EPL PIX: Liverpool rise 13 points clear; Manchester City go fourth

6 Minutes Read Listen to Article
Share:

Last updated on: February 27, 2025 04:20 IST

x

A round-up of Wednesday's action in the Premier League

Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring Liverpool's first goal in the Premier League match against Newcastle United at Anfield, Liverpool, on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring Liverpool's first goal in the Premier League match against Newcastle United at Anfield, Liverpool, on Wednesday. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Leaders Liverpool continued their relentless march towards the Premier League title with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday, moving 13 points clear thanks to goals in each half from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.

Arne Slot's men extended their gaping lead over second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand. Newcastle slipped one spot to sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

 

Alexis Mac Allister essays a blistering shot into the top corner for Liverpool's second goal.

IMAGE: Alexis Mac Allister essays a blistering shot which found the top corner of Newcastle United’s net for Liverpool's second goal. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Szoboszlai struck in the 11th minute when Luis Diaz worked the ball down the left before cutting it back for the unmarked Hungarian, who Newcastle's Sandro Tonali had allowed to dart away into space.

The midfielder fired home a close-range shot that sailed through two sets of legs and past goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Newcastle were better after the break, but Mac Allister doubled the home side's lead in the 63rd minute, when Mohamed Salah cut the ball back for the Argentinian, who punished the visitors for their sloppy defending with a blistering shot into the top corner.

Haaland's goal at Tottenham sends Manchester City up to fourth

Manchester City's Erling Haaland breaks through to score what turned out to be the only goal of the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Manchester City's Erling Haaland breaks through to score what turned out to be the only goal of the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Manchester City's Erling Haaland became the second player to score at least 20 goals in each of his first three Premier League seasons, scoring the winner as the champions won 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur to return to the top four.

Haaland, back after missing Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by Liverpool because of injury, turned in Jeremy Doku's low cross in the 12th minute to put Pep Guardiola's side ahead.

The Norwegian could have added to his tally as City dominated the opening period with home keeper Guglielmo Vicario making good saves from him and Doku while Savinho put a great chance over the crossbar.

City's profligacy almost proved costly as Tottenham dominated the second half with Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel squandering chances and Son Heung-min denied by Ederson after coming off the bench.

Victory lifted City to fourth on 47 points from 27 games while Tottenham are 13th on 33.

Another blow to Arsenal's title hopes after draw at Forest

Nottingham Forest's goalkeeper Matz Sels makes a save to deny Arsenal's Martin Odegaard a goal in the match at The City Ground, Nottingham.

IMAGE: Nottingham Forest's goalkeeper Matz Sels makes a save to deny Arsenal's Martin Odegaard a goal in the match at The City Ground, Nottingham. Photograph: Chris Radburn/Reuters

Arsenal’s faint title hopes dimmed even further after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest despite dominating Wednesday's encounter at the City Ground between the second and third-placed teams in the Premier League.

Arsenal were already 11 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand, before the start of the midweek fixtures and their failure to win on Wednesday leaves their quest looking increasingly unlikely.

Forest remain six points behind Arsenal in third place, keeping up their hopes of Champions League football next season, as they advanced to 48 points although they spent much of the game defending their goal.

It was a second successive match without a goal for the Gunners after they lost at home to West Ham United at the weekend, while Forest have won one of their last five league outings.

Maguire takes 10-man Manchester United past Ipswich

Harry Maguire scores Manchester United's third goal against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, Manchester.

IMAGE: Harry Maguire scores Manchester United's third goal against Ipswich Town with a header, at Old Trafford, Manchester. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters

Harry Maguire's header earned 10-man Manchester United a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town, a vital victory that pulled Ruben Amorim's struggling side clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Amorim has endured a miserable time since joining the club in November, especially at home, with more Old Trafford pain on the cards after woeful defending let Jaden Philogene in for Ipswich's early opener.

United responded well, however, and turned the match on its head as an own goal from Ipswich captain Sam Morsy and Matthijs de Ligt's close-range finish put the hosts in front after 26 minutes.

The game swung again when United defender Patrick Dorgu was sent off two minutes before the break for a late lunge on Omari Hutchinson and the 10 players conceded almost immediately, Philogene again the Ipswich scorer.

With the visitors having all the second half to make their numerical advantage count, it was Maguire who settled the match just after the interval to earn United a win that moved them up to 14th in the standings, 16 points clear of Ipswich in 18th.

O’Brien earns Everton draw at Brentford

Jake O'Brien heads home Vitaliy Mykolenko’s deep cross to enable Everton hold Brentford at the GTech Community Stadium, London.

IMAGE: Jake O'Brien heads home Vitaliy Mykolenko’s deep cross to enable Everton hold Brentford at the GTech Community Stadium, London. Photograph: Tony O Brien/Reuters

Jake O’Brien scored his first goal for Everton as the Merseyside club came from behind to draw 1-1 at Brentford and stretch their unbeaten run in the Premier League under returning manager David Moyes to seven games.

Yoane Wissa gave the home side the lead deep into first-half injury time when he reacted quickest to the loose ball after Bryan Mbeumo’s header from a long throw rebounded off the crossbar.

Everton striker Beto missed two excellent one-on-one chances with the game goalless and the visitors got the point they deserved when right back O’Brien headed in at the back post on 77 minutes from Vitaliy Mykolenko’s deep cross.

Brentford are in 11th place in the table with 38 points from 27 games, while injury-hit Everton and their depleted squad are in 15th with 32 points from the same number of matches.

For Brentford, it was the sixth home fixture in a row without a win, in stark contrast to their excellent form on the road where they have won their last four.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Share: