NEWCASTLE: Aston Villa closed to within four points of the Premier League summit with an impressive 2-0 win against Newcastle United, while Chelsea climbed into the top four on Sunday.

Villa bounced back from a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Ever­ton last weekend to remain on the fringes of the title race.

Emi Buendia put Unai Emery’s men on course for their first win at St. James’ Park since 2005 with a brilliant strike from outside the box on 19 minutes.

Newcastle were shorn of inspiration without injured captain Bruno Guimaraes in a damaging defeat for their chances of Champions League qualification.

Ollie Watkins set the seal on Villa’s victory when the England international headed in Lucas Digne’s cross two minutes from time.

Newcastle slip to ninth but still only three points outside the top five, which will likely be enough for a place in the Champions League.

Even if Villa fall short on a first league title since 1981, they are well on course for a return to Europe’s elite competition with an 11-point advantage over sixth-placed Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Chelsea piled more pain on Crystal Palace with a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park.

Oliver Glasner promised to do his best to turn around a miserable run for the Eagles despite announcing he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Austrian was furious at the manner club captain Marc Guehi was allowed to depart for Manchester City earlier this week and could also lose star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta before the transfer window closes.

Mateta wasted Palace’s best chance of a bright opening when he fired straight at Robert Sanchez.

But the home side never recovered after a wayward backpass from Jaydee Canvot freed Estevao to sprint clear and fire in Chelsea’s opener on 34 minutes.

The Brazilian then set up compatriot Joao Pedro to gallop in behind the Palace defence and double the Blues’ advantage just after half-time.

Enzo Fernandez’s penalty rounded off a fourth win in five games for Liam Rosenior since he took charge at Stamford Bridge.

Palace’s misery was compounded when England international Adam Wharton was sent off for two bookable offences.

After 11 games without a win, the Eagles are now looking over their shoulder, just eight points above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest gave their survival chances a huge boost by inflicting just a second home defeat of the season on Brentford.

West Ham’s victory over Sunderland on Saturday piled the pressure on Sean Dyche’s men.

But they responded to move five points clear of the drop zone with a 2-0 win in west London thanks to goals from Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi.

LIVERPOOL CRISIS DEEPENS

On Saturday, Bournemouth midfielder Amine Adli struck deep in second-half stoppage time to condemn Liverpool to their seventh Premier League defeat of the season, leaving the reigning champions still searching for their first league win of 2026.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he thought he had been fouled in the build-up to Bournemouth’s winner, which came after a chaotic scramble following a long throw, but in the end his side capitulated again despite dominating for much of the second half.

“Losing never feels good, especially as a Liverpool pla­yer, and in the season we’re trying to find consistency,” the Dutch defender told Sky Sports.

Goals from Evanilson and Alejandro Jimenez had Bournemouth 2-0 up by the 33rd minute, but Van Dijk pulled one back before the break and Dominik Szoboszlai levelled with a brilliant free kick in the 80th minute.

The Reds looked set for a fifth draw in a row in the league but Adli struck in the 95th minute to shatter their visitors and send them back to Merseyside empty-handed.

A 3-0 win over Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League in midweek suggested that Arne Slot’s side might be rediscovering their form but Saturday’s late winner prompted questions about Liverpool’s morale and ability to close out games.

“I don’t think there’s any question about that togetherness but the consistency that we’re looking for, that’s something still needs to be found and that’s the reality,” Van Dijk said.

“I think there was a lot of praise of our performances and a lot of individual praise and we know how it works, and three days later, you lose a game like we did today and then the other side of the world comes out, so that’s something we have to deal with.

“But you know, we want to perform, we want to win games, and unfortunately today it didn’t happen.”

The defeat leaves Liverpool languishing in fourth place on 36 points, while Bournemouth move up to 13th.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2026