Ten things we learned from Premier League Matchday 32 | OneFootball

As the Premier League season barrels towards a thrilling conclusion, this incomplete weekend delivered drama, history, and heartbreak in equal measure.

From title-defining moments and record-breaking feats to more misery for Manchester United, here are the top 10 talking points that lit up Gameweek 32 in England’s top flight.

#10 Class is permanent

Staring down the barrel of what would’ve been a disastrous home defeat to Crystal Palace, Manchester City desperately needed a spark to haul back a two-goal deficit.

Despite enduring a substandard season by his high standard, Kevin De Bruyne stepped up to the plate to offer salvation to Pep Guardiola’s side with a match-winning performance.

The veteran playmaker slotted home a sublime free-kick to initiate the comeback before tying up Mateo Kovacic’s for City’s third, laying the groundwork for a scintillating 5-2 win.

#9 St Mary’s witnessed history

Aston Villa poured more misery on dead-last Southampton, recovering from a thumping Champions League loss at Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-0 triumph on the south coast.

Ollie Watkins – unhappy with his current status (via The Independent), Donyell Malen and John McGinn scored off the bench to strengthen Villa’s pursuit of a top-five finish.

In doing so, the Birmingham outfit became the first team in Premier League history to see three substitutes get on the scoresheet in one game.

#8 Miracle worker

Everton threw a spanner in the works of Nottingham Forest’s historic Premier League campaign, beating the top-five hopefuls 1-0 at the City Ground.

Abdoulaye Doucoure’s 94th-minute winner arrested the Toffees’ six-game winless league run and fired them past Tottenham Hotspur in the standings, drawing them level on points with Man United.

David Moyes continues to defy the odds, turning Everton from season-long relegation fighters into one of the division’s toughest teams to beat since returning to his old stomping ground.

#7 Non-champion mentality

Brighton & Hove Albion’s fall from grace hit a new low as they squandered a lead twice in a gut-wrenching 2-2 draw against relegation-bound Leicester City at the Amex Stadium.

Out-of-form Fabian Hurzeler’s side suffered another setback in their faltering European quest, allowing the goal-shy Foxes to score twice after losing eight consecutive league games ‘to nil.’

Two points from the last four Premier League rounds leave the Seagulls on the brink of another mid-table finish.

#6 Hope all but gone

A third runner-up finish on the trot has become a near-certainty for Arsenal after another league stalemate moved runaway leaders Liverpool 13 points clear at the table’s summit.

Mikel Arteta’s charges shared the spoils with Brentford in a 1-1 home draw, perhaps indicating their growing focus on claiming Champions League glory.

There’s every reason for optimism after a stunning 3-0 first-leg win against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

#5 Clutch or kick

Ange Postecoglou’s regime at Tottenham has reached a ‘make or break’ point, with Spurs consigned to their worst Premier League finish since 2007/08.

Distracted by a season-defining second-leg clash against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, Tottenham fell to a dismal 4-2 defeat at fellow bottom-half rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves have been a thorn in Spurs’ side, racking up four victories across their last five meetings in the Premier League to put Postecoglou in a near-impossible situation ahead of Thursday’s trip to Germany.

#4 Party time in Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk’s 89th-minute header propelled Liverpool to a dramatic 2-1 home win against West Ham United, putting the Reds on the verge of a record-equalling 20th title in England’s elite division.

Liverpool’s triumph, though nerve-shredding, was hardly surprising, given the Irons’ embarrassing track record at Anfield, where they’ve only won once on their last 58 visits (D14, L43).

#3 Self-destructive

Enzo Maresca’s job at Stamford Bridge hangs in the balance amid Chelsea’s ominous-looking form heading into an intense season finale.

Two points dropped in a disheartening 2-2 home draw against 18th-placed Ipswich Town saw the Blues relinquish a spot in the top five, heightening the pressure on the Italian manager.

A catalogue of missed chances, compounded by sloppy defensive plays, deprived the London giants of a crucial home win against the Suffolk minnows.

#2 Historic achievement on Tyneside

Newcastle United put Ruben Amorim’s faceless Man Utd side to the sword in a dynamic 4-1 victory at St James’ Park to bolster their bid to reach a second Champions League qualification in three years.

After a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in December’s reverse fixture, the Magpies pulled off their first league double over the record-time English champions since 1930/31.

#1 Season cannot finish soon enough for Red Devils

Another chastening chapter in a forgettable season for United has confirmed their worst-ever points haul in a Premier League campaign.

Even if Amorim’s charges pull off the improbable and win all six remaining league fixtures, they’d still finish on just 56 points – two fewer than their previous low of 58 set in 2021/22.