Mikel Arteta rued Arsenal's loss of purpose after they went 2-0 up against West Ham and then blew the chance of victory.

The Hammers hit back to draw 2-2 at London Stadium on Sunday, in a damaging result to Arsenal's title hopes, with Manchester City now just four points behind with a game in hand.

Bukayo Saka's penalty miss early in the second half was compounded by Jarrod Bowen's equaliser two minutes later, as Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead for the second game running, having previously done so at Liverpool.

Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard put the Gunners 2-0 up inside 10 minutes at West Ham, but Arteta thinks his team grew complacent.

"Very disappointing. The way we started was superb again, we were in total control, then we lost purpose," he told Sky Sports.

"We gave them hope, conceded a terrible penalty, then credit to them. We got on the roller coaster where everything is going, corners and throw-ins, and we never got away from that.

"The purpose we needed for a third and fourth goal, I didn't see it."

Arsenal's lack of focus was exemplified by Thomas Partey's mistake in the build-up to West Ham's first goal, with Declan Rice robbing the midfielder of possession before Lucas Paqueta drew a clumsy challenge from Gabriel Magalhaes.

Saka ultimately missed the chance to restore Arsenal's two-goal advantage when he skewed well wide from the penalty spot following Michail Antonio's handball, but Arteta was philosophical about the youngster's profligacy.

"A player who takes penalties misses penalties, I don't know anyone who hasn't," Arteta said of Saka, before adding Arsenal "can't control" the pressure in the title race.

Captain Odegaard echoed his manager's thoughts, saying: "A lot of the same things to last week – started well, but then we stopped, allowed them to play on their qualities.

"We gave them the game they wanted, we gave them hope, and that's on us. We have to look forward now.

"We started to do a lot of stupid things on the ball, we allowed them to play on the long balls.

 "We have to remember we are still top of the league with everything in our own hands. The same mindset, same mentality to make sure we win the next one."

Arsenal will look to bounce back against Southampton on Friday, before they face City in a potential title decider on April 26.

West Ham, meanwhile, are now four points clear of the bottom three.

"It would have been a good result getting a point anyway, but going 2-0 down and coming back shows great character," Hammers boss David Moyes told BBC Sport.

"The games are coming thick and fast and the players are doing a really good job."

Bukayo Saka's penalty miss proved costly for Arsenal as the Premier League leaders yet again surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with West Ham.

Saka shot wide from 12 yards in the 52nd minute of Sunday's encounter at London Stadium, with Jarrod Bowen swiftly pulling West Ham level.

Mikel Arteta's team – who saw Manchester City defeat Leicester City 3-1 on Saturday – started brilliantly, going 2-0 up inside 10 minutes thanks to Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

Yet Said Benrahma's penalty saw the nerves set in, with West Ham taking advantage of Saka's shocker as Arsenal were unable to restore their six-point lead at the top.

Arsenal looked set to canter to victory after a stunning opening 10 minutes.

Jesus tucked in at the back post following slick combination play between Ben White and Odegaard, who made it 2-0 with a cushioned volley from Gabriel Martinelli's exquisite cross.

Yet Thomas Partey gifted West Ham a lifeline when he was robbed by Declan Rice, who fed Lucas Paqueta, with the Brazil international drawing a desperate lunge from compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.

Having been sent the wrong way by Benrahma's penalty, Ramsdale denied West Ham a quickfire second when he tipped over Michail Antonio's header, with another Partey blunder having handed the Hammers a free-kick.

Antonio's handball from Martinelli's strike seemed destined to signal game over for West Ham, only for Saka to slice the resulting spot-kick well wide.

West Ham made Arsenal pay. Bowen capitalised on slack defending to latch onto Thilo Kehrer's punt, with Ramsdale unable to keep out the winger's volley.

Arsenal were saved by the woodwork late on, Antonio's header striking the crossbar, though the title race momentum nevertheless seems to have swung City's way.

Hugo Lloris has described the boos Davinson Sanchez was subjected to by Tottenham fans during a stunning 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth as "sad for the club".

Sanchez replaced the injured Clement Lenglet 10 minutes before half-time when Spurs were 1-0 up in the Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but his appearance was only brief.

The Colombia international inadvertently provided Dominic Solanke with the opportunity to put the relegation-threatened Cherries 2-1 up after the break, prodding the ball into the striker's path before he beat Lloris.

Centre-back Sanchez was soon back on the bench in the 58th minute after making way for Arnaut Danjuma, who equalised before Dango Ouattara scored a last-gasp winner for Bournemouth.

Sanchez was booed by Tottenham supporters when he was hauled off and captain Lloris was not impressed with the way he was targeted.

The France goalkeeper beIN Sports: "It started earlier. It's when he came on the pitch. I've never seen this in my career.

"I feel really bad for Davinson. He's a team-mate, he's a friend and he's been fighting for the club for many, many years now.

"It's just sad. The story is sad for the club, for the fans, for the player. It's something you don't want to see in football."

Spurs interim boss Cristian Stellini stressed the importance of the club must rallying around Sanchez.

"I understand it's a tough moment for everyone and we have to analyse this moment," he said. "Everyone needs to analyse how important it is to support a player.

"I take the responsibility for the decisions I make. I thought it was too early in the game to use another striker because we were 1-0 up in the first half.

"When we were 2-1 down I thought it was the moment Davinson has to [come off]. It was only a tactical decision. We need to support him because it's a tough moment for him and also for all the team."

Real Madrid are reportedly eager to bolster their full-back options, to upgrade from Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy.

Los Blancos were linked with Manchester City's Joao Cancelo - currently on loan at Bayern Munich - earlier this week by Fichajes.

The Spanish giants are set to miss out on this season's LaLiga title, with Barcelona leading by 10 points.

TOP STORY – MADRID KEEN ON LIVERPOOL'S TAA

Real Madrid will turn to Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold should they fail to land Reece James from Chelsea, claims Ekrem Konur.

Los Blancos are in the market for a new full-back and Konur claims Madrid could also turn to Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong.

Alexander-Arnold has had a mixed campaign for Liverpool, who appear set for a squad revamp in the off-season. The 24-year-old England full-back is contracted with the Reds until 2025.

ROUND-UP

– Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is an admirer of Torino's 21-year-old midfielder Samuele Ricci with Los Blancos keeping tabs on his situation, according to Tuttosport.

– The Sunday Mirror claims Manchester City are leading the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid , with Liverpool having pulled out.

– Chelsea are looking to offer Romelu Lukaku as part of a deal with Atletico Madrid to sign Portuguese forward Joao Felix permanently, reports Fichajes. Chelsea are unwilling to pay Atletico's €100m asking fee, but may part with €70m along with the Belgian forward.

– Tottenham are tracking Barcelona winger Ansu Fati, reports Mundo Deportivo. The report suggests Spurs are willing to make him their most expensive transfer in club history.

– RB Leipzig are considering a move to sign Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun in the close season, claims Todofichajes. Balogun has impressed this season on loan with Reims .

– Chelsea have interviewed Sporting boss Ruben Amorim about taking over as manager next season, reports talkSPORT.

Kevin De Bruyne became the second player to reach 100 Premier League assists for one club as the Manchester City playmaker teed up Erling Haaland for the hosts' third goal in a 3-1 win over Leicester City.

The result cut Arsenal's lead to three points at the top of the table, ahead of the Gunners' trip to West Ham on Sunday.

Saturday's games saw Ollie Watkins remain in eye-catching form for Aston Villa, but there were grim home defeats for London giants Chelsea and Tottenham as Brighton and Hove Albion and Bournemouth celebrated impressive victories.

Here Stats Perform, guided by notable Opta match facts, unpicks the finer detail from the day's Premier League action.

Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City: Haaland and De Bruyne star as City keep pressure on

Armed with a 3-0 lead after 25 minutes, Manchester City took their foot off the pedal and Leicester gained a foothold, but the Foxes rarely get much from this fixture. It is 11 wins in their last 13 league games against Leicester now for Pep Guardiola's team, and five wins from as many meetings.

City are on a 10-match winning streak across all competitions, which they have bettered only twice during the Guardiola era, having a run of 21 wins from December 2020 to March 2021, and an 11-game run from August to October in 2017.

Haaland scored twice to take his goals tally to 32 in the top flight, ever closer to the Premier League record of 34 in a single campaign, while De Bruyne's pass that set up the Norway striker's second meant he completed 100 assists for City. Ryan Giggs, with 162 for Manchester United, is the only other player to reach a century of assists for one club in the Premier League.

De Bruyne has now assisted 10 goals for Haaland across all competitions this season, and that is the most assists any one player has had for the young goal machine with a top-flight club, beating Jadon Sancho's nine when he and Haaland were team-mates at Borussia Dortmund in the 2020-21 campaign.

Leicester remain deep in relegation trouble, with the 2015-16 Premier League champions having taken just eight points from 16 games in the competition (W2 D2 L12), losing eight of their past nine.

Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle United: Watkins and Villa hit half-century marks as Emery revival gathers pace

Aston Villa were hovering precariously closely to the relegation zone when Steven Gerrard was sacked in October. A sensational recovery continued as they steamrollered third-placed Newcastle on Saturday, with their winning run in the Premier League now at five games.

They last reached five wins in a row in the competition on this corresponding weekend 25 years ago, when John Gregory was boss, and Saturday's result means Newcastle's Eddie Howe has lost his last four league clashes with Villa manager Unai Emery, who was previously in charge of Arsenal, by an 11-2 aggregate.

Villa have reached 50 points from 31 games, the earliest they have achieved that tally since they got there in 29 matches in 2009-10, and Watkins has been a key figure in the team's resurgence.

The England striker added to Jacob Ramsey's opener, which came from Watkins' headed assist, by netting a second-half double to take the game away from the Magpies.

Watkins' 50th, 51st and 52nd goal involvements for Villa (39 goals and 13 assists) came in his 102nd Premier League game for the team, with only Christian Benteke (88 games) having reached 50 in fewer games in the competition for the club. Watkins has 12 goals and three assists on Premier League duty since the World Cup, with only Haaland (16) having more goal involvements during this time.

Chelsea 1-2 Brighton and Hove Albion: Seagulls swoop for Stamford Bridge scalp

Brighton substitutes Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso did the damage, and Chelsea could have no complaints. In terms of expected goals (xG), Brighton bossed this, ending with 2.28 compared to the hosts' 0.60.

After failing to win against Chelsea in 14 Premier League matches, Brighton have done the double this season, having won 4-1 at home in October.

Chelsea's winless run at home in the league now stands at four matches (D2 L2), and that is their worst streak since taking just one point from their final five games at Stamford Bridge in the 2015-16 season.

Only Manchester United (10) have had more goals from substitutes than Brighton (8) in the Premier League this season, and those two sides meet next weekend in the semi-final stage of the FA Cup.

Tottenham 2-3 Bournemouth: Echoes of Balotelli as Outtara stuns Spurs

Tottenham have Aston Villa and Brighton in hot pursuit after this shock reverse, with Dango Ouattara getting Bournemouth's winner four minutes and 11 seconds into stoppage time.

It was the latest winning goal Bournemouth have ever scored in the Premier League, as well as being the second-latest winning goal scored against Spurs by any team on record since 2006-07, after Mario Balotelli's strike for Manchester City in January 2012, which came after four minutes and 39 seconds of added time.

This was Bournemouth's first away league win against Tottenham, after losing on all five previous attempts, and it marked the first time Spurs have lost at home when taking the lead since a 3-2 setback against Southampton in February of last year.

Bournemouth have won five of their last nine Premier League games and have remarkably leapt six points clear of the bottom three, having won just five of their previous 25 matches. Dominic Solanke scored the Cherries' second and provided assists for their two other goals, scoring and assisting in the same Premier League game for the third time this season, with no player having done so on more occasions.

Pep Guardiola acknowledged his substitutions made for a nervous finish after seeing his Manchester City side ease up in a 3-1 win over Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.

City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to three points as Erling Haaland struck twice in the first 25 minutes, after John Stones' fine volley had given the hosts an early lead.

With City cruising against their out-of-form opponents, Guardiola withdrew both goalscorers at the break, with Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Jack Grealish following after the interval.

Leicester then threatened an unlikely fightback after Kelechi Iheanacho tapped in for 3-1, with the Nigerian hitting the post late on and James Maddison missing a fine chance.

Asked if Leicester's late onslaught had caused any nerves, Guardiola told Sky Sports: "Of course we were worried. 

"It was 3-1 from our mistake and they had the chances with Maddison and Kelechi, so the game was tricky in the last 15 minutes. The first 60 or 65 minutes was good.

"I'd like us to push ourselves better and avoid what happened after 3-0, so we do not suffer, but it happened because of the substitutions. From my experience, when you do that, this happens."  

City have won nine successive games as they chase silverware on three fronts, and Guardiola says alterations were necessary in order to preserve his stars' fitness.

"We started really well, with incredible focus, but at the end when you make a lot of substitutions at the same time, you always drop a little bit," he said.

"If the guys from the second half started, it would be the same approach that we had in the beginning. It's just a fact that playing every three days, we have to make a lot of rotations.

"I made just two [changes] in the beginning. When the game was under control, I made the rest."

City turn their attentions to the Champions League on Wednesday, looking to defend a 3-0 first-leg lead when they visit Bayern Munich in an attempt to reach the semi-finals.

Asked by BBC Sport if Bayern had a chance of overturning City's advantage, Guardiola said: "Absolutely, we know that. We have to try our game and think we will win the game. 

"We have to defend otherwise they have the rhythm. It's a real tough opponent. We go there to achieve something unique, to reach a semi-final.

"We have to play with the right mentality, be stable in the bad moments and go for it."

Erling Haaland matched Mohamed Salah's scoring record in a 38-game Premier League season as Manchester City swatted aside lowly Leicester City 3-1.

Free-scoring City had the game won by the 25th minute at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with Haaland scoring twice after John Stones' stunning opener.

Subbed off at half-time, Haaland has now netted 32 league goals this season, matching Salah's haul from the 2017-18 campaign. 

Sloppy defending allowed Kelechi Iheanacho to grab a consolation for Leicester in Dean Smith's first match in charge, with the former City striker hitting the post in stoppage time as the hosts rather staggered over the line to reduce Arsenal's lead to three points.

City enjoyed 93 per cent possession in the opening five minutes and were rewarded when Stones arched a brilliant left-footed strike into the right-hand corner.

Leicester's slim chances of snatching a much-needed shock victory were further dented when Wilfred Ndidi was deemed to have handled from Jack Grealish's cross.

Haaland slammed away the resulting penalty, and had his second 12 minutes later, brilliantly collecting in Kevin De Bruyne's throughball and lifting a cute finish over Daniel Iversen.

With an eye on the midweek trip to Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola took the chance to rest both of his goalscorers at half-time.

Rodri joined Stones and Haaland in earning a rest shortly after, with Kalvin Phillips handed a rare league appearance, although City's composure turned to complacency when Iheanacho tapped in after Harry Souttar's header was saved by Ederson.

James Maddison missed a golden chance to set up a grandstand finish when he failed to beat Ederson, before Iheanacho struck the woodwork between two hopeful penalty appeals, albeit Leicester's resurgence was too little, too late.

What does it mean? Almost too easy for City

Guardiola will not have been happy with his side’s display in the second half, albeit the stuttering nature of their performance can in large part be put down to the amount of changes made.

The first half was a different matter altogether. City purred, having eight shots, scoring with all three they got on target and registering 1.9 expected goals to Leicester's 0.22.

Leicester's new interim boss Smith, meanwhile, will target matches elsewhere as he looks to drag the Foxes out of danger, though his team had their chances to make a fight of it late on.

Another record tumbles

Haaland's goal tally for the season now stands at 47. The British single-season record stands at 63, scored by Everton legend Dixie Dean back in the 1920s, and you would not bet against the 22-year-old surpassing it.

His next top-flight goal will see him set a record for the most scored in a 38-game Premier League campaign, while he is only two short of the outright competition record, which is shared by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole.

Ton up for De Bruyne

De Bruyne was the creator of Haaland's second goal, nipping in ahead of the lacklustre Ndidi to steal the ball in midfield before playing a perfect pass through to City's superstar striker.

It brought up De Bruyne's 100th Premier League assist for City, while it was the eighth time the Belgium international has teed up Haaland in the competition.

What's next?

City travel to Bavaria for that game against Bayern, while Leicester face Wolves next Saturday.

Frank Lampard was left “disappointed on every level” following Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Blues suffered their third successive loss under caretaker boss Lampard after the high-flying Seagulls came from behind to take the spoils at Stamford Bridge.

Danny Welbeck cancelled out Conor Gallagher’s deflected effort, before Julio Enciso's 30-yard thunderbolt moved Brighton to within four points of fifth-placed Tottenham.

The hosts, who remain 11th, were very much second best as they registered just eight shots to their opponents' 26, and Lampard did not hold back in the criticism of his players.

"I'm disappointed on every level," he said. “The better team won. They could have won by more. They played like a team. They've been together a long time.

"[We were] not good enough. All the basic parts of football - to fight, to run - we were short on. [It's] not a question of commitment as such. 

"Some players physically couldn't be able to play Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday. Some of those changes were forced and some were opportunities. In a modern day squad, you have to be ready to come in.

"As a team, we were short today. Where can we get better quickly? For me, it's the football basics.”

Those must come to fruition on Tuesday, when Chelsea host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The Blues must overturn a 2-0 deficit against the reigning champions if they are to progress to the semi-finals, and Lampard has urged his players to produce a response for the supporters.

"There's no point being too down, but we have to understand why today went the way it did," he continued.

"In football, a story can change very quickly. Real Madrid in the Champions League is the pinnacle of football. There's things I'll say to the players that I'll keep in house. 

"Chelsea fans will be coming on Tuesday to see a team give everything to turn it round, and that's what we have to do."

Arnaut Danjuma believes Tottenham must "come to terms" quickly with their dramatic 3-2 loss against Bournemouth as they chase a top-four finish.

Spurs were on the wrong side of a five-goal Premier League thriller on Saturday, after Dango Ouattara's 95th-minute strike sealed victory for the Cherries.

Danjuma had equalised at the end of normal time to seemingly rescue a point after Matias Vina and Dominic Solanke had cancelled out Son Heung-min's opener.

As a result, fifth-placed Spurs missed the chance to move level on points with Manchester United and third-placed Newcastle United, who suffered a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

"We have to come to terms with it," he told BBC Match of the Day. "I think we did our best to pursue an extra goal. If you are Spurs, you should always try to go for the win.

"Inevitably, you leave some space for Bournemouth to counter-attack. It is a bit quiet [in the dressing room] but as quiet as it is, we are still excited about upcoming games.

"We saw Newcastle dropped points. The game has not been good for us, but we go back to the drawing board and work hard in training."

Danjuma, who is on loan at Spurs from Villarreal, previously spent two seasons with Bournemouth and was the club's player of the year during their 2020-21 Championship campaign.

Reflecting on finding the net against his former team, he acknowledged his mixed emotions, adding: "It is always a bit dubious scoring against your old club.

"I have nothing but love for Bournemouth. They treated me well and gave me a very good three years. Football is a business, though. I am at Spurs now, and I give my all for the club."

Spurs next play top-four rivals Newcastle a week on Sunday, before a subsequent clash against United in what is a decisive stretch for their Champions League ambitions.

Dango Ouattara's dramatic late strike snatched a 3-2 win for Bournemouth over Tottenham in a Premier League thriller on Saturday.

Arnaut Danjuma looked to have salvaged a point for Spurs with an 89th-minute equaliser after goals from Matias Vina and Dominic Solanke put the Cherries in front following Son Heung-min's opener.

But Ouattara had the final say with a superbly composed finish in the fifth minute of stoppage time to hand Gary O'Neil's side three precious points in their battle to stay in the top flight.

Defeat is the latest setback for Spurs in their quest to qualify for the Champions League, with key clashes against rivals Newcastle United and Manchester United to come.

Julio Enciso hit a sensational winner as Brighton and Hove Albion boosted their European qualification hopes with a 2-1 victory at Chelsea in the Premier League.

Paraguayan teenager Enciso's 30-yard strike in the 69th minute completed a turnaround as the Seagulls claimed their first league win at Stamford Bridge and moved within four points of fifth-placed Tottenham.

The hosts had led through Conor Gallagher's wickedly deflected effort, but that was cancelled out by substitute Danny Welbeck before half-time.

Despite ending a three-game scoreless streak, Chelsea remain 11th in the table under caretaker boss Frank Lampard and are now without a win in six matches.

Brighton carried the greater threat early on. Alexis Mac Allister twice shot wide from close range, while Evan Ferguson's 20-yard effort rattled the crossbar.

After weathering the early storm, Chelsea broke through in the 13th minute following a sweeping move that saw Mykhailo Mudryk feed Gallagher, whose first-time shot looped in via Lewis Dunk.

The visitors threatened to level with Kepa Arrizabalaga producing smart reflex saves to thwart Ferguson and Kaoru Mitoma. But the equaliser eventually arrived three minutes before the break when Welbeck headed in a deep cross from Pascal Gross.

Chelsea almost regained their advantage in stoppage time, but the woodwork kept out Christian Pulisic's fierce header.

Brighton were the more positive of the two sides again after the break. They almost nudged ahead on the hour mark, with the persistent Enciso hitting the post before Welbeck sent the rebound over, while Mudryk called Robert Sanchez into action at the other end.

But the Seagulls edged their noses ahead in emphatic fashion with what proved to be the winning goal, Enciso unleashing a thunderbolt that left Kepa grasping at thin air.

Marcel Sabitzer feels at home in the Premier League and is keen to extend his Manchester United stay beyond the end of the season.

Sabitzer joined United on loan from Bayern Munich in January after the Red Devils lost fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen to an ankle injury.

While Eriksen returned last week after spending over two months on the sidelines, Sabitzer has played an important role for the Red Devils, making 13 appearances since his arrival and featuring in February's EFL Cup final win over Newcastle United.

Having scored his first goal for the club in last month's FA Cup quarter-final victory against Fulham, Sabitzer grabbed two more in Thursday's 2-2 Europa League draw with Sevilla.

Though Sabitzer's deal does not contain an option for United to make his move permanent, the Austria international would be open to extending his stay.

"I didn't have to think for 10 seconds after United called," Sabitzer said in an interview with German publication Bild. "I said straight away, if the time works, we'll do it!

"This is initially a project until the summer, then we'll see. Until then, I want to give everything here. It's a loan deal with no options. The situation will be assessed in the summer.

"But I can say for myself, I have found my place here. I know the Premier League now and I can say there is nothing better, more intense or tougher.

"Every game is a fight, everything goes faster. This is the best league in the world. Once you have played here, you know it's incomparable.

"Of course my thoughts on United – especially looking at how things are going and the confidence I get from Erik ten Hag – are very positive. But I don't have to decide it alone."

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said he was "not really looking for positives" but instead "for a response" after his side's 3-0 loss at Aston Villa.

OIlie Watkins continued his superb form for Villa as Unai Emery's team claimed a fifth straight Premier League win on Saturday.

Third-placed Newcastle were second-best throughout at Villa Park, with Villa leading the way in shots (15 to eight), attempts on target (six to two) and expected goals (1.87 to 0.57). Indeed, the hosts also hit the woodwork twice and had a goal disallowed.

It snapped a five-game winning streak for Newcastle, who suffered their heaviest defeat in the league since losing 5-0 to Manchester City in May of last year.

With a home game against top-four rivals Tottenham next up, Howe wants a reaction.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Howe said: "We were off our best levels right from the start. Aston Villa are a good team and we never got going.

"We've been consistently excellent this season, this is the first dip we've had; it can happen and we have to react.

"We were just off it in every respect. We've got a massive game next week. I'm not really looking for positives, I'm looking for a response."

Villa, meanwhile, have won five Premier League games on the bounce for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.

The win moved them onto 50 points from 31 games, which is the earliest they have reached this total since the 2009-10 season, when they finished sixth, the position they will occupy for at least another week, just six points off the Champions League places.

Watkins was again their main man, netting a second-half double after teeing up Jacob Ramsey's opener. Since the restart following the World Cup, the former Brentford striker has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other player (15).

"We are on a great run at the moment we are playing good football," Watkins told BT Sport.

"Newcastle are a great side so it shows the levels we are at. We are enjoying it at the moment.

"[We are] trusting team-mates in tight areas and if we make mistakes we go again. Real togetherness in the team and looking forward to games to come."

Lisandro Martinez aims to come back "stronger" after suffering a season-ending injury in Manchester United's Europa League clash with Sevilla on Thursday.

Martinez was carried from the field by Sevilla's Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel – his Argentina team-mates – after going down unchallenged in the closing stages of the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils on Friday confirmed centre-back Martinez will not feature again in the 2022-23 campaign after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot.

They added that the former Ajax defender, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of next season.

Writing on Instagram, Martinez said: "Not the way I imagined what's been a very special season would end, but sometimes we face obstacles along the way that we have to overcome to make us stronger and we learn from them.

"I know that I'll be back very soon to go for more. In the meantime, I'll continue to support all my team-mates to achieve our objectives.

"The number of messages and support I've received has been amazing, they're giving me strength and encouragement at this moment.

"Many, many thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart."

United are next in action on Sunday when they visit Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Liverpool have "nothing to lose" as they look to end a dire run of form against Premier League strugglers Leeds United at Elland Road, so says Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds travel to Yorkshire having gone five games without a win across all competitions (D2 L3), a run which saw Klopp's men begin the weekend 12 points adrift of the top four.

Green shoots of recovery were visible as Liverpool fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a draw against leaders Arsenal last time out, but Klopp knows the Reds must make changes to get back to their best.

"We have nothing to lose really. We are in a position where we don't want to be in the table, that means we have to act a little bit like this," he said.

"We had a long training week and now we have to make sure that we do the right stuff and bring it on the pitch. All the things are on the table, everything is clear.

"Our home record is not as bad as the away record but we play away. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game and it's a tough one."

Leeds looked to be pulling clear of danger prior to last week's 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, when Javi Gracia's side capitulated after Patrick Bamford gave them a first-half lead.

"We know how difficult it will be, the next game against Liverpool," Gracia said.

"They are a very good team. In this moment we have no time to think about whether it is better or worse to play against this team or another.

"What I can tell you is that all of the players have worked hard this week and tried to pay attention to the little details.

"They worked very well this week and I am sure we will learn from our mistakes."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Leeds United – Patrick Bamford

Bamford scored his 50th goal for Leeds in all competitions during last week's 5-1 defeat to Palace, becoming the first player to hit that figure for the club since Ross McCormack in 2014.

He is looking to score in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since May 2021 as Leeds bid to pull away from the relegation zone.

Liverpool – Roberto Firmino

Having netted Liverpool's equaliser against Arsenal last time out, Firmino has averaged a goal or assist every 87 minutes in the Premier League this season (nine goals, four assists in 1,129 minutes).

Of all players to play at least 500 minutes in the competition this term, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (one every 62 mins) boasts a better such ratio.

MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN

After claiming a memorable 2-1 win at Anfield in October, Leeds are chasing just their second Premier League double over Liverpool, previously achieving that feat in the 2000-01 campaign under David O'Leary.

While Liverpool are averaging just 0.87 points-per-game away from home in the Premier League this season – their lowest in a single campaign since 1992-93 (0.76) – the Reds have not lost on any of their last five league trips to Elland Road (W3 D2), last tasting defeat there in November 2000.

Leeds will have to tighten up to have any chance of a result, having shipped 10 goals in their three league games in April – the most in the top flight – and kept just five clean sheets in their last 35 league matches.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Leeds United – 15.9 per cent

Liverpool – 61.2 per cent    

Draw – 22.9 per cent