Diogo Jota among the goals as Liverpool ease past Southampton

Diogo Jota scored twice as Liverpool turned up the pressure on leaders Chelsea with a 4-0 victory over Southampton.

Saints were dispatched as comfortably as Arsenal were a week earlier as Jurgen Klopp’s side moved to within a point of the top.

Jota gobbled up two tap-ins within the first half an hour, Thiago Alcantara made it two in two games shortly before half-time and Virgil Van Dijk killed off any hopes of a Southampton comeback just after the break.

Fine goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli saw Arsenal dispatch Newcastle 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

England forward Saka capped a neat move to put Arsenal ahead before his replacement Martinelli killed the contest with just his second touch.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to hit a post from a yard out before Saka slotted home the opener.

Then Martinelli latched onto Takehiro Tomiyasu’s chipped pass into the inside-right channel and delivered a first-time finish of genuine quality.

Newcastle’s winless league run extended to 13 games in an already desperate campaign, with not even new boss Eddie Howe’s touchline presence, following his absence due to Covid-19, enough to turn the tide.

Steven Gerrard got the better of Patrick Vieira in the battle of the Premier League greats after goals from Matt Targett and John McGinn secured a 2-1 win for Aston Villa at Crystal Palace.

An early goal by Targett put Villa in the ascendency and McGinn wrapped up a deserved three points late on before Marc Guehi netted a consolation for the hosts in stoppage time.

Wolves held off a late Norwich challenge to secure a point in a goalless draw at Carrow Road.

Dean Smith’s tenure at the City helm had got off to a winning start with a 2-1 home win at Southampton, and it was followed up by a significant point against a top-half Wolves team.

Teemu Pukki had the best chance of the match when one-on-one with Jose Sa, but he fired too close to the Wolves keeper.

It also finished goalless between Brighton and Leeds at the Amex Stadium in the final game of the day.

Seagulls forward Neal Maupay blazed over an open goal early on and the visitors’ woodwork was subsequently rattled twice via efforts from Leandro Trossard and Solly March.