EPL Weekend Recap: Arsenal Takes Lead, Liverpool’s Setback, Everton Ends Unlucky Streak

In the Premier League title race, Arsenal took the lead after a 3-0 victory against Brighton, while Liverpool settled for a 2-2 draw against Manchester United. This outcome allowed the Gunners to claim the top spot due to their superior goal difference. Meanwhile, defending champions Manchester City are just one point behind the top two following a 4-2 win over Crystal Palace led by’ Kevin De Bruyne.

At the other end of the table, Everton and Luton secured much-needed wins, adding excitement to the relegation battle.

Sportxparte analyzes three key talking points from the weekend’s Premier League action.

Liverpool experiences setback at Old Trafford.

Liverpool faced a setback once again at Old Trafford, unable to secure a decisive victory against Manchester United. Despite their dominance in the first half, showed by’ Luis Diaz’s goal, the Reds couldn’t capitalize on their chances.

Bruno Fernandes & Kobbie Mainoo’s impressive goals turned the tide in favor of United, leading to a 2-2 draw. This result marked Liverpool’s third consecutive failure to defeat United this season, adding to their struggles against their bitter rivals.

Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the challenge of playing at Old Trafford, where his team has only managed two wins in 11 visits during his tenure as Liverpool manager. Reflecting on the match, Klopp noted, “It’s more difficult for us away at United,” when asked about Arsenal’s upcoming visit to Old Trafford.

The draw against United dealt a blow to Liverpool’s Premier League title aspirations, as they now trail Arsenal by goal difference & hold just a one-point lead over Manchester City with seven games left in the season.

If Liverpool falls short in securing the title this season, it will be moments like these that they will reflect upon, wondering how crucial points slipped away despite their strong performance.

Havertz hits his peak form.

Kai Havertz played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s recent triumph over Brighton, with his performance earning high praise from manager Mikel Arteta. Arteta commended Havertz, stating, “He’s certainly having a huge impact on the team. I think his overall performances have been really good & now his numbers in terms of goal contributions are high.”

The German midfielder, who had faced criticism during his early days at Arsenal following a £65 million move from Chelsea, showcased his quality by scoring Arsenal’s second goal & setting up Leandro Trossard for another. Havertz’s recent form has been exceptional, with five goals and four assists in the last seven Premier League games.

Reflecting on the team’s growth & resilience, Bukayo Saka emphasized the lessons learned from the previous season’s title race setback. Saka stated, “Last season was not great, but it was great in terms of we learned our lesson. Games like this we need to put to bed. This year we feel more comfortable. I feel the team is better.” He also highlighted the team’s collective mentality, saying, “From the keeper to the striker, you saw Kai and how hard he’s working. We know how we’re going to handle it. We go to win, that’s the mentality we must have.”

Everton’s unlucky streak ends

Over the weekend, Everton ended their club-record 13-game winless streak in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over relegation rivals Burnley at Goodison Park. The only goal of the match came in a stroke of luck as Arijanet Muric’s clearance inadvertently deflected off Dominic Calvert-Lewin & found its way into the net. This win provided Everton with a much-needed boost, lifting them four points clear of the relegation zone, although they face the threat of a potential points deduction for breaching financial regulations.

Meanwhile, Luton Town secured their first win in 12 games by defeating Bournemouth 2-1, intensifying the relegation battle in the Premier League. The tight competition sees the five teams positioned between 14th and 18th separated by just five points, with Brentford & Crystal Palace now also pulled into the mix.

Calvert-Lewin, who recently ended a 23-game goal drought in the previous match against Newcastle, continued his scoring form by netting the crucial goal for Everton in the first half. Despite missing an opportunity to double the lead early in the second half, he played a pivotal role in securing the victory for his team.

Burnley’s hopes of staging a comeback suffered a blow when Dara O’Shea’s mistake led to a red card for a professional foul on Dwight McNeil, leaving them with a numerical disadvantage.