Liverpool Steadily Marching Towards a Record-Breaking Title
Liverpool moved closer to securing the English Premier League title after a 2–1 win over West Ham United in Matchweek 32, raising their tally to 76 points—13 ahead of their closest rivals, Arsenal, who were held to a 1–1 draw by visitors Brentford on Saturday.
With six matchweeks remaining in the season, the Reds now need just two more wins to clinch their 20th league title, equaling the record held by their city rivals Manchester United, who have struggled this season and suffered yet another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Newcastle United, 4–1.
The match was a celebratory occasion for Liverpool fans, who gave a rousing ovation to Egyptian star Mohamed Salah when the lineups were announced before kickoff. Salah had just renewed his contract with the club for an additional two years the previous Friday.
Salah himself played a role in the opening goal when he delivered a precise assist to his unmarked Colombian teammate Luis Díaz, who slotted it into the net (18).
After several attempts in the second half, the London side managed to equalize when Aaron Wan-Bissaka sent in a cross that Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk tried to clear, but it deflected off his Scottish teammate Andrew Robertson and into their own net (86).
Just three minutes later, Van Dijk redeemed the earlier error between him and Robertson by scoring the winning goal with a header following a corner taken by Argentine Alexis Mac Allister (89).
United’s Misfortunes Continue
Meanwhile, St. James’ Park witnessed yet another crushing defeat for Manchester United, who were beaten 4–1 by hosts Newcastle, who moved up to fourth place with the victory.
Newcastle raised their tally to 56 points, edging one point ahead of Manchester City, while Chelsea dropped to sixth place with 54 points.
While Newcastle played without their manager Eddie Howe—hospitalized Friday evening due to a health scare—Manchester United’s Portuguese coach Rúben Amorim benched Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana, replacing him with Turkish shot-stopper Altay Bayındır due to the former’s mistakes against Lyon in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals, where he conceded two goals last Thursday.
Newcastle opened the scoring when Swedish striker Alexander Isak played a clever ball behind United’s defense, which was finished by Italian player Sandro Tonali (24).
Before the end of the first half, the visitors equalized through their Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho, whose left-footed shot deflected off the post and into the net (37). However, the hosts regained the lead through winger Ashley Barnes (49), who later added a third after a solo effort (64).
The rout was completed when Bayındır misplayed a pass, which fell to Brazilian Bruno Guimarães, who slotted it home for Newcastle’s fourth (77).
Chelsea, for their part, dropped two crucial points in the race for a top-five finish and a Champions League spot after a 2–2 home draw against modest side Ipswich Town.
The visitors went up with two goals scored by Paraguayan Julio Enciso (19) and Ben Johnson (31), while the hosts replied with an own goal by Axel Tuanzebe (46) and a strike by Jadon Sancho (80).
Wolverhampton defeated visiting Tottenham Hotspur 4–2. The winners’ goals came from Algerian Rayan Aït-Nouri (2), an own goal by Spurs defender Djed Spence (38), Denmark’s Jørgen Strand Larsen (64), and Brazil’s Matheus Cunha (86), while the losers’ goals came via Frenchman Mathys Tel (59) and Brazilian Richarlison (85).
