Chelsea jumped back into the top four with a dominant display at home to lowly Southampton, while the race for the European places got even tighter in an action-packed line-up of mid-week Premier League fixtures.
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Chelsea did exactly as was expected from them with the Blues putting the foot down at Stamford Bridge to score three first half goals via Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Levi Colwill on their way to a 4-0 win.
Marc Cucurella added the fourth in the 78th minute in what was a much-needed three points, and a handy goal difference boost, for Chelsea after losses in their previous two league outings, away to Aston Villa and Brighton.
The comfortable display lifted Chelsea two points clear of Manchester City and Newcastle, who both play on Thursday morning Australian time in huge clashes with Tottenham and Liverpool respectively, into fourth place on 46 points.
But the top half of the table has become so close that there are only four points separating Chelsea and tenth placed Villa.
The Villans are in the Champions League Round of 16, but were left kicking themselves in this mid-week fixture, falling 4-1 away to 12th placed Crystal Palace.
Morgan Rogers levelled the scores for Villa seven minutes after half time with a superb finish that was preceded by a stunning pirouette, but apart from a disallowed Rogers goal due to Ollie Watkins being off-side in the build up shortly before the break, it was all Palace.
Ismaila Sarr celebrated his 27th birthday with a brace, scoring the opener with a tap-in after a scramble in the box from a corner and sealing the result with Palace’s third with a 71st minute volley.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s strike to put Palace back in the front was the best goal of the quarter as the Frenchman blasted home a left-foot pearler after the ball spilt to him near the edge of the penalty box.
Eddie Nketiah then rubbed further salt into Villa’s wounds with a goal in added time, his first league goal for Palace.
Meanwhile, Brighton dealt a significant blow to Bournemouth with a 2-1 win in the south coast derby.
Last week Bournemouth were fifth on the table but the Cherries have slipped down to seventh having lost their last two matches, only ahead of Brighton on goal difference, on 43 points, one shy of City and Newcastle.
The Seagulls have now won three in a row to storm into top four contention.
The heroes this time out were Joao Pedro, who converted a penalty in the 12th minute, and Danny Welbeck, who scored the winner with 15 minutes remaining after Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert levelled proceedings with a pearler from outside the box in the 61st minute.
Former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Welbeck came off the bench and showed every ounce of his experience with a class finish across the goalkeeper Kepa into the far corner of the net.
Fulham also kept in touch in the race for the European places next season with a 2-1 win away at 17th placed Wolves.
Ryan Sessegnon opened the scoring for Fulham in the first minute of the match, before the relegation-threatened hosts hit back through Joao Gomes in the 18th minute.
Rodrigo Muniz’s goal two minutes after half time proved to be the winner, however, as Fulham sit ninth on 42 points, ahead of Villa on goal difference.
Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth battling the powerhouses for a Champions League place. No one predicted that.
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There is only a third of the Premier League season remaining and the race for the top four has arguably never been more intriguing.
Liverpool appears set to have one hand on the title, eight points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, but the next rung down is where things get fascinating.
Nottingham Forest third, Manchester City fourth and Bournemouth fifth.
The latter jumped into the top five after Forest, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Newcastle all dropped points last weekend.
Forest have won 14, drawn five and lost six, while Bournemouth have won 12, drawn seven and lost six.
It reads like a Forest or Cherries fan plugging away on Football Manager for hours to get their team to dizzying heights, but supporters in England’s midlands and on the south coast better stop pinching themselves.
They are not dreaming. This is real.
The struggles of regular top six clubs Manchester United and Tottenham, along with Champions League Round of 16 bound Villa slipping in the league, presented opportunities, and Forest and Bournemouth have snatched them with both hands.
The Forest story is famous.
A powerhouse decades ago with back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980 under legendary manager Brian Clough.
A year before their first continental breakthrough, Forest won the English top flight and they were runners-up the season after.
But following relegation from the Premier League in 1999, they fell into the football abyss.
Forest did not return to the Premier League until 2022 and barely avoided relegation by finishing 16th and 17th in their first two seasons back in the top tier.
Bournemouth were promoted from the Championship in the same season as Forest and initially found themselves in the bottom half of the table too.
A 12th place finish last season was preceded by coming 15th in their prior campaign.
Unlike Forest, however, Bournemouth is not a club with a rich pedigree.
Its first season in the Premier League came under now Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in 2015/16 and a ninth-place finish in their second season was the club’s best result in the top flight.
Years of mediocrity did not show too many hints of a breakout campaign in Bournemouth’s case, nor a stunning revival in Forest’s case.
But the dream of Champions League nights at the City Ground or the Vitality Stadium is alive and well, and this how they have put themselves in the hunt for midweek action against the best clubs in Europe.
Here is how they did it.
FOREST’S KIWI FRONTMAN
Like Forest’s, Chris Wood’s story is a fairytale.
The 33-year-old captain of the New Zealand national team has remarkably played for 12 different clubs in England.
He even went through a three-year period where he was sent out on loan six times by West Bromwich Albion.
Wood bounced around the various tiers of English football after moving to the UK as a 16-year-old to chase his dreams, and now the Forest talisman is a bonified star.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and AFC Bournemouth at City Ground on August 17, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The six-foot three striker is third in the golden boot race.
He has netted 18 goals so far this campaign, highlighted by a hat-trick in Forest’s 7-0 rout of Brighton earlier this month, to only sit behind Mohamed Salah (24) and Erling Haaland (19).
It is his best Premier League season, and he still has 13 more opportunities to add to his tally.
“When they talk about Mo Salah and Erling Haaland – they mention Chris Wood in the same breath – you can’t compete with that,” Wood’s high school coach former New Zealand international Mike Groom told Sky Sports.
“It’s theatrical, it’s magical, it’s the stuff of dreams and kids’ dreams are fuelled by those images and that exposure.
“We’re still a rugby-playing country, but Chris is single-handedly beginning to change that.”
Wood’s height automatically makes him an aerial threat as a target man, he has scored six headed goals this season, the most in the league, but his finishing is still underrated.
In fact, it is lethal.
Wood has had 28 shots on target for the season, and scoring 18 of them makes him the most effective of any of the Premier League’s top strikers in front of goal.
New Zealand’s record goal scorer, who is also nearing the record for most appearances for his country, has also endeared himself to football fans because he is not blessed with all the attributes of the likes of Salah and Haaland.
The biggest difference is pace.
Wood is not a quick player, and the fact he lacks speed seemingly contradicts the fact that Forest prefers to play counterattacking football.
But he makes it work by timing his runs perfectly and seizing big moments.
In some ways, it makes little sense but so has his entire football journey.
“It’s definitely exceeded what I dreamt of when I was a kid and hopefully, I’ve got a lot more I can achieve to make it an even better dream,” Wood told Sky Sports.
“I want to keep the path open for New Zealanders to hopefully make it into the Premier League one day – I want to grow that generation of new kids wanting to play football and wanting to dream of doing the best they can and ending up in the biggest league.”
BOURNEMOUTH CREATE CHAOS
Bournemouth’s blueprint in attack is not dissimilar to Forest’s.
The two sides are comfortably the Premier League leaders for playing fast and direct football.
They sit back and defend resolutely, and when they win the ball back, they are off to the races.
Once the ball is in their attacking half, they press high and try to force turnovers in dangerous areas.
It makes for exciting games to watch, and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been heaped with praise this season for his tactics.
“I sometimes value much more a player carrying the ball and forcing things to happen,” Iraola said in an interview with The Independent.
“We have to prepare [positional] patterns, but we cannot just prioritise them. If you can see that you don’t have a teammate ahead, forget about the pattern, just drive the ball and try to force things to happen. I want him to attack first.”
Meanwhile premierleague.com’s Alex Keble summed up the essence of their play as “disruption”.
“High risk, high reward: that’s the mentality of Iraola and his team, whether in hounding the ball with an all-action and full-pitch press or piercing opposition lines with sharp vertical football and attacking overloads,” Keble said.
“Perhaps the best word to encapsulate their tactical approach is “disruption”.
“Disrupt the other team’s play with furious pressing, and disrupt the expected rhythms of your own attack with improvisations and surges forward in high numbers.”
That philosophy has brought out the best in Justin Kluivert, who has scored 11 goals so far this campaign, four more than last season.
The Dutchman has really found his groove in the Premier League in recent times.
He was player of the month in January for scoring five goals and recording two assists in four appearances, of which Bournemouth won three and drew one.
The highlight of his season so far was a hat-trick, and an assist, in a 4-1 away win against Newcastle who were previously unbeaten in nine matches before that January fixture.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest FC at Vitality Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
That victory was followed up by a 5-0 victory against Forest, where Kluivert contributed a goal and an assist to help end Forest’s eight-game unbeaten run.
Knocking off several in-form teams led to Iraola taking home manager of the month, and David Brooks’ stunning volley against Everton made it a clean sweep of the awards by winning goal of the month.
All of that came amid a length injury list, including strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal.
But Kluivert’s breakout combined with the superb form of fellow attackers Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo, who have scored seven goals apiece this season, has prevented injuries from being an excuse.
No matter who is on the sidelines, once Bournemouth wins the ball back there are simply too many runners for opponents to attack.
Remarkably, one would expect such a style of play to make them vulnerable at the back.
But Iraola’s side do not play a high line, and they have the equal-third best defensive record in the league, alongside Forest, conceding 29 goals so far. Only Arsenal and Liverpool have been stingier at the back.
They key has been the centre back pairing of Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi, a combination Iraola landed on during the season.
In the 13 games they have started together, Bournemouth have lost once, to Liverpool.
Zabaryni is the rock that has played every minute this season, while 19-year-old Huijsen has been a revelation.
“Huijsen is undoubtedly the star of the two,” Keble wrote.
“Signed from Juventus for around £15 million last summer, his strength in the air, composure in possession, and – crucially – assertive front-foot style have catapulted Bournemouth to new heights.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 08: Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Everton and AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park on February 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
FOREST’S ELITE DEFENCE
ESPN’s Bruce Schoenfeld summed up Forest’s defensive brilliance in writing that manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s “football has hardly changed even though instead of a relegation battle, he has European qualification in his sights”.
Forest defends like their life depends on it.
They have comfortably made more clearances than any other team, including the equal most amount of clearances off the line.
They are level with Liverpool for the most number of clean sheets with ten.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels has punched away the aerial more than anyone else.
They are desperate.
And they are bringing an enormous amount of pride to the club’s greats.
“I haven’t watched a better pairing at the back than Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic in my 50 years of watching Forest,” former England and Forest midfielder Steve Hodge said on BBC Radio last month.
“I really mean that – pound for pound what they are as footballers and as a pair,” he added. “They have everything. As a pair, they complement each other perfectly and they both seem to be calm characters even under severe pressure.”
Nikola Milenkovic of Nottingham Forest celebrates victory during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on February 1, 2025. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Milenkovic joined from Fiorentina last summer and the 31-year-old Serbian is in many pundits’ team of the season so far.
He is an old-fashioned, no-nonsense centre back whose heading ability has led to him scoring two goals as well as clearing many attacking threats.
But in the coming games, Forest face arguably the biggest defensive test of the season.
Away at Newcastle, home to Arsenal and home to Manchester City are their next three league games.
They passed with flying colours earlier in the season, defeating Liverpool at Anfield and taking a point from them at home.
That shows that there is little to doubt that Forest’s steeliness will remain.
BOURNEMOUTH’S EXCELLENT ROAD RECORD
A major part of Bournemouth’s success has been their impressive away record.
The Cherries have won six, drawn four and lost three of their matches on the road this season, including going unbeaten in their last seven away games.
That streak has included a pair of 2-2 draws against rivals for the European places Chelsea and Fulham, as well as the Newcastle win mentioned earlier.
Their most recent away win was a 3-1 win against cellar dwellers Southampton in a south coast derby, and post-match Iraola identified fast starts as the reason for their away success.
“I think it’s key, especially when you play away,” he said.
“I think we are having good starts. I remember last games, Newcastle away, Everton the other day.
“Even the two goals in 16 minutes, but in the first minute I think we had two corners for us.
“It’s a good start and a message that we are coming here and we want to win this game and we are not happy with the 0-0 and we want things to happen quickly.
“Also, I think they are a team that now is aggressive in the press. I think there were spaces behind them. There were spaces behind us.
“The game could go very open and I’m happy, especially first half, I think we controlled the game very well.”
Their ability to get results on the road will be severely tested later in the season as they visit Arsenal and Manchester City in the final four games of their campaign.
Kai Havertz and Ben White scored twice as Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday to surge ahead in the Premier League title race and ramp up the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City.
Leandro Trossard was also on target for the Gunners, who move three points clear of Liverpool and four of Manchester City.
The destiny of the title remains in City’s hands as the defending champions have two games in hand.
Liverpool have also played one fewer game than Arsenal and are in action at Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men’s goal difference advantage now looks unassailable should it become decisive in the title race.
Chelsea and Arsenal’s title rivals were dealt a huge blow before kick-off as the Blues’ danger man Cole Palmer was ruled out due to illness.
Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Chelsea, looks dejected during the Premier League match.Source: Getty Images
Palmer has scored or assisted nearly 50 per cent of Chelsea’s Premier League goals this season and his presence was badly missed by the visitors.
Despite enduring a disappointing first season under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea had been unbeaten in eight consecutive league games prior to their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
But they were blown away by an Arsenal side keen to reaffirm their title credentials after losing their last home game to Aston Villa.
The hosts flew out of the blocks and were in front inside five minutes. Trossard only ended up at the Emirates after Arsenal were gazumped by Chelsea in the battle to sign Mykhailo Mudryk in January 2023.
The Belgian has proved to be a far more productive signing and smashed in his 15th goal of the season at Djordje Petrovic’s near post.
Arsenal celebrate their huge win.Source: AFP
– Jackson avoids red –
Chelsea were lucky to not have their bad start compounded by a red card when Nicolas Jackson escaped unpunished for a studs-up challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Petrovic redeemed himself for fault at the opening goal with two brilliant saves to turn away Havertz’s low effort and a deflected shot by Trossard to keep his side in the game before halftime.
Chelsea did, though, have chances to level before the break. Jackson spurned three huge chances against City at Wembley at the weekend and was equally wasteful when he headed a huge opportunity into his own hand.
Petrovic briefly held Arsenal at bay early in the second period with saves from Declan Rice and Havertz.
However, the floodgates opened once White curled in Arsenal’s second after Chelsea failed to clear a corner on 52 minutes.
Havertz scored the winning goal in a Champions League final for Chelsea during his three years in west London, but he never performed consistently to the level he has found in recent months under Arteta.
Martin Odegaard’s stunning through ball was met with the finish it deserved as Havertz smashed high past Petrovic.
Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz celebrates.Source: AFP
His next finish was more subtle as the German international fired in off the post from Bukayo Saka’s pass for his seventh goal in his last 14 club games.
A night for forget for Chelsea was summed up by another sitter from Jackson when he hit the side-netting with just Raya to beat.
And fortune was also not on Pochettino’s side when White’s attempted cross flew into the top corner from another sensational Odegaard pass.
Defeat leaves Chelsea still in ninth, three points adrift of the European places.
Next up for Arsenal is what appears their toughest hurdle remaining away to Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby.
Should Arteta’s side prevail at the home of their fiercest rivals, City will likely need to be perfect in their final six games to retain the title.
The Premier League is entering the home stretch, with almost every team having 10 matches still to play.
For the first time in years, there’s a genuine three-way fight for the title. There’s also a tight battle for the European positions and a heated relegation race. From the top of the league to the bottom, there’s all to play for in a gripping run home.
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GUNNERS ADVANCE… JUST – ALL PENALTIES | 01:39
TITLE RACE
1st: Arsenal, 64 pts (P28, 20W, 4D, 4L, +46)
Run home: Manchester City (a), Luton Town (h), Brighton (a), Aston Villa (h), Wolves (a), Tottenham (a), Bournemouth (h), Manchester United (a), Everton (h), Chelsea (h – postponed)
2nd: Liverpool, 64 pts (P28, 19W, 7D, L2, +39)
Run home: Brighton (h), Sheffield United (h), Manchester United (a), Crystal Palace (h), Fulham (a), West Ham United (a), Tottenham (h), Aston Villa (a), Wolves (h), Everton (a – postponed)
3rd: Manchester City, 63 pts (P28, 19W, 6D, 3L, +35)
Run home: Arsenal (h), Aston Villa (h), Crystal Palace (a), Luton Town (h), Tottenham (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Wolves (h), Fulham (a), West Ham United (h), Brighton (a – postponed)
Three teams, three incredible storylines.
This season marks 20 years since Arsenal last won the Premier League, although they came agonisingly close to breaking the drought in the last campaign.
The Gunners sat in pole position but could not hold on, losing two of their final three games to hand the title to Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s side are once again back in the title frame and sit top of the ladder at time of writing with the most goals scored in the entire league (70).
Equal on points with Arsenal but in second place is Liverpool, who finished a disappointing 5th last season but have rocketed back into contention.
Yet this is long-serving Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield and his troops would love nothing more than finishing the German’s tenure with his second Premier League title.
One point behind Arsenal and Liverpool is City, who are out to win its sixth league title in seven seasons, a staggering run that underlines its stranglehold on the competition.
The titanic battle between Liverpool and Manchester City is set to go down to the wire again.Source: AFP
So, who takes it from here?
It’s hard to discern who has the easier run of fixtures to round out the season, although all three teams have the added bonus of playing at home in the final game.
However, the title-chasing trio must all face Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wolves, with the first two pushing for Champions League qualification (more on that later). But the key difference is that Arsenal play far more of their games against top-half opponents away from home – including Brighton, Wolves, Spurs and Utd.
The motivational factor of Liverpool’s players wanting to do it for Klopp is worth noting, but the Reds also are without several key players.
Alisson, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold all missed the 1-1 draw against Manchester City, with Klopp forced to play a number of youngsters. There’s no shortage of talent, but it could be a step too far for the talented teens to remain flawless in a nervy title race.
Yet City and Arsenal still have to face off – meaning at least one team will cop a setback to their title bid. City did the double over Arsenal last season, but lost 1-0 earlier this season. However, this time around the meeting will be on City’s turf – and their home-ground advantage is a huge boost to their chances of winning both the match and the title.
City have made winning a habit. They’re the best team in Europe if not the world, and they might just make history with a fourth crown in a row.
TITLE PREDICTION: Manchester City
Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on March 10, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
4th: Aston Villa, 55 pts (P28, 17W, 4D, 7L, +18)
5th: Tottenham, 53 pts (P27, 16W, 5D, 6L, +20)
6th: Manchester United, 47 pts (P28, 15W, 2D, 11L, 0)
Spurs’ fate is in their hands. With a game in hand, they could move above Villa by a point – and their recent 4-0 battering of the Villans surely delivered a major psychological blow to their top-four rivals.
Villa bounced back with a 4-0 win over 10-man Ajax in the Conference league today.
Both teams face Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool before the season is out. But what could prove a major blow for Spurs is that they face the trio back-to-back: a make-or-break run for their Europe ambitions. A couple of losses could be a major setback – a momentum killer on the run home. Conversely, strong results in those matches could carry them home to the finish line.
Sizzling Spurs sink 4 past Villa | 01:05
Villa play Liverpool (h) and Crystal Palace (a) in their final two matches, while Spurs host Burnley then travel to Sheffield United for their final two fixtures. By that point, the latter pair might already be mathematically relegated. It’s clearly an easier finish for Spurs – and if things are tight, that might just make the difference.
Manchester United are still in the hunt – but only just. They’re eight points off Villa as it stands but could benefit if their rivals drop points against the top teams – especially since United have already played both matches against Villa, Spurs, and Man City. But they also have a tricky run home, with their final two matches against Arsenal and Brighton. And their goal difference – and lack of goals in general – could kill off their dream of a late run to Champions League qualification.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREDICTION: Tottenham
We’re backing Aussie Ange to finish fourth in his first Premier League campaign.Source: Getty Images
RACE FOR EUROPE
4th: Aston Villa, 55 pts (P28, 17W, 4D, 7L, +18)
5th: Tottenham, 53 pts (P27, 16W, 5D, 6L, +20)
6th: Manchester United, 47 pts (P28, 15W, 2D, 11L, 0)
7th: West Ham United, 43 pts (P28, 12W, 7D, 9L, -4)
8th: Brighton, 42 pts (P28, 11W, 9D, 8L, +6)
9th: Wolves, 41 pts (P28, 12W, 5D, 11L, -2)
10th: Newcastle, 40 pts (P28, 12W, 4D, 12L, +11)
11th: Chelsea, 39 pts (P27, 11W, 6D, 10L, +2)
EUROPA LEAGUE PREDICTION: Aston Villa, Manchester United
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE PREDICTION: West Ham United
As it stands, the top four teams qualify for the Champions League, fifth earns a spot in the Europa League, and sixth qualifies for the Conference League playoff spot.
The winner of the FA Cup is given a Europa League spot – unless they finish in the top five, in which case sixth place in the league is then given a Europa League place (as happened last season).
It’s a similar situation with the EFL Cup – which Liverpool won, meaning they are guaranteed a berth in the Conference League play-offs.
That’s unless they qualify for the Champions League or Europa League thanks to their league finishing position.
In that case – and we’re assuming they do finish in the top four – their Conference League playoff spot goes to the next-highest placed finisher.
But there’s another big caveat this season: the Champions League is expanding and adopting a new format next campaign, meaning two of Europe’s big leagues will gain an extra automatic qualification berth. Which two nations get those spots depends on how well their clubs perform in European competition this season – meaning Premier League clubs will be willing their rivals to keep winning in Europe!
The Premier League could end up with five Champions League spots, plus another for the Europa League (or two, if the FA Cup winner finishes in the CL or EL qualification places) plus another spot for the Conference League (or two, assuming Liverpool finish in the CL or EL qualification spots).
Clear as mud, right?
Kudus rips through SC Freiburg for epic | 00:58
Oh, and winning the CL or Europa League gives you direct entry into next season’s CL, while the winner of the Conference League gets a place in the Europa League (like West Ham this season, who got a EL spot despite finishing 14th in the league).
The ‘top four’ race is dead. Now it’s a race for the top … eight? Nine? 11 (yes, it’s technically possible for 11 Premier League teams to make it to Europe).
Either way, we’re tipping Spurs to finish in fourth, as we said above.
Villa have a significantly harder run home than Man United (their remaining opponents’ average league place is currently 8.3, Utd’s is 11.3) – but they’ve scored 59 goals, 20 more than United so far. Ollie Watkins’ 16 goals and 10 assists in 28 matches is a huge part of that – but was forced off with a cut on his knee during their 4-0 Conference League over Ajax this morning. Luckily coach Unai Emery said it doesn’t appear to be too serious, and if Watkins can keep fit and firing, Villa seem likely to finish above United’s misfiring offence.
Ollie Watkins’ best-ever season is igniting an impressive Villa charge.Source: Getty Images
Below them, West Ham and Brighton both have brutal fixtures ahead. The pair have made a habit out of scraping draws in tough matches, which could prove crucial in picking up points in the final few matches. But the Hammers’ defence is conceding far too frequently – their 49 goals against is more like a bottom-half team than one chasing Europe. It can partially be explained by big losses to Fulham (5-0 in December) and Arsenal (6-0 last month). And in their last three league games, they’ve scored nine goals – not to mention today’s 5-0 Europa League win over Freiburg to book their place in the quarterfinals. If they can tighten up their defence, they might just hold onto their position.
But below the Hammers, Wolves and Newcastle especially have significantly easier runs home. Newcastle are scoring plenty of goals – as many as Spurs or Villa, for example – and could make a late charge. With a goal difference of +11 – the best of any team outside the top five – they could sneak in to the European places. Recent games have made one thing clear: there’s going to plenty of goals at both ends of the field, and it’s never going to be boring.
West Ham’s five-goal thrashing handed them plenty of momentum for the run home.Source: Getty Images
20th: Sheffield United, 14 pts (P28, 3W, 5D, 20L, -50)
* = Everton were deducted six points for breaching PSR rules
Barring one of the greatest escapes in Premier League history, it seems a certainty Burnley and Sheffield United are set for an instant return to the Championship.
Sure, it’s possible – but both teams are 10 points off safety at this point, and they simply look out of their depth.
That leaves us with one spot up for grabs when it comes to relegation.
As it stands, Luton Town round out the bottom three – and the Hatters’ remaining 10 fixtures are the most difficult out of all the teams jostling for survival.
The average league position of Luton’s remaining opponents this season is 9.8, the highest figure of the group, with three of those fixtures including daunting trips to Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City.
A comparison between Luton’s relegation rivals in terms of average league position makes for worrying reading.
Nottingham Forest’s final 10 games spits out an average position of 12.7, while Brentford and Everton’s rivals have average positions of 12.6 – effectively the ‘easiest’ remaining fixtures of any team in the league.
Luton also suffered a horrific meltdown against Bournemouth yesterday. 3-0 up at halftime, they looked set to move out of the relegation zone – only to concede four goals without reply. It was the first time in 21 years that a team had lost from three goals up.
Cherries pull off insane 3-goal comeback | 02:11
However, the fight for survival could be determined off the field as Forest were charged with breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
Everton were initially docked 10 points before it was later reduced to six after an appeal for a similar breach, setting a precedent Forest will be desperate to avoid.
The hearing for Forest’s PSR breaches has begun, with a resolution expected in the coming weeks.
Brentford have just come out of a torrid run of games in which they played Tottenham, Manchester City twice, Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Wolves and Arsenal in consecutive games.
However, their final games are much kinder and they do not play a team higher than 12th on the table in their last six games, so expect Thomas Frank’s side to stay up.
Luton are hoping to avoid an immediate return to the Championship, but it won’t be easy. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Everton have a rather favourable run-in, with back-to-back games against relegation rivals Forest, Brentford, Luton and Sheffield United before a final day fixture away to Arsenal.
Toffees boss Sean Dyche is no stranger to a relegation battle and if it weren’t for a points deduction they’d be comfortably away from the drop, which has us believing they will preserve their Premier League status.
It essentially leaves a shootout between Luton and Forest for 17th place, with the two also set to play each other in a proverbial six-pointer on March 17.
Although Luton have shown more fight and desire than most across the Premier League this season, we’re predicting Forest’s superior quality will steer them to safety.
RELEGATION PREDICTION: Luton Town, Burnley, Sheffield United
Tottenham’s late capitulation against Wolves proved Ange Postecoglou’s project remains a work in progress as Manchester United continue to win despite remaining “wasteful” in front of goal.
Meanwhile, a dark horse continues to keep pace with the Premier League’s frontrunners while a “unique situation” has a Champions League competitor craving a breather.
Foxsports.com.au breaks down the weekend that was in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!
WORRYING MOMENTS THAT PROVE PROJECT ANGE STILL ‘A WORK IN PROGRESS’
Two games ago, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side was the toast of the Premier League thanks to a blistering unbeaten start.
Now, Tottenham have lost two games on the bounce as reality starts to set in.
Granted, the loss to Chelsea was a game in which Postecoglou’s side had next to no control as they had 11 men on the field for just 33 minutes.
But against Wolves, there is little excuse for the way in which Tottenham conceded two stoppage-time goals.
Yet the manner in which Wolves scored is a timely reminder about the limitations of the squad.
Postecoglou started with Eric Dier and Ben Davies as a central defensive pairing, two players who would not make the Australian manager’s line-up if everyone was fit.
Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also slotted into central midfield but struggled to make his mark on the contest.
In fact, Hojbjerg was worryingly pivotal in all the worst ways to Wolves’ late double.
Dropping into the backline between Dier and Davies, Hojbjerg checks his right shoulder and sees nothing, but if he had looked over his left shoulder, he would have seen Pablo Sarabia make a run in behind.
Hojbjerg didn’t check his left shoulder to see Sarabia run in behind him. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Instead, Hojbjerg was blissfully unaware as Sarabia latched onto Matheus Cunha’s lofted pass over the top and delivered a sweet finish past Guglielmo Vicario.
Hojbjerg also under-hit a pass to Giovani Lo Celso, which forced the Argentinian midfielder to foul Mario Lemina.
It was from the resulting free kick that Wolves quickly broke forward and eventually scored, sparking wild scenes at Molineux.
Hojbjerg’s under-hit pass allowed Wolves to break on the counter. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
With Hojbjerg and Dier unlikely to remain in north London for much longer, with the former likely to leave in the January window, The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare felt the loss against Wolves provided Postecoglou and Spurs fans with a timely reminder.
“The point here is we’re only one transfer window into Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham and so while the first-choice team may have his stamp on it already, the squad is very much a work in progress,” Eccleshare wrote.
“And on days like Saturday, when he was missing four automatic starters, that becomes painfully apparent.”
Postecoglou’s ideal centre-back pairing of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will not be back together for quite some time given the latter’s hamstring injury.
Time will tell as to whether the Australian can hold on with the likes of Dier and Hojbjerg for much longer.
UTD MAY HAVE ‘TURNED A CORNER’ … BUT ‘WASTEFUL’ RED DEVILS’ BIG ISSUE REMAINS
None of the wins have been pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but Manchester United have now picked up 12 points from a possible 15 in their last five league games.
A narrow 1-0 win over Luton Town at Old Trafford also helped Erik ten Hag become the first Red Devils manager to win 30 of his first 50 league games.
Yes, the four wins have come against Luton, Fulham, Sheffield United and Brentford, a group of teams with an average league position of 16th.
But for United, a team that is seemingly always just one defeat away from a full-blown crisis, stringing together several wins is vital as they sit four points off of Aston Villa who are in fifth.
Yet as crucial as it has been for the Red Devils to secure wins, an alarming stat has emerged: Manchester United’s defenders have scored three times as many as their attackers have in the league.
In fact, United have scored just 13 league goals this season which pales in comparison to the likes of their rivals competing for European spots like Villa (29), Newcastle (27) and Tottenham (24).
Heck, even Nottingham Forest have scored more goals than United this season, with 14.
Despite United’s struggles this season, Erik ten Hag has the club just outside the Champions League places. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ten Hag’s side have been beset by several injuries to key first team members, which makes these narrow wins even more important.
“Given the unrelenting injury crisis that claimed two more victims against Luton in (Rasmus) Hojlund and Christian Eriksen, Erik ten Hag expressed satisfaction a depleted side were still within touching distance of the Champions League places after four wins in the last five games,” Ducker wrote.
“But the United manager will also know they cannot continue to be so wasteful in front of goal if they are to really turn a corner and put a few troubled few months behind them.”
United’s next league fixtures include trips to Everton and Newcastle before a home double against a resurgent Chelsea and Bournemouth.
Will Ten Hag’s strikers find their shooting boots by then?
Rasmus Hojlund has had no issues scoring in Europe but has struggled to find the back of the net in the Premier League. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
THE FORTRESS SPARKING DARK HORSE’S RISE
Opposition teams must dread a visit to Villa Park now.
A 3-1 win over Fulham made it a staggering 13-straight league wins at home for Aston Villa — the first time they have done so since 1983 — and kept them within three points of league leaders Manchester City.
In fact, Villa are the strongest team of any Premier League outfit at home having won all six games while scoring 23 goals in the process for an average of 3.8 goals per game.
The team with the next highest amount of goals scored at home is Arsenal, with 18.
Central to Villa’s success in this match was the fluid movement of forward Moussa Diaby as well as midfield duo John McGinn and Youri Tielemans.
Diaby is a winger by trade, but has been playing alongside star striker Ollie Watkins up front and creating havoc for opposition teams.
The French star pops up out wide and drifts in, bamboozling opposition defenders who don’t know whether to go and mark him or to hold their space.
McGinn has been in excellent form for Villa. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
McGinn and Tielemans, who are central midfielders, constantly found themselves in dangerous positions both in the middle and out wide.
Tielemans was the one who played the cross that forced Fulham’s Antonee Robinson to turn the ball into his own net for the opener, while McGinn scored a stunning long-range strike and played a key role in Leon Bailey’s assist for the third goal.
The Times’ Gregor Robertson described McGinn as “outstanding” and “combative yet creative” while also lavishing praise on Tielemans, who made his first league start for Villa.
Robertson said Tielemans “displayed plenty of the craft, guile and industry” that led Emery to bring the Belgian to Villa Park in a performance the fans had waited long to see.
If Villa maintain their home form and improve on their performances away from home, they will no longer be able to fly under the radar as a dark horse in the league.
Youri Tielemans did not disappoint in his first Premier League start for Villa. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Source: AFP
THE ‘UNIQUE’ SITUATION’ CRIPPLING EURO HOPEFULS
It’s just over a month until Christmas but Newcastle Eddie Howe has already written down his one big wish from Santa: no more injuries.
When Miguel Almiron limped off in the first half of Newcastle’s 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, he joined the other 11 players who were unavailable for the game either through injury or suspension.
For Howe, he described it as “a unique situation” given how many of his instant first-teamers are sidelined.
It’s why a two-week pause from league action couldn’t come at a better time for a battered and bruised Newcastle team.
With the squad ravaged by absences, it seemed almost inevitable a packed schedule including midweek Champions League games would catch up.
Joelinton, who was reinvented from a forward into a midfielder, has been forced to play in a front three while Anthony Gordon, traditionally a winger, had to play as a striker.
Of the players Howe brought off the bench against Bournemouth, none are exactly matchwinners at Premier League level: Emil Krafth and Tino Livramento are defenders while Matt Ritchie’s best days are past him.
Aside from a depleted squad, Howe must also find a way to improve Newcastle’s fortunes on the road given they have just one win from six away games this season: an 8-0 thumping of Sheffield United.
There’s a lot for Howe to ponder in the international break, but first and foremost it is about getting his players back on their feet.
Newcastle’s troops are in desperate need of a break. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WHAT SACK RACE?
We’re now 12 games into the season but, remarkably, no manager has been given the flick just yet.
It pales in comparison to the absurd sack race we saw in the first half of last season as five managers had been told their services were no longer required.
In fact, since the 2013/14 season, only on three occasions has the first sacking of the season occurred past November 14: Neil Warnock from Crystal Palace (14/15) and Slaven Bilic from West Brom (20/21).
Reports claimed Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was close to being the first to go, despite being hand-picked by new Cherries owner Bill Foley to be the new man in charge.
However, Iraola has won two of his last three games to ease the pressure.
The new favourite is Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag, although he too has overseen some much-needed wins to keep the Red Devils in the hunt for European places.
There’s still a long way to go in the season and once one club decides to swing the axe, it could easily spark others into action and kickstart a managerial frenzy.
Arsenal’s prized recruit from the January window continues to prove his signing was a masterstroke, while a rather explosive press conferences proves their neighbours in white won’t be catching them any time soon.
There’s also a sleeping giant sneakily creeping up on the European places while the gap from 12th place to the relegation zone shrunk to just three points.
Review the weekend that was in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!
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GUNNERS RESPOND TO PENALTY HEARTBREAK IN PERFECT STYLE
Fatigued and frustrated after their agonising Europa League exit at the hands of Sporting Lisbon in midweek, Arsenal responded with the kind of stylish display that bore all the hallmarks of champions in the making.
Mikel Arteta’s side crashed out on penalties against the Portuguese giants after Gabriel Martinelli missed the crucial spot-kick.
So it was symbolic of Arsenal’s new-found resilience that Martinelli was the man to put the Gunners on course for an easy afternoon at the Emirates by scoring the opening goal.
The Brazilian’s cool finish laid the foundations for a sixth successive league win before Bukayo Saka struck twice either side of Granit Xhaka scoring Arsenal’s third.
January recruit Leandro Trossard also proved his worth once again, assisting a goal in the Crystal Palace rout.
The Belgian winger took his tally to six assists in 10 games since moving to the Emirates in January in a $49m deal.
In comparison, Trossard’s assists figure is twice as many as any other player in the competition since his first game in Arsenal colours.
With Gabriel Jesus working his way back to full fitness and the Martielli-Saka double act continuing to score for fun, Trossard looks likely to be the final piece to the puzzle that could help Arsenal over the line in the title race.
However, defending champions City have a game in hand and host Arteta’s side in April, meaning the London outfit is by no means home and hosed just yet.
Leandro Trossard has proved to be a tidy piece of business for Arsenal. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
FIERY PRESSER SHOWS DEEP SPURS CRACKS
Antonio Conte arrived at Tottenham as the serial winner seen as capable of instilling a winning culture at a club used to underachievement.
Instead the Italian looks set to join a number of Spurs managers to come and go without lifting a trophy.
Conte’s contract expires at the end of the season and the question over his future now is whether he even sees out the remaining 10 Premier League games.
The former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss called his players “selfish”, lacking in heart and too used to not playing under pressure or stress.
Spurs still sit fourth, but are only two points ahead of Newcastle, who have two games in hand.
The question for the Tottenham board is whether his relationship with the dressing room is now beyond repair.
Conte blasts Spurs team after draw | 01:38
THE SLEEPING GIANT SNEAKING UP ON EURO SPOTS
When Steven Gerrard was sacked in October, only goals scored was keeping Villa out of the relegation zone.
Five months on, they are a club transformed under Unai Emery.
Bournemouth were swept aside with ease 3-0 at Villa Park on Saturday for a third win in four games for Emery’s men.
Indeed, only four teams have taken more Premier League points in total since the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain boss was appointed.
Manchester United and City’s progress to the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend has increased the possibility that seventh could be good enough for European football, which remains well within Villa’s reach.
“We can add a new step, an objective, looking at the teams in the top 10 now,” said Emery after all but guaranteeing survival.
“They have an advantage over us, we have to fight starting behind them.
“But we are going to play here against Fulham, we are going to play here against Brighton, we are going to play at Brentford, at Chelsea. Of course, it is going to be very difficult, but we are going to try to add a new target in our minds.”
Unai Emery has overseen a stunning reversal of fortunes for Aston Villa. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)Source: AFP
FOUR POINTS, NINE TEAMS: THE SURVIVAL FIGHT IS ON
It feels like it’s been some time since we had a memorable relegation race where, at least at this point in time, no-one is safe.
A measly four points separates last-placed Southampton to 12th-placed Crystal Palace, with the Saints sitting on 23 points.
One win for Southampton and they can climb to safety, although a nightmare goal difference of -23 doesn’t help things.
A crucial comeback against Spurs helped the Saints to a 3-3 draw to keep in touch with the safety.
There were also a handful of other teams milling about in the bottom half who had some major results, too.
Nottingham Forest copped a heartbreaking loss to Newcastle, conceding a penalty in second-half stoppage time in a 2-1 defeat.
Leicester City performed valiantly in a 1-1 draw away to the high-flying Brentford, while Everton came back to secure a vital 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
But the result that perhaps had the biggest impact was Leeds United’s 4-2 triumph over nine-man Wolves.
Well, ten-man Wolves considering Matheus Nunes’ red card arrived in the 10th minute of second half stoppage time.
The win helped Leeds move two points clear from the drop zone while Wolves, who have looked good under new boss Julen Lopetegui, remain on 27 points.
With some teams having as many as 12 games left in the season, this relegation race has plenty of twists and turns left in it.
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has delivered an astonishing press conference after watching his side throw away a two-goal lead in the final 15 minutes in a 3-3 draw against Southampton.
Spurs looked set to leapfrog Manchester United into third as they led bottom-of-the-table Saints 3-1 with just 13 minutes remaining at St. Mary’s.
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But Theo Walcott’s first goal in nearly two years and James Ward-Prowse’s stoppage-time penalty salvaged a vital point for Southampton.
Pedro Porro’s thumping finish had opened the scoring and his account for Tottenham in first-half stoppage time.
Southampton responded within a minute of the restart as Che Adams turned in Walcott’s cross.
Speculation continues to surround Harry Kane’s future, but it has not affected the England captain’s form as he rose highest to head in his 21st Premier League goal of the season from Dejan Kulusevski’s cross.
Ivan Perisic’s strike from the edge of the box then gave Spurs a two-goal cushion.
Yet, even that was not enough for Antonio Conte’s men.
Walcott side-footed home to set up a grandstand finish and Pape Sarr was then penalised for bringing down Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Tottenham ‘keeper Fraser Forster could not deny his former teammate Ward-Prowse to leave Spurs just two points ahead of fifth-placed Newcastle having played two games more.
James Ward-Prowse celebrates his stoppage-time equaliser. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP
In his post-match press conference, Conte blasted his ‘selfish’ players.
“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart [in],” he said.
Asked why Spurs managed to capitulate at the last minute, the Italian delivered a stinging response.
“Because they are used to it here, they are used to it,” Conte said.
“They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way.
“Tottenham’s story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here?
“I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every moment.”
“Until now try to hide the situation but now, no because I repeat, I don’t want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans,” he added. “They follow us, pay for their ticket and to see the team another time, to have this type of performance is unacceptable.”
CHELSEA UNDONE BY LATE TOFFEES EQUALISER
Ellis Simms grabbed a last-gasp equaliser as struggling Everton boosted their fight for Premier League survival with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Saturday.
Sean Dyche’s side were moments away from a damaging defeat until Simms scored his first goal for the club to stun Stamford Bridge into silence.
Everton’s show of defiance came after they twice trailed in west London. Joao Felix had put Chelsea ahead early in the second half with his second goal since joining on loan from Atletico Madrid in January.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s equaliser was followed by Kai Havertz’s third goal in his last three appearances as the German converted penalty in the closing stages.
Simms was on loan at Championship side Sunderland earlier this season, but the 22-year-old showed he could be Everton’s saviour in the relegation battle with his crucial leveller.
Everton are now two points clear of the relegation zone after extending their unbeaten run to three games.
Joao Felix opened the scoring for Chelsea. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
It was a bitter pill for Chelsea to swallow as Graham Potter’s team squandered the chance to clinch a fourth successive win in all competitions.
The match was marred by homophobic chanting from Everton fans, who could be heard singing “Chelsea rent boy”.
It was announced in January that clubs could be charged by England’s Football Association if their fans sang the offensive song.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service defined the term as a hate crime last year. That was an ugly side to a memorable match that started with Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic volleying just wide from the edge of the area.
Chelsea were monopolising possession but Jordan Pickford kept Everton on level terms with a brave save as the keeper dived to block at Felix’s feet.
Felix, a constant menace with his quick feet and clever movement, forced Pickford to save his effort from 18 yards.
Hampered all season by a lack of cutting edge, Chelsea had scored more than once in just two games in all competitions in 2023.
Netting three times at Leicester in their previous match had given Potter encouragement that he had solved Chelsea’s attacking woes.
There was undoubtedly more vibrancy about Chelsea and Felix rewarded their territorial dominance in the 52nd minute.
When Ben Chilwell’s cross deflected to Felix just inside the Everton area, the Portugal star seized his chance with a low drive that beat Pickford and cannoned into the net off the far post.
Ellis Simms scored a late equaliser for Everton at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Felix’s first goal in seven games was nearly followed by an Everton equaliser moments later when Michael Keane headed wide from Demarai Gray’s free-kick.
It was a warning Chelsea failed to heed as Everton equalised in the 69th minute. Conjuring a goal straight from the Dyche playbook, Everton struck from Dwight McNeil’s corner as Ben Godfrey flicked on and Doucoure nodded home from close range before Havertz could clear off the line.
Chelsea were back in front seven minutes later as Reece James’ run was halted by Godfrey’s trip and an equally clumsy challenge from James Tarkowski in the area.
Havertz scored a crucial penalty in the Champions League last-16 win against Borussia Dortmund recently and he coolly sent Pickford the wrong way from the spot for his ninth goal this season.
But there was a sting in the tale in the 89th minute as Doucoure picked out Simms’ surge into the Chelsea area.
The striker shrugged off Kalidou Koulibaly’s weak challenge and hit a low shot that crept under Kepa Arrizabalaga to salvage a point in heart-stopping fashion.
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GROUNDS …
Leeds moved out of the relegation zone after beating fellow strugglers Wolves in a six-goal thriller at Molineux.
The visitors had won just once in their last 13 league games but stormed into a 3-0 lead.
Jack Harrison fired Javi Gracia’s men in front before rare goals for right-backs Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen had appeared to put Leeds out of sight.
Wolves had scored just 10 goals in 13 previous league games at home this season. But two in eight minutes gave them hope as Jonny and Matheus Cunha cut the arrears.
However, Wolves ended the game with 10 men as Jonny was sent off for a dangerous studs-up tackle on Ayling.
Rodrigo wrapped up the three points which lift Leeds into 14th. Matheus Nunes, an unused Wolves substitute, was also shown a red card as the hosts were angered by the referee’s decision to award the goal despite being sent to the pitchside monitor to check a shirt pull on Adama Traore in the build-up.
Aston Villa’s fine form under Unai Emery continued as Bournemouth were beaten 3-0 at Villa Park.
Douglas Luiz turned home Leon Bailey’s low cross to give the home side the perfect start.
Jacob Ramsey then sealed the Cherries’ fate 10 minutes from time before Emiliano Buendia added a third.
Victory lifts Villa above Chelsea into 10th and within four points of the European places.
Brentford missed the chance to go above Liverpool into sixth as they were held 1-1 at home by Leicester.
Harvey Barnes cancelled out Mathias Jensen’s opener as Leicester edged a point clear of the bottom three.
