EPL: Leicester City, Chelsea and Manchester United all win as battle for European spots hits home straight

Jamie Vardy, Oliver Giroud and Mason Greenwood all scored goals on Sunday
Jamie Vardy, Oliver Giroud and Mason Greenwood all scored goals on Sunday Photo credit: Images - Getty

First-half goals from Olivier Giroud and Willian, and a late strike from Ross Barkley earned Chelsea a 3-0 Premier League victory over struggling Watford, boosting their ambitions for Champions League football next season.

After a brisk move between Barkley and Mason Mount, France striker Giroud hit the target in the 28th minute with a low left-foot shot that bounced in off the post.

Brazil's Willian sent goalkeeper Ben Foster the wrong way from the spot two minutes before halftime, after American winger Christian Pulisic, racing down the left, had drawn a clumsy foul from Etienne Capoue. Barkley added a third in stoppage time, after being set up by captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

The win was vital for Chelsea, who lost to lowly West Ham United midweek, returning them to fourth place, after Manchester United had stolen the coveted spot for a few hours by beating Bournemouth 5-2.

Watford remained fourth from bottom, a point above the relegation zone. 

Elsewhere, Leicester City returned to winning ways with a 3-0 home win against Crystal Palace. 

The result keeps the 'Foxes' inside the top four, three-points clear of fifth-placed United.

Resurgent Arsenal won for the third straight time, topping Wolverhampton 2-0 away from home to dent their Champions League aspirations.

With five games to play, Wolves are five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea.

Arsenal are up to seventh, with an outside shot at a European birth, just three points behind Wolves. 

Reuters