Manchester City kept the heat on Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, seeing off a feisty challenge from Nottingham Forest after Mikel Arteta’s men held their nerve to beat Tottenham.
A captivating three-way title race has become a duel between Pep Guardiola’s City and Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, who are determined to make amends for last season’s late collapse.
Arsenal are on 80 points with just three matches to go, one point clear of City, but the champions crucially have a game in hand and remain firm favourites.
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EPL Wrap: Gunners fire against Spurs | 02:11
The Gunners raced into a 3-0 lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the early kick-off on Sunday, surviving a late fright to win 3-2 and temporarily move four points clear at the top of the table.
City, though not at their dominating best, battled past profligate Forest, who are fighting for their lives, with goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland.
Croatia defender Gvardiol opened the scoring, heading in Kevin De Bruyne’s corner shortly after the half-hour mark, and Haaland coolly slotted home after another assist from the impressive De Bruyne in the 71st minute to make it 2-0.
But Forest, who remain just one point clear of the drop zone with three games to play, will rue a number of squandered opportunities, including two glaring misses from forward Chris Wood.
Guardiola was relieved that his team had come out on top but warned against complacency in the final weeks of the season as they hunt a domestic trophy double.
He does not believe his team can afford to drop any points as they chase an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight title.
“We prefer they (Arsenal) lose, we cannot control what they do, they make a good result,” said the City boss, whose team are now unbeaten in 31 matches in all competitions.
“Four games left, I don’t think we can lose any points and we know exactly what we have to do.”
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest, staring at the trap door, will desperately hope to recover at least one point from their appeal against a four-point deduction for breaking Premier League financial rules.
EPL WRAP: Salah, Klopp fiery exchange | 03:11
Arsenal know if City win their remaining games, they cannot be caught but they show no signs of wilting under intense pressure.
Arteta’s men silenced the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a three-goal blast before halftime.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s own goal put Arsenal ahead before Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz netted to leave Arsenal in complete control.
Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min struck for Tottenham after the interval to set up a nervous finish, but the visitors clung on by their fingertips.
Arteta believes his team are better equipped to win the title than last season, when they stumbled badly in the run-in, having been eight points clear at one stage.
The Spaniard revealed he was hoping for divine intervention in the nervy closing stages against Spurs.
“I was praying,” he said.
“There were so many Spurs players in the box. It was a really emotional game. We had to dig in and suffer and react. I’m very pleased with the way the team has done it.”
He added: “The margins are so small. Don’t get carried away with yourself. We want to be better. There are margins for improvement. Go again against Bournemouth because it’s going to be really tough.”
Defeat for fifth-placed Tottenham dealt a huge blow to their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
They remain seven points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, though they have two games in hand.
Liverpool were in the box seat in the title race just weeks ago but have won just one of their past five matches and Jurgen Klopp will almost certainly have to content himself with just the League Cup in his final season at Anfield.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Bournemouth beat Brighton 3-0 with goals from Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal and Justin Kluivert to set a new club Premier League points record.
Arsenal leapfrogged Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday after Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in Manchester City’s victory at Crystal Palace.
Goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard lifted the Gunners to 71 points — one clear of Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are tied on 70 points with defending champions City.
Liverpool face a trip to mercurial Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday in the next chapter of a thrilling three-way title race.
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Ange schools journo over Spurs finances | 04:10
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have now won 10 of their past 11 league games and have added steel to style after faltering badly in the home straight last season.
The Gunners boss hailed his team’s maturity and cleverness against a side who had not lost at home since August.
“In attack and defence we had big performances individually,” he told the BBC. “We missed some big chances but the team looked really connected and had purpose. The last pass and shot to finish the situation could have been better, but it doesn’t matter as we kept going.” Arsenal, who have not been crowned league champions since 2004, dominated the first half at the Amex Stadium but needed a penalty to take the lead.
The breakthrough came when Gabriel Jesus was brought down by Tariq Lamptey and the returning Saka sent Bart Verbruggen the wrong way for his 14th Premier League goal of the season in the 33rd minute.
Arsenal doubled their lead shortly after the hour mark when Jorginho set up Havertz at the near post for a simple tap-in and Trossard made it three with a deft chipped finish.
It was a big win for the Gunners.Source: Getty Images
DE BRUYNE MAGIC HANDS CITY WIN
In the early kick-off, De Bruyne netted twice and top scorer Erling Haaland hit his 19th league goal of the season in City’s 4-2 win at Selhurst Park.
Jean-Philippe Mateta gave the home side a shock early lead but De Bruyne levelled in the 13th minute with a curler into the top corner to quell any nerves from the visitors.
Palace carried an attacking threat but Rico Lewis put City ahead just after halftime and De Bruyne and Haaland combined for the third.
Midfielder De Bruyne added his second with a stinging shot in the 70th minute — his 100th goal for the club — to make the game safe, before substitute Odsonne Edouard scored a consolation.
City boss Pep Guardiola hailed the Belgium international, who missed five months of the season with a hamstring injury he sustained in the opening match at Burnley.
“Sometimes it’s Phil (Foden), Erling or Julian (Alvarez), today it was Kevin,” he said.
“Without him we would not be able to win this. You talk about managers but players like Kevin make this game easy.”
De Bruyne was on a different level.Source: Getty Images
TOFFEES FINALLY TURN IT AROUND
Everton went into their match against second-from-bottom Burnley desperately searching for a spark after a run of 13 Premier League matches without a win.
They struggled to impose themselves but benefited from a huge slice of fortune when goalkeeper Arijanet Muric’s clearance deflected in off Dominic Calvert-Lewin in first-half stoppage time.
Everton, who last played outside the English top-flight in the 1953/54 season, are now four points above the relegation zone.
But the club need everything they can get as they wait nervously to find out if they will be handed a second points deduction this season for breaking Premier League financial rules.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored an incredibly lucky goal.Source: Getty Images
BIG BOOST FOR SPURS
Fourth-placed Villa, who drew 3-3 against Brentford, will rue a second-half collapse that could prove costly in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Unai Emery’s men had led 2-0 before three goals in nine minutes from Mathias Jorgensen, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa turned the match on its head.
But Ollie Watkins levelled in the 80th minute, leaving Villa just three points above Tottenham, who have two games in hand.
Aston Villa’s English striker #11 Ollie Watkins reacts at the full time whistle.Source: AFP
Carlton Morris scored a 90th-minute goal in Luton’s 2-1 win against Bournemouth — a result that leaves them in the relegation zone but now level on points with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle edged past Fulham 1-0 courtesy of a late goal from Bruno Guimaraes while West Ham came from behind to beat Wolves 2-1.
The Premier League title race took another twist as the run home intensifies, while Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham were handed a boost as Manchester United were struck down by the ‘football gods’.
And a Manchester City superstar copped a giant whack from a former great.
Here are all the big talking points out of the Premier League weekend.
Erling Haaland copped a bake from a former great, while Manchester United scraped a draw despite a horror performance.Source: Getty Images
HAALAND WHACKED AS CITY RECORD BROKEN
It was billed as a title six-pointer as Arsenal travelled to Manchester City. It fell flat, with Liverpool the biggest winner out of the 0-0 draw.
The Reds went two points clear of the Gunners and three ahead of City with their 2-1 comeback win over Brighton, with nine matches to play.
But at the Etihad, there were a mere three shots on target as Arsenal’s defence strangled the Cityzens, who failed to score in a home game for the first time in 58 games in all competitions.
This time last year, Arsenal struggled with the pressure of a title race, collapsing to hand City a fifth crown in six years. That included a 4-1 loss to City at the Etihad – their eighth loss in a row at that venue.
This time around, they showed plenty of added steel thanks to a more mature and battle-hardened side, with their league-best defence holding out a City team that had 72 per cent of possession.
“Defensively we were outstanding,” said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. “The next step is with the ball to have more composure to attack better.
“They are the best team in the world by far, best manager by far, and we have to catch up. That’s the challenge for us.”
It’s clear in the last 12 months they have been catching up.
Arsenal’s defenders had the better of Erling Haaland all night.Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Manchester City star Erling Haaland’s poor showing saw him come in for a brutal whack from the great Roy Keane.
Haaland has 18 goals from 24 league games this season, but didn’t trouble the keeper with any of his (game-high) four shots. But his build-up play remains a key weakness in his game, and Keane didn’t hold back.
“The level of his general play is so poor and not just today,” Keane said. “I think laying his stuff off, headers, whatever it might be …. In terms of in front of goal, he’s the best in the world.
“But his general play for such a player it is so poor. Not just today, he has to improve.
“He’s almost like a League Two player, that’s how I look at him. His general play has to improve and it will do over the next few years.
“Being a brilliant striker is fantastic, but he has to improve his all-round game.”
Klopp’s message to Reds after going top | 00:47
REDS NOW ‘FAVOURITES’ AS SALAH MAKES HISTORY
How fun is a genuine three-way title race?
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, leaving at the end of the season, is determined to enjoy this final tilt.
Klopp said: “We have to get through this (and) we decide if we enjoy it or not, pretty much,” he said.
“It will be tough and yes, it is sometimes nerve-racking and the heart rate will be at 180 or 200 or whatever from time to time if you watch it or if you play in it.
“But if we all together enjoy this, then we have a chance. If we don’t, we still have a chance, it’s just really much more difficult and that’s why we try to stay positive in all these moments.”
He added: “But I decided I will really try hard to enjoy it.”
Liverpool fell behind to Brighton in the opening stages of the match but showed their mettle to claim a seventh comeback win this season – their most ever in a campaign.
They’ve picked up a whopping 26 points from losing positions in the league this year, three more than any club.
Luis Diaz hit the equaliser before Mohamed Salah struck the winner, the Egyptian having fluffed his lines plenty of times in the match before finally finding the net.
He took 12 shots in the game, the most of any player in the league in over seven years and an all-time Liverpool record in the Premier League era.
“Imagine Mo would have finished off all the situations in his career? That would be crazy, so it is absolutely fine,” said Klopp.
“We need him to try. Mo, like the others, was a bit in a rush to finish off situations and didn’t do like they can do it.
“But then being that calm in the decisive moment with the biggest chance we had from the best football we played, then that makes a real goalscorer so we are happy with everything.”
He was far from clinical, but Salah ensured another crucial win for the Reds.Source: Getty Images
According to Manchester City boss, the Reds are now favourites.
“Always who is first is favourite, second favourite is Arsenal,” said Guardiola. “It is not in our hands. All we can do is win against Aston Villa (next match).”
Liverpool also face fourth-place Villa in their run home, as well as fifth-place Tottenham and sixth-place Manchester United. Those matches might not just decide the title race, but could have a huge impact on who plays European football next year.
“That is the first of the last 10, let’s keep going,” Klopp said.
EPL Wrap: Spurs pull off comeback! | 02:24
ANGE’S HUGE BOOST AS ‘FOOTBALL GODS’ STRIKE
Do you believe in the football gods? Brentford boss Thomas Frank almost lost faith when his side fell a goal behind to Manchester United in the 96th minute through Mason Mount.
Brentford had dominated all game, taking a club-record 31 shots and hitting the woodwork four times.
But Kristoffer Ajer smashed the ball in the back of the net in the 99th minute to seal a point that was more than deserved for the Bees.
“There should have been only one winner in the game, that could only be us,” said Frank.
“Then you go 1-0 down in the 96th minute and you think football is brutal. I almost lost faith in the football God, but he gave a bit back.”
United were simply atrocious against a team that has won just twice in their last 16 Premier League matches.
“Brentford were better than us today. They showed more passion, desire and determination as we did,” said Man Utd boss Erik Ten Hag. “We have to show more.”
A win could have turned their season around and ignited a push for a top-four finish, but those hopes are dwindling. The Red Devils are now 11 points behind Villa in fourth (but have a game in hand) and eight behind Spurs in fifth.
Erik Ten Hag saw a potential season-defining win slip away.Source: Getty Images
The top four teams qualify for the Champions League, but that competitions’ expansion next season could see a fifth Premier League team given automatic qualification.
But United keeper Onana still believes they have a chance, saying: “I feel sad because we are Manchester United. Everywhere we go, we have to win. We gave away this game in the end.
“I know we will stick together because we did it in the last month. I hope we end in the top four.”
For Spurs, that last-gasp goal gave them more breathing room in fifth place – and now they’ll look ahead to Aston Villa’s clash with Manchester City on Thursday morning AEDT and hope that their top-four rivals drop points.
Having fought back to beat Luton Town 2-1 on the weekend, Spurs face West Ham on Wednesday morning AEDT but could be handed a crucial injury boost.
Fraser Forster (foot), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) and Manor Solomon (knee) are all still sidelined, but star defender Micky van de Ven could be set to start after being an unused substitute against Luton on his return from injury.
Postecoglou defends playing in Melbourne | 01:07
CHAOS IN THE RELEGATION RACE
This year’s relegation fight feels like a race to the bottom.
Of the bottom six teams – 15th placed Brentford and below – only Burnley have won a single match out of their last five! Crystal Palace in 14th also have one win from their last five, but the rest of the teams have gone totally winless of late.
Burnley are still second-bottom, three points ahead of last-placed Sheffield United who have just 15 so far (but have a game in hand).
Luton are on 22 points, level with 17th-place Nottingham Forest.
Everton have 25 points and a game in hand – but they haven’t won a game since before Christmas.
A Seamus Coleman own-goal in stoppage time saw Everton lose to Bournemouth.Source: Getty Images
With a second charge of breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR) hanging over their heads, a further points deduction could shake up the relegation race.
The deadline for a ruling on that charge is April 8, so we’ll find out in the next week whether they’ll cop a second points deduction after already being penalised six points for breaches regarding the 2021-22 season.
Even a three point deduction would send them back into the relegation zone – and breathe hope into the survival dreams of those mired at the bottom.
Of course, the priority for any of those teams down at the wrong end of the table is to win.
Given there’s been just one win from any bottom-six team in their last 30 games combined, statistics are showing a real gap between the strugglers and the rest of the division.
