Newcastle rock United; Huddersfield win at last
Liverpool canter to 2-0 victory at Southampton EPL Standings
LONDON, Feb 11, (AFP): Matt Ritchie condemned Manchester United to a shock 1-0 defeat at struggling Newcastle, while Huddersfield climbed out of the relegation zone after a 4-1 win against Bournemouth on Sunday.
United’s second defeat in their last three Premier League games leaves them 16 points behind leaders Manchester City.
Jose Mourinho’s second placed side, beaten by Tottenham in their last away game, were rarely at their best at St James’ Park and paid the price in the 65th minute.
United defender Chris Smalling was booked for diving inside his own half and from the resulting Jonjo Shelvey free-kick, Dwight Gayle latched onto a header and played a backheel towards Ritchie.
Ritchie’s run was completely untracked by United’s sloppy defence and the Newcastle winger fired low past David De Gea.
Mourinho responded by pulling off Paul Pogba after another underwhelming display from the France midfielder.
And United should have equalised soon after, but when Newcastle failed to clear a corner, Anthony Martial saw two shots blocked on the line by Gayle.
Newcastle had kicked off in the relegation zone, but a first win in five league games — their first success against United since 2013 — lifts them to 13th place.
At the John Smith’s Stadium, David Wagner’s team took a seventhminute lead as Alex Pritchard took Mounie’s pass and drilled in his first Huddersfield goal since his January move from Norwich.
Junior Stanislas equalised for Bournemouth with a cool finish from Ryan Fraser’s cross seven minutes later.
But Mounie restored Huddersfield’s advantage with a 27thminute header and the Benin striker netted again from Aaron Mooy’s pass to put the hosts in control in the 66th minute.
Rajiv van La Parra converted a stoppage-time penalty to lift Huddersfield out of the bottom three after they had sunk to five consecutive league games.
The Terriers are one point above the relegation zone, while Bournemouth remain in mid-table.
Huddersfield’s first league win in nine matches was marred by an injury to Australia midfielder Mooy, who was stretchered off with a knee problem 15 minutes from time.
Meanwhile, Liverpool closed to within two points of second-placed Manchester United with a comfortable 2-0 victory at relegation-haunted Southampton on Sunday.
Roberto Firmino fired Liverpool ahead after seven minutes after being set up by Mohamed Salah and Salah struck shortly before halftime as the visitors eased to the three points.
Liverpool, who featured three former Southampton players in their starting lineup and also brought on former Saints Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren late on, could have added more in the second half as the hosts offered precious little.
Liverpool have 54 points to United’s 56 with Tottenham Hotspur on 52 and champions Chelsea, who play bottom club West Bromwich Albion on Monday, on 50 as the battle for Champions League spots hots up.
Southampton are third from bottom, a point behind 17th-placed Huddersfield Town who won earlier on Sunday. Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Sergi Roberto (left), vies with Getafe’s Senegalese forward Amath Ndiaye Diedhiou during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at the Camp Nou Stadium in
Barcelona on Feb 11. (AFP)