Bees deserved point, admits honest Klopp
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted Brentford deserved their point after a “wild” draw in west London.
Mohamed Salah scored his 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool, but it was not enough to sting the Bees, who twice pegged the Reds back in a breathless match.
Klopp’s side moved just one point clear at the top, while preserving the top flight’s only remaining unbeaten record.
Brentford led through Ethan Pinnock and, following goals from Diogo Jota and Salah, equalising through Vitaly Janelt.
Then, when Curtis Jones smashed Liverpool ahead again, Bees sub Yoane Wissa came up with another equaliser.
“It was a wild game,” said Klopp. “Offensively I’m really happy, in moments we played some of the best football we’ve played this season against a really well-organised side.
“They deserve their three goals and deserved a point. They could have scored one more, we could have had four or five more.”
Ivan Toney could have even won it for Brentford, but his late strike was ruled out for offside.
Bees boss Thomas Frank said: “It was a fantastic game. We went toe to toe with a top team.
“Coming back twice showed unbelievable character. I’m crazy, crazy proud of the performance of the players.”
Pep Guardiola hailed matchwinner Gabriel Jesus as one of his best signings for Manchester City after he scored the winner in their 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
“Gabriel is one person or player who deserves the very best,” said Guardiola. “He’s one of the best signings we have made in this period at City.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer backed Bruno Fernandes as Manchester United’s penalty taker after the playmaker’s rare miss helped Aston Villa to a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford.
Defender Kortney Hause gave Villa the lead in the 88th minute with a near-post header only to handle the ball moments later, giving United the chance to salvage a point.
But Fernandes, who had scored 21 of his previous 22 penalties for United, sent the ball high over the bar as Cristiano Ronaldo looked on. Solskjaer said: “Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. Bruno has been excellent and Cristiano is probably the one who has scored the most penalties in world football. We’ve got great takers and it’s a missed opportunity.”
It was Villa’s first victory over United since 2009 and only their second at Old Trafford since 1983, making it a very big day for manager Dean Smith.
He said: “I thought we deserved the win. I thought we had the bigger chances.”
Boss Brendan Rodgers praised evergreen Jamie Vardy after he salvaged a point for Leicester.
The striker’s double saw the Foxes grab a late 2-2 draw against Burnley.
Vardy gave the visitors the lead with a first-half own goal before levelling, only for Maxwel Cornet to restore Burnley’s advantage. The 34-year-old earned the hosts a draw with five minutes left.
Rodgers said: “He was a threat all game. He was superb.”
Norwich boss Daniel Farke claimed Everton’s penalty in his side’s 2-0 defeat should not have been given. Andros Townsend put the hosts ahead with a spot-kick awarded after Allan went down in the box when challenged by Ozan Kabak.
Abdoulaye Doucoure added a second and Farke said: “It was definitely the wrong decision.”
Steve Bruce was left to lament missed chances after Ismaila Sarr’s equaliser denied Newcastle in a 1-1 draw at Watford, following Sean Longstaff ’s 24th-minute opener.
Michael Antonio scored a 90th-minute winner as West Ham won 2-1 at Leeds.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Leeds, but Junior Firpo scored an own goal, before Antonio struck at the death.