Bournemouth's Argentinian defender #25 Marcos Senesi (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 9, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / Photo: OLI SCARFF
Liverpool climbed to the top of the Premier League as Mo Salah scored his 200th goal for the club in a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace but storm clouds returned to Manchester United as they lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth.
Bottom club Sheffield United beat visiting Brentford 1-0 for only their second victory of the season while fellow strugglers Burnley and Nottingham Forest both drew.
Liverpool were fully extended by a dogged Palace side who went ahead at Selhurst Park from the penalty spot in the 57th minutes after a lengthy VAR review found that Jean-Philippe Mateta had been fouled by centre-back Jarell Quansah.
Mateta then stroked the ball home from the spot.
Liverpool had not managed an effort on target but the game swung when Palace's Jordan Ayew was sent off in the 75th minute after two innocuous yellow cards.
Just over a minute later Salah equalised to join an elite list of Liverpool players to notch a double century of goals for the Reds, the others being Ian Rush, Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and Billy Liddell.
Liverpool then laid siege to the Palace goal and Harvey Elliott produced a stunning strike in the first minute of stoppage time to seal a sixth win in eight league games for Juergen Klopp's side who have 37 points from 16 games.
"I'm a very happy manager in this moment, but I know we were lucky as well," Klopp said. "If you only win your really good games you have no chance to be really successful, that's how it is, and obviously today was not a really good game from us.
"For 76 minutes it was a really bad performance."
Not anywhere near as bad as Manchester United's shambolic display against Bournemouth at a soggy Old Trafford.
Any hope of Erik Ten Hag's side following up a midweek win over Chelsea never looked likely as they were outplayed by the south coast club who posted a first win away to United thanks to goals by Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi.
United remain in sixth place but they are now 10 points behind Liverpool after a fourth home defeat in the league this season. After a must-win Champions League game against Bayern Munich, United travel to Liverpool next weekend.
"Of course, annoyed, disappointed, definitely," Ten Hag said. "I expected something different, I hoped before the game you can build on from the performance and result from Chelsea, so it's very disappointing, the way we started the game. After the 2-0, we broke down so we have to do things better."
Chris Wilder's return to Sheffield United in midweek after Paul Heckingbottom's sacking began with a 2-0 home defeat by Liverpool but he got off the mark with victory over Brentford.
James McAtee, on loan from Manchester City, curled in the only goal in first half stoppage time and Brentford never really looked like depriving the Blades of a morale-boosting win.
"We were a little off it but the goal gave us a boost and second half what really pleased me is we could have sat off but we pushed on and kept being brave," Wilder said.
Sheffield United stay bottom with eight points, level with Burnley who were denied a win at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Wilson Odobert's deflected shot gave Burnley the lead but Simon Adingra's second-half header earned Brighton a draw.
Nottingham Forest now have only one win in 12 league games but fans sang the name of under-pressure manager Steve Cooper throughout the 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Forest made a fast start and Harry Toffolo scored his first goal for the club, rising to meet a superb delivery by Neco Williams to give them the lead in the 14th minute.
But Wolves responded and Matheus Cunha finished off a flowing move after 32 minutes.
Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory
John McGinn's early goal led surging Aston Villa to a club-record 15th consecutive home Premier League victory in a breathless 1-0 win over Arsenal that prevented Mikel Arteta's Gunners from reclaiming top spot in the table.
Unai Emery's Villa, who shocked champions Manchester City in a dominant 1-0 win on Wednesday, are now third on 35 points after 16 games in a jam-packed title race, while Arsenal, who were overtaken by Liverpool earlier on Saturday, are second with 36.
"I'm banning the T-word," a laughing McGinn told Sky Sports, when asked if Villa were title contenders. "It's game week 16, so there's a long, long way to go, and we respect everyone in front of us who have been in this position for years. We're newbies. Can we keep it up? Hopefully."
Villa Park was rocking in the seventh minute after Leon Bailey sprinted down the right wing before cutting back the ball and picking out McGinn. Villa's captain took one touch, turned sharply and fired past keeper David Raya.
Arsenal thought they had equalised in added time before VAR determined Kai Havertz had handled the ball while firing it past keeper Emi Martinez from a goalmouth scramble.
Delighted fans sang "Hi Ho Aston Villa" at the final whistle.
"Well, it's a great place to play football when the fans are behind you like that. It's very, very difficult for away teams to come and play," McGinn said of their remarkable home record. "I remember the last team to beat us here was Arsenal and that game certainly stung us, so today was a little bit of revenge.
"Long may it continue and if we keep our home form up, then hopefully we can achieve something this season."
Arsenal had numerous chances to level, including several from Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian fired a low shot inches from the post, then another right at Martinez in the first half. Odegaard's frustration continued after the interval, when he poked a shot from close range just wide of the post.
Bukayo Saka beat Martinez to fire into the empty net in the 61st minute but he was flagged for offside.
Arteta, whose north London team arrived on the heels of four successive wins, was relegated to the directors' box for the game while he served a one-match ban after picking up his third yellow card of the season.
- Reuters
