EPL: Chelsea tightens top-four grip but Liverpool’s fate hangs on balance

Chelsea won by a solitary goal against West Ham on Saturday evening to tighten a grip on the fourth spot with just five matches remaining to seal Uefa Champions League football next season.

Timo Werner broke his goal drought and struck for the Blues moments to the first half whistle.

Chelsea coach, Thomas Tuchel, went with his usual 3-4-3 three Ngolo Kante and Joginho in midfield alongside Ben Chillwel and Cesar Azpilicueta as wing-backs. Thiago Silva led the defence alongside Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen and Edouard Mendy. Mason Mount, Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic lined up in the attack. Chelsea missed the services of Mateo Kovacic who is sidelined with injuries.

West Ham on the other hand missed the services of Michail Antonio and Declan Rice who are both injured. It was a balanced game where both London sides possessed the ball but it was Chelsea that had the better goal-scoring chances.

Timo received a pass from Mason Mount and fed Pulisic who passed on to Chillwell. The English defender fed Werner in the box to slot home. Chelsea now has 58 points and it sits fourth on the table after Leicester City. The Foxes are third with 59 points pending a game to play.

Elsewhere, reigning champions Liverpool were dealt a blow in their quest for champions league football after Newcastle came from behind to earn a point in their 33^rd match day.

Mo Salah struck in the fourth minute to put the Reds ahead. But this single goal proved insecure as Arsenal loanee Joe Willock equalised in the stroke of stoppage time to earn a point for the Magpies.