1-point gap: Liverpool closes on City with 9th straight win

London, March 17 (BUS): Liverpool have not been close to Manchester City for three months.

The gap narrowed to one point in the Premier League title race that looks set to slip after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Arsenal on Wednesday, The Associated Press reports.

That’s nine consecutive league wins for Liverpool, which has a momentum City can’t quite match with nine games remaining of the season.

Timing is everything. Just ask Diogo Jota.

The Portuguese striker was on the verge of being substituted when he was freed from the left with a brilliantly perfect pass from Thiago Alcantara and found the bottom corner with an accurate shot in the 54th minute.

The order did not save Jota from taking off immediately and the player who replaced him, Roberto Firmino, brilliantly converted the second goal in the 62nd minute to spark more optimism at the Emirates Stadium which resulted from a strong first-half display by Arsenal.

It was the kind of crucial replacement by Jurgen Klopp that City manager Pep Guardiola failed to achieve in the leaders’ 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday, a result that has given Liverpool the chance to come closer to City than at any time since December 1. 16.

Liverpool play their next game – at home to lowly Watford – before they become next in the league, so they will likely take the lead for the first time since early October.

And then comes the big event, as City host Liverpool on April 10 in a match that could have a huge impact on the title’s destination. Both teams know that winning all nine remaining matches will decide the tournament. Liverpool has the best goal difference of 5.

“I would still prefer to be in Man City’s position,” said Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson. “They are up front. They still have a point advantage. We still need to go where they are.”

“We’re in the race,” Robertson added. “A lot of people didn’t think we’d come in January but we’re definitely in the race and we just need to focus on what we’re doing and keep collecting as many points as possible.”

The loss was a setback for the hopes of fourth-placed Arsenal in obtaining the final qualification for the Champions League, especially with the victory of Tottenham, its north London rival, on Wednesday.

IN-FORM KANE

Harry Kane is rediscovering his best goalscoring form as he keeps Tottenham on the hunt for a return to the Champions League.

The England striker scored seven goals in six matches after scoring the second goal in the 57th minute in Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Brighton, which raised his team to seventh place, three points behind Arsenal.

Kane scored a goal against Manchester United, Everton and Leeds in his previous three matches and also has a brace against Manchester City last month. The season started slowly after being linked with a summer transfer to City.

Christian Romero put Tottenham ahead in the 37th minute with his first goal for the club.