LIVERPOOL: Liverpool have broken the jinx. Beating Manchester United for the first time in nine Premier League games and the first time under Jurgen Klopp was confirmation that his team are serious challengers for Manchester City’s crown.

Their visit to City on January 3 can hold no fears for a team capable of performing with the sustained energy and determination which proved too much for United. Jose Mourinho’s men were only ever struggling to survive though it took the late arrival of two-goal Xherdan Shaqiri to make the difference in a 3-1 win.

Liverpool thus ended the weekend matchday still top of the table and one point clear of City.

Klopp said: “It was really good. What a game in midseason, just outstanding. The first half was some of the finest football I have seen us play this season. I have met so many people who speak so highly about the goalkeeper but how Alisson and the team reacted to his  mistake was great. As long as we win all the games in which he makes a mistake that’s fine.  What a night!”

United are sixth in the table but their overall performance was not only shapeless but hopeless. They need strengthening in the January transfer window to remain at even this 19-point distance.

Mourinho’s lack of confidence in his own players was illustrated by the fact that he had experimented this season in the league with six different centre-back pairings and 10 different partnerships in central midfield.

He also left Paul Pogba on the substitutes’ bench for the third time in a row and were forced into a late change when Smalling was injured during the warm-up. Eric Bailly, a regular target for Mourinho’s criticism, was promoted into a 3-4-3 starting line-up.

Liverpool made four changes from the Champions League victory over Napoli with Nathaniel Clyne making his first appearance of the season at rightback in place of injured Trent Alexander-Arnold. Injury also ruled out reliable James Milner while Jordan Henderson was only a substitute.

The Liverpool-United clash has meant far more down recent decades than their own local derbies with Everton and Manchester City. Usually they start cautiously. This time the opening minutes saw United’s Ashley Young denied a goal because of offside against the ‘interfering’ Romelu Lukaku and then David De Gea saved well from Roberto Firmino. Mo Salah claimed a penalty in vain for a push in the back.

‘Angry’ and happy

Jurgen Klopp had said he wanted Liverpool to “be angry” and his team forced a series of early corners. Ashley Young had to clear off the goal line as United struggled to hold Liverpool at bay.

United were unbeaten in their last eight matches against Liverpool and forced goalless draws at Anfield in the past two seasons but not this time. In the 24th minute Fabinho chipped the ball into the penalty box where Sadio Mane escaped Ashley Young, controlled the ball on his chest and opened the scoring. Mane had been involved in 12 goals in his last 16 league games.

Ten minutes later, totally against the run of play, Jesse Lingard equalised after Allison dropped a left-wing cross from Lukaku in front of the Kop. Minutes later Lukaku, now back in midfield, was booked for clattering into Naby Keita.

Mourinho brought on his favourite substitute, Marouane Fellaini, for a second half which maintained the first-half pattern of Liverpool chasing a goal and United fighting to hang on. De Gea made another fine save from Firmino and a low drive from Rafael van der Vaart was deflected wide.

Klopp, looking for answers, found the right one. He sent on Xherdan Shaqiri for Naby Keita and the former Bayern forward shot Liverpool back into the lead in the 73rd minute with his fifth league goal since his £13m arrival from Stoke last summer. Seven minutes later he killed the game.

Saints win at last

Ralph Hasenhuttl and his players celebrated on the pitch as if they had won the Premier League after Southampton marked his first home game in charge with a thrilling 3-2 win over error-strewn Arsenal. Saints thus ended a run of 14 matches without a victory and won for the first time in the league since April.

Arsenal had gone 22 games in all competitions without a defeat after having lost only their first two league games of term back in August. Central defence and goalkeeper Bernd Leno were at fault against a Southampton team powered by a new-found aggression and self-belief instilled by Hasenhuttl.

Southampton took a deserved lead with a header from former England under-21 forward Danny Ings. Arsenal levelled, against the run of play, with another header from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and missed an important chance when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was too slow to pounce from two metres out.

Saints capitalised with a second headed goal from Ings. Leno stood helpless on his line, unprotected by a defence in which captain Laurent Koscielny made a hesitant his first appearance since April and a serious Achilles injury.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery made his usual halftime change, bringing on Alexander Lacazette and Mkhitaryan provided a second equaliser with a low shot which deflected off defender Jannik Vestergaard.

Mesut Ozil appeared as a substitute for his first league game since the 1:1 home draw with Wolves on November 11 but it was Saints’ substitute, Charlie Austin, who proved decisive. Austin headed the winning goal after Leno missed an attempted punch clear. Southampton had not scored with a header all season and now they had three in one game.

Hasenhuttl, who sent free drinks vouchers to season ticket-holders ahead of the game, said: “We deserve the win. After our third goal I thought at least we would take the minimum of one point and even that would have been great. [To win] is fabulous, unbelievable. It was good to see the guys putting new parts of our game on the pitch.”

The class of Eden Hazard was too much for Brighton as Chelsea won 2-1 to hold on to fourth place. Chelsea dominated the first 70 minutes but struggled to hang on for a point. Hazard created the opening goal for Pedro and scored the second himself.

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