Chelsea returned to the top four of the Premier League after ending a five-match winless run, winning 3-1 against Wolverhampton on Monday evening.
The victory set the stage for an exciting week in England’s top flight, as European Football returns midweek.
Aston Villa and Liverpool are set to resume their Champions League campaigns on Tuesday, while Manchester City made headlines with the acquisition of Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov, marking the arrival of his country’s first player in the Premier League .
After facing challenges at the start of the season, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca watched with relief as his young side regained their taste for victory at Stamford Bridge.
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The evening was a celebration for the defenders, with Tosin Adarabioyo scoring the opener for Chelsea, before Matt Doherty equalized for Wolverhampton just before the break.
Marc Cucurella restored Chelsea’s lead in the second half, and Noni Madueke made sure of the points with a goal five minutes later, leaving Wolverhampton struggling and just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
After going through a difficult November and December with eight defeats, Manchester City lifted their heads with a resounding 6-0 victory over Ipswich, while welcoming Khusanov from Lens.
The promising 20-year-old central defender is expected to strengthen an aging City team, which is also courting Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
-While City struggled, Liverpool took the lead in the title race, impressing under the leadership of their new coach, Arne Slot, notably in the Champions League.
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As their European clash on Tuesday approaches, discussions around the expiring contracts of key players are intensifying. Surprisingly, it is defender Ibrahima Konate who is making headlines after revealing he has received a new contract offer from Liverpool, but is yet to sign. Nevertheless, he has affirmed his determination and is ready to overcome pain linked to a knee injury to prepare for the match against Lille.
On the transfer front, Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran saw an offer from West Ham rejected on Monday, according to a source.
Duran previously sparked excitement by sharing a video on social media last summer showing the West Ham ‘Irons’ sign amid speculation of a move to London, which ultimately did not materialise. The Colombia international has since made a name for himself with 12 goals in 27 appearances, although his starting chances have been limited. Manager Unai Emery admitted it was difficult to find a place for Duran and Ollie Watkins in the same starting XI. Could Tuesday’s match against Monaco offer an opportunity to experiment with their in-form attackers?
The Champions League will see Aston Villa travel to Monaco and Liverpool host Lille. Both clubs are in a very good position to secure a place in the top eight, with Liverpool needing just one point from their final two group stage games to avoid an extra playoff match next month, while Villa point in fifth place with 13 points.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray will also be in action in the Europa League on Tuesday when they take on Dynamo kyiv at home, alongside 13 matches across the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two.
