Benteke brace on return to Anfield

Christian Benteke scored twice on his return to former club Liverpool to earn Crystal Palace a 2-1 win that boosted its survival hopes in the Premier League yesterday.

Benteke was sold by Liverpool for 27 million pounds ($34.6 million) in August as he didn't fit into coach Juergen Klopp's plans, but he is proving the ideal striker for Palace in its late run to safety.

It is now five goals in his last five games for the tall Belgium striker, who equalized at Anfield in the 42nd minute with a sidefooted finish before stooping to head home the winner from a corner in the 74th.

Philippe Coutinho put Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute with a curling free kick from 25 meters (yards), and spurned a number of opportunities early in the second half before Benteke struck for the second time.

Liverpool stayed in third place as it seeks a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League, but is only two points clear of Manchester City and three ahead of Manchester United. Both City and United have two games in hand over Liverpool, which has four matches left.

Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney made the most of rare starts by scoring first-half goals in Manchester United's 2-0 win at Burnley in the Premier League yesterday, lifting the team to within a point of the Champions League qualification positions.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured and Marcus Rashford rested, Martial started as the center forward and opened the scoring in the 21st minute at Turf Moor after exchanging passes with Ander Herrera on a quick counterattack.

Rooney, playing on the left wing for only his third appearance in 2½ months, scored United's second goal — with the aid of a slight deflection — from close range in the 39th after Martial had a shot saved.