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EPL Results: Saturday's Week 34 Scores, Updated 2018 Premier League Table

James Dudko@@JamesDudkoX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 14, 2018

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City shoots as Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur blocks during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 14, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Manchester City are one win away from sealing the Premier League title after beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The Citizens will hope Manchester United drop points when they host relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on Sunday.

City's title triumph is now a matter of when, not if. Last season's champions, Chelsea, kept hopes of a top-four finish alive on Saturday, coming from two down to win 3-2 at Southampton thanks to substitute Olivier Giroud to close the gap on Spurs to seven points.

It means Chelsea could yet be playing UEFA Champions League football next season, something Liverpool are all but assured of after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Bournemouth. All three members of the Reds' dynamic forward line, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, were again on the scoresheet.

Here are the final scores from Saturday's matches:

  • Southampton 2-3 Chelsea
  • Burnley 2-1 Leicester City
  • Crystal Palace 3-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
  • Huddersfield Town 1-0 Watford
  • Swansea City 1-1 Everton
  • Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth
  • Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Manchester City

                  

Here's how those results affected the table (Matches Played, Goal Difference and Points):

1. Manchester City: 33, +68, 87

2. Manchester United: 32, +38, 71

3. Liverpool: 34, +43, 70

4. Tottenham Hotspur: 33, +35, 67

5. Chelsea: 33, +24, 60

6. Arsenal: 32, +18, 54

7. Burnley: 33, +4, 52

8. Leicester City: 33, +2, 43

9. Everton: 34, -15, 42

10. Newcastle United: 32, -8, 38

11. Bournemouth: 34, -15, 38

12. Watford: 34, -18, 37

13. Brighton & Hove Albion: 33, -15, 35

14. Huddersfield Town: 34, -27, 35

15. West Ham United: 32, -18, 34

16. Crystal Palace: 34, -18, 34

17. Swansea City: 33, -19, 33

18. Southampton: 33, -20, 28

19. Stoke City: 33, -33, 27

20. West Bromwich Albion: 33, -26, 21

Full standings are available on BBC Sport.

            

City rebounded from disappointing defeats to United and Liverpool to take Spurs apart in London. Slick and inventive, the leaders went ahead when Gabriel Jesus scored after 22 minutes.

His goal proved a milestone for the club under the watch of manager Pep Guardiola, per Sky Sports Statto:

Sky Sports Statto @SkySportsStatto

Gabriel Jesus’ goal was the 250th @ManCity have scored under Pep Guardiola, in 108 games. The 5 top scorers are: 63 S.Aguero 31 R.Sterling 22 L.Sane 21 Gabriel Jesus 18 https://t.co/Pj04QeS7Ib Bruyne https://t.co/3ngdv15CED

It was 2-0 City when Ilkay Gundogan struck from the penalty spot three minutes later. City were cruising, but Christian Eriksen profited from slack defending to reduce the lead shortly before the break.

Fortunately for City, Raheem Sterling rediscovered his scoring touch on 72 minutes. It had been a tough week for Sterling, who spurned a series of chances during the 3-2 loss to United.

Yet the swift winger proved his worth here with a notable goal, per Squawka Football:

Squawka Football @Squawka

Raheem Sterling has now scored 30 Premier League goals for Man City: 2015/16: 31 games, 6 goals 2016/17: 33 games, 7 goals 2017/18: 29 games, 17 goals Picked up the rate. 📈 https://t.co/NaOiwcqrLX

City have been a class apart this season, a fact Guardiola's players underlined against a strangely subdued Tottenham. Spurs could begin to look anxiously over their shoulders as they cling on to fourth.

Salah was once again the main man for Liverpool as the Reds ran riot against the Cherries at Anfield. The hosts were dominant but had to wait 62 minutes for Salah to add to Mane's opener.

In the process, the in-form goalscorer joined a select group of forwards who dominated the division in years past, per WhoScored.com:

WhoScored.com @WhoScored

Mohamed Salah becomes only the seventh player in history to score 30 goals in a 38-game Premier League season. Still a little over four games to go for the Egyptian. Alan Shearer Kevin Phillips Thierry Henry Cristiano Ronaldo Robin van Persie Luis Suarez Mohamed Salah https://t.co/7PKws6OddB

For all of Salah's brilliance this season, Firmino has long been the man manager Jurgen Klopp has relied on most. The Brazilian's finish in the final minute brought up a landmark for Klopp, who has made Liverpool arguably the most exciting side in the land:

Sky Sports Statto @SkySportsStatto

Roberto Firmino has scored the 300th goal (in all comps) of Jurgen Klopp’s reign as Liverpool manager. Firmino is Liverpool’s top scorer under Klopp with 48 goals #PL https://t.co/F1Q7Bdwq4q

Klopp's goal-hungry group not only won handsomely, but they also crucially maintained a 10-point lead over Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish. The Blues have a game in hand, though, and will be buoyed by their thrilling comeback at St Mary's Stadium.

Goals from Dusan Tadic and Jan Bednarek put the Saints in a commanding lead, before Giroud took over. The league's super sub had come off the bench in the 62nd minute.

By 78 minutes, Giroud had scored twice, netting a goal either side of a fine strike from Eden Hazard.

Surprisingly, a comeback on this scale has been a rarity in the Premier League era for six-time champions Chelsea, with BBC Match of the Day noting the last time it happened:

Match of the Day @BBCMOTD

Chelsea have won a Premier League game from two goals down for the first time since 2002... under Claudio Ranieri! #SOUCHE #CFC #bbcfootball https://t.co/NTzd2lIQnu

Chelsea's heroics have kept their fading top-four hopes alive, while relegation is looking increasingly likely for Southampton.

Unlike Saints, two other teams took big steps towards beating the drop thanks to narrow wins. Huddersfield Town are up to 14th after a Tom Ince strike downed Watford in stoppage time, while Crystal Palace clung on to a 3-2 lead to see off Brighton & Hove Albion at home to go six points clear of the bottom three.

Wilfried Zaha found the net twice, while James Tomkins was also on the scoresheet for Palace. Brighton couldn't draw level despite getting goals from Glenn Murray and Jose Izquierdo.

Swansea City also remain in the scrap for survival, but they had Jordan Ayew to thank for rescuing a valuable point at home to Everton. His impressive half-volley was enough for a 1-1 draw after the Toffees had gone in front courtesy of an own goal by Kyle Naughton.

Zaha was a two-goal hero for Palace.
Zaha was a two-goal hero for Palace.Christopher Lee/Getty Images

The Swans hold a five-point advantage over Southampton having played the same number of games.

Further up the table, Burnley kept the pressure on Arsenal in the race for sixth with a fine 2-1 win over Leicester City at Turf Moor. Chris Wood and Kevin Long gave the Clarets a healthy lead before Jamie Vardy pulled one back for the Foxes.

Defeats and goals have gone together too often for Vardy this season, according to OptaJoe:

OptaJoe @OptaJoe

8 - Jamie Vardy has ended up on the losing side in eight Premier League games this season when he has scored, a record for a single campaign in the competition. Frustration. https://t.co/GzPRl4dD7y

Burnley are just two points off sixth and will hope to take advantage of Arsenal's focus on their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool also have a European semi-final to prepare for, but they at least know Champions League football is almost a lock for another season despite Chelsea keeping the race alive.

City's aims are grander, with the biggest prize tantalisingly close.