EPL round-up: Top 4 struggle, Leicester in danger, United frustrated and more

Games among the top four in the Barclay's Premier League - Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool - kicked off simultaneously on Saturday in a couple of hours. That could potentially have huge implications on the title race.

Liverpool hosted Chelsea amidst a desperate run of form that has seen it lose ground to the Blues in the title race and dump out of both domestic cup competitions. Arsenal hosted Watford at The Emirates hoping to capitalise on any slip-up from their neighbours, Spurs, who travelled to relegation favourites Sunderland.

Chelsea arrived at Anfield with an air of cool confidence, hoping to pile more misery on Jurgen Klopp's side. It was desperate to avoid four successive home defeats - a prospect it was faced with for the first time in 94 years. With the champions-elect in town, the Kop was fearful that at this crumbing fortress, the home side were about to receive the telling blow that would finally end their title hopes.

Liverpool expectedly dominated in the early exchanges and used the ball well, but failed to seriously bother Chelsea's back five - with the team keeping its shape expertly. It came as a rude shock to the home crowd when David Luiz, in his 100th League appearance, smashed in a fantastic free-kick while Reds keeper Simon Mignolet was still busy setting up his wall.

Rocked by this unexpected setback against the run of play, the Reds responded well and deservedly equalised through Wijnaldum who headed home on the hour mark.

Having smelt blood, Liverpool continued to attack, but were almost undone after Diego Costa was tripped in the box by Matip. The resulting penalty was taken by the striker with Hazard off the pitch, but Mignolet's smart adjustment denied the Chelsea talisman a chance to give his side a late lead.

Both sides huffed and puffed in the final ten minutes with the introductions of Mane for the hosts and Pedro and Fabregas for the Blues, but it came to naught.

In the end, a fair point for both sides, although Liverpool will no doubt be the more frustrated of the two. Their wretched form in January meant they ended the month with no wins in the league and 10 points off the top.

It was that sinking feeling again for Arsenal who looked a safe bet to collect all three points at home to struggling Watford.

Walter Mazzarri was feeling the heat with no wins in the last seven, but it was his side that started like a house on fire, with goals in quick succession from Troy Deeney and ex-Spurs man Younes Kaboul.

Reeling from this double whammy, Wenger's men never recovered and although Iwobi halved the deficit, it was a poor performance not worthy of maximum points from the Gunners who missed a golden chance, as has so often been the case, to cut the gap at the top. Up next? The small matter of a visit to Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspurs travelled to Sunderland hoping, like their neighbours, to trim Chelsea's lead but came up short in a goalless draw.

David Moyes' side will be happy to take anything that comes their way, but draws at this juncture will do them no favour. Their last win came six weeks ago and if anything, their fall seems like a slow and painful one.

With the season-defining clash against Crystal Palace on the horizon, Moyes knows that if there is a road to recovery, it has to begin with a win at Selhurst Park.

Could Leicester actually be relegated?

Elsewhere in the relegation dogfight, there were wins for Palace and Swansea and yet another defeat for Leicester, which now sits just two points above the drop zone.

Sam Allardyce's Palace side played away to Bournemouth and emerged 2-0 winners. They defended well for their first clean sheet in 26 and took their chances even better - getting some much needed respite. Now is hardly the time to ease off though, with the team still in the bottom three and a titanic clash with Sunderland to look forward to this weekend.

Swansea registered back-to-back wins for the first time this season with their 2-1 win over Southampton. Sigurðsson ran the show for Paul Clement's side again with an assist and another winner to go with his goal at Anfield last week.

After a roller-coaster season for the Swans, Clement seems like the calming influence they had badly needed to guide them to safety. The job is by no means over yet, as they're still in the 17th place and go to Manchester City next.

Leicester lost again and are flirting with the possibility of becoming the league's first defending champions to be relegated. Ranieri's men are not only down to earth after the last season, but with two wins in their last ten, sit just two points clear of the relegation zone.

With Manchester United their next opponents, Leicester don't look safe at all.

If results don't go their way, the Foxes could be in the danger zone by the weekend itself. The fairytale that was written last season could yet have a nightmarish end unless they can harness some of last season's fighting spirit.

A tale of one city

Having seen the top four clubs stutter and fall, both Manchester clubs were poised to close the gap on their rivals. City travelled to West Ham looking to become the latest side to add to the Hammers' poor record at their new home ground. It was a difficult week off the pitch for the hosts with an unsavoury end to the Payet transfer saga, and that was perhaps on their minds as they kicked off, for they were rattled from the first whistle in the 4-0 drubbing.

Guardiola dropped Bravo and Agüero, the latter replaced by Gabriel Jesus. This was the 19-year-old's first league start, and he took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring one and setting up another. It's been a season of extremes for the most part for Pep, and this showed that when things work out, his City side can look simply irresistible.

United were in action against Hull, who they just recently knocked out of the league cup. They failed to pose a significant threat to the Tigers' goal in the first half, and with an air of frustration growing around Old Trafford, there were echoes of the game against Burnley early in the season.

Tom Heaton was the hero that night, and on Sunday, it was Eldin Jakupovic who looked invincible, making a string of second half saves, including one off the line from Juan Mata to preserve his clean sheet, and more importantly, a point for his side.

Hull, for their part, could've taken all three points when Lazar Markovic struck the post. Still, an invaluable point on the road for the Tigers who have it all to do with Liverpool next.

As for United, their ninth draw of the season sees them five points off the top four and still languishing in sixth place, a position they have occupied for the majority of this campaign.

Only one of the top six won. Only one of the bottom lost. Another strange week in the English Premier League, but again, it is what we have come to expect.

Also read: Is Chelsea running away with the title?