Liverpool is chasing Manchester City in the race for the English Premier League trophy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Liverpool beat Arsenal to close in on Manchester City
Diogo Jota celebrates scoring the opening goal for Liverpool during their English Premier League match against Arsenal. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool reignite the Premier League title race with win
Liverpool defeated Arsenal 2-0 to move just one point behind league leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.
Liverpool understood the significance of a result away at Anfield at this crucial point of the season and started the game accordingly, bringing pace and pressure from the whistle. Virgil Van Dijk came close to giving Liverpool the dream start in the fifth minute of the game, heading a powerful shot towards the bottom corner of the goal where Aaron Ramsdale reacted swiftly to palm the attempt wide.
Despite the bright start, Arsenal found their footing as the half progressed and frustrated the Reds with their defensive formation, which they rarely strayed from. Keeping their shape allowed Arsenal to threaten on the break, which almost enabled them to snatch an opening goal through near misses from both Cedric Soares and Granit Xhaka.
Although they couldn’t score, the Gunners were able to shackle Liverpool’s talented attack force and keep the game goalless going in to the half-time break. The home side came closest to breaking the deadlock at the start of the second half as Alexandre Lacazette latched on to a Liverpool back pass and set up Martin Odegaard. But the former Real Madrid wunderkind was stopped by the quick reflexes of Alisson in goal.
Liverpool channeled their first half frustrations into their second half performance, breaking down Arsenal gradually until Diogo Jota dealt the killer blow after 54 minutes. Thiago Alcantara threaded the ball through to Jota, who burst into the box and tucked it away from a tight angle. Ramsdale should have done better at his near post, but it was an excellent finish from the Portuguese forward.
Jurgen Klopp’s side refused to back down after taking the advantage and it was Roberto Firmino who doubled the visitor’s lead eight minutes later to effectively settle the contest. Following a scramble in the Arsenal box, the home side attempted to clear the ball, only for Andrew Robertson to intercept it down the left of the pitch and sprint into the six-yard area. The Scottish international set up Firmino, who simply had to tap home from close range to put Liverpool 2-0 up.
The Gunners were unable to respond to going behind and struggled to bypass Liverpool’s resolute defense, led by Man of the Match Joel Matip. Gabriel Martinelli almost nabbed an equalizer late on, but the forward curled his effort narrowly wide in what was ultimately a frustrating evening for Mikel Arteta.
Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 victory which narrowed the points gap between themselves and Manchester City to one point with both sides now having the played the same amount of games. The Premier League title race, which many thought Manchester City had won by a landslide at the turn of the year, is well and truly back alive going into the final two months of the season.
TEAMS
Arsenal | Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka (74’ Pepe), Odegaard (67’ Smith Rowe), Martinelli, Lacazette (80′ Nketiah)
Unused Subs | Leno, Holding, Tavares, Sambi Lokonga, Elneny, Swanson
Liverpool | Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago (90’ Jones), Jota (56’ Firmino), Mane, Diaz (56’ Salah)
Unused Subs | Kelleher, Konate, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino
