With 40 minutes of slack and a good while of uncertainty,
Aston Villa
, with
Emiliano Dibu Martínez
in goal, defeated Nottingham Forest 4 to 2 at home in a match corresponding to the 26th day of the Premier League and in this way remains in fourth position, the last one that grants qualification for the next edition of the
Champions League
.
Manchester City
also triumphed, with some anxiety,
as
Julián Álvarez
beat Bournemouth 1-0 as a visitor to remain behind leader
Liverpool
, one point away.
The cast led by the Basque Unai Emery suffered more than necessary to defeat a team that is fighting to avoid relegation.
Although he built a three-goal lead before the first 40 minutes of action were completed, he then had to endure the reaction of his rival, who closed the gap and did not allow him to breathe a sigh of relief until the last stretch of the duel at Villa Park.
Another big win!!
Villa park was amazing again!
#UTV pic.twitter.com/D1f0mF2veC
— Emi Martínez (@emimartinezz1) February 24, 2024
Ollie Watkins, after a great play by Jamaican Leon Bailey, broke the deadlock four minutes into the first chapter with his 14th goal of the season (he is only surpassed by the Norwegian Erling Haaland, from Manchester City -17-, and the Egyptian Mohamed Salah , from Liverpool -15-).
A double from Brazilian Douglas Luiz, first with a low right hand from the penalty spot and then with a header, seemed to seal the duel.
However, the Senegalese Moussa Niakhaté, pushing the ball into the net after a corner from the right by Morgan Gibbs-White and a header at the far post by the Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi, scored in the last maneuver of the first chapter.
And at the start of the complement Gibbs-White reduced the disadvantage even more.
The visiting team decidedly went in search of equality, but a goal from Bailey in the 16th minute gave the home team some peace of mind.
In any case, Forest's search, which had Gonzalo Montiel on the bench, did not cease, although it ended up being fruitless.
With this victory, Aston Villa has 52 points and is five ahead of Tottenham, its closest pursuer in the fight for the coveted fourth place, which had to postpone its match on this date because it will play Liverpool in the Cup final on Sunday. of the English League at Wembley.
Nottingham Forest is left with 24 points and is only four away from the relegation places.
Relegated in the fight for the fourth step of the table was Manchester United, which fell 2 to 1 at Old Trafford against Fulham and thus saw its streak of four consecutive victories broken.
The visit went ahead with a goal from Nigerian Calvin Bassey 20 minutes into the second half, but Harry Maguire equalized in the 44th minute.
Alejandro Garnacho disputes the ball with Tosin Adarabioyo during the match between Manchester United and Fulham.
Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters.
It seemed that the
Red Devils
, who had Alejandro Garnacho from the opening whistle, would rescue at least one point in this uncomfortable clash, but in the seventh added minute and in a counterattack well handled by the Spanish Adama Traoré, the Nigerian Alex Iwobi sealed the Fulham victory.
In this way, United was stuck in sixth place with 44 points, eight less than Aston Villa.
Fulham, worried about other issues, has 32 and remains a reassuring distance from the red zone.
Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion, with Facundo Buonanotte as starter (he was replaced 28 minutes into the second half by Paraguayan Julio Enciso) but still without Valentín Barco in their squad, drew 1-1 at home with Everton.
Facundo Buonanotte started the draw between Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton.
Photo: Massimo Paolone / LaPresse via AP.
Jarrad Branthwaite overtook the Liverpool team, which is trying to escape from the bottom of the table (it is 17th, one point away from the relegation places) and was almost nothing away from achieving a triumph.
But in the fifth added minute of the complement and when playing with 10 men due to the expulsion of Billy Gilmour, the team led by Roberto De Zerbi equalized thanks to a header from captain Lewis Dunk.
City puts pressure on Liverpool
Manchester City (2nd) took the three points with great suffering on their visit to Bournemouth (14th), but was one point behind the Premier League leader, Liverpool, who defeated Luton 4-1 on Wednesday.
Against a good team led by the Spanish Andoni Iraola, one of the sensations in the first half of the season in England, City achieved victory with a solitary goal from Phil Foden in the first half (24), who took advantage of the rebound from goalkeeper Neto after a shot by Norwegian Erling Haaland.
Fragile in defense, Pep Guardiola's men suffered in the second half from local attacks, which could have equalized with a header against the post by Turkish Enes Unal with time running out (90+1).
With the victory, City has 59 points and is one behind Liverpool, which advanced its match to Wednesday since on Sunday it will play the English League Cup final against Chelsea.