Arsenal draw with Palace - Liverpool must wait to clinch Premier League title

One more point.

That's all Liverpool need to secure a record-tying 20th English top-flight title after second-place Arsenal drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in the English Premier League yesterday.

Arne Slot's runaway leaders can take care of business on Sunday by avoiding defeat to Tottenham in what is set to be a big party at Anfield.

A draw or a win would ensure Liverpool cannot be caught by Arsenal with four more rounds remaining and therefore clinch a second title in five years, tying with fierce rivals Manchester United on No. 20 overall.

Becoming the champions in 2020 ended the storied club's 30-year title drought, but Liverpool's players couldn't celebrate in front of their fans because of restrictions during the pandemic.

They'll try to make up for it this weekend.

Arsenal twice squandered the lead at Emirates Stadium, with Jean-Philippe Mateta taking advantage of a defensive error by William Saliba to score Palace's second equaliser in the 83rd and leave Arsenal 12 points behind Liverpool.

Arsenal, which started with star forward Bukayo Saka on the bench, looked vulnerable throughout against Palace, with their players perhaps having an eye on the Champions League semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain starting next week.

"We have the most important game of the season in six days," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. "We need to get our energy back."

RUNNERS-UP

Arsenal have been runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League the previous two seasons and are facing a third straight second-place finish.

However, an improving City -- 2-1 winners over Aston Villa on Tuesday -- are only six points back in third place after Arsenal's 13th draw of an inconsistent campaign.

The hosts went ahead through Jakub Kiwior's header from a free kick in the third minute, only for Palace to reply when playmaker Eberechi Eze met a corner with a brilliantly taken downward volley that skimmed off the turf and flew in off the post in the 27th.

Leandro Trossard wriggled free in the area and scored with a deflected shot in the 42nd minute to restore Arsenal's lead.

Mateta, a second-half substitute, had the final say, though, by capitalising on Saliba's poor pass and floating a shot over stranded goalkeeper David Raya from around 40 metres.

FA CUP

Palace remained in 12th place and have little to play for in the Premier League. They are, however, heading into an FA Cup semi-final game against Aston Villa on Saturday in better heart.

"It's important to keep this energy and confidence for the semi-final on Saturday," Palace manager Oliver Glasner said.

"It was not our goal to decide the title, it was our goal to win the game. I think a draw is a very good result. More important is the performance. We are back on the track."

- AP