Review

Haaland steps up as Man City put pressure on Arsenal

11 Mar 2023

Premier League - Crystal Palace v Manchester City

Striker's 28th goal of the season edges champions past Palace to close gap at the top to two points

Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal to two points with a hard-fought victory at Crystal Palace thanks to Erling Haaland‘s penalty.

CRY

0-1

MCI

After dominating the match at Selhurst Park, missing a number of chances, Man City finally broke the deadlock 12 minutes from time.

Palace undid all their sterling defensive work by switching off as City took a short corner. Michael Olise, in trying to recover, clattered into Ilkay Gundogan to concede a penalty.

Haaland stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way for his league-leading 28th goal of the season.

City have 61 points and will be hoping that Fulham can do them a favour tomorrow when they host leaders Arsenal at 14:00 GMT.

Palace, who failed to have a shot on target for the third match running, are still winless in 2023 and remain 12th with 27 points, only four above the relegation zone.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Manchester City MCI	38	+61	89
2	Arsenal ARS	38	+45	84

Spurs end week on a high

Tottenham Hotspur took advantage of Liverpool’s shock 1-0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth to go six points clear in fourth, beating Nottingham Forest 3-1 at home.

Harry Kane scored his eighth headed goal of 2022/23 before converting a penalty which took his tally for the season to 20, the sixth time he has reached that total in a Premier League campaign.

Son Heung-min’s 99th Premier League goal made it 3-0 in the second half.

Forest got a late goal through Joe Worrall’s header and had a chance of a second in stoppage time, but Andre Ayew's tame penalty was saved.

After their defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend was followed by a midweek UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan, the revitalising victory gives Spurs 48 points from 27 matches, six clear of Liverpool who have played a match fewer. Forest remain 14th with 26 points.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
4	Newcastle United NEW	38	+35	71
5	Liverpool LIV	38	+28	67
6	Brighton & Hove Albion BHA	38	+19	62
7	Aston Villa AVL	38	+5	61

Top Billing

Bottom club AFC Bournemouth hit in-form Liverpool’s hopes of climbing into the top four with a 1-0 win at Vitality Stadium.

Philip Billing got the only goal in the 28th minute, the first Liverpool have conceded in six matches.

Liverpool had a great chance to equalise on 69 minutes with their first penalty of the season, but Mohamed Salah missed the target from the spot for the first time in his Premier League career.

After losing a 2-0 lead last time out at Arsenal, AFC Bournemouth held on to pick up only their second win in 11 matches, and first over Liverpool in eight.

Chelsea claim hat-trick of wins

Chelsea continued their revival with a 3-1 win at struggling Leicester City.

Ben Chilwell volleyed Chelsea in front against his former team, but Leicester levelled through Patson Daka’s thumping long-range strike.

Kai Havertz restored Chelsea’s lead just before half-time with a cool lobbed finish from Enzo Fernandez’s sublime chipped through-ball. It was the first time Chelsea had scored twice in the first half this season.

They sealed a third win in a row in all competitions with a superb Mateo Kovacic volley, before Leicester defender Wout Faes received a second booking late on.

Chelsea remain 10th with 37 points, while a fourth defeat in a row drops Leicester to 16th on 24 points, only one above the relegation zone.

Everton end Brentford streak

Everton also rose out of the bottom three, climbing to 15th after ending Brentford’s 12-match unbeaten run.

Dwight McNeil scored the only goal after 35 seconds with a fierce drive at Goodison Park.

Brentford threw the kitchen sink at the Toffees defence, who stood firm to take Everton to 25 points. Brentford stay ninth on 38 points.

Harrison makes amends

Jack Harrison scored at both ends as Leeds United twice came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw against high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion.

Alexis Mac Allister headed Brighton in front but Patrick Bamford’s deflected shot sent the teams in level at half-time.

Harrison’s own goal put Brighton back in the lead but the Leeds winger then curled in a superb equaliser.

Leeds' point takes their total to 23. However, the wins for AFC Bournemouth and Everton mean the Whites drop a place to 19th. The draw lifts Brighton a place to seventh on 39 points.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
12	Chelsea CHE	38	-9	44
13	Wolverhampton Wanderers WOL	38	-27	41
14	West Ham United WHU	38	-13	40
15	Bournemouth BOU	38	-34	39
16	Nottingham Forest NFO	38	-30	38
17	Everton EVE	38	-23	36
18	Leicester City LEI	38	-17	34
19	Leeds United LEE	38	-30	31
20	Southampton SOU	38	-37	25