Jet-heeled Mane sends Tottenham crashing
– Sadio Mane (right) scored a quick-fire brace as Liverpool revitalised their Premier League campaign with an impressive 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Saturday.
Senegalese flier Mane netted twice in three first-half minutes as Jurgen Klopp’s team claimed a first league win of 2017 at the sixth attempt and ended Spurs’ ninegame unbeaten run.
Liverpool moved back into the top four, above Manchester City, who visit Bournemouth tonight, and Manchester United, who briefly climbed above them after beating Watford 2-0.
Tottenham remain second, but they are now level on points with Arsenal after Alexis Sanchez scored twice to earn his side a 2-0 victory over Hull City.
Liverpool badly missed Mane during his time at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and he gave a dazzling display of his qualities with two goals in the first 18 minutes at Anfield.
For the first goal, in the 16th minute, he raced onto Georginio Wijnaldum’s incisive pass before lifting a shot past Hugo Lloris.
Two minutes later he made it 2-0 with his 11th goal of the season, sparking a raid on the Spurs box by robbing Eric Dier and then slamming in after Lloris had saved from Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino.
At the Emirates, Sanchez brought manager Arsene Wenger some breathing space as Arsenal overcame third-bottom Hull.
The Chilean forward contentiously scored with his hand in the 34th minute and netted a stoppage-time penalty after Sam Clucas had been sent off for handball to take his tally for the campaign to 17 goals.
It got Arsenal back to winning ways following successive defeats by Watford and Chelsea and left them in third place, nine points behind Chelsea.
United closed to within a point of the Champions League places by beating Watford, Anthony Martial marking his return to the starting XI by scoring and setting up the opener for Juan Mata.
Jose Mourinho’s side have now gone 16 league games unbeaten and while they remain sixth, they are just a point below both Liverpool and City.
Sunderland remain bottom of the table after Southampton’s new striker Manolo Gabbiadini scored a slick brace in a 4-0 win at the Stadium of Light. – AFP