The title race remains tight at the top of the table with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City all in the mix to the lift the trophy at the end of the season. An international break and FA Cup weekend meant the domestic schedule was slightly hampered in March, let’s recap how the greatest league in the world fared.
Ivan Toney’s return from his ban has sparked life into Brentford as they drew 2-2 with fellow Londoners Chelsea; the Bees will feel slightly disappointed they didn’t take away all three points as Disasi equalised five minutes from time for the Blues’.
West Ham’s charge up the table sent Everton in the opposite direction as they won 3-1 courtesy of a thunderous volley from Thomas Soucek and a 95 th minute winner by Alvarez.
Fulham, who are also chasing for European football next season, comfortably won 3-0against Brighton whilst the same score-line occurred at Newcastle as Isak, Gordon and Livramento all netted against Wolves.
There was controversy on the Teeside as Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez netted a 99 th minute winner, with the referee wrongly awarding a free-kick to Liverpool in the build-up, albeit a whole minute and thirty seconds before the goal. Tottenham won 3-1 against Crystal Palace whilst fellow Champions League chasers Aston Villa won 3-2 against Luton with Lucas Digne netting an 89 th minute winner.
Bournemouth recorded their first win of 2024 as they ran out 2-0 winners at Burnley, leaving the hosts 11 points from safety with 11 matches to go. Manchester City won the Manchester derby 3-1 with a brace from Phil Foden and goal from Haaland.
Arsenal continued their purple patch in front of goal as they thrashed Sheffield United 6-0, and were five ahead at half time. Manchester United won 2-0 against Everton thanks to two penalties; both won theatrically by Garnacho. Bournemouth came from 2-0 down against Sheffield United to draw level with Unal equalising in the 91 st minute. The late show continued at Crystal Palace with Luton’s Woodrow levelling in the 96 th minute.
Wolverhampton and Arsenal both won 2-1 against Fulham and Brentford, with the latters’ defence making several errors. Tottenham thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 with goals from the Spurs’ frontline – Villa will have John McGinn to blame as he saw red with a kick-out when the scores were even.
Brighton had good fortune in their game against Notts Forest as Omabamidele headed into his own net. West Ham came from 2-0 down to draw with Burnley with former Claret’s striker Danny Ings equalising for the Hammers.
One of the greatest draws played out between Liverpool and Manchester City. John Stones gave City the lead from a clever free-kick before Alexis MacAllister equalised from the penalty spot following a foul by goalkeeper Ederson, who injured himself in the process.
Liverpool should have had another penalty in the 98 th minute as Jeremy Doku’s high foot went into the chest of MacAllister but VAR dismissed this. Chelsea beat Newcastle 3-2 with Mudryk netting the winner before injury time.
The biggest comeback in history came between Luton and Bournemouth, in a rematch of December’s game which was abandoned due to Tom Lockyer’s collapse. Luton were ahead 3-0 at half time but The Cherries’ came back with Solanke, Zabaryni and Semenyo netting to take back all three points to the coast.
With the FA Cup quarter-finals taking place, only five premier league matches featured in the third weekend of March. With Sergio Reguilon seeing red for Brentford, Burnley recorded a 2-1 victory with goals from Bruun Larsen and Fofana enough to give the strugglers three points. Fellow strugglers Luton Town and Notts Forest shared the points whilst Fulham battered Tottenham 3-0 with Muniz Carvalho netting a brace, his seventh goal in seven games. West Ham and Aston Villa drew 1-1, the hosts thought they’d netted an injury time winner but Soucek was adjudged to have been offside when James Ward-Prowse delivered his free-kick into the box.
Newcastle and West Ham played out a seven goal thriller with the hosts winning 4-3. With Newcastle’s injury list continuing, their defence was all over the place gifting West Ham all three of their goals. Harvey Barnes, a second half substitute who has only just recovered from injury himself, was the star man as he netted twice with ten minutes to go to give the Magpies’ the lead.
Bournemouth won 2-1 against Everton with Solanke matching the club record’s premier league top goalscorer with his 16 th of the season, whilst Seamus Coleman netted an awkward own goal in injury time. Burnley stood strong and deservedly took something away from Chelsea as they wrongly went down to 10 men in the first half. Notts Forest drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace, in their first game since being deducted four points for breaching financial fair play rules – an appeal has been lodged.
Sheffield United looked set to have claimed an important three points thanks to great play from McBurnie and Brereton Diaz up front but Fulham fought back to draw level at 3-3.
Aston Villa won 2-0 against fellow Brummies’ Wolverhampton whilst Brentford should have won against Manchester United, but the woodwork and Onana salvaged a point for Ten Hag’s side.
The best, and most important football of the month, was played on the last day as all of the top three played with just three points separating them at the start of the day. Brighton took the early lead at Anfield with Welbeck netting inside 90 seconds. Liverpool responded with Salah and Diaz scoring to secure the vital three points and put them top of the table.
Arsenal and Manchester City kicked off hours later but the game ended a stalemate with neither team creating many chances in front of goal.
It means Liverpool are now top of the table, and bookies’ favourites, with 67 points from 29 games played. Arsenal are two points behind whilst Manchester City are three behind.
I have never seen a title race so open. Can Liverpool hold on? Will Arsenal end their title drought? Will Guardiola win his third in a row? A mammoth April will give us a better idea as we draw closer to the final game of the season!