Football/Soccer 3h Briefing
×Premier League Title Race
Arsenal espn.com delivered a resounding 4-1 victory over Tottenham in the North London derby, with Eberechi Eze skysports.com and Viktor Gyokeres espn.com both scoring twice to restore the Gunners' five-point lead at the Premier League summit. The win answered growing title pressure as Mikel Arteta's team responded with character against their local rivals. Tottenham's interim boss Igor Tudor skysports.com did not hold back on his side's performance, though he remains convinced they will avoid relegation this season.
Liverpool's Champions League Push
Alexis Mac Allister bbc.com scored a dramatic 97th-minute winner as Liverpool secured a chaotic 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, putting the Reds firmly in the Champions League hunt. Arne Slot espn.com accepted his side's performance was "the worst we've played" but acknowledged they "got more than we deserved" from the match. The late goal has been described as a "heist" at the City Ground, boosting Liverpool's top-four hopes significantly.
Fulham's Revival
Raul Jimenez bbc.com scored twice as Fulham ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The victory saw Marco Silva's side leapfrog Sunderland into the top half of the Premier League table, providing a much-needed boost to their season.
Crystal Palace's Relief
Evann Guessand bbc.com scored a late winner as Crystal Palace beat 10-man Wolves to claim their first home win since early November. Manager Oliver Glasner bbc.com said it is "absolutely OK" to "face criticism" after some Palace fans again questioned his immediate future, but the victory should ease some of that pressure.
Barcelona's La Liga Return
Barcelona espn.com returned to the top of La Liga with a 3-0 victory over Levante, thanks to Frenkie De Jong's first goal in over a year and a thunderbolt from Fermin Lopez. The win puts Xavi's side back in pole position in the Spanish title race.
Scottish Premiership Drama
Martin O'Neill skysports.com and Dany Röhl remained defiant in their pursuit of the Scottish Premiership title despite both Celtic and Rangers dropping points on Sunday. Celtic bbc.co.uk lost 2-1 to Hibernian, while Rangers drew 2-2 with Livingston in a day of title race drama.
Other Football News
Major League Soccer espn.com is investigating allegations that Lionel Messi gained unauthorized access to the officials' locker room following Inter Miami's match against LAFC. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo espn.com said he is happy with his time in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, after a recent dispute with his club saw him miss two league matches.