By Samuel Peters
Liverpool strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race with a faultless 2-0 victory over a struggling Manchester City at Anfield, extending their lead at the summit to nine points. Arne Slot’s side, buoyed by their midweek triumph over Real Madrid, dominated from the outset against a City team now winless in seven matches.
Cody Gakpo opened the scoring after 12 minutes, converting Mohamed Salah’s precise pass in front of the Kop. The Egyptian would later seal the victory from the penalty spot with 12 minutes remaining after Darwin Nunez forced an error from Ruben Dias, leading to a foul by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega on Luis Diaz.
Meanwhile, Chelsea continued their resurgence with an impressive 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. Cole Palmer starred in the performance, contributing a goal and an assist as the Blues climbed to joint-second in the table. Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez also found the net in a dominant display that extended Villa’s concerning winless run to eight matches.
At Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United manager gathered momentum with a convincing 4-0 triumph over Everton. Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee each scored twice, with Amad Diallo particularly impressive in creating opportunities. The victory was particularly notable as it marked United’s 42nd Premier League win over Everton – a record for victories against a single opponent in the competition.
The weekend’s results have significantly impacted the title race, with Liverpool creating clear daylight at the top while Manchester City’s defense of their crown appears increasingly precarious after their fourth consecutive league defeat.
