LONDON — Liverpool’s fading English Premier League title hopes were dealt a near-fatal blow as West Ham rescued a draw against Jurgen Klopp’s men while Sheffield United dropped through the relegation trap door.
A brilliant second-half strike by Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher secured a 2-2 Premier League draw with Aston Villa as the Blues staged a thrilling comeback from two goals down to threaten Villa’s Champions League hopes.
Manchester United could muster only a 1-1 draw against Burnley after conceding a late penalty, while Crystal Palace salvaged a 1-1 draw at Fulham, and Wolverhampton Wanderers dealt relegation-threatened Luton Town yet another hit to their survival hopes with a 2-1 victory.
Liverpool, reeling from a 2-0 loss at Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, conceded a late header by Michail Antonio in West Ham’s deserved draw.
They remained third on 75 points, one behind second-placed Manchester City, who have played two games fewer, and two behind first-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Asked if he had written off Liverpool’s title chances, a resigned-looking manager Klopp said: “I said before we need to win our games; we didn’t win the game, that doesn’t improve our situation massively.
“Do they (City and Arsenal) look like they will lose two or three games? No, I don’t think so,” Klopp added according to Reuters.
Klopp’s side conceded first when Jarrod Bowen nodded home shortly before halftime.
The Reds levelled three minutes after the restart through Andy Robertson and then took the lead in the 65th minute when Thomas Soucek’s attempted clearance of Cody Gakpo’s shot bounced off Angelo Ogbonna and then struck Alphonse Areola to go in. Antonio levelled when he met Bowen’s cross with a powerful header in the 77th minute.
Liverpool’s game was marred by a heated exchange between Klopp and talisman Mohamed Salah when he was substituted on late in the game. “I’m not in the mood to talk about that to be honest or look at that at all,” Klopp told TNT Sports.
“We had to win here, we knew that, and we didn’t, and now we have a little bit more time between now and the next game. We try to get the boys ready again and we will go again.”
“We spoke about that in the dressing room and it’s done for me, that’s all,” Klopp told reporters.
Salah, however, told reporters that “there’s going to be fire today if I speak”, in footage uploaded to social media.
A sizzling left-footed finish by Jeffrey Schlupp got Crystal Palace a late equaliser at Fulham.
Fulham remained 13th, three points ahead of Palace, who are unbeaten in their last four matches.
Schlupp’s goal cancelled out a 52nd-minute headed goal from Rodrigo Muniz.
“It was a fully deserved point,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said. “This group, these players, they came back again and never gave up.”
Manchester United looked to be heading for victory after Antony broke the deadlock with a goal in the 79th minute.
But substitute Zeki Amdouni scored a penalty eight minutes later after United keeper Andre Onana hit him in the face in the box while attempting to clear the ball.
The draw left United in sixth but six points behind fifth-place Tottenham, who have two games in hand.
“Over many phases of the game we did very well (but) we gave it away again at the end,” United’s beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag said.
“We have to look in the mirror. We made a mistake but you take responsibility and they should understand what it means for a team and for a manager.”
The draw was a big result for Burnley, who is 19th but kept alive their survival hopes.
“Burnley FC did itself proud today,” said manager Vincent Kompany. “More than performance, it’s the effort. A lot of people will talk about style of play but it’s useless and worthless if you don’t have what they showed out there, the sacrifice for each other.”
Wolves moved to 10th in the standings thanks to goals by Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes, while struggling Luton remain 18th with three games to go.
Luton has lost five of their last six matches and has conceded 77 goals this season, the worst tally in the league apart from Sheffield United.
Alexander Isak netted twice while Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson were also on target in Newcastle’s rout of Sheffield at St. James’ Park.
Ben Osborn also scored an own goal for seventh-placed Newcastle, who move to 53 points from 34 games this season.
“We have not been good enough,” Sheffield manager Chris Wilder said. “The league has been too powerful for us right the way through the season.”
Newcastle’s 5-1 win against basement club Sheffield strengthened their push for European football next season but sent Chris Wilder’s team down to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.
Anel Ahmedhodzic gave the visitors an early lead at St James’ Park but Alexander Isak scored twice as the home side roared back, AFP reported.
“We have not been good enough,” Wilder told the BBC. “The league has been too powerful for us right the way through the season.”
Newcastle remains in seventh place but are just one point behind Manchester United, who conceded a late penalty in a draw against Burnley.
Brazilian winger Antony scored his first Premier League goal of the season but Zeki Amdouni levelled from the spot in the 87th minute to leave the home side ruing missed chances.
United has now won just one of their past six league matches as they limp towards the end of the season.
Burnley is two points behind Forest, who are just outside the relegation zone, and one point behind Luton.
Ten Hag said his team “gave it away”.
“We are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league at this moment,” said the Dutchman.
“We are creating loads of chances by playing good football. it was unnecessary to lose control.”
Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes scored as Wolves deepened Luton’s woes with a 2-1 win and Fulham drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace.
