Benteke brace helps Palace beat Liverpool
Two goals by Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke, who Liverpool sold to their opponents earlier this season, cost the hosts the chance to put pressure on the Premier League’s top two with a rare home defeat on Sunday.
Philippe Coutinho had put Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute with a direct free kick.
The home side dominated but conceded an equaliser just before halftime when Benteke, sold by Juergen Klopp in August, scored from a cross by Yohan Cabaye. In the 74th minute the Belgian stooped to head in a corner and win the game.
Klopp’s team stay third but are five points behind second-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played two games more.
Palace, who have recently beaten Chelsea and Arsenal, moved up four places to 12th and should now be safe from relegation after a sixth win in eight games.
ROONEY SCORES ON UNITED RETURN
Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial scored on their returns to the side as Manchester United improved their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish with a 2-0 win at Burnley.
The convincing victory — United made light of the seasonending injury to top-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic — sets up an intriguing Manchester derby visit to City, now just one point above United, on Thursday.
Martial’s strike in particular was a perfect response from the French international, whose form had been criticised by boss Jose Mourinho this week, even if it costs his current club £8.3 million in a bonus payment to his former club Monaco.
Martial responded to those recent public criticisms by starting, and finishing, a goal of devastating pace and simplicity after 21 minutes.
Having dispossessed Joey Barton inside his own half, the Frenchman initiated the counter attack with a sprint and pass to Ander Herrera.
The Spanish midfielder returned the favour, picking out the run of Martial perfectly and sliding through a pass for the striker to collect, take a touch and beat Tom Heaton from six yards.
It was the 21-year-old’s 25th goal for the Premier League side and activates an incentive clause which means United must pay Monaco that additional 10 million euros.
ZLATAN SUFFERS KNEE LIGAMENT DAMAGE
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s magical season with Manchester United appears over after the club announced he had suffered a serious knee injury in Thursday’s Europa League clash with Anderlecht.
The club revealed that both the 35-year-old Swedish striker and Argentinian defender Marcos Rojo had suffered knee injuries in the same match.
“Detailed investigations on the injuries sustained by Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic dur ing Thursday’s Europa League match have confirmed signifi cant knee ligament damage in both players that requires spe cialist opinions over the coming days. Estimations of time to ful recovery will only be possible once definitive treatment plans have been decided after these consultations,” read a statemen on United’s website.