Sports

Liverpool edge West Ham 2-1 to go top of Premier League

Sports Desk, Oct 31 (efe-epa).- Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool came from behind Saturday to beat West Ham United 2-1 and vault over Merseyside rivals Everton into first place.

Playing without injured best-in-the-world center back Virgil van Dijk as well as his erstwhile replacement, Fabinho, the Reds fell behind early against the Hammers.

A poor clearance by Joe Gomez set up an easy goal for Pablo Fornals in the 10th minute.

Liverpool, who would end the match with 73 percent possession, took charge after conceding, yet their equalizer came just three minutes before the break as the result of a foolish foul by Arthur Masuaku against Mohammed Salah.

There wasn’t a lot of contact, but the Egyptian made the most of it. The referee pointed to the spot and Salah converted to level the contest at 1-1.

The teams were still deadlocked with 20 minutes left in regulation when Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp made what turned out to be an inspired double-substitution: replacing Curtis Jones and Roberto Firmino with Xherdan Shaqiri and Diogo Jota.

The subs combined in the 85th minute to produce the game-winning goal. Shaqiri got the ball to an unmarked Jota and the Portugal international put it past West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski, who had come off his line.

Unbeaten at Anfield in their last 63 Premier League matches, Liverpool are on 16 points, 3 more than Everton, who are away to Newcastle United on Sunday.

Coming off draws in their last two league games, Chelsea were impressive Saturday in a 3-0 victory over struggling Burnley at a windy Turf Moor in the northwest of England.

The Blues dominated possession and put nine shots on target to none for the hosts. Even so, they led only 1-0 at half-time on Hakim Ziyech’s goal in the 26th minute.

Burnley remained within a goal until the 63rd minute, when Kurt Zouma headed-in Mason Mount’s corner. Timo Werner drove in the final nail seven minutes later with an assist from Ziyech.

The result lifted Chelsea to 12 points and they sit fourth behind Liverpool, Everton and Wolverhampton. Burnley, with just a point after six matches, are bottom of the Premier League.

Saturday’s action began in Sheffield, where United faced Manchester City.

The newly promoted Blades were the sensation of the Premier League last season, nearly qualifying for European play, but have yet to win a game in the current campaign.

Predictably, City had the lion’s share of the ball and took the lead in the 28th minute with a goal by Kyle Walker, not long after Sheffield keeper Aaron Ramsdale denied Ferran Torres on a free kick.

The visitors went on to create another half-dozen chances, but failed to capitalize on any of them and Sheffield, despite some moment of quality, never really tested Ederson in the City goal.

Man City increased their point total to 11, enough for 8th place. Sheffield are 18th with a point. EFE

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