Premier League 2025-26: Ekitike leads the charge as Liverpool batters West Ham United

Liverpool climbed into the Premier League’s top five with a 5-2 win over struggling West Ham on Saturday.

Three first-half goals, all from set-pieces, by Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister put Arne Slot’s men on course for a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions.

Dutch duo Cody Gakpo and Jeremie Frimpong added more goals after the break, but despite the scoreline, it was another far from convincing performance from the English champion.

Defeat deals another blow to West Ham’s hopes of survival as it remains two points adrift of safety.

But it hit back twice in the second half through Tomas Soucek and Valentin Castellanos and could have scored more at Anfield.

A place in the top five is almost certain to secure Champions League football next season thanks to the strong results of English sides in European competition this season.

Liverpool moves three points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, which faces the daunting task of a trip to Arsenal on Sunday.

City trails the Gunners by five points at the top of the table, but has a game in hand.

Pep Guardiola’s men will have to do without prolific top scorer Erling Haaland, who misses the trip to the city of his birth due to a knee injury.

City faces a tough task if it is to secure a sixth consecutive win against a Leeds side that has lost only twice in 16 matches in all competitions.

Brentford edges Burnley in thriller

Burnley’s slim chances of survival took another body blow in an agonising 4-3 defeat at home to Brentford.

The Bees were cruising to victory and within two points of Chelsea when goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade put them 3-0 up inside 34 minutes at Turf Moor.

Michael Kayode’s own goal gave the Clarets hope before half-time and they levelled through Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming.

Flemming thought he had completed a remarkable comeback only for a VAR review to rule the goal out for offside.

Instead, it was Brentford who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when Damsgaard netted his second goal in stoppage time.

There was still time for another VAR review to deny Burnley a point when Ashley Barnes was adjudged to have handled before scoring a 98th-minute equaliser.

Everton steals narrow win over Newcastle United

Everton notched another excellent away win to maintain its hopes of European football next season with a 3-2 victory at Newcastle.

The Toffees led thrice at St James’ Park through Jarrod Branthwaite, Beto and Thierno Barry.

Newcastle slips to 12th, with the success of its season now relying on heroics in the Champions League against Barcelona and City in the FA Cup fifth round next weekend.

Everton has struggled to adapt to its new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but only Arsenal has won more points on the road as David Moyes’ climb into eighth.

Published on Feb 28, 2026