Manchester City’s Premier League title celebrations were put on hold again as Manchester United fought back to win 3-1 at Aston Villa on Sunday as West Bromwich Albion were relegated after losing to Arsenal by the same score.
Meanwhile, West Ham’s top-four bid suffered a major setback with a 1-0 defeat by Everton.
City missed a chance to seal the title when they lost 2-1 to Chelsea on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side could have started the party if second-placed United lost at Villa Park, but their local rivals kept the leaders’ champagne on ice with a second-half escape act.
Trailing to Bertrand Traore’s first-half rocket, United equalised through Bruno Fernandes’ penalty before Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani netted to leave City frustrated.
Asked if he was pleased to make City wait, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “That’s the best thing. At least we don’t drive into a blue army tonight. We’ll try to delay it as long as we can.”
City, with three matches to play, are now 10 points clear of United, who have four games left.
United host Leicester on Tuesday and Liverpool on Thursday, with a defeat in either of those fixtures guaranteeing the title for treble-chasing City, who are next in action at Newcastle on Friday.
Villa took the lead in the 24th minute through Traore, who shrugged off Victor Lindelof before smashing a superb strike into the top corner.
But Paul Pogba won a 52nd-minute penalty when Douglas Luiz needlessly bundled over the United midfielder, with Fernandes scoring from the spot.
Greenwood put United ahead four minutes later, driving a low finish past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
United suffered a blow when their captain Harry Maguire limped off after colliding with Anwar El Ghazi. Cavani wrapped up the points with a glancing header from Marcus Rashford’s cross in the 87th minute.
Villa striker Ollie Watkins was sent off moments later for a second booking after diving in a failed attempt to win a penalty.
Baggies down
West Brom arrived at the Emirates Stadium needing a win to maintain their slim hopes of beating the drop. But they were 2-0 down just past the half-hour mark thanks to well-taken goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe.
Matheus Pereira pulled one back in the 67th minute after running the length of the Arsenal half.
But Willian’s 90th-minute free-kick, his first goal for Arsenal, confirmed West Brom’s fate one season after they were promoted.
Defeat meant Baggies boss Sam Allardyce had suffered the first Premier League relegation of his managerial career.
“It’s not sunk in yet, but I’m sure I’ll wake up tomorrow and realise the situation,” Allardyce told BT Sport.
“I’m bitterly disappointed we’re not still in the fight,” added the ex-England boss, who replaced the sacked Slaven Bilic in December with West Brom just one place off the bottom.
“Our real problem was not beating the bottom-six sides when we came up against them. The results against Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City should have been bonus points.”
Victory for Arsenal came just days after they failed to reach the Europa League final following a lacklustre goalless draw against a Villarreal side managed by former Gunners boss Unai Emery.
“We needed that win,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “It has been a while since we won at home.”
Across London, West Ham were rocked by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 24th-minute goal. The Hammers are now five points behind fourth-placed Leicester with three games to play.
Eighth-placed Everton remain in the hunt for Europa League qualification.
Brighton blew a chance to secure their survival in a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Wolves. The Seagulls took the lead in the 13th minute when Lewis Dunk headed in Pascal Gross’ corner in a match Brighton needed to win to be sure of avoiding relegation.
But Brighton captain Dunk was sent off in the 53rd minute after he pulled back Fabio Silva.
Wolves equalised in the 76th minute through Adama Traore and Morgan Gibbs-White won it in the 90th minute with his first Premier League goal.
Brighton’s Neal Maupay was sent off for foul and abusive language after the final whistle.
The Seagulls are 10 points above the relegation zone, with third-bottom Fulham, who have four games left, playing Burnley on Monday.
