Manchester City extended their record for successive Premier League victories to 16, as Crystal Palace and West Ham’s revivals continued on Saturday.
Manchester City came through 4-1 against Tottenham to extend their lead at the top of the table to 14 points.
Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring with the only goal of the first half, while Kevin de Bruyne powered home a fierce shot.
Gabriel Jesus missed a penalty for the hosts, but Raheem Sterling added two goals in 10 minutes before Christian Eriksen grabbed a late consolation for Spurs, who dropped to seventh.
Christian Benteke ended a 1,106-minute goal drought to help Palace to a convincing 3-0 victory at in-form Leicester.
Benteke was heavily criticised last weekend after defying team orders to take – and miss – a last-minute penalty against Bournemouth, leaving his side bottom of the Premier League.
But his goal, along with strikes from Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako, mean the Eagles have now won back-to-back matches for the first time this season and are up to 14th place, two points above the relegation zone.
The Foxes, already two goals behind at the time, played for the last 29 minutes with 10 men after Wilfried Ndidi was shown a second yellow card.
West Ham’s resurgence under David Moyes continued as they won 3-0 at Stoke in a game delayed by an hour because of a power outage at the Bet365 Stadium.
Former Stoke player Marko Arnautovic has been at the heart of the Hammers’ upturn in form and he was on target again – adding to a first-half penalty from Mark Noble – before Diafra Sakho’s late strike made absolutely sure of the win.
The result increases the pressure on Potters boss Mark Hughes, whose side have won just once in eight matches.
Mesut Ozil’s superb volley earned Arsenal a 1-0 win over Newcastle and moved the Gunners up to fourth. Rafael Benitez’s side are falling fast – this was their eighth defeat in nine games and ensured they drop into the bottom three for the first time this season.
Despite manager Antonio Conte’s recent comments that his side are out of the title race,Chelsea’s fine run of results continued as they secured an eighth win from their past 10 league games with a 1-0 win against Southampton.
Marcos Alonso’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time proved the difference and means Southampton have now won just one of their past nine matches.
Huddersfield had not scored away from home since the opening day of the season but they enjoyed a superb afternoon as they won 4-1 at Watford, whose disciplinary problems continue.
Goals from Elias Kachunga, Aaron Mooy (two) and Laurent Depoitre were reward for the Terriers’ attacking intent, but Watford’s chances were badly affected by the dismissal of captain Troy Deeney.
The Hornets skipper was sent off after 33 minutes for a challenge on Collin Quaner. It is the third straight match in which Marco Silva has seen one of his players dismissed and the fourth Watford red card overall this season.
Huddersfield were also reduced to 10 men when Jonathan Hogg was sent off midway through the second half for a second bookable offence. Watford responded with a superb strike from Abdoulaye Doucoure – but the midfielder undid his good work by conceding a late penalty, which Mooy converted.
Burnley’s hopes of returning to the top-four place they briefly occupied in midweek were thwarted as they were held to a goalless draw at Brighton.
It was the hosts who actually came closest – in theory at least – to taking all three points when they were awarded a first-half penalty.
But Glenn Murray smashed the spot-kick over, leaving Brighton three points above the relegation zone.
Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah scored fine individual goals as Liverpool moved back into the top four of the Premier League with a ruthless 4-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
Coutinho opened the scoring in the 20th minute by slaloming through the right-hand side of Bournemouth’s defence and finding the bottom corner with a composed finish.
Dejan Lovren doubled the lead with a close-range diving header six minutes later and Salah made it 3-0 a minute before halftime by skipping past fullback Charlie Daniels in the right channel and beating goalkeeper Asmir Begovic with a neat left-foot shot.
Coutinho crossed for fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino to head Liverpool’s fourth in the 66th minute.
Salah’s goal was his 20th this season in all competitions and put him two clear of Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane at the top of the Premier League scoring charts on 14.
Manchester United survived a tense finale to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Hawthorns on Sunday and close to within 11 points of Premier League leaders Manchester City.
United’s former West Brom striker Romelu Lukaku scored his 15th goal of the season in the 27th minute by heading home Marcus Rashford’s left-wing cross.
Midfielder Jesse Lingard doubled the lead with a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area eight minutes later.
United appeared to be on course for a comfortable win, but West Brom set up a nervous finish for Jose Mourinho’s side when substitute Gareth Barry poked home from close range following a corner in the 77th minute.
United hung on, however, to restore their three-point advantage over third-placed Chelsea. West Brom have now gone 16 league matches without a win and remained second bottom, two points from safety.
