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Joint leaders Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool lost points in a busy day of Premier League action as Leicester City and Southampton narrowed the gap in what is shaping up to be one of the most open title races in years on Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane celebrates his first goal with his teammates at Crystal Palace. (Photo: REUTERS / Clive Rose)
LONDON: Joint leaders Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool lost points in a busy day of Premier League action as Leicester City and Southampton narrowed the gap in what is shaping up to be one of the most open title races in years on Sunday .
However, it seems highly unlikely that Arsenal will be a part of it, as they lost 1-0 at home to Burnley, a fourth consecutive loss in the local league for the first time since 1959, leaving the Gunners languishing in 15th place. .
After Chelsea’s loss to Everton on Saturday and a boring 0-0 draw in the Manchester derby, Tottenham had a chance to solidify their place at the top of the table and looked poised for a fifth away win for the season when Harry Kane put them ahead. in the 23rd minute at Crystal Palace.
But the late draw by Jeffrey Schlupp and a goalkeeper inspired by Palace’s Vicente Guaita left Tottenham content with a 1-1 draw.
It gave Liverpool a chance at Fulham to jump the Spurs to the top of the table, but they were well below their best as they also drew 1-1 by Scott Parker.
Liverpool lagged behind Bobby Decordova-Reid’s magnificent opener and needed good saves from returning goalkeeper Alisson to avoid further damage before Mohamed Salah’s late penalty meant they avoided defeat at a soggy Craven Cottage.
“I think in the first half hour we could have lost the game, in the last 60 minutes we should have won it. In the end we get a point and that’s it,” coach Juergen Klopp said.
It left Tottenham and Liverpool with 25 points in 12 games ahead of Leicester in 24, Southampton in 23, Chelsea in 22, three clubs in 20 and Manchester City in 19, in ninth place with a game in hand over all teams by above them except for Manchester United in the round of 16.
Six points separate the top nine, a stark contrast to last season when, after 12 games, Liverpool had 34 points and Bournemouth, in ninth place, was 18 points behind.
SERIOUS CHALLENGE
Leicester appears to be facing a serious challenge after a resounding 3-0 win at Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday: James Maddison scored twice and Jamie Vardy once.
Southampton managed a 3-0 win over Sheffield United by hosting 2,000 fans at St Mary’s.
Only once have they scored more than 23 points from 12 Premier League games, in 2014 when they accumulated 26.
Sheffield United is only the fourth team in English Football League history to have not more than one point in its first 12 league games of a season, leaving manager Chris Wilder under increasing pressure.
“I take a shower every day, wash my face, look in the mirror and try to come in bright and positive. I try to do my job, always, to the best of my ability,” said Wilder, who was supported. by the club’s Saudi owner, he said.
Wilder is not the only administrator in danger.
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta saw his team lose 1-0 at home to Burnley with some of the 2,000 fans present leaving early and others staying to boo after yet another disappointing display.
Granit Xhaka was sent off in the second half and things turned from bad to worse when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored an own goal to condemn Arsenal to defeat.
Burnley’s first win at Arsenal since 1974 lifted them above Fulham and knocked them out of the relegation zone, to 17th with nine points.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)
