Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday was cut to seven points after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Newcastle United, with Fabian Schar saying that his equalizer was merely an attempt to keep the ball in play.
Chelsea moved up to second by thrashing last-placed Southampton 5-1, while Arsenal were third after a 2-0 win over Manchester United.
Fourth-placed Manchester City ended their seven-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Liverpool’s result will give hope to their title rivals after Schar’s 90th-minute equalizer at St James’ Park.
Arne Slot’s team had twice come back from a goal down to take the lead in the 83rd minute through Mohamed Salah’s second goal of the match, but the Merseyside club were denied an eighth straight win in all competitions when Newcastle produced a fightback of their own.
“I have mixed feelings. We were outstanding in the second half, but we were not good enough in the first half,” Slot said. “Maybe 3-3 is what the game deserved.”
Photo: Reuters
After wins over Real Madrid and Manchester City last week, Liverpool’s title credentials were given a stern test by Newcastle, who led at halftime through Alexander Isak and again in the second half through Anthony Gordon.
Goals from Curtis Jones and Salah twice leveled the game before Salah looked to have sealed the win late on.
Then came the final equalizer.
Photo: Reuters
Schar later confessed that his goal was an attempt to keep the ball in play.
He dived with his feet forward to send a Bruno Guimaraes free-kick into the net from a tight angle as Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was caught out of position, earning a crucial point at home for 10th-placed Newcastle.
“Well to be honest, I was on a stretch, so I thought I’d try to keep it in play and bring it into the dangerous area,” the Swiss defender told Amazon Prime, adding that he could not say whether he actually wanted to shoot.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“But obviously great goal, a great finish,” he added.
Chelsea and Arsenal took advantage.
Chelsea’s third league win in a row put them ahead of Arsenal on goal-difference.
City also reduced the gap and were nine points behind Liverpool after finally ending the worst run of results of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.
“We needed it. The club, the players, everyone needed to win,” Guardiola said.
Liverpool dropped points for only the third time this season after drawing against Arsenal and losing to Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca this week said that his team were not in the title race, but the standings tell a different story.
The London club were Liverpool’s closest challenger after their latest win against 10-man Southampton.
Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho were all on target in the rout at St Mary’s Stadium.
Southampton had briefly leveled the game through Joe Aribo, but Chelsea were already 3-1 up and in control when Jack Stephens was sent off before the break.
Arsenal inflicted a first loss on new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Two goals from second-half corners made the difference, with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba finding the back of the net, but Arsenal still slipped to third, despite edging closer to Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta’s team finished runners-up in each of the past two seasons and look primed to challenge again after making an unconvincing start to the campaign.
“You get written off, but we stuck together as a group,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said. “You stick together and we’re starting to reap the rewards of that.”
Making his first start since September, Kevin de Bruyne showed Manchester City exactly what they had been missing by scoring a goal and creating another as the four-time defending champions got back to winning ways.
In other results, Everton beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 and Aston Villa defeated Brentford 3-1.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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