Roundup of the latest Premier League action which saw huge twists at opposite ends of the table, as teams continue to fight for the title, European qualification and survival.
Manchester City entered this round with a six point lead over Liverpool in the title race but by the end of an extended matchweek, their advantage was brutally reduced following three matches to set up a tense fight for the summit during the run-in.
Down in the relegation zone, several teams continue to fight for survival with surprise results leaving one iconic team clinging on above the drop.
Weekend
Man City remain top of the table despite being held to an unexpected goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Monday evening, which saw the Citizens fail to score domestically for the first time since suffering a home loss to Palace in late October.
Liverpool consequently reduced their deficit to just four points after Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah struck in both halves to secure a 2-0 away win at Brighton.
Chelsea continued to occupy third following a narrow home win against Newcastle, after Kai Havertz rifled in a 89th minute winner from Jorginho’s chipped long ball.
Goals from Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette fired Arsenal to a 2-0 home win over Leicester as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners retained fourth.
Down in the relegation zone, Norwich suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Leeds which left the Canaries still rock-bottom after Joe Gelhardt struck a last-gasp winner for the hosts, following Kenny McLean’s equaliser to cancel out Rodrigo’s opener.
Ivan Toney’s late brace and a red card for Nathan Collins saw Burnley suffer a tough 2-0 defeat at Brentford which left Sean Dyche’s Clarets still in the relegation zone.
Cucho Hernandez’s first-half brace fired Watford to a shock 2-1 win at Southampton which saw Roy Hodgson’s Hornets climb above Burnley into 18th, yet remain in the bottom three on virtue of goal difference.
Everton consequently now sit outside of the drop zone on goal difference as Frank Lampard’s Toffees suffered a narrow home defeat to Wolves, as Connor Coady headed in a 49th minute winner before the hosts saw Jonjoe Kenny red carded for a foul.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo fired fifth-placed Manchester United to a 3-2 home win over Tottenham Hotspur as the Portuguese netted his first hat-trick for Utd since January 2008.
Andriy Yarmolenko scored on his emotional return to West Ham following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to fire the Hammers to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa, with Said Benrahma providing assists for Yarmolenko and Pablo Fornals’ goals.
Midweek
Two goals in the space of eight second-half minutes from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino saw Liverpool defeat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, which meant that Jurgen Klopp’s Reds further cut their deficit in the title race down to a single point.
Tottenham climbed to seventh with a 2-0 away victory at Brighton as Cristian Romero and Harry Kane found the net either side of half-time.
Despite having Allan red carded in the 83rd minute for a foul on Allan Saint-Maximin, Everton moved three points clear of the relegation zone with Alex Iwobi’s injury-time winner to snatch a 1-0 home win over Newcastle.
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