With just over a handful of games left to go this season in the Premier League, and attention looking ahead to European games, this weekend offered plenty of season-defining moments as we get closer to cemented places in the season. With Liverpool now able to claim the title in just 2 games time, relegation also looks even more cemented for the unfortunate sides in the drop-zone, while the European battles continue to dominate the entire top half of the table.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the weekend, along with giving out the game of the week and player of the week awards. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the weekend please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.

Title Getting Nearer

Liverpool edged closer to clinching the Premier League title with a dramatic 2-1 win over West Ham United at Anfield. Luis Díaz opened the scoring in the 18th minute, converting a precise assist from Mohamed Salah. This assist marked Salah’s 45th goal involvement of the season (27 goals and 18 assists), setting a new Premier League record for a 38-game season. The match took a tense turn late on when Andy Robertson inadvertently scored an own goal in the 86th minute, levelling the score. However, Liverpool’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, redeemed the situation by heading in the winning goal just three minutes later, securing the victory.

This result extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to 13 points over second-placed Arsenal, with six matches remaining. Under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, the team now requires just two more wins to secure their 20th league title . The match was particularly poignant as it coincided with the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and Van Dijk’s decisive goal came during his 100th appearance as Liverpool captain.​

In contrast, Arsenal’s title hopes suffered a setback with a 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. The draw was further marred by an injury to midfielder Jorginho, who suffered a rib injury during the match. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that the Italian international will be side-lined for several weeks, casting doubt over his availability for the crucial Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. With key players like Thomas Partey and Ben White also facing fitness concerns, Arsenal’s squad depth will be tested in the coming weeks as they aim to keep their fading title hopes alive and have a crucial midweek clash that could define their season.

Tindall’s In Charge

Newcastle United delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over Manchester United at St James’ Park on Sunday despite the absence of manager Eddie Howe, who was hospitalized with pneumonia. Assistant manager Jason Tindall and first-team coach Graeme Jones took charge, guiding the Magpies to a significant win that bolstered their top-four ambitions. Sandro Tonali opened the scoring, followed by a brace from Harvey Barnes and a goal from Bruno Guimarães, showcasing Newcastle’s attacking prowess. Alejandro Garnacho’s goal for Manchester United provided a brief respite, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum.

The match highlighted Manchester United’s ongoing struggles under manager Ruben Amorim. The team’s defensive vulnerabilities were evident, with backup goalkeeper Altay Bayındır unable to stem the tide after replacing the dropped André Onana. This defeat marked United’s 14th league loss of the season, confirming their worst-ever Premier League campaign, as they can no longer surpass 56 points even if they win all remaining fixtures. Criticism from former players like Nicky Butt and Roy Keane underscored the team’s lack of aggression and cohesion.

For Newcastle, the victory was historic, completing their first league double over Manchester United since the 1930–31 season. The team’s performance, especially in the second half, demonstrated their resilience and depth, even in the manager’s absence. With this win, Newcastle solidified their position in the top four, keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive. The club and fans alike will be buoyed by this result and hopeful for Eddie Howe’s swift recovery.

Relegation Looming

The Premier League relegation battle narrowed significantly in matchweek 32, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ emphatic 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, April 13, 2025, effectively securing their top-flight status. Under manager Vítor Pereira, Wolves capitalized on Tottenham’s defensive errors, with goals from Rayan Aït-Nouri, an own goal by Djed Spence, and strikes from Jørgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha. This win marked Wolves’ fourth consecutive league victory, their longest top-flight winning streak in 53 years, moving them 14 points clear of the relegation zone with six matches remaining .

Chelsea drew 2-2 with Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge. Ipswich took a 2-0 lead, capitalizing on Chelsea’s defensive lapses. An own goal by Axel Tuanzebe and a late equalizer from Jadon Sancho salvaged a point for Chelsea. The result left Ipswich feeling closer to a possible heroic surge out of the relegation zone, but after Wolves’ win, they moved even further behind, sitting now 14 points off West Ham in 17th.

Leicester City ended a dismal run of eight consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring by drawing 2-2 with Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Brighton led twice through Joao Pedro’s penalties, both awarded after VAR reviews. Leicester responded with goals from Mavididi and Okoli. Despite the draw, Leicester remained in serious relegation danger, positioned 19th with 18 points, three behind Ipswich Town and 17 behind 17th-placed West Ham, with only six matches left in the season

Game of the week: Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur With several high-scoring clashes this round, the Wolves win over Tottenham feels like a pivotal moment in the season for both sides. Wolves have all-but secured their survival and continue on a late surge in their winning run, while for Tottenham, everything now rests on the Europa League. With the 2 remaining English sides needing the Europa League to define their season and possibly jobs, it could make for a dramatic end to the European tournament.

Player of the week: Kevin De Bruyne With his departure from City nearing as the season concludes, De Bruyne showed there is still plenty of high quality football in him for whoever picks him up this summer. With a goal and assist in City’s terrific 5-2 comeback win, he also created the most chances (6) and hit the woodwork during the game. A classic De Bruyne performance that City fans and neutrals will surely miss next season.