Rampant Reds crush Palace to move a step closer to title
● Klopp’s men can clinch crown if City fail to beat Chelsea tonight
Liverpool picked up the pace to move within two points of a first league title in 30 years after tearing apart Crystal Palace in a 4-0 win at Anfield.
The returning Mo Salah provided the inspiration as he scored one – his 15th goal in 15 Anfield league appearances this season – and laid on a brilliant assist for Sadio Mane.
A superb Trent Alexander arnold free-kick and a fierce Fabinho drive contributed to a comfortable victory which could easily have been greater, such was their dominance.
Early in 2020 many fans had singled out this fixture, originally scheduled for 21 March, for a title coronation party with tickets selling on the black market for thousands of pounds. Those thoughts are merely a long-forgotten dream – or financial nightmare for those who gambled on buying a now non-existent seat – but the champagne will not be on ice for much longer.
If Manchester City do not beat Chelsea tonight then the title will be Liverpool’s without kicking a ball. Even victory for Pep Guardiola’s side means the Reds could secure the title at the Etihad a week later.
Anthony Martial’s maiden Manchester United hattrick saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s in-form side coast to victory against fellow European hopefuls Sheffield United.
Having been roared to derby victory against Manchester City in their last home match, giant stadium wraps replaced supporters as an empty Old Trafford hosted competitive football for the first time in 108 days. Manchester United dealt with the unusual backdrop superbly, with a treble from Martial, pictured, sealing a deserved 3-0 win.
Raul Jimenez underlined Wolves’ Champions League credentials after a gritty win over Bournemouth. The striker’s 15th league goal of the season earned a 1-0 victory and delivered another blow to the Cherries’ survival hopes.
Wolves remain sixth, level with United after their own win over Sheffield United, but closed the gap on fourth placed Chelsea to two points.
If Manchester City’s two-year ban for breaking Uefa’s financial fair play rules – currently under appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport – is confirmed the team who finishes fifth this season will qualify for the Champions League.
Bournemouth can only dream of such heights with their five-year stay in the top flight looking increasingly precarious. The Cherries are in the relegation zone on goal difference but face Manchester United, Tottenham, Leicester and Manchester City in four of their next five games.
Norwich saw their slim survival hopes dealt a blow as Everton kept their hopes of European football alive thanks to a Michael Keane header. Daniel Farke’s side went into the game six points adrift of 19th place at the bottom of the table, and needing to force a win to narrow the gap.
The four changes made by Farke frustrated Everton in the first half as the visitors were kept at bay, but Keane’s nodded goal at the start of the second half proved the Toffees’ winner.
Former Sunderland winger Ahmed Elmohamady scored from the bench to deny Newcastle victory and boost Aston Villa’s bid for Premier League survival.
The Magpies looked to be heading for a second win in four days when Dwight Gayle, who had replaced Matt Ritchie just seconds earlier, fired them into a 68th-minute lead with his first Newcastle goal in more than two years.
However Elmohamady, who was signed by Steve Bruce during his time in charge of the Black Cats, Hull and Villa, squeezed an 83rd-minute header past Martin Dubravka to force a 1-1 draw.