Premier League Round-Up: Liverpool chase City as Arsenal cement top-four

“Mohamed Salah scored from the spot in the second-half, his 20th Premier League goal of the season. Salah can be backed at 1.171/6 on the Betfair Exchange to be named PFA Player of the Year for 2021-22.”

A title race that looked a one-sided formality a few weeks ago now appears set to go down to the wire. With their comfortable 2-0 victory over Brighton on Saturday, Liverpool have moved to within three points of reigning champions and current title favourites Manchester City.

Luis Diaz continued his fine start to life in Liverpool red by opening the scoring in the first-half at the AmEx Stadium, latching on to Joel Matip’s superb through-ball to prod past Robert Sanchez before being poleaxed by the Spanish goalkeeper, who was fortunate to escape a dismissal for the challenge.

Mohamed Salah scored from the spot in the second-half, his 20th Premier League goal of the season. The Egyptian has also contributed 10 assists and is the outstanding candidate to be crowned the top flight’s best player at the end of the campaign.

Salah can be backed at 1.171/6 on the Betfair Exchange to be named PFA Player of the Year for 2021-22.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have now won eight league games in a row to pile the pressure on first-placed City – who travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace on Monday. Liverpool can be backed at 3.9 on the Exchange in the Premier League Winner market.

Race for fourth place

In Saturday’s late fixture, Cristiano Ronaldo answered his critics by plundering a hat-trick to help Manchester United overcome fellow fourth-place contenders Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese forward was goalless in his previous 10 outings going into the game, but he ended his uncharacteristic drought in emphatic style, rifling a 25-yard strike beyond Hugo Lloris and into the top corner to open the scoring.

Spurs equalised through a Harry Kane penalty, but Ronaldo ensured United went in ahead at the break when he connected with Jadon Sancho’s low cross for an easy finish.

In the second-half, United captain Harry Maguire looked to have hindered his side’s top-four prospects when he deflected a cross into his own net. But Ronaldo rose to the occasion to claim his hat-trick and all three points for the Red Devils when he headed home from a corner with nine minutes to play.

United can be backed at 5.24/1 on the Exchange in the Top 4 Finish market.

Ronaldo’s treble wasn’t enough to see United finish the weekend inside the Champions League places, however.

Thanks to a 2-0 win over Leicester City at the Emirates on Sunday, Arsenal cling to fourth spot, just a point ahead of United but having played three fewer games.

Mikel Arteta’s side’s victory was secured via a Thomas Partey header and an Alexandre Lacazette penalty. The Gunners have now won five in a row and can be backed at 1.444/9 on the Exchange to claim a top-four finish.

Marsch off the mark

Leeds United picked up a much-needed victory on Sunday afternoon, their first win under new manager Jesse Marsch.

The Yorkshire side’s dismal form had seen them lose six games in succession, with their last victory coming in mid-January.

But against fellow strugglers Norwich at Elland Road, they collected three desperately-needed points thanks to a last-gasp winner from young striker Joe Gelhardt.

The Canaries thought they’d salvaged a point when Kenny McLean scored in the 91st minute to cancel out Rodrigo’s first-half goal. Four minutes later, 19-year-old Gelhardt bagged his second goal of the season to secure the win for Leeds.

With Burnley losing 2-0 to Brentford on Saturday – leapfrogged into 18th by Watford, who beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s – 16th-placed Leeds have earned a modicum of breathing space in their battle to avoid the drop.

They are now available at 3.052/1 on the Exchange in the Relegation market.

There is no such respite for Everton, though.

Frank Lampard‘s men have now lost four league games in a row, their latest reverse coming at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a single goal from former Liverpool defender Conor Coady enough to settle matters at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Everton hold three games in hand over most of the teams around them in the table, but their predicament is worrying all the same. The Toffees are 17th, outside the relegation zone only by virtue of a better goal difference than Watford. They are 3.052/1 on the Exchange for an unthinkable drop to the Championship.