What Arsenal, Liverpool losses mean for the Premier League title race

Ayomikun Elemikan Opinions, Sports 15/04/2024

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Heading into the Premier League matchday 32, both Arsenal and Liverpool occupied first and second positions respectively with 71 points apiece.

However, both teams lost their matches over the weekend. While Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace in a Sunday afternoon fixture, Arsenal suffered defeat at the hands of Aston Villa later in the evening.

Liverpool lost by a lone goal to Crystal Palace at Anfield in their English Premier League clash on Sunday. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images via Optus Sports)

Arsenal and Liverpool have now dropped to second and third on the log respectively as Manchester City sit in first place.

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What does the defeat of Arsenal & Liverpool mean for the Premier League title race?

Well, straight to it – what it means is that the race is now even more open than ever before.

Considering the antecedents of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, they are now favourites. Six matchweeks of the Premier League season are remaining and it remains delicately poised at the top of the table.

Liverpool’s loss to Palace at Anfield sums up a difficult and disappointing one week for Jurgen Klopp and his charges.

Liverpool’s defence was left sleeping when Eberechi Eze rolled the ball into the net for Crystal Palace’s match winner. (Image: Mid-day)

Following a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last Sunday, Liverpool were embarrassed with a heavy 0-3 bashing by Atalanta at home. This means the Reds did not win any of their last three matches, registering consecutive home losses in the process.

Eze shines at Anfield

Eberechi Eze was left completely free in the box and coolly slotted in Tyrick Mitchell’s cutback in the 14th minute. That goal on Sunday afternoon saw the Eagles go back home with maximum points.

Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze’s first half strike was enough to break the hearts of Anfield Faithfuls. (Image: Sky Sports)

Few minutes after Eze’s opener, Jean-Phillippe Mateta failed in his bid to add to his seven league goals. Virgil van Dijk’s costly slip allowed Mateta run through on goal but his goal-bound chip was brilliantly cleared off the line by Andy Robertson.

In response, Wataru Endo saw his wonderful shot hit the crossbar before Luis Diaz’s volley was saved by the applaudable Dean Henderson.

The English goalkeeper was on hand to keep out Darwin Nunez’s strike early in the second half.

Mateta had a superb chance to score again, his close range shot was dealt with by the returning Alisson Becker.

Delight for Palace, unwanted record for Reds

Interestingly, the victory is Crystal Palace’s first in six games. Also, the side were winless in their 13 previous Premier League outings with Liverpool.

Trent Alexander-Arnold buries his head in his shirt after Liverpool’s Premier League loss to Crystal Palace. (Image: Eurosport)

For Klopp’s team, it is their first home loss in 29 league matches.

Bailey, Watkins gun down Arsenal at Emirates

At the Emirates, Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scored late goals three minutes apart to condemn Arsenal to their first loss of 2024.

Leandro Trossard’s effort from a Gabriel Jesus’ cross was well saved by the leg of Emiliano Martinez. At the other end, Youri Tielemans saw his fierce shot hit the crossbar, then the post.

Aston Villa celebrate a goal against Arsenal in their English Premier League game at Emirates. (Image: TimesLIVE)

However, despite both teams’ efforts to break the deadlock, it was Villa who drew the first blood. Bailey netted an 84th-minute opener before Watkins scored his 19th league goal to secure the three points.

Arsenal & Liverpool fumble in Premier League

City, third on the table before the matchweek, had trounced Luton Town 5-1 on Saturday. Losses to Arsenal and Liverpool was just perfect for Guardiola’s team.

Aston Villa hitman Ollie Watkins scored a beauty of a goal against title hopefuls Arsenal on Sunday evening. (Image: Evening Standard)

If there’s one thing the Spanish gaffer knows how to do well, it is his ability to pounce on and utilise opportunities whenever they arise, just like he – and his team – did last season when Arsenal bottled the Premier League title.

A look at the remaining fixtures for each of the three teams indicate Manchester City relatively have the easiest route to winning the league. The away fixture against Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs poses to be the toughest test to come – on paper.

Meanwhile, Arsenal look to have the most difficult run of fixtures. The Gunners face Chelsea at home and travel to play both Tottenham and Manchester United.

Following a disappointing Premier League loss to Aston Villa, Arsenal must remain focused in their remaining six games if they are to win the 2023/24 league title. (Image: Fotomaç)

Liverpool still have a home fixture against Spurs still to come and a visit to the Villa Park.

Only two points separate City and both Arsenal and the Reds. Depending on results in the coming weeks, that gap will either be widened, shrinked or there’ll be a total usurping of the Cityzens.