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

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

 

EPL Results on 15 December

Manchester City 3-1 Everton

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League as Gabriel Jesus struck twice to help sink Everton in the early kick off.

Richarlison missed a gift-wrapped early chance to break the deadlock at the Etihad when he volleyed over from close range.

But when the opening goal came, it was still something of an early Christmas present.

Yerry Mina’s aimless hoof upfield came right back towards the Everton goal in a blur of sky blue, before Gabriel Jesus added the finishing touch inside the near post on 22 minutes.

The Brazilian doubled the lead five minutes after the break when he biffed his header beyond the grasp of Jordan Pickford.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin matched the feat at the other end in the 65th minute to give the hosts pause for thought.

But not for long, as substitute Raheem Sterling hopped off the bench to add a third close-range header of the second half.

Tottenham 1-0 Burnley

Christian Eriksen was the hero as Tottenham put on a late show to beat dogged Burnley at Wembley.

The Dane produced the only goal of a stodgy game in the 91st minute, as Spurs backed up their Champions League heroics at Barcelona in midweek.

Clarets keeper Joe Hart produced a flying save to deny Erik Lamela and keep his side in the contest.

But the ex-England stopper was finally beaten in injury time as Harry Kane found Eriksen, who picked out a cool finish to snatch a big three points.

Fulham 0-2 West Ham

West Ham deepened Fulham’s relegation woes with a London derby win at Craven Cottage in Saturday’s late Premier League kick off.

Robert Snodgrass smacked in the opener in the 17th minute to put Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the ascendancy.

The Hammers had their second when Michail Antonio jabbed in after meeting a Javier Hernandez flick-on in the 29th minute.

It hoists the East London side into the top half, while Fulham stay rooted to the foot of the EPL table.

Crystal Palace 1-0 Leicester

Crystal Palace boosted their survival hopes with a narrow win over in-form Leicester at Selhurst Park.

Dead-eye Luka Milivojevic produced a moment of brilliance when he curled into the top corner from 25 yards to put the Eagles ahead.

Home keeper Vicente Guaita then pulled off a fingertip save to divert Jamie Vardy’s strike on to the post, preserving all three points.

Huddersfield 0-1 Newcastle

Newcastle scrambled to a tense victory away to relegation rivals Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Salomon Rondon made the first crucial contribution after half time, finishing a tidy move in front of the travelling masses.

And that was the decisive strike, boosting the Toon Army in their bid to beat the drop.

Watford 3-2 Cardiff

Watford saw off a late Cardiff comeback at Vicarage Road to boost their top half credentials.

The Hornets went ahead early on when Gerard Deulofeu took possession, danced through the Cardiff bodies and finished past keeper Neil Etheridge.

They began the second period in the same fashion, as Jose Holebas curled beautifully in from the edge of the area.

Domingos Quina then fired in an equally eye-catching third to sink Neil Warnock’s side.

Junior Hoilett curled in to pull one back in the 80th minute, before Bobby Reid pounced on a rebound two minutes later to give the hosts a fright.

Wolves 2-0 Bournemouth

Wolves defied the odds – and the run of play – to sneak a win over Bournemouth.

Raul Jimenez popped the hosts into a 12th-minute lead.

And while the Cherries pushed fruitlessly for an equalizer, Ivan Cavaleiro scored the second to ensure a third consecutive victory for Nuno Espirito Santo and his men.