Liverpool lose, Spurs grab draw

Liverpool’s defensive gremlins returned as their English Premier League title ambitions suffered a blow in an upset 3-2 defeat at Anfield by relegation battlers Swansea .

In what turned out to be a great day for leaders Chelsea without kicking a ball, second-placed Tottenham battled back to draw 2-2 at fifth-placed Manchester City and Manchester United were held 1-1 at Stoke City.

Wayne Rooney salvaged a point for United with a sublime free kick that made him the club’s record scorer with 250 goals, one ahead of Old Trafford great Bobby Charlton.

Rooney’s curler four minutes into stoppage time cancelled out an own goal from Juan Mata as United remained in sixth spot.

‘‘It is difficult at the minute to be over-pleased because of the result but in the grand scheme it is huge honour.’’

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 74th-minute winner ended Liverpool’s 17-match unbeaten league run at Anfield and left Juergen Klopp’s side seven points behind leaders Chelsea who can widen their lead against strugglers Hull City this morning.

Spain striker Fernando Llorente scored twice shortly after halftime to put Swansea in charge but Liverpool retaliated and two goals by Roberto Firmino dragged them level before Sigurdsson struck.

Liverpool could not respond, leaving Klopp crestfallen.

‘‘The most disappointing moment was the third goal and I can’t explain it as we had so many chances to challenge,’’ the German said.

Tottenham’s six-match winning run was ended by City but it could have been far worse for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in a compelling late kickoff at the Etihad.

City, smarting from last week’s 4-0 drubbing at Everton, dominated a scoreless first half and were gifted a two-goal lead within nine minutes of the restart as howlers by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris allowed Leroy Sane and Kevin de Bruyne to tap in.

Dele Alli and Son Heung-min replied for Tottenham but the visitors enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune seconds before Son’s equaliser when Kyle Walker got away with a blatant shove in the back of Raheem Sterling seemed set to score.

Tottenham moved clear in second spot, six points behind Chelsea.

Improving West Ham won for the fifth time in seven league games to move into the top half Andy Carroll again on target with two goals in a 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough.

Sunderland went bottom of the ladder after a 2-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion while Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Watford and Crystal Palace beat Everton 1-0. as he