Toolbox tops Liverpool, cuts Reds’ Premier League lead to 2 points

Liverpool’s lead atop the Premier League now stands at simply 2 points following Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal in London — a outcome that puts Manchester City in the motorist’s seat to hoist the prize for the 4th straight year.

The Gunners controlled from kickoff at the Emirates Stadium, with Bukayo Saka opening the scoring for the hosts simply 14 minutes in. Mikel Arteta’s side appeared well on their method to success as the veryfirst half used on, just for an own objective simply inthepast halftime by Arsenal protector Gabriel Magalhães to sendout the 2 teams to the dressing spaces on even terms.

But Arsenal recovered its lead after the break following a accident inbetween Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker and protector Virgil van Dijk. Gabriel Martinelli was there to attack on the loose ball which, with Alisson on the ground, he rolled into an empty net. Liverpool protector Ibrahima Konaté was lateron revealed a red card for his 2nd care of the videogame before second-half alternative Leandro Trossard included Arsenal’s 3rd objective in interruption time, topping the visitors’ unpleasant day.

Arsenal’s accomplishment was enough for the Gunners to leapfrog City into sole ownership of 2nd location behind the Reds. But third-place City has played 2 less videogames than either Liverpool or Arsenal. The Sky Blues checkout Brentford on Monday, a match Pep Guardiola’s side is greatly preferred to win.

City would pull back level on points with Arsenal if they do.  They’d likewise control their own fate as far as keeping the title. Liverpool’s loss — simply its 2nd of the season in league play — on Sunday indicates that must Guardiola & Co. win all 17 of their staying matches and Jürgen Klopp’s Reds win each of their last 15, City would claim the Premier League crown by a single point. Liverpool and Manchester City face each other for the last time this season on March 9 at Anfield. 

Man City has won 5 of the last 6 English titles. Liverpool beat City out in 2019, its only win giventhat1990 Arsenal last endedup atop the Prem twenty years ago this year.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports. Before signingupwith FOX Sports in 2021, he was a personnel author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he hasactually covered United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at numerous FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.