As the 2024/25 Premier League approaches the business end there is still much to resolve. But in a full programme of midweek football Liverpool started the round 11 points ahead, leaving a tiny margin of error for the chasing pack, led by Arsenal, to play with.
After losing to West Ham United last weekend the Gunners dropped points again, while Manchester City and Chelsea both picked up wins to move into fourth and fifth and the potential Champions League places. But while top spot and the bottom three are getting ever closer to being decided the race for European places is incredibly competitive.
In the second versus third clash between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the City Ground Riccardo Calafiori almost gave the Gunners a win but his shot rattled the post and the ball flew to safety. And that was the closest either side came in a contest dominated by the defences and, while this was a good result for Nuno’s Forest it was another blow to the Gunners’ almost disappeared title hopes.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have been on the up in recent weeks but they were totally dominated in a first half won by Manchester City as Erling Haaland reached 20 goals for the third Premier League season in succession. The Sky Blues held on to win all three points and go fourth, but they nearly paid for their missed chances when Pape Sarr almost equalised with the last kick of the match.
In other Wednesday action Brentford drew 1-1 with Everton, a good result for the Toffees but frustrating for their hosts who seem destined to stay in mid table. Yoanne Wissa gave the Bees a lead late in the first half but, with the clock ticking down Jake O’Brien levelled with a diving header to give David Moyes’ resurgent Toffees another point.
And there was more chaos at Old Trafford where Manchester United, in a week when the club announced over 400 redundancies (to non-playing staff), took on bottom three side Ipswich Town and it was 2-2 at the break. Red Devils wing-back Patrick Dorgu had a nightmare as his early mix up with keeper Andre Onana handed Ipswich winger Jaden an open goal. The hosts fought back with two goals in four minutes, a Sam Morsy own goal and a Matthijs De Ligt strike from a corner. Then Dorgu launched a dreadful challenge at Omari Hutchinson and received a straight red, and the ten men of Ipswich drew level before the break through Jaden again. But the Tractor Boys struggled all night at set pieces and the ten men went ahead through a Harry Maguire header; and that’s how it stayed, much to the relief of Ruben Amorin.
With Liverpool and Newcastle kicking off late, should Arne Slot’s men beat the Magpies the gap at the top will increase to 13 points with 11 games to go. And that would be pretty much job done by my reckoning.
Villa’s home sick stars flop at the Palace
After losing away to Monaco and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have had four home games on the run, picking up two wins and two draws and they headed to Selhurst Park on Tuesday aiming for a top four place. But it all went wrong for the travelling Villains as Oliver Glasner’s Eagles ran out 4-1 winners. Defence has been an issue for the Villains who have kept just three clean sheets in 28 matches in all competitions and this setback left them half way down the table in tenth, just two places ahead of Palace who have won three of their last four league games.
Ismaila Sarr scored a brace either side of half time, the first a tap in after good work from Adam Wharton, but Morgan Rogers levelled for the visitors just after the break. Jean Philippe Mateta put the Eagles 2-1 ahead with a classy finish and then Sarr volleyed home to put Palace firmly in charge. Substitute Eddie Nketiah made it 4-1 in injury time and the Eagles can now look upwards as they moved 19 points ahead of the bottom three.
Cole’s team-mates lighten the load
Chelsea took advantage of Villa’s loss to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth’s defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, as a 4-0 win over long gone Southampton took them up to fourth place on Tuesday night. The prolific Cole Palmer has been unusually quiet over the past five games and his team-mates stepped up on another night without a goal or an assist for the England man. Forwards Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto both got a goal and an assist while defenders Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella were both on the score sheet. While the Premier League 2025 betting odds make Chelsea a decent bet for a Champions League place, the book has pretty much closed on Southampton’s survival chances. They have amassed just nine points from 27 games and are 13 fro safety with just 11 to play.
The only consolation for the Saints, and good news for other relegation candidates, was that Chelsea’s West London neighbours Fulham did a job on 17th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz. The Cottagers are right in the chase for Europe; ahead of Villa and a point behind Brighton and seventh placed Bournemouth after the Seagulls saw off the Cherries thanks to a late Danny Welbeck goal.
This is one heck of a race for the top eight places so keep it right here at SBOTOP for all the Premier League 2025 updates as the action unfolds.
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