United, Chelsea rely on luck
LIVERPOOL, England — Manchester United and Chelsea needed fortunate goals to maintain their status as the closest challengers to rampant leader Manchester City in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Ashley Young’s long-range shot looped up off a defender and spun into the far corner to earn secondplace United a 1-0 win over Brighton, for its eighth consecutive victory at Old Trafford.
Chelsea claimed only a point from a 1-1 draw at Liverpool in the day’s standout game and again, there was luck involved, as substitute Willian’s attempted cross to the far post soared into the top corner for an 85th-minute equalizer.
Still, it was another good day for City, even though the leader wasn’t playing until today at Huddersfield.
United might have moved five points behind, but the Anfield draw saw two more possible title rivals drop points, while Tottenham’s travails at Wembley Stadium continued with a 1-1 draw against lowly West Bromwich Albion.
There were also wins for Watford and Crystal Palace.
Here’s a look at other action:
Spurs’ seasonal struggles
Tottenham will be looking forward to the end of November. For a second consecutive season, it has won just one of its three matches in the month.
Harry Kane equalized 15 minutes from the end after Salomon Rondon gave West Brom’s stand in-manager, Gary Megson, the perfect start. West Brom, which hasn’t now won in 11 league games, was playing for the first time after firing its Tony Pulis on Monday.
Tottenham is 10 points adrift of City.
Happy Travellers
Watford’s run of scoring two goals in its league away games this season ended at Newcastle, but it didn’t mind.
The Hornets went one better with a 3-0 win at St James’ Park. Will Hughes and Andre Gray scored either side of DeAndre Yedlin’s own goal to secure a comfortable win.
Watford has more away points in seven matches this season than the team managed in the whole of its previous campaign.
Late winner
Mamadou Sakho scored in added time to give last-place Crystal Palace a 2-1 win over Stoke and move the team to within three points of safety.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s solo effort put Stoke in front but Ruben Loftus-Cheek equalized just three minutes later. Sakho reacted first when Yohan Cabaye’s effort came back off the post to seal only Palace’s second win of the season.
Also, Swansea and Bournemouth drew 0-0.