Liverpool moved a step closer to clinching the Premier League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Manchester City showcased their depth by defeating Leicester City 2-0 without the injured Erling Haaland.
With just eight games remaining, Liverpool sits 12 points clear at the top of the table, edging ever closer to their first league title since 2020. Manager Jürgen Klopp praised his team’s resilience, saying, “As long as the players give everything like today, then we are in a very good position.”
The decisive moment came in the 57th minute when Diogo Jota ended his two-month goal drought. The Portuguese forward capitalized on a clever flick from Luis Díaz, slotting the ball past Everton’s goalkeeper to ignite celebrations at Anfield.
Everton, fighting to avoid relegation, put up a spirited fight but couldn’t find the equalizer. This defeat leaves them perilously close to the drop zone, intensifying pressure on manager Sean Dyche.
At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City proved they can cope without their star striker. With Haaland sidelined due to an ankle injury, City took the lead just two minutes into the game. Jack Grealish found the net after a seamless exchange between Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden.
City doubled their advantage in the 29th minute when Mahrez’s cross was met by Bernardo Silva, who headed home to secure the win. Manager Pep Guardiola commended his team’s performance: “After the tough game in the FA Cup, to come here after just three days and perform like this helped us a lot.”
The victory keeps City firmly in the race for a Champions League spot, as they move up to fourth place. Leicester City, on the other hand, suffered their seventh consecutive league defeat, deepening their relegation fears.
In other matches, Newcastle United continued their impressive form by beating Brentford 2-1, maintaining momentum after their recent cup success. Aston Villa also strengthened their bid for European football with a convincing 3-0 win over Brighton.
At the bottom of the table, Southampton missed an opportunity to boost their survival hopes, drawing 1-1 with Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium. The Saints remain rooted to the foot of the standings, facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation.
