Liverpool is still in the race to win the Premier League after their 3-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday. After a rough first half, Liverpool scored two goals and kept out of trouble for a while at Anfield – much like they did last week against Brighton. It looks as if Manchester City won’t be able to catch them now before they play again this weekend.
Liverpool’s win at Arsenal gives them the momentum to eclipse Manchester City in Premier League chase. The Reds are now a point behind the Citizens and have a game in hand on their rivals. Read more in detail here: premier league table.
Momentum is a crucial component for any club seeking a league championship, and Liverpool currently have plenty of it. Manchester City lacks it, which is why, after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Arsenal on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola’s Premier League winners will be concerned that they may be set to finish second in a campaign that seemed to be a one-horse race not long ago.
Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino scored second-half goals at the Emirates to give Liverpool their ninth consecutive league victory and move them one point behind champions City, whom they will meet at the Etihad on April 10. City has lost seven points in their previous nine games, allowing Liverpool to win the crown for the second time in three seasons.
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stated, “We’ve certainly had a terrific spell.” “It’s exactly what we need. We’re one point behind Man City, but the situation remains unchanged. We must be victorious in football contests. Then there’s City, and then there’s everyone else.”
City hasn’t had a poor season. Their 3-2 setback to Tottenham Hotspur at home on February 19 was their first league loss since October, but City and Liverpool have been so close for the previous four years that every point missed counts. City’s 0-0 stalemate at Crystal Palace on Monday was a surprise setback, but Liverpool still needed to defeat Arsenal to take advantage of it.
In the race for the crown, Liverpool has the Big Mo — as in momentum, not simply Salah. Getty
The task of facing Mikel Arteta’s resurgent Arsenal side at the Emirates was obviously more difficult for Klopp’s men, with the Gunners ascending to fourth place on the strength of five consecutive league victories and a Premier League undefeated streak dating back to January 1. Although Arsenal were lively and daring in the first half, there was always the feeling that Liverpool would pick up a gear or two after the interval, and that was the case.
The end result might have been different if Alisson had not made a crucial save to deny Martin Odegaard from close range on 51 minutes, but the Liverpool goalkeeper is as much a part of this team as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, and he proved it with that crucial intervention, which ensured the team’s 12th clean sheet in 18 league games. Klopp’s team took the lead only four minutes after Alisson rose to the challenge when Jota raced onto Thiago Alcantara’s cross and past goalie Aaron Ramsdale with a left-footed shot at the near post for his seventh goal against Arsenal in seven appearances for Liverpool.
It was Jota’s last touch of the game, and Klopp made a critical move by replacing the Portugal striker with Firmino before the interval, and the Brazil international made it 2-0 seven minutes later. Andy Robertson scored the goal after dislodging Bukayo Saka on the left flank before breaching the touchline and pulling back for Firmino to flick beyond Ramsdale. It was game over at 2-0, with Liverpool well in control and Arsenal’s remarkable rally coming to an end.
Arsene Wenger’s side is experimenting with their identity, but they are plainly behind Liverpool and Manchester City. Getty
However, even if Arsenal lost, as they often do against large opponents, the outcome should not be seen as proof that Arteta’s squad has the same old flaws. Yes, they’ve only scored three points out of a potential 21 this season against the so-called Big Six. The fact is that this Arsenal squad now has a distinct identity and a clear route ahead of it. They are a youthful squad that lacks the experience of a club like Liverpool, but they have bright talents in Saka, Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Emile Smith Rowe who will only improve.
Ramsdale was at fault for the first goal against Liverpool and could have done better with the second, but since replacing Bernd Leno earlier this season, he has helped Arsenal improve, while Ben White has established himself as a trustworthy centre-back. Arsenal, without a doubt, is miles behind Liverpool, but their battle is all about fourth place and Champions League qualification. If that occurs, they’ll have a solid foundation on which to compete with Liverpool and City in the future.
“I don’t believe the outcome represents the performance,” Arteta remarked, “but they had the crucial moments in the box.” “They scored two goals by putting the ball in the net twice.” This season, [the top two] have established new benchmarks. To deal with it, I must applaud the players, but we’re here to win football games, and we didn’t do that today.”
Arsenal’s fourth-place challengers are Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and West Ham United, and the Gunners have been more consistent than any of them, so they cannot afford to lose confidence by losing to a Liverpool club that may be the finest in the world right now. Liverpool seem unstoppable, and City are well aware that they have a chance to win the quadruple.
They may have pulled their foot off the gas pedal because things were going too easy for them, but City are back in the championship fight because Liverpool now have the Big Mo, which might propel them to historic glory. Liverpool has won nine of their past ten league games, and if they win the next nine, they will be champions.
Liverpool’s win at Arsenal gives them the momentum to eclipse Manchester City in Premier League chase. The Reds have been in a very good run of form, and they are now just six points behind the Citizens. Reference: livefootball premier league.
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