- The stunning result that ended the Reds' unbeaten run of 44 league games means they fall short of matching Arsenal's Invincibles from the 2003-04 campaign, ...
There was no comeback or heroics for Premier League leaders and title-hopeful side Liverpool at relegation-threatened Watford on Saturday as they were handed their first defeat of the season - a 3-0 shutout – that ended their hopes of remaining unbeaten for the entire season. The Reds had won their past 18 Premier League games and another at Vicarage Road would have made history as the longest winning run in the English top flight.
The stunning result that ended the Reds' unbeaten run of 44 league games means they fall short of matching Arsenal's Invincibles from the 2003-04 campaign, who had gone the season and overall 49 matches without defeat.
The danger of playing relegation-threatened teams at this time of the season loomed large for top-four finish hopeful side Chelsea at struggling Bournemouth, but they survived, courtesy of Marcos Alonso’s equalizer five minutes from regulation, and West Ham jolted their survival hopes with their first win in two months that saw £20m signee Jarrod Bowen mark his full debut with a goal against Southampton in a 3-1 victory that for now moved them out of the relegation places.
Elsewhere on the day, Burnley extended their unbeaten run in the league to six games with an impressive goalless tie at Newcastle, and Crystal Palace nabbed a "remarkable victory" that broke their "hoodoo" against rivals Brighton with Jordan Ayew’s second half goal standing tall at the end of 90 minutes of play.
Earlier on Friday, Leicester City’s hope of catching up to Manchester City and cementing their hold on the third spot took a little chink following a lone goal loss to bottommost Norwich that saw the latter move to within four points of an unlikely escape from the Premier League relegation zone as Jamal Lewis' fine goal gave them a precious win against Leicester.
English Premier League Week 28 Standings
Friday
Norwich City 1-0 Leicester City
A stunning Jamal Lewis goal saw Norwich beat Leicester 1-0 in the Premier League on Friday Night Football and boost their survival hopes.
Both sides went into the game having not won in the league since the middle of January and Leicester thought they taken the lead when Kelechi Iheanacho (49) powered home just after the break, but VAR ruled it out for handball.
But it was an equally as marvellous strike from Lewis that did win it as he swept the ball into the far corner for his first Premier League goal. It has put Norwich to within four points of safety with just their second league win since November and their fifth overall this season.
For Leicester, they have now gone four Premier League games without a win, but remain in third, nine points clear of Manchester United in fifth place.
Saturday
Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace
Jordan Ayew boosted Crystal Palace's survival hopes at the expense of rivals Brighton as his second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
Brighton registered 24 shots on goal - their highest tally in a Premier League game - but they paid the price for failing to convert them as Ayew notched his seventh goal of the season against the run of play to fire the Eagles to back-to-back league wins for the first time since December.
It means Brighton remain the only side in English football yet to win a game this calendar year, a run that has left the Seagulls hovering four points above the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's other matches.
Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea
Marcos Alonso continued his fine scoring form as he rescued a late point for Chelsea in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
Alonso scored just his second goal of the season against Tottenham last weekend and made it two in two when he slammed home Chelsea's opener just after the half-an-hour mark.
But Bournemouth - who had beaten Chelsea in their last two Premier League meetings - took a storming lead in three second-half minutes. Jefferson Lerma (54) powered a header home before Joshua King's (57) slotted finish, which was confirmed after a VAR check for offside.
Chelsea were camped inside the Bournemouth half as the game went on and Alonso came to the rescue again when he nodded home in the 85th minute to seal a point for the travelling Blues.
The result sees Chelsea go four points clear of game in hand fifth placed Manchester United while Bournemouth drop to 18th.
Newcastle 0-0 Burnley
Burnley extended their unbeaten run in the league to six games after playing out a frustrating goalless draw with Newcastle at St James' Park on Saturday.
In a game low on real excitement, Steve Bruce's side did have the better of the opportunities but they drew a blank for the fourth league game in a row.
Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Ritchie and Miguel Almiron all had shots blocked in the first half, while Burnley forward Jay Rodriguez fired wide in the second half after being played in by Danny Rose's back pass.
Newcastle had one final chance to win the game in stoppage time through Ritchie, but the winger's goal-bound shot was blocked, much to the frustration of the home fans, who greeted the final whistle with boos.
The point sees Burnley move above Arsenal into 9th, while Newcastle stay 14th, seven points above the relegation places with 10 games left to play.
West Ham 3-1 Southampton
West Ham moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over Southampton, their first success in nine games.
In an attacking performance full of pace, power and ruthless finishing, all of the front three scored with Jarrod Bowen (15), who was making his full debut, Sebastien Haller (40) and Michail Antonio (54) proving too hot for a timid Saints to handle.
Michael Obafemi (31) equalised for Southampton in the first half but it was an uncharacteristic flat display on the road from Ralph Hasenhuttl's side.
David Moyes' men move onto 27 points and into 16th place in the Premier League.
Watford 3-0 Liverpool
Watford caused a monumental upset after becoming the first team to beat Liverpool in the Premier League this season with Ismaila Sarr's second-half double helping to condemn the league leaders to a stunning 3-0 loss at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Sarr nipped in to break the deadlock after 54 minutes, before then racing through to double the Hornets' lead six minutes later.
Watford captain Troy Deeney rounded off the incredible scoreline after taking advantage of yet more sluggish defending from the visitors with 18 minutes left to play.
Nigel Pearson's side move out of the relegation zone thanks to a first league win since January 12, while Liverpool remain 22 points ahead of Manchester City, albeit having now played a game more than the champions, after seeing their 44-game unbeaten league run come to an end in spectacular style.
Sunday
Everton 1-1 Manchester United
Everton had a late winner ruled out by VAR as Bruno Fernandes spared David de Gea's blushes by rescuing a 1-1 draw for Manchester United at Goodison Park.
Calvert-Lewin's charge down forced an awful error from a hesitant De Gea as his clearance deflected into his own net with just three minutes on the clock, but Fernandes equalised with his third goal in three games on the half-hour, ramming home a near-post drive that Jordan Pickford will be disappointed not to have saved.
Gylfi Sigurdsson crashed a free-kick against the post in the second half and a stunning double save from Pickford denied substitute Odion Ighalo a late winner, but VAR had the final say on an incident-packed afternoon on Merseyside when Calvert-Lewin's deflected shot was ruled out after it adjudged Sigurdsson, who was laying prone in an offside position, interfered with play.
The decision prompted boos from the Goodison Park faithful, while manager Carlo Ancelotti was issued a straight red card for his remonstrations with referee Chris Kavanagh after Everton were contentiously denied the chance to close the gap on fifth-placed United to two points.
Tottenham 2-3 Wolves
Wolves' march towards Champions League qualification stepped up a notch with a 3-2 win at Tottenham where they twice came from behind.
Spurs took an early lead when Steven Bergwijn fired home (13) but Matt Doherty (24) equalised on his 250th appearance for the club. Jose Mourinho's side then looked in control of matters at the break after Serge Aurier's fine strike (45+1), however, Diogo Jota pulled Wolves level (57) for the second time.
With the game in the balance, the visitors scored a winning goal worthy of clinching any game when Raul Jimenez thundered home an effort into the top corner (73) after a scintillating run by Jota. From the start of last season, Wolves have now won 35 points from losing positions in Premier League matches, at least six more than any other side during this period.
Postponed
Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United
Manchester City vs. Arsenal
EPL Week 28 Scores At A Glance
Friday
Norwich City 1-0 Leicester City
Saturday
Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace
Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 0-0 Burnley
West Ham 3-1 Southampton
Watford 3-0 Liverpool
Sunday
Everton 1-1 Manchester United
Tottenham 2-3 Wolves
Postponed
Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United
Manchester City vs. Arsenal
Gameday reports from BBC and skysports were used in this compilation.
