Liverpool wins, rivals drop points

LONDON: Champion Liverpool returned to winning ways in the English Premier League yesterday with a hardfought 21 victory over Sheffield United but its likely title rivals all dropped points.

Diogo Jota’s secondhalf header earned Liverpool a first win in three league games to lift it jointtop with Merseyside rival Everton which was to play this morning.

Manchester City’s stuttering start continued as it drew 11 at West Ham United while Manchester United and Chelsea played out a drab 00 draw at Old Trafford.

Crystal Palace moved up into the top five as it beat bottom club Fulham 21 with goals by Jairo Riedewald and Wilfried Zaha.

Liverpool had not conceded a penalty at its Anfield fortress for 67 Premier League games. However, that run came to an end early on against Sheffield United as Fabinho was adjudged by VAR to have fouled Oli McBurnie inside the area, even though referee Mike Dean had awarded a free kick outside the box.

Sander Berge sent Alisson, back in goal after injury, the wrong way to put the visiting team ahead and Liverpool lived dangerously before Roberto Firmino levelled in the 41st minute.

Jota’s header earned the three points but it was a struggle in the rain for Juergen Klopp’s side which looked uneasy at the back without the injured Virgil van Dijk.

For the second week running it also had legitimate gripes about VAR.

‘‘The penalty was not even a foul,’’ Klopp said. ‘‘During a season there are so many different periods, we have had an injustice and we have had to go again.’’

Manchester City trailed to Michail Antonio’s opener at the London Stadium and only improved after the break when youngster Phil Foden came on for the injured Sergio Aguero.

Foden grabbed the equaliser and Raheem Sterling wasted a glorious late chance as City was frustrated.

It is in 12th place with eight points from five games, its worst start to a Premier League season for six years.

‘‘I’m not a guy who can predict the future. We’ve already dropped seven points, which is a lot. But we’ve struggled a lot for many reasons,’’ City manager Pep Guardiola said, adding that the recently returned Aguero could have a hamstring injury.

While City languishes in midtable, neighbour Manchester United is down in 15th with seven points from five games after its stalemate against Chelsea.

United avoided a third consecutive home league defeat at the start of a season for the first time since 1930, although it was fortunate when Harry Maguire got away with what looked like a foul inside the area on Cesar Azpilicueta in the first half. — Reuters