Diogo Jota scored a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool clinched a barely-believable 4-3 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur to bolster their hopes of qualifying for Europe yesterday.
Liverpool had led 3-0 inside the opening 15 minutes as for the second successive Sunday Tottenham’s defence crumbled, but the visitors stormed back and substitute Richarlison’s stoppage-time header appeared to have earned his side an unlikely point.
But Jota, also on as a substitute, punished a mistake by Lucas Moura to break Tottenham’s hearts and fire Liverpool over the Londoners into fifth place in the table.
A chaotic first half was only three minutes old when Curtis Jones put the hosts in front and two minutes later Tottenham’s defence crumbled again as Luis Diaz volleyed home.
When Mohamed Salah blasted a penalty high into the net in the 15th minute Tottenham seemed on course for a repeat of the horror show at Newcastle United last Sunday when they conceded five times in the opening 21 minutes in a 6-1 hammering.
With some Spurs supporters leaving early and fans chanting “we want our money back” the visitors suddenly came alive though and Harry Kane volleyed past Alisson in the 39th minute and shortly afterwards Son Heung-min was denied by the upright.
Tottenham could not believe their bad luck after the break when Son and Cristian Romero saw efforts rebound off the post within the space of a couple of minutes.
Liverpool finally appeared to have restored order but Son raced clear to make it 3-2 in the 77th minute and set up a nerve-jangling finale that had earlier looked improbable.
Former Everton forward Richarlison sent the Tottenham fans delirious when his glancing header bounced into the net but within a minute their joy turned to dismay as Jota beat Fraser Forster with a clinical slow shot.
Liverpool have 56 points from 33 games with Tottenham on 54 from 34 games. Liverpool remain seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United who have played one game less.
The teams that finish fifth and sixth will likely qualify for the Europa League next season.
Manchester City claimed top spot for the first time since February as Erling Haaland reached another set of a milestones in a 2-1 victory at Fulham.
It took Haaland only three minutes to score his record-equalling 34th Premier League goal of an extraordinary debut season in England, the Norwegian tucking away a penalty.
It moved him level on the Premier League single season scoring record of Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
The Norwegian also became the first player in England’s top flight to score 50 goals in all competitions in a season since Tom Waring did so for Aston Villa in 1931.
City were pegged back in the 15th minute when Carlos Vinicius rifled a shot past Ederson but they responded to the setback to carve out a succession of chances.
Jack Grealish was denied by the crossbar before Argentine forward Julian Alvarez produced a moment of magic to beat Bernd Leno with a right-foot shot from outside the area.
City were unable to give themselves a cushion after the break despite several chances and suffered some anxious moments but they held on for an eighth successive league win.
They are now top with 76 points to Arsenal’s 75 and also have one extra game to play.
Fulham remain in 10th place.
A goal from Bruno Fernandes secured Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, increasing their chances of finishing in the top four and continuing their dominant form at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s side are fourth in the standings with 63 points from 32 matches and have a game in hand on fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who are on 54 points.
A quick-fire Jefferson Lerma double helped Bournemouth beat Leeds United 4-1 at home, lifting them further away from relegation danger and leaving the visitors a point clear of the drop zone.
Leeds have 30 points to sit 16th – a point above 18th-placed Leicester City and two above 19th-placed Everton, who play each other today.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth moved up to 13th in the standings with 39 points to give the south-coast club a huge boost after they found themselves at the bottom of the table and staring at relegation at the start of March.
Newcastle United look almost certain to be playing in the Champions League next season after Callum Wilson’s double saw them come from a goal down to beat bottom club Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League.
Third-placed Newcastle were rocked shortly before halftime when Stuart Armstrong put the visitors ahead.
But Newcastle, who have not played in the Champions League for two decades, dominated the second half with substitute Wilson making an immediate impact with a tap-in goal.
He then had another disallowed for offside, but Southampton’s relief was short-lived as an own goal by Theo Walcott put Eddie Howe’s side in front.
Two minutes later Wilson, who had come on at halftime, sealed the points after being played in by Alexander Isak.
Victory put Newcastle on 65 points with five games remaining, 11 points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
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