Pep Guardiola was adamant that the next three games will dictate the title race after Manchester City's commanding 4-1 home victory against Arsenal saw them take charge of the Premier League. 

City remain in second place and two points behind Arsenal but, with two games in hand over their London rivals, have wrestled the momentum into their own hands with just seven games to go.

A brace from Kevin De Bruyne alongside goals from John Stones and Erling Haaland cemented a dominant home display from Guardiola's side, but the City manager was quick to turn the attention to the crucial fixtures ahead as City look to take advantage of their games in hand over their London rivals.

"I know the next three games are really important," he said speaking to BT Sport.

"Fulham on Sunday, what Marco Silva has done this season is incredible, and then after the two games at home against West Ham and Leeds, these games will dictate the season.

"The reality today is we are behind Arsenal, they are two points in front of us."

Guardiola went on to laud the dominant manner of his side's victory who have now won 12 consecutive league games against Arsenal. 

"From the first minute we were incredibly focused," Guardiola said. 

"The guys responded unbelievably in an important game – not decisive, but really important.

"We are back-to-back Premier League winners so in September, October, when you lose a game you say you have time, but Arsenal were not like that. When we arrive in the last two months, the players know it’s close and if we lose, we have no chance.

"As a player, playing with that mentality that there is no other option but to win, that is the best way to approach the games. In the last two months, the players showed that every game we try to win and move forward."

Stones', whose header provided City's crucial second goal on the stroke of half-time, suggested that the experience of City's squad was a key factor in the crucial victory.

He said: "We've been through tough moments and situations at this stage of the season in the past, and it's done us so well - we know how to cope and what to do in different scenarios.

"Everyone's been there and everyone has that hunger. Day's like today there is a lot of pressure from the outside, but we know our jobs and what is asked of us on the pitch and that experience helps in those big pressure moments."

Guardiola will now look to guide his side to their fifth league title in six years and heralded the support from the club's board as well as the quality of his players for his remarkable success at the Manchester club. 

"This club gave me everything, from the hierarchy," he said.

"I remember the first season when we didn’t win, they supported me unconditionally. We were lucky as a team with how the way Liverpool pushed us in the previous seasons and this season, Arsenal – they got 50 points in the first half of the season. We want to win, why should we stop, it’s not necessary.

"I’ve been at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. The incredible qualities of the players I have had at my disposal – it’s work ethic, the rest is quality."

Frank Lampard said Chelsea supporters have every right to be worried after they slipped to a fifth straight defeat under his management against Brentford at Stamford Bridge.

Cesar Azpilicueta’s own-goal and a late breakaway effort from Bryan Mbeumo sealed a 2-0 win for the visitors and condemned Lampard’s team to a sixth game in their last seven in which they have failed to score as their faint hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top half became increasingly distant.

The numbers surrounding Chelsea’s fall are alarming. They have not won in any competition or on any ground since beating Leicester at the King Power Stadium on March 11 when Graham Potter was still the manager.

"Everything is going against us"

"We would love a magic wand or a magic moment" ?

Frank Lampard reflects on Chelsea's current tough time… pic.twitter.com/U9fo4rsze8

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023

Since then, Bruno Saltor and Lampard have between them overseen a winless run that now stands at eight games.

Only one player has scored for this side since Potter’s penultimate game in charge on March 18, Conor Gallagher’s heavily deflected strike in the home defeat by Brighton.

That run is compounded by the fact that six of those eight winless matches have come at Stamford Bridge.

Afterwards Lampard defended the right of supporters to boo the team, as those who stayed did en masse at the final whistle, but he said it is confidence and not a lack of application that has set the players on their downward spiral.

“Absolutely the fans are going to be worried,” said Lampard. “If you’re a Chelsea fan, you’ve been used to 20 years of success, you’re used to it and you want it more.

West London is ? pic.twitter.com/VEoUKNlGST

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 26, 2023

“I’ve got no problem with fans booing. I’m not sitting here to go against the fans and say don’t boo the players. I’ll defend the players because they’re young lads who want to do well. Is there an issue with confidence? Yes. Is there an issue with the balance of the squad? Maybe yes.

“I’m not patronising everybody, I expect them to have an idea what’s going on behind the scenes, but when you work with it in this Premier League, if you think Brentford are going to come and turn you around and have corners and throw-ins against you and you’re going to walk that game, that’s not the case any time.

“When you’re in this moment with a lack of confidence, then it can be difficult to win a game. I’m not exonerating the players, far from it. I’m just supporting them. They’re in there disappointed because they wanted to win that game. They performed in my opinion like they wanted to win it.

“Is there a confidence issue? Yes. Are we dynamic enough in the final third? No. Have we been for a long time before I came here? No. Those things are not things that are going to turn overnight. We have to keep working.

“I understand the fans booing. I don’t think anybody is saying they can’t believe that’s the case today.”

Chelsea were sluggish from the start and rarely looked like breaking down Brentford, who played their way to a second straight win on this ground by patiently holding the hosts at arm’s length and waiting for their moment to strike.

Azpilicueta on his return to the team was unlucky to deflect the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga from a Brentford corner, but Chelsea had only themselves to blame for the ease with which Mbeumo swept through them to seal the win 12 minutes from time.

Off the bench and onto the scoresheet ⚽️

Bryan Mbeumo doubles the lead as the Bees buzz around Stamford Bridge ? pic.twitter.com/J4b7glrSrj

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2023

The hosts’ staring XI had scored only 10 goals between them all season, and yet again their lack of firepower up front was evident.

“There is a balance in the squad to address, I think everybody sees that,” said Lampard. “What can you do? This has been a problem that predates me coming recently into this. When there are not so many goals you also have to have players who can do a tactical job and work for the team.

“We have to keep working and fighting to try and create opportunities to score goals. Maybe there aren’t goals so much in the team, and we’re low on confidence. There’s a clear issue in the squad, not scoring enough goals for a team like Chelsea.”

Brentford boss Thomas Frank reflected that Chelsea possibly showed his side too much respect in picking a team with so little obvious attacking threat.

“So nice to win,” he said. “This was a well-deserved win. We were aggressive in the high press especially in the first half. Second half it was a little bit more difficult for us to do.

“I was pleased Chelsea showed us so much respect.

“I respect every team. We don’t fear any team, but we need to be very respectful. We spoke about the team when we saw the line-up, it’s still top players where one moment can decide the game.”

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom urged his side to enjoy themselves after clinching promotion to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over West Brom at Bramall Lane.

Second-half goals from Sander Berge and Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the Blades, who lost in the play-offs last term, the victory they needed to seal their return to the top flight.

Heckingbottom said: “I said to the players before the game we got so close to promotion last season. We’ve got to enjoy this, you enjoy every win and when it’s a win as special and significant as this, we are going to have a good time.

“I thought in the second half we were much better, we stepped on to them a lot more and we changed the midfield around slightly, we went to a three-man midfield.

“West Brom are very well organised and if we didn’t get through them in the first two or three passes, they had two banks of four and were difficult to break down and were breaking on us. So we had to work hard but we’ve had that in every game.

“I think you have to be motivated by winning; you’ve got to take the risks. You may end up failing or doing things that cost you your job but you’ve got to go for it.

“I don’t think it will sink in for a while but I’m just determined to enjoy tonight and make sure everyone else enjoys tonight. It’s a shame we’ve got three more games left!”

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan said his team, two points off the play-off places, are going to fight to win their remaining two games.

Corberan said: “For me, we played with personality, even if we didn’t achieve the result we wanted to. I think the team was competing well enough until the first goal.

Premier League Bound Blades. ? pic.twitter.com/EUn4fxPZDo

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 26, 2023

“We had a big chance early on but unfortunately we couldn’t score. The players have put a lot of effort in and I have to give them credit because they were trying to be brave.

“It was an even game and then we conceded the goal which unbalanced the game and emotionally it was difficult to change the result.

“The way to change games like these is to attack but in the last third of the pitch we didn’t find the solutions to connect and create something else.

“They were better than us in the attacking half and we couldn’t find a way to unbalance the game like they did.

“Until the end we are going to fight to win football games. We have six points left to play for and we have to be determined to give our best and be focused on what we have to do.”

David Moyes accused the VAR of “disrespect” after West Ham were denied a late penalty as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool.

Moyes angrily confronted Chris Kavanagh on the field at full-time after the referee decided not to award a penalty when Thiago’s arm hit the ball as he challenged Danny Ings in the box.

The Hammers boss was convinced VAR Neil Swarbrick should have at least told Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

“I’ve a chance to see it since,” said Moyes. “The difference for me is, and you’ll probably hear them coming out with some rubbish about he needed to break his fall, but if you lunge it’s your own fault for lunging and being out of control in the tackle.

“You can break your fall by sliding and having to put your arm down but when you lunge for the ball, for me, that completely nullifies anything they’re talking about breaking your fall.  I think it’s a penalty kick.

“I think the hardest thing to take is the disrespect from VAR, that VAR wouldn’t have at least said to the referee that this might be worth having a look. That tells me they don’t see that as even close to a decision. I’m surprised.

“Somebody in VAR didn’t have enough football knowledge to understand that this could be close.

“Whoever it was chose not to send the referee. VAR, for me, showed no respect whatsoever to us.

“The handball rule has changed dramatically and I don’t like a lot of it, to be fair. Do I think the boy meant tonight for it to hit his hand? No I didn’t. But he got his hand in the way of a ball going through made by his own actions.

“Look, it’s not about that (an apology). They might need to apologise to the football club because we’re trying to get points to be a Premier League team.”

Joel Matip’s towering header saw Liverpool come from behind pick up a third straight win.

The Hammers led through a wonder strike from Lucas Paqueta but were pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s long-range drive.

And moments after Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, Matip struck from a corner to halt West Ham’s recent revival.

“I heard now about the handball. I thought he just fell on the ball but I can see why Moyesie would think different,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, whose side climbed to sixth.

“I liked the performance a lot. Parts of the first half we were exceptional. We made one mistake and they scored a great goal, what a screamer. But we stayed calm and scored our screamer.

“Second half I liked as well. We had to dig in deep because of the physicality of West Ham. I would have liked the game if it was a draw. We won so that makes it the perfect night for us.”

David Moyes accused the VAR of “disrespect” after West Ham were denied a late penalty as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool.

Moyes angrily confronted Chris Kavanagh on the field at full-time after the referee decided not to award a penalty when Thiago’s arm hit the ball as he challenged Danny Ings in the box.

The Hammers boss was convinced VAR Neil Swarbrick should have at least told Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

“I’ve a chance to see it since,” said Moyes. “The difference for me is, and you’ll probably hear them coming out with some rubbish about he needed to break his fall, but if you lunge it’s your own fault for lunging and being out of control in the tackle.

“You can break your fall by sliding and having to put your arm down but when you lunge for the ball, for me, that completely nullifies anything they’re talking about breaking your fall.  I think it’s a penalty kick.

“I think the hardest thing to take is the disrespect from VAR, that VAR wouldn’t have at least said to the referee that this might be worth having a look. That tells me they don’t see that as even close to a decision. I’m surprised.

“Somebody in VAR didn’t have enough football knowledge to understand that this could be close.

“Whoever it was chose not to send the referee. VAR, for me, showed no respect whatsoever to us.

“The handball rule has changed dramatically and I don’t like a lot of it, to be fair. Do I think the boy meant tonight for it to hit his hand? No I didn’t. But he got his hand in the way of a ball going through made by his own actions.

“Look, it’s not about that (an apology). They might need to apologise to the football club because we’re trying to get points to be a Premier League team.”

Joel Matip’s towering header saw Liverpool come from behind pick up a third straight win.

The Hammers led through a wonder strike from Lucas Paqueta but were pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s long-range drive.

And moments after Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, Matip struck from a corner to halt West Ham’s recent revival.

“I heard now about the handball. I thought he just fell on the ball but I can see why Moyesie would think different,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, whose side climbed to sixth.

“I liked the performance a lot. Parts of the first half we were exceptional. We made one mistake and they scored a great goal, what a screamer. But we stayed calm and scored our screamer.

“Second half I liked as well. We had to dig in deep because of the physicality of West Ham. I would have liked the game if it was a draw. We won so that makes it the perfect night for us.”

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says his side still have work to do after they moved out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win over Brighton.

Forest were on a seemingly irreversible slide back to the Championship after a horror run of 11 games without a victory going back to February, but they stopped the rot at the City Ground.

Another defeat had been on the cards after the Seagulls went ahead through Facundo Buonanotte’s goal on his first Premier League start after Brennan Johnson had missed an early penalty for Forest.

But an own goal by Pascal Gross on the stroke of half-time followed by second-half efforts from Danilo and Morgan Gibbs-White gave them a vital win.

The relegation battle looks like going to the wire, with six clubs realistically in the fight, and Cooper knows this victory does not count for anything if they cannot back it up.

“Delighted, the result is always the most important thing but definitely at this moment in time,” Cooper said.

“There were loads of positives, but it is a good win, you have to enjoy them until we leave the dressing room and drive out because we have got another game on Saturday and we have to be really ready for it. We have to be ready for Brentford.

“We have to look after ourselves, if you get the results you need things will take care of themselves with league position. We managed to get the win tonight. Let’s try and improve it again on Saturday and that has to be the only thing we are thinking about.

“I’m over the moon, I’m so pleased for the players and the supporters, but we haven’t won for months and I don’t think we can win a game and celebrate too much.

“I was walking off the pitch thinking about getting ready for Brentford. We have got a lot of work to do and I want everybody in tomorrow working even harder than they did today. That has to be the mentality.”

Cooper confirmed that Neco Williams had been taken to hospital after a sickening clash with team-mate Johnson in the second half.

He said: “I had a look when he came off and I saw blood so fingers crossed it is not too bad, his health comes first regardless of results.”

Brighton were looking to bounce back from the heart-breaking FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United, but this loss hurt their European ambitions as they dropped to eighth, although they do have games in hand on the teams above them.

Boss Roberto De Zerbi said his threadbare squad ran out of energy after a bright opening.

“We deserved to lose the game, we played well for the first 35 minutes in the first half and then we lost energy,” the Italian said.

“We didn’t change too many players from Wembley, we knew it was a very tough game, we could have scored more goals in that 35 minutes and then we lost the spirit and energy.

“It’s a difficult period for us because we are not used to playing three games in a week but we have to use it because we will play eight games and we have to fight to reach our target.

“For sure I am honest and I don’t want to speak in this way when we lose the game. I am proud for my players today when we lost the game.”

Frank Lampard lamented Chelsea's luck after the Blues' losing streak hit five games in all competitions with a 2-0 defeat to Brentford.

An own goal from Cesar Azpilicueta in the first half was followed by Bryan Mbeumo's deflected effort on the counter late in the second, leaving Chelsea winless in their last eight.

Lampard has tasted defeat in each of his three Premier League matches since returning to take temporary charge at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea still languishing in the bottom half of the standings.

The manner of the latest loss to Brentford will be difficult to swallow, as Chelsea dominated proceedings for the majority of the game but were unable to convert.

Lampard believes a lack of confidence is the reason for that, with everything going against his side.

"It's a difficult one; I feel for the players a bit. They've lived it longer than me and there is low confidence," he told BT Sport.

"In terms of the game, we controlled possession. Brentford are good at what they do. They turn you round, they get throw-ins, they get corners, they scored from a deflected corner in a stalemate first half.

"We dominated the second half and they scored on a breakaway, so the details of the game are pretty clear. We're lacking the belief when we get to the top end of the pitch.

"In this moment, it's not a sob story, but everything is going against us. That game is a clear one. Even though we're not creating big chances, we had control of the first half.

"We have difficult games, a really difficult run-in. Some players came into the game and did okay, so maybe it is time to see those players a bit more.

"At the moment, everyone is 20 per cent down on confidence, so that moment to beat a player, to deliver on that half chance we get, we're not taking it, so that's the story for me."

Ryan Mason has insisted he now feels ready to be Tottenham manager after experiencing a level of “uncertainty” during his first caretaker spell in charge.

Mason became the youngest ever Premier League boss in 2021 when he replaced Jose Mourinho for the final month of the season and he is back in the role after Cristian Stellini was dismissed following Sunday’s 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle.

The 31-year-old is Spurs’ third manager of the campaign but believes he is better equipped to steer the ship this time having spent the last 18 months as first-team coach at his boyhood club.

“At that time did I know I was ready? There was a lot of uncertainty but looking at it now, I know I’m ready to help the group and deal with the situation in a good way,” Mason reiterated.

“I’m young, yes, but not in terms of a coach. Six years of coaching solid is a long time.

“A normal player retires at 35 and if you fast forward six years then you’re 40, 41 and the perception is probably totally different.

“In terms of my age I may be young but not in terms of my coaching experience.

“Obviously there are ambitions when you start coaching and you chase things, but I’ve always lived in a way which is to deal with what is happening right now and never take your eye off the ball.

“I’m ready for this situation and I feel like the players know I’m ready as well. The focus is on these next six games and then in the summer we will see what the best situation is for the football club.”

A number of Mason’s old team-mates have left Tottenham during the past two years but several do remain at the club and the likes of Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier and Harry Kane form part of the squad’s leadership group.

Yet the former Spurs midfielder is adamant he will have no issue making difficult decisions over the next month.

All focus on Thursday ?

? @getir_UK pic.twitter.com/Ldn1joubc2

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 25, 2023

Mason added: “Honestly, I believe in this group and I believe in these players.

“Last season we finished the season exceptionally well and sometimes in football it is a deeper thing than just having players. It is more about the environment and the mindset or confidence.

“There are so many factors that can affect results.

“Naturally in the last two years since I have been in the first team coaching it is not a friendship, it is a professional working relationship.

“There is respect there – there has always been respect there –  but ultimately they knew two years ago and they know now that I am a decision-maker. That’s my job.

“They are going to have to respect that and understand that and I am going to make decisions which I feel are the best for the team to get a result.”

Previously part of Antonio Conte’s coaching staff, Mason remained respectful of the Italian despite a difficult campaign for the club.

He did highlight the mid-season World Cup and the death of fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone as decisive factors.

But Mason said: “First of all I am not going to get drawn into speaking about Antonio and Cristian because I worked with them for a long time and I am grateful for the opportunity I had with them.

“I learnt a lot from them and their team as well. How they managed things was how they managed things.

“My job and their job is to get results on the football pitch. How you set a culture and environment differs from every single individual but I know what I want to do and I am clear with that.”

Erik ten Hag has praised potential summer target Harry Kane’s intelligence, personality and goalscoring instincts ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Tottenham.

Fresh from edging past Brighton in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final on penalties, the Red Devils return to London for a key match in the race for Champions League qualification.

Fourth-placed United boast a six-point cushion and two games in hand on Spurs, who turned to Ryan Mason as caretaker boss following their 6-1 shellacking at Newcastle.

But whatever the disfunction at Spurs, club record goalscorer Kane always seems to find a way to find the net and took his tally to 26 in all competitions at St James’ Park.

The 29-year-old’s deal at his boyhood club expires next year and United have been strongly linked with a summer move for the striker, who was subject of a failed pursuit by Manchester City in 2021.

“It’s quite clear his impact on the game from Spurs,” United boss Ten Hag said of threat posed by Kane on Thursday night.

“We have a plan of course for that. The home game we did very well, so for tomorrow we need a very good plan as well.

“You have to defend him as a team. He’s a clever player, so don’t allow him to come into situations. He can have a big impact on the game.”

Asked what makes Kane such a great striker, Ten Hag said: “First of all, the number of goals.

“And also his key actions (that) come to a goal, final passes as well. He’s just a great player, great personality as well.”

Then pushed on whether he would fit in well at United, Ten Hag said after a slight pause: “I am preparing my team tomorrow for a game against Spurs.

“He is one of the players but we have to face Spurs, so I don’t think about anything else.”

United had already looked light up top before Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious November departure.

Football director John Murtough told a fans’ forum the following month that “it’s no secret that we’re looking for a new centre-forward”.

Wout Weghorst joined on loan from Burnley in January to plug that gap for the remainder of the season, but Murtough said “the main focus remains on the summer window”.

Planning was well under way for that window before the curtain came down on 2022 and Kane is among the elite number nines United have been linked with.

“I think we have to strengthen the team on more positions (than just striker) – for instance the depth in the squad,” Ten Hag said when asked about the need for a striker.

“But don’t think about that in this moment. It’s not about that.

“So far I think we have a great season so keep going, keep improving, keep progressing.

“The team is doing so well and I think it’s enjoyable to be part of this team.

“We have to keep the process going. We have good players, we have a great team, we have a great year but it’s only success if you keep going.”

United won the Carabao Cup in February and have the FA Cup final against Manchester City to look forward to on June 3.

They are on course for a top-four finish but last week’s embarrassing Europa League quarter-final loss at Sevilla provided a reality check for Ten Hag’s developing team.

“Of course it would be great but in this moment we can’t dream for that,” the United boss said when the prospect of pushing for the title next year rather than the top four was put to him.

“We know where Man United should belong, but the reality is we are not in that place, so, as a club, we have to work very hard to get back in that position.

“So, don’t dream in this moment, be in the reality and make a good plan, strategy, but work very hard and be ready for every game.

“I think we are in a good direction, but we have still a way to go. That’s also the truth.”

Erling Haaland surpassed Mohamed Salah’s record tally of 32 goals for a 38-game Premier League season with his late strike in Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the Norway international’s stunning campaign in detail.

Premier League

The joint-most goals in a 38-match #PL season! @ErlingHaaland goes level with @MoSalah ? pic.twitter.com/5Q7QI4Ucl5

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 15, 2023

Haaland now has 33 goals in the Premier League, surging past the benchmark set by Salah in his debut season at Liverpool in 2017-18.

With seven games left, the overall record of 34 – shared by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer in 42-game campaigns early in the Premier League era – is surely in line to fall as well.

He scored in seven straight league games from August to October – his third to his ninth appearances in the competition – with hat-tricks against Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United helping him to 13 goals in those games and 18 in a 10-match scoring run in all competitions.

A fourth treble against Wolves in January left him one behind Shearer’s record of five in a season while he also has five doubles – against West Ham, Brighton, Leeds, Southampton and Leicester – and has scored in 19 of his 28 appearances.

Champions League

Haaland arrived in Manchester with 23 Champions League goals to his name in 19 appearances for RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund, and has more than maintained that form.

He netted group-stage doubles against Sevilla and FC Copenhagen, either side of a goal against Dortmund, and Pep Guardiola could afford to largely rest his star man for the return fixtures save for a scoreless first-half run-out on his old stomping ground in Germany.

He was quiet in a drawn first leg against RB Leipzig but more than made up for it in the return fixture, equalling the competition record of five goals in a game as City won 7-0 and 8-1 on aggregate.

Goals in both legs against Bayern Munich took him to a dozen for the European season, with an outside chance of threatening Cristiano Ronaldo’s record 17 for Real Madrid in 2013-14.

Domestic cups

FA Cup ?UCL ?Premier League ???? pic.twitter.com/omgJACPGzB

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 18, 2023

Haaland’s first FA Cup goals came with a hat-trick in the 6-0 quarter-final win over Burnley, having sat out the clash with Chelsea and not scored against Arsenal.

He was shut out by Liverpool in the Community Shield – as well as in both league meetings – but scored against them in the Carabao Cup.

Dixie land?

There are a maximum of 11 games remaining for City this season – seven in the league, a Champions League semi-final over two legs and a possible final, and an FA Cup final.

With Haaland scoring more than a goal a game to this point, if he keeps up his season-long rate and plays every possible game, he could hit an astonishing 63 goals and match former Everton striker Dixie Dean’s all-time record for an English season in 1927-28.

His recent hot streak, even by his standards, raises the prospect of even more.

Haaland has scored 16 goals in his last nine games, including the Leipzig and Burnley games and league doubles against Southampton and Leicester.

Sheffield United clinched promotion to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Bramall Lane.

Second-half goals from Sander Berge and Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the Blades the victory they needed to claim automatic promotion.

Two years and nine days after they were relegated, the Blades sealed their return to the top flight with three games remaining. With Burnley claiming the title the night before, United knew that three points would be enough to get them over the line.

The Blades are BACK!! ✊? pic.twitter.com/U3ngPmUXyt

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 26, 2023

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom made three changes to the team that lost 3-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, with Tommy Doyle, James McAtee and Oli McBurnie coming in.

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan made just the one switch from the 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland, with Taylor Gardner-Hickman joining the starting XI.

The first chance fell to the away side when Jed Wallace’s cross from the right was met by Karlan Grant but the striker got his header all wrong.

At the other end, Berge had a go from distance but his effort sailed harmlessly over.

Wes Foderingham got down well to save Grant’s effort from the edge of the box before Eric Pieters was booked for a dangerous challenge. Next, Jack Robinson’s shot was gathered comfortably by Alex Palmer.

Wallace was causing more problems down the right but Gardner-Hickman saw his acrobatic effort saved. Iliman Ndiaye then had a penalty appeal waved away in the last action of the half.

The home side dominated the second half and they had lift-off in the 58th minute. United disposed the West Brom defence and after Ndiaye squared the ball to Berge, the Norwegian midfielder could not miss.

The Blades had several penalty shouts turned down as they ramped up the pressure in search of a second and they should have doubled their lead when Berge crossed into John Egan, but he placed his header wide.

Anel Ahmedhodžić makes it two with a exceptional finish! ❤️?pic.twitter.com/x6JtmT3xXL

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 26, 2023

United made the points safe in the 76th minute when George Baldock’s volley was turned in brilliantly by defender Ahmedhodzic.

From that point, West Brom struggled to offer anything going forward and it was party time for the home crowd, who can look forward to butting heads with English football’s elite next season.

The Baggies remain in ninth and two points off the play-off places.

Champions Manchester City produced a stunning performance to seize complete control of the Premier League title race with a devastating 4-1 win over leaders Arsenal.

Kevin De Bruyne struck twice with John Stones and Erling Haaland also on the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium as City delivered a potentially decisive blow to the Gunners’ hopes of lifting the crown.

Arsenal claimed a late reply through Rob Holding but treble-chasing City had long since asserted their dominance and Haaland wrapped up the contest with his 49th goal of the season in stoppage time.

The result lifted Pep Guardiola’s men to within two points of the Londoners at the top of the table and, with two games in hand, they are now strong favourites to land their fifth title in six years.

Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta simply had no answer to the pace, strength and determination of the hosts, who were at their ruthless best and powered to their 12th win in their last 13 games in all competitions.

Manchester City took the Premier League title race into their own hands with a 4-1 demolition job of leaders Arsenal on Wednesday.

Three straight draws saw Arsenal hand City the initiative before the Gunners' trip to the Etihad Stadium, and Pep Guardiola's side showed little mercy in a stunning display of dominance.

Kevin De Bruyne came to the fore, scoring either side of John Stones' header, which City's playmaker teed up.

Rob Holding snatched a consolation late on, but Erling Haaland ensured he had the last word with a goal that saw him break the record for goals in a 38-game Premier League season, as City made their point.

City were convinced they should have had a penalty inside three minutes, yet De Bruyne was adjudged to have fouled Thomas Partey after Aaron Ramsdale fumbled Jack Grealish's cross.

De Bruyne was wheeling away in celebration soon after, though. Having latched onto Haaland's superb touch, the Belgian beat Ramsdale with a sublime finish into the bottom-right corner. 

White and Ramsdale denied De Bruyne and Haaland respectively as City hunted a second, before the latter drilled wide at the end of a menacing run.

Ramsdale thwarted Haaland again, but Arsenal's resolve was punctured for a second time on the stroke of the interval – Stones heading home from De Bruyne's pinpoint free-kick, with the goal awarded after a VAR check on the linesman's offside call.

Haaland's battle with Ramsdale continued after the break, and Arsenal's goalkeeper again came out on top with a superb one-on-one save.

But Haaland turned provider for City's third in the 54th minute, playing a slick one-two with De Bruyne, whose crisp finish flashed beyond Ramsdale.

Partey lashing out at Grealish's taunts was as close as Arsenal came to laying a glove on City before Holding curled home with four minutes remaining.

Haaland, though, got his goal with the final kick of the game, as City emphatically took matters into their own hands.