Reds move closer to leaders with crucial win
LIVERPOOL kept their push for a top-four finish on course as Emre Can thundered home a second-half winner to complete a hard-earned 2-1 Premier League comeback win over Burnley at a relieved Anfield yesterday.
Juergen Klopp’s side were again out of sorts, but earned their first back-to-back league wins this year to keep up the pressure on the league’s leading trio.
While nowhere near their scintillating best, typifying their uneven form this year, they displayed character to strike back after going behind to an Ashley Barnes goal after seven minutes.
With the league’s worst travellers Burnley dreaming of their first away win of the season, the out-of-sorts Reds were grateful to equalise just before half-time through their first shot on target from Georginio Wijnaldum.
Liverpool looked short of ideas before German international Can produced a blow from seemingly nowhere just after the hour mark, bending his low 25m strike into the bottom corner past a despairing Tom Heaton.
The victory gives Liverpool 55 points, putting them a point behind second-placed Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City and 11 adrift of leaders Chelsea. The top three, though, also have a game in hand over the Reds.
On Saturday, Oumar Niasse boosted Hull’s chances of avoiding relegation from the Premier League as the Senegal forward inspired a crucial 2-1 victory over Swansea, while Bournemouth won for the first time this year thanks to Josh King’s treble in a 3-2 success against West Ham.
Niasse, on loan from Everton, came off the bench to score twice in the second half at the KCOM Stadium and Marco Silva’s side are now just one point from safety.
After a tense first half, Niasse broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when he played a one-two with Abel Hernandez and drilled past Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Niasse sealed Hull’s third win over Swansea in all competitions this season with a blistering strike from inside the penalty area in the 78th minute.
Alfie Mawson’s 90th-minute goal was no consolation for Swansea, who have lost their last three away games and are only three points above third bottom Hull.
At Dean Court, Bournemouth overcame two missed penalties and a late equaliser to end their nine-match winless run in all competitions.
Everton improved their prospects of a Europa League berth with a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park.
Kevin Mirallas landed the first blow for the hosts in the 39th minute.
Morgan Schneiderlin doubled Everton’s lead on the stroke of half time, the midfielder unleashing a ferocious strike for his first goal since a January move from Manchester United.
Romelu Lukaku sealed the rout with a header in the 82nd minute for his 19th league goal of the season. – Reuters, AFP