Liverpool’s relentless march in direction of the Premier League title gathered tempo with a comeback win in opposition to Southampton.
Arsenal look set to complete because the bridesmaids once more after drawing with Manchester United, whereas Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is caught in a rut.
AFP Sport appears at three speaking factors from the weekend’s motion:
Liverpool present tooth as title looms
Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson believes a return to the crew’s previous “gung ho” type was key to the 3-1 win in opposition to Southampton that moved them with touching distance of the title.
Arne Slot’s facet appeared torpid within the first half at Anfield on Saturday after their gruelling midweek Champions League final 16 first leg win at Paris Saint-Germain.
Will Smallbone capitalised on a misunderstanding between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to place the guests forward.
However Slot’s half-time blast and a triple substitution revitalised Liverpool as Darwin Nunez equalised and Mohamed Salah transformed two penalties.
Slot’s game-plan since changing Jurgen Klopp has been far more managed than the German’s techniques, however Robertson was happy to see the previous type return, for 45 minutes not less than.
“The primary 10 to fifteen minutes of the second half I assumed we blew them away and that was possibly much like what we now have form of performed in earlier seasons,” he stated.
“It’s totally different now however I do nonetheless suppose we now have parts and also you noticed that within the second half the place we had been very gung-ho and simply put Southampton below stress and saved them penned in.”
Liverpool are 15 factors away from second-placed Arsenal and wish 16 factors from their final 9 video games to seal a record-equalling twentieth English title.
Arsenal set for second finest once more
Mikel Arteta’s 2 hundredth Premier League sport was not one to savour for the Spaniard as any lingering hope of a title problem was extinguished at Outdated Trafford.
Arsenal barely reduce into Liverpool’s big lead after a 1-1 draw with Manchester United that once more uncovered the Gunners’ lack of firepower.
Declan Rice’s strike 16 minutes from time not less than prevented Arsenal from failing to attain for the third consecutive league sport.
However they haven’t received any of these final three, amid a run of simply 4 wins of their final 9 league video games since New 12 months’s Day.
The lack of Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli to damage has performed an enormous half in Arsenal’s demise.
Ending second to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis juggernaut within the final two seasons was purported to be the constructing block in direction of title glory.
But, even in an off yr for the defending champions, Arsenal have confirmed unable to capitalise.
‘Chilly’ Palmer feeling the warmth
Cole Palmer started his afternoon watching a parade of Chelsea legends celebrating the membership’s a hundred and twentieth anniversary, however the England ahead has a protracted approach to go earlier than he is able to be a part of that illustrious group.
After a dream first season at Stamford Bridge following his transfer from Manchester Metropolis final time period, Palmer is enduring a sophomore hunch.
Palmer’s issues mounted as he had a primary half penalty saved by Mads Hermansen within the 1-0 win in opposition to Leicester.
It means Palmer, who was taken off within the second half having not educated for 2 days resulting from sickness, has now gone eight matches with out scoring.
Marc Cucurella’s second half blast lifted Chelsea into fourth place, however Palmer should finish his barren run to assist the Blues qualify for the Champions League.
“Through the evening he did not really feel properly, however this morning he wakened and stated to me ‘I need be on the pitch as a result of I wish to assist this membership to play Champions League’,” Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca stated.
“Within the final 48 hours he was very unhealthy with fever and with this unhealthy feeling. However this morning he requested to play and this reveals that the gamers wish to deliver this membership to the place it belongs.”
smg-kca/nr