Liverpool and City flash deep squads in big wins

Liverpool, Feb. 2: Liverpool and Manchester City look primed and ready for another heavyweight clash for the Premier League title.

Liverpool routed Chelsea 4-1 on Wednesday to restore a five-point lead for Jürgen Klopp’s team atop the table before going to third-placed Arsenal this weekend.

City eased to a 3-1 win over Burnley and moved up again to second, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, and having played a game fewer than its two rivals.

With their fourth straight wins, the Premier League powers showcased deep squads, fast-improving young stars and, for City, the tentative return of feared forward Erling Haaland after nearly two months out injured.

Haaland came off the bench with City comfortably in a three-goal lead as Julián Álvarez again stepped up to lead the attack with two goals. The second was created by Kevin De Bruyne making his first start in the Premier League since August.

For Liverpool, Diogo Jota again covered for the absence of Mohamed Salah and opened the scoring early against a poor Chelsea taking a pass from the impressive Conor Bradley.

Bradley, an unheralded 20-year-old right-back filling in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, then scored his first goal for the club before assisting again for Dominik Szoboszlai to effectively seal the win in the 65th.

Liverpool had the luxury of forward Darwin Núñez missing a first-half penalty, one of a Premier League record four times one player struck the frame of the goal in a game.

Man City edged Liverpool in epic duels for the title in 2019 and 2022, and north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are also currently in this race.

Tottenham scored three goals in eight second-half minutes to beat Brentford 3-2 and rise to fourth, trailing Liverpool by eight points. Tottenham cannot be counted out just yet. Whatever Premier League road that coach Ange Postecoglou’s team takes, it should be one of the most watchable on its journey.

After a poor first half at home to Brentford, Tottenham burst into a 3-1 lead within 11 minutes of the second half.

Destiny Udogie leveled in the 48th, one minute before Brennan Johnson scored the go-ahead goal. Richarlison scored what proved the decisive goal in the 56th.

Ivan Toney cut the lead scoring for the second straight game since his return from an eight-month ban for betting violations.

A testy edge was created by Brentford forward Neal Maupay appearing to mock the dart-throwing goal celebration favored by Tottenham playmaker James Maddison after scoring in the first half.

Barcelona edges Osasuna

With coach Xavi Hernández still in charge, Barcelona got back on track with a 1-0 win over Osasuna in the Spanish league on Wednesday.

Young Brazil forward Vitor Roque scored his first goal since joining the club in Barcelona’s first match since Xavi announced he will leave at the end of the season.

The victory moved Barcelona back within eight points of Spanish league leader Girona. Barcelona sits seven points behind Madrid, which can retake the lead if it wins at Getafe on Thursday in its postponed game because of the Super Cup. Atletico Madrid stayed in third place, just ahead of Barcelona, after a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano, with Memphis Depay scoring a 90th-minute winner at the Metropolitano stadium.

It was the fifth goal in five matches for Depay, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the 82nd. Reinildo had given the hosts the lead in the 35th with his first goal with Atletico, and Rayo equalized with Álvaro García in the 42nd.

The victory extended Atletico’s unbeaten run at home to 28 matches in all competitions. Its last home defeat was against Barcelona in January last year in the Spanish league. (AP)