Erling Haaland equalled the Premier League file for targets in a 38-game season on Saturday as Manchester City closed the hole on leaders Arsenal to only three factors after a day of drama within the top-four race.
The Norway ahead netted twice within the first half of City’s 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Leicester to achieve 32 targets — the identical as Liverpool ahead Mohamed Salah’s tally in 2017/18.
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John Stones opened the scoring on the Etihad earlier than a objective from the penalty spot and a intelligent dinked end from Haaland.
Guardiola substituted the 22-year-old at half-time, denying him the possibility to seek out the general single-season file of 34 targets within the Premier League period — set within the days of 42 video games per aspect.
Leicester, with Dean Smith in cost for the primary time, pulled a objective again within the second half by Kelechi Iheanacho however they missed probabilities to place strain on Pep Guardiola’s aspect and stay second from backside of the desk after a fourth straight defeat.
Haaland’s on monitor to interrupt the Premier League file for many targets in a season. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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VILLA REVIVAL CONTINUES AS STAR’S PURPLE PATCH CONTINUES
Earlier, Aston Villa put themselves within 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 factors off the highest 4, however are in red-hot kind after a seventh win in eight video games.
Ollie Watkins, who has now scored 11 targets 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 take into consideration being a candidate for a Europa (League) place however the prime 4 could be very, very tough,” stated the Spaniard.
“Of course if we hold profitable we are able to add for the subsequent weeks, however 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 signify ourselves in the way in which we are able to,” stated Howe.
“That is the primary time it’s occurred in a very long time. Today we have been only a degree off.”
Ollie Watkins has 11 targets in his final 12 video games. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SPURS BOSS DELIVERS BRUTAL HANDSHAKE SNUB AFTER SHOCK LOSS TO STRUGGLERS
With Manchester United not in motion till Sunday, at Nottingham Forest, Tottenham had the possibility to maneuver into the highest 4 however blew it as Bournemouth took a probably decisive step in the direction of survival.
Son Heung-min fired Spurs into an early lead, however the Cherries hit again with targets from Matias Vina and Dominic Solanke.
Substitute Arnaut Danjuma appeared to have salvaged a degree for Spurs when he scored in opposition to his outdated membership two minutes from time however Dango Ouattara curled dwelling within the ninety fifth minute to carry Bournemouth six factors away from the relegation zone.
After the last-gasp dagger, Tottenham interim boss Cristian Stellini made a beeline for the tunnel and refused to shake his reverse quantity’s hand after the sport, a transfer that Cherries boss Gary O’Neil branded as “poor.”
“When we have been on the mistaken finish at our place, I shook the opposition supervisor’s hand,” O’Neil advised BBC Sport.
“I used to be disillusioned with them at this time. I believed to go straight down the tunnel and never shake fingers was poor on their half.
“But it’s what it’s.”
Ivan Perisic couldn’t imagine Spurs’ collapse in opposition to Bournemouth. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GROUNDS
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 have been totally dominant from then on and may have had greater than a one-goal margin of victory to indicate for his or her 26 photographs on objective.
Danny Welbeck got here off the bench to attain the equaliser simply earlier than half-time and Paraguayan teenager Julio Enciso gained the sport in spectacular model with a thunderbolt into the highest nook 21 minutes from time.
Crystal Palace and Wolves edged in the direction of security however it 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 due to targets from Diego Costa and Hwang Hee-chan.
Everton stay outdoors the relegation zone solely on objective distinction after targets from Fulham’s Harrison Reed, Harry Wilson and Dan James.
FULL RESULTS
Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle
Southampton 0-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-3 Fulham
Wolves 2-0 Brentford
Chelsea 1-2 Brighton
Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Bournemouth
Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City
