In the heart of Manchester, Liverpool stands on the brink of an extraordinary achievement as they inch closer to securing the Premier League title. With a narrow 1-0 triumph over Leicester City, courtesy of a second-half goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Merseyside giants now need just one more victory to match Manchester Unitedโs record of 20 English league titles.
Yet, Liverpoolโs coronation might happen sooner if Arsenal fails against Crystal Palace midweek. However, regardless of Arsenalโs upcoming match, a win against Tottenham at Anfield next Sunday will cement Liverpoolโs title glory.
The Liverpool camp is buzzing with excitement. Alexander-Arnold, who clinched the crucial goal, expressed the teamโs anticipation by celebrating passionately after his decisive strike. A previous tension-filled fixture against Leicester saw the former champions put up a brave fight. While they managed to disallow a Conor Coady goal after finding the back of the net, it was not enough to prevent their relegation from the top flight.
Liverpoolโs journey has not been without its challenges, as they narrowly escaped frustration by a resilient Leicester team that not only threatened with several attempts but restricted Liverpoolโs scoring opportunities until Alexander-Arnoldโs moment of magic. His introduction helped break the deadlock, as he managed to guide a crucial shot past Leicesterโs keeper Mads Hermansen, prompting an ecstatic celebration with Liverpoolโs traveling fans.
The sense of achieving victory this season under normal circumstances holds special meaning compared to their previous victory in 2020 when lockdown restrictions meant empty stands. Alexander-Arnold spoke of the significance, saying, โSecuring the title in front of fans this time makes it even more special.โ
Earlier in the day, Arsenal ensured Liverpoolโs wait was extended by thrashing Ipswich Town 4-0. Leandro Trossardโs opener was complemented by Gabriel Martinelliโs goal before halftime. Arsenal then completed the rout with further goals from Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri. With eyes on their midweek fixture against Palace, Arsenal is set to delay Liverpoolโs championship celebration.
On the downside, Manchester Unitedโs dreams of closing gaps in the Premier League took a hit. Following their thrilling Europa League comeback, their domestic form suffered another blow with a home defeat to Wolves. This marked Unitedโs 15th league defeat this season, setting a new undesirable record in their Premier League history. Unitedโs point tally has been a shadow of their former years, compounded by Ruben Amorimโs acknowledgment of the teamโs struggles in front of goal.
Wolves, on the other hand, celebrated their sustained Premier League tenure with a hard-fought win against Manchester United. A memorable free-kick from substitute Pablo Sarabia secured a vital win ensuring their safety, matching Unitedโs points total in the league.
In neighboring West London, Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback against Fulham to climb into fifth place. Trailing behind after Alex Iwobiโs early goal, Chelsea waited until the dying moments to turn the game around. Goals from Tyrique George and Pedro Neto ensured a pivotal victory that nudged Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in the standings. Their resurgence keeps them in contention for a Champions League spot, especially with an extra spot available due to English clubsโ performances in European competitions.