Reading trouble the top two in the space of three days
After forcing Chelsea into a late comeback, Reading beat second-placed Everton through A. Sosa’s 70th-minute goal.
Everton’s pursuit of Chelsea suffered an interruption at Reading, where A. Sosa scored the only goal after 70 minutes.
The result mattered because Everton had entered the week as the clearest domestic point of reference beneath the leaders. They remain second on 48 points from 25 matches, but Chelsea are now 16 points ahead with a game in hand.
Reading’s victory was more than assistance to the champions. Three days after pushing Chelsea into a stoppage-time recovery, they completed the argument their earlier performance had begun. The same side who exposed the leaders’ defensive discomfort then denied the nearest challengers altogether.
For Everton, the defeat is a reminder that second place is both achievement and pressure. Manchester City are only two points behind, while Rotherham and Plymouth remain close enough to keep the European positions unstable.