Liverpool’s late performance, Arsenal’s implosion: Was Saturday a pivotal day in the Premier League title race? | Football news
On Saturday at 16:48, Arsenal hoped to catch Liverpool. By the end of the day, Arne Slot’s men held the trophy with one hand. Was this a decisive day in the title race?
As the clock ticked down towards stoppage time in west London, with Liverpool leading 0-0 against Brentford, the Arsenal fans sitting at the Emirates sensed an opportunity.
Can they close the gap to just two points?
But then Darwin Nunez did Darwin Nunez things.
Turns out Liverpool were just kidding.
Nunez’s late double sent the club to a massive three points in the circumstances and the chance for Arsenal to potentially take a serious step in the title race was gone. By the time he blew the final whistle in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, the home fans had their heads in their hands.
The gap is now six points and Liverpool have a game in hand.
According to the bookies, Sloto’s players now have a 77 percent chance of winning the title – the highest percentage probability any team has had this season.
“The swing is huge,” he said Sky Sports‘ Paul Merson.
“I would be shocked if Liverpool didn’t win the title from here. It was too easy from Arsenal for me, too careless.
“If you want to win the Premier League, you have to turn up every day, every week. You have to be ready to work.
“I’ve supported Arsenal for the last two years and I thought you know what they were unlucky, they pushed one of the best teams we’ve ever seen right down to the penultimate and last game.
“Now I’m looking at them and I’m thinking, have they got it? When push comes to shove like today?”
Sky Sports’ Commenting, Gary Neville said: “Arsenal blew a 2-0 lead here. There are some pretty downcast faces on the pitch and around this stadium.
“It’s a big day in the title race and it’s going even more towards Liverpool.”
Arsenal were in complete control of their clash with Aston Villa at 2-0, but two quick-fire goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins from crosses that exposed Arsenal’s frailty without William Saliba turned the contest on its head.
Of both goals, Merson said, “They’re school errors. It’s not like teams are opening them up and you’re going, ‘Oh my God.’
“I don’t care what division you are in, those two goals can be stopped if you do your job.
All you ask as a manager is for the players to get on the pitch and do their job.
“And today some players let Mikel Arteta down and I don’t think it’s because the team is shallow because we saw two big mistakes today – Mikel Merino let Tielemans get away from him and honestly I can’t believe what I just saw with Thomas Partey [leaving Watkins free to score the equaliser].”
Arteta: Liverpool’s substitutes won it for them but we are very short
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are “very short” and hinted that the club must act in the January transfer window after the 2-2 draw with Villa.
Asked if Liverpool’s win felt like a key moment in the title race, he said: “There are moments. They’ve obviously done it.
“They made substitutions and the substitutions had an impact and managed to change the game.
“And on our side it was the opposite, although after conceding two goals very close to each other, the danger was, because I knew what kind of team they were, that we could fall because we were physically exhausted.
“The team found another gear again and just put Aston Villa in there, in the box, and went and went again, trying to find a goal which in the end we couldn’t get.”
Despite his side’s fatigue, Arteta only used one substitute in the on-loan Raheem Sterling, who failed to make an impact.
Asked if the circumstances highlighted the need for January reinforcements, he said: “Not the result. When you look at the performances, I don’t know how many teams play at this level in the league, but when you look at the bench, you probably say, I think we’re very short.”
Asked if he was worried about Saliba’s injury, he added: “Yeah, for sure. Especially with the numbers we have in the team and looking at our bench. Very worried.”
He added: “Offensively and defensively, the level we’re playing at is so high. We’ve been so good but something’s missing, that line is so thin.
“Today we can’t concede the goals we gave. That line is so thin, we’ve been punished before and we can’t do that.”
Analysis: If Salah doesn’t get you, the bench will
Sky Sports’ Oli Yew:
Nunez and Liverpool were good in the end, and Sloto’s ability to empty Liverpool’s bench with fresh attacking options could be crucial in their bid to win their first title in five years.
Liverpool, who were even without the injured Diogo Jota, scored a staggering 37 shots on Brentford – a record for an away team in the Premier League – but it was their ability to withstand that pressure with fresh legs that got them over the line in the end. .
Nunez stepped in to help on this occasion, but Harvey Elliott, who does not have as many minutes this season as he would like, played a key role from the bench, with an assist for the second.
If Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo don’t get you, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott will! And with other sides in the league struggling with injuries and depleted squads, that depth could be a key factor in Liverpool’s bid to bring the title back to Anfield.
Frank: Liverpool is a level above
Brentford coach Thomas Frank compares Liverpool favorably to Arsenal and Manchester City:
“I think we’ve just played against City and Arsenal and now Liverpool in a short period of time. For me, [Liverpool] are a level above these two teams. They are complete. Their work ethic, the way they follow through, are good indicators.
“They are so good all over the pitch. Such a threat going forward. They are really, really good. They are the best team in the Premier League and in the world. They are big favorites to win. [the title].”