English Premier League week 34 sees Manchester City beat Fulham 1-2 to return to the top of the table as unstoppable Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season in all competitions after an early penalty kick, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes scored his 100th career league goal to boost Champions League hopes and end Aston Villa’s 10-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 win. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota’s injury-time winner gave Liverpool a dramatic 4-3 victory at Anfield after Tottenham allowed three goals behind inside 15 minutes and in another match Newcastle’s Callum Wilson took his Premier League tally to 15 goals for the season as the magpies fought back to beat bottom club Southampton3-1 at St James’ Park and strengthen their place in the top four as we take a look at EPL results.
Relentless City hunts three cups: Premier League, Champions League and FA
Man City’s win over Fulham saw them go above Arsenal for the first time since mid-February as they aim to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.
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This was City’s first match since the 4-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday. City are in control of the title race as they aim to become English champions for the fifth time in six seasons.
Haaland and Alvarez were on the score sheet this means Haaland scored his 18th goal in his past 12 matches as City missed influential midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who Guardiola said “was not feeling good”, while Bernardo Silva was on the bench and Riyad Mahrez and Alvarez were brought into the side.
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City’s win moves them at the top of the table and one point clear of – Arsenal who play Chelsea on Tuesday with Man City having a game in hand.
Guardiola’s side is unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions and without a loss since 5 February. However, Pep’s side have six Premier League games left and needs to win five of them to retain their title.
City’s next matches are at home to struggling West Ham and Leeds on 3 and 6 May respectively, before the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in Spain on May 9.
Manchester United: Match-winner Fernandes reaches century, 1-0 Win
Man Utd playmaker Bruno Fernandes scored his 100th career league goal to boostbUnited’s Champions League hopes and end Aston Villa’s 10-match unbeaten run.
The Portuguese playmaker’s arrival from Sporting Lisbon in 2020 helped rescue a campaign that was going nowhere and ensured United finished third. Astonishingly, he has remained consistent throughout a club career that now extends to 178 games.
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Finding it at the back of the net against Villa makes it Fernandes’ 11th goal of the season underlining his desire.
“He’s so tough,” United boss Erik ten Hag said. “A couple of weeks ago there were questions about his captaincy. “It’s crazy because he’s such a big leader – by example. He gives so much energy to the team besides his smartness. “But also his determination, his passion and his resilience, so I think we as a team are so happy. “We need such players if you want to win games if you want to win trophies.”
The prelude to the game was marked by a loud and colourful protest against the Glazer family by some United supporters.
It is reported that fans began to gather in the city centre three hours before kick-off. While the overwhelming majority were in their seats by kick-off, hundreds continue to protest outside the directors’ box, forcing United to close various entrances for security reasons.
Friday evening marked the deadline for bids to buy United, amid suggestions co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer may choose to remain at the club in some capacity.
Shaky Liverpool escaped to victory
Seven goal thriller at Anfield saw Liverpool’s late show, capped by Jota’s winner, was greeted with huge relief as well as celebration inside Anfield as a fast start going into a steep decline to allow Spurs a route back into the game ending 4-3.
Diogo Jota’s injury-time winner gave Liverpool a dramatic victory at Anfield after Tottenham looked on course to salvage a point despite going three goals behind inside 15 minutes.
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Liverpool’s rearguard was exposed at regular intervals and they were thankful for the woodwork twice in the second half as Spurs, who looked out of contention, gratefully accepted the encouragement they were being given.
Liverpool are right in the fight for a place in Europe as they overhauled Spurs, but this was a performance that demonstrated once again the two sides to their game they have shown throughout this season.
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Spurs were 5-0 down after 20 minutes at Newcastle United and swiftly found themselves three goals adrift at Anfield as Liverpool delivered an opening salvo that left them chasing what looked like a lost cause.
Curtis Jones opened the scoring in the third minute from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross before Luis Diaz, making his first start since suffering a knee injury in October that required surgery, turned in Mohamad Salah’s delivery at the near post two minutes later.
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Liverpool moves up to fifth to retain slim hopes of Champions League football but earlier victories for Manchester United and Newcastle United make this an increasingly long shot.
On-form Wilson leading Newcastle’s charge in the top four race
Callum Wilson took his Premier League tally to 15 goals for the season as Newcastle fought back to beat bottom club Southampton 3-1 at St James’ Park and strengthen their place in the top four.
However, the arrival of £60m forward Alexander Isak back in August left Wilson’s long-term future at Newcastle in some doubt, as Eddie Howe’s side spent big to give them the quality to compete at the top end of the table.
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He scored twice in the thrashing of Everton at Goodison Park but was among the substitutes in this game with Isak preferred in attack.
After a fairly below-par display by Newcastle in the first half, Howe turned to Wilson and his arrival on the pitch completely changed the home side’s attack.
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For the second game in a row, he could easily have finished with a hat-trick but his two goals continued his incredible run of form in front of goal – he has now scored eight goals in his last seven games.
Southampton, meanwhile, remains six points adrift at the bottom of the table and staring relegation to the Championship in the face.
English Premier League Week 34 results
Crystal Palace 4-3 West Ham
Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Brighton 6-0 Wolves
Bournemouth 4-1 Leeds United
Fulham 1-2 Manchester City
Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 3-1 Southampton
Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham
English Premier League Tuesday Match
Arsenal vs Chelsea at 10:00 pm
