Sports News of Sunday, 20 April 2025

Source: www.punchng.com

EPL: Arsenal thrash Ipswich 4-0 to delay Liverpool’s title hopes

Arsenal Arsenal

Arsenal ensured that Liverpool could not secure the Premier League title on Sunday by cruising to a 4–0 victory over 10-man Ipswich, while Chelsea beat Fulham 2–1 to climb into the Champions League places.

Manchester United suffered a hangover from their Europa League heroics against Lyon, as Wolves won 1–0 at Old Trafford to secure survival.

Liverpool needed both an Arsenal defeat and a win over Leicester later on Sunday to seal a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.

Defeat all but ends Ipswich’s hopes of maintaining their Premier League status, as they sit 15 points adrift of safety with five games remaining and possess a significantly worse goal difference than West Ham.

Fresh from a famous victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009, Arsenal coasted towards securing a return to European football’s elite competition again next season.

Mikel Arteta made only three changes from the 2–1 win in the Spanish capital on Wednesday and was rewarded with a dominant display that killed the game off inside half an hour.

Leandro Trossard, one of the players recalled by Arteta, prodded in his eighth goal of the season to open the scoring.

A flowing move saw Bukayo Saka’s cross flicked by Mikel Merino into the path of Gabriel Martinelli, who finished to double the Gunners’ lead.

Moments later, Saka was chopped down by an awful challenge from Leif Davis, which saw the Ipswich left-back shown a straight red card.
Saka escaped serious injury, to the relief of the Arsenal support, and should have extended the visitors’ lead with two big chances before the break.

However, the England international — who only recently returned from a four-month absence due to a hamstring injury — was substituted early in the second half to avoid any further risk.

Trossard fired in his second following a well-worked corner, before Ethan Nwaneri’s deflected effort rounded off the scoring.

Neto to Chelsea’s Rescue

Chelsea needed two late goals at Craven Cottage to revive their chances of Champions League football next season.

Alex Iwobi opened the scoring in the 20th minute after Ryan Sessegnon outmuscled Chelsea captain Reece James to set up the Nigerian international.

Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat until 19-year-old substitute Tyrique George fired in a snap shot from the edge of the box in the 83rd minute.

Pedro Neto then completed the comeback with a stunning strike in stoppage time, sealing only Chelsea’s sixth win in their last 17 league matches.

The Blues move above Nottingham Forest — who travel to Tottenham on Monday — into fifth place on goal difference.

A much-changed Manchester United side succumbed to their eighth home league defeat of the season.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action at Old Trafford, but the
only goal was worthy of winning any match, as Pablo Sarabia curled in a brilliant free-kick 13 minutes from time.

Wolves’ fifth consecutive Premier League win lifts Vítor Pereira’s side up to 15th, level on points with United, who remain 14th on goal difference.