Liverpool’s Title Hopes Soar After Dominant 2-0 Win over Manchester City/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City bolstered its Premier League title push, extending its lead over Arsenal to 11 points. Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai scored first-half goals, sealing a statement win at the Etihad Stadium. City now faces an uphill battle for Champions League qualification amid its worst league campaign under Pep Guardiola.
Liverpool’s Premier League Title Surge: Quick Looks
- Liverpool triumphs: 2-0 win over Manchester City extends title lead to 11 points
- Key goals: Salah’s 30th of the season and Szoboszlai’s strike secure crucial victory
- City’s struggles continue: Eighth league loss leaves Guardiola’s side battling for top four
- Fan confidence grows: Liverpool supporters chant, “We’re gonna win the league”
- Guardiola concedes: Admits Liverpool holds title advantage after City’s back-to-back defeats
- Arsenal’s slip: Gunners’ loss to West Ham widens gap at top of the table
- Newcastle thriller: Magpies edge Nottingham Forest 4-3 in a seven-goal spectacle
Liverpool’s Title Hopes Soar After Dominant 2-0 Win over Manchester City
Deep Look
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Liverpool’s relentless march toward the Premier League title continued Sunday with a commanding 2-0 win over defending champion Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai in the first half put Liverpool firmly in control of the title race, moving 11 points clear of Arsenal with just 11 games remaining.
As Liverpool fans sang “We’re gonna win the league” at full time, City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the uphill battle ahead, stating, “It’s Liverpool’s title to lose.”
Liverpool’s Statement Win
Liverpool capitalized on Arsenal’s surprise 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday, taking full advantage to strengthen its hold on the top spot. Salah opened the scoring in the 14th minute, firing a deflected shot past City keeper Ederson after a well-executed corner routine. The goal marked Salah’s 30th strike of the season.
Szoboszlai doubled the lead in the 37th minute with a low, curling effort that left Ederson flat-footed. Despite City’s attempts to rally, including a disallowed goal for offside by Omar Marmoush, Liverpool’s defense held firm.
“This was special,” Salah said after the match. “We came here to make a statement, and we did.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot played down the title talk but admitted the importance of the win. “No one expected us to be in this position at the start of the season,” he said. “We’ll keep focusing on each game.”
City’s Season Unraveling
The defeat marks City’s eighth league loss of the campaign and 14th overall across competitions—its worst under Guardiola since his arrival in 2016. Last week’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid added to the woes, leaving the FA Cup as City’s only remaining chance for silverware this season.
City now sits in fourth place, level on points with Newcastle but ahead on goal difference. With Aston Villa just two points behind in eighth, Champions League qualification is far from guaranteed for the six-time Premier League winners under Guardiola.
“If we don’t qualify, it’s because we weren’t good enough,” Guardiola admitted. “It’s that simple.”
Arsenal’s Slip, Liverpool’s Gain
Arsenal’s shock loss to West Ham handed Liverpool the chance to pull away, and the Merseyside club did not miss. With Arsenal now 11 points adrift and struggling for consistency, Liverpool appears poised to claim a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
Newcastle Edges Forest in Seven-Goal Thriller
Elsewhere, Newcastle United secured a dramatic 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park. After falling behind early, the Magpies erupted with four goals in 11 minutes, including a brace from Alexander Isak, who matched Erling Haaland with 19 league goals.
Forest fought back with second-half goals from Nikola Milenkovic and Ryan Yates, but Newcastle held on to move up to fifth place, keeping its Champions League hopes alive.
What’s Next?
- Liverpool: Hosts Brighton next Sunday, aiming to extend its winning streak.
- Manchester City: Faces Aston Villa in a must-win game to stay in the top-four race.
- Arsenal: Looks to rebound against Bournemouth after back-to-back losses.
- Newcastle: Prepares for a crucial clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
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