Man United, Chelsea ride their luck
Manchester United and Chelsea needed fortunate goals to maintain their status as the closest challengers to rampant leader Manchester City in the English Premier League yesterday.
Ashley Young’s long-range shot looped up off a defender and spun into the far corner to earn secondplace United a 1-0 win over Brighton, for their eighth consecutive victory at Old Trafford.
Chelsea claimed only a point from a 1-1 draw at Liverpool in the day’s standout game and again there was luck involved, substitute Willian’s attempted cross to the far post soaring into the top corner for an 85th-minute equaliser.
Still, it was another good day for City, even though the leader didn’t play.
United might have moved five points behind but the Anfield draw saw two more possible title rivals drop points, while Tottenham’s travails at Wembley Stadium continued with a 1-1 draw against lowly West Bromwich Albion.
There were also wins Watford and Crystal Palace.
With United struggling to break through Brighton’s defense, it found inspiration from an unlikely source in left back Young. The utility player picked up a clearance on the edge of the box and shot into the top corner, via the sprawling Lewis Dunk.
Brighton, which had been undefeated in their previous five league games, gave United one of its toughest challenges this season and were punished for failing to take its chances.
‘‘I want to be honest and give them what they deserve, for me probably they deserve more than the result they got,’' United manager Jose Mourinho said.
Chelsea was nearly left embarrassed by another former player. Two months ago, it was Kevin De Bruyne, discarded prematurely by then-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 2014, scoring the winner for against the Blues for Manchester City.
Mo Salah was at Chelsea around the same period and made just six league starts before being sent on loan by Mourinho to Fiorentina and then Roma, which he eventually joined on a permanent deal.
Salah scored his 15th goal of the season, in just 20 appearances, when he ran into Alex OxladeChamberlain’s pass and slotted home in the 65th. He is the league top scorer on 10 goals and must go down as the signing of the summer.
Willian’s goal came within two minutes of coming on as a substitute. ‘‘Everything was good,’' Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said, ‘‘until Willian crossed the ball.’'
Tottenham will be looking forward to the end of November. For a second consecutive season, they have won just one of their three matches in the month.
Harry Kane equalised 15 minutes from the end after Salomon Rondon gave West Brom’s stand in-manager, Gary Megson, the perfect start. West Brom, who haven’t now won in 11 league games, were playing for the first time after firing manager Tony Pulis last week.
Watford enjoyed a 3-0 win at St James’ Park. Will Hughes and Andre Gray scored either side of DeAndre Yedlin’s own goal to secure a comfortable win.
Mamadou Sakho scored in added time to give last-place Crystal Palace a 2-1 win over Stoke and move the team to within three points of safety.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s solo effort put Stoke in front but Ruben Loftus-Cheek equalised just three minutes later. Sakho reacted first when Yohan Cabaye’s effort came back off the post to seal only Palace’s second win of the season.
Swansea and Bournemouth drew 0-0.