Man City back on top as Newcastle push Saints to fall

Record holder Erling Haaland hit the mark again as defending champions Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.

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The victory left City a point ahead of Arsenal and with a game in hand over the Gunners.

Meanwhile, the high-flying Newcastle United sent low-profile club Southampton closer to the fall after a 3-1 success.

Manchester United also continued to hunt for a top four finish with a 1-0 home win over Aston Villa.

Bournemouth were further clear of the bottom three after a 4–1 defeat to Leeds, leaving the visitors just a point above the relegation zone.

City only needed three minutes to take the lead when Haaland scored from the penalty spot at Craven Cottage after Tim Rome brought Julian Alvarez down.

Haaland’s 34th league goal set a record for a player in a 38-game Premier League season and equaled the number set by Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer in 42-game campaigns.

However, Fulham equalized in the 15th minute, with Carlos Vinicius beating Ederson with a powerful strike on the first try.

But Alvarez, who replaced Kevin De Bruyne, restored City’s lead nine minutes before half-time with a brilliant shot into the far corner from outside the penalty area.

– United protest –

Before the match at Old Trafford, a group of United fans pressed the Glazer family to sell the club outright amid continued uncertainty over the Red Devils’ future ownership.

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe made their third and final bids for the English giants on Friday.

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The American Glazers have long been out of favor with much of United’s support since their 2005 takeover, and some fans are concerned that if Ratcliffe’s majority bid is successful, they may continue to be involved in some capacity.

The protest march from Manchester city center continued at Old Trafford as fans put up a giant banner reading “Full $ale Only”.

Bruno Fernandes scored the only goal of the game in the 39th minute when he continued at the far post after a low shot from Marcus Rashford was saved by Emiliano Martinez.

Newcastle dominated the first 40 minutes at St James’ Park, only to fall unexpectedly behind when Stuart Armstrong scored a goal on the counterattack.

The Magpies, however, equalized in the 54th minute when substitute Callum Wilson ended a period of prolonged pressure by ending Alexander Isak’s low cross.

They then dazzled Southampton with two quick goals in as many minutes, with Saints’ Theo Walcott redirecting a cross into his own net before Wilson passed the keeper in the second leg.

The loss left the Saints anchored at the bottom of the table and six points behind safety.

Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma shocked struggling Leeds by scoring two goals in four minutes of the first half as Bournemouth were 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Lerma gave the Cherries the lead with a well-placed shot in the 20th minute and shortly thereafter doubled South Coast’s lead with a goal in the back post after Leeds goalkeeper Illan Melier slammed a cross from Ryan Christie.

Leeds equalized in the 32nd minute when Patrick Bamford headed for a superb cross from Wilfrid Gnonto.

But Dominic Solanke restored the hosts’ two-goal lead.

A poor defense allowed the unnamed Dango Ouattara to burst into space before his low ball was passed to Solanka in the 63rd minute.

The goal remained after a VAR check for offside before Antoine Semegno struck in stoppage time.

Liverpool and Tottenham continue their quest to break into the top four when they meet on Sunday at 1530 GMT at Anfield.