Jota saves Liverpool in epic 10-man battle, Arsenal’s title hopes stumble in frustration
Liverpool’s title charge faced a setback on Saturday as a late strike from Diogo Jota salvaged a 2-2 draw against Fulham at Anfield. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s hopes of closing the gap on the Premier League leaders were dashed in a goalless draw against Everton.
Liverpool’s Comeback Drama
Reduced to 10 men early in the game after Andy Robertson was sent off for a professional foul on Harry Wilson, Liverpool endured a challenging afternoon. Fulham capitalised on their numerical advantage, taking the lead in the 11th minute when Andreas Pereira’s agile volley deflected off Robertson into the net.
Despite the setback, Liverpool equalised shortly after half-time as Cody Gakpo headed home from Mohamed Salah’s cross, scoring his ninth goal in all competitions this season.
Fulham, however, struck again in the 76th minute when Rodrigo Muniz bundled in Antonee Robinson’s cross, appearing to seal a shock victory for the visitors.
But Liverpool, showcasing their resilience, found a saviour in Jota. With just four minutes left on the clock, the Portuguese forward coolly slotted past Bernd Leno to secure a point for the league leaders, extending their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 19 matches.
Arsenal’s Missed Opportunity
Arsenal had a chance to close the gap on Liverpool but were left frustrated in a 0-0 stalemate with Everton at the Emirates Stadium. Despite dominating possession, the Gunners failed to convert their chances, exposing their lack of attacking prowess outside of set-pieces, a concern that has plagued them this season.
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With two consecutive league draws, Arsenal remain in third place, six points adrift of Liverpool, who still have a game in hand.
Newcastle Thrashes Leicester
Elsewhere, Newcastle delivered a crushing 4-0 victory over Leicester, handing Ruud van Nistelrooy his first defeat as the Foxes’ manager. Goals from Jacob Murphy, Bruno Guimaraes, and Alexander Isak sealed the dominant performance, leaving Leicester just two points above the relegation zone.
Ipswich Edges Wolves in Thriller
In a dramatic bottom-of-the-table clash, Ipswich secured a 2-1 victory against Wolves at Molineux. Jack Taylor’s stoppage-time header clinched the win, lifting Ipswich closer to safety while piling pressure on Wolves’ manager, Gary O’Neil.
What’s Next?
Liverpool now sit five points clear of second-placed Chelsea, who could reduce the gap with a win against Brentford on Sunday. Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa will face off in Saturday’s late game, both vying to cement their positions as top-four contenders.
For Arsenal and Liverpool, the weekend’s results underscore the unpredictability of this season’s Premier League title race.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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