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regular-article-logo Friday, 26 April 2024

English Premier League: Chelsea win, Liverpool manage draw

It was also Graham Potter's first Premier League game in charge of the Blues

Reuters London Published 01.10.22, 10:26 PM
Chelsea players celebrate after a goal

Chelsea players celebrate after a goal Twitter/@ChelseaFC

Conor Gallagher sealed a last-gasp comeback 2-1 win for Chelsea at Crystal Palace on Saturday, sinking the club he played for on loan last season with a glorious curling shot in coach Graham Potter's first Premier League game in charge of the Blues. Gallagher - given a warm reception by the home fans in the pre-match warm-up - received a ball from fellow substitute Christian Pulisic, created a yard of space for himself and then bent the ball around Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal.

Earlier, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang had seized on a headed pass by Thiago Silva to score his first goal for Chelsea in the 38th minute and level the match after Odsonne Edouard had given the Eagles the lead in the seventh minute. Palace were incensed that referee Chris Kavanagh had given Silva only a yellow card for denying Jordan Ayew a run on goal by handling a few minutes before the Brazilian set up Aubameyang for his goal.

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Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne was injured as he challenged Silva and manager Patrick Vieira was shown a yellow card for remonstrating with Kavanagh over his decision not to give Silva a red card. The result kept Potter's men eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal but with a game in hand, underscoring the challenge he faces after replacing Thomas Tuchel a month ago.

The match in full flow

The match in full flow Twitter/@LFC

Liverpool-Brighton & Hove Albion draw 3-3

Liverpool: A hat-trick from Belgian forward Leandro Trossard earned Brighton & Hove Albion a worthy point in an exhilarating 3-3 draw with Premier League title-chasing Liverpool on Saturday.

Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge could not have got off to a better start as two well-taken goals from Trossard gave the visitors a 2-0 lead by the 17-minute mark at a stunned Anfield.

Home supporters grew more frustrated as the hosts struggled to create openings, before Roberto Firmino's goal, which was initially ruled out for offside against Mohamed Salah only to be overturned by VAR, gave his side a 33rd-minute lifeline.

Brighton caused Liverpool more problems early in the second half, but their wastefulness at key moments proved costly as Firmino levelled with his fifth league goal of the campaign -- as many as he managed in the entirety of last season. Liverpool completed the turnaround and appeared to be on course for a crucial victory after their slow start to the season when Brighton's Adam Webster put the ball in his own net in the 63rd minute.

But Trossard was not done yet, completing his treble seven minutes from time and ensuring Brighton left Merseyside with the point they deserved, a draw that keeps them fourth in the standings, four points ahead of Liverpool in ninth. Liverpool came into the match under pressure to get a busy October off to a positive start, with leaders Arsenal 12 points clear of Klopp's team prior to kick off against high-flying Brighton.

Their chances of bringing the Premier League trophy back to Anfield for the second time under the German coach looked to be a distant dream as Brighton took control in the Merseyside sunshine. Firstly, Danny Welbeck flicked the ball through for Trossard to break the deadlock in the fourth minute – the ninth time Liverpool have conceded first in their last 11 league game's before the same man stroked home an almost identical second.

The goal out of nowhere that did get Liverpool back into the match was not celebrated with too much vigour, given the linesman's flag was raised, but replays showed Salah was in fact just onside when diverting the ball into Firmino's path.

Liverpool surprisingly had started the match with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz all on the bench, but the latter's introduction at the break immediately paid dividends, as the Colombian supplied the pass for Firmino, whose superb touch and finish did the rest. Liverpool took the lead in the 63rd minute with a goal Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez will not want to see again, as he completely missed his punch, leaving Webster powerless as the ball rolled into his own net off his chest.

Brighton kept coming, with Welbeck denied by a brilliant save from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, before Trossard again arrived right on cue at the back post, becoming the third opposition player to score a Premier League treble at Anfield.

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