Lukaku injured in United draw with Southampton
ROMELU Lukaku was stretchered off after a clash of heads as Manchester United drew 0-0 with Southampton, while Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool to a 2-1 win over Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday night.
Lukaku crashed into Southampton’s Wesley Hoedt as the pair contested an aerial challenge early in the first half at Old Trafford. The Belgium striker lay prone on the pitch barely moving while he was treated by medical staff for five minutes.
Lukaku remained conscious and was eventually carried off wearing an oxygen mask.
In his absence, Mourinho’s men were unable to break down Southampton and had to settle for their third successive league draw.
United end a frustrating December trailing 14 points behind leaders Manchester City, who faced Crystal Palace overnight.
Leicester gave Liverpool a scare when it took a third-minute lead at Anfield.
However, Liverpool levelled seven minutes after the interval. Egypt winger Salah took Sadio Mane’s brilliant pass and showed good footwork before drilling past Kasper Schmeichel for his 22nd club goal of the season. Salah then won it for Liverpool in the 76th minute, turning away from Leicester defender Harry Maguire and firing in at the Kop end.
Liverpool, unbeaten in 12 league games, remain fourth and now hold a four-point advantage over fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea climbed above United into second place with a 5-0 win over Stoke City. Antonio Conte’s side made the perfect start when German defender Antonio Rudiger headed home from Willian’s free-kick in the third minute.
Eden Hazard was rested, but his replacement Danny Drinkwater did a passable impression of the brilliant Belgian, the midfielder bagging his first goal for the Blues with a blistering strike in the ninth minute.
Stoke were three down by the 23rd minute when Pedro finished off Willian’s pass to put Chelsea on course for a fourth win in five league games.
Willian stroked home a penalty in the 73rd minute, before wingback Davide Zappacosta grabbed his first Premier League goal with two minutes remaining.
Carlos Carvalhal made an immediate impact at Swansea City as his new club climbed off bottom spot with a dramatic 2-1 win at Watford.
Ryan Fraser’s last-gasp goal clinched Bournemouth’s first win in nine matches as they beat Everton 2-1 at Dean Court to move out of the relegation zone.
Newcastle drew 0-0 with Brighton and Huddersfield shared a goalless draw with Burnley.