Manchester City are one win away from their seventh Premier League title after their 3-0 victory at Everton was followed by Arsenal being beaten by the same scoreline at home by Brighton & Hove Albion in a dramatic day at the top of the table.
Pep Guardiola’s side could be champions as early as Saturday should Arsenal fail to win at Nottingham Forest. But even if the Gunners do win, a victory for City at home to Chelsea the following day would see them take the title.
Should Arsenal draw at Forest, a draw or win for City against Chelsea would also crown them champions.
Two goals in two first-half minutes set Man City on their way to a comfortable victory at Goodison Park.
Everton’s best chance of the first half fell to Mason Holgate, but he could only fire over from James Tarkowski’s knockdown.
That miss proved costly as Man City went in front in the 37th minute, with Riyad Mahrez crossing for Ilkay Gundogan, who controlled on his thigh before flicking in superbly with the outside of his boot.Wright: Gundogan’s finish was top drawerIan Wright reacts to the Man City midfielder’s incredible touch and flick at EvertonPlay Video
City then doubled their advantage 118 seconds later as Erling Haaland headed in powerfully from Gundogan’s left-wing cross for his 36th league goal of the season.
Gundogan added a third on 51 minutes, curling a delightful free-kick into the top-left corner beyond Jordan Pickford for his fourth goal in two matches.
Guardiola was able to bring off goalscorers Gundogan and Haaland with 12 minutes remaining ahead of Wednesday’s crucial UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid as City cruised to an 11th straight victory.
Everton remain 17th, one point clear of the bottom three.
Brighton stun Arsenal
Three second-half goals gave Brighton an impressive 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium.
It was a frustrating afternoon for the Gunners, which began with Gabriel Martinelli limping off injured on 20 minutes.
His replacement Leandro Trossard went close to putting Arsenal in front, but the Belgian’s shot just after the half-hour mark struck the crossbar.
Brighton made the crucial breakthrough six minutes into the second half when a bouncing ball played back into the area by Pervis Estupinan was headed in from close range by Julio Enciso.
With four minutes remaining, Brighton added a second. An attempted flick from Trossard ricocheted off Pascal Gross and into the path of substitute Deniz Undav, who calmly lifted the ball over Aaron Ramsdale to score.
Estupinan added a third in the sixth minute of stoppage time, reacting quickest to fire in after Undav’s initial effort had been saved to put the icing on Brighton’s fourth win in their last five visits to Emirates Stadium, and only Arsenal’s second home defeat this season.
Brighton move up to sixth on 58 points.
Bees guarantee top-half finish
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa in a terrific first-half display earned Brentford a 2-0 victory over West Ham United.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on 20 minutes, sweeping past Lukasz Fabianski after being played in by Mathias Jensen.
The Bees, who were without injured top scorer Ivan Toney due to a minor hamstring injury, doubled their lead two minutes before half-time through Wissa.
Jensen’s long throw was flicked on by Ben Mee before Wissa headed in from close range.
West Ham, who made nine changes following their first leg UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, thought they had pulled a goal back through Danny Ings on 67 minutes, but it was overturned following a VAR review for a handball by Divin Mubama in the build-up.
Brentford, who are guaranteed a top-10 finish and their highest in the top flight since 1938, are ninth on 53 points, meanwhile West Ham sit 15th with 37 points. One more win would guarantee the Hammers Premier League safety.
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