One more point is all Liverpool need to secure a record-tying 20th Premier League title after second-placed Arsenal on Wednesday drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace.
Arne Slot’s runaway leaders can take care of business on Sunday by avoiding defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in what is set to be a big party at Anfield. A draw or a win would ensure Liverpool cannot be caught by Arsenal with four rounds remaining. They would clinch a second title in five years, tying with Manchester United on No. 20 overall.
Becoming the champions in 2020 ended the storied club’s 30-year title drought, but Liverpool’s players could not celebrate in front of their fans because of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: EPA-EFE
They will try to make up for it this weekend.
Arsenal twice squandered the lead at Emirates Stadium, with Jean-Philippe Mateta taking advantage of a defensive error by William Saliba to score Palace’s second equalizer in the 83rd minute and leave Arsenal 12 points behind Liverpool.
Arsenal, who started with star forward Bukayo Saka on the bench, looked vulnerable throughout against Palace, with their players perhaps having an eye on the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain starting next week.
“We have the most important game of the season in six days,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We need to get our energy back.”
Arsenal have been runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League the previous two seasons and are facing a third straight second-place finish.
However, an improving City — 2-1 winners over Aston Villa on Tuesday — are only six points back in third place after Arsenal’s 13th draw of an inconsistent campaign.
The hosts went ahead through Jakub Kiwior’s header at a free-kick in the third minute, only for Palace to reply when playmaker Eberechi Eze met a corner with a brilliantly taken downward volley that skimmed off the turf and flew in off the post in the 27th minute.
Leandro Trossard wriggled free in the area and scored with a deflected shot in the 42nd minute to restore Arsenal’s lead. Mateta had the final say, though, capitalizing on Saliba’s poor pass and floating a shot over stranded goalkeeper David Raya from about 40m.
Palace remained in 12th place.
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