Arsenal restored their five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League in outstanding fashion with a ruthless victory at Fulham.
Mikel Arteta’s side responded to Manchester City’s narrow victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday night by wrapping up this win by half-time as they opened up a 3-0 lead with a devastating attacking display.
Gabriel Martinelli had already had a goal narrowly ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), before defender Gabriel headed in Leandro Trossard’s corner after 21 minutes – the first of a trio of assists for the Belgian.
Trossard then crossed for Martinelli to beat the static Antonee Robinson to head home at the far post five minutes later, before providing the delivery for captain Martin Odegaard’s cool finish in first-half stoppage time.
Fulham mounted a belated threat after the break as visiting keeper Aaron Ramsdale denied Bobby de Cordova-Reid, while Tosin Adarabioyo headed against the woodwork.
Arsenal, however, were always in control and Arteta was able to re-introduce influential striker Gabriel Jesus for the first time since he required knee surgery after being injured playing for Brazil against Cameroon at the World Cup for a 13-minute cameo.
Newcastle revived their bid to finish in the Premier League’s top four with a battling victory over Wolves at St James’ Park.
Substitute Miguel Almiron scored the winner with 12 minutes left as the Magpies ended a run of three straight defeats in all competitions to leapfrog Liverpool into fifth on goal difference and move within four points of fourth-placed Tottenham, who have played two games more.
Hwang Hee-chan, another substitute, had levelled for Wolves seconds after coming on to cancel out Alexander Isak’s towering first-half header.
Wolves were second best for large periods but will feel aggrieved that they were not awarded a penalty, and that Nick Pope was not sent off, when the Newcastle goalkeeper appeared to take down Raul Jimenez six minutes before Isak’s opener, with referee Andy Madley waving away their appeals.
Pope then went on to make a number of fine saves to deny Julen Lopetegui’s side, who stay 13th and miss the chance to move six points clear of the relegation zone.
West Ham earned a point against Aston Villa which saw David Moyes’ struggling side move out of the Premier League relegation places on goal difference.
Villa striker Ollie Watkins continued his impressive form as he broke the deadlock with a 17th-minute header from left-back Alex Moreno’s sublime cross for his sixth goal in seven games.
The lively Said Benrahma took his opportunity to respond for the hosts from the penalty spot nine minutes later, firing his spot-kick out of reach of World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez after Leon Bailey’s foul on Lucas Paqueta.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended Casemiro after a Premier League red card against bottom club Southampton that leaves the midfielder facing a four-match ban.
Casemiro was dismissed after 34 minutes of the 0-0 draw for a tackle on Carlos Alcaraz, but Ten Hag has not ruled out an appeal.
The midfielder’s sending off followed a VAR review, with referee Anthony Taylor overturning his initial decision to show a yellow card for a tackle that hit the top of the ball first before going into Southampton forward Alcaraz’s leg.
As Casemiro was also dismissed against Crystal Palace last month, an additional game will be added to an automatic three-match ban, meaning he won’t be able to play a domestic match again until the trip to Nottingham Forest on 15 April.
It shows, he had played over 500 games in big leagues and never been sent off. Now it has happened twice.”
Ten Hag complained about the lack of consistency in the use of VAR, noting the referee was not sent to the monitor to review controversial incidents in Saturday’s game between Leicester and Chelsea.
Despite having a man advantage for almost an hour and managing 17 shots, Southampton were unable to capitalise and remain bottom of the Premier League.
Manchester City needed a second-half penalty from striker Erling Haaland to break the resistance of a dogged Crystal Palace and secure a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
Liverpool came crashing down to earth as Bournemouth stunned Juergen Klopp’s side with a 1-0 victory to move out of the Premier League’s relegation zone on Saturday, while Manchester City beat Crystal Palace to stay on Arsenal’s tail at the top.
Victory would have lifted Liverpool temporarily into fourth place but instead it was Philip Billing’s goal that settled the contest in favour of Bournemouth as the south coast side avenged a 9-0 hammering at Anfield earlier this season.
In the late kickoff, Manchester City struggled to break down a stubborn Palace side but an Erling Haaland penalty in the 78th minute saw them grab a 1-0 win to keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal.
City moved to 61 points, five points behind Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur took full advantage of Liverpool’s slip-up as they lifted the gloom of a dismal 10 days to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 at home thanks to Harry Kane’s double.
Tottenham, who exited the FA Cup and Champions League and lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league in their last three games, cemented themselves in fourth place with 48 points from 27 games with Liverpool on 42 from a game less.
Chelsea’s resurgence continued as they made it three consecutive wins in all competitions with a 3-1 victory at Leicester City who have now lost four league games in a row to leave manager Brendan Rodgers under pressure.
Everton eased their relegation fears as they became the first side to beat Brentford in the league since October — Dwight McNeil’s goal after 35 seconds sealing the points.
Leeds United twice came from a goal down to draw 2-2 at home to in-form Brighton and Hove Albion, although they ended the day back in the bottom three.
Southampton, who face third-placed Manchester United on Sunday are bottom with 21 points from 25 games with Leeds in 19th place on 23 points, the same as West Ham United who are in action against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Everton are up to 15th with 25 points, ahead of Leicester and Bournemouth who have 24.
PENALTY MISS
Liverpool’s record 7-0 hammering of Manchester United last weekend was expected to be followed up with another three points against a struggling Bournemouth side.
Three goals would have seen Liverpool equal the Premier League record of 12 goals against a single club in one season.
But Bournemouth had other ideas and resisted some early pressure before Billing steered home in the 28th minute.
Mohamed Salah blazed a second-half penalty wide for Liverpool and Bournemouth held on for a precious win.
“The game was pretty much the opposite of what we wanted to show and to do today,” a frustrated Klopp said.
“I think we played for pretty much 95 minutes the game Bournemouth wanted to play and a few minutes maybe, a few moments, we did the stuff we wanted to do.”
Tottenham’s season appeared to be fizzling out after a 0-0 draw with AC Milan on Wednesday sent them out of the Champions League to leave huge doubts about whether manager Antonio Conte would even last until the end of the season.
But they responded positively with Kane’s header in the 19th minute and a 35th-minute penalty putting them in control against a Forest side who offered little until it was too late.
Kane has now reached 20 goals in at least six Premier League campaigns, something only Alan Shearer and Sergio Aguero had previously managed.
Son Heung-min was also on target for Tottenham who suddenly look well-placed to claim fourth spot for the second successive season under Conte.
Chelsea remain in 10th place but the pressure is lifting off Graham Potter after goals by Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic earned them the points at Leicester.
“Three wins in the week at this level is very pleasing. Now we have to follow that up with a win next weekend,” Potter said.
