, though, and came away frustrated with just a point. After going unbeaten until January, Liverpool has now dropped points in four of seven matches in 2019. Roberto Firmino hobbled out of Old Trafford on crutches, which could prove huge in the next month.
But at least Liverpool leads the league; Tottenham fans must be pulling their hair out after another loss when the Spurs had a chance to cut the lead at the top to just three points. The Spurs are the latest team this year to fall victim to resurgent Burnley, which has the second longest unbeaten run (eight games) in the Premier League behind Manchester United (10 games). Even with the goal-scoring return of Harry Kane ahead of schedule, it did not matter, as the Clarets got a late goal from Ashley Barnes to seal all three points.
But is that not what Tottenham has done time and time again over this three-plus year period? Much like their hated rivals Arsenal, Spurs have always been around the fight, but can not win a big game to stay in the fight. Tottenham now has seven losses this season (with no draws), and could fall further behind, with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea Wednesday.
CLAUDE PUEL SACKED AT LEICESTER CITY
After a poor run of results, despite playing decent football, Leicester City sacked Claude Puel Sunday. The Foxes lost 4-1 Saturday to Crystal Palace, their fifth loss in six matches.
Leicester City sits in 12th place, just eight points outside the relegation zone.
PREMIER LEAGUE MIDWEEK SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Cardiff City vs. Everton, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
Huddersfield Town vs. Wolverhampton, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
Leicester City vs. Brighton, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
Newcastle United vs. Burnley, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports and Fubo.tv)
Wednesday
Arsenal vs. Bournemouth, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
Southampton vs. Fulham, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
Chelsea vs. Tottenham, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports and Fubo.tv)
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
Liverpool vs. Watford, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
Manchester City vs. West Ham United, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)
COPA DEL REY SEMIFINAL CLASICO
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, 3 p.m. (beIN Sports and Fubo.tv)
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean His podcast, Box to Box Football, can be found on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/box-to-box-football/id1208561351?mt=2 His Youtube channel can be watched here