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EPL: Red Devils blow title-race open & other high points from Gameweek 33

Yet another weekend full of highlights in the English Premier League!

EPL: Red Devils blow title-race open & other high points from Gameweek 33

(L-R) Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, Chelsea captain John Terry and Tottenham Hotspur winger Son Heung-min (Photos: AFP)

Just when you thought you’ve got your the English Premier League’s pulse, it foes to spring surprises yet again.

A stunning upset, which fallout is still being measured and it may just have turned the tide in the title-race, dominates high points from Gameweek 33.

It isn’t over yet Chelsea!
It takes something special to beat Chelsea these days and Manchester United conjured a sparkling performance to stun the league leaders at Old Trafford on Sunday. Ander Herrera man-marked Eden Hazard out of the game, Marcus Rashford made David Luis and Gary Cahill look mighty slow in a game which the Red Devils surprised many by outplaying their fancied opponents.

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The gap between the Blues and second-placed Tottenham Hotspur is just four points now (The difference was 10 points three games ago) and while there is no denying the Lilywhites have a much tougher run-in, the Blues will not be run for the title as many had thought earlier.

Race for top-four is very much alive
While most guarantee Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur the first two Champions League spots, the final two are too close to call at the moment. Liverpool (67 points), Manchester City (64 points) and Manchester United (60 points) are all neck-and-neck with 6th-placed Arsenal (57 points) not too far behind. Liverpool have played 33 games, City have played 32 while United and Arsenal both have played 31. The Reds have the easiest run-in of the lot and United have the toughest, but if Jurgen Klopp’s side have proved anything this season, it is that Liverpool prefer to play the big guns, rather than the small fry. So who’s your money on to finish in the top-four?

Bye-Bye Captain, Leader, Legend: John Terry
One of those announcements that Blues fans had been expecting since the turn of the year, but when it came, it caused many a ripple. Chelsea’s long-serving captain will be leaving at the end of the season, the capital club announced on Monday. The 36-year-old last started a league game in September, with Chelsea Antonio Conte deciding the veteran was unable to fit in his 3-4-3 formation. While his past two seasons have not been remarkable, admitted, there is no denying that the centre-back has been a fantastic servant for the Blues. Having made his debut way back in the 1998-99 season, the centre-back has 488 league appearances to his name, scoring an impressive 40 goals in that span. Terry’s sparkling trophy haul of four Premier League titles (and possibly a fifth this year), five FA Cups, three League Cups and of course, the UEFA Champions League proves that former schoolboy from Barking has had a career most can only dream of. A fitting farewell would be to win the Premier League in his final year at the club, but will destiny favour him one last time?

Life beyond Ibrahimovic for Manchester United?
With the Swede stalling on a contract for reasons unknown (Rumours say he wants Champions League football next year), Mourinho boldly rested his top-scorer for the crunch clash against Chelsea. Starting in his place was 19-year-old Marcus Rashford, who, with his direct running and impressive work rate terrorised the Chelsea defence all game long, scoring a well-taken opener for good measure as well. The tactic paid off handsomely, proving that United can play without the powerful but stationary at times, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

With Romelu Lukaku on the verge of exit from Everton and Antoine Griezmann being openly courted by the Red Devils, will we see a high-profile (Younger and much faster) forward at Old Trafford next summer?

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