Liverpool and Manchester City in two-horse race for EPL title

The English Premier League title race looks to be a straight duel between Liverpool and Manchester City.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk climbs highest to head home his side’s fifth goal against Watford at Anfield. Picture: AP

The English Premier League title race looks to be a straight duel between Liverpool and Manchester City after the top two collected contrasting home wins and third-place Tottenham lost at Chelsea for a second defeat in five days.

Just when questions were starting to be asked about Liverpool’s title credentials, the leaders delivered their biggest victory of the season — a 5-0 thrashing of Watford at Anfield.

That’s the kind of scoreline City have been producing in recent weeks but, after needing extra time and penalties to win the English League Cup on Sunday, Pep Guardiola said he’d be happy with any kind of win against West Ham three days later.

A second-half penalty from Sergio Aguero duly secured a 1-0 win for City, who remain a point behind Liverpool.

Tottenham’s title bid is likely over, though, with 10 games remaining. And it disintegrated in quite embarrassing fashion at Stamford Bridge, with Kieran Trippier’s own goal — following a mix-up with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris — clinching a 2-0 win for Chelsea.

With Tottenham having also lost at Burnley on Saturday, the team are now nine points off the lead and only four ahead of Arsenal, who beat Bournemouth 5-1 to strengthen their grip on fourth place.

Tottenham and Arsenal meet in the north London derby on Saturday at Spurs’ temporary home of Wembley Stadium.

“Tonight makes it impossible to fight Man City and Liverpool,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “Only they can win the league.”

Manchester United are one point further back in fifth after beating Crystal Palace 3-1 for a club-record eighth straight away win.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea didn’t even need the world’s most expensive goalkeeper to derail Tottenham.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was dropped to the bench as punishment for refusing to be substituted in the League Cup final loss to City. Reasserting his authority after a star player’s high-profile show of insubordination, Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri chose instead to start Willy Cabellero — and the team’s second-choice goalkeeper was barely troubled.

Instead, the focus ended up on the visiting keeper.

In a humiliating passage of play in the 84th minute, Tottenham right back Trippier didn’t look up as he attempted a backpass to goalkeeper Lloris. The France captain had come out of his goal, though, and saw Trippier’s pass go by his left side and trickle into the net. Trippier and Lloris both stared at the ground.

Pedro Rodriguez put Chelsea ahead in the 57th minute, his shot from an acute angle going through Lloris’ legs.

With Mohamed Salah going through a barren run, Sadio Mane is the forward Liverpool are counting on for goals at the moment.

The Senegal international made it six in his last six league games by scoring the opening two goals against Watford — the second a delightful backheel into the net from 12 metres past stunned goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Centre back Virgil van Dijk also scored twice, both headers, after Divock Origi had made it 3-0.

It was a good evening for Liverpool’s defenders, with right back Trent Alexander-Arnold setting up three goals and left back Andrew Robertson assisting with the other two.

“Let’s enjoy the ride and see how far it takes us,” said Reds coach Klopp, whose side have still only lost one league game all season.

With three wins in a row, Arsenal have found form just at the right time going into the north London derby at the weekend.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan starred against Bournemouth, scoring one goal and setting up two more for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Laurent Koscielny. Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette were the other scorers.

That result at Emirates Stadium ensured Man United remained outside the top four despite another impressive performance under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice and Ashley Young added the third for injury-hit United in its win at Palace.

In the other game Wednesday, Southampton climbed out of the relegation zone by beating Fulham 2-0.

AP