Liverpool resume normal service, Man City stumble again
London, Sunday
Liverpool came from behind to beat struggling Sheffield United 2-1 and join Everton at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday after Manchester City squandered more points in the topsy-turvy English top-flight.
Earlier, Manchester United and Chelsea played out a soggy stalemate at Old Trafford, leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men languishing 15th in the table and without a home win this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s champions, without injured defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk, are now unbeaten in 62 Premier League home games at Anfield but had to dig deep after falling behind to an early penalty scored by Sander Berge.
More vulnerable
Roberto Firmino hauled them level shortly before half-time and the home side overcame the disappointment of seeing an audacious Mohamed Salah goal ruled out for offside to score the winner through a Diogo Jota header.
The victory at Anfield means the champions have 13 points, level with neighbours Everton, who still lead the table on goal difference, with a game in hand.
In the day’s opening match, Phil Foden rescued a 1-1 draw for City at the London Stadium but the disappointing result means Pep Guardiola’s team have taken just five points from their past four matches.
Injury-hit City, without Fernandinho, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Gabriel Jesus, dominated possession but rarely found top gear against West Ham.
They are already five points behind Everton, who play Southampton on Sunday, and look more vulnerable than at any time since Guardiola’s first season in charge.
West Ham went ahead against the run of play in the first half through Michail Antonio’s superb overhead kick from Vladimir Coufal’s cross.
Foden, who came on at half-time, restored parity minutes later, coolly controlling Joao Cancelo’s cross before slotting home.
But the visitors could not turn their dominance into goals, with West Ham indebted to Lukasz Fabianski, who produced some vital late saves. - AFP
