LONDON (AP) — Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are almost over after losing 3-0 to Brighton on Sunday.
Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan consigned Mikel Arteta’s once long-time league leaders to a punishing defeat at Emirates Stadium.
The loss means Manchester City, which beat Everton 3-0 earlier in the day, can be crowned champions with a win against Chelsea next Sunday.
City has 85 points — four more than Arsenal — and also has a game in hand.
Arsenal only has two more games to play this season and the most points it can get is 87.
In Liverpool, two goals from Ilkay Gundogan and another from Erling Haaland — his 52nd of the season — secured the points at Goodison Park and stretched City’s unbeaten run to 21 games in all competitions.
It was an 11th straight win in the league, which has seen the defending champions overhaul long-time leader Arsenal at the top of the table and put Pep Guardiola on the brink of a third successive title and his fifth in six seasons.
Defeat for Everton, meanwhile, leaves the Merseyside club just one point above the relegation zone and in a desperate fight for survival after 69 years in the top flight.
If Leicester beats Liverpool on Monday, Everton would drop into the bottom three with two games to play.
Few expected Sean Dyche’s team to cause an upset against City, even after its shock 5-1 win against Brighton on Monday.
And despite holding the visitors for a long period of the first half, the game was effectively settled inside two minutes before the break.
Gundogan fired City ahead with a moment of improvisation that seemed to come from nothing in the 37th minute.
With his back to goal, the Germany international controlled Riyad Mahrez’s cross from the right with one touch before flicking a shot over his shoulder and past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Two minutes later City’s lead was doubled, with Gundogan the provider this time when crossing for Haaland to head in a second goal.
It was only the Norway striker’s third touch of the match to that point.
Gundogan struck his second after the break with a curling free kick from the edge of the area to continue his outstanding campaign.
While Haaland’s goal-scoring feats has earned him the majority of the praise this season, and saw him named Footballer of the Year on Friday, Gundogan has been a key part of City’s three-pronged trophy pursuit of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Brentford 2, West Ham 0
In London, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa struck as Brentford cruised to a 2-0 win against West Ham.
Brentford took advantage as West Ham manager David Moyes made a host of changes to his team, likely with a view to the second leg of the Europa Conference League semifinals at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday. West Ham won the first leg 2-1.
And even without injured 20-goal striker Ivan Toney, the home team was a comfortable winner at Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Mbeumo struck from inside the box.
The Bees had more chances to extend their lead before adding a second shortly before halftime.
Mee flicked on a long throw, which Wissa glanced home.
Brentford should have had a third after Tomas Soucek needlessly gave the ball away to Wissa, who played a one-two with Mbeumo before firing wide.
West Ham is six points clear of the relegation zone with two league games to play. Leicester, in 19th place, is seven points behind the Londoners but has a game in hand.