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United KingdomSaturday’s Premier League games saw a number of vital results at the bottom of the Premier League table, with Crystal Palace and Southampton picking up victories, while Swansea suffered a possible crucial home defeat.
Eagles soar against Leicester
Crystal Palace recorded their biggest ever Premier League win by recording a 5-0 victory over Leicester at Selhurst Park.
Palace took the lead on 17 minutes, as James McArthur finding Wilfried Zaha, who opened up his body before finding the top corner of the net. Roy Hodgson’s side doubled their lead on 38 minutes, as McArthur produced a sublime turn and shot that found the far corner.
Foxes winger Marc Albrighton saw red in 56 minutes after bringing down Zaha when the forward was in on goal. The Eagles took full advantage of the extra man. With just nine minutes remaining, Ruben Loftus-Cheek rounded Ben Hamer before tapping home.
Three minutes later, Palace added a fourth as Patrick van Aanholt scored from a rebound after Hamer had parried an effort from Jeffrey Schlupp. Christian Benteke scored the fifth goal in stoppage-time from the penalty spot after a foul by Harry Maguire in the penalty area.
The victory moved the Eagles up to 11th place in the top-flight, six points clear of the bottom three, although 18thplace Southampton have a game in-hand on the Eagles.
Saints record vital derby win
Southampton recorded a much-needed 2-1 win over Bournemouth at St Marys to keep their survival hopes alive. The Saints took the lead on 25 minutes. Mario Lemina broke at pace and the Saints had two on one, the French midfielder delayed his pass but found Dusan Tadic who fired home. The visitors were back on level terms in first-half stoppage-time, as Josh King fired home at the back post.
The home side was back ahead ten minutes into the second period. Cherries centre-back Steve Cook attempted to chest the ball down, only for Tadic to steal the ball off the defender. The attacking midfielder decided to ignore his teammates in support and fired home a sublime effort with the outside of his boot.
Shane Long and Nathan Redmond had chances to put the game to bed but failed to find the target. The narrow lead led a nervous ending to the game. In fact, Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy had to make vital saves from Jermain Defoe and Ryan Fraser late on to preserve the vital victories.
Southampton are now just one point from safety. However, their next two games are away at Everton and Swansea before finishing the campaign with a home game against champions Manchester City at home. The Saints are still considered one of the favourites to suffer relegation this season.
Nervous times for Swans are Blues defeat
Things are getting nervous for Swansea and their fans after a 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
The only goal of the game arrived after just four minutes. Eden Hazard showed good feet to beat a couple of defenders before finding Cesc Fabregas who guided an effort past Lukasz Fabianski in the Swans goal.
Olivier Giroud’s header clipped the bar, while in the second half Victor Moses fired just wide of goal. At the other end of the pitch, Andre Ayew and Kyle Naughton both spurned good opportunities to equalise, while midfielder Tom Carroll volleyed wide of Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
The Swans failed to find an equaliser, which leaves the Welsh side in major danger of suffering relegation with just three games remaining.
Who will suffer relegation from the Premier League?
