Premier League leaders Liverpool tightened their grip on top spot as title challenger Arsenal were dealt another blow.
Reds boss Arne Slot was pleasantly surprised by his side’s spectacular 2-0 win at Brentford before Gunners manager Arteta was left frustrated by a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.
Elsewhere, tributes poured in for Manchester United great Denis Law, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returned to management for the first time since leaving Old Trafford.
Liverpool players prove Slot wrong
Slot said his players “proved him wrong” after Darwin Nunez’s stoppage-time double earned Liverpool three valuable points at Brentford.
Nunez came off the bench to convert Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross before finishing a counter-attack two minutes later.
The Reds made 37 attempts in west London and were facing a third match without a win after successive draws against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest before the Uruguayan’s late salvo.
“So many times in the last few weeks we missed a lot of chances,” said Slot, whose team took a six-point lead with a game in hand.
“It would have been surprising if I had thought that after all the missed chances today we would score in the last five minutes. The players proved me wrong… again.
Arsenal’s crippling injury list proves costly
Arsenal boss Arteta has suggested his side’s injuries are set to end their title fight after a crushing result against Aston Villa.
Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz put the Gunners in control at the Emirates Stadium, but Villa hit back thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.
The Gunners have been rocked by injuries to a large number of players this season, with Bukayo Saka out until at least March while Gabriel Jesus is out for the season.
Saka’s teenage understudy Ethan Nwaneri is also absent while Arteta suffered another blow on the eve of Saturday’s game with William Saliba unable to take part, joining fellow defenders Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the treatment room.
“When you look at the bench you would probably say we are very small,” Arteta said.
Tributes to the ‘giant of Scottish football’
Law’s legacy as a “giant of Scottish football” will continue to inspire future generations, Scottish First Minister John Swinney said as new tributes poured in for the Manchester United great.
Law, known as “The King”, died on Friday at the age of 84, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in 2021.
With 30 goals, the Aberdeen-born striker remains Scotland’s joint top scorer alongside Sir Kenny Dalglish and remains the only Scottish player to have won a Ballon d’Or.
“He was a giant of Scottish football and one of Scotland’s greatest sons,” Swinney said of Law.
“The legacy of his incredible sporting career has had a profound impact on future generations across Scotland and beyond, and I know he will continue to inspire the next generation.”
Solskjaer back in the hot seat
Former Manchester United boss Solskjaer has been confirmed as the new manager of Turkish club Besiktas.
Solskjaer, who has not held a coaching role since leaving Old Trafford in 2021, takes over in the Super Lig, which has been without a head coach since the departure of Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month.
The Norwegian arrived in Istanbul on Friday and agreed a deal until the end of the 2025-2026 season, with an option to extend for another year.
“We welcome Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who we believe will provide important services to our club, to the Besiktas family and wish him exceptional success,” read a statement on the Besiktas website.
What’s happening today?
Erling Haaland will look to celebrate his new nine-and-a-half year contract in style when Manchester City relegation trip threatened Ipswich.
Ruben Amorim’s quest for revival Manchester UnitedFortune continues at home Brightonwhile outside the title contenders Nottingham Forest host at the lowest Southampton.
In Sunday’s other high-profile match, Everton manager David Moyes will look to secure the first win of his second spell at Goodison Park by adding to Tottenhammisfortunes.
Leeds have a chance of returning to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table when Yorkshire compete Sheffield Wednesday visit Elland Road.