Liverpool climbed to second in the Premier League after goals from Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino earned them a 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield on Sunday.
LIVERPOOL climbed to second in the Premier League after goals from Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino earned them a 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield on Sunday.
The win moved Juergen Klopp’s side above Chelsea in the table and 11 points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand. City beat Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday.
Liverpool, without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane who are playing at the African Cup of Nations, had struggled to open up a determined Brentford defence but broke through a minute before the interval when a corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold bounced to the back post and was nodded home by Fabinho.
The London side continued to prove resilient opponents, staying in the contest until the 69th minute when Oxlade-Chamberlain stooped at the back post to head in a wonderful cross from Andy Robertson.
Substitute Minamino wrapped up the win, tapping home after Brentford’s attempt to play out from the back was intercepted by Roberto Firmino who set up the Japanese forward for a simple finish.
West Ham United meanwhile squandered a chance to cement fourth spot as they lost 3-2 at home to Leeds United on Sunday with Jack Harrison scoring a hat-trick for the visitors.
After three successive wins West Ham had the chance to open up a five-point gap between themselves and fifth-placed Arsenal whose game at Tottenham Hotspur was postponed.
But Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, missing seven players through injury or suspension, had other ideas.
Harrison opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a curled finish but Jarrod Bowen equalised with a header in the 34th minute – his fourth goal in his last three games.
Harrison touched in after good work by Luke Ayling three minutes later to give Leeds the half-time lead.
When Pablo Fornals levelled again with a precise finish seven minutes after the break it seemed West Ham would go and win but Leeds responded in magnificent fashion.
Harrison’s deft finish after dazzling play by Raphinha restored their lead and Raphinha rattled the woodwork with a superb free kick before Leeds had an effort by Mateusz Klich ruled out for a harsh offside.
The win lifted Leeds to 15th, nine points above the relegation zone.
– REUTERS
