Liverpool may not need any favours to clinch the Premier League title, but they received one nonetheless from their neighbours. Everton held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, effectively extinguishing the Gunners’ faint hopes of catching the league leaders.
Arsenal appeared to be on track for a vital win after Leandro Trossard gave them the lead in a match they marginally deserved to win. However, a contentious second-half penalty—awarded after Myles Lewis-Skelly went down following contact with Jack Harrison—allowed Iliman Ndiaye to equalise from the spot and earn Everton their fifth draw in six league games.
The result means Arne Slot’s Liverpool side now need just 11 points from their remaining eight fixtures to secure a record-equalling 20th league title. As for Arsenal, their title chase now looks all but over.
Mikel Arteta rotated his squad heavily following their midweek win over Fulham, with key players Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Thomas Partey all starting on the bench. Tuesday’s looming Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid influenced his selection.
Everton manager David Moyes also made changes following their Merseyside derby defeat at Anfield. Vitalii Mykolenko missed out through injury, forcing Nathan Patterson to make his first start under Moyes—out of position—at left-back. The changes showed as both sides struggled to find rhythm in a disjointed opening half.
A poignant moment came in the ninth minute when the entire stadium rose to applaud a tribute to former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell, who passed away last year at the age of 54. Members of Campbell’s family were present to witness the heartfelt ovation from both sets of supporters.
Trossard, who was Arsenal’s match-winner in this fixture last season, once again proved their most dangerous outlet. He had an early effort blocked brilliantly by Jarrad Branthwaite, but capitalised on a defensive lapse minutes later. After a mix-up between Branthwaite and Idrissa Gueye, Raheem Sterling intercepted and drove forward before teeing up Trossard, who fired low past Jordan Pickford to give Arsenal the lead.
The Belgian nearly doubled his tally just before halftime when he broke clear of the Everton defence, only to be impeded by James Tarkowski’s desperate lunge. The referee waved play on, but had Trossard gone down, a penalty could well have been awarded.
Everton found a lifeline in the second half through Ndiaye’s penalty, and despite Arsenal’s pressure, held firm to earn a valuable point—and deliver an unintended gift to Liverpool in the process.
