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As it happenedended

Swansea vs Aston Villa live: Latest score after Leicester go eight points clear, Chelsea and West Ham draw

Follow all the thrills and spills as the Premier League hurtles into its closing weeks

David Hughes
Saturday 19 March 2016 06:33 EDT
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Rudy Gestede and Ashley Williams come to blows during the first half
Rudy Gestede and Ashley Williams come to blows during the first half (Getty Images)

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Welcome to the Independent’s live coverage of the Premier League with another fascinating clutch of matches at both ends of the table with the title race and relegation fight still wide open.

In the early kick-off Arsenal travel to Everton hoping to repair their fractured season. Meanwhile Chelsea, whose season is already in ruin, entertain top-four chasing West Ham United across the capital for a match which could underpin their unlikely hopes of securing Champions League qualification.

Table-toppers Leicester City, on the other hand, make the treacherous trip to face lowly Crystal Palace in the knowledge that Alan Pardew’s Eagles have previous when it comes to scuppering title bids, as Liverpool and Manchester City have discovered in recent years.

Watford face Stoke, Norwich meet West Bromwich Albion and Swansea welcome Aston Villa in a trio of massive games elsewhere on this most intriguing of weekends in the top-flight.

Today's matches...

  • Everton vs Arsenal – 12.45pm
  • Chelsea vs West Ham United – 3pm
  • Crystal Palace vs Leicester City – 3pm
  • Watford vs Stoke City – 3pm
  • West Bromwich Albion vs Norwich City – 3pm
  • Swansea City vs Aston Villa – 5.30pm 

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FULL-TIME: West Brom 0 Norwich 1

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 16:55

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 2 West Ham 2

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 16:56

An afternoon of real drama draws to a close!The Leicester juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down, as Claudio Ranieri's side go eight points clear of Tottenham with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on a thrilling afternoon at Selhurst Park.

There were thrills, too, at Stamford Bridge, where Cesc Fabregas's last-ditch penalty denied Slaven Bilic's excellent Hammers the chance to leapfrog Manchester City into fourth place.

Less dramatic, but of great significance, was Norwich's trip to West Brom, where Robbie Brady's precious goal clawed the Canaries out of the bottom three.

And Stoke moved above Liverpool and Southampton into seventh by hanging onto a 2-1 win against Watford – a late run of form could see Mark Hughes's side launch an unlikely bid for Europe.

We now have just over 20 minutes before bottom club Aston Villa kick off at Swansea, in a clash which could have been billed as 'THE BATTLE OF THE AYEWS', were Andre not injured for the Swans. Shame. Should still be intriguing though...

13 - Leicester City have won 13 games by a one goal margin this season, more than any other @PremierLeague team. Edge.

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Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:09

The players are emerging for kick-off at the Liberty Stadium...e0f0a835-0d5b-455d-a332-f09d4c3be731.jpg

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:28

KICK-OFF: Aston Villa get us underway...

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:32

2 mins: Villa have the first gentle foray forward, as Aly Cissokho hoists the ball towards Rudy Gestede, but it's easily gathered by Lukasz Fabianski...

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:33

4 mins: Looping ball from Idrissa Gueye finds Joleon Lescott on the edge of the box, but he drags his left-footed shot wide of the near post...

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:35

7 mins: A long, direct ball towards Mo Barrow almost releases the fleet-footed attacker, but Brad Guzan is out to gather. Villa will have to watch out for the Gambian's pace this evening...

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:38

9 mins: Jordan Ayew dispossesses Jack Cork inside the Swansea half and drives at goal, but can only direct his effort over Fabianski's crossbar! A real chance for the visitors there...

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:40

Remi Garde's side have dominated possession in the early stages – maybe, now that survival is almost an impossibility, Villa can finally begin to play with some sense of semblance and adventure this season...

Kristin Hugo19 March 2016 17:41

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