Premier League reactions: Liverpool march on but Klopp is only concerned about Everton
Leicester win late and Man Utd are ninth after being held by Aston Villa
Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League is now eight points as the Reds made it 14 league matches unbeaten with a 2-1 victory at home to Brighton.
The win was marred by the dismissal of goalkeeper Alisson on 76 minutes for a blatant handball outside his penalty area.
The Seagulls scored from the resultant free-kick as Lewis Dunk sent his strike past substitute keeper Adrian, but the league leaders held on for the win with Virgil van Dijk their hero.
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Dutch defender Van Dijk scored twice with his head midway through the first-half as Liverpool equalled their longest unbeaten run in the top flight: the 31 games they went without defeat between May 1987 and March 1988.
“Result-wise, it is an incredible period for sure,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. “But we don’t want to think about the last 14 games – we actually are concerned about the next one, which is on Wednesday against Everton and is a big one.”
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City drop more points
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Jonjo Shelvey scored a superb late equaliser to earn Newcastle a point at St James’ Park and further dent Man City’s hopes of catching Liverpool.
Last season’s Premier League champions have now dropped 11 points this campaign and are 11 points behind Liverpool.
Asked to account for what’s gone wrong at the Etihad this season, Pep Guardiola was at a loss, telling reporters: “We do the same work we have done over the last few seasons. We tried to score more goals but it did not happen.”
In Saturday’s 2-2 draw, City’s goals came from Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne but Jetro Willems’s first-half effort for the Magpies and Shelvey’s last-gasp screamer ensured Steve Bruce’s side shared the spoils.
“The players were magnificent in their work,” said Bruce, who described Shelvey’s goal as “magic”.
Foxes leave it late
Leicester City required the assistance of VAR to see off a spirited Everton 2-1 at the King Power Stadium, a win that means the Foxes are second and three points clear of Man City.
Richarlison gave the Toffees the lead midway during the first half but Jamie Vardy levelled on 68 minutes, and then Kelechi Iheanacho scored the stoppage-time winner - which required VAR to confirm he had been onside.
“The best teams have spirit,” said Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers. “This is a team that is so strong together.”
Many of the newspaper back pages report that the result leaves Everton boss Marco Silva “on the brink” of the sack.
Tottenham win again
Jose Mourinho continues to work his magic at Tottenham with the Lilywhites making it three wins from three since the Special One became manager.
No one seems to be enjoying life under the new boss more than Dele Alli, whose two goals were instrumental in helping Tottenham beat Bournemouth 3-2, a win that moves them to fifth in the table.
“He’s played three phenomenal matches since I arrived,” Mourinho said of Alli. “He plays in a position where he feels happy and comfortable. We also give him space for his creativity, which he always has.”
United down in ninth
In other results, a goal from Aaron Cresswell gave West Ham a 1-0 win at Chelsea and ended the Hammers’ seven-game winless run, while Manchester United were held 2-2 at home to Aston Villa.
The draw leaves United in ninth spot, eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
“We failed to control the game but we can’t do anything about that now,” admitted Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskajer. “These boys will improve and learn from this experience. As a club we don’t like to be in this position but that’s the reality.”
Arsenal show familiar failings in life after Unai Emery
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Amazon makes EPL debut
All of the midweek Premier League matches will be live on Amazon Prime Video. The online streaming service will show two EPL fixtures on Tuesday, six on Wednesday and two on Thursday.
Premier League results
- Newcastle United 2 Manchester City 2
- Burnley 0 Crystal Palace 2
- Chelsea 0 West Ham United 1
- Liverpool 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
- Tottenham Hotspur 3 AFC Bournemouth 2
- Southampton 2 Watford 1
- Norwich City 2 Arsenal 2
- Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Sheffield United 1
- Leicester City 2 Everton 1
- Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 2
Premier League fixtures
Tuesday 3 December
- Crystal Palace vs. AFC Bournemouth (7.30pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Burnley vs. Manchester City (8.15pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
Wednesday 4 December
- Chelsea vs. Aston Villa (7.30pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Leicester City vs. Watford (7.30pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur (7.30pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Southampton vs. Norwich City (7.30pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Ham United (7.30pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Liverpool vs. Everton (8.15pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
Thursday 5 December
- Sheffield United vs. Newcastle United (7.30pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Arsenal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (8.15pm, live on Amazon Prime Video)
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