Salah nets brace as Liverpool rout Everton
Liverpool thrashed local rivals Everton 4-1 to pile the pressure on former Reds boss Rafael Benitez on Wednesday, while victories for Chelsea and Manchester City ensured the Premier League top three remain separated by just two points.
Liverpool had won only once in their last nine visits to Goodison Park, but the gulf in class between the sides currently was obvious as Mohamed Salah produced two more stunning finishes to take his tally for the season to 19 goals in 19 games.
Jordan Henderson opened the scoring before Salah curled the first of his double into the top corner.
Demarai Gray’s strike brielfy gave Everton hope heading into half-time, but further strikes from Salah and Diogo Jota gave the scoreline the reflection it deserved from a one-sided contest.
Ziyech to Chelsea’s aid
Leaders Chelsea were made to work hard for a 2-1 win at Watford in one of two games held up by lengthy delays to allow treatment for an ill supporter in the crowd.
Chelsea needed Hakim Ziyech to come off the bench and score the winner 18 minutes from time at Vicarage Road to hold off City and Liverpool at the top of the table.
After a half an hour hold up early in the match as a fan was attended to by emergency services, Mason Mount gave the European champions the lead.
Emmanuel Dennis hit back for Watford on the stroke of half- time and for a while it looked like Chelsea could drop points for the third time in four league games.
But Ziyech’s powerful finish from Mount’s cross maintained their slender one-point advantage over City.
Man City beat Villa
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could not do his old club a favour as his 100 percent start as Aston Villa manager was ended by a 2-1 defeat to City.
Gerrard had got off to a flying start as Villa boss with back-toback wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace to ease fears of being dragged into a relegation battle, but admitted before the game that the champions posed a very different test and so it proved.
An injury-hit City dominated the first half and went in 2-0 up at the break thanks to brilliant finishes from Portuguese international duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva.
Ollie Watkins pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half but City held out for a vital three points as Jack Grealish celebrated a victorious return to Villa Park.
West Ham’s hopes of a topfour finish suffered another blow as Brighton struck late to snatch a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
In the other match affected by a lengthy delay to attend to an ill fan in the crowd, Leicester twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against Southampton.
Benzema stars for Real
MADRID: Karim Benzema applauded Real Madrid’s fans after they chanted “Karim, Ballon d’Or” as his goal against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday sent Madrid seven points clear at the top of La Liga. It was Real’s seventh straight win.
Benzema’s 20th goal in 24 games this season proved the difference in a 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu that puts Madrid firmly in charge of the Spanish title race, even after only 15 games played.