Liverpool, English Premier League (EPL) champions, came from behind to overcome a stubborn West Ham United 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday night.
Mohamed Salah converted a first-half penalty while Diogo Jota netted the winner to return the champions to the top of the summit for the first time this season.
Liverpool have so far won 29 0f their past 30 matches at home and are unbeaten in a record-equaling 63 games at Anfield.
West Ham took the lead on ten minutes through Pablo Fornals. The Spaniard latched on to a half-cleared ball to hit an unstoppable shot for an unlikely lead.
The Hammers jam-packed the defence and continued to soak up the pressure from Liverpool but the Reds eventually found the equalizer from the spot when Salah was brought down in the box.
The Egyptian star dispatched the penalty down the middle on 42 minutes for a 1-1 scoreline at halftime.
The video assistant referee (VAR) denied Liverpool the second goal on 77 minutes when it decided that Sadio Mane had impeded the goalkeeper before Jota slotted into an empty net.
The winner eventually came five minutes from the end when Xerdan Shaqiri found Jota, who took the ball in his stride and smashed it into the net for 2-1. It was the Portuguese winger’s third EPL goal at home, equaling the record set by Luis Garcia in 2004.
Liverpool are three points clear at the summit of the EPL table with 16 points from seven matches, three more than second-placed rivals, Everton.
In other games of the day, Chelsea breezed past Burnley 3-0, thanks to Hakim Ziyech’s first EPL goal and strikes from Kurt Zouma and Timo Werner.
Manchester City also edged winless Sheffield United 1-0 away from home.
RESULTS
- Sheffield United 0-1 Manchester City
- Burnley 0-3 Chelsea
- Liverpool 2-1 West Ham
By Jonathan Ledger/TheCable
