EPL Gameweek 28 Review: Liverpool Extend Lead at the Top of the Table

We look back at the weekend fixtures in the English Premier League, where Arsenal lost even more ground in the title race.

Liverpool 3-1 Southampton: The Reds Come From Behind Against the Saints 

Our first game looked like a total mismatch on paper, as top-of-the-table Liverpool hosted bottom club Southampton at Anfield. Arne Slot’s men faced a first-half scare when Will Smallbone raced into the box, capitalizing on a miscommunication between Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson to give the Saints a surprise lead.

Liverpool fought back in the second half and got back on level terms when Darwin Núñez got on the end of a great solo run from Luis Díaz. For all that, he was lucky to still be on the pitch after a reckless challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters in the first half. 

Smallbone turned from hero to villain, giving away a penalty Mohamed Salah converted mere minutes after Liverpool’s breakthrough. That strike saw Salah move to third place in the all-time leading goalscorers list for the club before he found time to score another spot-kick when Yukinari Sugawara handled the ball inside his box.

That victory for Liverpool saw them move up to 70 points for the season, 15 clear of Arsenal. The title race is effectively over in the eyes of Betway, who have priced Liverpool as 1.01 certainty to win a second EPL crown. Salah also finds himself in a similar position, trading at 1.07 to win the Golden Boot a second time.

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester City: Forest Take a Major Step Towards Europe 

Champions League football has evaded Nottingham Forest for over 40 years. Still, they have taken a huge step towards a long-awaited return with a crucial win against the reigning EPL champions.

Pep Guardiola’s men arrived at the City Ground in fourth, chasing a 14th straight entry into Europe’s top competition. However, their hopes took a considerable blow with eight minutes left on the clock when Callum Hudson-Odoi fired a near-post effort beyond Ederson to score the game's only goal.

The result leaves Forest in third place, four points ahead of Manchester City, who fall to fifth. The top five places will likely be enough this year due to the EPL sides’ strong form in Europe, but both sides look primed for a finish in the places regardless. 

According to Bet.Co.Za, the Manchester club, is still a strong favourite for a top-four finish, with odds of 1.53, whilst Forest is currently trading at 1.95 for a historic feat.

Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal: Mikel Arteta Storms Off After Gunners Slip Up 

Mikel Arteta appeared unhappy when asked about his side's chances of lifting the EPL title this season after they could only share the points at Old Trafford. 

Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick got the better of David Raya to give the home side a surprise lead. United applied the pressure in search of a second, but David Raya kept the Gunners in the game with a string of important saves to deny Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee from close range. 

The chances may have fallen to United, but Arsenal got themselves back on level terms when Declan Rice’s curling effort beat the outstretched André Onana. The Gunners will likely have fancied their chances of winning it from there, but Gabriel was forced into a last-ditch tackle at the other end, denying Rasmus Højlund from point-blank range.

That result seemingly all but ended Arsenal’s title hopes, as they drifted out to 34.00 with SportingBet for the EPL crown. However, their hopes of UCL football look far rosier, as they currently trade at 1.04 for a top-four finish. Meanwhile, United sits eight points behind a top-half finish and is trading at 5.50 to finish in the top 10 at the end of the campaign.