Liverpool needs one more win to secure the Premier League title after beating Leicester 1-0

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The Premier League title is so close Liverpool can almost touch it.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's second-half strike in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Leicester on Sunday pushed the Merseyside club to within one more win of a record-equaling 20th English league crown.

It would not even require that if second-placed Arsenal loses to Crystal Palace on Wednesday. But regardless of any other result, Liverpool knows victory against Tottenham at Anfield next Sunday will be enough to seal the title.

“One win away now, it’s very close," said Alexander-Arnold, who tore his jersey off in celebration after his decisive goal.

Arsenal had ensured Liverpool would have to wait a while longer for its crowning moment after routing Ipswich 4-0 earlier Sunday. And for long periods at the King Power Stadium, Leicester threatened to frustrate the league leader — even having a Conor Coady goal disallowed before Alexander-Arnold's winner.

Defeat confirmed 2016 league champion Leicester's relegation.

Wolves sealed top-flight safety by beating Manchester United 1-0 after Pablo Sarabia's brilliant second-half free kick.

Chelsea moved up to fifth by rallying to beat Fulham 2-1 with two late goals.

One more win. That’s all it will take for Liverpool to be crowned champion and move level with Manchester United’s record title haul.

And the joy on Alexander-Arnold’s face after crashing a left-footed shot past Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen in the 76th minute underlined the importance of the win.

While the title has looked destined for Anfield for much of the season, this was the latest occasion in recent weeks when the strains of the campaign have seemed to weigh on Liverpool.

Against a Leicester team that needed to win to hold off relegation, Liverpool struggled to find a breakthrough despite hitting the frame of the goal - including twice in the buildup to Alexander-Arnold's strike.

Leicester also saw an effort from Wilfred Ndidi hit the post in the first half and Coady had a goal ruled out for a foul on Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

On came Alexander-Arnold, who is widely tipped to join Real Madrid at the end of the season, and he provided the decisive moment.

After a goalmouth scramble had seen Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota hit the woodwork, Alexander-Arnold’s shot went under the body of Hermansen. The goal sparked wild scenes as Alexander-Arnold ran to the corner to celebrate with the traveling supporters.

Liverpool's last title in 2020 came when teams had to play behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To be so close to sealing for some of us a second league title, and for a lot of us a first league title, but especially in front of fans – which is what we’ve been missing – is very special,” Alexander-Arnold said.

After eliminating holder Real Madrid from the Champions League in midweek, Arsenal cruised to victory against an Ipswich team that is now all but certain to be relegated.

Leandro Trossard's low shot gave Mikel Arteta’s team the lead in the 14th and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 before the break.

Trossard scored his ninth of the season in the second half and Ethan Nwaneri completed the rout late on.

Arsenal plays Palace midweek when it can at least delay Liverpool's coronation until next weekend.

Ipswich's fate is almost sealed. Sitting 18th in the standings, it can only pick up a maximum of 36 points by winning its remaining five games this season. That would still only put it level with 17th-placed West Ham's current points tally.

After the highs of United's epic Europa League comeback against Lyon on Thursday, Old Trafford was brought back down to earth after yet another Premier League defeat.

A 15th league loss of the season is a club record high for United in the Premier League era. United has not lost so many games in a league season since the 1989-90 campaign when it was defeated 16 times in England's old Division One.

According to statistician Opta, eight home defeats in the league is the most since United was beaten nine times in 1962-63.

United is already certain to set the club’s worst-ever points total in the Premier League. The latest loss left Ruben Amorim's team on 38 points. United's lowest total was 58 in the 2021-22 season. With five rounds remaining, even a perfect finish would only see United amass 53.

“We have to score goals. We need to improve in that area of the game clearly. If you don’t score goals, you don’t win games," United coach Amorim said.

Wolves, meanwhile, made it five wins in a row in the Premier League - and set a new club best in the Premier League.

Substitute Sarabia had only been on the field for three minutes when he curled a free kick from outside of the area into the top corner.

Wolves moved level on points with United to ensure it would avoid the drop.

Chelsea's Champions League hopes looked set to take a hit when trailing 1-0 to Fulham and with time running out at Craven Cottage.

After Alex Iwobi's goal in the 20th minute, Chelsea left it late to score twice to win the West London derby and move to fifth, immediately above Nottingham Forest.

Tyrique George leveled the game in the 83rd and Pedro Neto got the winner in the third minute of added time.

Chelsea is ahead of Forest on goal difference, having played a game more.

The Premier League will get a bonus fifth Champions League place next season because of the performances of English teams in Europe this year.

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

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

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, right, celebrates with Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Liverpool at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Chelsea's Pedro Neto, center, celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with teammates, during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Chelsea, at Craven Cottage, London, Sunday April 20, 2025. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pablo Sarabia, second from right, scores his side's first goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui, left and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha vie for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, right, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road, Ipswich, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with teammates, during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road, Ipswich, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (John Walton/PA via AP)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state of the battleground state.

Gilchrist, a progressive Democrat from Detroit, did not cite a specific reason for the change in his video announcement, but said he is not finished being a “public servant.” His departure clears up the Democratic primary and benefits the frontrunner, Jocelyn Benson, who is the current Secretary of State, in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The secretary of state is Michigan's top election official, a highly politicized and visible role since the 2020 presidential election.

“Michigan has been ground zero in the battle for free and fair elections before, and it will be again,” Gilchrist said.

As Whitmer’s second in command and her running mate in two elections, Gilchrist struggled to match Benson’s name recognition and fundraising. He reported having around $378,000 of cash on hand as of October compared to Benson’s $2.98 million.

Benson is now set to face only Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary in August.

The inclusion of a well-known independent candidate has created a new problem for Democrats this year. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is avoiding costly primaries altogether by running as an independent. The Michigan Democratic Party slammed the former Democrat last week for not standing up to President Donald Trump’s second term policies.

In the Republican primary, U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Senate Leader Aaric Nesbitt and former Michigan House speaker Tom Leonard are jockeying for the nomination.

In his bid to become secretary of state, Gilchrist will face four other Democrats: Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk; Aghogho Edevbie, deputy secretary of state; Suzanna Shkreli, a former Whitmer aide and commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery; and Adam Hollier, a former state senator from Detroit.

Michigan does not hold primary elections for the secretary of state position; the nominee is chosen by precinct delegates during party conventions. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is scheduled for April 19.

State Republicans plan to hold their nominating convention March 28 and GOP figures chasing the party's nomination for secretary of state include Anthony Forlini, Macomb County Clerk, and Monica Yatooma, an Oakland County executive.

In addition to the office of the governor and secretary of state, Michigan voters will be selecting a new state attorney general and a U.S. senator in November.

FILE - Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II waits before the State of the State address, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, file)