Arsenal is now leading the Premier League after a thrilling 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Manchester City in their title match, while Tottenham thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 to rekindle their hopes of finishing in the top four on Sunday.
John Stones’ goal in the first half gave City the lead, but Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty kick shortly after the break at Anfield tied the score.
Arsenal’s goal was achieved as they maintained their top spot, which they had won with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday thanks to a late header from Kai Havertz.
With ten games remaining, all three teams are one point behind the top two: champions City are one point behind Arsenal, which leads second-placed Liverpool on goal difference (a +7).
On March 31, Arsenal will play City in their next league game, which could be a title matchup of epic proportions.
In the twenty-third minute, City had taken the lead at Anfield thanks to a deft set-piece routine.
Stones met Kevin De Bruyne’s low corner at the near post with a close-range finish.
Darwin Nunez intercepted a suicidal back pass played by City defender Nathan Ake in the 50th minute, allowing Liverpool to tie the score.
In a desperate attempt to stop the threat, City keeper Ederson raced off his line, only to be caught by Nunez’s reckless lunge.
In a thrilling finish, City’s Jeremy Doku struck the post and then avoided another penalty appeal for his high challenge on Liverpool’s goal scorer. Mac Allister calmly stroked the spot-kick past Ederson.
The final top-tier match between Jurgen Klopp and City manager Pep Guardiola took on even more significance following the latter’s shocking announcement that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the current campaign.
It was appropriate that Klopp embraced Guardiola warmly at the end of a match in which the outcome of the title still hangs in the balance, given their history of competing for supremacy throughout their reigns.
“Exciting. We were a little rushed for the first ten minutes, and City was there. Without a doubt, the second half was the best we’ve ever played against City, according to Klopp.
Naturally, they struck the post, but we ought to have scored two or three goals. Fantastic game. Whoa!”
“I know how difficult it is at Anfield,” Guardiola continued. They make an amazing team. They had their moments, and we had ours. It’s difficult to play the way they do. We accept that.
The team led by Ange Postecoglou knew going into Villa Park that losing to their rivals in fourth place could have been disastrous for their hopes of making it into the Champions League the following year.
But in the rain-soaked West Midlands, the north Londoners proved they were up to the task with a goal spree in the second half.
Tottenham took the lead thanks to goals from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson, and Villa captain John McGinn was sent off for cutting down Destiny Udogie.
With a game remaining, Son Heung-min and Timo Werner’s goals in stoppage time have reduced Tottenham’s deficit to just two points over Villa in fifth place.
“This was billed as a do-or-die situation for us by everyone. I’m assuming we’re still alive. With only 11 games remaining, it means we’re getting closer,” Postecoglou stated.
This was a significant blow to Villa’s unexpected push for a top four finish, but they still hope to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1983.
“We must learn to regulate our feelings. The first two goals were absurd, according to Villa manager Unai Emery.
At the London Stadium, Danny Ings’ late equalizer saved a 2-2 draw for West Ham after second-bottom Burnley blew a two-goal lead.
By halftime, Burnley had taken the lead thanks to a long-range strike from David Datro Fofana and an own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos.
However, Lucas Paqueta cut the deficit right after the half, and Ings, a former Burnley striker, leveled the score in the final minutes.
Nottingham Forest, in fourth place, lost 1-0 at Brighton and were unable to escape the relegation zone.
Andrew Omobamidele
