Liverpool win in spite of howler
Liverpool’s new goalkeeper Alisson made a high-profile mistake but it failed to prevent them continuing their perfect start in the English Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory at Leicester City yesterday.
With the Reds leading 2-0 entering the final third of the game, Brazilian Alisson attempted a Cruyff turn on the byline following a wayward backpass from Virgil van Dijk.
The ball was caught under Alisson’s feet and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho stole possession to tee up Rachid Ghezzal, who dutifully slotted home the goal.
Manager Jurgen Klopp said Alisson’s mistake was ‘‘not cool’’ but he was happy that Liverpool still secured the victory: ‘‘In the end, if Alisson with the first touch puts the ball away, everything is fine. For some reason, he didn’t do that, he dribbled and they scored the goal.
‘‘That’s it. I said to him, it’s the best game to do it because we still won the game.’’
Liverpool have won their first four league games of the season for the first time since 1990, to stay on top on 12 points along with Chelsea.
First-half goals by Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino ultimately proved more important than Alisson’s ill-advised fancy footwork.
Chelsea had struggled to break down Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge but goals from substitute Pedro and Eden Hazard in the last 20 minutes secured a 2-0 win to make it four in a row for new Blues manager Maurizio Sarri.
Champions Manchester City got back to winning ways after their draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers by beating Newcastle United 2-1 at home with Kyle Walker scoring the winner after DeAndre Yedlin had cancelled out Raheem Sterling’s opener.
City have 10 points though either Watford or Tottenham Hotspur, the two other clubs apart from Liverpool and Chelsea to win their opening three games, can move above Pep Guardiola’s side with a victory. They were set to meet at Vicarage Road this morning.
West Ham appeared to be on course for their first point of the season but Wolverhampton Wanderers substitute Adama Traore struck in stoppage time at the London Stadium.
‘‘I don’t think it is a bad start, it is a very bad start,’’ Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini said after their fourth defeat.