Liverpool increases lead atop Premier League as Arsenal drops more points

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It feels like a matter of when, not if, Liverpool seals a record-equaling 20th English league title.

The gap at the top of the Premier League was extended to 13 points on Wednesday after a 2-0 victory over Newcastle.

Liverpool took full advantage as second-place Arsenal dropped more points in a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Dominik Szoboszlai scored in the 11th minute and Alexis Mac Allister netted just past the hour mark at Anfield to secure a 20th league win of the season from 28 games.

Title success would see Liverpool equal Manchester United's record haul.

A goalless draw with Forest highlighted Arsenal's problems amid an injury crisis in attack, with the Londoners failing to score for the third time in four games.

Manchester City moved back up to fourth after Erling Haaland returned from a knee injury and scored in a 1-0 win at Tottenham.

Ten-man Manchester United was given a scare by relegation-fighting Ipswich.

Trailing inside four minutes at Old Trafford after Jaden Philogene's early goal, United bounced back to win 3-2, despite Patrick Dorgu's red card in the 43rd.

It all seems so easy for Liverpool right now. With its rivals faltering one by one, the Merseyside club keeps edging closer to the title.

Not even the absence of coach Arne Slot from the sideline after he was handed a two-match suspension could halt his team's progress.

Against a Newcastle team that was without injured star striker Alexander Isak, Liverpool eased to victory at Anfield.

Szoboszlai scored for the second time in as many games — firing low from inside the box in the 11th.

Newcastle mounted little threat and Mac Allister put the game beyond doubt in the 63rd following Mohamed Salah’s assist.

The teams will meet again at Wembley next month in the final of the English League Cup when Liverpool could seal the first leg of a potential treble. Newcastle, meanwhile, is aiming to end a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.

A lack of spending in the January transfer window is proving to be a costly mistake for Arsenal.

How Arteta could do with some fresh attacking options right now with his team looking desperately blunt in front of goal.

Injuries to Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have undermined Arsenal's title challenge, while on-loan Raheem Sterling has scored just once in 21 appearances this term.

Arsenal was linked with a move for Aston Villa's OIlie Watkins at the end of the window, but ended up empty-handed. And it looks like that will be the case in terms of its title pursuit after the draw with Forest saw it slip further adrift of Liverpool.

“We played well and were dominant through the whole games," Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard said. “But goals happen in the boxes. We defended well but up top we need to try and create more.”

Haaland is back and City is back to winning ways.

In the Norwegian's absence, City crashed out of the Champions League to Real Madrid last week and then fell to defeat to Liverpool.

While the title looks well beyond Pep Guardiola's team, the priority will be to secure Champions League qualification. City can still win a trophy in the form of the FA Cup as well.

Victory at Tottenham saw the four-time defending champion move a point ahead of fifth-place Chelsea and one behind Forest in third.

Haaland’s goal in the 12th was his 28th of the season in all competitions.

Against an Ipswich team that is still waiting for a first league win in 2025, United went behind early on, had to rely on an own goal and went down to 10-men before taking all three points.

In a week when more job cuts were announced at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim’s team gave the home crowd something to cheer with only a third win at home in the league since Dec. 1.

“The moment is what it is, we have been suffering, we haven’t been at our best. We scored from two set pieces, but we were in complete control of the game," United captain Bruno Fernandes said.

A Sam Morsy own goal leveled the game after Philogene’s opener and Matthijs de Ligt gave United the lead.

Dorgu was sent off in the 43rd and in first-half stoppage time Philogene scored his second.

Harry Maguire scored United’s winner just after the break.

United moved up to 14th — ahead of Everton, which drew 1-1 at Brentford.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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Newcastle's Jacob Murphy, right, challenges Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Brentford's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the gamel, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Everton at Gtech Community Stadium, in London, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Newcastle's Lewis Hall, left, challenges Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Arsenal's Mikel Merino reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at the City Ground stadium in Nottingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Viera)

Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim gives instructions to his players during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Ipswich Town at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Harry Maguire celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Ipswich Town at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

U.S. forces have boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. The announcement was made Friday by the U.S. military. The Trump administration has been targeting sanctioned tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.

The pre-dawn action was carried out by U.S. Marines and Navy, taking part in the monthslong buildup of forces in the Caribbean, according to U.S. Southern Command, which declared “there is no safe haven for criminals” as it announced the seizure of the vessel called the Olina.

Navy officials couldn’t immediately provide details about whether the Coast Guard was part of the force that took control of the vessel as has been the case in the previous seizures. A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said there was no immediate comment on the seizure.

The Olina is the fifth tanker that has been seized by U.S. forces as part of a broader effort by Trump’s administration to control the distribution of Venezuela’s oil products globally following the U.S. ouster of President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid.

The latest:

Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center, says a documentary film about first lady Melania Trump will make its premiere later this month, posting a trailer on X.

As the Trumps prepared to return to the White House last year, Amazon Prime Video announced a year ago that it had obtained exclusive licensing rights for a streaming and theatrical release directed by Brett Ratner.

Melania Trump also released a self-titled memoir in late 2024.

Some artists have canceled scheduled Kennedy Center performances after a newly installed board voted to add President Donald Trump’s to the facility, prompting Grenell to accuse the performers of making their decisions because of politics.

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum says that she has asked her foreign affairs secretary to reach out directly to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio or Trump regarding comments by the American leader that the U.S. cold begin ground attacks against drug cartels.

In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News aired Thursday night, Trump said, “We’ve knocked out 97% of the drugs coming in by water and we are going to start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico. It’s very sad to watch.”

As she has on previous occasions, Sheinbaum downplayed the remarks, saying “it is part of his way of communicating.” She said she asked her Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente to strengthen coordination with the U.S.

Sheinbaum has repeatedly rebuffed Trump’s offer to send U.S. troops after Mexican drug cartels. She emphasizes that there will be no violation of Mexico’s sovereignty, but the two governments will continue to collaborate closely.

Analysts do not see a U.S. incursion in Mexico as a real possibility, in part because Sheinbaum’s administration has been doing nearly everything Trump has asked and Mexico is a critical trade partner.

Trump says he wants to secure $100 billion to remake Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, a lofty goal going into a 2:30 meeting on Friday with executives from leading oil companies. His plan rides on oil producers being comfortable in making commitments in a country plagued by instability, inflation and uncertainty.

The president has said that the U.S. will control distribution worldwide of Venezuela’s oil and will share some of the proceeds with the country’s population from accounts that it controls.

“At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House,” Trump said Friday in a pre-dawn social media post.

Trump is banking on the idea that he can tap more of Venezuela’s petroleum reserves to keep oil prices and gasoline costs low.

At a time when many Americans are concerned about affordability, the incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices.

Trump is expected to meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday.

He hopes to secure $100 billion in investments to revive Venezuela’s oil industry. The goal rides on the executives’ comfort with investing in a country facing instability and inflation.

Since a U.S. military raid captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump has said there’s a new opportunity to use the country’s oil to keep gasoline prices low.

The full list of executives invited to the meeting has not been disclosed, but Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend.

Attorneys general in five Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration after it said it would freeze money for several public benefit programs.

The Trump administration has cited concerns about fraud in the programs designed to help low-income families and their children. California, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois and New York states filed the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The lawsuit asks the courts to order the administration to release the funds. The attorneys general have called the funding freeze an unconstitutional abuse of power.

Iran’s judiciary chief has vowed decisive punishment for protesters, signaling a coming crackdown against demonstrations.

Iranian state television reported the comments from Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei on Friday. They came after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Trump’s support for the protesters, calling Trump’s hands “stained with the blood of Iranians.”

The government has shut down the internet and is blocking international calls. State media has labeled the demonstrators as “terrorists.”

The protests began over Iran’s struggling economy and have become a significant challenge to the government. Violence has killed at least 50 people, and more than 2,270 have been detained.

Trump questions why a president’s party often loses in midterm elections and suggests voters “want, maybe a check or something”

Trump suggested voters want to check a president’s power and that’s why they often deliver wins for an opposing party in midterm elections, which he’s facing this year.

“There’s something down, deep psychologically with the voters that they want, maybe a check or something. I don’t know what it is, exactly,” he said.

He said that one would expect that after winning an election and having “a great, successful presidency, it would be an automatic win, but it’s never been a win.”

Hiring likely remained subdued last month as many companies have sought to avoid expanding their workforces, though the job gains may be enough to bring down the unemployment rate.

December’s jobs report, to be released Friday, is likely to show that employers added a modest 55,000 jobs, economists forecast. That figure would be below November’s 64,000 but an improvement after the economy lost jobs in October. The unemployment rate is expected to slip to 4.5%, according to data provider FactSet, from a four-year high of 4.6% in November.

The figures will be closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington because they will be the first clean readings on the labor market in three months. The government didn’t issue a report in October because of the six-week government shutdown, and November’s data was distorted by the closure, which lasted until Nov. 12.

FILE - President Donald Trump dances as he walks off stage after speaking to House Republican lawmakers during their annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)