Liverpool churned out another big victory when they thumped Southampton 4-0 to close in on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League on Saturday, while former skipper Steven Gerrard enjoyed a second consecutive win as Aston Villa manager.
Liverpool have now scored 39 times in 13 league games this season after Diogo Jota’s double and goals by Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk eased them past Southampton at Anfield.
Juergen Klopp’s side have scored at least twice in 17 consecutive games in all competitions, the first English top-flight side to achieve that since Sunderland in 1927.
Villa followed up their win over Brighton & Hove Albion last week in Gerrard’s first game in charge with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace, with Matt Targett and John McGinn scoring.
Newcastle United’s new manager Eddie Howe took his place on the touchline for the first time after missing last week’s draw against Brentford because of a positive COVID-19 test, but saw his side lose 2-0 away at Arsenal.
Goals by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sealed the points for fifth-placed Arsenal to move them level on 23 points with fourth-placed West Ham United who face champions Manchester City on Sunday.
For bottom club Newcastle, now winless in 13 games and with only six points to show for their season so far, the relegation fears show no sign of easing.
Newcastle’s next two games — at home to fellow strugglers Norwich City and Burnley — could define their season.
“We can only do our talking on the pitch and try to fight back,” said Howe, whose side are six points from the safety zone.
“Of course it’s difficult enough in the Premier League when you’re fighting for points but with a big deficit it’s very difficult.”
Second-from-bottom Norwich failed to make it three wins in a row as they drew 0-0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers but they moved level on nine points with 18th-placed Burnley.
Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League was cut to a point after they were held at home by Manchester United while rivals Manchester City beat West Ham United 2-1 on Sunday.
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea have 30 points from 13 games with City on 29 points and Liverpool, who beat Southampton 4-0 on Saturday, are a further point behind.
Chelsea dominated the first half, with United sitting deep and tight with three defensive midfielders in front of a back four without the suspended Harry Maguire and injured Raphael Varane.
Jorginho made amends though when he converted from the spot after a wild challenge from Aaron Wan-Bissaka on Thiago Silva led to a penalty.
“I am absolutely happy with the performance,” Chelsea boss Tuchel said. “We dominated from the first minute, we were aggressive and never stopped attacking… We have to swallow the result. We played very well and I am happy.”
United are expected, in the coming days, to appoint former RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick as their manager until the end of the season and Carrick was disappointed with Sunday’s result.
“When you’re in front in a game like this, to have it taken away from you is disappointing,” he said.
“I’m immensely proud of the players, it’s been a tough week and some difficult moments for us all but I’m proud of the response.”
THICK SNOW
Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan struck in the midst of a first-half snowstorm before a late goal from substitute Fernandinho proved enough to secure a 2-1 win over West Ham.
With thick snow falling for most of the opening half, City took the lead when Riyad Mahrez drove the ball across the goal and Gundogan was on hand to steer it home in the 33rd minute.
The snowstorm abated at halftime and an army of groundstaff cleared the pitch. City continued to dominate but it took them until the 90th minute to score again when Gabriel Jesus set up Fernandinho to net three minutes after he came off the bench.
Manuel Lanzini grabbed a superb added-time goal, with a fine shot into the top corner, for David Moyes’ West Ham who are fourth in the table on 23 points.
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City beat Watford 4-2 amid heavy snowfall which reduced visibility and made playing conditions difficult at the King Power Stadium.
The match began in relatively clear conditions and Leicester took an early lead from a Watford error when William Troost-Ekong ducked under a long ball, allowing Leicester’s James Maddison to sneak in behind and beat keeper Daniel Bachmann.
Watford levelled 14 minutes later after Emmanuel Dennis was tripped in the box by Wilfred Ndidi and Joshua King made no mistake in beating Kasper Schmeichel from the spot.
But as the snowfall got heavier, Jamie Vardy fired the home side ahead with two goals in eight minutes, both created by Maddison, first chipping the onrushing Bachmann before cleverly heading home from the near post at a corner kick.
A blanket of snow turned the lush green pitch white in the second half and as the visibility fell, Dennis nicked the ball off a back-tracking Timothy Castagne on the hour mark to go one-on-one with Schmeichel, making it 3-2 with a controlled finish.
However, Leicester restored their two-goal cushion minutes later when Harvey Barnes skipped forward on a counter-attack and squared the ball for Ademola Lookman to tap into an empty net.
Tottenham Hotspur’s game at Burnley was postponed after heavy snow before kickoff made the pitch unplayable.
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