Man City maintain pressure on Liverpool, Spurs seal dramatic win

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There were goals galore in the Premier League at the weekend as Liverpool conceded an unlikely three goals at Anfield, but still won by virtue of scoring four themselves against Crystal Palace.

Palace's veteran third-choice goalkeeper, Julian Speroni, had an afternoon he would rather forget, but which he will probably remember for a long time. Making his first team appearance in 14 months, Speroni was at fault for Mohamed Salah's second of the game to put Liverpool back in front with the scores tied 2-2 in the second half.

Liverpool had James Milner set off for two yellow cards close to the end, but with coach Jurgen Klopp punching the air in triumph after the final whistle, Liverpool's title charge continues.

Sadio Mane (R) of Liverpool scores the fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, United Kingdom, January 19, 2019. /VCG Photo

Manchester City played on Sunday and the only surprise about their 3-0 win away to bottom of the table and manager-less Huddersfield Town, was that the margin of victory wasn't greater as Danilo, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane sealed the three points by the 56th minute.

With Son Heung-min in the Asian Cup and Harry Kane out for a month with an ankle injury, the responsibility was on Fernando Llorente to provide the goals for Tottenham Hotspur away to Fulham and the Spaniard duly obliged. The problem was he scored an own goal for Fulham, although Dele Ali's equalizer and Harry Wink's late header sealed a vital 2-1 win for Spurs that also dents Fulham's survival hopes.

Ryan Babel (C) of Fulham leaps above players of Tottenham Hotspur to head the ball at Craven Cottage, London, UK, January 20, 2019. /VCG Photo

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri complained that his players were hard to motivate in the wake of their 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal on Saturday, but perhaps he should also remember that Arsenal have Mesut Ozil on the bench.

The Italian coach failed to do himself any favors either by isolating Eden Hazzard as a central striker, when the tricky Belgian is much better suited to a wide role.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no such motivational problems at Manchester United, where Saturday's 2-1 win at home to a slightly unlucky Brighton means he beat the great Sir Matt Busby's record for the best ever start as Manchester United coach.

Marcos Rashford's goal and a Paul Pogba penalty meant Solskjaer became the third ever Premier League coach to start with six consecutive wins (the others being Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola).

Fabian Schar scored a hat-trick for Newcastle United in their 3-0 win at home to Cardiff, although the atmosphere in St James' Park was toxic against club owner Mike Ashley and his continued reluctance to strengthen a threadbare Newcastle squad.

Cardiff City's Oumar Niasse battles for ball with Newcastle United's Fabian Schar (R) during their Premier League match at St. James's Park, Newcastle, UK, January 19, 2019. /VCG Photo

Ralph Hasenhuttle continues to work his magic at Southampton who beat Everton 2-1 at Saint Mary's as Everton's Lucas Digne scored a bizarre own goal to help the Southampton revival.

Burnley keeper Tom Heaten was on top form as his side continued their recovery with a 0-0 draw at Watford and Diogo Jota netted a hat-trick, with the last goal coming in injury time, as Wolves beat Leicester City 4-3.

Leicester City coach Claude Puel is under increasing pressure, but his side's comedy defending played a part in nearly every one of the Wolves goals.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency