Reds back on top, United come apart

London, April 21

Liverpool regained their place at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win at Cardiff City today that restored their two-point lead over Manchester City.

Juergen Klopp’s side, who have lost just once in the league all season, have 88 points, a club record in the Premier League era, while City, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Saturday, are on 86 but have a game in hand. That extra game for City will be played on Wednesday when Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United and the champions will make the short trip with the pressure firmly back on.

Against a Cardiff side battling for Premier League survival, it was a confident, patient performance from Liverpool who have now enjoyed nine straight wins in all competitions.

Cardiff defended deep and in numbers and limited Liverpool’s opportunities. After an intense spell of pressure following the interval, Georginio Wijnaldum broke the deadlock for Liverpool in fine style with a first-time strike from a clever short corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Substitute James Milner converted an 81st-minute penalty.

Everton hammer Man U

A woeful Manchester United suffered their fifth straight away defeat, in all competitions, with a 4-0 Premier League hammering at the hands of a vibrant Everton at Goodison Park. United did not manage a shot on target until the 86th minute as they fell to their sixth loss in eight games since their memorable victory at Paris St Germain in the Champions League.

The euphoria felt in Paris and at the start of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign already seems a distant memory after a United performance that lacked not only quality but aggression and fire.

Palace punish Arsenal

Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal’s Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium. The result ensured Palace’s Premier League status for another season as they moved to 12th. — Reuters

EPL points table

team mat w d l pts

Liverpool 35 27 7 1 88

Man City 34 28 2 4 86

Tottenham 34 22 1 11 67

Arsenal 34 20 6 8 66

Chelsea 34 20 6 8 66

Man United 34 19 7 8 64