MANCHESTER – Liverpool’s lead on the high of the Premier League was lower to seven factors after an exciting 3-3 draw with Newcastle on Wednesday.

Chelsea moved as much as second by thrashing last-place Southampton 5-1, whereas Arsenal is third after a 2-0 win over Manchester United.

Fourth-place Manchester Metropolis ended its seven-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool’s consequence will give hope to its title rivals after Fabian Schar’s Ninetieth-minute equalizer at St James’ Park.

Arne Slot’s group had twice come again from a aim all the way down to take the lead within the 83rd via Mohamed Salah’s second aim of the match. However the Merseyside membership was denied an eighth-straight win in all competitions when Newcastle produced a fightback of its personal.

“I’ve blended emotions, we had been excellent within the second half, however we weren’t ok within the first half,” Slot stated. “Possibly 3-3 is what the sport deserved.”

Chelsea and Arsenal took benefit. Chelsea’s third league win in a row places it forward of Arsenal on aim distinction.

Metropolis additionally decreased the hole and is 9 factors behind Liverpool after lastly ending the worst run of outcomes of Pep Guardiola’s managerial profession.

“We would have liked it. The membership, the gamers, everybody wanted to win,” Guardiola stated.

Thrilling conflict

After wins over Actual Madrid and Metropolis final week, Liverpool’s title credentials got a stern check by Newcastle, which led at halftime via Alexander Isak and once more within the second half via Anthony Gordon.

Objectives from Curtis Jones and Salah twice leveled the sport earlier than Salah regarded to have sealed the win late on.

Schar equalized after Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher misjudged a late free kick. It meant Liverpool dropped factors for less than the third time this season after drawing towards Arsenal and shedding to Forest.

Chelsea problem

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca stated this week that his group was not within the title race, however the standings inform a unique story.

The London membership is Liverpool’s closest challenger after its newest win towards 10-man Southampton.

Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho had been all on course within the rout at St Mary’s Stadium.

Southampton had briefly leveled the sport via Joe Aribo, however Chelsea was already 3-1 up and in management when Jack Stephens was despatched off earlier than the break.

Arteta vs. Amorim

Arsenal inflicted a primary loss on new United head coach Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 win on the Emirates Stadium.

Two objectives from second-half corners made the distinction, with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba discovering the again of the web, however Arsenal nonetheless slipped to 3rd, regardless of edging nearer to Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta’s group completed runner-up in every of the final two seasons and appears primed to problem once more after making an unconvincing begin to the marketing campaign.

“You get written off however we caught collectively as a bunch,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice stated. “You stick collectively and we’re beginning to reap the rewards of that.”

De Bruyne is again

Making his first begin since September, Kevin De Bruyne confirmed Metropolis precisely what it has been lacking by scoring a aim and creating one other because the four-time defending champion bought again to profitable methods.

The Belgium playmaker offered the cross for Bernardo Silva to provide Metropolis an eighth-minute lead towards Forest on the Etihad Stadium. He produced a trademark end to brush the ball previous goalkeeper Matz Sels within the thirty first to place Metropolis on track for a primary win in eight video games.

Jeremy Doku made it 3-0 within the 57th, but it surely was De Bruyne’s efficiency that stood out after seeing a lot of his season disrupted by a groin harm. He left the sphere within the 74th to an ovation from the house crowd.

“It’s been a troublesome time however it’s a must to settle for the problem and I feel we did nicely at present,” De Bruyne stated. “The Premier League is getting tougher and tougher. Now we have to enhance as a group first and we’ll see in a few months the place we’re. Hopefully, we might have improved a bit and are quite a bit nearer.”

Metropolis accidents

However victory may have come at a value with issues over the health of Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, who each went off.

“Nathan doesn’t look good. We (will) see tomorrow,” Guardiola stated. “Manu is making the final two months battle quite a bit.”

Profitable once more

A primary win in six video games for Everton moved Sean Dyche’s group additional away from the relegation zone, whereas back-to-back losses for Wolverhampton left the membership second from backside of the standings.

Ashley Younger and Orel Mangala put Everton in management earlier than two second-half personal objectives from Craig Dawson sealed a 4-0 win for the Merseyside membership, which is 5 factors away from the underside three.

Aston Villa ended a fair longer winless run by beating Brentford 3-1 to safe a primary victory in 9 video games in all competitions. Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins from the penalty spot and Matty Money had been on course.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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