Liverpool trash Manchester City, Chelsea, United win as Arsenal lose

Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool recorded an emphatic 4-1 victory away at Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

Eliaquim Mangala passed the ball beyond Joe Hart to give Liverpool the lead through an early own-goal, before Roberto Firmino set up Philippe Coutinho for a neat second.

Coutinho returned the favour to his fellow Brazilian a little after the half-hour mark, as the dominant visitors further extended their advantage.

City pulled a goal back through a superb strike from Sergio Aguero a couple of minutes prior to the interval but Liverpool resisted the hosts’ second-half attempts to rescue a point, eventually sealing victory when Martin Skrtel fired past Hart.

On a negative note for Liverpool, though, a hamstring strain forced Coutinho off midway through the second half, and boss Jurgen Klopp will be desperate not to lose his influential linchpin to a lengthy lay-off.

The result leaves City third, behind second-placed Manchester United and shock leaders Leicester City.

Leicester’s fairy-tale run this season continued with a 3-0 victory away to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

League top-scorer, Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for Claudio Ranieri’s side before Jose Leonardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki put the game beyond the reach of the Magpies.

Manchester United leapfrogged “noisy neighbour”, City, to second on the log thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Hornets skipper, Troy Deeney, turned from hero to villain when he scored a 90th minute own goal, three minutes after cancelling Memphis Depay early strike from the spots.

Diego Costa scored his fourth of the season to help Chelsea end their three-game losing streak and ease the pressure on boss Jose Mourinho.

The Blues triumphed 1-0 against Norwich City at Stamford Bridge to move to 14 points but remain 15th on the log.

At the Hawthorns, West Brom came from behind to stun Arsenal 2-1.

Hector Bellerin’s opened the scoring for the Gunners before James Morrison and a Mikel Arteta own goal sealed the game for the Baggies.

The defeat means Arsene Wenger’s team slips to fourth on the log – equal on points with third-place City.