Liverpool sink Arsenal to boost title bid, record-breaker Kane lifts Spurs

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Liverpool moved within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City after Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino inspired a crucial 2-0 win over Arsenal on Wednesday.

Kloppโ€™s side took advantage of Cityโ€™s goalless draw with Crystal Palace on Monday thanks to their smash-and-grab raid at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal enjoyed a sustained period of pressure that could easily have yielded the opening goal, but Alisson Becker made a superb save to deny Martin Odegaard and Liverpool capitalised to steal the points.

Liverpool, chasing an unprecedented quadruple, have won nine successive league games, scoring 23 goals and only conceding twice.

Having trailed City by 14 points on 15 January, Liverpool have hunted down the champions impressively, putting the race in their own hands as they eye a second title in three seasons.

A victory over Watford in their next league game on 2 April would set the stage for a seismic showdown with Pep Guardiolaโ€™s team at the Etihad Stadium on 10 April.

โ€œWeโ€™ve obviously had a good period. Itโ€™s what we need. Weโ€™re one point behind, but itโ€™s still the same. We have to win football matches,โ€ Klopp said.

โ€œItโ€™s better to be one point behind than 14 points. But in 10 years, do you think somebody will say you should be proud of finishing second? Probably not.

โ€œWe know we have a special group here and weโ€™re trying to squeeze everything we can out of the situation.โ€

Finding a way to subdue an in-form Arsenal side who had won their previous five league games to climb to fourth place made the victory in rain-soaked north London even more impressive.

โ€œItโ€™s big. Coming here and winning against Arsenal is already special, but winning the game like it was is even more special,โ€ Klopp said.

Klopp threw down the gauntlet to City this week when he admitted he wants Liverpool to be as โ€œannoying as possibleโ€ in the title race.

There is no doubt Liverpool are proving extremely irritating, especially since they beat the Gunners with Mohamed Salah starting on the bench after suffering a foot injury in Saturdayโ€™s win at Brighton.

After several years in the doldrums, Arsenal are on the up and the vibrant atmosphere at the often subdued Emirates reflected that renewed confidence in Mikel Artetaโ€™s young team.

Arsenal should have gone in front when Liverpoolโ€™s Thiago Alcantara gifted possession to Alexandre Lacazette early in the second half.

Lacazette teed up Odegaard but Alisson kept out the Daneโ€™s close-range effort with a stunning save.

โ€œIt was a sensational save. For me it was a goal, to be honest. With their quality, they often finish situations like that. Ali didnโ€™t let it happen,โ€ Klopp said.

That was the turning point as, moments later, Liverpool struck in the 54th minute.

Thiagoโ€™s precise pass behind Cedric Soares sent Jota sprinting into the Arsenal area, but the Portugal forwardโ€™s low shot should have been saved by Aaron Ramsdale, who let it squirm past him at the near post.

Liverpool went for the knockout blow and Firmino delivered it in the 62nd minute.

Andy Robertson was the catalyst with a brilliant piece of tenacity as the Scot saw his shot blocked, then chased to the touchline to steal possession before surging forward to send in a cross that Firmino converted with a deft finish.

Harry Kane created Premier League history with his goal in Tottenhamโ€™s 2-0 win at Brighton.

After Cristian Romero deflected Dejan Kulusevskiโ€™s effort into the net in the 37th minute, Kane entered the record books just before the hour.

His blistering finish from Rodrigo Bentancurโ€™s pass made it 95 away goals in the Premier League for Kane, more than any other player.

The England striker also moved above Frank Lampard on the list of Premier League all-time scorers, going into fifth with 178 goals.

Antonio Conteโ€™s seventh-placed side remain in the race for a top-four finish, sitting three points behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

โ€œWe are very happy because Harry is scoring a lot. He started this season and he struggled a bit,โ€ Conte said.

โ€œHarry is starting to understand with this team, with the way we are playing, he has every game many chances to improve his record.โ€