LONDON, England: Erling Haaland’s decisive goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Southampton has brought City back to the top of the Premier League, underscoring the ongoing competition in this intense season.
After a brief goal drought, Haaland scored early in the game, marking his 14th goal of the season and lifting City two points clear of second-place Liverpool, who will face Arsenal in a pivotal match on Sunday.
This win also maintained City’s two-year unbeaten streak at home in the league, while Southampton, rooted at the bottom of the table, continued their struggle.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s title ambitions faced a setback as Bournemouth secured a 1-1 draw at Villa Park with a dramatic equalizer in the dying moments. Villa had led through Ross Barkley’s goal but couldn’t hold on, dampening their momentum after a strong Champions League run. In a thrilling encounter, Brentford narrowly overcame Ipswich 4-3, thanks to Bryan Mbeumo’s last-minute goal, after Ipswich’s Clarke experienced a difficult game, scoring an own goal and earning a late red card.
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Elsewhere, Wolves managed a comeback against Brighton with a late equalizer to avoid their sixth consecutive defeat, while Everton’s Beto headed in a last-minute goal to secure a 1-1 draw with Fulham, ensuring Everton’s position just above the relegation zone. With action-packed finishes across the board, the weekend emphasized the Premier League’s intensity and the tight competition at every level.
