Second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva have earned Manchester City a 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, propelling the champions back to top spot in the English Premier League.
After Liverpool climbed to the summit with a 4-0 mauling of Manchester United, City struggled to issue a response in the first half at the Etihad Stadium against a well-organised Brighton.
But Liverpool's hopes of staying atop the standings were dashed, as City came out for the second half looking more like champions, breaking the deadlock through Algerian forward Mahrez in the 53rd minute.
That opener settled City's nerves, with the hosts scoring a second 12 minutes later, as Foden's effort from distance was helped past Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez by a deflection.
With Brighton beaten, Silva added a late third to seal the win that moved Pep Guardiola's side onto 77 points from 32 games. They are one point ahead of Liverpool, as they seek a fourth title in five years.
Meanwhile, Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-2, leaving the Gunners running neck-and-neck with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a Champions League spot.
Arsenal went ahead twice in a pulsating first half at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Eddie Nketiah - who pounced on a weak back pass by Andreas Christensen - and Emile Smith-Rowe, only to be pegged back by equalisers from Timo Werner and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Nketiah restored the visitors' lead in the 57th minute, when he seized on another mix-up in Chelsea's defence to make it 3-2, stabbing the ball home, after Thiago Silva's interception bounced into his path off Malang Sarr.
Bukayo Saka rounded off the win, when he converted a penalty in the 92nd minute, after he was adjudged to have been fouled by Azpilicueta.
The win left Arsenal just outside the Champions League qualifying positions in fifth place, but level with Spurs on 57 points and only behind them on goal difference.
Chelsea stayed in third place on 62 points, after playing a game less than both Spurs and Arsenal, and still looking on course for their own Champions League spot next season.
Miguel Almiron's superb first-half goal sealed Newcastle United's ninth win in their last 13 games, as their renaissance under Eddie Howe continued.
Paraguayan Almiron played in Bruno Guimaraes's pass in the 32nd minute and curled a left-footer into the top corner of the net for his first goal of the season.
Newcastle were in charge throughout against a Palace side, who appeared to be suffering a hangover from Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat and rarely threatened the home goal.
The hosts were unable to add to Almiron's cracker, but the mood at St James' Park was buoyant throughout, as the home side moved to within goal difference of the top half of the table.
The day's other result saw Leicester City draw 1-1 with Everton.
Reuters
