Premier League: Man City thrash West Ham to step up revival, Chelsea held at Palace

Erling Haaland struck twice as Manchester City secured back-to-back wins for the first time since October with a 4-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday.

Vladimir Coufal put through his own net at the Etihad Stadium and Phil Foden also got on the scoresheet as the champions rediscovered their scoring touch in their first Premier League outing of 2025.

Savinho set up three goals in a fine individual display that will have further lifted spirits after last week’s triumph at Leicester ended a run of just one win in 13 games.

Pep Guardiola’s side did not have things all their own way, however, with Niclas Fullkrug’s consolation hinting at what might have been for the visitors.

City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said: "It is a little step. Moments we played good. I think it was much better against Leicester. We lost some energy but there were some improvements so that is alright.

"I don't know why [the crowd was nervous]. I can understand that we are not up to the level but they should support us because the effort is there and we are still winning 4-1. I don't understand what is happening. The team gave maximum effort. The level has to be higher but we understand that.

"We understand a bit more what we have done in the last 10 years and how hard it is. At the moment we are a bit below that. We are working really hard and the team is coming back fitness wise. There were moments we played well, other moments less. It's a bit of an improvement but we understand it still has to be better.

"You don't put yourself down too much. We have not been at this level this year. Everybody said, 'City are winning all the time, it must be easy', it is not."

Aston Villa got their Premier League top-four ambitions back on track with a 2-1 win over Leicester.

Villa’s quest for a second successive year in the Champions League has been hamstrung by inconsistency this season, but they kicked off 2025 with an important three points.

Leon Bailey chose a good time to score his first goal of the season 14 minutes from time after Ross Barkley’s opener had been quickly cancelled out by Stephy Mavididi.

Victory moved Unai Emery’s men to within four points of fourth-placed Chelsea as they now break for FA Cup action.

Barkley said: "Leicester were well organised. They look a lot better a side now, the manager has them well drilled but I am happy our team has come away with the three points."

Chelsea's winless run in the league extended to four matches after drawing 1-1 at Crystal Palace. Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised in the 82nd minute for Palace, cancelling out Cole Palmer's opener.

Chelsea have drawn twice and lost twice since December 22, damaging a title bid that had been picking up steam - even if manager Enzo Maresca never accepted his team were realistic challengers.

Everton’s goalscoring woes continued in a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Sean Dyche’s team look increasingly like being drawn into a relegation fight as they failed to produce a shot on target in 90 minutes, as their poor run extended to one goal scored in their last five Premier League games.

Their inability to trouble their hosts was made to look almost comical by the ease with which Bournemouth cut through them again and again, and another assured display made it five wins in eight for Andoni Iraola’s side.

The winning goal 13 minutes from time encapsulated everything Everton were not. Milos Kerkez sent a finely-calibrated cross into the box where it arrived at the perfect height for David Brooks to skip into the air and, with the kind of confidence that his team’s brilliant season so far imbues, volleyed beyond Jordan Pickford into the far corner.

Elsewhere, Bryan Mbeumo scored twice as Brentford thumped sorry Southampton 5-0 for their first Premier League away win of the season.

Cameroon forward Mbeumo, linked with a potential January move to Arsenal, piled on the misery for rock-bottom Saints after Kevin Schade had fired the Bees ahead.

Keane Lewis-Potter and Yoane Wissa added insult to injury in stoppage time at the end of another thoroughly miserable afternoon for rock bottom Southampton.

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