Manchester City back on top of Premier League with win over Brighton, Arsenal beat Chelsea

Manchester City regained top spot in the Premier League from Liverpool with a 3-0 win over Brighton on Wednesday, while Arsenal revived their push for the top four by beating Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool stormed to the top of the table by tearing Manchester United to shreds in a 4-0 win at Anfield on Tuesday. City were not so sparkling, but held their nerve to edge back one pont ahead in the title race thanks to second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva.

"We are facing one of the best teams ever," said City boss Pep Guardiola at going head-to-head with Liverpool. "If we drop points, they will be champions; if we win all our games, we will be champions." Mahrez was guilty of missing the best chances of a tense first 45 minutes for the English champions against a Brighton side that had won at Arsenal and Tottenham in their last two outings. However, there was little doubt over the outcome once Mahrez bundled the ball home after Kevin De Bruyne's burst opened up the visitors' defence. There was a hint of fortune about City's second as Foden's shot from a well-worked corner deflected past Robert Sanchez. Silva then sealed the points with a sumptuous finish from De Bruyne's lay-off.

Arsenal were in pole position for a return to the Champions League until a run of three consecutive defeats. But they moved level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham after a six-goal thriller. "It's a great night and the players deserve it," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. "It has been a tough two weeks but you have to bounce back and show spirit." Scoring goals has been a problem for Arteta's men since the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Eddie Nketiah took his chance with a rare start to