It was a thrilling Wednesday evening of Premier League action, as we saw multiple heavyweights face each other in matches that could go some way to ironing out the title race, the top four, and everything beyond that.
Liverpool extended their lead top of the Premier League with a win against their Carabao Cup final opponents Newcastle United, Manchester United were made to sweat it out to defeat Ipswich Town, Arsenal failed to score against a vibrant Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City got it done with a close win over Tottenham Hotspur.
As the dust settles on a wild night of Premier League action, our ESPN FC reporters take a look at the biggest talking points.
Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle: League leaders breeze to win to extend lead to 13 points
LIVERPOOL, England — As news of Arsenal’s goalless draw with Nottingham Forest filtered through to Anfield, the Kop launched into a rousing rendition of “We’re Gonna Win The League.”
With Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle United moving the Reds 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table on Wednesday night, it now seems like it is a matter of when, rather than if, that prophecy is fulfilled.
There may still be more than a quarter of the season left to play, but there was already a celebratory atmosphere on Merseyside as goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister helped Arne Slot’s side brush aside Eddie Howe’s men with all the style and swagger of champions-elect.
Slot watched the contest from the director’s box, having been served with a two-match touchline ban by the Football Association after his red card in the Merseyside derby on Feb. 12. But while there was a change of personnel in the dugout — assistant coach and former Everton defender John Heitinga deputised in Slot’s absence — there was no drop-off in performance on the pitch.
From the first whistle, Liverpool looked in control, with their visitors blunted by the absence of in-form striker Alexander Isak. The hosts took the lead inside 11 minutes when Szoboszlai’s tame finish wriggled under Nick Pope after a fine run down the left from the lively Luis Díaz.
Callum Wilson, making his first Premier League start of the season for Newcastle, spurned a glorious chance to restore parity after being played through on goal later in the first half, but his effort curled agonisingly wide of the post.
It only helped to reinforce the notion that this was Liverpool’s night, and so it proved when Mac Allister made sure of the victory after the break. The Argentina international curled brilliantly past Pope after some nifty footwork from Mohamed Salah who, even without his customary goal, caused plenty of problems for the Newcastle defence.
Ahead of the match, Slot had urged supporters to keep their expectations high.
“We do not just want you to dream, we need you to dream,” the Dutchman wrote in his programme notes.
“This is a big part of what makes this club so special because it challenges the players and the staff to do everything that we possibly can to be the best that we can be.”
Certainly, there could be no denying supporters were in dreamland on Wednesday night as they rattled through the Liverpool songbook, delivering lung-busting choruses of “And Now You’re Gonna Believe Us” and “Hand It Over, Manchester.”
Newcastle’s visit to Anfield marked the end of a gruelling run of five games in 15 days for Liverpool. For weeks, this spell has been billed as the stretch where the title would be won or lost, and, having picked up 11 points from a possible 15, the prospect of Slot’s side delivering a record-equaling 20th league title this term now seems likelier than ever.
And now you’re gonna believe us? Surely now, there can be no doubting that this is Liverpool’s year. — Beth Lindop
