By Emmanuel Saka
It’s getting tough right at the business end of the English Premier League. There was no dearth of action on Easter Sunday as top English football clubs battled for those glorious three points to improve their positions in the league table.
An English Premier League Stalemate for Liverpool & Arsenal
The English Premier League tie between Liverpool and Arsenal was everything fierce! 86 minutes down the clock, a brilliant Alexander-Arnold nutmeg on Zinchenko, and then putting in a brilliant dink into the box for Roberto Firmino to head home his eighth goal in as many appearances against Arsenal at Anfield to bring back Liverpool from the dead on Easter Sunday against Arsenal.
A goal that Zinchenko dreads so much, but will be celebrated by City’s faithfuls as much as Liverpool’s.
That was English Premier League action in full flow on Sunday evening as we round up matchday 30 this weekend. It ended Liverpool 2, Arsenal 2. And it all but brings to light the title talks as the run-in heats up.
United Bag Crucial Win over Everton
The weekend all started with a Saturday lunch-time kick-off at Old Trafford, where Manchester United were 2-nil winners over Everton.
On one hand, the victory improved United’s chances to make it to the top 4, while on the other, it intensified the battle against relegation for the visitors.
A man-of-the-match-worthy Bruno Fernandes performance from deep in midfield in the absence of what was the last of a 4-game Casemiro ban turned up the right vibes for a masterclass United performance despite a flurry of missed chances.
Scot Mctominay and Anthony Martial with goals on either side of half-time were enough to keep up their place in the top-four race.
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An Apology Little Too Late for Brighton
Elsewhere in London, the Professionals Game Match Officials Board that is the PGMOL, the board in charge of match officiating in England, reached out to Brighton on Sunday afternoon to apologize for the officials’ failure to award a penalty to them in their 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspurs.
Both teams are in a fierce battle for European spots and in their meeting on Saturday had a rightful penalty appeal overturned during the game, they went on to lose but have since been offered an apology for such inefficiency.
Lampard-Boost Fails to Spark Chelsea
Saturday afternoon also saw the return of Super Frank Lampard to Chelsea, it however was the same story for Chelsea as they lost one nil away to Wolves courtesy of a Matheus Nunes beauty.
They have now won a whopping four of their last 20 English Premier League games. They have a daunting task away to Madrid during the week though.
City Up the Ante on Arsenal
Later on Saturday evening, Haaland was back after a minor groin injury to net what was his 29th and 30th goal of the Premier League season at Southampton.
City ran out 4-1 winners to put the pressure on league leaders Arsenal before they went on to Anfield on Sunday.
And what an end to the season we’re about to witness.
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Crystal Palace Shine Against Leeds
A comprehensive Crystal Palace victory over Leeds saw them move six points off the drop zone, and leave Leeds just two above the drop.
Roy Hodgson has now won two games in two since arriving back at Palace since the sacking of Patrick Viera.
Palace hadn’t won back-to-back games since October and didn’t score five in a game all season.
Seems, they’re in for the turnaround that will see them beat the drop this season.
Liverpool Hold Arsenal for a Draw
The biggest game of the weekend, the one everybody had eyes on was at Anfield.
A proper encounter to round off the weekend.
Arsenal got in front just after eight minutes of kick-off and doubled their lead 20 minutes later.
It seemed as though Mikel Arteta was on the verge of orchestrating a big double over the Reds, and a huge victory at Anfield, one they haven’t managed since his playing days for the Gunners which could have taken them a step closer to the league title.
However, a spirited Liverpool performance after the Arsenal second was enough to see out a 2-2 draw.
Mo Salah’s missed penalty was the biggest disappointment in the game after halving the deficit, which could have made the game go solely in Liverpool’s favor.
The result puts them 12 points off the top four with nine games to play.
Arsenal on the other hand will be disappointed after having the lead till the 86th minute. A result that hands City the title if they win the rest of their nine games.
Nevertheless, it promises to be as exciting as it could get in these last days of the English Premier League season and we’re in for the excitement.
Bring it on!
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