Liverpool beat Man City to open up eight-point lead

Liverpool got a major victory against Manchester City 3-1 thanks to goals from Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in an exhilarating encounter which had a touch of VAR controversy.

In the early season potential title decider, Jurgen Klopp’s side inflicted a third league defeat on Pep Guardiola’s City who dropped to fourth on the log and are nine points behind the pace setters.

The win continues Liverpool’s dominance over City at Anfield, a ground where the visitors have not won in 16 years.

It also extends the Reds’ unbeaten league run to 29 games, and they have also not lost in 46 home games — the longest in Premier League history.

Claudio Bravo started in goal for Man City in the absence of injured regular, Ederson Moraes, behind a defence that included midfielder, Fernandinho.

Liverpool, on the other hand, had a full squad, Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino leading the attack.

Liverpool drew first blood in the fifth minute through Fabinho in a controversial passage of play.

Trent Alexander-Arnold seemed to have been touched in the box but Liverpool continued on the break and the Brazilian midfielder unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard strike which was approved by VAR.

Liverpool doubled their advantage ten minutes later through Mo’ Salah, minutes after Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero had wasted good openings. The Anfield favourite headed Andy Robertson’s cross in at the far post for a 2-0 lead.

The Reds started the second half same way they began the first with a third goal — a replica of the second — scored at the back post by Mane on 52 minutes.

The Senegal international ghosted in to head Jordan Henderson’s cross beyond Bravo for his seventh league goal.

City scored a consolation goal 12 minutes from time through Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder swept home a first-time shot at the near post to give the Champions a glimmer of hope.

Ndidi stars as Leicester guns down Arsenal

In other games of the weekend, Wilfred Ndidi played a starring role in Leicester City’s 2-0 win over Unai Emery’s Arsenal.

The 22-year-old ball-winning midfielder hit the bar and was heavily involved in the move for the second goal scored by James Maddison. Jamie Vardy scored the first goal of the game, his 11th of the season making him the leading scorer in the league.

The win puts the Foxes joint second with Chelsea on 26 points from 12 games.

The Blues continued their impressive season under rookie coach, Frank Lampard, despite the transfer ban with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

The win, their sixth straight win in the premier league, was engineered by goals from young forward, Tammy Abraham — his 10th of the season — and tricky American winger, Christian Pulisic, against the stubborn Palace side.

Results

Norwich City 0-2 Watford

Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace

Southampton 1-2 Everton

Newcastle United 2-1 Bournemouth

Burnley 3-0 West Ham United

Tottenham 1-1 Sheffield United

Leicester City 2-0 Arsenal

Wolves 2-1 Aston Villa

Manchester United 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City