Liverpool prolonged their lead on the high of the Premier League in dramatic trend as two late Darwin Nunez objectives beat Brentford earlier than Arsenal stumbled at house to Aston Villa.
On the different finish of the desk, Manchester United and Tottenham are wanting over their shoulders on the relegation zone after dismal defeats on Sunday.
Bournemouth introduced Newcastle’s profitable streak to a shocking halt to additional their case for a primary ever European marketing campaign subsequent season.
AFP Sport appears at three speaking factors from the weekend’s motion:
Seismic Saturday within the title race
After the 90 minutes had come and gone on the Gtech Group Stadium, it appeared like Arsenal might near inside two factors of Liverpool with victory over Villa.
By the tip of the day, the Reds had rescued a 2-0 win and their lead was six factors, with a recreation in hand.
The much-maligned Nunez has fallen down the pecking order beneath Arne Slot.
However the Uruguay striker doubled his Premier League objective tally for the season with a stoppage-time brace to forestall Liverpool dropping factors for the third consecutive recreation.
Arsenal ought to nonetheless have narrowed the leaders’ benefit to 4 after they led Villa 2-0 on the Emirates Stadium.
Nevertheless, uncharacteristically sloppy defending value the Gunners as Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins snatched some extent for the guests in an enormous day within the title race.
Nottingham Forest should still harbour goals of a title problem.
A 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday took Nuno Espirito Santo’s workforce degree with second-placed Arsenal.
However third-placed Forest are unlikely to final the course to depart Liverpool closing in on only a second league title in 35 years.
‘Worst Man Utd in historical past’
Ruben Amorim’s summation of the sorry state of Manchester United was stark as he labelled his facet the worst within the membership’s wealthy historical past.
On an emotional day at Previous Trafford, United paid tribute to one in every of their all-time greats in Denis Legislation.
The house help then witnessed one other instance of how far United have fallen as Brighton stormed to a 3rd consecutive victory on the Theatre of Desires, the place that they had by no means received previous to 2022.
“We’re the worst workforce perhaps within the historical past of Manchester United,” stated Amorim. “I’m saying that as a result of we’ve got to acknowledge that and to vary that.”
The Portuguese coach has received simply three of 11 league matches since taking cost in November.
“All people right here is underperforming,” added Amorim. “It is unacceptable to lose so many video games, for any Premier League membership — think about Manchester United.”
Tottenham are two locations under United within the desk in fifteenth after a 3-2 defeat at Everton.
But, the struggles of the three promoted golf equipment appears set to avoid wasting each fallen giants from a relegation battle.
Southampton are on track to be the worst workforce in Premier League historical past with six factors from 22 video games.
Leicester have misplaced seven consecutive league video games, whereas Ipswich have been thrashed 6-0 by a rejuvenated Manchester Metropolis on Sunday.
Bournemouth dare to dream
Manchester Metropolis’s stroll at Portman Highway took them again into the highest 4, however solely 5 factors separate the champions from Fulham in tenth.
Amongst these difficult for a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League are Bournemouth because of a membership file 10-game unbeaten run within the high flight.
Newcastle’s personal nine-match profitable streak got here to a crashing halt as Justin Kluivert’s hat-trick helped the Cherries to a 4-1 win.
“We’re right here to make an impression,” stated Kluivert, who scored extra Premier League objectives at St James’ Park in a single afternoon than his dad Patrick managed in an entire season at Newcastle in 2004/05.
“Why not dream huge and let’s have a look at the place we will find yourself,” Kluivert junior stated.
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