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PICS: Liverpool go top after hard-fought win over West Ham

November 01, 2020

Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.

IMAGE: Diogo Jota, right, celebrates scoring Liverpool's second goal against West Ham United in the Premier League match, at Anfield, on Saturday. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Reuters

Liverpool moved clear at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Ham United, while Chelsea and Manchester City also enjoyed victories on Saturday.

 

Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 scoreline at winless Burnley while City edged Sheffield United 1-0 away with full back Kyle Walker scoring against his former club.

Liverpool are top on 16 points, three more than local rivals Everton who visit Newcastle United on Sunday.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, who beat Crystal Place 2-0 on Friday, are third, also on 13 points, while Chelsea have moved up to fourth, level with Aston Villa and Leicester City on 12.

Juergen Klopp's Liverpool side still look far from their best but will be encouraged that they extended their unbeaten home tally to a club record-equalling 63 games despite being below par and missing several regular starters.

Pablo Fornals took advantage of a poor header from Joe Gomez to fire West Ham ahead in the 10th minute but the champions drew level just before the break when Mohamed Salah was fouled in the area by Arthur Masuaku and the Egyptian converted from the spot.

Diogo Jota had an effort ruled out but then grabbed the winner when fellow substitute Xherdan Shaqiri found him with a perfect pass and the Portuguese made no mistake with his third goal in as many home games for the Merseyside club.

Walker takes Manchester City past his boyhood club

IMAGE: Manchester City's Kyle Walker celebrates with teammate Joao Cancelo after scoring against Sheffield United during their Premier League match, at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, on Saturday. Photograph: Tim Keeton - Pool/Getty Images

Manchester City beat Sheffield United 1-0 at Bramall Lane on Saturday with Kyle Walker scoring against his boyhood club to extend the home side's winless start to the Premier League season to seven games.

Walker, who was raised in Sheffield and came through the Blades' youth system, marked his 100th league appearance for City with a goal in the first half and refused to celebrate.

The 30-year-old full back collected the ball outside the box and let loose an angled low drive into the bottom corner that skidded across the wet turf and beat the outstretched hand of Blades goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

"I'm happy to get on the scoresheet... United are well drilled and it's a tough team to come and break down but luckily I came up with a goal, through the bodies," Walker told BT Sport.

"My mum and dad live here, so if I celebrated I'd probably get a lot of stick. I'm a Sheffield United fan, so I couldn't."

Ferran Torres, leading the City line in the absence of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, had the opportunity to double the lead from long range when Ramsdale came racing off his line but his effort was hit straight at the goalkeeper.

But despite their domination, City could not make their numerous chances count.

United nearly levelled in the 70th minute when Sander Berge shrugged off two defenders in a mazy run to the byline before a pull-back into the box, only for John Lundstram to fire his shot over the crossbar.

The result moved City up to seventh in the standings, two points behind league leaders Everton, while United languish in 19th with just one point.

"We played very well. We struggled for goals given the chances we created," City boss Pep Guardiola said.

"They had one clear chance, no more than that. It was our third game away in seven days, so we are in a better position now, two games before an international break."

Ziyech shines as Chelsea trounce Burnley

IMAGE: Hakim Ziyech scores Chelsea's opening goal during the Premier League match against Burnley at Turf Moor, in Burnley, on Saturday. Photograph: Oli Scarff - Pool/Getty Images

Hakim Ziyech shined and Kurt Zouma and Timo Werner were also on target as Chelsea enjoyed an easy 3-0 win at struggling Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.

Chelsea, who had a long trip to Krasnodar in Russia in midweek, made five changes from Wednesday's Champions League starting line-up and made a bright start at Turf Moor.

The impressive Ziyech drilled the ball home in the 26th minute from the edge of the box, after a smart passing move from Frank Lampard's team, to claim his first league goal for the club.

Burnley, who are without a win and have just a single point from their opening six games, struggled to cause any real problems for the Chelsea defence and manager Sean Dyche threw on an extra striker at the break with Jay Rodriguez coming on.

While that gave Burnley more of an attacking presence, Chelsea comfortably dealt with early second half pressure from the Clarets and then extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Zouma thundered in a header from a Mason Mount corner.

The outcome was put beyond any doubt when Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood's pass was intercepted by Reece James and Ziyech did well to feed Werner, the German confidently beating Nick Pope from inside the area.

Chelsea substitute Olivier Giroud had an effort ruled out for offside as the visitors looked to add to their tally.

Source: REUTERS
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