The challenge facing Arsenal in the Premier League title race cannot be understated. The Gunners trail Liverpool by nine points in the table after Arne Slot’s side came from behind to beat Southampton on Sunday.
After dominating for much of the first half, it was a surprise to see Liverpool level at the break at St Mary’s. Dominik Szoboszlai had opened the scoring after capitalising on a mistake at the back to curl home, but the hosts equalised as Adam Armstrong first missed a penalty before converting the rebound.
And it was far from easy going in the second half for the visitors, as they fell behind thanks to a Mateus Fernandez goal after an incisive counterattack. But it was not to last for the Saints, with Mohamed Salah the beneficiary after another mistake at the back, this time from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
Liverpool now have an eight-point led at the top after Manchester City lost their fifth game in a row in all competitions, this one the largest home defeat of Pep Guardiola’s career as his side fell to a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal’s north London rivals Spurs. And the Gunners are a point further back, underscoring just how far a lead Slot’s side have built up.
