City beat Arsenal, Liverpool denied derby win by VAR as Chelsea held in six-goal thriller
LONDON: Liverpool were denied a cathartic victory against Premier League leaders Everton by VAR and Chelsea drew 3-3 with Southampton on another day of breathless drama in the English top-flight on Saturday.
Manchester City beat Arsenal 1-0 as Pep Guardiola got the beter of former assistant Mikel Arteta, while misfiring Manchester United prepared to take on Newcastle in the late kick-off. Sterling’s strike midway through the first-half was enough to relaunch City’s title challenge ater failing to win two of their first three league games of the new season.
Arsenal remain without an away league win against one of the ‘big six’ in 28 games dating back to January 2015.
Jurgen Klopp’s champions were desperate to atone for their 7-2 mauling against Aston Villa before the international break but were forced to setle for a 2-2 draw ater Jordan Henderson’s late strike was chalked off for offside.
Everton, who have not beaten Liverpool since 2010, remain three points clear of their Merseyside rivals at the top of the table ater a number of controversial calls went their way at Goodison Park.
But kl opp was mystified that henderson’ s potential winner in added time against 10-man Everton was ruled out for a barely perceptible offside decision against Sadio Mane.
He was also at a loss to explain how Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had not been dismissed and had not conceded an early penalty for a kneehigh challenge on Virgil van Dijk.
Sadio Mane, who missed the Villa Park mauling ater testing positive for coronavirus, put Liverpool ahead in the third minute.
But the pivotal moment in the match came when Van Dijk was on the receiving end of a dangerous late lunge from Pickford inside the box minutes later.
However, no penalty was awarded ater a VAR review because Van Dijk had been marginally offside and Pickford was lucky to avoid a red card.
The Dutchman was substituted and his towering presence was missed at the other end as Michael Keane equalised in the 19th minute.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool back in front 18 minutes from time but Dominic Calvert-lewin neted his 10th goal of the season to pull Everton level again.
Richarlison was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Thiago Alcantara in the 90th minute and Everton were grateful for the intervention of VAR in the final seconds.
Chelsea looked to be in total control ater cruising into a 2-0 lead against Southampton at Stamford Bridge, courtesy of new signing Timo Werner’s first Premier League goals.
But a goal from Danny Ings shortly before halftime and a second-half strike from Che Adams wiped out their lead.
Frank Lampard’s side rallied immediately to regain the lead, Werner teeing up Kai Havertz for a neat dinked finish to make it 3-2.
But Southampton were not to be denied and Jannik Vestergaard bludgeoned home an addedtime equaliser for Saints from a free-kick that Chelsea failed to clear.
WENGER REFUSES TO RULE OUT RETURN TO MANAGEMENT: For Arsene Wenger management is a drug and, even at nearly 71, he cannot accept that he might never return to coaching “because it would hurt so much”.
Speaking in the French city of Strasbourg at the launch of his autobiography, “My Life in Red and White”, Wenger looked back on a coaching career that started in 1984, long before his arrival in 1996 at Arsenal, where he went on to spend 22 years in charge.
His time in north London was oten glorious, and yet many Arsenal fans were happy to see him depart, feeling his best days were long behind him.
Wenger is now focused on his role as FIFA’S chief of global football development but does not rule out returning to coaching.
“I refuse to say never again because it would hurt so much,” he told AFP and other media in Strasbourg in his native region of Alsace.