Premier League Round 17: Top 3 Takes Shape, MU Disappoints Again

The Premier League has just completed its 17th round, and clear divisions are starting to emerge on the league table.

The top-tier English league has wrapped up round 17. Overall, most big clubs secured favorable results, with only Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham notably dropping points this round.

Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea: The Blues Escape Danger at St James' Park

Newcastle and Chelsea produced an exciting back-and-forth draw, finishing 2-2 in the 17th round of the Premier League. The home side at St James’ Park started energetically, scoring two goals in the first half thanks to Woltermade to take a strong lead. However, in the second half, Chelsea surged back aggressively and quickly reduced the deficit with a brilliant free-kick. The visitors’ constant pressure was eventually rewarded with an equalizer, capitalizing on a defensive error by Newcastle. Drawing at the 'Magpies' home ground, Chelsea missed the chance to close the gap on the top 3 in the standings.

Man City 3-0 West Ham: The Machine Begins to Roll

Man City demonstrated overwhelming strength by defeating West Ham 3-0 in the 17th round of the Premier League. The Etihad hosts dominated the game, consistently pressing and opening the scoring early through Erling Haaland. Before halftime, Man City doubled their lead with a goal from Reijnders, putting West Ham under heavy pressure. In the second half, Pep Guardiola’s squad maintained a high tempo, denying the opponents much chance to fight back. The third goal was the inevitable result of relentless pressure, sealing the visitors’ hopes. This convincing victory keeps Man City breathing down Arsenal’s neck in the table, while West Ham remains stuck in the relegation zone.

Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool: Is the 'Red Brigade' Back on Track After Off-Field Drama?

'The Spurs' suffered their second consecutive Premier League defeat, losing 1-2 to Liverpool at home. Two second-half goals from Isak and Ekitike made the game easier for The Kop on the road. In a challenging match, Tottenham lost their composure, resulting in red cards for Xavi Simons and Romero. Richarlison’s late goal wasn’t enough to secure a point at home. This result pushes Liverpool into the top 5, while the London club continues to struggle in the lower half of the table.

Everton 0-1 Arsenal: Minimal Win, Maximum Points

Everton and Arsenal played a tense match, but Arsenal left with a 1-0 victory thanks to a first-half penalty goal. This goal was scored by Viktor Gyokeres after VAR confirmed a handball in the box, giving Arsenal the lead. Arsenal then played solidly, controlling the game’s tempo and limiting Everton’s chances. Despite Everton’s determination and late pressure, they lacked the sharpness to equalize. This win allows Arsenal to reclaim the Premier League top spot before the holiday break.

Aston Villa 2-1 Man United: Ugarte Disaster, Bruno in Trouble

MU traveled to Villa Park with a severely weakened squad missing key players like Casemiro, Mbeumo, Amad, Maguire, and De Ligt. Near the end of the first half, Morgan Rogers made a difference with a beautiful shot into the top corner to open the scoring for Aston Villa, before Cunha equalized within the same half. In the second half, a familiar scenario repeated as Rogers struck again to secure the home win. Replacing Casemiro with Ugarte turned into a disaster, and MU suffered further as Bruno Fernandes got injured, expected to be out for over a month. This defeat marks MU’s fifth loss in the Premier League, making their European qualification dreams increasingly distant.

Elsewhere, Brighton shared points in a goalless draw with Sunderland, Bournemouth drew 1-1 with Burnley, Wolves remained bottom after losing 0-2 to Brentford, and Leeds thrashed Crystal Palace 4-1. In the standings, the top 3 is gradually forming with Arsenal, Man City, and Aston Villa. West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves remain in the relegation zone. Only the battle for European qualification remains intense, as the gap between teams is still narrow.