Erling Haaland equalled the Premier League file for objectives in a 38-game season on Saturday as Manchester City closed the hole on leaders Arsenal to simply three factors after a day of drama in the top-four race.
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The Norway ahead netted twice in the first half of City’s 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Leicester to succeed in 32 objectives — the similar as Liverpool ahead Mohamed Salah’s tally in 2017/18.
John Stones opened the scoring at the Etihad earlier than a purpose from the penalty spot and a intelligent dinked end from Haaland.
Guardiola substituted the 22-year-old at half-time, denying him the probability to seek out the total single-season file of 34 objectives in the Premier League period — set in the days of 42 video games per aspect.
Leicester, with Dean Smith in cost for the first time, pulled a purpose again in the second half by means of Kelechi Iheanacho however they missed probabilities to place pressure on Pep Guardiola’s aspect and stay second from backside of the desk after a fourth straight defeat.
Earlier, Aston Villa put themselves in the combine for a top-four end by beating Newcastle 3-0 for a fifth straight league win as Tottenham additionally misplaced.
Villa are nonetheless six points off the top four, however are in red-hot type after a seventh win in eight video games.
Ollie Watkins, who has now scored 11 objectives in 12 matches, netted twice after Jacob Ramsey had fired Unai Emery’s males into an early lead.
Emery, who took over at Villa Park in October, was cautious about his aspect’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League regardless of their spectacular run.
“We can think about being a candidate for a Europa (League) position but the top four is very, very difficult,” stated the Spaniard.
“Of course if we keep winning we can add for the next weeks, but not now.”
Newcastle had gained their earlier 5 video games to climb to 3rd, however barely laid a glove on Villa to go away Eddie Howe’s males trying over their shoulder.
The Newcastle boss stated it was his aspect’s worst efficiency of the season.
“We weren’t ourselves, we didn’t represent ourselves in the way we can,” stated Howe. “That is the first time it’s happened in a long time. Today we were just a level off.”
– Spurs blow probability –
With Manchester United not in motion till Sunday, at Nottingham Forest, Tottenham had the probability to maneuver into the prime 4 however blew it as Bournemouth took a doubtlessly decisive step in direction of survival.
Son Heung-min fired Spurs into an early lead, however the Cherries hit again with objectives from Matias Vina and Dominic Solanke.
Substitute Arnaut Danjuma regarded to have salvaged some extent for Spurs when he scored in opposition to his previous membership two minutes from time however Dango Ouattara curled dwelling in the ninety fifth minute to carry Bournemouth six factors away from the relegation zone.
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Brighton boosted their possibilities of European soccer with a 2-1 win at Chelsea to extend Frank Lampard’s look ahead to a primary victory since returning to Stamford Bridge as interim supervisor.
Conor Gallagher opened the scoring however Brighton had been completely dominant from then on and will have had greater than a one-goal margin of victory to point out for his or her 26 pictures on purpose.
Danny Welbeck got here off the bench to attain the equaliser simply earlier than half-time and Paraguayan teenager Julio Enciso gained the recreation in spectacular type with a thunderbolt into the prime nook 21 minutes from time.
Crystal Palace and Wolves edged in direction of security but it surely was a horrible day for Everton, who misplaced 3-1 at dwelling to Fulham.
Bottom aspect Southampton look more and more more likely to be relegated after Eberechi Eze scored twice for Palace in a 2-0 win at St Mary’s to clinch a 3rd consecutive victory for the Eagles since Roy Hodgson returned as supervisor.
Wolves are seven factors away from the drop zone after they beat Brentford 2-0 because of objectives from Diego Costa and Hwang Hee-chan.
Everton stay outdoors the relegation zone solely on purpose distinction after objectives from Fulham’s Harrison Reed, Harry Wilson and Dan James.
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