AGENCIES

Liverpool are on the brink of winning the Premier League title after Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Arne Slot’s side were watching in anticipation of an Arsenal defeat that would have secured Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th English title.

They didn’t get their wish to start the party just yet, but Liverpool look certain to lift the trophy for the first time since 2020 after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s late equaliser for Palace at the Emirates Stadium.

The draw left second-placed Arsenal on 67 points with four games remaining meaning they can only match the 79 of Liverpool who still have five games to play.

Had Arsenal lost, Liverpool would have won the title on Wednesday but they can now seal it with one point against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.

Jakub Kiwior put the Gunners ahead early on. It was another success for Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover as they scored from a well-worked dead ball routine for a Premier League leading 16th time this season.

Martin Odegaard whipped a free-kick into the Palace area and Kiwior was left completely unmarked to power his header past Dean Henderson from 12 yards.

But Eberechi Eze equalised for Palace.

Leandro Trossard restored Arsenal’s advantage before half-time, only for Mateta to come off the bench and bag a sublime leveller with seven minutes left.

Arsenal had delayed Liverpool’s celebrations by routing Ipswich 4-0 on Sunday when a defeat for the Gunners and a Reds win over Leicester would have ended the title race.

Mikel Arteta’s team again kept Liverpool waiting a few days longer, but their real focus was already on Tuesday’s Champions League clash with PSG.

Arteta had insisted he would not rest his stars against Palace with a view to protecting them for the PSG showdown.

But he opted to leave Bukayo Saka on the bench after the England winger was left limping by a foul from Ipswich’s Leif Davis last weekend, with Mikel Merino and Ben White not fit to feature.