PREMIER LEAGUE
MANCHESTER City are top of the Premier League after thumping strugglers Luton 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
City took the lead after only 65 seconds when a volley from Erling Haaland hit Luton defender Daiki Hashioka in the face and the ball deflected into the net.
Mateo Kovacic fired into the top corner from just inside the box to make it 2-0. City added a third with a 77th-minute penalty from Haaland.
Ross Barkley hit a consolation for the Hatters with 10 minutes left. But Jeremy Doku and Josko Gvardiol added two more late goals for City.
City leapfrogged both Arsenal and Liverpool who suffered surprise home defeats.
Arsenal dropped to second after losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa.
Leon Bailey broke the deadlock in the 84th minute when he tapped home at the back post.
And Ollie Watkins clinched the points just three minutes later when he won possession and chipped his finish over keeper David Raya.
Liverpool’s title hopes were dealt a serious blow as Eberechi Eze scored the only goal in Crystal Palace’s shock 1-0 win at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were punished for a poor start as Tyrick Mitchell cut the ball back for Eze to casually side-foot home after 14 minutes.
Liverpool then failed to take a host of chances in a frustrating second half.
Newcastle dented Tottenham’s Champions League push with a 4-0 win at St James’ Park. Alexander Isak put the Magpies ahead on the half-hour mark with a low shot into the corner and Anthony Gordon made it 2-0.
West Ham suffered a meek 2-0 home defeat by Fulham.
The Hammers blew the chance to climb up to sixth place after two Andreas Pereira goals secured a first win in four for Fulham.
Isak took his season tally past the 20-goal mark when he added another after breaking clear in the second half before Fabian Schar scored a late fourth from a corner.
Relegation-threatened Burnley missed the chance to make up ground on the sides above them after a shocking mistake from goalkeeper Arijanet Muric handed Brighton an equaliser at Turf Moor.
Substitute Josh Brownhill put the Clarets ahead in the 74th minute.
Brighton were back on level terms just five minutes later when Muric allowed a back pass from Sander Berge to go under his foot for an own goal.
Brentford secured a first league win since early February as they beat bottom club Sheffield United 2-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Bees broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute through an own goal from Blades midfielder Oliver Arblaster. Substitute Frank Onyeka made it 2-0 in stoppage time.
Nottingham Forest fought back to draw 2-2 with Wolves and edge a point further clear of Luton, who remain in the final relegation spot.
Wolves took the lead five minutes before the break through a curling strike by Matheus Cunha. But Forest were level in first-half stoppage time when Morgan Gibbs-White flicked in from a corner.
Danilo put Forest in front when he slotted in a rebound after 57 minutes, but the visitors were soon back level when Cunha struck again from close range.