Three talking points from the English Premier League

LONDON – Last week Arsenal had the chance to go 12 points clear of Manchester City in their hunt for a first English Premier League title since 2003-04, but by April 22 their advantage could be wiped out.

Pep Guardiola’s men – chasing a seventh league title in nine seasons – can smell blood and are now favourites after their 2-1 win over the Gunners.

Liverpool appear to be on their way to ending their season with the consolation prize of a Champions League spot after their disastrous title defence.

At the other end of the table, Tottenham Hotspur’s plight looks increasingly bleak as rivals pull away from the drop zone.

Here are three talking points from the Premier League weekend.

1 Momentum with Guardiola’s men

Manchester City are now in the driver’s seat as Arsenal’s season continues to unravel.

Less than a month ago, the Gunners were on course for an unprecedented quadruple.

But four consecutive defeats in domestic competitions have ended their League Cup and FA Cup hopes while their English Premier League title charge is faltering badly.

City, who face Burnley on April 22, would have been 12 points behind Arsenal had the Gunners beaten Bournemouth on April 11. They are still three points behind the leaders but have a game in hand and, crucially, the momentum.

Arsenal’s nerve has been questioned during their alarming slump, which has included defeats by second-tier Southampton in the FA Cup and Bournemouth in the league, and a familiar lack of killer instinct could come back to haunt them once more as Kai Havertz fluffed his lines against City, missing a glorious late chance.

In contrast, Erling Haaland pounced to score his 34th goal of the season for his side in all competitions.

2 Old guard ease Liverpool’s pain

Everton started the Merseyside derby full of hope they could come out on top, but Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute winner took Liverpool a giant step closer towards qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Less than a year after they won the Premier League, Arne Slot’s future as Liverpool boss is in doubt after a miserable second season at Anfield.

Heavy defeats by City and Paris Saint-Germain to exit the FA Cup and Champions League respectively have ramped up the pressure on the Dutchman.

But the Reds now look likely to seal a place in the top five – they are seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with five games left.

The poor form of Mohamed Salah and van Dijk has been a major factor in Liverpool’s drop-off this season, but the old guard stood up to be counted in the first derby at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The departing Salah scored the opener before van Dijk nodded home to realistically end the Toffees’ own challenge for Champions League football.

3 Spurs sinking as rivals earn points

Roberto de Zerbi has called on his beleaguered Tottenham Hotspur players to “believe” as they fight tooth and nail to save themselves from a disastrous relegation.

But the club’s situation looks increasingly bleak as they search for an elusive win and their rivals continue to pick up points.

Spurs conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in their 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on April 18 in de Zerbi’s first home game in charge.

If West Ham United beat Crystal Palace on April 20 (April 21, Singapore time), Tottenham will be four points from safety with just five games to play.

Nottingham Forest beat Burnley 4-1 on April 19 to lift themselves five points above the drop zone while Leeds United are now eight points clear.

Spurs’ match against bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 25 is now an absolute must-win. AFP