Lingard double on debut
Jesse Lingard scored twice on his West Ham debut as they beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the Premier League.
📅 26 July 2020
📅 3 Feb 2021@JesseLingard has scored in consecutive #PL appearances, although 192 days separate those two games pic.twitter.com/5fzr9sTyQd— Premier League (@premierleague) February 3, 2021
The English midfielder had fallen out of favour at Manchester United but breathed new life into his career with a brilliant double on his first league start in 13 months.
The match
Tomas Soucek scored his eighth goal of the season to break the deadlock, before Lingard struck twice either side of an Ollie Watkins goal.
It was an excellent response from David Moyes’ side, who were timid in their defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.
West Ham have 38 points from 22 games which is their highest tally at this stage of a season since 1985/86.
What it means
The Hammers stay fifth but made up ground to go just two points behind champions Liverpool in fourth. Villa remain in ninth place and lost their fifth game in seven in all competitions.
City win with ease
Man City eased to a 2-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor and restore their three-point lead at the top of the table.
It was their 13th straight win in all competitions, and their ninth in the Premier League.
The match
Gabriel Jesus capitalised on a rare Nick Pope error in the third minute to give City the lead, before Raheem Sterling added a second seven minutes before the break.
Burnley did not have a shot on target and had just two attempts. They were without key strikers Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood.
What it means
Pep Guardiola’s side are three points clear of United in second, and have a game in hand. The Sky Blues have kept six straight clean sheets and are unbeaten in 20 matches in all competitions. They face Liverpool at the weekend.
Burnley drop to 17th but are eight points above the bottom three. The Clarets have lost their past eight games against City, conceding 30 goals and scoring once.
Foxes win
Leicester comfortably saw off Fulham 2-0 with a commanding performance that solidifies their place inside the top four.
Kelechi Iheanacho and James Justin scored first half goals, supplied by the outstanding James Maddison to give Brendan Rodgers’ side all three points.
What it means
Leicester are in third, two points behind Manchester United. The victory at Craven Cottage was their eighth away win of the season in 11 matches.
Only Man Utd (27) have won more points in away games in the #PL this season than Leicester City (26)#FULLEI pic.twitter.com/T8mihSoAIC
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 4, 2021
Fulham had just one shot on target and are without a win in 11 games. They are eight points adrift of Burnley in 17th.
Everton edge past Leeds
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored as Everton narrowly beat Leeds 2-1. The win puts Everton into the top six.
Calvert-Lewin’s 12th league goal of the season ended a run of seven games without a goal.
🔵 @Everton have won four consecutive away #PL matches for the first time in the competition’s history#LEEEVE pic.twitter.com/3fZ1HWQRep
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 4, 2021
Featured image: Jesse Lingard of West Ham United is congratulated after scoring by team mates Ryan Fredericks and Tomas Soucek after scoring his second goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
