Liverpool loses and Southampton's relegation is sealed before a deadlocked Manchester derby

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Liverpool had a shock defeat on its march to the Premier League title — losing 3-2 at Fulham on Sunday.

At the other end of the standings, Southampton became the first team to be relegated from England’s top flight this season after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham.

Manchester United and Manchester City played out a dismal 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

Liverpool’s loss meant it missed the chance to move 14 points clear of second-place Arsenal and a step closer to a record-equaling 20th English league title. A stunning first half from Fulham at Craven Cottage resulting in Arne Slot’s Liverpool lineup lose for only the second time in the league this season.

“A very poor first half in terms of the goals we conceded. It was so unnecessary and then you’re fighting a very tough battle,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said. “We tried everything in the second half but when you ship three goals in the first half it’s very difficult.”

Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday had given Liverpool an unexpected boost in the race for the title, but despite going ahead through Alexis Mac Allister’s goal in the 14th minute, the visitors were 3-1 down at halftime.

Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz all found the back of the net in a thrilling 14-minute spell. Luis Diaz got Liverpool’s second after the break.

Liverpool remains 11 points ahead of Arsenal and on course to win the title with seven games remaining.

Manchester was once considered the capital of English soccer. Not anymore.

A miserable Manchester derby ended goalless at Old Trafford in a game that lacked intensity and entertainment.

“It’s a Manchester derby and it should have more blood, thunder, and risk, and courage involved in playing the game and trying to win the game than that,” Sky Sports commentator and former United captain Gary Neville said.

In a game of few clear chances, City's Omar Marmoush and United's Joshua Zirkzee went closest to scoring.

“I understand that ... we are doing the worst season in (United's) history. Manchester City won everything in the past, (but) this season is struggling. We are not in the best moments to give the best spectacle to every fan,” United head coach Ruben Amorim said. “When we are not fighting for the big things, of course it’s different.”

A troubled campaign for both the red and blue halves of the city is drawing to a close and there's now the very real prospect of no Manchester representation in the Champions League next season for the first time since 1995-96.

United’s only realistic hope of qualifying is by winning the Europa League, having advanced to the quarterfinals.

City, which won European club soccer’s biggest prize in 2023, is facing a struggle to secure its place.

The top four in the league qualify automatically and England is in prime position to be handed a bonus fifth place for next year’s competition.

City is currently fifth — one point ahead of Aston Villa in sixth. Newcastle is seventh — two points behind City with two games in hand. It would move up to fifth with a win against Leicester on Monday.

“I’m not concerned about next season right now, I’m just concerned about recovery," City manager Pep Guardiola said, and the next games against "Crystal Palace, Everton, Aston Villa and FA Cup semifinals.”

Guardiola said United fans who chanted abuse about Phil Foden’s mother during the derby should be ashamed.

Offensive chants were directed at the City forward, which Guardiola condemned.

“(It was) a lack of class, but it’s not Man United, it’s the people,” he said afterward. “It’s lack of integrity, class and they should be ashamed."

United fans staged their latest protest against the club’s ownership with a pre-arranged sit-in after the match.

Dissatisfied supporters staged a march ahead of the game against Arsenal last month, with thousands joining in.

The latest protest appeared less impactful. One banner called for the removal of American owners the Glazer family.

With just 10 points from 31 games, last-place Southampton’s fate was sealed with defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Its relegation is the fourth-earliest in the Premier League era, according to the league’s statistician Opta.

Derby’s drop on March 29 in 2008 is still the earliest relegation since the league began in 1992. Huddersfield and Fulham had earlier relegations than Southampton, which is now joint with Leicester in 2002.

According to Opta, Southampton is the first Premier League team to be relegated with seven or more games to play.

“We're disappointed. It has to be a big school for everything – for us, for me, for the players, for the club – to see what we did wrong,” Southampton manager Ivan Juric said.

Two first-half goals from Brennan Johnson put Southampton on course for a 25th league defeat of the season. Mateus Fernandes pulled one back late on for the visitors before Mathys Tel struck a third for Spurs from the penalty spot in added time.

Chelsea remains fourth after a 0-0 draw at Brentford.

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

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne runs during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, left, and Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim shake hands after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Brentford manager Thomas Frank claps at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Chelsea, at the Gtech Community Stadium, in London, Sunday April 6, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Brentford's Christian Norgaard, left and Chelsea's Jadon Sancho vie for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Chelsea, at the Gtech Community Stadium, in London, Sunday April 6, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Mancheter United fans hold banners as they protest against the clunb's owners after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Mancheter United fans hold banners as they protest against the clunb's owners after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Matheus Nunes, left, and Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu, right, battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne runs during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola talks to Jack Grealish during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola hugs Phil Foden as he is substituted during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte, left, and Manchester City's Jeremy Doku fight for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Southampton's Cameron Archer, right and Tottenham Hotspur's Ben Davies vie for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, Sunday April 6, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, background left and Jan Bednarek foreground react after Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson, right, scored his side's second goal of the game as he celebrates with teammate James Maddison, during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, Sunday April 6, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister reacts disappointed after the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Liverpool, at Craven Cottage, London, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez, centre, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, right, react during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Liverpool, at Craven Cottage, London, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Liverpool, at Craven Cottage, London, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Liverpool, at Craven Cottage, London, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Southampton's Tyler Dibling, right and Tottenham Hotspur's Rodrigo Bentancur vie for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, Sunday April 6, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)