🔬 The Debrief as Arsenal hand Liverpool the upper hand | OneFootball

Saturday's Premier League action did not disappoint with plenty to unpack.

Here is what we made of it all.

What happened? 📝

📸 Bryn Lennon - 2025 Getty Images

Justin Kluivert produced a hat-trick as Newcastle's hopes of sealing a club-record tenth win in all competitions ended with a 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth.

Leaders Liverpool left it late a as they snatched a 2-0 victory against Brentford which opened up a temporary seven-point cushion at the summit.

Elsewhere, Leicester City's woes continued with a similar score line at the hands of Fulham while West Ham also slipped to a two-goal reversal against Crystal Palace.

The day's late game saw Arsenal lose further ground in the title race after Aston Villa's second-half comeback condemned them to a 2-2 draw.

Player of the day 🔥

📸 JUSTIN TALLIS - AFP or licensors

When Arne Slot sent on Darwin Núñez midway through the second half at the Gtech Community Stadium, the home fans could not believe their luck.

Liverpool's much-maligned forward was seen as the antidote to a profligate showing but prompted inevitable chants comparing him to a poor man's Andy Carroll.

But Núñez left the Bees fans later eating their words with a quickfire brace in added time that saw the Anfield club sitting pretty at the summit with a comfortable margin.

Sometimes it really is best not to say anything at all.

Stat of the day 📊

What this means 🤔

📸 GLYN KIRK - AFP or licensors

Villa's rapid turnaround leaves Arsenal six points behind Liverpool in the title race, with the current leaders potentially widening their gulf with a game in hand to come.

Bournemouth are breathing down Newcastle's neck in the race for the top four as a point separates them after the St James' Park clash while Palace leapfrog Manchester United into 12th, clear of their defeated London rivals West Ham.

Leicester, meanwhile, are firmly mired in the relegation battle.

What they said 🗣

📸 HENRY NICHOLLS - AFP or licensors

Fresh from the final whistle, Gabriel Martinelli reflected on Arsenal's draw, telling Sky Sports: "It's a disappointing day. We trust in ourselves, and we have to keep going and improving - it is a long journey to go. We have to focus on ourselves. That's football, that's the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world."

Villa goal scorer Youri Tielemans also had his say on the hosts' disallowed late winner: "We fought really well to come back into the game. Handball is handball when it is a goal. It is what it is. We have had some bad results away from home. We just need that consistency away from home because we're doing well at Villa Park. It gives us a massive boost of confidence for the rest of the season."

Arne Slot was full of praise for Núñez after his heroics: "I think he's having a good season. He's in competition with a lot of good players, so that's why he's not every single game on the pitch. But I'm very happy with him – not only because he scored today two goals but that, of course, helps."

No punches pulled by Eddie Howe on Newcastle's defeat to his old club: "Bournemouth were better than us. They never allowed us to find our rhythm. That’s not the level we’ve been performing at. We didn’t have control in any phase. We looked devoid of energy and had a real problem athletically."

West Ham boss Graham Potter is also giving credit where it's due: “Palace played well. We were probably a little bit passive. We looked leggy and unable to play with any intensity. We were unable to sustain long enough attacks.”

Marco Silva admits his Fulham side had to really work for their win at the King Power: “It was really difficult in the first half, they started quicker than us. But we started the second half well with the goal and from there we built the win … it was a well-deserved three points.”

What's next? 👀

Sunday sees another four games with Everton and Tottenham doing battle while United entertain Brighton and Nottingham Forest take on Southampton.

Ipswich Town will close out the weekend's action as they play host to Manchester City.

📸 GLYN KIRK - AFP or licensors