Premier League results: City beat Brentford. It ends 1-1 between Liverpool and Chelsea

The Premier League is still an open case. The 3-0 against Brentford brings Manchester City back to -2 behind Arsenal with the same amount of games played (35 for both), with the pressure of having to win to keep the distance now on the Gunners who are guests tomorrow afternoon at the precarious West Ham (the table). Guardiola’s team, up to 74 points, took a while to understand how to get past the industrious Bees, now eighth on 51 points and still in the running for a historic place in Europe. If City broke through in the end, the credit goes to Jeremy Doku, head and shoulders above anyone on the pitch.

the keys

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Doku, praised with a standing ovation when he was replaced in the 90th minute, is City’s best man in this final sprint. He had already shown it on Monday at Everton, saving his team from the defeat in the draw which risks turning into the misstep that pushes Arsenal towards the Premier League. He confirmed it again against Brentford, well beyond the splendid right-footed shot that brought down the visitors’ wall in the 60th minute. Doku on the left drove Michael Kayode crazy and constantly supplied City’s attack with crosses and chances, too often stuck in the middle of the area. After he decided to go it alone, reaching four goals in the last four games, City found more space, doubled their lead in daring fashion in the 75th minute with Erling Haaland (26 goals for the Norwegian, four more than Thiago, stopped twice with two exceptional saves from Donnarumma) and found the hat trick with Omar Marmoush in the 93rd minute which also puts the goal difference back in order, the first criterion in case of finishing on equal points. City still needs Arsenal to make a misstep in order to dream of the Premier League, but this far from obvious victory allows them to stay in the race, to remind their rivals that even if they have the title in their hands, the tournament is not over yet. The 3-0 also helps to regain confidence, after the 3-3 at Everton which risks having compromised everything. With Doku to enlighten them, this City is not yet ready to withdraw from the race that is worthy of the Premier League.

the others

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Liverpool and Chelsea did not get beyond the 1-1 draw between the whistles at Anfield in the match between two teams who are finishing seasons well below expectations. That of the Blues, who at least ended the streak of 6 defeats in a row in the Premier League, is becoming disastrous because Europe is increasingly distant. The cups are an increasingly closer goal for Bournemouth, which confirms its 6th place (it could also be the Champions League) after the 1-0 at Fulham: for the Cherries it is the 16th useful result in a row. Brighton, with 3-0 against Wolverhampton, remains in the wake of 53 points. Manchester United have already qualified for the next Champions League, but the 0-0 draw with Sunderland feels like a blank slate, and not just because it is the first time without a goal in the Carrick era. Among the worst was Joshua Zirkzee, starting for the first time since December: his future seems increasingly distant from Old Trafford.