Manchester: Liverpool took over at the top of the Premier League table despite being held to a goalless draw against Manchester United in a scrappy derby match, Sunday.
Arsenal, on the other hand, cruised to victory over a disjointed Southampton thanks to two first half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the Emirates, taking them back into the top four in the Premier League.
Juergen Klopp’s side have now drawn three of their last four Premier League games and have 66 points from 27 games while second-placed Manchester City have 65 points from the same number of games.
Klopp looked frustrated and irritated throughout the game as his team struggled to find the attacking verve, which has been the basis of their success this season, against a United side that was forced to make all three changes in the first half.
Liverpool’s supporters struck a different tone, however, as they left the home of their old rivals chanting a reminder of their league position as they focus on the chance to win their first top flight title since 1990.
The point means that Liverpool, who have 11 games remaining, will be disappointed not to have taken advantage of an injury-ravaged United.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal took the lead in the sixth minute in bizarre circumstances, Lacazette neatly back-heeling in a pass from Mkhitaryan while the rest of the team were still appealing for a penalty after Lucas Torreira took a tumble in the box.
The home side doubled their advantage minutes later when Southampton keeper Angus Gunn cleared the ball straight into the path of Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian midfielder bolted forward and passed across the goal to the unmarked Mkhitaryan, who thumped his shot low into the corner.