Liverpool’s title rivals Chelsea needed a late penalty from Jorginho to beat Leeds United, just a week after the Reds hit in stoppage time to get ahead of their rivals

There were a number of nervous moments for the Premier League’s top three on Saturday, but ultimately all three had tough games with important wins.

Manchester City came out on top after Raheem Sterling’s penalty gave them victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, putting pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea.

Title rivals City also needed penalties to wrap up the points, with Liverpool seeing Aston Villa and Chelsea leaving them against Leeds United very late, ensuring the trio are only three points apart.

The title race looks like a close race as we move into the new year, and the reaction from Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a revealing reminder of how the 2019-20 champions approach their task.

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Alexander-Arnold was interviewed by Premier League Productions after Liverpool’s victory, and at the time he didn’t realize Chelsea had snatched the win via Jorginho’s second penalty kick of the afternoon.

However, the England international was not fazed by the discovery, acknowledging that his own team had benefited from an equally late goal last week.

Divock Origi scored in the fourth minute of the stoppage time in Liverpool’s win over Wolves the previous weekend, and Alexander-Arnold referred to that winner when responding to the Blues’ victory.

“We can’t complain because we did the same thing last week. It’s really the title race, these things are happening and it makes things exciting,” said the defender, according to Metro.

“Three teams are going this year, it seems. We have to keep winning. It’s an important time. The games are dense and fast.

“So any kind of slippage right now will be detrimental. We want to be ahead of the league in March and April to attack in the playoffs.”

Liverpool have 37 points in 16 games this season, four more than at the same stage in the 2020-21 campaign.

However, while the tally was enough for first place in January, this time around it leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side adrift of defending champions City and one above Chelsea.

Liverpool are used to late drama, with goalkeeper Alisson returning home with a last-minute winner at West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season as the Reds left him late to clinch a top-four spot .

Their 2019-20 title victory was also built on the back of late drama in the first half of the campaign, with Leicester City and Aston Villa falling to last-minute winners Liverpool.

The Reds drew 1-1 with Chelsea when the two sides met in August, and they are due to face each other again on January 2 at Stamford Bridge.