EPL: Liverpool held, Everton lose again

Liverpool had been held to a 1-1 draw at Brighton after conceding a VAR-inspired stoppage-time penalty whereas Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick in Manchester City’s 5-Zero crushing of Burnley within the Premier League on Saturday. Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton suffered their fourth defeat in 5 video games after a Raphinha objective gave Leeds United a 1-Zero win at Goodison Park.

West Bromwich Albion celebrated their first win of the season as they beat backside staff Sheffield United 1-Zero to maneuver out of the underside three after Conor Gallagher scored his maiden Premier League objective. Liverpool moved prime of the desk, for a day at the least, opening up a one-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur who’re at Chelsea on Sunday.

But Juergen Klopp’s staff, crushed by Atalanta within the Champions League on Wednesday, had been left raging towards VAR after they’d two targets dominated out by critiques and noticed two factors slip away when referee Stuart Attwell awarded a penalty close to the top after going to the pitchside monitor.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Pascal Gross slotted dwelling his spot- kick after Attwell determined to punish Andy Robertson for kicking the foot of Danny Welbeck whereas clearing. Liverpool had taken the lead by means of a well-taken strike from in-form Diogo Jota, the Portuguese ahead’s ninth objective in all competitions since becoming a member of the champions from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Mohamed Salah had a objective chalked off for offside by VAR and substitute Sadio Mane had a positive header disallowed after a assessment noticed he had been offside. While Klopp accepted the VAR choices – selecting as a substitute to vent his frustration on the tv broadcasters’ resolution to make his staff play within the early Saturday recreation – skipper Jordan Henderson mentioned he wish to see the know-how eliminated.

“I don’t want to speak for anybody else but in my opinion I would (scrap VAR)” Henderson mentioned. “I just want to play football as normal,” mentioned the England midfielder.

Manchester City additionally had a objective dominated out by VAR however could have barely cared given they’d already taken a 5-Zero lead by the point Gabriel Jesus’s effort was overturned. It was the fourth straight 5-Zero win for City towards Burnley on the Etihad and Sean Dyche’s aspect had been lucky to go away with that scoreline.

SLACK DEFENDING

Slack defending from the Clarets allowed Mahrez to attain twice early within the recreation – each occasions together with his trademark transfer in from the flank adopted by a left-foot shot into the far nook. Benjamin Mendy headed within the third objective earlier than the break and Ferran Torres added the fourth earlier than Mahrez accomplished his hat-trick with a uncommon header. City had managed simply 10 targets in eight video games earlier than Saturday’s rout and supervisor Pep Guardiola was relieved.

“We have to score, that’s why they are here and play up front. The most important thing now is we have almost 21 players fit,” he mentioned.

Brazilian winger Raphinha scored his first objective for Leeds United in one other recreation which noticed targets disallowed. Everton’s James Rodriguez and Richarlison had the ball within the internet however each efforts had been dominated out for offside, and Leeds striker Patrick Bamford suffered the same destiny. Raphinha gave the impression to be searching for a go however he checked again, driving the ball between the legs of defender Ben Godfrey and in on the foot of the far publish within the 79th minute.

The two groups managed 38 objective makes an attempt in an incident-packed match and the win moved Leeds to 11th place within the desk on 14 factors. Everton are in sixth place on 16 factors.

“This is a more difficult period,” mentioned Ancelotti, “In a difficult period you can see how your players react – see their personality and character. I still have confidence. We need more consistency.”

In the late recreation, Gallagher netted an opportunist 13th-minute winner for West Brom as Sheffield United missed a string of possibilities in an action-packed match.