Liverpool and City Draw in Title Showdown, Arsenal Retain Top Spot

Liverpool and City Draw in Title Showdown, Arsenal Retain Top Spot

In a pulsating Premier League title showdown, Liverpool and Manchester City played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Anfield, leaving Arsenal atop the standings. City took the lead through John Stones’ first-half strike, but Alexis Mac Allister equalized with a penalty after the break.

The result keeps Arsenal in first place, one point ahead of Liverpool and two ahead of City, with all three teams having 10 games remaining. The Gunners will face City in a potentially decisive clash on March 31.

City’s goal came from a clever set-piece routine, with Kevin De Bruyne’s corner finding Stones at the near post for a close-range finish. Liverpool leveled in the second half when Nathan Ake’s back-pass was intercepted by Darwin Nunez, leading to a reckless challenge by Ederson and a penalty converted by Mac Allister.

In a frantic finale, City’s Jeremy Doku hit the post and escaped a penalty appeal for a high challenge on Nunez. The match was given added significance by Jurgen Klopp’s announcement that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, and he and Pep Guardiola shared a warm embrace at the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Tottenham reignited their top-four hopes with a 4-0 rout of Aston Villa. James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min, and Timo Werner scored for Spurs, who moved within two points of Villa with a game in hand.

Villa’s captain, John McGinn, was sent off for a challenge on Destiny Udogie, further damaging their Champions League aspirations.

At the London Stadium, Burnley blew a two-goal lead as Danny Ings’ late equalizer rescued a 2-2 draw for West Ham. Vincent Kompany’s side remains in the relegation zone, while Nottingham Forest failed to pull away from danger after a 1-0 defeat at Brighton.