Premier League big 6 weekend round-up

A thrilling weekend of Premier League football saw significant shifts in the title race, with several of England's elite sides delivering crucial victories. Here's how each of the big six performed.

Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth

Manchester City climbed to second place with a commanding performance against Bournemouth on Sunday evening. Pep Guardiola's side demonstrated their attacking prowess with a dominant display at the Etihad Stadium.

Erling Haaland was the star of the show, opening his account in the 17th minute after latching onto a clever pass from Rayan Cherki. The Norwegian striker remained composed in front of goal to finish into the far corner. Just ten minutes later, Haaland doubled City's advantage when Cherki again provided the assist, this time with a low through ball that the striker converted with ease.

Bournemouth pulled one back somewhat unexpectedly when goalkeeper Gianlulgi Donnarumma rushed out for a corner and completely missed the ball, allowing Tyler Adams to tap in from close range. However, City maintained control throughout the second half and sealed the victory when Nico O'Reilly added a third. The midfielder benefited from Phil Foden's intelligent midfield play to fire past the visiting goalkeeper.

Despite missing a hattrick opportunity late on, Haaland and Manchester City got the result they needed. City now sit on 19 points, two clear of Bournemouth and six behind leaders Arsenal.

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

Chelsea bounced back from their recent disappointment with an important derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur in West London. The Blues claimed the bragging rights with a narrow but deserved 1-0 victory.

The match's decisive moment came early when Tottenham's defensive lapse proved costly. A misplaced pass in midfield was intercepted by Chelsea, allowing Moises Caicedo to dispossess the opposition before playing in João Pedro. The Portuguese midfielder made no mistake, slotting past Guglielmo Vicario to give Chelsea an early lead.

Chelsea dominated large periods of the second half and created numerous opportunities, but Tottenham's goalkeeper Vicario made several crucial saves to keep the deficit at one goal. The hosts rarely threatened at the other end and ultimately surrendered the points at home.

With this victory, Chelsea temporarily moved into fourth place, level on points with third-placed Tottenham. The result came at a crucial moment for Thomas Tuchel's side, who have endured a mixed patch of form.

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Manchester United

Manchester United's winning streak came to an abrupt halt at Nottingham Forest, where they surrendered a commanding position to emerge with a disappointing draw.

Manager Rúben Amorim kept faith with the same eleven that had dismantled Brighton the previous week, including Matthijs de Ligt in his defensive three. This stability paid initial dividends as United took the lead through Casemiro after a somewhat controversial moment saw referee Darren England award them a corner despite Forest's Nicolo Savona appearing to keep the ball in play. Bruno Fernandes delivered the corner, and the Brazilian midfielder's header found the back of the net.

However, United's lead proved short-lived. Immediately after the restart, Morgan Gibbs-White restored parity with a well-placed header following Ryan Yates's cross. Forest then stunned their visitors just two minutes later when Savona struck to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage.

The Red Devils eventually found an equalizer when Amad Diallo fired home after an attacking move in the 70th minute, though there were initial questions about potential offside involving de Ligt that VAR ultimately dismissed. United pressed for a winner but could not find it, leaving both sides to settle for a point.

The result represents a significant dent to United's ambitions, dropping them out of contention for the top four with several matches still to play.

Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

Liverpool produced a performance of genuine quality to dispatch Aston Villa at Anfield, offering considerable relief to manager Arne Slot and the club's supporters after an extended period of poor results.

The occasion held special significance with the crowd's emphatic backing evident from the opening whistle. Slot was serenaded multiple times by the Anfield faithful, including dedicated chants after Liverpool's second goal and a chorus to the tune of a popular Dutch song—a clear show of unity after a difficult month that had seen just one win in seven matches.

Liverpool faced a difficult examination early on, with Aston Villa testing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili through efforts from Morgan Rogers and Matty Cash. However, the hosts grew into the contest and broke the deadlock just before half-time in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez attempted a pass to Pau Torres but instead played the ball directly into the path of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian winger made no mistake, slotting home his 250th goal in 415 appearances for the club.

Liverpool added a second goal in the 58th minute when Ryan Gravenberch converted after excellent work from Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo. The Amsterdam-born midfielder's finish provided Liverpool with breathing room and ultimately secured the points.

The victory lifted Liverpool to third place, though they remain seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal after just ten matches.

Arsenal 2-0 Burnley

Arsenal maintained their position at the summit of the Premier League with a businesslike victory at Burnley, extending their lead at the top of the table.

The Gunners made light work of their hosts, with the game's opening goal arriving from a set-piece, a theme that has defined Arsenal's season. Alexander Isak headed home to continue the club's remarkable record from dead-ball situations, a tally that no other Premier League side comes close to matching.

Leandro Trossard marked his 100th appearance in an Arsenal shirt with a performance of substance, though he was denied a goal when his effort was cleared off the line. The Belgian international did, however, provide the assist for Arsenal's second goal, ensuring his milestone match proved a memorable one.

With 25 points from ten matches, Arsenal have established a commanding position ahead of their rivals. However, the campaign remains in its early stages, and considerable work lies ahead if they are to sustain this impressive form.

The Standings

The weekend's results have produced notable movement in the Premier League table. Arsenal remain firmly in control at the top, though Manchester City's second-place position reflects their status as formidable contenders. Liverpool's return to winning ways lifted them to third, while Chelsea's derby victory has them within touching distance of the top four. Tottenham and Manchester United occupy middle positions, reflecting what has been a season of inconsistency for both clubs.