🦁 Villa run riot at Bramall Lane; Newcastle, Luton thriller; Brighton win | OneFootball

The Premier League returned on Saturday with a host of fascinating fixtures.

Here is what went down around the grounds

Villa put five past Sheffield United

Scorers: McGinn 12′, Watkins 16′, Bailey 20′, Tielemans 30′, Moreno 47′

Aston Villa thrashed Sheffield United away from home to move back into the top-four.

The best chance of the opening 10 minutes fell to Ben Brereton Díaz, but the Chilean saw his acute effort just kept out by Emi Martínez.

Villa responded well however, hitting Sheffield United on the break to play Ollie Watkins in behind. While his initial chipped effort was cleared off the line, John McGinn was waiting to pounce and tap home the opener.

It quickly got worse for the Blades as Watkins doubled Villa’s lead on another lightning-quick counter-attack.

Only four minutes later Villa found their third, yet again on the break. This time it was Leon Bailey’s curled effort found the corner of the net.

Bramall Lane began to empty only a half-hour in when Youri Tielemans fired his shot in off the bar to put the visitors four ahead.

It took Villa less than two minutes in the second-half to reopen the floodgates as Àlex Moreno sent a delicious volley into the back of the net almost immediately after the restart.

Brighton win El Gatwicko

Scorers: Dunk 3′, Hinshelwood 32′, Buonanotte 40′, Joao Pedro 84′; Mateta 71′

Brighton hammered Crystal Palace 4-1 to put Roy Hodgson under even more pressure as Eagles boss.

Crystal Palace travelled down the M62 for a clash against their hated rivals on the south coast, looking to build on their win over Sheffield United in midweek.

It took the Seagulls just three minutes to take the lead as captain Lewis Dunk headed in unmarked from a corner.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side doubled their advantage just after the half hour mark as Jack Hinshelwood headed in at the back post.

And just 60 seconds later the hosts got their third as Facundo Buonanotte stroked in first time.

It was a shocking first half for Roy Hodgson’s side and it was no surprise to see some Palace fans leave at the interval.

Palace did manage to pull a goal back late in the second half as Jean-Philippe Mateta headed home.

Brighton’s three-goal lead was restored late on however as Joao Pedro scored his 19th of the campaign in all competitions.

Fofana to the rescue

Scorers: Fofana 71′; Joao Palhinha 18′, Muniz 21′

David Fofana came off the bench to rescue a point for Burnley as he scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Fulham.

A defeat for Burnley here could really spell trouble for their survival hopes with the Clarets currently five points behind Luton in 18th.

Things started badly for Vincent Kompany’s side as João Palhinha’s headed in from a corner after just 18 minutes.

The Cottagers then doubled their advantage just a few minutes later as Rodrigo Muniz beat the offside trap and finished with a neat chip.

Fulham weren’t taking things any easier in the second half with James Trafford in the Burnley goal making two excellent saves.

Burnley did get one back in the final quarter though as David Fofana scored his first for the club.

But the Chelsea loanee wasn’t done there as he netted an equaliser in added time to claim a share of the points.

Eight-goal thriller

Scorers: Longstaff 8′ 23′ Trippier 67′, Barnes 74′; Osho 21′, Barkley 40′, Morris (PEN) 59′, Adebayo 62′

Newcastle and Luton played out a Premier League classic as they drew 4-4 at St James’ Park.

Rob Edwards’ side travelled up to the north east having enjoyed their best win of the season in midweek as they trounced Brighton 4-0.

But it was Newcastle who opened the scoring on eight minutes as Sean Longstaff arrived late in the area and finished well.

It didn’t take long for the Hatters to pull a goal back though as Gabriel Osho headed in from close range.

Luton were level for all of two minutes however as Longstaff grabbed his second of the afternoon after good work by Antony Gordon.

This topsy-turvy game took another twist just before the break as Ross Barkley netted to equalise for a second time.

Into the second half and Luton came flying out of the blocks as they earned themselves a penalty on 57 minutes as Dan Burn pulled Osho back inside the box.

Up stepped Carlton Morris, who slotted in at the second time of asking.

Luton then got their fourth on 62 minutes as Elijah Adebayo slotted home to complete a brilliant week for the striker.

This was turning into one of the great Premier League games as Kieran Trippier beat his man at the far post and volleyed in to pull one back.

Amazingly, there was still room for more drama as Harvey Barnes waltzed in on goal and finished superbly to bring Newcastle level.

Late drama at Goodison

Scorers: Richarlison 4′ 40′; Calvert-Lewin 30′, Branthwaite 90+4′

Jarrad Branthwaite scored late on to earn Everton a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Richarlison returned to Goodison Park as he led the Spurs attack against his old side with Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson in support.

And it took the Brazilian striker just four minutes to strike as he found space inside the area and prodded home first time.

Sean Dyche’s side were looking to get themselves back in the game though and almost equalised soon after as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header went just over the bar.

On the half hour mark though, the Toffees got their equaliser as Calvert-Lewin reacted quickest from a corner and headed in from just a few yards out.

Against the run of play however, the north London side went ahead again.

Richarlison expertly curled an effort into the far corner for his second of the afternoon.

Into the second half and Spurs almost added a third on 50 minutes as Pedro Porro’s rasping effort was saved well by Jordan Pickford.

Richarlison was angling for a hat-trick and almost got it on the hour mark only for his close range shot to be palmed away.

The home side were going all out for an equaliser and they really should have got it late on as Youssef Chermiti’s volley was saved comfortably by Vicario.

The Toffees did get their equaliser in the fourth minute of added time as Jarrad Branthwaite headed in at the far post to earn a share of the points.

Sunday sees four games including a blockbuster encounter between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates.