Arsenal, Liverpool suffer shock defeats

Aston Villa produced an outstanding performance to stun Arsenal 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Sunday and leave Manchester City in pole position in the Premier League title race.

The game started with high anticipation for the Gunners after Liverpool’s shock home 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace, but Arsenal were desperately disappointing and well beaten as Villa boss Unai Emery made a winning return to his former club.

Villa’s win move them three points ahead of Tottenham in fourth having played a game more. The only surprise was that it took Villa until six minutes from the end of normal time to open the scoring - Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans hit the woodwork in each half before Leon Bailey finally broke the deadlock with a low finish at the far post.

The visitors wrapped up the win when Watkins raced clear in the 87th minute to loft a composed finish over David Raya.

It completed a perfect weekend for reigning champions City, with Pep Guardiola’s side now two points clear of Arsenal who are ahead of third-placed Liverpool on goal difference.

Earlier, Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes suffered a huge blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Eberechi Eze converted from Tyrick Mitchell’s cut-back to finish off a flowing Palace move early on and the visitors were deservedly in front at the break.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds ramped up the pressure in the second half but, just as in recent games against Manchester United and Atalanta, their finishing let them down as they lost at home in the league for the first time since October 2022.

Defeat leaves Liverpool two points behind leaders Manchester City and level on points with Arsenal, who were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa.

Also on Sunday, Andreas Pereira scored twice to give Fulham a rare 2-0 win at West Ham in the Premier League.