Liverpool just three wins from first English Premier League title

Liverpool emerged from their recent mini-slump to beat Bournemouth and are now just three wins from their first EPL title.

Liverpool striker Sadio Mane celebrates scoring his team’s second goal against Bournemouth at Anfield. Picture: AFP

Liverpool have emerged from their recent mini-slump to get their Premier League title procession back on track with a record-breaking 2-1 comeback victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday.

Their 22nd successive top-flight win at home, breaking the English record set by Bill Shankly’s side in 1972, was sealed by goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane after Callum Wilson had given Bournemouth a shock lead.

“(The home record) is nice, it is special, but not normal,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.

“The game today is a good example. We had to fight hard, we are not geniuses, but we can really fight!”

The result restored Liverpool’s 25-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table and means just three more wins are all that are now required to put the seal on the Reds’ first league title for 30 years.

Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur fought back for 1-1 draw at Burnley as Dele Alli’s 50th-minute penalty cancelled out Chris Wood’s opener on 13 minutes. The result did little to help Jose Mourinho’s side’s bid for Champions League qualification however, leaving Spurs in eighth place, four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Elsewhere, Wolverhampton Wanderers moved up to fifth despite a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.

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Sheffield United are one place behind Wolves in sixth on the same points tally after Billy Sharp’s goal earned a 1-0 win over Norwich City. Bournemouth still have relegation fears to fight in 18th place with 27 points, tied with Watford and West Ham United but the Cherries will be boosted by defeats to their fellow survival hopefuls.

Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew scored in a 1-0 win over 17th-placed Watford.

Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run in 2020 to eight league matches after Alexandre Lacazette netted in the 78th minute for a 1-0 result against West Ham. Since Mikel Arteta took charge in December 2019, the Gunners have only lost one league match and are now up to ninth with 40 points, five away from a top-four spot.

“I’m happy because big teams find a way when they aren’t playing well,” Arteta said.

“We are turning the corner in terms of results, but it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Newcastle United beat 10-man Southampton 1-0 thanks to Allan Saint-Maximin’s 80th-minute winner, but they should have been ahead earlier.

After Southampton lost Moussa Djenepo to a red card for a dangerous tackle on 28 minutes, Newcastle were awarded a penalty but Matt Ritchie’s spot kick was saved by Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

DPA