JOTA HOTTER

IT IS Grand National time on Merseyside and Liverpool have cleared the first hurdle of the week.

- Chris McKenna

The Reds continued on their gallop to the Premier League title by restoring their 12-point lead over Arsenal.

If there was any hope in north London that the leaders may stumble over the first of the nine fences between them and the finishing post then it vanished when Diogo Jota broke the deadlock in the derby.

The forward ended his goal drought with some neat footwork before a fine finish to cue chants of "Liverpool, top of the league, Liverpool, Liverpool, top of the league". It rid Anfield of the tension which had been building for the previous 56 minutes.

Maybe even since a Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle on March 16 followed a Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

It has felt like a long wait during the international break for the Reds but they can continue their countdown to the title celebrations in May.