Premier League: Ismaila Sarr stars as Crystal Palace thump Aston Villa, Chelsea go fourth

Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Crystal Palace's sensational second half of the Premier League season continued with a 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

The Eagles made it five wins in seven as they built off Saturday’s victory at Fulham with Sarr’s double – on his 27th birthday – Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 12th league goal of the season and Eddie Nketiah’s late strike.

Sarr put Palace in front at half-time with a goal after 29 minutes and the second period burst into life when Morgan Rogers equalised in the 52nd minute.

Seven minutes later and Mateta had put the hosts back in front before Sarr completed his brace with 71 minutes played.

Nketiah added gloss to the score with a stoppage-time goal to help Oliver Glasner's men move above Tottenham and up to 12th in the table as as Unai Emery’s men failed to build on their dramatic 2-1 fightback over Chelsea at the weekend.

Chelsea climbed back into the top four with a straightforward 4-0 win against Southampton at Stamford Bridge that edged the visitors a step nearer to relegation.

Around 200 home supporters gathered outside the ground with banners and smoke flares ahead of kick-off to voice opposition to the club’s ownership but tensions were eased, temporarily perhaps, as Enzo Maresca’s team scored three in the first half to win for only the third time in 11 in the league.

Christopher Nkunku netted his 14th of the season in all competitions, Pedro Neto scored a rare but needed goal in his personal quest for confidence and Levi Colwill headed a third. Marc Cucurella’s finish from Tyrique George’s cutback completed the rout.

If there was a negative it was that Cole Palmer failed to end what is now a seven-game run without a goal and in doing so missed a glut of presentable chances.

Danny Welbeck