Liverpool seized pole place within the Premier League title race as Mohamed Salah impressed a significant victory over Brighton.
Arsenal surrendered the highest spot after their gritty draw with Manchester Metropolis, whereas Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four end are fading.
Listed here are three speaking factors from the weekend’s motion:
Arsenal’s new-found metal subdues Man Metropolis
Arsenal might have misplaced first place after Sunday’s goalless draw at Manchester Metropolis, however they confirmed how far they’ve come underneath Mikel Arteta in stopping the champions from scoring at dwelling for the primary time in two years.
Mikel Arteta’s workforce had crumbled down the ultimate straight within the title race final season, by no means extra so than a 4-1 thrashing towards Metropolis on the Etihad Stadium.
Certainly, the Gunners had misplaced their earlier eight away journeys to Metropolis.
However they’ve now emerged unbeaten from three conferences with the English champions this season after profitable the reverse fixture 1-0 in October and lifting the Group Defend on penalties.
Arsenal boast the perfect defensive document within the Premier League and Metropolis had valuable few clear possibilities to point out for 72 p.c possession.
It was a irritating afternoon for Pep Guardiola’s facet, who’re chasing a second successive treble however now discover themselves three factors behind Liverpool and one adrift of Arsenal with 9 video games left.
Salah makes up for miscues
Jurgen Klopp by no means doubted Mohamed Salah would end as Liverpool’s match-winner after the Egypt star made amends for some uncommon misses with the essential objective in Sunday’s 2-1 victory towards Brighton.
Salah wasted a number of possibilities throughout a tense tussle at Anfield, with Liverpool falling behind to Danny Welbeck’s rocket after 85 seconds.
Luis Diaz’s volley from Salah’s header drew Liverpool stage earlier than half-time.
Salah had 12 makes an attempt on objective, his most in a Premier League match and essentially the most on document by a Liverpool participant within the competitors.
It was additionally essentially the most by any participant within the high flight since Zlatan Ibrahimovic greater than seven years in the past.
As Salah’s possibilities got here and went, Reds boss Klopp saved the religion and he was rewarded within the sixty fifth minute when Salah calmly transformed Alexis Mac Allister’s cross.
“Think about Mo would have completed off all of the conditions in his profession? That may be loopy, so it’s completely high-quality,” Klopp mentioned after Liverpool moved two factors away from second-placed Arsenal because the title race tilted in the direction of Anfield.
“However then being that calm within the decisive second with the largest probability we had from the perfect soccer we performed, then that makes an actual goalscorer so we’re proud of all the pieces.”
Onana backs Man Utd for top-four bid
Andre Onana believes Manchester United can nonetheless end within the high 4 regardless of their damaging 1-1 draw at Brentford on Saturday.
Mason Mount fired United forward towards the run of play together with his first objective for the membership six minutes into stoppage-time.
However United had been surprised when Kristoffer Ajer transformed Ivan Toney’s cross three minutes later.
Erik ten Hag’s males at the moment are 11 factors behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit with a sport in hand, and eight behind Tottenham in fifth as their hopes of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League begin to dwindle.
United keeper Onana is adamant they’ve an opportunity, saying: “I really feel unhappy as a result of we’re Manchester United. In all places we go, we’ve got to win. We gave away this sport ultimately.
“I do know we’ll stick collectively as a result of we did it within the final month. I hope we finish within the high 4.”
AFP
