🦁 Arsenal and Liverpool suffer major Premier League title blows | OneFootball

There was three Premier League games today that had major implications on both the title race and the chase for Champions League qualification.

Good evening for Emery

Scorers: Bailey 84′, Watkins 87′

Arsenal suffered a first league loss of 2024 as Aston Villa and Unai Emery stunned the Emirates with a late 2-0 victory.

Mikel Arteta’s side started much the better, with Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard looking dangerous whenever they got on the ball. Villa barely had a touch of the ball as they looked to just hold on in the opening 15 minutes.

Ollie Watkins was the outlet for Unai Emery’s men but they struggled to get him in threatening positions as David Raya’s gloves remained untouched.

The Gunners’ intricate passing was delightful at times but trying to navigate a way through the Villa defence was proving a hard task.

Watkins did get away just before the 40-minute mark after a mistake fron Gabriel. The England striker’s shot went beyond Raya but hit the post and agonisingly went across the box.

Arsenal quickly responded but Leandro Trossard’s close range shot was somehow stopped by their old stopper Emi Martinez.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with chances at a premium. It felt as if one goal could be the difference.

Villa thought they had it but again were denied by the woodwork just after the hour mark. Youri Tielemans hit a combination of post and bar with a stunning curled effort from outside the box.

As the clock ticked by, the game felt even more tense with both sides cautious to overload in attack.

Villa broke the deadlock with just six minutes to go, Leon Bailey finishing from a tight angle at the back post after Lucas Digne’s dangerous cross evaded everyone.

It was 2-0 three minutes later as Ollie Watkins hit the Gunners on the break, holding off Emile Smith Rowe to loft a sublime finish over Raya.

Villa held out to seal a double over Arsenal for the season, push three points clear of Spurs in fourth and complete a perfect weekend for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Same old story

Scorers: Eze 10′

Liverpool’s title hopes took a huge dent on Sunday as they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace.

Jürgen Klopp’s side could go top of the Premier League with a win here as Oliver Glasner’s Palace travelled to Anfield.

But it was the away side who took the lead on 10 minutes as Eberechi Eze found space inside the area and tapped in past Alisson.

The home side could have been two goals down soon after as Jean-Philippe Mateta chipped an effort towards goal but Andy Robertson managed to clear off the line.

Wataru Endo and Luis Diaz then hit the crossbar and post in quick succession as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser.

But Palace were ahead as the first half ended with Liverpool cursing their unbelievably sloppy opening 45 minutes.

Into the second half and Darwin Núñez looked destined to score but his effort from six yards was saved well by Dean Henderson.

It was then Diogo Jota’s turn to go close as the Portugal international struck an effort off Nathaniel Clyne when he really should have scored.

Curtis Jones then fired an effort wide after bursting past the Palace backline.

Brazilian at his best

Scorers: Andreas Pereira 9′ 72′

Andreas Pereira was at the double as his goals saw Fulham beat West Ham 2-0.

A win for David Moyes’ side could see them go into sixth place with Fulham victorious just twice on their travels all season.

But it was the Cottagers who took the lead as Andreas Pereira capitalised on a defensive mix-up and slotted home.

James Ward-Prowse and Mohamed Kudus both went close with speculative efforts but the away side led going into the break.

Fulham thought they had a second on the hour mark but Alex Iwobi’s effort was saved well by Lukasz Fabiański.

It was Pereira again who doubled Fulham’s lead with 20 minutes remaining as he found space inside the are and tucked an effort under Fabiański.

Monday sees Chelsea take on Everton at Stamford Bridge.