Manchester United signed off Ruud van Nistelrooy’s temporary stint in charge with a 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday, while Ipswich stunned Tottenham 2-1 for their first Premier League victory in 22 years.
Third-placed Nottingham Forest’s fine run came to an end with a 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle.
Arsenal aim to kickstart their faltering title challenge with an away match against London rivals Chelsea.
Ruben Amorim will be in charge for the first time when United return from the international break.
However, Van Nistelrooy was able to hand over the reins after an unbeaten four-game run since stepping up to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
Bruno Fernandes marked his 250th United appearance in style by scoring his fourth goal in four games after a neat interchange of passes with Amad Diallo.
Fernandes’ burst into the box also created the second goal, as his glancing touch deflected off Leicester defender Victor Kristiansen and into the net for an own goal.
Diallo’s two-goal performance in a 2-0 Europa League win over PAOK on Thursday earned the Ivorian a start over Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentine, though, came off the bench to show what he is capable of, with a stunning strike into the top corner to round off the scoring.
United remain in 13th but are now just three points off fifth in a congested table.
– Ipswich Off the Mark –
Ipswich will host Amorim’s first match in two weeks and go into that game buoyed by their first win since ending a two-decade wait to return to the top flight.
Spurs were finally made to pay for their slow starts at home as they went behind for the 13th time in 15 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2024.
Sammie Szmodics took advantage of statuesque Tottenham defending to open the scoring with an overhead kick on 31 minutes.
Liam Delap doubled the visitors’ lead in far less spectacular fashion, as he lashed in from point-blank range after Radu Dragusin directed a cross towards his own goal.
Spurs had come back to win in eight of the previous 12 matches they conceded first at home this year, but this time they left themselves with too much to do.
Rodrigo Bentancur reduced the arrears with a powerful header from Pedro Porro’s corner, but they suffered a fifth league defeat in 11 games.
Ipswich move out of the relegation zone at Crystal Palace’s expense, while Spurs slip to 10th.
Forest had won three games in a row to sit just behind Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table, and their dream run looked set to continue at the City Ground.
Murillo’s towering header from Anthony Elanga’s free-kick opened the scoring.
But Newcastle hit back strongly after half-time.
Alexander Isak’s fourth goal in as many games began the fightback.
Joelinton then curled in a sensational strike from the edge of the box before Harvey Barnes sealed the three points, lifting the Magpies into eighth.
Arsenal and Chelsea both started the day 10 points behind leaders Liverpool and were in desperate need of a win if they were to challenge for the title.
Captain Martin Ødegaard starts for the first time in two months for Arsenal, who are aiming to snap a three-game winless streak in the Premier League.
AFP
