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Liverpool held in Newcastle thriller, Arsenal inflict Amorim's first defeat

olympic games paris 202404 December 2024 23:27| © AFP
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Liverpool's Premier League lead was cut to seven points by Arsenal and Chelsea after the Reds conceded a 90th-minute equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday.

Chelsea thrashed 10-man Southampton 5-1 to go second on goal difference ahead of Arsenal, who beat Manchester United 2-0.

Manchester City snapped their seven-game winless run by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 to go fourth.

Mohamed Salah's second-half double was not enough to extend Liverpool's seven-game winning run in all competitions as they failed to win for just the third time in 21 games under Arne Slot.

Twice the league leaders were forced to come from behind at St James' Park as Alexander Isak blasted Newcastle into a 1-0 halftime lead.

Curtis Jones levelled before Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle's lead.

Salah twice converted Trent Alexander-Arnold assists to turn the game around, taking his tally for the season to 15 goals.

However, there was a late sting in the tale as a rare error from Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher allowed Fabian Schar to squeeze in a late equaliser for the Magpies.

"He has done remarkably well for us and even today he was good. Unfortunately, he misjudged the situation," Liverpool boss Slot said of Kelleher's blunder.

ARSENAL TAKE ADVANTAGE

Arsenal took full advantage by inflicting Ruben Amorim's first defeat as Manchester United boss.

Once again the Gunners were able to rely on their prowess from set-pieces to get the job done.

Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock, heading in Declan Rice's corner nine minutes into the second half.

William Saliba did not know much about the second, as he diverted in Thomas Partey's header from Bukayo Saka's corner, but the Frenchman did not care as Arsenal had the breathing space they craved.

A fourth consecutive win in all competitions confirmed Arsenal's return to form and applied a little pressure on Liverpool.

"A special day. It's a joy to play in this stadium with that energy, it's something incredible," Arteta said.

"We scored two set-pieces, but we could've scored from open play many more."

Amorim added: "The set-pieces killed the game. They can put a lot of players near the goalkeeper and it's almost impossible to fight for the ball.

"We already know we have to be better."

Chelsea put bottom-of-the-table Southampton to the sword at St Mary's even before the hosts were reduced to 10 men when Jack Stephens pulled Marc Cucurella's hair.

Axel Disasi's early opener for the Blues was cancelled out by Joe Aribo.

But Christopher Nkunku pounced on sloppy Southampton passing from the back to make it 2-1 before Noni Madueke added a third.

Stephens then saw red in a bizarre incident as he jostled with Cucurella from a Saints corner.

Cole Palmer made sure he got in on the act with Chelsea's fourth before Jadon Sancho's first goal since his loan move from Manchester United rounded off the scoring.

DE BRUYNE EASES MAN CITY CRISIS

City bounced back from their barren run thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's return to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly three months.

The Belgian teed up Bernardo Silva for the opening goal before firing in the second himself.

Jeremy Doku sealed a much-needed three points for Pep Guardiola's men, who are now nine off the top.

"Definitely we needed that after many games without winning," Guardiola said.

"Kevin De Bruyne was excellent. When he's fit he's so important for us. It's just one game but it was important to break this run."

Aston Villa ended their eight-game run without a win with a dominant first-half display to beat Brentford 3-1.

Morgan Rogers' wonder strike, Ollie Watkins' penalty and Matty Cash's effort made it 3-0 inside 34 minutes before Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard got one back.

Everton thrashed Wolves 4-0 thanks to two Craig Dawson own goals in a huge clash at the bottom of the table.

Ashley Young and Orel Mangala put the Toffees 2-0 up at halftime, before Dawson's goals twice rubbed salt in Wolves' wounds after the break.

Victory lifts Everton five points clear of the relegation zone, while Wolves sink to 19th.

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