Manchester United, Everton, Leicester, QPR and Swansea won on an afternoon which could prove crucial at both ends of the Premier League tabl...
Manchester United, Everton, Leicester, QPR and Swansea won on an afternoon which could prove crucial at both ends of the Premier League table.
Manchester United were convincing 3-1 winners over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, a result which sees Manchester City slip down to fourth in the Premier League table.
United had to wait 43 minutes to break down a stubborn Villa side but did so through Ander Herrera, who converted Daley Blind’s pass into the box.
Wayne Rooney doubled the hosts' lead with an acrobatic effort 10 minutes from time and although Christian Benteke pulled a goal back with a shot which crept under David de Gea, Herrera made certain of the win with a first-time strike from 20 yards in time added on.
QPR, meanwhile, bridged the gap to Premier League safety to just a single point with an emphatic 4-1 victory at West Brom.
Eduardo Vargas opened the scoring after 14 minutes with a rifled shot from 20 yards after Charlie Austin’s flick-on and the provider then turned goalscorer when Austin dived to head in a second to stun the home side.
Bobby Zamora added the third in exceptional style, lobbing Boaz Myhill in the Baggies’ goal with the outside of his left foot to put the Rs into a commanding lead.
Victor Anichebe gave West Brom a flicker of hope with a headed goal 15 minutes after the restart but Youssouf Mulumbu was sent off shortly afterwards and Joey Barton added a fourth for QPR with an injury-time strike.
Leicester City remain rooted to the bottom but clinched a much-needed win at the expense of West Ham, who were beaten 2-1 at the King Power Stadium.
Esteban Cambiasso put the Foxes in front with a half-volley from the edge of the box but that effort was cancelled out by Cheikhou Kouyate, who capitalised on some slack defending to score at the back post.
Leicester left it late to secure their win, Andy King tapping in at close range after Jamie Vardy's scuffed shot with four minutes left to play.
Hull City look set for a nervous finish to the season and those anxieties were heightened by a 3-1 loss at Swansea City, for whom Ki Sung-Yeung beat the offside trap to open the scoring.
Bafetimbi Gomis put the seal on the victory with a double either side of Paul McShane's goal for Hull, who had David Meyler sent off for a lunging challenge on Kyle Naughton.
Everton's minor concerns about being drawn into a relegation fight were eased by a confident 1-0 win over Southampton; Phil Jagielka slotted home a loose ball on 16 minutes for the game’s only goal at Goodison Park.
Arsenal dealt Liverpool’s top-four hopes a substantial blow with an emphatic 4-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Olivier Giroud bagged his seventh strike in six Premier League games in stoppage-time with a well-taken, left-footed effort as Arsenal moved up to second in the table.
The result, which leaves Arsenal 7 points behind leaders Chelsea, is the Gunners’ seventh consecutive league victory as well as their seventh consecutive win in all competitions.
Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points after a 2-1 win over Stoke in which they were given a scare by Charlie Adam’s 59-yard strike.
