Liverpool and Nottingham Forest played out a 1-1 draw on Wednesday morning (AEDT), leaving the door ajar for injury-hit Arsenal to join the EPL title race as Chelsea and Manchester City also failed to take all three points against Bournemouth and Brentford respectively.
Chris Wood opened the scoring within the first ten minutes as the New Zealand striker continued his excellent 2024-25 form, before Diogo Jota headed home in the 66th minute to ensure the points were shared at the City Ground.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was complimentary of surprise packet Forest, who will challenge for a top-four finish, but maintained anything less than a win was below expectations.
“We should be disappointed, although they are having a great season. We want to win every game and they probably want to win every game as well,” Slot said.
“With how the game went I think we can be disappointed. They are a counter-attacking team and I think we only conceded one counter-attack and for us to come from behind shows the character and quality the team has.
“We must not get a habit of not getting what we deserved because it happened at Tottenham and it happened today and the analysts might not agree but based on expected goals we deserved more than 2-2 draw against Manchester United too.”
Elsewhere, four-time champions Manchester City’s title defence took another hit after late goals from Yoan Wissa and Christian Norgaard cancelled out Phil Foden’s brace, and rescued a draw for Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side remain 12 point adrift of leaders Liverpool.
The 53-year-old, who recently extended his contract at the Etihad Stadium, was seen in a fiery exchange with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after the full-time whistle.
“We’re a bit disappointed but at 2-0 up we didn’t manage to hold on to the lead and unfortunately we couldn’t close the game,” Guardiola said.
“Today we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third. I had the feeling that we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third to close the game. I don’t know (why we can’t hold onto leads), it can happen. Sometimes it happens. We have to manage a little bit better but today was not bad.”
Reece James’ goal deep into injury time to secure a 2-2 stalemate ensured Bournemouth did not leave Stamford Bridge with the three points, meanwhile an Alex Iwobi brace was not enough for Fulham who went down 3-2 to West Ham at the London Stadium.
Gunners hit with ACL blow as door opens for title push
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s worst fears have been realised after it was confirmed Gabriel Jesus is set to be sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
The Gunners have confirmed that Jesus – who has scored six times across his past seven appearances – ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when landing awkwardly in his side’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
The devastating injury is likely to keep Jesus out for much of 2025.
The news leaves them with only one recognised forward in Kai Havertz, with star man Bukayo Saka out until March at the earliest with a hamstring tear.
Jesus’ injury will place fresh impetus on Arsenal’s activity in this month’s transfer window and even greater focus on Havertz.
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal are investigating abusive social media posts sent to the Germany international’s wife Sophia following his penalty shootout failure against United, which followed several mises during the match.
“We really have to do something about it, because accepting that and hiding this has terrible consequences,” Arteta said.
“It’s something we have to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical and dependent to a result of an action. There is no other industry like this.”
Arteta confirmed he is looking for players to fill his depleted side, with a No.9 even more of a priority.
Meanwhile, a former Arsenal academy striker has joined Aston Villa.
Borussia Dortmund’s Netherlands international Donyell Malen, 25, has joined for a fee reported to be in the region of 21 million sterling ($A41 million).
Malen joined Arsenal’s academy from Ajax in 2015, but headed home to PSV Eindhoven in 2017 without making a senior appearance for the Gunners.
with AAP
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/01/15/we-should-be-disappointed-liverpool-held-by-forest-as-chelsea-and-city-drop-points/‘We should be disappointed’: Liverpool held by Forest as Chelsea and City drop points
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