EPL Roundup: Haaland fires City into top spot; United, Newcastle both win

LONDON (AP) — Erling Haaland scored his fiftieth aim of the season as Manchester City moved to the highest of the Premier League on Sunday.

The prolific striker fired the defending champions forward from the penalty spot after solely three minutes at Fulham. City went on to win 2-1 at Craven Cottage and moved one level forward of long-time league chief Arsenal, with a sport in hand.

Haaland’s aim noticed him tie Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s joint file of 34 targets in a Premier League marketing campaign.

Both of these gamers reached their totals in 42-game seasons, whereas Haaland’s haul has are available a nonetheless unfinished 38-game marketing campaign.

Haaland had already overtaken Mohamed Salah’s file of 32 targets in a 38-game season together with his strike within the 4-1 win in opposition to Arsenal on Wednesday.

With City nonetheless having six extra video games to play within the league this season, the Norway worldwide seems to be more likely to set a brand new outright file.

Haaland fired previous Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno from the spot after Julian Alvarez had been introduced down by Tim Ream, who later injured his arm and was changed by Issa Diop.

Fulham evened the rating after quarter-hour via Carlos Vinicius, however City was again in entrance within the thirty sixth from Alvarez’s strike.

Manchester United 1, Aston Villa 0

In Manchester, there have been protests firstly however celebrations on the finish as United edged towards a return to the Champions League on Sunday.

A 1-0 win in opposition to Aston Villa strengthened United’s maintain on a top-four place within the Premier League, which was the first goal for supervisor Erik ten Hag in his first season in cost.

Bruno Fernandes struck within the thirty ninth minute after Marcus Rashford’s shot was pushed away by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Both groups had extra probabilities to attain, with United surviving a late push by the guests, however Fernandes’ aim proved the distinction.

With third-place Newcastle additionally profitable, United stays two factors behind in fourth, with a sport in hand.

“I’m really happy with the points but also with the performance,” Ten Hag said. “Really good performance against a Villa side who did not lose in 10 games, scored in every game and we were in complete control. It could have been 3-1 or 4-1 so a really good and impressive performance.”

Victory got here after supporters staged one other protest in opposition to United’s American house owners, the Glazer household, which got here two days after a 3rd spherical of bidding for the membership.

On Friday, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe submitted newest affords, however followers are involved the Glazers will retain a majority or minority stake within the 20-time English champion.

Supporters held up an enormous banner outdoors Old Trafford that learn “Full Sale Only,” whereas there have been chants of “We want Glazers out” contained in the stadium.

Newcastle 3, Southampton 1

In Newcastle, Callum Wilson got here off the bench to attain twice as Newcastle fought again to strengthen its Champions League pursuit and edge last-place Southampton towards the second tier with a 3-1 win.

Left out of Eddie Howe’s beginning lineup regardless of scoring twice at Everton on Thursday, the England striker produced the proper response after his halftime introduction, cancelling out Stuart Armstrong’s first-half opener after which serving to himself to a second within the 81st after Theo Walcott’s own-goal had given the Magpies the lead.

Wilson’s 14th and fifteenth targets of the season contributed to a fourth win of the marketing campaign over the Saints and an eighth in 9 league outings. It stored third-place Newcastle forward of Manchester United by two factors within the race for the highest 4. Newcastle has performed one sport greater than United.

The guests competed nicely earlier than the break however had been finally overwhelmed and stay in dire bother with video games working out quick.

Bournemouth 4, Leeds 1

In Bournemouth, the Cherries moved additional away from the relegation zone to spice up their Premier League survival bid with a one-sided 4-1 victory over Leeds.

Jefferson Lerma scored twice within the opening 24 minutes earlier than Patrick Bamford minimize the deficit within the thirty second.

But the house aspect struck twice extra within the second half — via Dominic Solanke and Antoine Semenyo — to place the sport out of attain and provides the Cherries a cushion of 10 factors over Leicester in 18th having performed a sport extra.

Leeds, in the meantime, stays perilously near the drop — only a level forward of the Foxes, who’ve a sport in hand.