Arsenal beat Liverpool to blow title race wide open after ‘schoolboy howler’ as Klopp rages at refs
Arsenal blew the Premier League title race wide open as Gabriel Martinelli punished a howler from Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker to inspire a crucial 3-1 win over the leaders.
Martinelli fired home after Alisson completely missed his clearance in the second half to the delight of the Arsenal fans packed into the raucous Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side had taken an early lead through Bukayo Saka before Gabriel Magalhaes’s bizarre own goal gifted Liverpool an equaliser late in the first half.
Leandro Trossard bagged Arsenal’s third in stoppage-time to clinch the points after Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate was sent off in the closing stages.
Arsenal’s vital victory moved them into second, two points behind Liverpool after 23 games each.
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It was Liverpool’s first domestic defeat in all competitions since September, when they lost just across north London at Tottenham in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s devastating defeat was also a boost to champions Manchester City, who travel to Brentford on Tuesday.
City are five points adrift of Liverpool but have two games in hand and will go top if they win both.
Liverpool won at the Emirates just a month ago, beating Arsenal 2-0 in the FA Cup third round in part due to a series of key misses by the Gunners.
The sides also drew 1-1 in the Premier League at Anfield just before Christmas after Arsenal blew an early lead.
Arsenal, who would have been eight points behind the leaders if they had lost, finally got one over Liverpool as they inflicted a first defeat since Klopp announced his long goodbye on January 26.
Chasing a first title since 2004 after capitulating late in the race with City last term, Arsenal have issued a significant
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