Liverpool suffer title race slip-up
Liverpool’s title aspirations were dealt a heavy blow last Sunday (Apr 7) when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Despite having numerous chances to score and put the game out of United’s reach, Jurgen Klopp’s men only had a solitary goal lead at half-time courtesy of Luis Diaz’s 23rd minute strike.
Bruno Fernandes scored from just inside the Liverpool half in the 50th minute before Kobbie Mainoo gave the hosts an undeserved lead in the 67th minute.
Mohamed Salah’s 84th minute penalty salvaged a point but it felt more like two valuable points dropped for Klopp’s team. Liverpool are level with Arsenal on 71 points and one point ahead of third-placed Manchester City, with seven games remaining as they chase a record-equalling 20th English title.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are ahead in the table standings thanks to their superior goal difference of nine.
“We should have won the game, that is clear,” Klopp said.
“The whole Liverpool community just stay calm. We are where we are and we keep giving it a proper go.
“Do I wish we had 10 points difference? Of course. We are in the race and I’m absolutely fine with it.”
Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard, prompting Arteta to hail his team’s maturity and cleverness against a side who had not lost at home since August.
“In attack and defence we had big performances individually,” he said post-match.
Arteta’s side have now won 10 of their past 11 league games and have added steel to style after faltering badly in the home straight last season.
In Saturday’s early kick-off, Kevin De Bruyne netted twice and top scorer Erling Haaland hit his 19th league goal of the season to add to Rico Lewis’s goal as Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-2 win at Selhurst Park.
Tottenham outclassed Nottingham
Forest 3-1 to move into fourth place in the table after Aston Villa faltered to a 3-3 draw with struggling Brentford.
Fourth bottom Forest are outside the relegation zone by the slenderest of margins, above Luton only on goal difference after the Hatters scored an injury time winner to beat Bournemoth 2-1.
Everton also secured a vital win courtesy of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s deflected first-half to leave the Toffees four points above the relegation zone.
Ole McBurnie scored a last-gasp equaliser for bottom club Sheffield United as they drew 2-2 with Chelsea while Newcastle edged past Fulham 1-0 courtesy of a late goal from Bruno Guimaraes and West Ham came from behind to beat Wolves 2-1.