In the last round of the Premier League, the gap between leading Liverpool and Arsenal, the only credible contender for Arne Slot’s Reds, widened again. The Gunners were stopped at the Emirates Stadium by their former coach, Unai Emery, not going beyond a draw with Aston Villa. Liverpool, on the other hand, savored the sweet taste of three points again by defeating a tough pitch like the Community Stadium, the home of Brentford, thanks to a Darwin Nunez brace in the second half (one of the 2 goals propitiated by former Juventus player Chiesa).
The standings now see the Reds at +6 over the Londoners, joined in the meantime by the surprising Forest on 44 points. One must always consider, however, that Salah and his teammates still have to make up for the derby with Everton, reasoning that the gap with Arsenal could widen when the extra-city match (which is scheduled for Feb. 12) is made up.
The Reds, meanwhile, will try to respect the odds in their encounter with one of the three newly promoted sides, Ipswich Town: on paper, a match without history at Anfield Road, with the Tractor Boys coming in with the 6 goals on their backs they suffered last Sunday against Manchester City (0-6). Liverpool, fresh from their Champions League success with Lille (2-1), could also take advantage of the far from airtight defense of Kieran McKenna’s men, and it would not be a surprise if they manage to win by more than two goals.
Favorable round also for Arsenal, staged at Molineux against another team that is fighting not to relegate: Wolverhampton. The Gunners’ European commitment could affect the outcome of the challenge, but the black-and-golds seem to have already stalled after the breath of fresh air brought by the new coach, Vitor Pereira, conceding three defeats in a row in which they have conceded 9 goals in total (never less than three per match).
The predictions on the other matches
The most interesting and uncertain match is probably the one at the Vitality Stadium between the two big surprises of this championship: Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.
Andoni Iraola’s team just overwhelmed Newcastle at home (1-4), remaining 3 points off fourth place, while the Garibaldi Reds thanks to their 3-2 success over Southampton joined Arsenal in third. For both so far it is a dream season: great balance and at least one goal on each side.
There should be no shortage of excitement in Brighton-Everton either: the Seagulls come from two wins, the last one at Old Trafford against Manchester United, but they will have to watch out for the Toffees, immediately reinvigorated by the change in the bench (Moyes took Dyche’s place). Seeking redemption, finally, Newcastle after the home drubbing with Bournemouth: the opportunity to restart offers them the disastrous Southampton, “very last” in the standings but always in goal in the last three games.
Premier League: possible winners
Newcastle (in Southampton-Newcastle)
Arsenal (in Wolverhampton-Arsenal)
Matches with at least three goals overall
Liverpool-Ipswich Town
Bournemouth-Nottingham Forest
Premier League: matches by at least one goal per team
Brighton-Everton
Southampton-Newcastle