EPL: Spurs, Arsenal lose as Ronaldo fires United back into fourth place race

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring Manchester United’s third aim with Nemanja Matic within the Premier League match in opposition to Norwich Metropolis, at Outdated Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. {Photograph}: Craig Brough/Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiftieth membership profession hat-trick earned below-par Manchester United a 3-2 Premier League victory over Norwich Metropolis on Saturday amid scenes of fan protest at Outdated Trafford.

With Tottenham Hotspur dropping 1-0 at house to Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Saturday, the door was open for United to shut on the Champions League qualification locations with victory over backside facet Norwich they usually nearly took benefit.

A primary-half double from veteran striker Ronaldo seemingly put the hosts on track for a snug win within the sunshine, with Norwich struggling to maintain tempo.

Nevertheless, Kieran Dowell’s aim out of nowhere in first-half stoppage time bought the guests again within the contest, earlier than Finnish ahead Teemu Pukki accomplished the Norwich comeback to stun Outdated Trafford into silence seven minutes after the break.

Followers who protested in opposition to the membership’s house owners forward of the match had been singing “you are not match to put on the shirt” within the second half as their group had been second finest to a group seven factors adrift of the Premier League security zone.

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo is thwarted by Norwich Metropolis’s goalkeeper Tim Krul. {Photograph}: Craig Brough/Reuters

United’s France midfielder Paul Pogba was booed by his personal followers as he was substituted earlier than Ronaldo stole the present as soon as once more with a sensational winner 14 minutes from time to pull United out of the mire as soon as extra.

The win, United’s first in 4 video games in all competitions, moved them above Arsenal, who misplaced 1-0 at Southampton, into fifth on 54 factors from 32 matches, with Spurs now simply three factors in entrance. Norwich keep backside on 21 factors.

Tottenham’s top-four hopes dented by house loss to Brighton

IMAGE: Leandro Trossard celebrates scoring Brighton & Hove Albion’s first aim with Alexis Mac Allister. {Photograph}: Hannah Mckay/Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur blew an opportunity to strengthen their grip on fourth place within the Premier League as they suffered a last-gasp 1-0 house defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion.

Antonio Conte’s facet produced a lacklustre show and seemed set for a irritating stalemate earlier than Belgian Leandro Trossard made issues even worse with a Ninetieth-minute winner.

After 4 successive victories the pre-match temper in north London was one in every of optimism however Tottenham’s efficiency was in stark distinction to the intense spring sunshine.

Sluggish and unimaginative in possession, Tottenham’s feared attacking duo of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min had been digital spectators in a primary half during which the house facet managed just one try on the Brighton aim.

Spurs confirmed slightly extra urgency after the break with Son having a few pictures blocked, however Brighton at all times carried the larger aim risk and deservedly took the factors when Trossard burst into the left facet of the penalty space and beat Hugo Lloris with a low shot with the surface of his proper foot.

Trossard is having a big effect within the top-four race having been on course in Brighton’s 2-1 win at Arsenal final week.

Tottenham stayed in fourth place with 57 factors however they’re solely three factors forward of native rivals Arsenal who’ve two video games in hand and play in a while Saturday at Southampton.

Brighton moved as much as tenth with 40 factors.

Tottenham’s efficiency was all of the extra shocking contemplating the objectives which have flowed of late in massive wins in opposition to West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

The surge in type had seen Spurs emerge as favourites for fourth spot and a return to the Champions League — a situation that seemed unlikely for a lot of the season.

However Graham Potter’s well-organised facet, simply as they did when beating Arsenal, confirmed they’ll frustrate opponents and provided Tottenham a painful actuality examine.

“A tough sport, we knew this,” Conte stated. “It was a tactical sport. I believe a draw would have been a good outcome.

“We began very slowly and in the sort of sport you need to transfer the ball extra shortly. Perhaps the climate… I wish to discover an excuse, nevertheless it was not a superb sport for us.”

Brighton smothered Spurs within the opening interval with the hosts pressured to go the ball round harmlessly in their very own half, a lot to the frustration of the house devoted.

The guests went shut when Enock Mwepu’s shot was deflected vast by Ben Davies.

Tariq Lamptey then delivered a harmful cross that evaded everybody within the field whereas Alexis Mac Allister missed the ball from point-blank vary after a nook deflected to him.

Tottenham raised the tempo within the second half however other than a short flurry had been unable to construct any momentum they usually might actually haven’t any complaints at a defeat which added one other twist to a battle for fourth place nobody appears able to successful.

Revived Saints deal additional blow to Arsenal’s top-four hopes

IMAGE: Southampton’s Mohamed Elyounoussi in motion with Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe. {Photograph}: Ian Walton/Reuters

Southampton ended a five-match winless run within the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium, dealing additional injury to the guests’ hopes of ending within the high 4 this season.

Mikel Arteta’s facet have slipped to sixth place within the standings on 54 factors, degree with Manchester United and three behind north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur however with a sport in hand over each groups.

Jan Bednarek gave Southampton a slender lead one minute earlier than halftime after Mohamed Elyounoussi evaded the offside lure and crossed for the defender to complete previous goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale handy Arsenal their third straight defeat.

Arsenal, with out ahead Alexandre Lacazette as a consequence of COVID-19, didn’t benefit from early probabilities and had been largely restricted to speculative pictures from distance, and their late push for an equaliser was thwarted by goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Forster, who denied Gabriel Martinelli after 9 minutes with an acrobatic save, later clawed away substitute Emile Smith Rowe’s effort at full stretch earlier than blocking a shot from Bukayo Saka and diving to avoid wasting Granit Xhaka’s deflected strike.

Arsenal dominated with 76% of the possession and had 5 pictures on course however threw away the chance to re-ignite their top-four hopes after Tottenham’s loss to Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Saturday.

Jansson scores late as Brentford snatch victory at Watford

IMAGE: Pontus Jansson heads house Brentford’s second aim in opposition to Watford, at Vicarage Highway, Watford. {Photograph}: Chris Radburn/Reuters

Brentford defender Pontus Jansson scored in added time as they secured a 2-1 Premier League victory over Watford at Vicarage Highway on Saturday for his or her third straight win that piled the strain on their relegation-threatened hosts.

Jansson powerfully headed within the Ninety fifth-minute winner from Christian Eriksen’s free kick, shortly after Watford’s Joshua King hit the put up and Imran Louza fired the rebound vast from point-blank vary, to spark wild celebrations amongst away followers.

Brentford’s victory adopted their 4-1 thumping of Chelsea and a 2-0 victory over West Ham United final weekend and meant that that they had sealed three straight league victories for the primary time within the high flight since September 1946.

“Loopy, loopy end. It was the third time we have gained within the final minute. That could be a credit score to the boys and their character,” Brentford supervisor Thomas Frank instructed the BBC.

“By means of the sport, we gave little or no away. First half, we had been barely higher, second half, Watford had been higher than us, little doubt. Then you definately assume, ‘OK, take some extent if you cannot win, do not lose’.

“… The supporters had been superb. Being on this place is exceptional. We got here up by means of the playoffs, lowest finances, ‘bus cease in Hounslow’ all that. However doing what we’re doing is incredible.”

Earlier, Christian Norgaard gave his facet the lead from a well-worked set piece routine within the fifteenth minute as he tapped in Kristoffer Ajer’s flick on from Ethan Pinnock’s lengthy throw into the field to silence the house supporters.

Watford, who’re nineteenth within the desk, barely threatened after the opener however got here to life after the restart as Emmanuel Dennis beat the offside lure and blasted one previous David Raya, with the aim awarded following a prolonged Video Assistant Referee examine.

Roy Hodgson’s facet pushed searching for a successful aim as the sport wore on however they failed to search out one that might have helped them keep away from a tenth straight house league defeat and given them an enormous increase of their bid to keep away from the drop to the Championship.

Watford have 22 factors from 32 video games forward of subsequent weekend’s journey to Manchester Metropolis whereas Brentford are eleventh with 39 factors and 5 matches remaining, beginning with their house assembly in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur.