West Bromwich Albion’s defender Gareth McAuley celerbates scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 10, 2016 © AFP / Paul Ellis
London, United Kingdom, Oct 22 – An 81st-minute Gareth McAuley goal prevented Liverpool from provisionally going top in the Premier League as they defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Saturday.
Needing a two-goal win to move above leaders Arsenal, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead through Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho, but McAuley’s strike left them in second place on goal difference.
Arsenal had earlier been held to a 0-0 draw by Middlesbrough, while fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur played out a goalless stalemate at Bournemouth.
“I’m really pleased with the performance,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports.
“It was unbelievably difficult against West Brom. You have to always concentrate. They are so dangerous at set-pieces.
“But I think it would have been kind of a joke if we hadn’t won today. It was unbelievable, how we played.”
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City can reclaim first place by avoiding defeat at home to Southampton on Sunday, when Jose Mourinho makes his return to Chelsea with Manchester United.
Klopp made one change to the Liverpool team held 0-0 by United last Monday, with the fit-again Adam Lallana returning to the starting XI at the expense of Daniel Sturridge.
Roberto Firmino took over from Sturridge up front and played a key role in Liverpool’s neat 20th-minute opener, crossing for Mane to volley home after Coutinho’s dummy had freed Emre Can.
Mane turned provider 15 minutes later after a sliced clearance by visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster, slipping in Coutinho, who cut inside two defenders and scored at the near post.
West Brom centre-back McAuley halved the deficit late on, volleying in from close range at a corner.
Leicester City’s midfielder Ahmed Musa (R) vies with Crystal Palace’s striker Wilfried Zaha during the English Premier League football match at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on October 22, 2016 © AFP / Ben Stansall
Arsenal, 6-0 winners over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League in mid-week, were seeking an eighth successive win in all competitions.
But Middlesbrough came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half at the Emirates Stadium when Gaston Ramirez curled a 21st-minute free-kick against the post.
Arsenal dominated the second half, but had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for ensuring the visitors’ counter-attacks came to nought.
“It is a game where you had a lot of possession, but there were tired legs and you are prone to counter-attacks,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was celebrating his 67th birthday.
“You make it difficult for yourself. Seventy-five percent possession, but you could have lost the game. That is modern football.”
– Shaqiri, Shaqiri –
Tottenham extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine games — something they last achieved in 1990 — but squandered an opportunity to go top in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Tottenham Hotspur’s midfielder Christian Eriksen (L) vies with Bournemouth’s midfielder Charlie Daniels during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at the Vitality Stadium on October 22, 2016 © AFP / Glyn Kirk
Both teams hit the woodwork in the early stages, Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris diverting Charlie Daniels’s shot onto the bar and Erik Lamela clipping the post from distance.
“We had control, but we didn’t create enough chances to score,” said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.
“I think we need to be pleased in the end because it’s one point more, one clean sheet, but it’s true for us to be contenders we should be winning the games like today.”
Champions Leicester City did not need Jamie Vardy as they won 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace to climb to 12th place.
Leicester City’s striker Shinji Okazaki reacts to a missed chance during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on October 22, 2016 © AFP / Ben Stansall
With Vardy starting on the bench after a groin problem, strikers Ahmed Musa and Shinji Okazaki struck either side of half-time at the King Power Stadium.
Christian Fuchs sealed victory in the 79th minute, the Austrian left-back netting from distance with a sensational strike to register his first Leicester goal.
Yohan Cabaye replied five minutes from time for Palace.
“That was our best performance so far this season,” said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri. “It was the shape and model of last season and we concentrated on doing our job.”
Sixth-place Everton spurned a chance to make ground on the leading sides in a 2-1 defeat at Burnley, who took a 39th-minute lead when goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg’s blunder gifted Sam Vokes a tap-in.
Everton’s midfielder Yannick Bolasie celebrates scoring their first goal to equalise 1-1 during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Everton at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England on October 22, 2016 © AFP / Oli Scarff
Yannick Bolasie equalised just before the hour with his first Everton goal, but Scott Arfield struck at the death to condemn Ronald Koeman’s men to a fourth league game without victory.
Xherdan Shaqiri scored two stunning goals — the second a free-kick — as Stoke City won 2-0 at Hull City to climb out of the relegation zone at their hosts’ expense.
Sunderland remain rock-bottom after Winston Reid’s goal deep into stoppage time earned misfiring West Ham United a 1-0 win at their London Stadium.
Swansea City stayed second from bottom after Bob Bradley’s first home game as manager concluded in a 0-0 draw with Watford.
