Matchday 31 produced some stunning games and moments, with City looking dominant, Arsenal and Liverpool keeping chase against relegation candidates and a baffling clash between Chelsea and Manchester United that will live long in the memory. With plenty to go through, we’ve picked out our 3 main talking points from this last round of games.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) if you have seen anything in a game that you think we should be talking about, or have anything to share from what you’ve seen at a game that week. Any funny stories, tactical analysis or general comments will be featured.

Foden Shines

Phil Foden stole the headlines in Matchweek 31 with a dazzling hat-trick in Manchester City’s 4–1 win over Aston Villa. It wasn’t just the goals themselves, but the timing and the manner in which he took control of the match. With City missing a few of their usual attacking stars, you might have expected the champions to look a touch blunt. Instead, Foden stepped forward and delivered one of the most complete attacking performances of the season, showing a maturity that continues to grow with every passing month.

The victory was a timely response to City’s frustrating draw with Arsenal just days earlier. Pep Guardiola’s squad rarely go two disappointing performances in a row, and this was another reminder of their incredible ability to switch gears when it matters most. After the slightly cagey affair against Arsenal, City clearly wanted to reassert their authority, and Villa, who themselves have been excellent this season, felt the full force of it.

Crucially, Foden’s masterclass kept City right in the thick of the title race. With Liverpool and Arsenal pushing hard, every goal and every point carries extra weight. This wasn’t just a routine victory; it was a statement win, the kind that signals to rivals that City remain as dangerous and relentless as ever. And if Foden continues to hit these heights, he may end up being the defining figure in the run-in.

7 Goal Chaos

If one match summed up the unpredictable magic of the Premier League, it was Chelsea’s breath-taking 4–3 win over Manchester United. The game had practically everything: defensive chaos, late drama, huge swings in momentum, and a hero who refused to let the narrative slip away. Chelsea raced into an early lead, only to lose control completely as United mounted a spirited comeback. Yet somehow, despite the emotional rollercoaster, the most dramatic moment was still to come.

Cole Palmer’s stoppage-time double will live long in the memories of supporters. His winning goal, timed at 100:39, became the latest winning goal in Premier League history and sent Stamford Bridge into absolute bedlam. It was the kind of moment fans dream of witnessing: the clock nearly out of breath, tension thick in the air, and then, bang, pandemonium. Palmer’s calmness under such pressure only further cemented the belief that Chelsea have a genuine star to build around.

For Manchester United, however, the match highlighted once again their maddening inconsistency. To haul themselves from two goals down into a 3–2 lead showed grit and quality. But to collapse so spectacularly in the final minutes raised familiar questions about discipline and late-game composure. Erik ten Hag’s frustration was plain to see after the match, as he pointed to poor decision-making and avoidable errors. For United, the performance was a microcosm of their season: flashes of brilliance overshadowed by costly lapses at decisive moments.

Margins And Momentum

Matchweek 31 reinforced what has been true all season: the 2023/24 title race is one of the tightest and most compelling in recent memory. With Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool all pushing relentlessly, the pressure on each match is enormous. Every dropped point feels seismic, and every performance, whether grinding or glamorous, carries implications that stretch far beyond the final whistle. The tone of the run-in has become one of tension, opportunity, and tiny margins.

City’s big win over Villa, paired with Arsenal’s gritty form and Liverpool’s refusal to loosen their grip, meant that the top of the table felt almost claustrophobic. There’s no clear favourite, no team streaking away with an unassailable lead. Instead, each weekend reshuffles the mood: one team looks unstoppable, then another grabs the momentum. The psychological side of the title race is starting to show, too, every manager knows that one poor performance could tilt the entire balance.

What made Matchweek 31 so intriguing is that it captured this delicate pressure. The best teams rose to the challenge, showcasing depth, resilience, and the ability to adapt. Even as squads rotate during a busy stretch of fixtures, the standards remain incredibly high. Arsenal are defending with discipline, Liverpool are attacking with their usual verve, and City are finding match-winners from every corner of the pitch. The title may ultimately be decided not by the most spectacular team, but by the most mentally steady one.

As we move closer to the final weeks, Matchweek 31 may well be remembered as the moment the title race crystalised: three elite sides, each with flaws, each with strengths, and each absolutely determined not to blink first. The tension is mounting, the stakes are rising, and the Premier League drama is only just getting started.

Matchday 31 Player of the Week: Cole Palmer With a hattrick to give his side the 3 points, Palmer proved his quality once again this week with a huge effort in the 100th and 101st minute of the game against United to get Chelsea over the line.

Matchday 31 Game of the Week: Chelsea 4-3 Manchester United An utterly baffling game of football with United looking in control until the last moments of the game in which they threw it away, but left us with a classic Premier League moment to remember.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) what you made of the thirty-first round of fixtures, and what you’re looking forward to in the next game week.