It was another pulsating weekend of action in the Premier League, with big talking points at both ends of the table.
Just when Liverpool seemed to be closing in on Manchester City, Pep Guardiola's side mauled Manchester United in Sunday's derby to re-establish their six-point cushion at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, Arsenal strengthened their grip on the final Champions League spot with an attacking masterclass against Watford while Chelsea finally rediscovered their killer instinct against Burnley.
In the lower reaches of the league, it was a nightmare scenario for Norwich, who were thumped by Brentford in a relegation six-pointer.
Eddie Howe continues to nudge Newcastle towards safety, while Roy Hodgson must be wondering just what on earth he was thinking by taking on the poisoned chalice that is the Watford job.
Here are Mirror Football's 10 talking points from this weekend's Premier League action...
Join the debate! Who do you think bagged the biggest result of the weekend in the Premier League? Let us know here.
City slickers leave United in shade
Guardiola’s men continue to build another head of steam after comfortably seeing off their local rivals and coasting to a third straight win in all competitions since the squad’s credentials were questioned following a home defeat by Tottenham.
Missing gamechanger Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United were always facing a tall order and at times it looked too easy for City, who swept ahead through Kevin De Bruyne after just five minutes before swiftly putting an end to any hopes of a comeback, despite Jadon Sancho’s fine equaliser against his old club.
With a six-point cushion effortlessly restored after a ruthless second-half display, City look well on course for another title, while United face more questions over the direction of their squad under interim manager Ralf Rangnick as they drop to fifth.
Rock-solid Reds rumble on
The records will simply show Liverpool chalked up a seventh straight Premier League win by beating West Ham 1-0 at Anfield on Saturday with a first-half goal from Sadio Mane.
But the manner in which they secured what could yet prove to be three crucial points in their title bid said so much more.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp hailed his side’s defending, which saw full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson and midfielder Naby Keita all make goal-preventing tackles.
More hard graft at both ends of the pitch lies ahead, but Liverpool’s championship ambitions continue to be built upon the soundest of foundations.
Time looks up for sinking Canaries
At the other end of the table, rock-bottom Norwich were pushed further back towards the Sky Bet Championship following a 3-1 home defeat by Brentford in a match which beleaguered Canaries boss Dean Smith had labelled as “must not lose”.
Smith already accepted time was running out on Norwich’s hopes of pulling off the ‘Great Escape’, and now there are only 11 games left to drastically improve a meagre tally of 17 points.
Chelsea are the next visitors to Carrow Road on Thursday night – after which you suspect Delia Smith’s recipe for Premier League survival is unlikely to be heated up to boiling point any time soon.
Marsch brings fresh perspective
It is not often a 1-0 defeat could be seen as progress, but after shipping 14 goals in the past three Premier League games, new Leeds boss Jesse Marsch is determined to take it that way after hailing “a great first step” to life after Marcelo Bielsa’s reign.
The former RB Leipzig coach only had four days to work with the squad and time will tell whether the American’s “fresh perspective” can stop the downward spiral.
But with back-to-back home games against Aston Villa and Norwich coming up, the Elland Road faithful will be hoping that turnaround comes soon rather than just end up being too late to make a difference.
Blues must let football do the talking
Chelsea kept themselves firmly in the driving seat for Champions League qualification after running out 4-0 winners at relegation-battlers Burnley.
However, while the headlines should have been about another impressive display by Thomas Tuchel’s men as they move on from the disappointment of penalty shoot-out heartbreak in the Carabao Cup final, some Chelsea fans drew unnecessary negative attention for singing the name of owner Roman Abramovich during a minute’s applause in solidarity with Ukraine before kick-off at Turf Moor.
It resulted in Blues boss Tuchel having to again field some uncomfortable questions – but once again the German showed great dignity when tackling issues off the field rather than analysing performances on it.
Saka breaks new ground for Gunners
Arsenal have forged a reputation over the years for producing exceptional young talent. But Bukayo Saka has the scope to transcend them all.
The fleet-footed magician inspired the Gunners to a crucial victory at Watford to nudge them into pole position in the race for the final Champions League spot.
Saka bagged a goal and an assist in the 3-2 win over Watford to take his tally for goal contributions to 13; the highest of any player aged 21 or under in the Premier League this season.
The 20-year-old has provided the type of guile and creativity that the Gunners elder statesman have sorely lacked this season to leave Mikel Arteta's side on the cusp of a remarkable return to the top table of European football.
Eriksen steals Toney's buzz
Ivan Toney was on the spot to net a crucial treble to boost Brentford's survival hopes in Saturday's 3-1 win over Norwich.
But it was Christian Eriksen who stole the buzz from the Bees' talisman after the Danish playmaker made his first start since suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
Brentford have been in free-fall in recent weeks, but Eriksen's influence was instrumental as the Londoners ended a rotten eight-game winless run.
It was his corner that was deftly flicked into the path of Toney to open the scoring. And the proficient playmaker ran the game from a new, deeper position to show that he can be the man to inject new life into Brentford's survival bid rather than being just a sentimental signing.
Coutinho gives Gerrard a lift
After making an electric start to life at Aston Villa, Steven Gerrard has faltered in recent weeks, with his side winning just one game in eight prior to their success at Brighton.
But his old Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho rolled back the years to produce a vintage performance, grabbing a goal and an assist in the 4-0 rout of Southampton to inspire Villa to back-to-back wins for the first time since Gerrard took the reins back in November.
Gerrard stunned the Premier League by pipping a host of top European clubs to a deal for his old Reds buddy.
It felt like a coup at the time; Coutinho has only reinforced that with his recent heroics.
And it's fitting that Coutinho has proven to be the catalyst for Gerrard to arrest his first real blip since transitioning to the dugout in the Premier League.
Howe's that? Newcastle flying
Howe had an almighty job on his hands when he arrived at St James' Park back in November.
Newcastle were teetering on the edge when the former Cherries chief took charge - but he's quietly hauled them back from the brink.
Although a mid-season splurge has aided Newcastle's revival, it's worth pointing out that the Magpies recent resurgence has been led by the club's old guard rather than their new recruits.
Howe's arrival has given the likes of Ryan Fraser and Joe Willock a new lease of life on Tyneside. And the Magpies are soaring after Saturday's 2-1 win over Brighton extended their unbeaten run to eight games, leaving them with a seven-point cushion over the dreaded drop zone.
Hodgson's record at risk
With Watford marooned in the lower echelons of the table, calling on Roy Hodgson was deemed a masterstroke.
After all, the former Crystal Palace and Fulham chief has never suffered the bitter taste of relegation during his long, storied career.
But that record is in real jeopardy after Watford were carved open time and time again by Arsenal.
With Hodgson now in the twilight years of his career, it would be a real shame for the 73-year-old to blot his copybook at the final hurdle - but it's starting to feel increasingly inevitable.
