Arsenal are top of the Premier League after another weekend of stellar action, which saw Manchester United draw 2-2 with Liverpool to deny the Reds top spot.
Only three weeks ago, the Red Devils dumped Liverpool out of the FA Cup, and they almost beat Jurgen Klopp’s team again until Mo Salah converted a late penalty to earn a point. Arsenal and Manchester City both won, and that means, with seven games remaining, just one point separates the top three.
United’s trip to Chelsea in midweek turned out to be a disaster for Ten Hag, as he watched his team concede two goals in the last two minutes to lose the game.
He vowed that his team would channel their anger and take it out on Liverpool. The opening was frantic with chances at both ends, but it was Jurgen Klopp’s Reds who broke the deadlock when Luis Diaz swept home a flick from Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool had chances to add to their lead but were wasteful in front of goal, and they were punished early in the second half when Bruno Fernandes read a poor ball from Jarrel Quansah and hit a first-time effort over Caoimhin Kelleher and into the net.
Then came the moment of the game when Kobbie Mainoo turned and hit an absolute beauty sailing into the far corner, and Old Trafford erupted.
2-1 to United with 20 huge minutes to play, and cometh the hour… cometh the man.
Aaran Wan Bissaka fouled Harvey Elliot, the referee pointed to the spot, and Mo Salah converted the penalty to become the first opposition player to score in four consecutive matches at Old Trafford.
Gunners’ defence delivers again
They had a bit of a scare in the early exchanges of their match against Brighton and Hove Albion, but Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal kept a fifth consecutive away clean sheet as they beat the Seagulls 3-0 with goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard.
Keeper David Raya has gone from strength to strength, and he was called on to make a couple of fine saves before Arsenal took control just after the half hour. Tariq Lamptey fouled Gabriel Jesus, and VAR refused to save the Brighton defender before Saka converted coolly from 12 yards.
The Seagulls have been strong at home, but they fell further behind when Havertz prodded home his ninth goal of the campaign, and Leandro Trossard made it comfortable late in the game.
Arteta’s Arsenal have strengthened and learned from last season’s disappointment, and they have proved themselves really hard to beat, with William Saliba having a superb campaign alongside Gabriel at centre-back, Declan Rice commanding the middle of the park, and Havertz joining Saka as a potent force up front.
De Bruyne’s return makes City favourites
So Arsenal are top, Liverpool are second, and Manchester City are third. While the Premier League 2024 betting odds nudged towards Merseyside last week, I have to say the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the City line-up has made the Sky Blues look like a seriously good bet again.
Along with Erling Haaland, the Belgium maestro was rested for City’s midweek game with Aston Villa, and he returned in top form as Pep Guardiola’s side beat Crystal Palace 4-2.
After Jean-Phillipe Mateta had given the Eagles an early lead, De Bruyne curled in a sumptuous leveller, and he smashed in his second before teeing up a goal for Haaland. Rico Lewis scored City’s other goal, while Odsonne Edouard grabbed a consolation for Palace.
De Bruyne now has 100 goals for Manchester City as well as making 158 assists, and his manager said: “We can talk about tactics but give me players like Kevin.”
Manchester City are playing Real Madrid on Tuesday, a game we previewed here at SBOTOP, and on this evidence, Guardiola can be confident his team can take the pressure of a tough run of fixtures, having recently played Arsenal and Liverpool.
Guardiola has a wealth of talent on his team, but De Bruyne is still the best.
Hats off to Edward’s battlers
Rob Edwards’ Luton Town are still fighting in their battle for survival, and they clawed their way back from a one-goal deficit to beat Bournemouth in front of 11,000 delirious fans at Kenilworth Road.
Marcus Tavernier had given the Cherries a lead early in the second half, but Jordan Clark hammered the Hatters level with just over 15 minutes remaining. And when Carlton Morris swept home a cross from Cauley Woodrow in the last minute of normal time, there was bedlam in the crowd.
The 2-1 win took Luton level on 25 points with Nottingham Forest, and their goal-scoring hero cost a mere £1 million.
In other Premier League 2024 news, Everton boosted their hopes of survival with a 1-0 win over Burnley, a result that leaves the Clarets perilously close to the drop.
It was a Sean Dyche master class against his old club, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s lucky goal, a ricochet off a clearance from Burnley keeper Aro Muric, was enough to beat the 19th-placed team. The Clarets saw defender Dara O Shea sent off, but the Toffees were hanging on at the end, with 37 per cent possession and 68 per cent passing accuracy.
Dyche won’t care one bit though, as Everton registered their first win in 14 games.
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