Premier League: Liverpool must wait to clinch title after Arsenal draws with Palace

LONDON: One more point. That’s all Liverpool needs to secure a record-tying 20th English top-flight title after second-place Arsenal drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Arne Slot’s runaway leader can take care of business on Sunday by avoiding defeat to Tottenham in what is set to be a big party at Anfield. A draw or a win would ensure Liverpool cannot be caught by Arsenal with four more rounds remaining and therefore clinches a second title in five years, tying with fierce rival Manchester United on No. 20 overall.

Becoming the champion in 2020 ended the storied club’s 30-year title drought but Liverpool’s players couldn’t celebrate in front of their fans because of restrictions during the pandemic.

They’ll try to make up for it this weekend.

Arsenal twice squandered the lead at Emirates Stadium, with Jean-Philippe Mateta taking advantage of a defensive error by William Saliba to score Palace’s second equalizer in the 83rd and leave Arsenal 12 points behind Liverpool.

Arsenal, which started with star forward Bukayo Saka on the bench, looked vulnerable throughout against Palace, with its players perhaps having an eye on the Champions League semifinals against Paris Saint-Germain starting next week.

“We have the most important game of the season in six days,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We need to get our energy back.”

Arsenal has been runner-up to Manchester City in the Premier League the previous two seasons and is facing a third straight second-place finish.

However, an improving City — a 2-1 winner over Aston Villa on Tuesday — is only six points back in third place after Arsenal’s 13th draw of an inconsistent campaign.

The host went ahead through Jakub Kiwior’s header at a free kick in the third minute, only for Palace to reply when playmaker Eberechi Eze met a corner with a brilliantly taken downward volley that skimmed off the turf and flew in off the post in the 27th.

Leandro Trossard wriggled free in the area and scored with a deflected shot in the 42nd minute to restore Arsenal’s lead. Mateta, a second-half substitute, had the final say, though, by capitalizing on Saliba’s poor pass and floating a shot over stranded goalkeeper David Raya from around 40 meters.