London: Liverpool wasted a chance Wednesday to take complete control of the Premier League title race as Leicester earned a 1-1 draw against the leaders, while Chelsea’s bid for a top-four finish was rocked by a humiliating 0-4 thrashing at Bournemouth.
After second-placed Manchester City lost Tuesday at Newcastle, Jurgen Klopp’s side would have moved seven points clear at the top with a win over Leicester. But Liverpool, chasing a first English title since 1990, had to settle for a frustrating draw that left them only five points ahead of City.
“We put Leicester under pressure but we were unlucky with the goal in the last second before half time. You have to take it how it is,” Klopp said.
Liverpool started bright and were ahead in the third minute at the snowy Anfield. Senegal winger Sadio Mane wriggled through the Leicester defence and slotted a clinical finish into the far corner for his 11th goal of the season.
But Liverpool quickly lost their rhythm and Leicester defender Harry Maguire punished sloppy marking from Virgil van Dijk to meet Ben Chilwell’s header with a close-range finish on the stroke of half time.
Liverpool appealed in vain for what looked a clear penalty when Naby Keita went down under a challenge from Ricardo Pereira.
“It was probably the clearest penalty situation we have had. You will have to ask the ref why he didn’t give it,” Klopp fumed on BT Sport.
Chelsea suffered a second successive defeat at Dean Court that left their bid to qualify for the Champions League under severe threat.
“We reacted very badly. We stopped being a team. Everybody tried to solve the problem in an individual way,” Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said. “Maybe it’s my fault because I’m not able to motivate this group of players.”
Not for the first time this season, Sarri’s team lacked a cutting edge, even with Gonzalo Higuain making his Premier League debut following the Argentine striker’s loan move from Juventus.
Bournemouth made them pay in the 47th minute when Josh King converted a David Brooks pass. He scored again in the 63rd minute which was followed by goals from King and Charlie Daniels to complete Chelsea’s woes.
Meanwhile in other games Tottenham staged a late fightback to close the gap on Manchester City to two points with a 2-1 win over Watford.
AFP
