Brentford stung Chelsea as the Bees ended an 83-year wait for victory over their west London neighbors.
Liverpool and Manchester City won to stay on course for a multiple-title collision next weekend, and Tottenham beat Newcastle to enter the top four.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the main talking points from the latest round of premier league fixtures.
BUZZING BEES
Not in their wildest dreams would Brentford fans believe Thomas Frank’s side would take a big step to safety by beating Chelsea 4-1. The Stamford Bridge romp was Brentford’s first victory over their neighbors since 1939 and was orchestrated by Christian Erikson. The signing of the former Tottenham playmaker, who collapsed while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020, is quickly turning into a masterstroke. He capped another influential performance with his first goal in the Premier League since April 2019.
TITLE CHILLS
Liverpool and Manchester City set up next Sunday’s title showdown perfectly with respective victories over struggling pair Watford and Burnley. Jurgen Klopp secured ten consecutive Premier League wins over Roy Hodgson’s Hornets as Diogo Jota again showed his heading ability and Fabinho converted a late penalty. City completed a routine 2-0 win at Turf Moor and headed into the clash at the Etihad Stadium one point clear of Liverpool with eight games to play.
FOUR-MEDIUM SPURS
Tottenham smashed into the top four with a 5-1 win over Newcastle and is finding form at the right time to secure a Champions League spot. Harry Kane has emerged as a playmaker with two assists, Son Heung-min is in fine goalscoring form, and Spurs have won five of their last six league games. It promises to be a London race to the finish line, with Arsenal and West Ham in good form and Manchester United fading fast.
SUPER HOLY
Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse made the 13th chance with another set-piece strike against Leeds. Ward-Prowse’s equalizer was his 13th Premier League goal scored from a direct free kick, putting him ahead of Gianfranco Zola and Thierry Henry in the top-tier pecking order. Only David Beckham, with 18, has more free-kick goals, and TV pundit Alan Shearer expects Ward Prowse to eclipse the former England captain, saying: “He scored four last season, three this At 27, it’s only a matter of time.
CRISPY CARAMEL
Everton’s relegation fears deepened with a 2-1 loss at West Ham, and Wednesday’s trip to Burnley is now one of their biggest games of recent times. The crunch contest comes with the Toffees four points above the Clarets, having both played 28 games. Everton is just one place above the drop zone after losing five of their last six league games. Boss Frank Lampard knows another defeat at Turf Moor could spell disaster for a side with the worst away record.
Premier League talking points: Top two get it right, and Eriksen inspires
Christian Eriksen described Manchester United’s derby defeat as “a terrible day at the office” after hat tricks from Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden rocked the Red Devils.
A 6-3 defeat at the Etihad Stadium almost flattered United, with two late goals from Anthony Martial making the scoreline look as though they might, at some point, have had a foothold in the game.
Instead, it was a savaging for United, who conceded six goals in a Premier League fixture for only the fourth time. This was the second time it has happened against City, the first coming at Old Trafford, a 6-1 pasting in October 2011.
Eriksen was caught napping for Foden’s opener as he let the City’s homegrown talent run away from him to tuck in Bernardo Silva’s cross.
He then lost Haaland at a corner for City’s second goal, although that always looked a dreadful mismatch.
Midfielder Eriksen, playing his first Manchester derby, was left deflated by the experience and said there would need to be changed for United.
Eriksen told Sky Sports: “I think it came very heavy. Everyone feels it is a terrible day at the office.
“We started on the wrong foot. They had a lot of chances straight from kick-off, and we can only blame ourselves for not coming into the game at any point.
“We cut a bit of courage to play out from the back and let them be in their strength.”
Manager Erik ten Hag promised a full inquest into how United put up such a feeble show and suggested there would be stern talking at the training ground on Monday.
Eriksen expects that, and he said: “The main focus after this game will be on ourselves. There are many things we need to change and many things we need to do better.
