Arsenal put pressure on Liverpool, Luton thrash Brighton, Villa lose

Arsenal closed the gap on leaders Liverpool with a 2-1 Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest to kick off the midweek fixtures on Tuesday (Jan 30), while Luton Town moved out of the relegation zone with a 4-0 rout of Brighton & Hove Albion.

Fourth-placed Aston Villa suffered a 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle United, Crystal Palace came from behind to beat visiting Sheffield United 3-2 and struggling pair Fulham and Everton fought out a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage.

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus scored and then set up Bukayo Saka's goal seven minutes later at the City Ground and despite conceding late on the Gunners survived a nervy finish to move up to second place and within two points of leaders Liverpool.

They are on 46 points after 22 matches and climbed above Manchester City, who have 43 from 20. Liverpool play their game in hand of Arsenal at home to Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday.

Despite having 74 per cent possession and 19 shots, Mikel Arteta's Gunners side did not break the deadlock until the 65th minute when Jesus, who played despite struggling with fluid on his knee in the build-up to the match, scored from a very tight angle.

"We have to do what we have to do," Arteta told BeIN Sports. "Perform the way that we were doing last year and start of this year, because performances were there, results not. Results are going our way now. We have some momentum, let's go for it."

Forest's relegation fears grew with Nuno Espirito Santo's side in 16th with 20 points, two points above the drop zone.

Luton's Elijah Adebayo scored a hat-trick and the Hatters went two goals up against Brighton inside the first three minutes to the delight of a raucous Kenilworth Road crowd.

Adebayo opened his tally with a header from close range after