It was a night where chaos, confusion and inconsistency reigned, but enough about the Brexit vote. The Premier League produced drama of its own.
Like the current situation facing Teresa May, Manchester City's night was calamitous. A 2-1 loss against Newcastle United handed Liverpool an almighty advantage in the title race. Wednesday night's home tie with Leicester City just became monumental.
"Some big results at both ends of the table... #PL pic.twitter.com/hQy9GBY6KM" #RT premierleague
— FootieTalks® (@footietalks) January 29, 2019
For the second time this season, it was a former Liverpool manager who instigated City's fall. Rafa Benitez cut an elated figure post-match, jogging onto the field and embracing his players like it was them who now were clear leaders in the league. Their victory was of a very different kind but still significant. It was a result that lifts the Magpies five points clear of relegation.
Speaking post-match, Guardiola said the performance was not good enough: "In general, our game was not in the rhythm needed... we were not in our best day today."
"We have to continue, in football many things can happen".
What does this evening mean for Man City and the race for the title? Pep gives his thoughts after his side failed to keep pace this evening at the top of the table.#PL #NEWMCI pic.twitter.com/OhzX0ikPIm
— eir Sport (@eirSport) January 29, 2019
Victory tomorrow night would lift Liverpool seven points clear of Manchester City. For a team that has only dropped six points all season, that is a substantial lead that would require a near-perfect fightback from Manchester City to overturn.
A 2-2 draw for Manchester United ensures the top four race is still desperately dense. At the other end of the table, three points separate Southhampton from relegation and they do have a game in hand.
Huddersfield suffered a 1-0 loss against Everton after an early Richarlison goal but Fulham did put themselves in with a fighting chance after a dramatic 4-2 fightback with Aleksandar Mitrović grabbing two goals.
So it's advantage Liverpool, with a 29-year clock increasingly ticking down.
