Premier League: Arsenal ahead in title race as Manchester City, Aston Villa drop points
Manchester City and Aston Villa drop points to give Arsenal an advantage in the Premier League title race. The Gunners now have a five-point lead and will take on Liverpool at home on Thursday.
New Delhi: Manchester City's title hopes took a massive hit as they were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League at the Etihad on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola's side took the lead through an Erling Haaland penalty late in the first half, which was awarded after a VAR review following Diego Gomez's foul on Jeremy Doku. It was Haaland's 150th goal for the club in just 173 appearances.
City, who have now drawn their last three league matches, are placed second in the table with 43 points, five behind leaders Arsenal, who play Liverpool at home on Thursday.
Haaland scored his 150th goal for City from the penalty spot in the 41st minute before the break, but Brighton equalised in the 60th minute, as Mitoma struck from the edge of the box before guiding a low shot into the far corner. Haaland and Rayan Cherki both missed brilliant chances to win the game for Man City late on, but Brighton managed to secure a point.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa's Premier League title hopes also suffered a blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace in a high-octane Premier League match on Wednesday at Selhurst Park.
Brennan Johnson came close to scoring on his home debut for Palace in the first half, but was denied by Emiliano Martinez with an impressive save, with the Villa goalkeeper then substituted at half-time.
In-form Ollie Watkins almost secured three points for the visitors late in the game but saw his headed effort bounce off the post. With Arsenal topping the table on 48 points, Villa are placed in the third spot on 43, behind Manchester City on goal difference. Palace are in the 13th position on 28 points.
Burnley 2-2 Manchester United
Benjamin Sesko scored a brace, but Manchester United held to a 2-2 draw by Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday. The Red Devils had the chance to climb to fourth in the table with a win, but remained in seventh place on 32 points. Burnley are 19th, eight points adrift of safety.
United looked to secure all three points before Burnley substitute Jaidon Anthony netted the equaliser in the 66th minute, capitalising on poor defending to launch a stunning shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Burnley took the lead in the 13th minute when a cross from Bashir Humphreys took a big deflection off defender Ayden Heaven and looped into the far corner of the net. Sesko scored his first goal in nine matches in the 50th minute, when he ran onto a perfectly weighted ball from Bruno Fernandes, and fired a low shot past Martin Dubravka.
The Slovenian striker scored his second goal just 10 minutes later to put the Red Devils ahead, but Anthony equalised for the hosts in the 66th minute. United got several chances to score a late winner, including a powerful strike by substitute Shea Lacey, which hit the crossbar.
In other matches, Bournemouth defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2, and Brentford thrashed Sunderland 3-0. The game between Everton and Wolves ended in a 1-1 draw, while Fulham beat 10-man Chelsea 2-1, and Newcastle United also registered a 4-3 win against Leeds United.