Liverpool scrape a win, but rivals drop points

Diogo Jota (left) celebrates with Liverpool teammates after scoring the winner 

Reuters: Champions Liverpool got back to winning ways in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sheffield United but their likely title rivals all dropped points on Saturday.

Diogo Jota’s second-half header earned Liverpool a first win in three league games to lift them joint top with Merseyside rivals Everton who play on Sunday.

Manchester City’s stuttering start continued as they drew 1-1 at West Ham United while Manchester United and Chelsea played out a drab 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

Crystal Palace moved up into the top five as they beat bottom club Fulham 2-1 with goals by Jairo Riedewald and Wilfried Zaha.

Liverpool had not conceded a penalty at their Anfield fortress for 67 Premier League games. However, that run came to an end early on against Sheffield United as Fabinho was adjudged by VAR to have fouled Oli McBurnie inside the area, even though referee Mike Dean had awarded a free kick outside the box.

Sander Berge sent Alisson, back in goal after injury, the wrong way to put the visitors ahead and Liverpool lived dangerously before Roberto Firmino levelled in the 41st minute.

Jota’s header earned the three points but it was a struggle in the rain for Juergen Klopp’s side who looked uneasy at the back without the injured Virgil van Dijk.

For the second week running they also had legitimate gripes about VAR.

“It’s nice to win 2-0 or 3-0 every game but that only happens if, in games like this, we are ready to fight hard,” Klopp said. “On nights like this you earn the right to win the others like that.

“The penalty was not even a foul. During a season there are so many different periods, we have had an injustice, and we have had to go again.”

Manchester City trailed to Michail Antonio’s acrobatic opener at the London Stadium and only improved after the break when youngster Phil Foden came on for the injured Sergio Aguero.

Foden grabbed the equaliser and Raheem Sterling wasted a glorious late chance as City were frustrated.

They are in 12th place with eight points from five games, their worst start to a Premier League season for six years.