Premier League title race hots up with Liverpool, Chelsea, City wins

Sports Desk, Dec 1 (EFE).- Mohamed Salah had a brace Wednesday to power Liverpool 4-1 over Everton as the Reds kept pace with leaders Chelsea and defending champions Manchester City in what promises to be a riveting title race.

The triumph at Goodison Park lifted Jürgen Klopp’s men to 31 points, 1 behind City and 2 less than Chelsea.

Unbeaten in the last three Merseyside derbies, 14th-place Everton lost to the Reds at Goodison for only the second time in 10 years and saw their winless run stretch to eight matches.

The visitors jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with goals by Jordan Henderson in the 9th minute and Salah just 10 minutes later, but Demarai Gray clawed one back for the Toffees in the 38th minute to raise the hopes of the Everton supporters.

Salah exploited a mistake by Seamus Coleman to complete the double in the 64th minute and Diogo Jota added a fourth goal with 11 minutes left.

In Watford, the Hornets made Chelsea earn the 3 points in a contest that was interrupted for 30 minutes as medical staff stabilized a spectator who suffered a heart attack before loading him onto an ambulance.

Mason Mount put the Blues ahead in the 29th minute only to see Emmanuel Dennis level for the hosts a few minutes before the break.

Chelsea reclaimed the lead in the 72nd minute with a goal from sub Hakim Ziyech, assisted by Mount, and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy tipped Juraj Kucka’s free kick over the cross-bar in stoppage time to seal the victory.

The Blues climbed to 33 points. Watford are 17th, 3 points above the drop zone.

Reigning champions Man City are on 32 points after besting Aston Villa 2-1 in Birmingham as Steven Gerrard suffered his first defeat since taking charge as coach.

The visiting side dominated from the start and led 2-0 at half-time on goals by Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva. But Ollie Watkins halved the deficit just two minutes into the second period and City found themselves with a game on their hands.

Villa flew forward and it took a good stop by Ederson to prevent 18-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka from bringing the hosts level in the 74th minute. EFE msg/dr