Premier League: EPL fixtures, results and latest table, 16 December

16/12/2018

Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United

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Xherdan Shaqiri was the hero as Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with derby victory over Manchester United at Anfield.

The Swiss substitute popped up twice to strike the telling blows that sealed a sixth straight EPL win for Jurgen Klopp's men.

Liverpool created a bundle of early opportunities before breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute.

Fabinho took advantage of time and space in a central position to pick out Sadio Mane, who was lurking in the box.

The Senegal star swept past David de Gea to put the Reds into a thoroughly deserved lead.

But United were level nine minutes later, when Jesse Lingard pounced on a shambolic piece of handling from home keeper Alisson in front of the Kop.

The pattern of play continued after the break, with Jurgen Klopp's men left frustrated by their own profligacy as much as United's tenacity.

Swiss international Shaqiri restored the advantage in the 73rd minute, though, moments after taking to the field.

His shot deflected in off the underside of the bar after De Gea's clearance into no man's land.

He was at it again on 80 minutes, with a side-footed effort finding the back of the net via a touch off Eric Bailly.

It was no less than Liverpool deserved, as they shot back to the EPL summit.

Southampton 3-2 Arsenal

Arsenal's 14-game unbeaten run bit the dust thanks to supersub Charlie Austin's dramatic late winner at St Mary's.

Home boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, is left celebrating a first win as Saints chief and one that hauls their heads above relegation waters.

The Saints took a shock lead on 20 minutes when Laurent Koscielny's bungled clearance allowed Danny Ings to belt his header home from six yards out.

It wasn't to last, as Nacho Monreal's inch-perfect cross from the left was met perfectly by the head of the onrushing Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Ings had his second header of the match, though, just before the break, when he planted Nathan Redmond's delicious, swirling cross past the flummoxed Bernd Leno.

Jannik Vestergaard's dithering the other side of half time, however, afforded Mkhitaryan the chance to fire in his second equalizer.

But substitute Austin was poised and patient to net the winner, heading in Shane Long's drifting cross at the back post in the 85th minute.

Brighton 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea kept the heat on their London rivals with a nervy victory away to Brighton on Sunday.

A typical piece of Eden Hazard wizardry in the 17th minute paved the way for Pedro to tuck away the opener.

The Belgian had one of his own on 33 minutes after cruising through off the shoulder of the last man before slotting past the cruelly exposed Mat Ryan.

Brighton were handed a lifeline when Solly March pulled one back midway through the second half, seconds after Marcos Alonso had struck the post at the other end.

But Maurizio Sarri's men hung on to keep the pressure on third-placed London rivals Tottenham, while gaining three points on beaten Arsenal below them in fifth.

EPL Table on 16 December

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore

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