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The seven midweek Premier League games on Wednesday produced vital results at the top and bottom of the table. Here is what happened in those crucial English top-flight clashes:
Newcastle 0-1 Everton
Everton recorded their third in win in four Premier League outings at St James Park.
The only goal of the game arrived on 27 minutes. Wayne Rooney poked in from close-range after Magpies goalkeeper Karl Darlow had failed to hold onto an Aaron Lennon header on goal. The Toffees rode their luck at times, as the Magpies hit the woodwork twice. However, nobody connected with the Merseyside club will care, as their team consolidated their position in top-half of the table.
Leicester recorded a comfortable victory at Southampton’s St Marys. First-half goals Riyad Mahrez, Shinji Okazaki and Andy King saw the Foxes head in at half-time three goals up. Southampton defender Maya Yoshida got a goal back for the Saints on the hour mark. However, Okazaki added his second on 69 minutes to seal the victory.
The win means Leicester remain in eighth-place in the table. However, Claude Puel’s side are now just five points off fourth spot. Southampton meanwhile remains 11th in the table, looking over their shoulders nervously at the relegation zone.
Pep Guardiola’s side recorded a Premier League record 15th win at the Liberty Stadium. A David Silva brace was sandwiched by a Kevin De Bruyne effort. Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero added a fourth late on. The Citizens are 11 points clear at the top of the table. The Swans remain bottom of the table but are still just two points from safety.
Liverpool 0-0 West Brom
Liverpool endured more frustration at Anfield, as for the second consecutive game the Reds dominated play, but could not add the finishing touches to their possession. Young striker Dominic Solanke thought he has scored the winning goal in the second half, only for the effort to be ruled out due to handball. The Baggies hit the bar with a Hal Robson-Kanu effort. However, in truth, the visitors will be happy to return home with a point.
Due to results elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp’s team slipped to fifth place in the table. Meanwhile, the draw saw Alan Pardew’s side out of the bottom three, but only on goal difference.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
Manchester United recorded a 1-0 win over the Cherries courtesy of a first-half strike from Romelu Lukaku, who ended a relative goal drought. However, the Red Devils had goalkeeper David De Gea to thank for the victory, as the Spaniard produced seven saves to keep out Eddie Howe’s side.
The win keeps United second in the table, trailing city rivals and leaders Manchester City by 11 points. The visitors from the south coast are 14th place in the table and just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Tottenham 2-0 Brighton
The north London side recorded a 2-0 win over the out-of-form south coast visitors. Mauricio Pochettino’s side took the lead on 40 minutes, as Serge Aurier’s attempted cross beat everybody and found the net. South Korean attacker Son Heung-Min scored the second on 87 minutes through a deflected effort. There was still time for Harry Kane to smash an effort against the bar.
Tottenham are now fourth in the table, but only ahead of fifth and sixth place Liverpool and Burnley due to a superior goal difference. Brighton are dropping down the table and are currently 13th in the table, just three points above the drop zone.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
West Ham picked up a very respectable point against London rivals Arsenal, to make it four points from their last two league outings against Chelsea and the Gunners. The Hammers came the closest to winning the game, as Javier Hernandez’s late strike hit Petr Cech’s bar and bounce away from danger.
The point means that the Irons are 19th in the table. However, only inferior goal difference is keeping David Moyes side in the relegation zone. Arsenal are seventh place, a point behind, Burnley, Liverpool and fourth-place rivals Tottenham.
What was the highlight of gameweek 17 in the Premier League?
