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Liverpool emerged as the big victors in the latest round of Premier League games, extending its lead at the top of the table.
The Reds secured a 2-1 victory over Everton on Saturday, maintaining an unblemished record after five games. This win propelled them six points ahead of Arsenal, who hosted Manchester City in London on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Tottenham and Bournemouth managed draws against Brighton and Newcastle, respectively, overtaking the Gunners and reducing the gap at the top to five points. Arsenal found itself trailing early on at the Emirates, with Erling Haaland netting for the visitors. It seemed like a disappointing defeat was on the cards for most of the game.
However, a last-minute equalizer from Gabriel Martinelli salvaged a point, allowing Mikel Arteta's players to reclaim second place. Despite this, they still lag behind Liverpool by five points at this early stage of the season.
Arne Slot's players haven't been performing at their best this season, relying on late goals to secure victories in their first four league matches and their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid.
This streak included a 1-0 triumph over Arsenal last month, courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai's spectacular free-kick. Despite Liverpool's struggles, the team continues to find ways to win and collect maximum points.
In contrast, Arsenal has already dropped points twice this season, even though it managed to avoid a second defeat at the last moment against City.
City currently sits in ninth place in the Premier League table, trailing Liverpool by eight points after winning two and losing two of its first five matches.
Liverpool has improved on its performance from last season's corresponding fixtures by four points, having secured victories at home against Arsenal and away at Newcastle, following draws in both games last term.
On the other hand, Arsenal is four points down compared to last season, having suffered a loss at Liverpool and a draw at home with City, despite drawing at Anfield and securing a 5-1 victory at the Emirates last season. Despite a mixed start, City has also improved by four points, even though it lost away at Arsenal and at home to Manchester United last season.
To put things into perspective, Liverpool won the title last year with a 10-point lead over Arsenal and finished 13 points ahead of third-placed City. Both Liverpool and Arsenal only lost four games each, while Pep Guardiola's team suffered nine defeats.
At this stage last season, Liverpool was second in the table, having won four and lost one of its games. The Reds trailed City by a point, after the then-defending champion managed to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal thanks to a 98th-minute equalizer from John Stones.
Arsenal was in fourth place, a further point behind Liverpool. Once again, City and Arsenal have faced off in an early six-pointer, but both teams had to settle for a single point, with the home side relying on a stoppage-time equalizer to secure a draw.
A year ago, Liverpool fans would have had mixed feelings about the result at the Emirates, keeping an eye on their title rivals and trying to decide which outcome was the lesser of two evils.
However, while it's still early days in the title race, the Reds now find themselves glancing back as their nearest competitors already start to fall behind.
The title race is still in its infancy with plenty of soccer left to play, and those at Anfield are not taking anything for granted.
But after celebrating a Merseyside derby victory enthusiastically on Saturday, Liverpool fans will have cheered once more at the sound of the final whistle at the Emirates.
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