The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Son strikes at the death to snatch win for Spurs
Late goal denies Villa a point – while Arsenal cruise to victory over Newcastle
Son Heung-min struck a last-gasp winner as Tottenham clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory at Aston Villa to boost their Champions League hopes.
The South Korea forward cashed in on Bjorn Engels’ stoppage-time error to snatch the three points for Jose Mourinho’s side after Engels’ 53rd-minute header had looked like earning Villa a priceless point in their fight against relegation.
Son’s first goal, following up after Pepe Reina saved his penalty, had given Spurs the lead at the break after Toby Alderweireld’s equaliser cancelled out the defender’s early own goal.
Fifth place in the Premier League is now likely to offer a Champions League spot following Manchester City’s two-year European ban, although it is yet to officially be confirmed and City are appealing.
The result moved Spurs – who face fellow European hopefuls Chelsea and Wolves in their next two topflight games – above surprise package Sheffield United into fifth, while Villa remained a point above the drop zone in 17th.
Arsenal continued to show improvement under Mikel Arteta as a second-half blitzing of Newcastle gave them a 4-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners overcame a lifeless first half to turn it into a rout as Pierreemerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette all found the net, ending the Gunners’ run of four successive Premier League draws.
It was their second win of 2020 and Arteta will be confident his side are now on an upward trend as he tries and implements his ideas.
It turned into an almost perfect afternoon for Pepe, who bagged two assists, produced the sort of contribution that justifies his £72 million price tag in the summer, while Ozil scored his first goal since last April and Lacazette ended a nine-game drought.
A moment of magic from Sadio Mane was all Liverpool needed to fend off both Storm Dennis and Norwich for a 1-0 Premier League win at Carrow Road.
Fit-again Mane climbed off the bench to poke home his 12th league goal of the campaign and extend champions-elect Liverpool’s winning streak to 17 topflight matches.
The runaway leaders inched closer to a first title since 1990 by grinding out a nervy win, amid howling winds and driving rain.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are now just one victory away from matching Manchester City’s Premier League record of 18 successive wins.
For much of a weather-ruined clash the Reds feared a first league draw since the 1-1 tie with Manchester United on October 20, only for super sub Mane to deliver in style.
Matej Vydra’s first goal in 17 months made it three wins in four for Burnley in the league after a 2-1 win at Southampton.
After Ashley Westwood and Danny Ings had traded first-half goals, Clarets boss Sean Dyche saw substitute Vydra pop up with an excellent winner on the hour mark at a rain-soaked St Mary’s.
It continued Burnley’s brilliant recent form and left Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl with plenty to ponder after his side’s third straight defeat.