Premier League roundup: Liverpool win thanks to Alisson penalty save, Chelsea drop points
Liverpool - West Ham 1-0
Liverpool made it back-to-back Premier League wins, overcoming West Ham United to rise to seventh.
The Reds are now unbeaten in 29 league games at Anfield, ending the Hammers’ three-game undefeated run in the process.
Looking to build on their impressive victory over Manchester City at the weekend, Liverpool began this encounter on the front foot. Darwin Nunez tested Lukasz Fabianski from range before putting his side ahead with little over 20 minutes played.
The Uruguayan attacked Kostas Tsimikas’ searching cross, heading into the ground to loop the ball beyond Fabianski’s reach. Nunez continued to threaten, striking the post on the half-volley after several efforts from Mohamed Salah had failed to do the trick.
Looking set to take a one-goal lead into the break, Liverpool conceded a clumsy penalty when Joe Gomez bundled over Jarrod Bowen, but Alisson guessed correctly to deny Bowen and preserve his clean sheet.
A subdued Anfield watched on as the second period struggled to get out of first gear. With an hour gone, Roberto Firmino saw his close-range shot diverted wide after a smart pull-back from Jordan Henderson, keeping the contest within the visitors’ grasp.
Sensing just that, David Moyes brought on Michail Antonio to play alongside Gianluca Scamacca, yet Liverpool almost instantly doubled their advantage as Curtis Jones’ fired through a sea of bodies.
The hosts had racked up the shots to this point, but it was Kurt Zouma who almost sealed all three points for Liverpoool, inadvertently toeing Henderson’s delivery onto his own crossbar and over.
Liverpool had James Milner to thank for denying what looked like a certain goal, getting his body in the way of Tomas Soucek’s would-be tap-in. That crucial defensive action helped see out the game for the Reds.
Meanwhile, West Ham missed the opportunity to leapfrog Liverpool in the table, as Moyes’ unwanted winless league streak at Anfield hits 18 games. Perhaps more concerning, the Hammers have now lost 10 of their last 14 league fixtures on the road.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
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Brentford - Chelsea 0-0
Graham Potter remains unbeaten as Chelsea manager but watched on in frustration as his side were held to a goalless draw by Brentford.
Despite a shaky performance, the Blues have now kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets to remain inside the top four.
Thomas Frank’s men were looking to put an end to a run of six consecutive midweek league games without victory, and their high press immediately proved effective in preventing Chelsea from playing out.
The Bees were also enjoying success in attack, with Ivan Toney’s early header forcing Kepa Arrizabalga into a fingertip save.
Despite losing Conor Gallagher to injury, the visitors were able to gain a foothold, but creating chances was proving difficult. Armando Broja’s pace was causing problems in behind the Brentford backline, although there was no end product of any note from the Albanian.
In fact, Cesar Azpilicueta had Chelsea’s most dangerous shot on goal, with his low, driven effort being saved by David Raya.
Mads Roerslev, who had fed the ball for Toney’s earlier chance, was at it again after the interval. This time, he supplied Bryan Mbeumo with a free header on the six-yard line, but his gilt-edged header lacked power and was easily swallowed up by Arrizabalaga.
A triple substitution tilted the momentum in Chelsea’s favour, with Kai Havertz stinging Raya’s palms with a powerful effort.
The visitors remained in control in the closing stages but couldn’t find the quality to edge ahead, preventing Potter from becoming just the eighth manager in Premier League history to win his first four matches in charge of a club.
Brentford have now failed to score in five of their last seven London derbies at the Gtech Community Stadium, and have won just one of their last five league outings.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)
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Newcastle - Everton 1-0
Miguel Almiron's intricate first-half lob helped Newcastle United to extend their unbeaten run at St James’ to seven Premier League matches as the Magpies edged Everton to a 1-0 home victory.
With 10 Premier League draws between them this season, it was perhaps unsurprising to see a cagey start between Newcastle and Everton in this contest. But, a vociferous St James’ Park soon roared the Magpies on to try and land the first glove following a 5-1 mauling of Brentford in their most recent home match.
One goalscorer from that encounter, Jacob Murphy, decided to go for the direct approach when he glided inside two defenders and whipped a powerful effort just over the crossbar from 25 yards.
Hoping to keep their first clean sheet in six, there was clear relief from the Everton defence that Murphy’s effort evaded the top corner, but the Toffees soon came under heavy pressure from an aggressive Newcastle that hadn’t tasted defeat at home since April.
Eventually, the Toffees' rearguard crumbled under the Tynesiders’ intensity, and Almiron scored his fourth goal in as many matches in style, lifting a perfectly weighted effort over a full-stretch Jordan Pickford.
Everton played with more attacking intent early in the second half, desperate to improve on their recent record of just two wins from their last 22 away matches.
Newcastle had their own ambitions – namely, to record back-to-back clean sheets since August – and the home side’s well-drilled defence limited their opponents to wayward crosses and speculative strikes.
Another goal would have settled the growing nervousness around St James’, and Almiron nearly eased the tension with a swerving effort that flew inches past the post.
Newcastle managed the late Everton pressure with ease in a thoroughly professional performance that delighted Eddie Howe, as his side recorded a third win in four.
Everton’s recent six-match unbeaten run now seems a distant memory following three consecutive Premier League defeats and issues on the road continue to torment Frank Lampard’s struggling side.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United)
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Bournemouth - Southampton 0-1
Che Adams’ first-half header was enough for Southampton to secure their first Premier League victory since late August while condemning Gary O'Neil to his maiden defeat as Bournemouth's interim manager.
Chasing their first victory on the road in 19 attempts, Southampton took the game to Bournemouth early on, netting an opener after just nine minutes.
Glancing Romain Perraud’s cross beyond Neto in the Cherries’ goal, Adams’ fourth goal contribution of an already profitable campaign gave the visitors a perfect start on the South Coast.
There have been four different Chancellors of the Exchequer, three different Home Secretaries and two Prime Ministers in the British Government since Southampton last kept a league clean sheet.
Still, there was no coalition of chaos in the Saints' defence throughout the second half as the away side presented a strong and stable backline.
After Dominic Solanke had fired wide, a poked effort from Lewis Cook, which was cleared off the line by Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu, was as close as Bournemouth came to an equaliser, but ultimately it would prove to be a frustrating evening for the hosts.
Consequentially, it was disappointment for O’Neil and Bournemouth, who miss out on the opportunity to equal the club’s record unbeaten streak in the league.
As for Southampton, they move out of the relegation zone and into the relative safety of mid-table, with what was their first league shutout in a remarkable 186 days.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Che Adams (Southampton)
