Liverpool still in the hunt after win

LONDON: Liverpool stayed in touch with English Premier League leader Manchester City as Mohamed Salah’s double earned it a comfortable 31 win at West Ham United, but Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur both suffered disappointing losses yesterday.

Chelsea’s new manager, Thomas Tuchel, enjoyed his first victory as his side eased to a 20 win at home to Burnley.

For the second time in four days Liverpool enjoyed a visit to the capital as it followed Friday’s 31 win over Tottenham Hotspur with an other dominant display.

After five league games without a win had considerably weakened Liverpool’s grip on its title, it is suddenly ticking over again and with Manchester City visiting Anfield next weekend its hopes of defending its crown are intact.

‘‘We spoke a lot in the last few weeks, as you can imagine,’’ Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said.

‘‘These boys are a really good group. They are not happy with not being successful.

‘‘They always have the right attitude. But they need the right information as well. Now we have found a way again to be uncomfortable for other teams.’’

Salah, who had not registered in the league since December, scored two majestic goals after the break before Gini Wijnaldum added a third. Craig Dawson’s late goal was little consolation for West Ham, whose fourgame winning league run ended abruptly.

‘‘The players have been excellent. Even today, it’s a lesson for them — the levels we have to get to,’’ fifthplaced West Ham’s manager, David Moyes, said.

Leeds United has been hit and miss this season but was in the groove as it beat Leicester City 31 away despite going behind to a Harvey Barnes goal.

Patrick Bamford scored one and created two for Leeds to end Leicester’s sevenmatch unbeaten run, denying Brendan Rodgers’ side a move up to second in the premier league.

‘‘We were cheap with the ball today and then we give away disappointing goals, from our perspective,’’ Rodgers said.

Tottenham became the first side to lose at Brighton and Hove Albion in the league this season as it went down 10.

It was a disappointing display by Jose Mourinho’s side, which rarely looked like avoiding defeat after Leandro Trossard put the host ahead in the 17th minute.

Seventeenthplaced Brighton’s win was dreadful news for the bottom three clubs as they are put seven points between themselves and the relegation zone.

Tottenham remains in sixth place but after leading the table in December it is now 11 points adrift of Manchester City and six points off the top four.

‘‘Not good in the first half, better in the second. We didn’t start well. We started with some mistakes that led to a ball that hit the post and then the goal,’’ Mourinho said.

‘‘The team showed in the first half that it was too sad to play football. When you are too sad, you have no energy, enthusiasm or confidence, and that was what the team showed in the first half.’’

Chelsea moved up to seventh as goals by Spanish defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso were enough to beat Burnley.

‘‘Well the performance itself, for me it was very complete, both defensively and offensively,’’ Tuchel said. — Reuters

❛ These boys are a really good group. They are not happy with not being successful

Liverpool manager

Jurgen Klopp