“Hat Trick” is a column by Marco Haynes about the English Premier League in which he breaks down the week’s three most consequential results.
Salah’s spot kick rescues a point for title-challenger Liverpool
Liverpool missed its chance to return to top of the Premier League table against bitter rivals Manchester United, sharing the points in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
The Reds opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, as forward Darwin Núñez flicked a pass on to Luis Diaz to score a close-range volley from inside the 6-yard box – all of which started with a routine corner kick by midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
Manchester United didn’t manage to post a shot until the second half, but scored on its first effort. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes’ miraculous strike from the halfway line put United on level terms, coming when Fernandes intercepted 21-year-old center-back Jarell Quansah’s misplaced pass.
Then, Kobbie Mainoo — one of Manchester United’s breakout young players this season — punished Liverpool’s wastefulness in front of goal, curling a beautiful shot into the top right corner from the edge of the penalty box and leaving the title-hopefuls down 2-1.
But the game took yet another twist in the 84th minute, when Man United fullback Aaron Wan-Bissaka fouled substitute midfielder Harvey Elliott inside the penalty box. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s composed finish from the penalty spot into the bottom left secured the 2-2 draw.
Despite rescuing a point, Liverpool dropped to second in the league after Arsenal and Manchester City both won, which continues to make the title race exhilarating for neutrals. This marked the first time in 16 games that Liverpool failed to win a match when taking the lead, going back to a 2-2 draw against Brighton in October.
Salah scored his 17th league goal of the season — his fifth from the penalty spot — to place him in 3rd in the Premier League Golden Boot race. The Egyptian has now scored six league goals at Old Trafford, the most by any visiting player in Premier League history, and has overtaken another Liverpool club legend, Steven Gerrard, who had five.
Liverpool will return to Anfield in the Premier League to face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Meanwhile, United remains sixth, 11 points from a Champions League place and only one point ahead of West Ham in seventh. As discussed, the Red Devils failed to take a shot in the first half, which they last did in the Premier League at Liverpool in 2022. The last time they failed to manage one at Old Trafford was against Manchester City in October 2015.
The captain, Fernandes, scored his 50th Premier League career goal in the 50th minute of the game against Liverpool — some nice symmetry. This is the Portuguese player’s sixth league goal in 30 matches this season.
United travel to the Vitality Stadium to take on AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
A commanding Arsenal performance puts the club in pole position
High-flying Arsenal eased past Brighton in a 3-0 win at American Express Stadium on Saturday.
In the first half, Seagulls defender Tariq Lamptey made a diving tackle on Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus and the referee awarded a penalty to the Gunners. Bukayo Saka curled his spot kick into the bottom left corner of the net to give his side the lead and score his fifth penalty this season.
After the halftime interval, Kai Havertz added the second Gunners’ goal. Midfielder Jorginho dribbled toward the byline to put in a cross at the near post that found the German forward for a simple tap-in.
Finally, ex-Brighton forward Leandro Trossard wrapped up the victory in the 86th minute, as Havertz pounced on the Seagulls defender Jan Paul van Hecke’s mistake, putting Havertz in position to play a through ball to the Belgian winger from inside Arsenal’s own half. Trossard received the ball and dribbled 50 yards before calmly chipping the ball over goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Arsenal moved up to first place on 71 points, equal to Liverpool’s tally, but with a superior goal difference. The Gunners have yet to lose a league match in 2024, winning 10 and drawing once.
The Gunners have now beaten Brighton both times this season and have not conceded in either match — no mean feat given the Seagulls’ current status.
Saka has now scored 14 goals in 29 league matches, which equals his most-ever in a Premier League season, with seven games still left.
The Gunners should have a slightly more challenging next league game, facing off against Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The defeat dropped the Seagulls to 10th, and it is the first time under manager Roberto De Zerbi that Brighton has lost and failed to score both home and away against the same opponent. This is Brighton’s first defeat at home since August, when West Ham bested them 3-1, ending the club’s longest Premier League unbeaten run at American Express Stadium, with 12.
In its last 18 matches at home in the Premier League, Brighton has only kept two clean sheets, going back to last season against Manchester United and Wolverhampton. The Seagulls travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday with the aim of ending their three-match winless run.
McBurnie’s stoppage-time equalizer spoils Chelsea’s victory
Last-placed Sheffield United prevented Chelsea from moving closer to a European qualification place with a 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane.
Experienced Blues centerback Thiago Silva unleashed a volley, hitting the back of the net after he made a run into acres of space inside the penalty box from Conor Gallagher’s corner-kick to put his team up 1-0.
The Blades responded just after the 30th minute, as midfielder Gustavo Hamer’s sharp through-ball to defender Jayden Bogle’s run-in behind the Chelsea defense allowed him to receive the ball at the byline and sneak a near-post shot past Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic.
In the second half, Chelsea took another lead when right-winger Noni Madueke dribbled into the penalty box, cut inside and lashed a powerful strike toward the roof of the net.
Madueke’s strike had seemingly secured Chelsea’s victory, until Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie had other ideas. He popped up with a last-gasp, 93rd-minute goal after a chaotic series of United headers around the box led to a close-range opening for the Englishman.
Missing out on three points, Chelsea remain in ninth place, five points off from a European position. The Blues have yet to win back-to-back Premier League games in 2024.
Blues star Cole Palmer had to be substituted in the 74th minute due to a seemingly minor injury.
The Brazilian Silva played his 100th match for Chelsea, scoring his third goal of the season.
Chelsea will next play against Everton at Stamford Bridge for a Monday night kick-off (UK time).
Sheffield United, who remains bottom of the table and needed a win from this match, are still in touching distance to move out of the relegation zone at nine points away. It would require somewhat of a great escape, but it’s still possible. However, results will need to improve rapidly; the Blades have lost once and drawn three times in their last four league matches. They haven’t won since a 3-1 result against Luton on February 10.
With another late goal, McBurnie has scored a preposterous half of his Sheffield United league goals in the 90th minute or later — a 4 out of 8 ratio.
Sheffield United travels to Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League.
“Hat Trick” runs every Tuesday.