TEvery race is never just about the winners. In other circumstances, a run of three draws in six games could be a cause for concern for Liverpool. Are they tightening up? Is the vague feeling that the fixture list has been kind to them so far true? But even if it is, it doesn’t really matter. Before the first of those draws, at Newcastle on 4 December, they were nine points clear of second-place Arsenal; After Sunday’s draw at home to Manchester United, they are six points ahead of Arsenal with a game to go.
And that was actually the story of the past month, the big hectic extravaganza of the festive period. There’s been a lot of heat and light, a lot of drama and excitement, and ultimately not much has changed. Liverpool were far from their best on Sunday and could easily have suffered a surprising defeat, but in seven of the last nine matchdays the chasing players from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City managed to achieve one or fewer victories together. While that leaves Nottingham Forest, who will get close to six points with a game in hand if they beat Wolves on Monday, and who are Liverpool’s next league opponents, it was a remarkable achievement for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side to to achieve this. where they are; Realistically, there will be some decline in the second half of the season.
City are twelve points behind Liverpool and have played a game more. Their race is certainly over. Back-to-back wins over Leicester and West Ham were essential to get them going again and get Erling Haaland back in goal, but in both games they were much more open than Pep Guardiola would expect and away games at Brentford and Ipswich. could even put them to the test before the brutal six-week period that starts against Paris Saint-Germain on January 22 and includes games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Forest, as well as a decisive European encounter with Club Brugge.
Chelsea were the real losers of the festive period, taking just two points from four games, undone by an over-reliance on Cole Palmer and by chasing games with a naivete that seemed to expose their lack of experience – something Enzo Maresca always had done. probably acknowledged when asked if Chelsea were title challengers.
But it is Arsenal who will perhaps feel the greatest sense of regret. After overcoming Bukayo Saka’s injury, an illness bug and falling behind to beat Brentford, it looked like they were about to mount an attack. And they have played seven of the other nine sides in the current top half away from home this season (Liverpool played seven at home). But having beaten Brighton in the first half, they ultimately failed to beat them. It’s true that the penalty was unusual, but they also put themselves in a position where misfortune could happen, and that has been the case all season. Arsenal have now dropped points in nine league games and felt the damage in at least five of them. Had they won on Saturday, the pressure on Liverpool would have been marginally greater on Sunday, especially when United took the lead. As it was, Liverpool’s draw, in a match they had been expected to win, kept their lead just a week closer to the finish.
The match at Anfield was perhaps the best of the season so far. This is what midwinter games should look like: persistent sleet, the snow piling up along the side of the field, steam pouring off crumpled players, the stands somehow darker than usual because most people’s warmest coats remain black or navy blue, a match that defied expectations.
United were much better than they had been in the run of four defeats that brought them into the game, much better than anyone thought they could be, and that should be encouraging: when Ruben Amorim has time to work with them working on the training pitch, they are capable of improvement. However, the scale of their celebration after Lisandro Martínez’s opener seemed an expression of almost disbelief, while the quick concession of an equalizer was indicative of minds troubled by emotions. However, managing games is a secondary challenge; first it is necessary to be present in it, and United have certainly achieved that.
For Liverpool, meanwhile, there is the knowledge that they may have gotten away with it. Trent Alexander-Arnold had a game to forget and there was never the control in midfield that you might have expected. But without a sustained challenge from their main rivals, it may not matter. There are elements that worry Arne Slot, but they would worry him even more if Liverpool were not so clear.
after newsletter promotion
This is an excerpt from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, the Guardian US’s weekly look at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Do you have a question for Jonathan? Email footballwithjw@theguardian.com and he will provide the best answer in a future edition