Liverpool go seven points clear, Man.United lose to Wolves

Liverpool powered seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as the title favourites survived a scare in their 3-1 win against Leicester, while Bruno Fernandes was sent off in Manchester United’s dismal 2-0 defeat at lowly Wolves.

Erling Haaland missed a penalty as crisis-torn Manchester City failed to end their dismal run with a 1-1 draw against Everton, but it was United’s travails and Liverpool’s remarkable run that took centre-stage on Thursday.

Arne Slot’s side were shocked by Jordan Ayew’s early strike at Anfield, but the leaders recovered their composure to equalise just before the interval through Cody Gakpo.

England midfielder Jones marked his 100th top-flight appearance with the second goal soon after half-time.

Mohamed Salah’s 19th goal this term wrapped up Liverpool’s 11th win in their last 13 games in all competitions. “We created enough, but because we went 1-0 down it was a game,” Liverpool manager Slot said.

“Then you saw how good we are and Leicester didn’t want to come back into the game.”

Liverpool’s comeback lifted them well clear of second-placed Chelsea, who were defeated 2-1 by Fulham earlier in the day.

Slot insists Liverpool’s commanding position at the top of the Premier League table has led to no extra strain during his first season in charge at Anfield.

You’re sitting in front of the Liverpool manager, so there is always pressure at this club,” the 46-year-old said.

“If we are one, two, three, four or five in the table, if you work at a big club like Liverpool, there is always pressure...

“It’s not so strange for a club like us to be top of the league but we know how many good teams there are in this league and they are able to win almost every game as well.

“So there’s no extra pressure, there is always pressure if you work at a club like Liverpool.”

Slot will be without the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai for Sunday’s trip to West Ham after he collected his fifth booking of the season against Leicester, while Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley remain injured ahead of Liverpool’s final fixture of 2024.

United suffered a third successive loss in all competitions to leave new boss Ruben Amorim with five defeats in his first 10 games.

Fernandes was dismissed two minutes into the second half at Molineux for a second bookable offence. United’s 10 men cracked in the 58th minute when Matheus Cunha’s corner went straight in as goalkeeper Andre Onana flapped under pressure.

Hwang Hee-chan compounded Amorim’s misery when he tapped in with just seconds left.

Losing to fourth-bottom Wolves was another bitter blow for United, who endured a humiliating 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford last weekend after losing 4-3 in the League Cup at Tottenham.

With his team marooned in 14th place -- just eight points above the relegation zone -- Amorim’s woes might not be over, with United facing in-form Newcastle on Monday before travelling to Liverpool in their first game of 2025.

“It’s so tough to win games in this league with 11 men. With 10 men, it’s more difficult,” Amorim said.

Amorim accepts his reign as Manchester United manager could be short-lived if he cannot oversee an upturn in the fallen English giants’ fortunes.

The initial optimism that surrounded the 39-year-old Portuguese coach’s arrival at Old Trafford in succession to the sacked Erik ten Hag has given way to renewed concern over United’s form.

Amorim is the first United manager to lose five or more of his first 10 matches in charge since Walter Crickmer in January 1932, with the club languishing in 14th place in the table.

Champions Manchester City have just one victory in their last 13 games in all competitions as their Christmas schedule started in disappointing fashion.

Agence France-Presse