BPL REVIEW: City blow chance to close in on Chelsea

League leaders Chelsea and second-place Manchester City both dropped points in the race for the Barclays Premier League (BPL) title.

The Blues drew 1-1 at Southampton, presenting City with a chance to close to within a point of the leaders, but the champions blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home to second-bottom Burnley.

Chelsea still lead City by three points ahead of the New Year’s day programme.

Jose Mourinho’s side fell behind in the 17th minute when Sadio Mane beat John Terry to the ball before lobbing Thibaut Courtois.

Eden Hazard equalised in first-half injury time firing home with his right foot.

At the Etihad Stadium, David Silva put City ahead in the 23rd minute and Fernandinho scored a stunning second goal from the edge of the box 10 minutes later.

But Burnley replied through George Boyd early in the second half before Ashley Barnes levelled up from 15 yards with nine minutes remaining.

In the early kick-off game, Manchester United couldn’t put pressure on the leaders after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

United created a string of chances, with Juan Mata hitting the woodwork and Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris producing a number of excellent saves, but had to settle for a point.

Arsenal capitalised by leapfrogging West Ham into fifth place with a 2-1 victory at Upton Park.

Santi Cazorla put the Gunners ahead with a 41st-minute penalty and three minutes later Danny Welbeck scored from an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross to make it 2-0.

Cheikhou Kouyate headed in for West Ham early in the second half, but Arsene Wenger’s side survived a late onslaught to record a win that took them level on points with Southampton.

Crystal Palace began life without sacked manager Neil Warnock by drawing 0-0 at Queens Park Rangers, which kept them in the bottom three.

Mame Biram Diouf scored twice as Stoke City beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0, while Fabian Delph was sent off as Aston Villa drew 0-0 at home to Sunderland.

Leicester City gave their chances of avoiding relegation a boost by beating Hull City 1-0, with Riyad Mahrez’s 32nd-minute strike.

Newcastle United ended the year with a convincing win over Everton.

Goals from Papiss Demba Cisse, Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback gave Alan Pardew’s side a hard-earned 3-2 win at St James’s Park.