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REUTERS: Champion Liverpool got back on the winning track in the Premier League with a close 2-1 win over Sheffield United, but their likely title rivals lost points on Saturday.
Diogo Jota’s header in the second half earned Liverpool a first win in three league games to lift them up alongside Merseyside rivals Everton, who play on Sunday.
Manchester City’s stuttering start continued as they drew 1-1 at West Ham United, while Manchester United and Chelsea played a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.
Crystal Palace moved into the top five by beating last club Fulham 2-1 on goals from Jairo Riedewald and Wilfried Zaha.
Liverpool had not conceded a penalty at their Anfield fortress for 67 Premier League matches. However, that streak came to an early end against Sheffield United as the VAR stated that Fabinho had fouled Oli McBurnie inside the area, despite referee Mike Dean having awarded a free kick outside the area.
Sander Berge sent Alisson, back on goal after injury, down the wrong path to put the visitors ahead and Liverpool lived dangerously before Roberto Firmino equalized in the 41st minute.
Jota’s header earned him all three points, but it was a fight in the rain for Juergen Klopp’s team, who looked restless in the back without the injured Virgil van Dijk.
For the second week in a row they also had legitimate complaints about the VAR.
“It’s good to win 2-0 or 3-0 in every game, but that only happens if, in games like this, we are ready to fight hard,” Klopp said. “On nights like this, you earn the right to win the others as well.
“The penalty was not even a foul. During a season there are so many different periods, we have had an injustice and we have had to play again.”
Manchester City fell behind Michail Antonio’s acrobatic debut at the London Stadium and only got better after the break when young Phil Foden replaced the injured Sergio Agüero.
Foden grabbed the tie and Raheem Sterling blew a glorious late opportunity when City became frustrated.
They are 12th with eight points from five games, their worst start to the season in the Premier League in six years.
“I’m not a guy who can predict the future. We have already lost seven points, which is a lot. But we have fought a lot for many reasons,” City manager Pep Guardiola said, adding that the recently returned Agüero could suffer an injury. in the hamstring.
While City languish in the middle of the table, their neighbor Manchester United is 15th with seven points from five games after their stalemate against Chelsea.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said both teams were showing the effects of their efforts on weekdays in the Champions League, not helped by an empty stadium. Although United were able to call Edinson Cavani for his debut.
“It was two teams that played in Europe this week and it showed,” he said. “If that Stretford End was full, we could get that ball over the line. It’s a different sport with the fans here. We miss them. It’s the same for all the teams, but everyone agrees there’s a little less in it, the advantage is gone. “
United avoided a third straight home loss at home at the start of a season for the first time since 1930, although they were lucky when Harry Maguire was saved with what looked like a foul inside the penalty area on Cesar Azpilicueta in the first half.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
