Liverpool did the job, beating Brighton 2-1 at Anfield. Thus, the pressure was on Manchester City and Arsenal in today’s top match in the Premier League.
As usual, Liverpool let their opponent take the lead in today’s match. The unusual thing was that Brighton got their obligatory lead goal before 90 seconds had passed in the game.
The rest of the match was completely dominated by Liverpool, and goals from Diaz and Salah secured three exceptionally important points. But the final minutes became unnecessarily exciting as Liverpool decided to give Brighton a chance by repeatedly giving the ball away in pure charity.
Fortunately, it ended 2-1, and now it is the turn of the other top teams. In advance, Liverpool fans probably dreamed of a draw. But taking points at the Etihad is very difficult. If anyone is going to do it, Arsenal are in great form and have had a fabulous season. Anything but an Arsenal win would leave Liverpool alone at the top of the table.
The match started calmly, Jesus gets a half-chance after 7 minutes, but the shot goes wide and City’s keeper Ortega has enough control anyway.
Aké gets a chance for City after a quarter of an hour, on a header from a couple of meters after a corner. But he doesn’t hit the ball properly. Otherwise, extremely weak goalkeeping by Raya, such posts he should pick down easily. Arsenal get a corner straight afterwards, then Ortega shows in the City goal how it should be done.
Arsenal are extremely passive and defensive, and City have an unheard of 73 percent possession after just over twenty minutes. But they create little, and Arsenal create nothing. Actually, the match is boring as hell so far, especially for neutral spectators.
After 30 minutes, Arsenal finally get a usable attack going. It ends with another weak shot from Gabriel Jesus. With a name like that, he should perform better on Easter Sunday!
But now Arsenal are more into the game, and come up with a couple of attacks without creating the really big chances. Jesus has clearly not risen from the dead yet, and seems completely confused and helpless.
It ends goalless at half-time, and in addition the sound from Viaplay disappears! Not exactly a party so far, but Liverpool fans surely want an exactly as boring and toothless second half.
Second half
After 47 minutes, Kovačić gets a good shot for City, but the ball goes 30-40 cm wide. City start with high and aggressive pressure, and have clearly made up their minds.
But Arsenal come back and cause trouble for City. After around 50 minutes, Ødegaard is involved in a great attack, and Jesus is not far from reaching the ball from Saka in front of an open goal.
– No doubt. The battle changes character. Arsenal are tougher in the face, says Tjernås from the commentator’s place after 53 minutes.
Well, that won’t last long. City take over, but struggle to create chances. After 70 minutes it smells 0-0.
But City are increasing the pressure. However, there are no scores from this, and after 75 minutes it is still 0-0. Arsenal have finally replaced a useless Jesus with Trossard, but City have let in the troublemaker Grealish, boasting Doku.
Martinelli is also brought on by Arteta after 78 minutes.
Erling Braut Haaland was otherwise completely invisible, but it was not only his own fault. After 83 minutes, he gets a good chance after a corner, but completely misses the ball. Not his day, it seems.
The pace picks up a bit towards the end of the match. But it ends 0-0, and only Liverpool can cheer, as they win two points against both rivals.
Well, there are still nine games to go, so nothing is decided. However, Liverpool are now clear favourites, and this looks tough for City. It will still be an extremely exciting start to the Premier League, that is probably the only prediction one can dare to make.
The table:
Screenshot VG Live
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