Premier League Gameweek 31 began on Friday at Craven Cottage, a few hours after the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died at the age of 99. As a mark of respect, the players wore black armbands, and there was a minute’s silence before the games.
READ: Premier League: Matchday 31 Preview
Fulham 0 Wolverhamton Wanderers 1
Before scoring a late goal through Adama Traore, Wolves had been denied earlier. The video assistant referee (VAR) ruled Daniel Podence’s arm fractionally offside, before he crossed for Willian Jose to head in. The goal was Traore’s first in 49 Premier League games.
The defeat leaves Fulham in 18th, one place and six points behind Newcastle, who won at Turf Moor. The hosts have also played two games more than their nearest relegation rival. With just six games left to play, they have little room for further error.
The win also took Wolves to 38 points, 12 clear of Fulham. They are now surely safe from getting dragged into the relegation battle.
Crystal Palace 1 – 4 Chelsea
Kai Havertz led the attacking line superbly for Chelsea, scoring his second Premier League goal in his team’s win at Selhurst Park.
After scoring the opener, the Germany international set up the second for Christian Pulisic to fire in from close range.
Kurt Zouma scored the third for the Blues at the half-hour mark when he rose highest to head in a Mason Mount free-kick.
Christian Benteke reduced the deficit by heading in Jeffrey Schlupp’s cross to reward an improved second-half with 25 minutes to go. Pulisic’s far-post finish from Reece James’s cross ended any hope of an unlikely comeback.
Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa
Liverpool secured their first win at Anfield in 2021. The victory also brought an end to their six home-game losing run with a comeback win over Aston Villa.
Ollie Watkins, who scored a hat-trick in Villa’s 7-2 win in the reverse game, put the visitors ahead in the first half after collecting a thorough pass from McGill.
Liverpool thought they had leveled the tie through Bobby Firmino but were denied by an extremely tight VAR offside decision. It was ruled that Diogo Jota was just offside in the build-up.
Mohammed Salah restored parity through a rebound from Andy Robertson shortly after Emililio Martinez parried the ball into the Egyptian’s path.
Villa got close to getting their second as Trezeguet’s spinning effort hit the post.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold had to make a statement after being left out by Gareth Southgate during the international break. He scored the winner in injury-time from the edge of the box after Villa failed to clear the ball.
The win takes Liverpool to 6th, three points behind West Ham, occupying the final Champions League qualifying spot.
Manchester City 1 Leeds United 2
Stuart Dallas’s brace was enough to put a stop to Manchester City’s winning streak at home. Despite being a man down away from home, Marcelo Bielsa’s men scored an injury-time winner to beat the runaway leaders at Etihad Stadium.
Dallas scored the opener three minutes before the break with a low shot that went in off the inside of a post.
Leeds went a man down when skipper Liam Cooper was dismissed for a tackle on Gabriel Jesus. This was before the opening period was over and it appeared that the visitors had been given the visitors an impossible task.
Predictably, City dominated the second period and scored their equaliser in the 76th minute when Ferran Torres drove home his first Premier League goal since December.
Fans expected City to complete a triumphant comeback, but it was Leeds who came out tops. Dallas, a Northern Ireland international, ran on to Ezgjan Alioski’s through ball before sending a shot past Ederson from the edge of the area to give the Lancashire club maximum points.
City must rake in 11 points from their remaining six games to guarantee a third league title in four seasons.
Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 3
Arsenal prepared for the UEFA Europa League meeting against Slavia Prague with an emphatic win against Sheffield United.
Arsenal made their domination count with a well-worked team goal from Alexandre Lacazette. He has scored 13 goals in the Premier League this season, scoring five goals in his last six matches.
Gabriel Martinelli doubled Arsenal’s lead in the second half to score his first start since January, as Arsenal ended a run of four games without a win.
The Brazilian shot into an unguarded goal after Aaron Ramsdale pushed out Nicolas Pepe’s shot.
Lacazette then clinically got his brace in the closing stages after he was put clear by Thomas Party.
The win moves Arsenal to 9th on the log, nine points behind Chelsea and occupying the automatic qualifying spot of the Europa League.
Arsenal’s first clean sheet in 15 games lifted the Gunners above Leeds and Aston Villa with 45 points.
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United came from behind to record a win over Tottenham Hotspur and hold on to the second spot.
The defeat recorded by Jose Mourinho’s men further damages Tottenham’s hopes of making the Premier League’s top four.
Spurs knew that a victory would keep them within reach of Champions League places. However they produced another colourless performance against a United side that thoroughly deserved the maximum points.
VAR canceled Edinson Cavani’s early smooth finish strike in the first half. The goal was controversially ruled out after it showed that Scott McTominay caught Son Heung-Min with his trailing arm in the build-up.
United felt a sense of injustice when Son put Spurs ahead before the break. But the Red Devils recovered impressively to win the match, leaving them 11 points behind leaders Manchester City and with a game in hand.
United restored parity when Fred pounced on the ball after Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris had saved a shot from Cavani.
Cavani finally got on the scoresheet with 11 minutes left when he launched himself to head beyond Lloris from substitute Mason Greenwood’s cross.
Greenwood then completed the formalities with virtually the last kick of the game with a too powerful finish for Lloris at his near post.
West Ham United 3 Leicester City 2
Jesse Lingard continues his stunning form by opening the scoring brace against the Foxes, hoping for Champions League football next season. The Manchester United loanee has become the first West Ham player to score in four consecutive Premier League games since Michail Antonio in September 2016.
They proved their mettle again, going 3-0 up and holding on during a late Leicester rally to climb back into fourth. Lingard opened the goals account when Arthur Masuaku’s cross went through to right-back Vladimir Coufal. Coufal then cut back for the Englishman to sweep the ball inside Kasper Schmeichel’s near post from the edge of the box.
The hosts got the second when Jarrod Bowen beat the offside trap to race on Issa Diop’s long ball. The winger squared it for Lingard to tap into an empty net for his eighth goal in nine Premier League games since arriving on loan from Manchester United.
Lingard, who is likely to be in the England squad for the Euros, then contributed to West Ham’s third goal right after half-time. Bowen poked in from Tomas Soucek’s pass to round off a clinical team move.
Leicester reduced the deficit with a goal from Kelechi Iheanacho. The Nigerian striker then got his brace in stoppage time; his 11th goal in 11 games as the Hammers ensured they did not surrender a 3-goal lead. The win moves the Hammers to within a point of third-placed Leicester.
Burnley 1 Newcastle United 2
Alan Saint-Maximin was the game-changer for Newcastle United as they came back from a goal down to defeat Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies began the turnaround when the Frenchman scored his third goal of the season seven minutes after coming off the bench. The win ensures they secured maximum points that took them six points away from the relegation zone.
Before his introduction, the Magpies were second best to a well-drilled Burnley. The hosts took the lead in the first half through Matej Vydra, following Chris Wood’s excellent work.
Before scoring the winner, Saint-Maximin had set up Jacob Murphy for the equaliser following a twisting run.
Burnley failed to take their chances after pressing aggressively for an equaliser. The defeat leaves them a point above their opponents, increasing their relegation concerns.
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Everton 0
Everton didn’t secure the win that could have aided their fight for the top four. The point means that the Seagulls edge towards Premier League survival.
They could have scored and perhaps secured maximum points but Neal Maupay’s shot got deflected wide. The attacker had two of the game’s best chances.
The Seagulls are now 15th on the log, seven points clear of 18th-placed Fulham, who have played one game more.
West Bromwich Albion 3 Southampton 0
The Baggies continue their fight against relegation with another 3-0 win over Southampton at the Hawthorns.
This is West Brom’s second straight win in the league after thrashing Chelsea 5-2 at Stamford Bridge last week.
The host got into control after two goals in three first-half minutes through Matheus Pereira and Matt Phillips.
Callum Robinson’s fine finish then completed the Baggies’ biggest home win in the Premier League since November 2016.
Southampton would have got one back in the injury time, but Jame Ward-Prowse couldn’t beat Sam Johnstone from the penalty spot.
Although they are still in deep trouble, West Brom is now eight points adrift of fourth-bottom Newcastle.
Premier League GameWeek 31 witnessed a total of 30 goals.
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