Should a penalty have been awarded to the Reds in stoppage time in the Liverpool-Manchester City clash? According to home team manager Jürgen Klopp and experts in TV studios, it is definitely yes. However, the referee Michael Oliver and the VAR under the leadership of Stuart Attwell evaluated Jérémy Doku’s clash with Alexis Mac Allister as clean. That is also why the match ended in a draw and Arsenal took the lead in the table by a score, which did not hesitate with Brentford. An important victory was also recorded by Tottenham, who embarrassed a direct competitor in the fight for the Champions League at Villa Park.
The closely-watched battle at the iconic stadium in the city of the Beatles offered everything that Liverpool v Manchester City has to offer in terms of football. The enormous quality of the players on the pitch, thanks to which the fans were never bored for a second, the goals, the wasted chances, the emotions and the questionable decisions in the set time.
“It was an absolutely sensational game. The second half was definitely the best we played against City during my time with the team. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them (City, author’s note) struggle like that. Although they stamped the crossbar and the crossbar, but we should have scored two or three goals. We gave an extraordinary performance,” boasted Klopp. His counterpart Guardiola called the Reds’ performance after Mac Allister’s converted penalty in the 50th minute a tsunami.
The German strategist had a clear opinion on the incriminating situation at the end of the set time, during which Doku first hit the ball in a jump and then hit world champion Mac Allister with his kick. “According to everyone on the planet who cares about football, it was a penalty. Anywhere else on the pitch such a tackle would have been flagged as a foul and awarded a yellow card,” muttered Klopp, for whom it was the last clash with Guardiola on the Liverpool bench.
“I hope he will return to training soon, because football needs such personalities,” said the Spanish captain. “He made us a better team and me a better coach,” he added.
As already mentioned, the draw at Anfield was used by Arsenal to go top, beating a valiantly defiant Brentford 2-1 with an 86th-minute goal from Kai Havertz.
The Gunners have therefore won their eighth game in a calendar year, which has been achieved by only three clubs in the history of the Premier League (Manchester United in 2009, Liverpool in 2020 and Manchester City in 2021). All three PL giants subsequently won the title.
Tottenham’s cannonade was directed by Son
At the weekend, the central rivals of the leaders of the competition were also rejoicing, as they masterfully managed the extremely important battle for a ticket to the Champions League at Villa Park. A 4-0 win saw them close the gap on Ollie Watkins and co. for two points. In addition, they have a match at the Chelsea Arena to their credit.
Tottenham decided on the valuable scalp of a hot opponent in the second half, in which captain Son Heung-min shone with a 1+2 balance. The home side conceded twice in a weakened state after a frustrated John McGinn was sent off in the 65th minute.
Even the sixth Manchester United still does not give up the hope of participating in the millionaire competition. Erik ten Haga’s men did not hesitate at home to save struggling Everton on Saturday, winning 2-0 after penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, and are six points behind Tottenham. But they played one more match against Spurs.
The unexpected loss, on the other hand, had to bite the seventh West Ham, who erased a two-goal deficit in the second half and drew 2:2 with the penultimate Burnley. Visiting striker David Datro Fofana flashed a beautiful shot at the London Olympic Stadium, which you can applaud in our video column.
You can also applaud Mychajlo Mudryk’s slalom or Jacob Murphy’s uncompromising “rocket” from Monday’s play-off, in which Chelsea beat Newcastle 3:2 and moved closer to him in the standings by a point difference. Cole Palmer, the most productive player of the London club, shone with a goal and an assist. For the sake of interest – since his debut in the Blues jersey in the 7th round, only Watkins, playing in life form, is better in “Canadian scoring”.
Image author: Marek Ustohal
At the opposite pole in the table, everything remained the same. The last Sheffield was reaching for the triumph in Bournemouth, but in the end only got a point, even the penultimate Burnley couldn’t turn a two-goal lead into a victory, and the tie was also won by the eighteenth-placed Luton, who drew in Selhurst Park after Cauley Woodrow’s accurate header from the set time.
TOP 3 players according to Sofascore.com:
1. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) – 9.10 / goal, 2 assists, 2 key passes.
2. – 3. Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth) – 8.80 / goal, assist, 100% dribbling success rate with the ball (3/3).
2nd – 3rd Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) – 8.80 / assist, 3 passes to clear chances, 5 key passes.
TOP players according to Fantasy Premier League:
1. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) – 17 points.
2. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – 13 points.
3. Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth) – 12 points.
2024-03-13 20:13:00
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