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Premier League roundup: Liverpool record vital win while Chelsea, Manchester United draw

Gareth Bale took Burnley apart, Arsenal bounced back at Leicester while there were stalemates at Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Curtis Jones and a Kean Bryan own goal ended the Reds’ run of four successive league defeats and heaped more misery on the bottom-placed Blades.

Bryan’s own goal, which was originally credited to Roberto Firmino, was Liverpool’s 7,000th goal in top-flight football and secured a win which moves Jurgen Klopp’s champions within two points of fourth-placed West Ham.

Gareth Bale appeared back to his best as he produced a devastating display that included two goals and an assist in Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Burnley.

The Wales international has enjoyed a resurgence in the last few weeks after a miserable start to his Spurs homecoming and delivered his most telling impact yet against the Clarets.

After opening the scoring in just the second minute, he then set up Harry Kane and was involved in Lucas Moura’s third as Jose Mourinho’s men ran riot in the first half.

Gareth Bale celebrates his second goal
Gareth Bale celebrates his second goal (Matthew Childs/PA)

He then added a brilliant second after the break to complete a fine afternoon’s work to help Spurs to just a second league win in seven games.

Arsenal continued to breathe fresh life into their season with an impressive 3-1 win at Leicester.

David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe netted as the Gunners responded to Youri Tielemans’ early strike and claimed a deserved victory.

Nicolas Pepe scores Arsenal's third goal
Nicolas Pepe scored Arsenal’s third goal (Michael Regan/PA)

The hosts suffered a further blow when Harvey Barnes was carried off in the second half with a knee injury.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left frustrated that Manchester United were denied a penalty in a goalless draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was judged not to have deliberately handled the ball when clashing with Mason Greenwood, after a VAR check.

Callum Hudson-Odoi's handball went unpunished
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s handball went unpunished (Ian Walton/PA)

The result meant Chelsea missed the chance to climb back into the top four.In the early kick-off, relegation-battling Fulham extended their unbeaten run to five matches but were left to reflect on what might have been after a stalemate at Crystal Palace.

The visitors created the better opportunities at Selhurst Park with the majority falling to centre-back Joachim Andersen, although Josh Maja was brilliantly denied by Vicente Guaita from close range in the second half.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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