Another thrilling round of action in the Premier League delivered emphatic victories, stirring comebacks and a stoppage-time hero, as Matchweek 24 reshaped both the title race and the battle for European places.
League leaders Arsenal set the pace on Saturday with a commanding 4–0 away win over Leeds United. After a tight opening spell, Arsenal’s quality shone through. Martín Zubimendi opened the scoring before Noni Madueke doubled the advantage. Viktor Gyökeres added a third shortly after the break, and Gabriel Jesus completed the rout late on, underlining Arsenal’s growing authority at the summit.
At Anfield, Liverpool rediscovered their attacking edge with a convincing 4–1 victory over Newcastle United. After conceding early, the Reds hit back in style as Hugo Ekitiké struck twice, with Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konaté also finding the net. The result lifted Liverpool back into the top-four conversation and provided a timely confidence boost following a frustrating run of form.
In west London, Chelsea edged a dramatic 3–2 derby win over West Ham United. Goals from João Pedro, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernández completed a spirited comeback after Chelsea had fallen behind, keeping their Champions League ambitions alive. West Ham, meanwhile, were left to rue missed chances in a contest that swung repeatedly from end to end.
Elsewhere on Saturday, AFC Bournemouth continued their steady rise with a composed 2–0 victory away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Brighton & Hove Albion were held to a 1–1 draw by Everton on the south coast. Leeds, meanwhile, struggled to contain Arsenal’s attacking firepower as the Gunners marched on at the top.
Sunday brought even more drama. At Old Trafford, Manchester United produced a thrilling late surge to defeat Fulham 3–2, with Benjamin Šeško delivering the decisive moment deep into stoppage time.
United appeared to be cruising after goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha put them firmly in control. However, Fulham fought back to level the contest, setting up a tense finale. Just as the points seemed destined to be shared, Šeško rose above his marker to power home a dramatic late header, sending Old Trafford into raptures and securing three vital points. The striker’s winner capped a remarkable finish and kept United firmly in the race for Champions League qualification.
In north London, Tottenham Hotspur delivered one of the performances of the weekend, clawing back from two goals down to draw 2–2 with reigning champions Manchester City. City looked in control after first-half strikes from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, but Spurs roared back after the interval. Dominic Solanke led the revival with two superb finishes, the second a moment of real quality that halted City’s momentum and handed Arsenal a valuable boost in the title race.
Aston Villa suffered a setback at Villa Park, going down 1–0 to Brentford after Dango Ouattara’s first-half strike, while Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace shared the points in a 1–1 draw — a result that did little to ease Forest’s relegation concerns.
Table snapshot after Matchweek 24
At the top, Arsenal strengthened their grip on first place with 53 points, opening a clearer gap over Manchester City in second on 47. Aston Villa remain third on 46 despite their home defeat, while Manchester United’s late heroics lifted them into fourth on 41.
Chelsea sit fifth on 40, just ahead of Liverpool on 39 following their emphatic win over Newcastle. Brentford’s victory pushed them into seventh on 36, followed closely by Fulham and Everton, both on 34. Newcastle slipped to tenth on 33 after their heavy defeat on Merseyside.
At the other end, Nottingham Forest hover just above the drop zone, with Wolves rooted to the bottom following their loss to Bournemouth. With only a handful of points separating several sides, the relegation picture remains finely balanced.
Weekend talking points
Arsenal’s commanding display in Leeds felt like a champion’s response, blending defensive discipline with ruthless finishing. Liverpool’s revival will encourage their supporters, particularly after a fluid attacking performance that showcased their depth.
Tottenham’s comeback against Manchester City may prove pivotal, not only boosting Spurs’ confidence but also giving Arsenal breathing room at the top. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s habit of late drama continues to define their season, with Benjamin Šeško’s stoppage-time header emerging as one of the standout moments of the weekend.
With fixtures coming thick and fast, momentum is beginning to matter. If Matchweek 24 proved anything, it’s that in this Premier League season, no lead is safe, no position guaranteed, and every round brings fresh twists in one of the most competitive campaigns in recent memory.
Source – News365.co.za
