Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's Premier League action!
It is a huge night at the top of the league in particular tonight, with all of the top six in action including a mouth-watering London derby between Chelsea and Spurs - for which we will have in-depth live coverage on site too.
We could see another twist in the title race too, with Liverpool and Man City both playing at home this evening.
TONIGHT'S FIXTURES!Arsenal vs. Bournemouth (7.45pm)
Southampton vs. Fulham (7.45pm)
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United (8pm)
Chelsea vs. Tottenham (8pm)
Liverpool vs. Watford (8pm)
Man City vs. West Ham (8pm)
On top of that, we will also be keeping a close eye on a couple of huge European derbies taking place tonight, with Real Madrid hosting Barcelona in the first of two Clasicos this week, and Feyenoord taking on fierce rivals Ajax in the Dutch Cup.
KICKOFF: Our main focus will be on the Premier League, though, and we are now underway at both the Emirates Stadium and St Mary's!
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH (MESUT OZIL)
GOAL! And what a start it is for Arsenal at the Emirates! The Gunners take the lead after less than four minutes, and it is far too easy for them. The ball is slid through to Ozil, who finds himself in acres of space. He fires the ball into the ground which sends it bouncing up and over Boruc, who perhaps should do a little better. He was left very exposed by his defence there, though.
Arsenal have started their match against Bournemouth very well here. They are straight back on the front foot after that early goal and are pushing for a quickfire second to perhaps put the game beyond Bournemouth in the opening exchanges.
Up in Scotland, Rangers have made an even quicker start that the Gunners, scoring twice in the opening exchanges to take complete control against Dundee at Ibrox.
Another early half-chance for Arsenal as Kolasinac chips the ball into the path of Mkhitaryan, who collects it and fires a dangerous pass across the face of goal which Ake needs to clear from inside his own six-yard box.
KICKOFF: And we are underway in the 8pm kickoffs too! You can follow out in-depth live updates from Chelsea vs. Tottenham by
clicking here.
Bournemouth have their first meaningful attack of the game, and it leads to a first chance as King rises highest inside the box, only to nod over.
CHANCE! Man City create a chance inside the opening four minutes as a ball is floated over to Mahrez, who meets it on the bounce inside the area but cannot control his finish.
OFF THE POST! My word, City have come close to a goal yet again, within seconds of that Mahrez opening! De Bruyne fires the ball into the box and David Silva flicks it goalwards, but it comes off the outside of the post!
CHANCE! Big chance for United as Lukaku finds himself completely unmarked inside the box, only to fire his volley over when he really should have scored!
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 FULHAM (ORIOL ROMEU)
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 WATFORD (SADIO MANE)
GOAL! A couple of big goals at either end of the table! We'll start at Anfield, where Liverpool have taken the lead inside the opening 10 minutes through Mane, who flicks a lovely header past the keeper after being found by a wicked Alexander-Arnold cross! Romeu has also given Southampton the lead in the relegation battle at St Mary's!
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 BOURNEMOUTH (HENRIKH MKHITARYAN)
GOAL! Arsenal have a second as Ozil turns provider this time, teeing up Mkhitaryan for a simple finish to double their lead. Bournemouth had been getting themselves back into the match and had squandered a big chance moments before, but they now have a mountain to climb.
CHANCE! Crystal Palace have survived one big chance against United, but here they squander one of their own as Townsend cannot turn the ball home from inside the box. Still goalless at Selhurst Park!
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-1 BOURNEMOUTH (LYS MOUSSET)
GOAL! Bournemouth hit right back against Arsenal, and it is poor from Guendouzi! The youngster is caught in possession right on the edge of the box by Gosling, who unselfishly squares the ball for Mousset to apply the simple finish.
Liverpool have come close again at Anfield with Salah sliding the pass through for Alexander-Arnold, whose cross bounced off a defender and then off the goalkeeper before going narrowly wide.
It is end to end stuff at the Emirates for what is shaping up to be a thriller between Arsenal and Bournemouth. A landmark goal too...
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 WATFORD (SADIO MANE)
GOAL! Two for Liverpool, and two for Mane as the attacker - playing through the middle produces an audacious finish! His first touch is actually poor as he takes the ball in the wrong direction, but he then pulls off a stunning back-heel to dink the ball over Foster. Superb finish!
Still no goals at the Etihad Stadium, but it has been one-way traffic for Man City against West Ham from the very first whistle. It feels like only a matter of time.
Fabianski punches a corner clear for the Hammers, but only as far as Danilo, who slices his first-time effort well over. Over at Anfield, Salah also tries his luck from range but he too misses by a distance. The Egyptian has been a threat for Liverpool so far, though.
Man City have had a whopping 82% possession in the opening quarter of their match at the Etihad, but still no goals for the champions. As things stand they will fall three points behind Liverpool tonight, although there is still a long, long way to go.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2-0 FULHAM (JAMES WARD-PROWSE)
GOAL! Fulham are in deep, deep trouble, while Southampton may be on their way out of the relegation zone! James Ward-Prowse has doubled their advantage, following up a parried shot to tuck home.
CLOSE! Townsend cuts inside from his right flank and drills a good low effort just wide for Palace against United, while at the Etihad Aguero has seen a golden chance brilliant blocked behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Salah looks in the mood to get that 50th Premier League goal for Liverpool tonight! He works space to shoot from just outside the area, but puts his finish too close to the keeper.
Alexander-Arnold already has two assists tonight, and he perhaps should have a third here as he fires a beauty of a cross into the box which is just a yard in front of Mane and Salah.
CHANCE! Mahrez twists and turns when flying down the right flank before inevitably coming onto his left foot, but his finish is straight at Fabianski. Still goalless after half an hour at the Etihad!
HALF TIME: We have reached half time in the two 7.45pm kickoffs, and it is joy for the two home sides so far!
Arsenal 2-1 Bournemouth
Southampton 2-0 Fulham
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (ROMELU LUKAKU)
GOAL! Manchester United break the deadlock at Selhurst Park as Lukaku tucks an unerring finish into the bottom corner with his right foot. It is a clinical finish, but most of the credit has to go to Shaw, who drove into the box and drew three defenders around him before laying it off to his striker.
CHANCE! Oh and Palace should have an instant equaliser! Townsend again cuts inside but this time clips a cross into the box which finds Schlupp completely unmarked! He just cannot get high enough, though, and can only glance his header wide when he should do better!
OFF THE POST! Liverpool are pushing for a third at Anfield with first Salah breaking in behind and squeezing a shot away with Foster - who doesn't know much about it - manages to deflect on to the foot of the post.
Moments later Milner also breaks into the box but is unable to find the final touch needed and eventually the ball comes back out to Fabinho, who lashes a long-range strike high and wide.
We're still goalless at Stamford Bridge, by the way, where Chelsea are hosting
Tottenham Hotspur just three days after losing in the
EFL Cup final.
Crucial defending from Matip as he intercepts Deulofeu's low pass into the middle which Deeney was very interested in. They opened Liverpool up there!
CHANCE! Having been on the back foot for much of the half, Watford are ening the first half well and Deeney should perhaps do better here. Deulofeu slides a really clever pass through to find Deeney in the six-yard box, but he is beyond the near post and cannot get his flick right as he puts it off target.
CHANCE! Brilliant play from Liverpool as Origi drops the ball back to Salah, who dinks a lovely pass over the top for Robertson. The full-back seems to be caught in two minds, though, and in the end cannot set up Mane for a tap-in nor convert himself.
One minute of added time across the board for the 8pm kickoffs!
HALF TIME: ...and there are the half-time whistles!
8PM HALF-TIME SCORESChelsea 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Crystal Palace 0-1 Manchester United
Liverpool 2-0 Watford
Man City 0-0 West Ham
KICKOFF: Meanwhile, we are back underway at both the Emirates and at St Mary's!
GOAL! ARSENAL 3-1 BOURNEMOUTH (LAURENT KOSCIELNY)
GOAL! Incredible! Just as they did in the first half, Arsenal score within minutes of kickoff at the start of the second half too!
The goal will go down as Koscielny's despite Boruc's best efforts as he claws the ball away after the Arsenal defender's shot had deflected against the post. The ball was already over the line, but Aubameyang made sure anyway.
Ajax are well on course for victory over Feyenoord in their KNVB Beker match having now doubled their lead, while Celtic lead 10-man Hearts 1-0 in Neil Lennon's first game back in charge after Brendan Rodgers's exit.
Fraser tries to drag Bournemouth back into this one as Guendouzi is again caught in possession. This time the Bournemouth man cannot pick out the bottom corner, though, as Leno gets down to make a fairly routine stop.
Don't forget that there is also the small matter of a Clasico tonight between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It's goalless at half time in Madrid, but surely that will not last for the next 45 minutes? You can follow in-depth live coverage of that by
clicking here.
OFF THE POST! Arsenal should have a fourth goal here, and Ozil should have his second! The ball arrives to the German inside the area and he just tries to pass it in to the bottom corner but sees his effort come back off the foot of the post!
Perhaps things will not go to plan for Neil Lennon on his Celtic return after all - 10-man Hearts have levelled things up!
BOURNEMOUTH SUB: Bournemouth make a change to switch to a back three, with Charlie Daniels replacing Ibe.
OFF THE BAR! The Cherries also hit the woodwork at the Emirates! The defenders continue to back away from Gosling, who is eventually tempted enough to have a go. His shot takes a huge deflection which sends the ball looping up and against the crossbar!
GOAL! ARSENAL 4-1 BOURNEMOUTH (PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG)
GOAL! That may well be game over and top four secured for a few more days for Arsenal! Mkhitaryan bursts forward and plays the ball through for Aubameyang, who easily rounds the keeper before slotting into an empty net. Easy as you like.
KICKOFF: Meanwhile, we are back underway for the second half in the 8pm kickoffs!
The Armenian is enjoying a fine evening at the Emirates...
There will be some notable changes to the league table if everything stays as it is right now. As things stand, Liverpool will be three points clear, Chelsea will be five adrift of the Champions League places and Southampton will be out of the bottom three.
Liverpool look to make their lead completely secure at Anfield as Robertson gets down the left before playing a ball right across the face of goal.
Salah comes down the opposite flank this time and skips past his marker far too easily, but Foster just does enough to turn his dinked cross behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Oh my word, Ederson has just pulled off a huge save for Man City! West Ham barely offered anything at the first half, but here Carroll reacts really well to slide in and fire the ball goalwards. Ederson has to react really well and does exactly to turn the ball behind, keeping the scores goalless.
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (ROMELU LUKAKU)
GOAL! Arsenal may not be caught tonight, but United are keeping the pressure up! It is poor defending from Palace as United win two headers in the box from a corner, and the ball eventually drops to Lukaku, who shows good strength to nudge his man off the ball before hooking his finish in.
They are showing replay after replay of that Ederson save at the Etihad, and there is no telling how important it could prove to be. It is one of very few things he has had to do tonight, but he reacted so sharply to deny Carroll.
Almost a chance for Watford as Matip can only half-clear an initial free kick as far as Cathcart, but the Liverpool defender then completes the job by blocking the follow-up effort.
There has been a goal in the Clasico, and it has gone the way of Barcelona to put them on course for another Copa del Rey final! Luis Suarez got it, and you can
read all about it here.
This
top-four race is really hotting up now! With Arsenal and United both winning, Chelsea also take the lead against Spurs through Pedro, who danced past Alderweireld on his way into the area before finishing through the legs of Lloris.
PENALTY! Penalty to
Manchester City as Bernardo Silva is bundled to the ground by a combination of a couple of West Ham players! It looks a little soft!
GOAL! MAN CITY 1-0 WEST HAM (SERGIO AGUERO, PENALTY)
GOAL! No mistake from Aguero as he sends Fabianski the wrong way and tucks his penalty into the bottom corner! You can feel the relief around the Etihad as they finally break the deadlock!
CHANCE! Almost a chance for Mane to complete his hat-trick as Origi gets the ball into the box. It arrives behind Mane, but he collects it before shooting on the turn, only for his effort to be deflected over.
GOAL! ARSENAL 5-1 BOURNEMOUTH (ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE)
GOAL! Arsenal have their fifth of the night as substitute Alexandre Lacazette gets in on the act. The French striker gets a 25-yard free kick over the wall and down again in plenty of time, and Boruc cannot get there in time.
OFF THE LINE! Oh how has this not gone in?! Man City should have a second as first Sterling sees a shot brilliantly saved and then Silva tries to knock home the rebound, only to be denied by a splendid stop on the line by a defender!
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 WATFORD (DIVOCK ORIGI)
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (JOEL WARD)
GOAL! It is surely game over at Anfield now, but Palace are right back in it at Selhurst Park! Joel Ward is the unlikely name on the scoresheet as he meets a cross from the left with a flying diving header to leave the keeper no chance.
Origi's goal came from the left flank as he cut inside into the box, holding off the challenge of Janmaat before firing past Foster at the near post.
Palace are starting to believe in this comeback now! Meyer collects the ball in midfielder and immediately looks to get a shot away, with his low drive drawing a save from De Gea.
An incredible record for an incredible player, but if Man City win this game 1-0 then it is as much down to Ederson as Aguero, just for that one save out of the blue...
CHANCE! Danilo looks to make things more comfortable for City as he goes for goal from the edge of the box after being teed up by Bernardo. He hits it well enough, but the keeper gets down to make the save.
GOAL! Real Madrid have it all to do now! They have fallen 2-0 behind at the Bernabeu, and I'm sure the Barcelona fans would rather have an own goal from Ramos on the scoresheet than any of their own players!
CHANCE! Chance for Watford to pull a goal back as he darts down the right channel and gets a shot away, but Alisson gets down well to push the ball away.
GOAL! Things go from bad to worse for Real MAdrid as Barcelona add a quickfire third! Suarez wins and dispatches a penalty for his second goal of the night!
CHANCE! Another BIG save from Alisson to keep his clean sheet intact at Anfield! Gray takes a lofted ball down nicely inside the box and only has the keeper to beat, but Alisson makes himself big and deflects the shot over the crossbar from close range.
There will be two minutes of added time at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal lead Bournemouth 5-1.
CHANCE! Man City will kick themselves if they don't go on to win this match! They miss another chance here as Sterling can only put a rather tame effort wide of the target from a really good position.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 5-1 BOURNEMOUTH
FULL TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 2-0 FULHAM
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-0 WATFORD (VIRGIL VAN DIJK)
GOAL! It is four for Liverpool and a hat-trick of assists for Alexander-Arnold as he swings a beauty of a free kick into the box which Van Dijk meets with a towering header to put the icing on Liverpool's cake! This has been a statement from the league leaders!
Quite the night for Ajax too, as they have run out 3-0 winners away to Feyenoord in the KNVB Beker.
LIVERPOOL 5-0 WATFORD (VIRGIL VAN DIJK)
Incredible scenes at Anfield as Van Dijk gets a quickfire double to make it five for Liverpool! This time the delivery comes from the opposite flank as Robertson swings the cross in for the Dutchman, who glances his header into the bottom corner.
GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-3 MANCHESTER UNITED (ASHLEY YOUNG)
GOAL! Surely that is game over at Selhurst Park too as Ashley Young restores their two-goal lead, latching on to Pogba's pass through and drilling his low finish in from a tight angle. The keeper perhaps shouldn't be beaten from there, but Young hit it with such power.
GOAL! Ohhhh this is one for the blooper reels at Stamford Bridge! Trippier has just scored an absolute shocker of an own goal!
Giroud flicks the ball on but the defence have it under control until Trippier, with his head down, passes the ball beyond Lloris, who was rushing out. It's a horror show from the visitors and it could just take the ball beyond them once and for all.
The one thing missinhg from this Liverpool performance has been a goal for Salah's whose hopes of beating Shearer's record for the fastest player to 50 league goals for a single club is diminishing with each goalless game.
There will be three minutes of added time at Anfield, but more importantly four minutes at the Etihad. Can West Ham get a late equaliser to add a twist to this title race?
And a Fantasy Football legend in the making to boot...
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 5-0 WATFORD
A return to winning - and goalscoring - ways in emphatic fashion for Liverpool as they ensure top spot with 10 games remaining for the first time in the Premier League.
FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 0-3 BARCELONA
FULL TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 WEST HAM
Not a vintage Man City win, but coming just three days after extra time and penalties, Guardiola will certainly take that. They remain just one point behind Liverpool in the title race!
FULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 1-3 MANCHESTER UNITED
Well, what an action-packed night that was! Liverpool and Manchester City both win to leave the gap at the top still just one point, but Tottenham's defeat at Chelsea well and truly rules them out of that title race now.
Indeed, they may now be beginning to look over their shoulders with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all winning this evening in their own battle for a top-four spot.
At the other end of the table, Southampton pulled off a crucial win over Fulham to climb out of the bottom three.
Another remarkable record for Solskjaer...
PREMIER LEAGUE FULL-TIME RESULTSArsenal 5-1 Bournemouth
Southampton 2-0 Fulham
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
Crystal Palace 1-3 Man Utd
Liverpool 5-0 Watford
Man City 1-0 West Ham
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE!So, how does that leave the Premier League table looking? Well, I'm glad you asked as it has been a significant evening at both ends. Below are the standings after 28 games (for most).
...and a rather sorry statistic for Tottenham fans to finish up on.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's live Premier League action! Match reports for all of tonight's games are now on the site and be sure to stick around from reaction from all of the managers too!
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
