LIVERPOOL SHRUG OFF COVID OUTBREAK TO BEAT NEWCASTLE
LIVERPOOL shrugged off a coro navirus outbreak to keep their Premier League title challenge on track with a 3-1 win over Newcastle that was lit up by Trent Alexander-Arnold's wonder goal.
The Reds lost Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho to positive cases of Covid before kick-off as a surge of infections across Britain threatens to bring the season to a temporary halt.
Liverpool were further rocked when Jonjo Shelvey opened the scoring against his old club after just seven minutes.
But Newcastle remained mired in the bottom three for a reason as goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah turned the game around be fore half-time.
Alexander-Arnold's thun derbolt four minutes from time rounded off an eighth consecutive win for Jurgen Klopp's men as they close to within one point of leaders Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel admitted Chelsea's coronavi rus outbreak had taken a toll on his Premier League title chasers as Everton snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Tuchel's side were with out Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson- Odoi after the latest Covid-19 blow to rock the Premier League.
Ben Chilwell, currently injured, also tested positive, while Kai Havertz was unable to play after feeling ill before the match.
The Blues were already without Mateo Kovacic as the Croatia midfielder recovers having contracted the virus earlier in December.
Shorn of so many key play ers, Chelsea laboured to break down stubborn Everton until Mason Mount netted midway through the second half at Stamford Bridge.
Despite dominating from start to finish, Chelsea were punished for switching off at the back when teenage defender Jarrad Branthwaite grabbed his first Everton goal with 16 minutes left.
Failing to beat a struggling Everton side decimated by in juries and illness was a ham mer blow on a difficult day for Chelsea.
"It is hard to swallow. We missed big chances to get the result in the first half and sec ond half we did not find the rhythm," Tuchel said. – AFP.