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United KingdomSunday’s Premier League action produced wins for Liverpool and Bournemouth, both of results could have big implications at different ends of the table. If you missed it here is a recap of Saturday’s action.
Here is what happened in Sunday’s thrilling clashes:
The game was billed as a potential thriller and it certainly lived up to its billing. The game was simply scintillating, as the Merseysiders ended the Citizens 22 game unbeaten run in the league this season.
The home side were ahead on nine minutes. Roberto Firmino found Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 20 yards from goal and the midfielder beat Ederson with a low drive. The Citizens equalised five minutes before the break.
City produced a typical patient build-up that resulted in Leroy Sane firing past Loris Karius at his near post. The German goalkeeper will have been disappointed to have been beaten at his near post.
Both teams had chances in the early stages of the second half. However, the home side struck next, just before the hour mark. Roberto Firmino was too strong for John Stones, advanced on goal and chipped the ball over an advancing Ederson into the net.
Sadio Mane struck the post before scoring Liverpool’s third on 61 minutes. The Senegalese international produced a good solo run, before hitting a powerful shot past Ederson from the edge of the area.
The Reds were not finished yet, though and scored their fourth on 68 minutes. Ederson rushed out to clear a through-ball and the ball bounced to Mohamed Salah, who clipped the ball back into an empty net from long-range.
Bernardo Silva looked to have got the Citizens back in the game scoring at the back post with just six minutes left on the clock. German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan poked home a third for City in the first minute of stoppage-time to make it a very nervy finish. However, City could not find an equaliser and Liverpool recorded a famous win.
The victory means that the Reds moved above Chelsea into third place. The Merseysiders are now only behind second-place Manchester United because of an inferior goal difference. The defeat is unlikely to mean much to the Citizens in terms of winning the title. Pep Guardiola’s side are still 15 points clear at the top of the table, although Manchester United can cut that to 12 points when the Red Devils host Stoke City at Old Trafford this evening.
A major talking point prior to this clash was Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez’s omission from the Gunners squad with speculation that the Chilean is set for an imminent move elsewhere. Arsenal went down to a galling defeat without the forward.
After a goalless first half, Arsenal took the lead seven minutes into the second period, through an unlikely source right wing-back Hector Bellerin, as the Spaniard latched onto an Alex Iwobi through-ball before firing into the net via the hand of Cherries ‘keeper Asmir Begovic.
However, the Cherries hot back with just 20 minutes remaining. Ryan Fraser played a hopeful cross into the box from deep and Callum Wilson got in ahead of Petr Cech to poke home the equaliser.
Wilson was involved in the winner four minutes later too. The striker looked to be coming back from an offside position when he cushioned the ball down to Jordon Ibe, whose powerful effort from inside the box found its way past Cech.
The defeat was a massive one for Eddie Howe’s side. The three points moved the Cherries up to 13th place in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone. Arsenal are now eight points behind fourth-place Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.
Will defeat at Liverpool derail Manchester City’s season?
