The Wrap: What happened in Matchweek 20

Football writer Ben Bloom analyses an incredible weekend of Matchweek 20 action in which there were big results at the top and bottom of the table.

Premier League leaders Liverpool were unable to capitalise on Chelsea and Arsenal’s failure to win as they rounded off the weekend’s action with an entertaining draw at home to Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola was relieved to see flickers of his old Manchester City side in a comprehensive victory over West Ham United, while Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles continued with defeat at home to Newcastle United.

There remains little change at the foot of the table, where Southampton, Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton were unable to add to their points tallies.

TOT

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NEW

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Ange Postecoglou insisted he “couldn’t be prouder” of his players for their performance in adversity against Newcastle. But, ultimately, it was another Spurs defeat to add to an ever-growing tally that now stands at 10 this season.

Ravaged by illness, injury and suspension, Postecoglou named the youngest Spurs starting XI (average age 23 years and 336 days) for almost a decade.

There was an unlikely debut for habitual bench-warmer Brandon Austin in goal and a highly unfamiliar defence.

Despite a spirited effort, they slipped to defeat and extended their winless run at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to six matches – their longest home drought since 2008.

There were two familiar architects of Newcastle’s fifth consecutive Premier League win, as Eddie Howe’s side fought back from an early Dominic Solanke header.

Alexander Isak scored in his seventh consecutive Premier League match, becoming only the third Newcastle player to do so after Alan Shearer (in 1996) and Joe Willock (in 2021).

Anthony Gordon also found the net, extending his streak of either scoring or assisting in each of his last five league appearances.

BOU

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EVE

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AFC Bournemouth maintained their quest for European football by eventually breaking down a stubborn Everton side to notch a club-record eighth Premier League match without defeat.

Andoni Iraola’s team were utterly dominant throughout, but looked in danger of ending the afternoon frustrated after the latest excellent goalkeeping performance from Jordan Pickford.

A fine David Brooks volley on 77 minutes finally broke the deadlock, and was enough to secure the win. It was no more than the hosts deserved.

Brooks' goal v Everton

Only three sides (Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City) have had more shots on target in the Premier League this season than Bournemouth's 114.

By contrast, Everton’s struggles in front of goal are growing. They have now managed just one goal across their last five matches, and have failed to score in a league-high 11 different Premier League matches.

Sean Dyche’s side did not manage a single shot on target for the second time in a Premier League match this season.

The Everton manager also lost striker Armando Broja to injury little over 30 minutes into the match.

AVL

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LEI

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The scale of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s challenge to avoid relegation with Leicester was laid bare when his side slipped to a fifth successive Premier League defeat that keeps them firmly in the drop zone.

Stephy Mavididi equalised for the visitors after Ross Barkley’s opener, but Leon Bailey then struck Villa’s winner.

After notching 10 goals and nine assists in the Premier League last season, it was Bailey’s first goal of the current campaign, ending a barren run of 19 top-flight appearances without scoring.

Bailey's winner v Leicester

The win means Unai Emery’s side have now gone 10 consecutive Premier League matches without defeat at Villa Park, since losing to Arsenal in their opening game home match of the season.

Only Arsenal, with 12, are currently enjoying a longer unbeaten run on home soil in the competition.

The only dampener for the hosts was the loss of captain John McGinn, who limped off with a hamstring injury in the first half. “He could be out for two, three, four, five weeks, I don’t know,” Emery said.

CRY

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CHE

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As if to prove Enzo Maresca right in his assertion that Chelsea are not in the title race, his side slipped to a fourth successive match without a win.

Just a few weeks ago, Chelsea were riding a 12-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, but have now dropped to fourth in the table after missing a host of chances to secure victory at Selhurst Park.

Cole Palmer gave the visitors an early lead with his 13th league goal of the campaign, but Chelsea were unable to add to it, and Jean-Philippe Mateta made them pay when he tapped home Eberechi Eze’s ball across the face of goal in the 82nd minute.

Mateta's equaliser v Chelsea

It was the seventh time in the Premier League that Eze has provided a goal for Mateta – no Palace player has ever assisted a team-mate more often in the competition (Andros Townsend also produced seven assists for Christian Benteke).

It also meant Mateta became only the second Palace player after Wilfried Zaha to score 20 times at home in the Premier League.

Yet goals remain a source of some concern for Oliver Glasner’s side – only Everton, Ipswich Town and Southampton have scored fewer than their overall tally of 21.

MCI

4-1

WHU

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A sense of familiarity finally returned at the Etihad Stadium, where Erling Haaland scored twice to help Man City win successive Premier League matches for the first time since October.

City’s struggles looked to be resurfacing in an even opening to the contest, but Guardiola’s side asserted themselves as the match wore on to claim a morale-boosting win.

Haaland’s first came via his head from a superb Savinho cross, meaning no Premier League player has scored more headers than the Norwegian’s 14 since he moved to Man City in 2022. He remains the only top-flight player to score 10+ goals with his left foot, right foot and head during that time.

Haaland's first goal v West Ham

His second goal was also provided by Savinho, who was arguably the match’s standout player. Four of the Brazilian’s five Premier League assists this season have been for Haaland – the joint-most from one player to another in the competition in 2024/25.

Phil Foden and a Vladimir Coufal own goal inflicted yet another heavy defeat on West Ham, who have now suffered a league-high six Premier League losses by a goal margin of three or more goals this season.

SOU

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BRE

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Thomas Frank described his team’s performance as “very, very close to perfection” after Brentford thumped hapless Southampton to record their biggest top-flight victory since 1938.

Despite their excellent home form, the visitors had not picked up a single win on their travels all season.

They consigned that statistic to history in some fashion, with a Bryan Mbeumo double leading the way.

The Cameroonian’s 13 Premier League goals this season have come in 10 different matches – only Mohamed Salah and Isak, with 14 and 11 respectively, have scored across more matches this season.

Yoane Wissa also found the net to move alongside Ivan Toney as Brentford’s all-time joint-top Premier League scorer with 36 goals. Mbeumo has 35.

Mikkel Damsgaard continued his fine season with another brilliant assist to take his league tally to seven this season. Only Salah (13) and Bukayo Saka (10) have provided more.

See: Premier League 2024/25 stats

Damsgaard's assist v Southampton

This defeat was the third of Ivan Juric’s brief tenure, with Southampton equalling the all-time lowest points haul of six after 20 Premier League matches (level with Sunderland in 2005/06).

BHA

1-1

ARS

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A lack of fluency in front of goal saw Arsenal drop points at Brighton & Hove Albion as they missed the opportunity to put pressure on league leaders Liverpool.

With their top assister and scorer, Saka and Kai Havertz respectively, absent, and Martin Odegaard only fit to make the bench, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri earned his second Premier League start and put the visitors ahead with a fine early goal.

Nwaneri's opener v Brighton

That made him just the sixth player to score more than one Premier League goal before turning 18, following Wayne Rooney (seven), Michael Owen (five), Danny Cadamarteri (three), James Milner (three) and Federico Macheda (two).

But the teenager came off injured at half-time and Arsenal’s total of nine shots was their second-lowest tally in a Premier League match this season where they maintained all 11 players. Their Expected Goals (xG) tally of 0.8 was also their lowest in all competitions for 18 matches.

They paid the price when Brighton were awarded a penalty for a clash of heads between William Saliba and Joao Pedro.

The Brazilian converted the spot-kick for his fifth goal in 14 Premier League appearances.

That earned Brighton an important point, but Fabian Hurzeler’s side remain without a win across their last eight Premier League matches.

FUL

2-2

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A dramatic second half saw three penalties awarded – and scored – at Craven Cottage, where Fulham grabbed an stoppage-time equaliser against Ipswich to share the spoils.

Marco Silva's side twice came from behind through Raul Jimenez, who became the top Mexican goalscorer in Premier League history with 55 goals, passing former Man Utd and West Ham player Chicharito.

Both of Jimenez’s goals came from the penalty spot to take his record to 10/10. Only Palmer (12/12) and Yaya Toure (11/11) have a better 100 per cent conversion rate from the penalty spot in Premier League history.

Sam Szmodics had earned Ipswich a half-time lead with the match's only goal from open play, before Liam Delap’s penalty restored it. 

However, only Fulham and Brighton, with 19 and 18 respectively, have dropped more points from leading positions in the Premier League this season than Ipswich's 17.

Fulham remain unbeaten in eight Premier League matches, although they have drawn six of those matches.

LIV

2-2

MUN

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Man Utd’s wait for an Anfield win goes on, but Ruben Amorim will be heartened by the best performance of his managerial tenure to deny Liverpool what many assumed would be a routine victory.

Attempting to avoid four straight league defeats for the first time since 1979, United took the lead through Lisandro Martinez early in the second half.

That ended United’s five-match goalless run away at Liverpool since Jesse Lingard found the net in December 2018.

Cody Gakpo and Salah then overturned the deficit, before Amad grabbed an equaliser in a dramatic second half.

Highlights of Liverpool v Man Utd

United remain without a win in their last 10 away matches against Liverpool in all competitions, but can take great pride in their performance.

The draw leaves Liverpool six points clear at the top of the league, with a game in hand over the chasing pack. Only Man City (14) have gained more points from losing positions than Liverpool’s 13 in the Premier League this season.

Salah continues to show the way. His total of 18 goals and 13 assists are the most goal involvements ever by a player in their first 19 appearances of a Premier League campaign, overtaking Luis Suarez’s tally of 30 in 2013/14.

WOL

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Nottingham Forest's incredible season continued with a sixth consecutive Premier League win that also handed Vitor Pereira his first defeat as head coach at Wolves.

Forest's latest success, which puts them six points behind leaders Liverpool, was built on another solid defensive display that earned a division-high ninth clean sheet in the Premier League this season.

It was also Forest's fourth successive shutout in the top flight for the first time since March 1992 (a run of five).

Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring after seven minutes, later admitting that he had a "smile on my face" after learning that new England head coach Thomas Tuchel watched the match at Molineux.

Gibbs-White's opener v Wolves

Chris Wood, with his 12th Premier League goal of 2024/25, and a third from substitute Taiwo Awoniyi secured a 3-0 result that took Forest to 40 points from 20 matches - the same as Leicester City at the same stage in their 2015/16 title-winning season.

Indeed, of the 70 teams to have 40 points or more from their first 20 games in a Premier League campaign, only four have failed to finish inside the top four at the end of the season.