Liverpool moved within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester City as Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino inspired a decisive 2-0 win over Arsenal on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp’s team took advantage of the City’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace on Monday thanks to their beating and grappling raid at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal enjoyed a sustained period of pressure that could easily have given up the opening goal, but Alisson Becker made a superb save for refusing Martin Odegaard and Liverpool to steal the points.
Liverpool, after a one-off quarter, have won nine consecutive league games, scored 23 goals and conceded just twice.
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After City were left with 14 points on 15 January, Liverpool chased the champions impressively, putting the race in their own hands as they watched a second title in three seasons.
A win over Watford in their next league game on April 2 would set the stage for a seismic showdown with the Pep Guardiola team at the Etihad Stadium on April 10.
Finding a way to subdue some form of Arsenal, who had won their previous five league games to move up to fourth place, made the win in rainy North London even more impressive.
No wonder Klopp and his players celebrated so jubilantly on the final flight. Klopp threw the Gauntlet into the city this week as he admitted he wants Liverpool to be as “angry as possible” in the title race.
There is no doubt that Liverpool proved extremely irritating, especially as they beat the Gunners with Mohamed Salah on the bench after suffering a foot injury on Saturday in Brighton.
Liverpool beat Arsenal in the League Cup semi-finals in January. But after a few years in the Doldrums, Arsenal are on the rise and the lively atmosphere at the often subdued Emirates reflects that renewed confidence in Mikel Arteta’s young team.
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Gabriel Martinelli had a chance to take the lead on Bukayo Saka’s cross, but his header was tipped over the bar by the visitors’ keeper.
Martinelli’s pace and trickery gave Alexander-Arnold a terrible time and his low cross caused panic in the Liverpool defense until Andrew Robertson cleared the threat.
Despite long spells being pushed back, Klopp’s men almost took the lead with a typically incisive raid in the stroke of the half.
Alexander-Arnold’s sublime pass made it through for Arsenal’s keeper Sadio Mane, who managed to lob the keeper who had left his area however the ball went just wide of the post.
Arsenal should move on when Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara passes to Alexandre Lacazette early in the second half.
Lacazette stopped Odegaard, but Alisson prevented the Dane’s neighborhood with a surprise save.
That was the turning point when a moment later Liverpool hit in the 54th minute.
Thiago’s precise pass behind Cedric Soares sent Jota into the Arsenal area, but the Portuguese striker’s low shot should have been saved by Ramsdale, who left it at close range alongside him.
Liverpool went for the knockout blow and Firmino delivered it in the 62nd minute.
Robertson was the catalyst with a brilliant piece of toughness as the Scot saw his shot blocked, then rushed to the side to steal the property before rushing forward to send a cross that Firmino with a deflected finish transformed.
KANE CREATES HISTORY AND SPURS WIN
Harry Kane has made history in the Premier League with his goal in Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Brighton.
After 37 minutes, following yet another great corner, Dejan Kulusevski knocked the ball to the limit of Kane’s reach, who just couldn’t put it in the net.
His blue finish from Rodrigo Bentancur’s pass made it 95 away goals in the Premier League for Kane, more than any other player.
The English striker also moved above Frank Lampard in the list of Premier League All-Time scorers, and is in fifth place with 178 goals.
Antonio Conte’s seventh place remains in the race for a top four finish, sitting three points behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
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