LONDON – The English Premier League season 2022/23 finished matchday 19 from this Monday to Thursday.
In the focused game on Thursday night, Manchester City defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and kept pursuing the leading Arsenal with five points gap.
The Cities recorded the only goal from Algerian attacker Riyad Mahrez, assisted by English winger Jack Grealish, to collect three points in the clash of giants.
Pep Guardiola’s squad is now in second place with 39 points, four points above Newcastle but one game less.
The defending champion never stepped back too far from retaining the EPL title, although Arsenal has had better performance this season so far.
Chelsea Scrabble To Rise To The Top 4
After the loss at home, Chelsea maintained their 10th position with 25 points, ten points behind Manchester United, the fourth place as well as the last seat into UEFA Champions League next season.
The Blue Lions had only won once in the last five matches, along with three losses and one draw.
The London club’s manager Graham Potter started his job in September 2022, facing huge stress to get back to at least top five at the end of this season.
Chelsea is suffering with their front court formation, which lacks a playmaker or attacking midfielder to organise attacks, causing them difficult to make goals.
Rumour With Enzo Ended
Meanwhile, the rumor between Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez has ended after their negotiation broke down.
The Lions claimed to be pursuing the 21 years old Argentinian weeks ago from Benfica.
However, the EPL giant was willing to pay as much as 85 millions Euros, far from the Portuguese club which asked for at least 1.2m.
This makes the winner of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Young Player award lose his hope to move to London.
Badiashile Joins The Lions
However, Chelsea had still completed a deal on Thursday, by signing Benoit Badiashile from Monaco.
The 21 years old French centre-back had remarkable performance in the French Ligue 1 club this season, making him a rising star in the defensive line.
Badiashile was brought to Stamford Bridge with a contract lasting 7.5 years. Sources said his transfer fees are 38 millions Euros.
Upcoming: FA Cup
After a tight schedule of the Premier League since last week, English clubs from different divisions will participate in the FA Cup round of 32 this weekend.
On Friday night, Manchester United will face Everton at Old Trafford, seeking to be the first team into the round of 16.
On Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur will play against Portsmouth, while Liverpool meets Wolverhampton.
Manchester City and Chelsea will meet again on Sunday, twice in four days, this time it will be played at Etihad Stadium.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will play against Oxford United on Monday night.
The EPL will continue matchday 20 on Friday, 13th January 2023.