Liverpool Beat West Ham At Anfield As Aston Villa Humble Chelsea At Stamford Bridge

By Daniel Ojukwu

English football giants, Liverpool FC are currently two point behind English Premier League(EPL) defending champions, Manchester City’s after beating West Ham United 3-1 at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

 Jurgen Klopp’s tutored side showed more promising signs of getting back to their best in this current campaign.

The Reds came fifth last season dropping down to the Europa League but since the beginning of this current season, they have been in scintillating form by amazing the firepower that could make them the biggest threat to City’s throne as champions.

Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool the lead from the penalty spot – the Egyptian goal machine has now scored in 12 of his team’s last 13 home games – before second-half goals from Darwin Núñez and substitute Diogo Jota came off the bench to make it 3-1 five minutes from time and made Jarrod Bowen’s equaliser a distant consolation. Michail Antonio’s confident boast that West Ham will finish above Liverpool looks seriously misplaced on current evidence.

West Ham’s only previous defeat this season came at home to City last weekend and they bounced back to fully merit their equaliser before half-time when Jarrod Bowen’s diving header found the far corner.

However, the Hammers were undone by a moment of magic when Alexis Mac Allister’s inch-perfect chip picked out Darwin Nunez, who volleyed into the far corner.

With today’s victory, Liverpool have now garnered 16 points in 6 matches after drawing Chelsea in their opening match of the season at Stamford Bridge

“It was a difficult game, like we expected,” said Klopp. “We had good moments in the first half but were not in control to deny them completely. We lost some balls we shouldn’t have lost and when they scored I was not completely surprised.

“We didn’t concede first this time but we conceded anyway, and that’s not great, and the reaction was top. That’s important because we have to be a team that’s difficult to deal with.

“We were better in possession in the second half. At 2-1 up we had our best phase of the game. We kept West Ham calm with our ball possession, which is the best way to protect. I saw a lot of good stuff today.”

Also on Sunday, Brighton continue their good form of the season to take  advantage of dropped points for both north London sides to move up to third after coming from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-1.

Roberto De Zerbi made nine changes from the side that started the Seagulls’ first-ever European game in a 3-2 defeat by AEK Athens and paid the price in a slow start.

Dominic Solanke fired Bournemouth in front after a glaring error from Brighton’s keeper Bart Verbruggen.

Milos Kerkez’s own goal brought Brighton level in first-half stoppage time, but that did not stop De Zerbi sending on Kaoru Mitoma at the break.

The Japanese winger took just 16 seconds to put Brighton in front with a precise finish and Mitoma made sure of the points when he headed home Pervis Estupinan’s cross 14 minutes from time.

Chelsea’s poor start of the season continues and Pochettino’s reign goes on as his toothless Blues failed to score for a third consecutive game.

Malo Gusto’s straight red card for a lunge on Lucas Digne on the hour mark gave the home side a mountain to climb at Stamford Bridge.

Villa made their man advantage count when Ollie Watkins’ powerful strike beat Robert Sanchez from a narrow angle.

Despite spending more than any other Premier League club in the summer transfer window, Chelsea have taken just five points from Pochettino’s first six league games in charge.