Ayoze Perez and Demarai Gray gave Leicester City a 2-0 win over Sheffield United which boosted their Champions League ambitions, while Aston Villa's Premier League survival hopes were dented after a 1-1 draw at Everton.
Leicester's victory on Thursday was only their second since the restart, and they remain above Manchester United – 2-0 winners at Crystal Palace later in the day – in fourth spot on goal difference.
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The win also left the Foxes a point behind third-placed Chelsea, although they have tough matches against Tottenham and United to come.
Theo Walcott's 87th-minute equaliser for Everton left Villa three points adrift of safety, while Brighton and Hove Albion now need just one point to preserve their top-flight status following a 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers was critical of his players after a 4-1 thrashing by Bournemouth in their last Premier League outing, but his side were much improved against the Blades.
7 - Leicester City have now won a @premierleague game on all seven days of the week, with tonight's win over Sheffield United their first top-flight victory on a Thursday since December 1985 versus Aston Villa (3-1). Hebdomadal. pic.twitter.com/44c8CzV7pB
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 16, 2020
Perez put Leicester ahead shortly before the half-hour mark when he controlled a fine pass from Luke Thomas, who caught the eye on debut, and guided a shot through John Egan's legs and into the bottom corner.
Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy struck the post while Harvey Barnes brought two fine saves out of Blades goalkeeper Dean Henderson as the Foxes went for the kill.
They had to wait until 11 minutes from time to wrap up the points, though, when substitute Gray received the ball from Vardy and coolly finished off a counter-attack with an angled finish.
Villa suffered late heartbreak at Goodison Park and remain mired in the Premier League relegation zone, three points behind 17th-placed Watford who have a superior goal difference and an extra game to play.
23 - Theo Walcott has been directly involved in 23 Premier League goals as a substitute (9 goals & 14 assists), the fourth-most in the competition's history behind Kanu (29), Jermain Defoe (27) and Daniel Sturridge (24). Footprint. pic.twitter.com/Zl4rIOnIym
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 16, 2020
Ezri Konsa put Villa ahead in the 72nd minute when he showed quick reactions inside the box to get on the end of Conor Hourihane's free-kick.
However, Carlo Ancelotti's side levelled three minutes from time when Walcott headed in despite Konsa's attempted acrobatic clearance.
Brighton are within touching distance of Premier League survival after a hard-fought draw against Southampton at St Mary's.
A low shot from Neal Maupay gave Brighton a first-half lead before Danny Ings' 20th league goal of the campaign midway through the second period ensured the match finished all square.
