Premier League

MANCHESTER — Cristiano Ronaldo's 50th club career hat-trick and second Premier League treble of the season earned below-par Manchester United a 3-2 victory over Norwich City on Saturday.

With Tottenham Hotspur losing 1-0 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Saturday, the door was open for United to close in on the Champions League qualification places with victory over bottom side Norwich and they just about took advantage.

Burnley sacked manager Sean Dyche, the Premier League club said on Friday, ahead of a tight end-of-season run-in as it looks to avoid relegation.

Burnley has struggled this season and sits in 18th place in the standings, four points from the safety zone. But the decision was unexpected, given Dyche's track record of maintaining the Lancashire club's status in the top division on a relatively modest budget.

He was the longest-serving English top flight manager having been in charge for nine-and-a-half years.

After Sunday's barnstorming 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad, it was clear that managers Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, as disciples of attacking football, were spiritually lifted by what they'd seen out on the pitch.

BIRMINGHAM — Son Heung-min struck a superbly taken hat-trick as Tottenham Hotspur took a grip on fourth place, romping to a 4-0 win at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

With Arsenal losing earlier on Saturday, Spurs have a three point lead over their North London rivals with 57 points from 31 games - the Gunners have played one game less.

South Korean Son fired Spurs ahead in the third minute when a blocked shot from Harry Kane fell to him on the edge of the box and his first time, left-foot, shot flew in off the inside of the post.

LIVERPOOL — Manchester United's miserable season continued on Saturday as Everton boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a 1-0 win over Ralf Rangnick's side at Goodison Park.

Out of all cup competitions, United were looking to earn a victory that would have moved them level on points with Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

But their task was made all the more difficult when Anthony Gordon gave Everton a first-half lead.

MANCHESTER, England - Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp says it is simply a joy to carry out their analysis work on Manchester City ahead of Sunday's Premier League title clash at the Etihad Stadium.

The two teams, who have dominated the league over the past five seasons, are separated by just a point with leaders City hoping they can restore some breathing space with a victory.

BURNLEY, England — Everton fell deeper into relegation trouble with Burnley's Maxwel Cornet striking an 85th minute winner as the home side fought back to beat Frank Lampard's team 3-2 at Turf Moor on Wednesday to move within a point of the Merseysiders.

The win is a major boost for 18th-placed Burnley who are on 24 points after their fourth league win of the season with Everton in 17th on 25 and both teams having played 29 games.

Maxwell Cornet smashes home the winner for Burnley!