If there was any doubt that the Premier League title race was over, then any worries that Liverpool may be caught at the summit may have been over after this past weekend.
They watched on as Leicester City, and Manchester City both slipped up, which allowed them to open up a 16-point lead with a game in hand. The Reds have now 91 points in 93 possible, an absolute mesmerizing number, which can make them overcome the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ if it continues.
Liverpool 2 X 0 Manchester United
The game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon had the feeling that it was the biggest fixture between these two sides for years, at least from a Liverpool perspective. The Reds were looking to open up a huge 16-point advantage at the top of the league, against a Manchester United side that was missing three first-team stars.
United fans were despondent before the game even kicked off as it emerged that Marcus Rashford will be missing the next three months of football after the back injury that he sustained against Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-week.
Any hope of United getting a positive result were knocked back as Virgil van Dijk headed the hosts into an early lead after some speculative marking from a United perspective. It should have been worse before the break, as Liverpool had a goal disallowed after van Dijk was penalised for a foul on David De Gea before Roberto Firmino curled an effort past the Spaniard. The decision was soft.
The Red Devils did have their chances, as Fred struck an effort wide. It was arguably the Brazilians best performance in a United shirt as he looked to push the visitors forward at every opportunity.
However, the game-changing moment came when Anthony Martial missed a glorious chance when he was one-on-one with Alisson. The Frenchman lashed at the shot and sent the ball flying over the crossbar.
Liverpool made United pay in the 93rd minute when they pressed home their advantage as Mohamed Salah scored his first-ever goal against the Red Devils. United still have hopes of a top-four, but they are going to have to watch Liverpool win the league title for the first time in 30 years.
Burnley 2 X 1 Leicester City
It was a perfect day for the Reds, as Leicester slipped up earlier in the afternoon. The Foxes went ahead through Harvey Barnes, but a missed Jamie Vardy penalty changed the complexion of the game.
The Clarets took advantage of the missed spot-kick, as Chris Wood equalized after the break. Burnley then went on to take all three points as Ashley Westwood fired home ten minutes from time.
Leicester after a groundbreaking start seems to have stagnated. The Foxes lost 3 of their last 5 games and after last week’s defeat against Southampton, they make it 2 in a row.
Manchester City 2 X 2 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace’s recent good form at the Etihad continued, as they have now picked up four points from a possible six at Manchester City’s home.
The Eagles took the lead through debutant Cenk Tosun before City turned the game on its head with two quickfire Sergio Aguero goals in the final ten minutes.
However, there was a final twist in the tale as Fernandinho inadvertently put the ball into his own net to gift Palace a point. City collapse leaves Liverpool even further and the hopes of reconquering the Premier League title for Pep Guardiola seem to have faded away.
Southampton 2 X 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers took advantage of all the other teams in the battle for a top-four place dropping points by stunning the in-form Saints on Saturday afternoon.
Southampton led 2-0 at the break after goals from Jan Bednarek and Shane Long. However, Wolves came back into the game and were level 20 minutes into the second half after goals from Pedro Neto and Raul Jimenez.
The Mexican didn’t stop there and scored the winner with 15 minutes remaining to put Wolves level on point with Manchester United in fifth.
With 23 goals so far for the Wolves, Jimenez is now the striker with most goals in the Premier League for the English side, surpassing Steven Fletcher.
Arsenal 1 X 1 Sheffield United
Sheffield United may be the romantics pick for a place in Europe next season as their remarkable season continued with a deserved point at the Emirates.
Gabriel Martinelli was deputizing for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and he put the Gunners ahead on the stroke of half time.
However, the Blades didn’t give up and got their deserved equalizer with seven minutes remaining through John Fleck.
Mikel Arteta is failing to bring the miracle that Arsenal was hoping for and the Gunners are now 10th in the table. Meanwhile, Wilder’s Sheffield rose to 6th.
Newcastle 1 X 0 Chelsea
Frank Lampard lost his eighth game in the league as Chelsea manager on Saturday evening as the Blues were made to rue their missed chances against Newcastle United.
The only goal of the game was scored in the 93rd minute. Saint-Maximin recovered a ball and fired a cross and Kepa Arrizabalaga was somehow unable to keep out Isaac Hayden’s header.
Lampard seems to need urgent signings and he hopes that new players can lift the team’s morale. Meanwhile, after 4 games without a victory, Newcastle got finally the 3 points.
Norwich City 1 X 0 Bournemouth
It was a huge win for Norwich on Saturday as they piled the misery on Eddie Howe and Bournemouth.
The only goal of the game was scored from the penalty spot after Steve Cook saw red for an excellent save that any goalkeeper would have been proud of. Teemu Pukki made no mistake, but the Canaries also ended with ten after Ben Godfrey was sent off.
An important victory for Norwich as they get closer to Bournemouth, who is just above them in the relegation zone. However, they are still 6 points away from the safe place and will need a miracle to pull it through.
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 X 1 Aston Villa
Jack Grealish was once again the savior for Aston Villa as he scored with 15 minutes remaining to salvage a point at the Amex.
Leandro Trossard had put the Seagulls ahead just before half time. The draw wasn’t enough to lift Villa out of the relegation places, however.
West Ham United 1 X 1 Everton
The David Moyes derby, as the West Ham manager faced his former team, ended with the teams deadlocked. Issa Diop gave the Hammers the lead, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored four minutes later.
The Englishman has now scored 11 goals this season and is proving to be a crucial piece for Ancelotti’s Everton.
Watford 0 X 0 Tottenham Hotspur
The weekend’s action kicked off with a hugely forgettable draw at Vicarage Road.
The man of the match, however, has to be Paulo Gazzaniga. Tottenham’s stopper with a penalty save to Troy Deeney’s attempt, kept a clean sheet and saved a point for Spurs.
Jose Mourinho’s Spurs are in urgent need of a change as they failed to win in the last 4 matches.
It was a game of few chances but means that Watford is now unbeaten in their last six Premier League games.
Ever since the appointment of Nigel Pearson, the team has lifted with 2 draws and 3 victories in the last 5 games.
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