Coutinho’s superb strike cancelled out by Newcastle
RAFA Benitez’s Newcastle United held his former team Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park yesterday, a result that left the visitors seven points off the Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League.
The game encapsulated Liverpool’s season as they took the lead through a superb Philippe Coutinho strike from 25 metres on 29 minutes, only to concede seven minutes later after shambolic defending allowed Joselu to latch on to Jonjo Shelvey’s pass through the middle.
As the striker broke clear, Joel Matip’s attempted tackle only diverted the ball on to Joselu’s shin and past the diving Simon Mignolet.
Juergen Klopp’s mood on the sidelines was not improved when Daniel Sturridge, who was starting in place of Roberto Firmino, squandered a chance from close range after a miskick from Newcastle defender Ciaran Clark.
The visitors looked hesitant at the back and tentative in front of goal, with Sturridge too often caught offside.
Firmino, Dominic Solanke and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all brought on but Newcastle held on as Benitez kept his unbeaten record in five games as a manager against Liverpool
Meanwhile, Burnley’s 1-0 win at Everton yesterday ensured their best start on the road in a top flight campaign since 1966, having managed just seven points and one victory away last season.
Entering this month, however, Burnley have wins at Goodison Park and Chelsea along with draws away to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
“Away from home to have a start like that I don’t think anyone could see that,” manager Sean Dyche said.
“They were really tough games on paper and of course when you play them.”
Burnley delivered some good performances away last season but were unable to secure results and Dyche believes the change has come from his players having a different attitude.
“There has been a nice shift mentally and I think that is a really big thing,” he said.
A change in style has also helped with the arrival of Jack Cork from Swansea City in midfield alongside the finally fully fit Belgian midfielder Steven Defour, giving the team an improved capacity for keeping possession.
While Burnley can still mix in plenty of direct football, Dyche’s side are much more focused on shorter passes and patient build-up and yesterday’s winning goal from Jeff Hendrick came at the end of a 24-pass move.
In the Premier League’s early kickoff yesterday, Arsenal maintained their perfect home record this season by comfortably beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Arsene Wenger’s 21st anniversary as manager.
After Alexandre Lacazette hit the post in the second minute, they took the lead on 16 when Nacho Monreal struck the ball firmly through a sea of bodies in the Brighton area. – Reuters
MANCHESTER City stayed ahead of age-old rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a deserved 1-0 win away to champions Chelsea.
After Jose Mourinho’s United romped to a 4-0 victory over bottom club Crystal Palace, City had much the better of the late game at Stamford Bridge.
“We are so happy,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “The way we played, especially in the second half, was pleasing.”
A second-half goal by former Chelsea forward Kevin de Bruyne won it and left City just ahead of United on goal difference.
Chelsea, starting the day three points behind the Manchester pair in third place, dropped to fourth after two more goals from Harry Kane helped Tottenham Hotspur to a comfortable 4-0 win away to Huddersfield Town.
Manager Antonio Conte blamed Champions League exertions from midweek for his team’s subdued performance.
“It is logical when you play three games in seven days, you risk something,” he said.
United’s win left Palace rooted to the bottom of the table after a record seventh successive defeat without a goal.
Beaten 5-0 away by City in their last game, Palace avoided a repetition but became only the second team since the Premier League began to lose their first seven games.
Unlike Portsmouth in 2009-10, though, they have not scored a single goal.
Romelu Lukaku’s late strike meant that free-scoring United have hit four goals in a game six times this season. Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini scored before half time and when Fellaini headed in his second just after the interval, the points were even more secure.
“We started strong and finished strong,” Mourinho said.
England striker Kane continued his astonishing run by following up a Champions League hat-trick in midweek with two more goals as Spurs went 3-0 up by half time at promoted Huddersfield.
Ben Davies scored the other first-half goal and Moussa Sissoko added a fourth just before the final whistle.
Kane, having failed to score at all in August once again, made it 13 for club and country during last month.
Watford recovered from two goals down at West Bromwich Albion to go fifth after the home team scored twice in three minutes in the first half through Salomon Rondon and Jonny Evans.
Abdoulaye Doucoure kept Watford in contention and Brazilian Richarlison headed an equaliser in the final minute of added time.
Peter Crouch earned Stoke City a 2-1 win at home to Southampton after Maya Yoshida had equalised Mame Biram Diouf’s opener.