After another weekend of Premier League football, Manchester City have extended their lead at the top of the table while Manchester United again struggled against a top-six side.
City played before everyone else, beating West Ham 2-1 thanks to goals from defensive duo Ruben Dias and John Stones.
The win saw them move 12 points clear of rivals United, and even further ahead of the clubs following in the top six.
Manchester United’s goal drought vs ‘Big Six’ continues
United could only manage a goalless draw with Chelsea, playing poorly again against a fellow top side.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Co have still not won against any of the traditional ‘Big Six’ sides in the league this season, which will need rectifying when they play City next weekend.
Fortunately for Solskjaer’s team, both the other clubs in the top four also dropped points, one being West Ham and the other being Leicester City.
The Foxes were outdone by a surprising Arsenal performance, losing 3-1 at the King Power stadium.
Youri Tielemans had initially put them ahead, but goals from David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe saw the Gunners claim all three points.
Fellow north London club Tottenham, also impressed with an emphatic 4-0 win over Burnley.
The improved form of Gareth Bale continued, who scored either side of Harry Kane and Lucas Moura’s goals, as they brushed aside their opponents.
Liverpool end four-game losing streak
Liverpool ended their run of four consecutive losses in the league with a 2-0 victory at Sheffield United.
Curtis Jones’ strike was added to by an own goal from Kean Bryan as the reigning champions moved within two points of the Champions League spots.
Close behind Liverpool in the league are their local rivals Everton, with the sides only separated by goal difference after the Toffees’ 1-0 win over Southampton.
Richarlison scored inside the first 10 minutes as the Merseyside club kept up with the teams around them.
Controversy at The Hawthorns
There was chaos in West Brom’s 1-0 win over Brighton, with the latter missing two penalties and having a goal bizarrely ruled out, given again, and then eventually ruled out a second time.
A header from Kyle Bartley put the Baggies ahead, before Pascal Gross missed from the penalty spot, Lewis Dunk had his free-kick chalked off and Danny Welbeck fumbled their second spot kick.
Elsewhere, Fulham missed their chance to move a point away from safety following their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.
This came after Newcastle United’s 1-1 result against Wolves, with the Magpies now uncomfortably looking over their shoulder at the chasing Londoners.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles has put his side ahead, but Ruben Neves equalised for Wolves just 20 minutes later.
Finally, Aston Villa impressed against Leeds as Marcelo Bielsa’s side missed their opportunity to move closer to the top six.
Anwar El Ghazi scored the only goal of the game after just five minutes as Villa went within six points of the top four.
