Luis Díaz scored two superb goals in two minutes as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-0 to move top of the Premier League on Saturday (21 September 2024).
Arne Slot’s side lead Manchester City only on goal difference and the defending champions need a draw at home to Arsenal in Sunday’s big game to reclaim first place.
On a rare quiet day for team-mate Mohamed Salah in front of goal, Díaz scored with both legs to showcase his own finishing skills at Anfield.
The Colombian striker chased down a long pass from defender Ibrahima Konaté, controlled the ball well on his wrist as he spun, then slipped past goalkeeper Kepa before sliding the ball into the bottom left corner in the 28th minute.
It was with the right foot, and the second goal on the left in the 30th.
Liverpool broke from midfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold charged forward before laying the ball to Díaz on the left side of the penalty area and he slotted it neatly past Kepa.
Darwin Núñez scored a good third in the 37th. Collecting the ball on the right he looked to cross, before changing his mind and firing a good shot at the left post.
A win would move Newcastle to the top of the league but they lost at Fulham 3-1 to drop to sixth place.
Fulham took an early lead through Raúl Jiménez’s shot into the bottom right corner and a howler by goalkeeper Nick Pope gifted Fulham’s Emile Smith Rowe a second in the 22nd minute.
Harvey Barnes pulled one back after half-time but Reiss Nelson sealed the win in stoppage time.
England striker Ollie Watkins made the save as Aston Villa bounced back to beat Wolverhampton 3-1 in a fiery derby to move into third place.
A terrific pass from Diego Carlos gave Matheus Cunha the opening goal.
Villa struggled to create anything against a winless side before Watkins made it 73 with his fourth goal in three games.
Ezri Konsa fired in a cross by Youri Tielemans in the 88th and Jhon Duran lived up to his super-sub reputation by netting in stoppage time. It was the fourth time this season that the Colombian forward had come off the bench to score.
There was almost 15 minutes of stoppage time at Villa Park due to the long delay, while Colombia defender Yerson Mosquera was treated for an injury before being taken off on a stretcher.
Villa are level on points with City but different on goals, with two points ahead of Chelsea.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson marked his 50th appearance for the club with two early goals to inspire his side to a 3-0 win at West Ham.
Jackson added an assist for Cole Palmer against a poor West Ham side who were booed at the end of the match by the home fans. New West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after his third defeat.
Chelsea’s three league wins have all come away from home.
Chelsea scored in the fourth minute when Jackson played a one-two with Jadon Sancho and advanced forward before cutting in from the left and firing between the legs of goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Jackson doubled his lead for the 18th after latching on to Moises Caicedo’s through ball and drilling into the bottom left corner. He was the provider in the 47th for Palmer, who shot to the left.
Tottenham bounced back to beat Brentford 3-1 after Bryan Mbuemo scored in the first minute for the visitors.
Dominic Solanke leveled from close range on seven minutes after James Maddison’s shot was saved.
Brennan Johnson put Spurs 2-1 up in the 28th with a pass from captain Son Heung-Min, who set up Maddison’s late goal.
Manchester United remain in midtable after wasting numerous chances in a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.
After United winger Alejandro Garnacho saved an early effort, defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez saw efforts saved by goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Midway through the first half, Garnacho hit the crossbar and midfielder Bruno Fernandes did the same when he followed.
The result leaves United in 11th and Palace in 16th.
Southampton were denied their first win when visiting Ipswich scored in the fifth minute of injury time to draw 1-1.
Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved Dara O’Shea’s header but Ipswich captain Sam Morsy scored from the next corner with a fine 20-yard strike.
Veteran midfielder Adam Lallana set up 18-year-old midfielder Tyler Dibling for Southampton, who are in 18th place.
Everton leaked again in their 1-1 draw at Leicester, where heavy rain delayed the start of the second half by six minutes.
Everton had lost their previous two matches despite leading 2-0.
This time leading 1-0 through Iliman Ndiaye’s goal in the 12th minute only for striker Stephy Mavididi to equalize in 73rd place and leave Everton in 19th place.
Published – 22 September 2024 12:44 IST
