Arsenal draw with City: Klopp and Liverpool top spot

ILiverpool regained top spot in the Premier League table on Easter Sunday in the English Premier League title race. After an early deficit, the Reds deservedly beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 (1-1) at home and then capitalized on a result from their title rivals. The main match between Manchester City and Arsenal remained goalless.

The three-way battle in the Premier League remains exciting. After 29 games and nine games remaining, league leaders Liverpool have 67 points, second-place Arsenal have 65 and Manchester City remain in third place with 64 points.

Liverpool win after false start

Luis Diaz (27th minute) and Mohamed Salah (65th minute) scored for the hosts at Anfield Stadium. “I think we can all agree we deserved to win,” said Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, who was without injured strikers Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez and goalkeeper Alisson. “So it was a really good day.” His team had gotten off to a false start earlier. Brighton took the lead less than two minutes later through Danny Welbeck (2nd).

Liverpool, with former Bundesliga professionals Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig) and Wataru Endo (Stuttgart) in the starting line-up, were the better team overall and put the visitors under pressure with constant attacks.

However, the Reds were too inaccurate in front of goal and missed good chances. Salah alone made about a dozen shots on goal. Luis Diaz’s intended extra goal was disallowed due to offside. So Klopp’s team had to tremble until the final whistle.

Reigning champions Manchester City, with German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega in goal, and Arsenal, with international Kai Havertz, engaged in a fierce duel at the Etihad Stadium, with City initially setting the tone. Coach Pep Guardiola’s side, who won the treble title last season, put the weak Gunners under pressure, especially in the first half, but rarely had shots on target.