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FootballPremier League
The Premier League is back after a hiatus, and the midweek games didn't disappoint.
Arsenal dropped more points as the title slips further and further away from their grasp as Everton sealed a 1-1 draw with the Gunners.
The race for Europe is getting intense and Aston Villa sealed a huge three points with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.
Premier League gameweek 31 fixtures
Saturday, April 5
Everton 1-1 ArsenalCrystal Palace 2-1 BrightonIpswich 1-2 WolvesWest Ham 2-2 BournemouthAston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Sunday, April 6
2pm: Brentford vs Chelsea2pm: Fulham vs Liverpool 2pm: Tottenham vs Southampton4:30pm - Manchester United vs Manchester City
Monday, April 7
8pm: Leicester vs Newcastle - live on talkSPORTKeep up to date with all of the latest football odds at talkSPORT BET
4 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
That is the end of the game, and Aston Villa hold on for three vital points.
The home side blasted into a two-goal lead inside the first 15 minutes through Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen.
Nuno Espirito Santo made a change at half time and introduced Jota Silva.
He scored soon after coming off the bench to set up an excellent second half that was end-to-end.
But in the end, it is Unai Emery's men who come out on top.
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6 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
That is nearly Goal of the Season!
Neco Williams comes down the right and pulls the ball back to Murillo.
The centre-back is 40 yards from goal, and he takes aim.
It's a stunning strike that rattles the top of the crossbar and goes behind.
I mean, that would have been incredible!
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17 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
Glorious play!
Morgan Gibbs-White receives a pass in a tight area and brilliantly turns.
He slips a pass inside for Neco Williams.
Ian Maatsen is caught out, and the Welshman breaks into the area.
He rifles a shot towards the far corner that just goes past the post.
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25 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
Finally, Jota Silva goes into the book for a trip on Ezri Konsa.
That provokes Unai Emery to introduce John McGinn for Marco Asensio.
Nottingham Forest have two players ready to some as well.
Ramon Sosa and Willy Boly replace Nicolas Dominguez and Morato.
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33 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
Bit of a flashpoint!
Emiliano Martinez catches a cross and looks to get Villa away, but Jota Silva crashes into him twice to delay.
Martinez responds by throwing the forward to the floor, but the referee deems there is no need for any further action.
Credit: GettyCopied
37 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
Unai Emery has seen enough, and he's making a few changes.
Ollie Watkins, Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen come off.
Marcus Rashford, Jacob Ramsey and Boubacar Kamara are on.
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40 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
GAME ON!
Neco Williams find space down the left and drills a cross into the box.
It looks destined to end up at Elliot Anderson's feet, but the substitute Jota Silva nips in front of him.
He then swivels in the box and picks out the bottom corner with a top finish.
What a great decision from Nuno Espirito Santo, and we have a proper game on our hands now.
Credit: GettyCopied
43 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
The visitors come close twice in quick succession.
First, Morgan Gibbs-White clips a cross to the far post that Callum Hudson-Odoi brings down.
He plays it into Neco Williams, who skips by a tackle in the box and fires wide with the goal gaping.
Hudson-Odoi then goes close himself, as he drifts in from the left and bends an effort at goal that bounces wide of the far post.
Credit: GettyCopied
49 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
The first yellow card of the game goes to Morato.
Emiliano Martinez catches a cross and rolls it to Youri Tielemans.
Tielemans finds Donyell Malen on the left, and he pushes the ball beyond Morato, who takes out the Dutchman.
He had no intention of tracking the forward.
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54 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham
Changes for either side as Ezri Konsa comes on for Andreas Garcia.
Interestingly, Anthony Elanga has been withdrawn by Nuno Espirito Santo.
He's bringing Jota on.
It remains to be seen if that is tactical or injury-related.
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Today, 18:21By Jack Cunningham
Wolves sealed a massive win over Ipswich earlier this afternoon, and it was clear the players knew just how important it was.
After Jorgen Strand Larsen's winner, Andre momentarily grabbed a fan's phone and filmed the celebrations.
It's resulted in a must-see video, which shows the pure joy on display.
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Today, 18:20By Jack Cunningham
Easy as you like for Aston Villa, who grabbed a 2-0 lead, and have been comfortable since.
Youri Tielemans set up Morgan Rogers for the first before Ian Maatsen provided the ammunition for Donyell Malen.
Nottingham Forest have come close through Anthony Elanga, but apart from that, they've offered very little.
They are without a striker, and as a result, Nuno Espirito Santo has had to change the formation, and it has disrupted his team.
As is stands, Villa will take sixth place in the Premier League.
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Today, 17:57By Jack Cunningham
That is why Nottingham Forest are where they are!
Anthony Elanga receives the ball in his half and drives over the halfway line.
Axel Disasi just keeps backing off and off before the Swede twists him inside out to create space for a shot.
It's a good effort that beats Emiliano Martinez and the far post.
Moments later, Callum Hudson-Odoi sends an effort just past the far post as well.
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Today, 17:49By Jack Cunningham
WHAT A START!
Youri Tielemans finds Ian Maatsen on the left.
The Dutchman shreds Ryan Yates and creates space to deliver a cross.
It is a perfect ball into the area, and there is Donyell Malen to tap in.
He got his first Premier League goal in midweek, and he has his second now.
Credit: GettyCopied
Today, 17:45By Jack Cunningham
DELIGHTFUL!
Aston Villa find an early breakthrough, and it's a brilliant goal!
Youri Tielemans looks up and sends a delicious pass over the Nottingham Forest defence.
Morgan Rogers collects, brings it down and then rifles a strike into the bottom corner.
Perfect start for the hosts!
Credit: GettyCopied
Today, 17:38By Jack Cunningham
First bit of work for Matz Sels!
Ian Maatsen carries the ball in from the left and slips a pass to Marco Asensio.
The Spaniard backheels it through for the Dutchman, and he runs into the box.
He drives in a shot at the near post that the Belgian beats away.
But it has been a great start from the hosts.
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Today, 17:33By Jack Cunningham
Before the game, the two sets of players take the knee.
It is Nottingham Forest who get the action started.
They are lining up with five at the back with no Chris Wood or Taiwo Awoniyi.
It is also possible this match could be the FA Cup final.
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Today, 17:25By Jack Cunningham
Okay, the attention now switches to this huge game in the race for European football.
Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest wit both teams going for Champions League football.
After Brighton and Bournemouth dropped points, this is a great chance for Unai Emery's men to close on the top five.
Meanwhile, Forest are looking to keep the gap to those chasing.
From the 3-0 win over Brighton in midweek, there are eight changes.
The only players to remain are Emiliano Martinez, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers.
Meanwhile, Forest don't have a recognised striker.
However, Callum Hudson-Odoi is available after missing midweek, and he joins Morato and Nicolas Dominguez in coming into the team.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Maatsen, Tielemans, Onana, Asensio, Rogers, Malen, Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Cash, Konsa, McGinn, Rashford, Digne, Torres, Ramsey, Kamara
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Murillo, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Hudson-Odoi, Yates, Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Anderson, Elanga
Subs: Oliveira, Sangare, Toffolo, Moreira, Jota, Sosa, Boly, Miguel, Abbott
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Today, 17:08By Jack Cunningham
That is it!
Crystal Palace have held on in the derby against Brighton at Selhurst Park to win 2-1.
They had two men sent off but managed to see off their opponents.
At Portman Road, Wolves came from 1-0 down to all but end Ipswich's hopes of staying in the Premier League.
The gap between the two is now 12 points, so it's looking grim for the Tractor Boys.
And in east London, West Ham and Bournemouth produced an entertaining 2-2 draw as Niclas Fullkrug scored on his return from injury.
Crystal Palace 2-1 BrightonIpswich 1-2 WolvesWest Ham 2-2 BournemouthCopied
Today, 16:56By Jack Cunningham
Its another sending off for Crystal Palace and one for Brighton!
Marc Guehi receives his marching orders for a second yellow card, so the hosts have to see this one out with nine men.
However, Brighton are now down to ten as well!
Jan Paul van Hecke receives his second yellow of the game for wiping out Daichi Kamada as he looked to take the ball forward.
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Today, 16:52By Jack Cunningham
THAT COULD BE THE END OF IPSWICH IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
Ipswich can't get out of their box, as Wolves work the ball into Pablo Sarabia.
He volleys a cross first time into the area, and Jorgen Strand Larsen gets in front of his man.
The striker manages to divert the effort into the back of the net, and after a VAR check, the goal is given.
The visitors now have 12 points on their opponents.
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Today, 16:45By Jack Cunningham
ALL SQUARE!
Bournemouth respond perfectly to falling behind as Evanilson scores his second of the game.
A free-kick is popped into the box, and Dean Huijsen brilliantly climbs over everyone in the area.
He loops his header beyond Alphonse Areola, and there is Evanilson to tap home.
Credit: GettyCopied
Today, 16:42By Jack Cunningham
Ooooooooo, it's going to be a nervy end at Selhurst Park because the hosts are down to ten men.
Eddie Nketiah has picked up two yellow cards in the space of nine minutes.
The striker came on for Jean-Philippe Mateta on 68 minutes and has been dismissed.
It's unlikely to please Oliver Glasner, who has now brought Eberechi Eze off as they look to shut up shop.
Credit: GettyCopied
Today, 16:39By Jack Cunningham
THAT IS A KILLER GOAL!
A long ball is played into the right of the box, and a pass is played to Pablo Sarabia on the edge.
He tries to feed a pass out to the right, but the ball deflects back to him.
The Spaniard watches it onto his foot, and drives a shot into the bottom corner.
That takes the gap between Wolves and Ipswich back to nine points.
Credit: GettyCopied
Today, 16:35By Jack Cunningham
THE TURN AROUND IS COMPLETE!
Mohammed Kudus collects the ball on the left and drives past one man and gets to the byline.
He then clips a lovely cross into the box.
Jarrod Bowen is there, and he climbs high to direct a superb header into the bottom corner of the net.
Whatever Graham Potter said at half time has more than worked.
Credit: GettyCopied
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