Liverpool, City win; Chelsea sinks Spurs

LIVERPOOL: The Premier League title race looks to be a straight fight between Liverpool and Manchester City after the top two had wins and thirdplace Tottenham lost at Chelsea.

Liverpool stayed in first place thanks to a 50 win over Watford, with Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk scoring two goals each. Divock Origi also scored in a win built on brilliant performances by Liverpool’s defenders.

Right back Trent AlexanderArnold set up three goals, including the opening two for Mane, and left back Andrew Robertson the other two.

City needed a secondhalf penalty from Sergio Aguero at Etihad Stadium to sneak past West Ham 10 and stay a point back as the exertions of winning the English League Cup after extra time at the weekend perhaps took their toll.

Tottenham’s title bid disintegrated at Stamford Bridge against a Chelsea side without the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was benched as punishment for refusing to be substituted in the Blues’ League Cup final loss to Manchester City.

Maurizio Sarri’s side cruised to a 20 win on a calamitous night for Mauricio Pochettino’s men at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal thrashed Bournemouth 51 to strengthen its grip on fourth place.

Manchester United is fifth after beating Crystal Palace 31 and Southampton climbed out of the relegation zone by beating Fulham 20. — AP