Title lead changes three times as Reds shock City

THE Juergen Klopp effect began to really take effect last night as Liverpool hammered mercurial Manchester City 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium to provide the Merseysiders’ new coach with his most striking Premier League win yet.

Klopp’s men defeated struggling champions Chelsea 3-1 last month, but an own goal from Eliaquim Mangala and two beautifully worked goals from Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, all in the first 32 minutes, put them on their way to an even more impressive triumph on the road.

Sergio Aguero, a minute before half time, produced a brilliant curling effort to threaten the possibility of a comeback win that could have put erratic City back on top of the table.

Yet Liverpool, whose impressive Brazilian Firmino squandered a couple of other opportunities to seal the triumph, completed the rout with a thunderous 81st-minute strike from Martin Skrtel.

Champions Chelsea ended their slump with a 1-0 win over Norwich City. Jose Mourinho’s side ended a run of three successive league defeats with victory over Norwich thanks to a second-half goal from Diego Costa. That lifted Chelsea up one place to 15th on 14 points, but still a long way behind the leaders.

Jamie Vardy equalled the Premier League record by scoring for a 10th successive match as his Leicester City side went top after winning 3-0 at Newcastle United. Leonardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki also scored for Leicester.

Leicester became the third team to top the table yesterday after Manchester City started it in first place and Manchester United briefly led after they won 2-1 at Watford in the early kickoff.

United led 1-0 following an 11th-minute volley from Memphis Depay before Troy Deeney equalised with an 87th-minute penalty, but then scored an own goal in stoppage time to give United victory. SHOCK RESULT: Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool scores his team’s second goal against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium last night

United, who are suffering an injury crisis, conceded their first goal in six matches in all competitions.

Their manager Louis van Gaal took heart from their overall performance and the fact they went top even though it was only for a short time.

“It is the second time this season we have been top and proves we are in the title race,” he said.

“But it is a lousy period for us because we have so many injuries. I hope Wayne Rooney, who is ill, and maybe Anthony Martial can come back and play against PSV Eindhoven next week,” he added.

Depay broke the deadlock when he connected perfectly with an Ander Herrera cross from the right and volleyed past Heurelho Gomes with his left foot.

Arsenal missed their chance to hit the summit when they lost 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion.

Frenchman Olivier Giroud put Arsenal ahead before West Brom struck back with a goal from James Morrison and an own goal from Mikel Arteta, while Santi Cazorla missed a late penalty for the visitors.

Everton were the highest scorers of the day, crushing bottom-placed Aston Villa 4-0, with Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku both scoring twice to leave Villa with only five points from 13 games.

Swansea City and Bournemouth shared four goals in a 2-2 draw at the Liberty Stadium. —