Leaders Liverpool extend advantage as City lose
MOHAMED SALAH struck from the penalty spot as Liverpool increased their lead at the top of the Premier League table to six points on a dramatic Boxing Day.
Jurgen Klopp’s men ran out 4-0 winners over Newcastle at Anfield as second-placed Manchester City lost for the second successive game to slip to third.
Dejan Lovren fired the leaders ahead with just 11 minutes gone when he dispatched a sweet halfvolley past keeper Martin Dubravka.
Salah doubled their advantage from the spot after being dragged back by Paul Dummett two minutes after the break, and Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho extended the Reds’ lead further as time ran down.
Ricardo Pereira dented Manchester City’s title challenge with a stunning winner as Leicester gained revenge for their Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat over the reigning champions, with former Leeds United player Fabian Delph’s late red card ensuring City lost 2-1.
Tottenham did their best to prove it will not be a two-horse race for the title as they romped to a 5-0 win over Bournemouth.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men raced into a 3-0 lead inside 35 minutes as goals from Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura left the Cherries, who then lost skipper Simon Francis to a potentially serious injury, in deep trouble.
Harry Kane increased Spurs’ lead shortly after the hour mark and Son helped himself to a second with 20 minutes left as Spurs leapfrogged City into second.
Lucas Digne scored twice as Everton responded to their 6-2 drubbing by Spurs at Goodison Park by condemning struggling Burnley to a 5-1 home defeat.
Cardiff emerged from their trip to Crystal Palace with a hardfought 0-0 draw, while Fulham climbed off the bottom of the table despite conceding late on in a 1-1 home draw against Wolves.
In the tea-time kick-off, Jurgen Locadia ended Brighton’s threegame losing streak as Arsenal were held 1-1, after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the Gunners ahead after just seven minutes.
Eden Hazard’s double, the second a penalty, gave Chelsea a 2-1 win at Watford.