Bukayo Saka returned to the Arsenal team to face Liverpool at Anfield, while Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were handed starts for the hosts.

Saka dropped to the bench for a 4-1 hammering of Leeds United last weekend due to illness, but the England winger replaced Leandro Trossard in the Premier League leaders' starting line-up on Sunday.

That was the only change made by manager Mikel Arteta as the Gunners looked to restore their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to eight points.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recalled centre-back Van Dijk and leading scorer Salah to his team, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo.

Van Dijk was absent for a goalless draw with Chelsea in midweek, while Salah, Robertson, Gakpo and Alexander-Arnold started on the bench at Stamford Bridge.

Thiago Alcantara was included among the substitutes for Sunday's game after two months on the sidelines with a hip injury.

Kalidou Koulibaly acknowledges his debut campaign at Chelsea has not gone to plan, but the Senegal international remains committed to spending "many years" with the Blues.

Koulibaly left Napoli for Stamford Bridge in a £33.8million (€40m) deal last July, as part of a huge spending spree sanctioned in Chelsea's first transfer window under the Todd Boehly regime.

However, Chelsea have endured a dire first campaign since their change of owner, sitting 11th in the Premier League table after sacking two bosses in Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.

Caretaker manager Frank Lampard oversaw a 1-0 defeat to Wolves in his first game at the helm on Saturday, leaving the London side 17 points adrift of the Champions League places.

While Koulibaly admits he has not performed to the best of his abilities since arriving in the Premier League, he is keen to make amends in future campaigns.

"I know I'm not at 100 per cent yet, but I think I'm coming to my level," he told The Times. "Chelsea made a big decision to sign me and there's a big desire in me to give back. 

"I want to be part of this club for many years. This is not the year Chelsea were expecting, but sometimes when you have big changes, new owners, and half the team is new, everybody has to adapt.

"But we know how big the ambition is here and we're going to work to win back the confidence of the supporters."

Koulibaly believes the squad must accept responsibility for the coaching changes that have blighted Chelsea's campaign, adding: "When you change managers, it's like you failed somewhere. 

"You have to keep on fighting, and we'll give everything. Our new manager is a big legend, so we have to be behind him. We know we can do better – and we will."

Chelsea's most recent defeat was their seventh on the road in the Premier League this season. They last lost more away games in a single campaign in 2000-01 (eight).

Harry Maguire has talked up Manchester United's squad strength and declared he is ready to play his part in their end-of-season run-in.

England international Maguire has had to largely make do with being a squad player this season, having started just six of United's 29 Premier League matches.

The 30-year-old was brought into the side in place of Raphael Varane for Saturday's meeting with Everton and helped United to a clean sheet in their 2-0 victory.

United are well positioned in their battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League, while also still being in contention for silverware in the Europa League and FA Cup.

With as many as 16 games still to come this season, United captain Maguire says every player will have a part to play.

"We're never going to be successful as 11 players," he told MUTV. "This is the Premier League and we're playing in all competitions. 

"We want to do as much as we can in every competition, win more trophies and compete at the highest level of the Premier League. To do that you need more than 11 players."

United welcomed back Christian Eriksen from a two-month injury lay-off against Everton, while Anthony Martial stepped up his recovery with a goal from the substitutes' bench.

Not only does that bolster Erik ten Hag's choices in midfield and attack, Maguire believes it also helps get more out of other players due to the increased competition for places.

"To get Christian back, Anthony back, they're huge players for us, huge players for the squad," he said.

"They can make a difference off the bench, can start games and it just brings that little bit more energy into everybody, knowing that competition for places is high.

"We've got a good squad to be able to cope with the demands that we've been put through in the games that we have to play."

Martial scored his fourth league goal of the season in the routine win over Everton after Scott McTominay had given United a first-half lead at Old Trafford.

United dominated the first half in particular but only had one goal to show for it, though Maguire feels that was his side's best opening 45 minutes of the season to date.

"There have been some good halves – like the second half against Barcelona – but the first half [against Everton], I'd probably say that's the strongest, for sure," Maguire said.

"If we'd come in at half-time 4-0 up, I think no one would be complaining. But nothing is ever comfortable in the Premier League. It should have been comfortable, that’s for sure. 

"I think we thoroughly deserved the three points. The only thing probably missing was more goals."

United host Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, while Brighton and Hove Albion await in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 23.

Xavi warned Barcelona they cannot consider the league title won even if they beat Girona to open up a 15-point lead over Real Madrid on Monday.

Barca were crushed 4-0 by Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final in midweek, meaning the Blaugrana only have the LaLiga title left to play for.

They were already 12 points clear at the summit before this weekend, and Madrid's surprise 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal on Saturday gives Barca the opportunity to increase the gap.

No team has ever overturned such a deficit at this stage of a LaLiga season, so Barca's position looks very secure.

But Xavi was keen to stress the importance of not taking their lead for granted, with the former midfielder acknowledging his young squad does lack a degree of maturity.

"[The title] wouldn't be considered won, there would still be 10 [games] left," Xavi bluntly said in his pre-match press conference.

"When the league is won, we'll celebrate it. We have to win it. Tomorrow's game is a very good test for us after the elimination in the Copa.

"We depend on ourselves. Fifteen points would be a spectacular difference. It wouldn't be all done, but it would be a big difference, and winning the league would be extraordinary."

Despite Barca's massive lead in LaLiga, their performances in other competitions have left a lot to be desired.

While they did win the Supercopa de Espana, Barca dropped out of the Champions League at the group stage and into the Europa League – Manchester United deservedly eliminated them from that competition, and they were even more comprehensively dumped out of the Copa by Madrid.

But Xavi lent on comments once made by former Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as he suggested LaLiga success reflects stability.

Asked what incentives Barca players have, Xavi said: "Winning LaLiga. Winning LaLiga is the focus.

"We have won five Champions Leagues, and winning the Champions League is required of us, but winning LaLiga gives us stability.

"We are 12 points ahead and that means that we do things well. We value what we are doing. It's amazing, and gets us closer to winning LaLiga, which for us would be extraordinary."

As for the other competitions, Xavi reminded critics they are still during the early stages of a new era.

"We need time. We won the Supercopa, we are on track in LaLiga. In Europe, we have not competed well.

"We've signed players, there are youngsters [in the squad]... when we have been playing together for two or three years, we will not be under construction.

"We've won a title and we're on our way to another."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp declared himself "100 per cent responsible for this rubbish" but is sure the club can get through their tough season "in a classy manner".

After agonisingly missing out on a quadruple last season, the Reds have had a difficult 2022-23 campaign that has already seen them knocked out of every cup competition, while they sit eighth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's Anfield clash with leaders Arsenal.

The Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22, as well as reaching the Champions League final and finishing just a point behind Premier League winners Manchester City.

With 10 matches left this term, Liverpool's points total of 43 is less than half what they amassed in 2021-22, and Klopp accepts it is unacceptable.

"I'm sorry for our people, that they don't have the season they wished for. But in the long term they will forget that," Klopp told Sky Sports.

"I couldn't care less what we did last year or the years before. I'm 100 per cent responsible for this rubbish and it's really not cool."

The German coach recently admitted his generally impeccable record with the club was probably the reason his job has not come into question, and shared his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans.

"I know everybody can express their emotions in an instant and there will be a lot of negative comments about us – I understand that," he said. "But the people in the stadium are incredible.

"You see things happening at other clubs, not only sackings but teams against owners, fans against owners, fans against the team – I've seen it all.

"But if anyone can get through a situation like this in a classy manner, I really think it's us as a club."

Liverpool played every game possible last season (63), and the associated fatigue has been cited as one of the reasons for their dramatic dip in form, while Chelsea (61 matches) and City (56 matches) have also seen their points totals regress.

"What you've seen this year is that a lot of teams that performed last year on an extremely high level are not exactly there," Klopp added. "Even City. Of course they play sensational football, but they don't have the same points tally as last year [64, compared to 69 at the same stage in 2021-22].

"The intensity, at one point, gets you and maybe it caught us this year. But that is no excuse for the next 10 games.

"It may be an explanation for why we are not on our top level. We didn't find a way to bring in consistent performances."

Sitting 13 points behind Newcastle United and Manchester United in third and fourth place respectively, it will take a significant turnaround for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League, even if they have a game in hand.

Klopp believes a "lack of confidence" has played a part, as well as injuries, but his team's potential has still been visible with a 9-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season, and a 7-0 thrashing of rivals United in their last home game.

Their shortcomings were on show again just six days later though, stumbling to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.

"World-class players are performing on a strange level," he said. "It started with injuries and players coming back early, and we were never really settled in this season.

"We have to go through that and I have no problem with that. When I look back in 10 or 15 years this season will probably not be involved with highlights, but hopefully there'll be a lot of things we can learn from it and can use next year.

"But we have to fight through this and this is tough. If it was easy they wouldn't pay me that much money for it.

"We've had a super-strange season. We've had the two highest wins in our history but then a week later we cannot do it."

Marquinhos is hoping to play another 200 times for Paris Saint-Germain after confirming he is in advanced talks with the Ligue 1 giants over a new contract.

The centre-back played his 400th match for PSG in Saturday's 2-0 win over Nice and is fast closing in on Jean-Marc Pilorget's club record of 435 appearances.

Brazil international Marquinhos is into his 10th season at the Parc des Princes since arriving from Roma, but he has just one year left to run on his existing deal.

Marquinhos has previously stated he wants to extend his stay in the French capital, though, and an agreement between the long-serving player and club may soon be reached.

"We're on the final details," he is quoted as saying by RMC Sport. "Playing my 400th match for Paris was incredible. I didn't imagine this when I arrived at a young age.

"Back then I was just thinking about having fun and playing. We've had good times and difficult times, but as I've said before, I've always had the same passion to give my best.

"Now I hope to play another 100 or 200 games... the most possible!"

Most of Marquinhos' games have been in Ligue 1 (262), followed by the Champions League (81), Coupe de France (31), Coupe de la Ligue (20) and Trophee des Champions (6).

The 28-year-old has captained PSG since February last year and has won 27 trophies, including seven Ligue 1 crowns.

"PSG always shows me a lot of gratitude, the fans too, everyone in the club," Marquinhos added. "I am very very happy in Paris."

Marquinhos played a full part in the win over Nice, which maintained PSG's six-point lead over Lens at the top of Ligue 1 as they aim to keep hold of their title.

The Parisians have collected 69 points after 30 matches – no team in Ligue 1 history has failed to finish top after accumulating as many points at this stage.

It was far from a vintage display against Nice, however, with Gianluigi Donnarumma's seven saves the joint-second most he has made in a game this season.

"We know we can do much better, but in the current context, we must not be too angry, we must take things step by step," Marquinhos said. "We've had some difficult moments. 

"Today, even if it wasn't our best game, we won. It was very important to take these three points, to gain confidence, to regain a good dynamic, to find a good atmosphere.

"It was important to win here tonight. It's a very positive point for us because in the last few games, in the difficult moments, we gave away goals, and that changed the game. 

"I think there are several points to remember, not just the result, but yes, the result is the most important."

Alan Shearer says "scary" Manchester City striker Erling Haaland can reach 60 goals for the season after closing in on the Newcastle United icon's Premier League record.

Haaland scored a brace in Saturday's win at Southampton to take his tally for the season in all competitions in his maiden campaign with City to 44 goals in 38 games.

That is 13 goals more than the next-highest scorer among players across Europe's top five leagues, with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe netting 31 in 35 appearances.

Thirty of Haaland's goals have come in the Premier League, leaving him just four short of matching Shearer's record of 34 in a season, which he jointly holds with Andy Cole.

Shearer expects Haaland to surpass that target with time to spare and, with potentially 16 more games to play in all competitions, he believes a bigger milestone is attainable.

"If he can stay fit, Haaland will obliterate the Premier League record I share with Andy Cole of 34 goals in a single season," Shearer said in his column for The Athletic.

"At his current rate of averages in all competitions, with 44 in 38 appearances, he will storm past 50. Even that may be a disservice to him. 

"Who knows, we could even be talking 60 and Dixie Dean territory. Scary."

Haaland reached 30 Premier League goals in 27 games, doing so in five matches fewer than any other player in the competition's history.

Only eight players in the English top flight – most recently Jimmy Greaves in 1961 – have scored more than 40 goals in a single league season.

"I wonder how many people thought it was hyperbole when I wrote nearly a year ago that Erling Haaland would score 40 goals in this Manchester City team?" Shearer said. 

"City were buying goals – as close as you can get to an absolute, cast-iron guarantee – by adding an exceptional centre-forward to a phenomenally creative side.

"If anything, I was being stingy. Exceptional? He's almost perfect and that haul of 40 is already in his rearview mirror."

Haaland's next opportunity to add to his growing haul will come on Tuesday when City host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The former Borussia Dortmund man has 33 goals in 25 games in the competition, which is also a record for the quickest time to surpass the 30-goal mark in the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho could not resist a dig at Serie A rivals Juventus after seeing his Roma side secure a crucial 1-0 win at Torino on Saturday.

Paulo Dybala's eighth-minute penalty was enough for the Giallorossi, sending them into third place after Milan and Inter both drew on Friday.

Juve lost 2-1 at Lazio to leave the Bianconeri on 44 points, nine adrift of Mourinho's side, though the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss is not convinced that will remain the case.

The appeal Juve lodged against their 15-point penalty for transfer fee irregularities will be heard on April 19, meaning the top-four picture could eventually look very different.

Speaking after the win in Turin, Mourinho did not care about the quality of the performance, just the three points, before referencing Juve's situation.

"Matches are won when you score one more goal than your opponent," he told DAZN. "This is the goal not only in football but in sport: you have to win by trying to exploit your qualities and try to hide the problems.

"We are third in the standings? Are we sure that Juve don't have 59 points? We are in Italy."

Since 2004-05, Dybala (11 goals, six assists) is only the second player to score more than 10 goals and record more than five assists in a debut season for Roma in Serie A, after Mohamed Salah in 2015-16.

Roma have nine league games remaining as well as their upcoming Europa League quarter-final against Feyenoord, and Mourinho is hopeful of success on both fronts despite what he sees as squad limitations.

"The opponent that worries me the most in the Champions League fight? Ourselves, the fact that we want to think like a great team but we have a squad with limits," he said. 

"We have three games a week and it's hard for us, but I'm not capable of thinking small. We go ahead from game to game.

"I'm not able to say that Udinese is less important than Feyenoord – let's think game by game. Today we didn't score a second goal, otherwise the game would have been completely different."

Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena says he is "very sad about the aggression" after allegedly being attacked by Real Madrid's Federico Valverde following Saturday's match.

Baena played a full part in the LaLiga contest at the Santiago Bernabeu and assisted Samuel Chukwueze's late goal as Villarreal stunned Madrid 3-2.

According to widespread reports, the Spain Under-21 international was involved in a heated confrontation with Valverde shortly after the game.

It is alleged that Valverde punched Baena in retaliation to derogatory remarks the latter made about his unborn child in a previous encounter between the sides.

Villarreal are said to have the incident recorded and are discussing the next steps with local police.

Xisco Nadal, a team delegate for Villarreal, said in a now-deleted tweet: "Fede Valverde, loutish and cowardly."

Baena took to Instagram shortly after news of the incident emerged to seemingly deny making the previous comments that had been credited to him.

"Very happy with the impressive victory of the team on a stage like the Santiago Bernabeu," he said. 

"But at the same time [I am] very sad about the aggression I suffered after the match and surprised by what is being said about my person. It is totally false that I said it."

Baena has represented Spain at every age-grade level from Under-16 and has made over 50 appearances for Villarreal since making his senior debut in July 2020.

Neither Villarreal nor Madrid are yet to officially comment on the incident.

Liverpool's underwhelming 2022-23 campaign has led to talk that the club will undertake a squad overhaul in the off-season.

Chief among Jurgen Klopp's priorities is a midfield revamp, with Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham and Chelsea's Mason Mount among those linked to the Reds.

However, there could also be another attempt at signing a France international they were beaten to in 2022 by Real Madrid.

TOP STORY – YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TCHOUAMENI MIDFIELDERS

Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni is once again high on Liverpool's transfer agenda as they look to refresh their midfield, reports El Nacional.

The Reds were interested in the 23-year-old at the end of last season but were unable to land him after he chose to move from Monaco to Madrid for a reported €100 million on a six-year deal.

Though he started Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal, Tchouameni has been unable to establish himself as a frequent starter under Carlo Ancelotti, meaning Los Blancos may be willing to let him go to raise funds, with Liverpool reportedly still keen and willing to offer £71m (€80m).

ROUND-UP

– Calciomercatoweb claims Inter are warming to the idea of Nicolo Barella exiting San Siro, as Liverpool circle for the midfielder as part of their revamp. Inter reportedly want no less than €50m (£44m) for him.

– Barcelona's discussions with Ousmane Dembele over a new contract have stopped, with the Catalans unable to offer him a pay rise, reports SPORT.

– Arsenal, Chelsea and Villarreal are all interested in Wolfsburg full-back Ridle Baku, claims Caught Offside.

– Newcastle United and West Ham United are leading the race to sign Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer from Crystal Palace, according to The Star.

– The Mirror reports ex-Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has agreed to a long-term deal to take over at Leicester City following Brendan Rodgers' dismissal.

Denis Bouanga netted a hat-trick as reigning MLS champions LAFC claimed a statement win with a 3-0 rout of Austin on Saturday.

Bouanga opened the scoring with a low strike with five minutes left in the first half, before adding further goals in the 57th and 68th minutes.

The Gabonese winger fired in a powerful right-foot volley from a corner for 2-0, before side-footing home at the back post for the third.

The result meant LAFC kept in touch with the top two in the Western Conference, with Seattle Sounders moving above St Louis City into top spot with a 3-0 win in the late game.

The Sounders netted three second-half goals to condemn the expansion side to their second straight loss after winning their opening five MLS games.

Phil Neville's Inter Miami slumped to their fifth straight loss, going down 1-0 at home to Dallas. US international Jesus Ferreira scored the only goal in the 27th minute. Dallas moved up to fourth in the West with the victory.

Cincinnati remained top of the Eastern Conference with a 1-0 home win over Philadelphia Union, who are winless in four. New England are second in the East behind Cincy, thrashing Montreal 4-0.

Tom Barlow scored deep into stoppage time to rescue a 1-1 draw for New York Red Bulls against San Jose Earthquakes, while Colorado Rapids edged Sporting KC 1-0 on the road.

New York City and Atlanta United drew 1-1, Nashville and Toronto drew 0-0, while Columbus Crew secured their third straight win with a 2-0 victory at D United.

Kei Kamara scored a double as Chicago Fire won 2-1 over Minnesota United, while Amine Bassi also netted a brace as 10-man Houston Dynamo beat nine-man LA Galaxy 3-0.

Real Salt Lake came from behind to win 3-1 over Charlotte, while Vancouver Whitecaps beat Portland Timbers 1-0.

Carlo Ancelotti admitted his Real Madrid side were not '100 per cent motivated' as they fell to a 3-2 LaLiga defeat to Villarreal.

Samuel Chukwueze's inspired performance led the Yellow Submarine to a memorable win at the Santiago Bernabeu, marking the first time they have secured a LaLiga double against Los Blancos.

While Villarreal had everything to play for as they continue their charge to achieve a top-four finish and Champions League football, Madrid's attention is focused on other competitions.

Ancelotti's side swept Barcelona aside on Wednesday to secure a spot in the Copa del Rey final, while a Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea lies ahead.

Sitting 12 points behind leaders Barca, Ancelotti admitted it is difficult for his team to be motivated for their league games.

"It was a difficult game, it was difficult to recover the ball, they handle it well, we had opportunities to make it 3-1, and there we could lower the pace of the game," he told reporters.

"But it did not happen and we did not defend well. The truth is it was hard for us to be 100 per cent motivated, it is quite normal."

Ancelotti was adamant that a similar situation would not occur in their upcoming Champions League clash against Chelsea, where he expects a response from his side.

"It was known that it could be complicated, it has happened and Wednesday is another story," he added. "The temperature of the boiler has dropped a little today, but on Wednesday it will be at its peak."

Maurizio Sarri accepts Lazio's opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over Juventus could have been ruled out, but says the visitors were fortunate not to be reduced to nine men.

Lazio maintained their fine Serie A form with victory at Stadio Olimpico thanks to goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Mattia Zaccagni, either side of Adrien Rabiot's equaliser.

Juve's players were furious Milinkovic-Savic's 38th-minute opener was allowed to stand as the midfielder nudged Alex Sandro in the back before controlling the ball and firing in.

But Sarri does not believe Juventus can complain too strongly as he feels Manuel Locatelli and Juan Cuadrado could easily have been sent off.

"From where I was, my impression is that the referee could have called for a foul," Sarri told DAZN. "But I also got the impression Juve could have ended with nine men.

"There was a Locatelli foul that was worthy of a red card and Cuadrado should have had a second yellow card. That was clear when he was substituted off straight after."

Referee Marco Di Bello allowed the goal to stand following a check of the pitchside monitor, seemingly adjudging that Alex Sandro went to ground too easily under contact.

Juve assistant coach Marco Landucci, who was standing in for the ill Massimiliano Allegri, did not want to dwell on the key call.

"The referee decides. Juve fans would say it was a foul, Lazio fans would say it wasn't, but the only opinion that matters is that of the referee," he said.

"All I can say is that our first half was below par, whereas we did much better after the break, deserved to score again and the draw would've been the fair result.

"As usual, we accept the result on the field. We don't stir up controversy over these things."

Rabiot bundled the ball over the line four minutes after Milinkovic-Savic's strike, but Zaccagni restored Lazio's lead early in the second half with what proved to be the winner.

The 27-year-old has reached double-figures for goals in a single Serie A season for the first time and is the only Italian to have scored 10 goals in the division this campaign.

Lazio's second home win against Juve in 18 attempts tightens their grip on second place in Serie A, which Zaccagni says gives him more joy than any individual milestones.

"They're both beautiful to hear, but second place is worth much more [than scoring 10 goals]," he said. "I always want to improve and hope to continue as I am.

"It's going to be very difficult staying second. There are many teams around us, so we have to stay focused and score as many points as possible between now and the end."

Juve conceded more than once away from home for the first time since mid-January, with this defeat leaving them eight points off the top four.

However, with an appeal against their 15-point deduction set to be held on April 19, the top-four battle may yet take another twist.

"It's hard to say much about this," Landucci said at his post-match press conference. "On the field, we've scored 59 points. Now we'll wait to hear the appeal on the 19th.

"Lazio now only have to focus on the league, so they have a clear advantage."

Christophe Galtier discussed his hostile return to Nice and hailed Paris Saint-Germain's resolve following their 2-0 victory on Saturday.

Goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos ensured a return to winning ways after back-to-back losses for the Ligue 1 champions.

Defeats against Rennes and Lyon had seen the league leaders slip up in their title pursuit, marking out their trip to Galtier's old club as a must-win.

The former Nice boss was greeted with offensive banners upon his return – one of which targeted his mother to his understandable frustration.

"I went to thank them for this wonderful welcome," he told Canal+, before explaining his gesture towards the supporters.

"Why did I react like this? Did you see? Did you read? Did you hear? My mother, she's 83 years old, recovering from cancer."

On the match, Galtier added: "We obviously had a lot of pressure on our shoulders.

"[With] our underperformance, with the victory for [second-placed] Lens and especially against Nice, coming to win here was important.

"We didn't have our best game of the season, but we had a lot of solidarity and fighting spirit. We have three important points [as a result]."

Victory at Allianz Riviera saw PSG restore a six-point cushion between them and Lens, who they face next weekend in what is set to be a decisive clash in the title race.

Galtier stressed he will need his side to up their game against their rivals for the Ligue 1 crown, adding: "Next week, it will take as much fighting spirit, but we must be better on the ball.

"[We are] six points ahead. It's better to have them than to chase after them. We have an important game on Saturday."

Manchester City put pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal ahead of their trip to Liverpool on Sunday with an emphatic 4-1 victory at Southampton.

Erling Haaland's double took him to 30 Premier League goals in 27 games, just 70 shy of Son Heung-min's career total in his eighth season in England after the South Korea international made history on Saturday.

The race for the other top-four places behind Arsenal and City saw Manchester United and Newcastle United both win, while Tottenham remain three points back after riding their luck against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Stats Perform looks at some of the more notable Opta numbers to come out of the pick of Saturday's Premier League action.

Manchester United 2-0 Everton: Wasteful Red Devils still win comfortably

After goals from Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial either side of half-time, United have won 39 Premier League games against Everton, the joint-most one side have against another in the competition's history (also 39 wins for United against Spurs).

Erik ten Hag's men have won 23 of their 28 home games in all competitions this season (D3 L2), their highest total of wins in a single campaign at Old Trafford since 2010-11 (26).

As they continue to fight relegation, Everton have won just one of their last 17 away Premier League games (D7 L9) and remain winless on the road since a 2-1 victory at Southampton in October (11 games since).

McTominay's strike was his fifth in five games for club and country, as many as in his previous 106 appearances for United and Scotland combined.

Ten Hag bemoaned his side's wastefulness as United failed to convert seven big chances – six of which came in the first half – their joint-highest total on record (since 2010-11) in a league match (also seven vs Sunderland in December 2012).

Brentford 1-2 Newcastle United: Bees stung by Magpies

Brentford started well in this one but ultimately failed to win a Premier League game in which they had opened the scoring for the first time (P26 W19 D6 L1), while Newcastle have lost just one of their last five away league games in which they have conceded first (W2 D2), winning the last two.

Eddie Howe has won exactly 100 Premier League points as Newcastle boss (P56 W28 D16 L12), with only fan favourite Kevin Keegan needing fewer games (51) to reach that milestone.

Ivan Toney became just the fourth player to score home and away against Newcastle in a Premier League campaign having previously played for them in the competition, following Louis Saha (2001-02), Craig Bellamy (2008-09) and Abdoulaye Faye (2008-09).

Before netting from the spot, though, Toney failed to score a penalty for the first time since October 2018 for Peterborough United against Barnsley when he saw his first effort saved by Nick Pope, having scored 24 successive penalties before Saturday (excluding shoot-outs).

A David Raya own goal drew Newcastle level, then Alexander Isak scored his eighth Premier League goal to take the points. Seven of those have either drawn Newcastle level (two) or given them the lead (five).

Tottenham 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion: Son reaches landmark while Seagulls are left to fume

Brighton suffered their first defeat in eight Premier League games on the road (W4 D3) since a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in October, although they will be tempted to lay a lot of the blame at the door of the officials.

Seagulls boss Roberto Di Zerbi was furious with two goals being ruled out for alleged handballs, while Kaoru Mitoma was also denied what looked like a very good shout for a penalty. The Italian then became the first manager to be sent off twice in the Premier League this season. Cristian Stellini was also dismissed.

For Son, though, it was a landmark day as his terrific opener made him the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals, while he is just the 10th player in the league's history to score 100 goals and register 50 assists for one team – and the first to do so for Spurs.

Lewis Dunk equalised in his 200th Premier League appearance, with each of the last four players to mark that milestone in such a way now having been centre-backs  (also Kurt Zouma, Virgil van Dijk and Ben Mee).

But after the controversy at the other end, Harry Kane won it for Tottenham with his 10th goal in 12 appearances for the club against Brighton in all competitions. The Seagulls are the ninth team he has reached double-figures against in his career, along with Leicester City, Everton, Arsenal, Southampton, West Ham, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Stoke City.

Southampton 1-4 Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne was back to his sensational best at St Mary's, registering his 100th Premier League assist, making him the fifth player to reach that mark and doing so in fewer appearances (237) than any of the previous four.

Haaland's brace, including an outrageous bicycle kick, meant he has scored 44 goals in all competitions for City this season – the joint-most ever by a Premier League player in a single campaign, level with Ruud van Nistelrooy (2002-03) and Mohamed Salah (2017-18).

De Bruyne laid on the opener and has assisted seven Premier League goals for Haaland this season, the most one City player has ever assisted for another in a single campaign.

Jack Grealish teed up the other Haaland goal and also got on the scoresheet. He has now been involved in 10 goals in 15 league games since the World Cup (four goals, six assists). Only Haaland (14) has been involved in more for Pep Guardiola's team in that time, while it is three more than Grealish managed in his first 34 appearances for City (four goals, three assists).

Julian Alvarez replaced Haaland and dispatched a second-half penalty, becoming the fifth different City player to score as a substitute in the Premier League this season, with only United and Wolves (six) having more.