LONDON: Liverpool are guaranteed a third-place finishing farewell for Jurgen Klopp after an entertaining 4-2 Anfield despatch of Tottenham. Spurs’ fourth successive defeat was a further blow to their faint hopes of pipping Aston Villa to the fourth and last Champions League place.

Liverpool’s command was rewarded through Mo Salah, Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott. Salah’s goal was his ninth in the league against while Gakpo happily celebrated the arrival of a baby son. Richarlson pulled one back. Spurs woke up too late through Richarlison and Heung-min Son.

The Reds remain mathematically in the title race but Klopp does not expect gifts from either Arsenal or Manchester City.

Tottenham’s defeat was consolation for Aston Villa after their 1-0 defeat at Brighton. Unai Emery’s team were undone by a late header from Joao Pedro, following in after Robin Olsen had saved his initial penalty. Pascal Gross had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside.

Some 24 hours earlier Arsenal and Manchester City had maintained their title duel. Kai Havertz played a key role in the leaders’ 3:0 defeat of Bournemouth in winning the penalty from which Bukayo Saka opened the score. Havertz triped over the trailing leg of keeper Mark Travers but angry Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola claimed that Havertz had been “trying to find the contact.” Havertz said: “I felt the contact and went down.”

Iny any case Arsenal were far superior and deserved a victory which matched their Premier League wins record total of 26 from last season. Only twice have the Gunners won more matches in a single campaign. Both were 42-match seasons: 1930-31 (28) and 1970-71 (29).

City remained one point behind with one game in hand by thrashing Wolves 5-1. Erling Haaland scored his sixth league hat-trick for City; only seven have scored more in Premier history. Haaland was upset on being substituted after scoring his fourth goal but manager Pep Guardiola said this was only because the Norwegian had been angry at a lack of protection from the officials.

** Doomed Sheffield United became the first Premier club since Swindon in 1994 to concede 100 goals on the way into the second tier.

** Ipswich are back in the Premier League after a 22-year absence. They secured their second promotion in successive seasons with a 2-0 defeat of Huddersfield to finish one point behind Leicester. Daniel Farke’s third-placed Leeds contest the playoffs with Southampton, West Bromwich and Norwich.

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