Premier League hits and misses: January additions steal the show as Aston Villa takes the lead

January signings delivering for Aston Villa.

At the Amex Stadium, Aston Villa defeated Brighton with a decisive three goals in the second half, giving them the advantage in the battle for Europe.  In particular, the goal scorers will make Unai Emery very delighted.

The Villains made significant investments in weapons during the January transfer window since they were engaged in a multifaceted battle.  On loan, Donyell Malen, Marcus Rashford, and Marco Asensio all contributed to Wednesday night's triumph.

After his FA Cup double against Preston, Rashford maintained his position as the centre striker. He showed his management that he was right by finishing off a sharp breakaway to score the first goal.  Emery used Asensio and Malen off his bench to help be more clinical on the counterattack as Brighton tried to equalise.

 It was a wise decision.  With a deft finish, Asensio scored his eighth goal in his past seven games for Villa, more than any other Premier League player since coming to England.  For his first appearance in Villa colours, Malen was then available to finish the match well into stoppage time.

It should be immensely comforting to know that Ollie Watkins, who is typically at the centre of everything goal-related at Villa Park, did very little noteworthy in the lead-up to a hectic time.  Squad depth is essential because there are so many games to manage.

 Villa has made wise purchases, and their effects, both past and future, could determine if Emery's team succeeds in reaching their objectives at the end of the current campaign.

We might actually have to fight for relegation after all.

Ipswich and Wolves were separated by an Everest-length margin of 12 points on Wednesday.  Maybe Ipswich will be halfway up the mountain by the end of the week.

 We might well be facing relegation.  Given that they will be hosting Wolves at Portman Road in a few days, Ipswich's first victory of the year couldn't have come at a better time.

 Ipswich shown that they will not be defeated easily.  At Bournemouth, their defensive performance was awful.  Two thirds of the 25 clearances made by center-backs Cameron Burgess and Dara O'Shea were with their heads.  Sharp crosses from Bournemouth were intercepted by a wall.

Additionally, Ipswich might have enough goals to turn this into a relegation battle.  Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap both had shots on goal, but Julio Enciso's outstanding effort was the high point.  Additionally, Omari Hutchinson still needs to return.

 On Tuesday night, wolves might have thought they were safe.  However, this display from Ipswich has caused them to take notice.

Grealish scores the goal he deserves for his tenacity.

After scoring a crucial first goal in Manchester City's most recent victory over Leicester, Jack Grealish paid a heartfelt homage to his late brother on the 25th anniversary of his passing.  Although the 16-month wait for a goal had been excruciatingly lengthy, the moment's feeling seemed appropriate for a player who never hides his emotions.

 "He's an incredible human being," Pep Guardiola thought after the game.  It's safe to say that this season, Grealish has endured rather than enjoyed.  Like Manchester City, maybe.  Unlike the four previous years when the team won the title, this campaign has not been filled with celebration and victory.

However, it has been one of tenacity, which in many respects perfectly captures Grealish.  The forward was City's second most creative player behind Omar Marmoush, but he lost more duels than any other player on the field—eight.  After just 109 seconds, he scored.

 Guardiola, who is trying to cope with the absence of the injured Erling Haaland, would be extremely pleased that Grealish, the playmaker, has threatened to return.

Jones and Jota defend Liverpool in combat.

Although the Merseyside derby was not particularly picturesque—they rarely are—it was nonetheless gratifying for Arne Slot as his Liverpool team overcame previous cup losses to demonstrate their will and make a significant move towards winning the Premier League again this year.

 Decisions made by referees predominated.  James Tarkowski's foul on Alexis Mac Allister should have resulted in his dismissal.  Liverpool's goal ought to have been disallowed, according to David Moyes.  Although the game's rules state otherwise, Slot acknowledged that they are incorrect.

However, looking back on another Liverpool victory—they now have a century of them against Everton, and this one puts them 12 points ahead of Arsenal at the top—it was a night when players came through.  This time, it's Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones instead of Mohamed Salah.

 It was an amazing manner for Jota to break an 11-game goalless streak, displaying the poise he needed to go past Everton's tenacious defenders.  While playing out of position at right-back, Jones performed his defensive duties and made an offensive contribution.

Slot was rewarded for choosing the riskier course of action.  Given Everton's aerial danger, he may have chosen Jarell Quansah.  "He would have helped us with set-pieces."  However, this was the right decision.  "It was a risk but I knew he could help with his creativity."

 Slot continued: "He did very well defensively also, so a strong performance from him, like from the whole team."  Liverpool's season will not have ended in the spectacular way they had hoped.  But because of players and games like this, it will conclude with the title.

Tonali's brilliant moment secures Newcastle's crucial victory.

Sandro Tonali scored Newcastle's 2-1 victory over Brentford with an incredible strike that thundered past Mark Flekken while he was just yards from the corner flag, a position few players would even consider aiming.

 According to Tonali, it was "70 per cent a cross" following the match.  "It was difficult for the custodian and difficult also for me," he said.  However, we'll decide to concentrate on the remaining 30%.  The effort was undoubtedly too powerful to be dismissed as a simple case of a cross gone wrong.

Whatever Tonali says after the game, the goal instantly qualifies for goal of the season and offers Newcastle supporters even more reason to love the midfield player.  Even though he attempted to downplay it, this was another all-action performance that culminated in a moment of outrageous genius during the Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool at Wembley.