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London, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League as the leaders eased past Newcastle 4-0 at Anfield and Manchester City were beaten for the second time in five days, 2-1 at Leicester.
Tottenham leapfrog City into second after thrashing Bournemouth 5-0, while Manchester United’s perfect start under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continued with Paul Pogba scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Huddersfield.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has tried in recent days to stress that it is still far too early for his side to be talking of ending a near three-decade wait to win the title in December.
However, another routine win and a 12th clean sheet in 19 Premier League games will do little to dampen expectations ahead of a huge week for Liverpool with Arsenal visiting Anfield on Saturday before a visit to City on January 3.
“We play City soon – if I was them I would think there is only four points because we still have to play them, then we play Arsenal before then as well,” said Klopp.
“The only thing that matters to us is the performance and keeping that level of performance. It’s good but that’s all. Tottenham are flying – they had a difficult summer but they are doing brilliant.”
After a slow start Liverpool went in front through an unlikely source when Dejan Lovren volleyed home after 12 minutes.
It was a far more familiar marksman who made the game safe when Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot two minutes into the second half to briefly move into a three-way lead as the league’s top scorer with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Harry Kane.
Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho’s first Liverpool goal rounded off the scoring.
– ‘Fantastic’ Pereira goal –
City boss Pep Guardiola made three changes from the side that lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace on Saturday with Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne returning, but even they couldn’t prevent a third defeat in four Premier League games.
“We have to accept it, we have to realise that we have to work harder and try to get immediately one good result and get our confidence back,” said Guardiola.
Aguero set up Bernardo Silva to give the champions a perfect start, but Marc Albrighton levelled just five minutes later.
City dominated possession throughout, but after Andros Townsend’s incredible volley for Palace on Saturday they were hit by another wonder strike when Ricardo Pereira fired home nine minutes from time.
“It was another fantastic goal against us. There are games when your opponents have clear chances and don’t score and games when they score goals like this,” added Guardiola.
A terrible afternoon for City was compounded late on by a red card for Fabian Delph.
– Spurs run riot again –
As City flounder, Spurs are firing back into the title race as Mauricio Pochettino’s men have now scored 11 goals in four days.
“We are in a very good position, but Liverpool and Manchester City are the real contenders,” insisted a cautious Pochettino.
“It is one thing to be a point above them, but Manchester City are the reigning champions and Liverpool are doing fantastic. We are between them and there is still a lot of work to do.”
Fresh from a 6-2 hammering of Everton, Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura put Tottenham 3-0 up before half-time at Wembley.
Kane then got his goal just after the hour mark before Son recorded his second double in as many games.
Pogba was again to the fore as Solskjaer’s dream start continued unabated in his first outing in charge at Old Trafford.
Nemanja Matic tapped home from close range to give the hosts a half-time advantage.
Pogba provided three assists on his return to the starting line-up in a 5-1 win at Cardiff at the weekend after being benched towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s reign.
And the French World Cup winner showed the goalscoring threat he also poses from midfield by striking twice in 14 minutes as United moved back to within five points of the top four.
“This is Manchester United. When you score a first, you want a second. When you score a second, you want a third,” said Solskjaer, who wants United to take advantage of upcoming games with Bournemouth and Newcastle.
“You need momentum. The next two games will be massive for us. Coming into those games with confidence is great.”
Everton bounced back from their Tottenham thrashing by inflicting similar punishment on Burnley with a 5-1 victory at Turf Moor.
At the bottom Cardiff moved three points clear of the relegation zone by holding out for a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.
But Fulham remain rooted in the bottom three as Wolves struck late to secure a share of the points in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
FULL-TIME Liverpool 4-0 Newcastle
A rampant display from Liverpool who increase their lead at the top of the #PL#LIVNEW #PL pic.twitter.com/qx26IrRmlh
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 26, 2018
