Draw prolongs Liverpool's title wait following Arsenal-Crystal Palace stalemate
Liverpool Nails Down Title Championship with a Point Against Tottenham
It's a party at Anfield as Liverpool stands on the brink of a historic feat. The Reds only require a single point against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to seal a record-equaling 20th Premier League title.
Arsenal faltered on Wednesday, drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace, leaving them 12 points adrift of Liverpool with four games left to play. A defeat, draw, or even a win by Liverpool would render Arsenal's title hopes impossible.
In 2020, when Liverpool last claimed the championship, their glory was muted by pandemic restrictions, depriving them of the opportunity to celebrate in front of their passionate supporters. This weekend, the Reds intend to make up for lost time.
Arsenal's slip-up at the Emirates Stadium saw them relinquish the lead twice, with Jean-Philippe Mateta exploiting a defensive blunder by William Saliba to Score Palace's second equalizer in the 83rd minute. This result leaves Arsenal trailing Liverpool by a significant margin.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the significance of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain, starting next week, which may have affected his team's focus against Crystal Palace. Arsenal have finished runners-up in the Premier League for the past two seasons and are currently facing a third consecutive second-place finish.
Manchester City, currently in third place, are not entirely out of the running, but they trail Liverpool by 18 points. The Citizens managed a narrow 2-1 victory against Aston Villa on Tuesday and will be hopeful they can mount a challenge in the remaining games.
The contest between Arsenal and Palace was a closely fought battle. Jakub Kiwior gave Arsenal an early lead with a header from a free-kick, but Palace leveled the score when playmaker Eberechi Eze scored a stunning downward volley from a corner. Leandro Trossard restored Arsenal's lead with a deflected shot before Mateta clinched a dramatic equalizer for Palace, capitalizing on Saliba's errant pass and firing a shot from approximately 40 meters that sailed over goalkeeper David Raya.
Palace remains secure in 12th place.
[Source: Associated Press]
Footnote: Liverpool needs only a point against Tottenham Hotspur to secure a record-tying 20th Premier League title. Arsenal and Manchester City cannot catch up, even if Liverpool drop points in remaining games.
Despite Arsenal's brilliant performance against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, their title hopes appear bleak, as they trail Liverpool by 12 points with only four games remaining in the Premier League. Managing a draw, loss, or even a win by Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday would cement Liverpool's 20th title, a significant feat in English football. Despite Manchester City's 2-1 win against Aston Villa, they are still 18 points behind Liverpool and seemingly unable to challenge for the title. In contrast, Arsenal's thin margin in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain might have impacted their focus against Crystal Palace, causing them to drop points.
