EPL: Liverpool Defeats Everton To Open 12 pint lead; Man City Triumphs Without Haaland
Liverpool edged closer to the Premier League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton in the latest Merseyside derby on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Manchester City secured a 2-0 win against Leicester City, bolstering their bid for a Champions League spot despite the absence of star striker Erling Haaland.
With just eight games remaining in the season, Liverpool sits a commanding 12 points clear at the top of the table, following Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday. The win against Everton marks a significant turnaround for the Reds, who had faced disappointment in recent weeks with losses in both the League Cup final against Newcastle and the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain.
Diogo Jota, who had gone over two months without scoring, became Liverpool’s hero by netting the decisive goal in the 57th minute after a clever flick from Luis Diaz. The victory was especially satisfying for Liverpool fans after the teams’ dramatic 2-2 draw in February, which saw Everton snatch a last-gasp equalizer.
Everton’s James Tarkowski narrowly escaped a red card for a reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister, which could have changed the game’s dynamic. Despite some controversy over Jota’s goal, Liverpool manager Arne Slot insisted it was legitimate. “According to the rules, it was a clear goal,” he stated, expressing confidence in his team’s pursuit of a record-equalling 20th English title.
At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City managed to cope without Haaland, who is sidelined for up to seven weeks due to an ankle injury. City quickly took control of their match against Leicester, taking the lead just two minutes in with Jack Grealish scoring his first league goal since December 2023. The hosts doubled their advantage in the 29th minute through Omar Marmoush, capitalizing on a mistake by Leicester’s goalkeeper.
City’s win moved them up to fourth place, one point ahead of fifth-placed Newcastle and two points clear of Chelsea, who are set to play Tottenham in their game in hand. City manager Pep Guardiola reflected on the win, noting the importance of scoring early and maintaining pressure throughout the match.
Newcastle United continued their strong form following their League Cup triumph, defeating Brentford 2-1. Alexander Isak put them ahead with a first-half strike, and despite Brentford equalizing through a penalty, Sandro Tonali sealed the win for Newcastle with a goal in the 74th minute.
Aston Villa also kept their Champions League hopes alive with a convincing 3-0 victory over Brighton, while Southampton’s struggles continued as they drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace, leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone.
