Premier League: Arsenal open up four-point gap over Manchester City in four-draw New Year’s Day

Erling Haaland and Manchester City were frustrated in a 0-0 draw at Sunderland on Thursday, leaving Arsenal with a four-point lead at the halfway stage of the Premier League season.

Defending champions Liverpool couldn’t manage a goal against a promoted team, either, labouring to a 0-0 stalemate against Leeds at Anfield.

The results highlighted the strength in depth in England’s lucrative top flight.

It also showed why Arsenal have been able to forge clear after 19 of 38 games completed in their bid for a first league title since 2004, with City and Liverpool - the dominant forces in English soccer over the last decade - having lost their old fluency going forward.

There were draws all round on a low-scoring night, with Tottenham held 0-0 at Brentford and Fulham scoring in the 80th minute to finish 1-1 at Crystal Palace.

City were on an eight-match winning run in all competitions but stumbled against opponents who have drawn against Arsenal and beaten Newcastle at their Stadium of Light home over the last two months.

Haaland had opportunities either side of halftime against stubborn Sunderland but couldn’t add to his league-high 19 goals for the campaign.

Indeed, it was substitute defender Josko Gvardiol who came closest for City, flicking a shot against the post and having a header saved from point-blank range.

Spain star Rodri, the former Ballon d’Or winner, made his return for City after two months out with a hamstring injury when he came on as a halftime substitute.

Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to eight games but underwhelmed again amid key absences up front.

Hugo Ekitike’s misdirected header from in front of goal in the first half was the only clear-cut chance at Anfield for the Reds, who lacked inspiration in attack with Alexander Isak injured and Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Liverpool remained fourth and are 12 points behind Arsenal in a disappointing title defence.

Since a 4-1 home loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on November 26, Liverpool have played seven games in the Premier League - winning four of them and drawing the other three.

They have struggled to find much fluency, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot placing extra emphasis on being tighter at the back after the team’s early season woes.

“This season multiple times we have conceded a goal in a game like this and that’s a positive thing today,” Slot said.

The other result in the recent undefeated streak was a victory at Inter Milan in the Champions League.

At Selhurst Park, Jean-Philippe Mateta headed Palace in front against Fulham, only for Tom Cairney to equalise for the visitors.

That left Palace without a win in six matches in all competitions, with the absence of regulars like Daniel Munoz, Chris Richards (both injured) and Ismaila Sarr (at the Africa Cup) hitting hard.

Manager Thomas Frank was frustrated on his return to Brentford as Tottenham were held scoreless at the Gtech Stadium.

Frank, who managed the Bees for seven years and 317 games, guiding them to promotion in 2021, was making his first trip back to west London since joining Spurs in the summer.

He received a warm reception as he strode out onto the pitch and applauded all four sides of his old ground before kick-off.

But that was about as good as it got for the Dane with Spurs not managing a single effort on target until stoppage time and their fans chanting ‘boring, boring Tottenham’ towards the end of a dour encounter.

“It seems (the fans) are not too satisfied and that’s fair,” said Frank. “Not a top performance but overall it’s two-sided; acknowledge the defensive side of the game, but of course the offensive side needs to be better.”

with PA