LONDON: Liverpool rekindled the fire in their Premier League title chase by hitting back from a goal down, to defeat Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage and pull level on points with leaders Arsenal.

Jurgen Klopp’s men have a far inferior goal difference but more important was the return to winning ways in the Premier League after the home defeat by Crystal Palace.

Arsenal and Liverpool can maintain the pace, just ahead of champions Manchester City, if they win in midweek. Arsenal host Chelsea on Tuesday before Klopp’s men play away to Everton in Wednesday’s Merseyside side at Goodison Park.

At least they no longer have the distraction of European competition after their surprise Europa League exit against Atalanta.

Trent Alexander marked his return to the league starting line-up by putting Liverpool ahead with his fourth league goal after 32 minutes with a superb free kick. Timothy Castagne levelled on halftime but Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota restored Liverpool’s deserved advantage after the interval.

Jota’s goal was his 100th in English football in all competitions across his time at Wolves (44) and Liverpool (56).

The accomplished manner of Liverpool’s win should reassure Klopp about their ability to end his nine-year reign with a second Premier League crown to add to the League Cup success. More, they secured the three points with Mo Salah and Alex Mac Allister left on the substitutes’ bench until the closing minutes.

Relegation row

Everton took a major step towards survival with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest  in the duel between points-penalty clubs fighting to avoid relegation.

Goals from Marc Guehi and Dwight McNeil lifted Everton (-8 points) five points clear of the drop zone and left Forest (-4 points) only one point above it. Stoppage time lasted 18 minutes after a head injury to Everton forward Beto.

Everton have one game in hand but, unfortunately for them, it is home to Liverpool on Wednesday.

Furious Forest issued a social media post on X in anger at the refusal of three penalty claims and suggesting that the VAR, Stuart Attwell, was biased because he was a Luton fan.

The FA is investigating the post.

Oliver Glasner is on a roll.

After five matches without a win his Crystal Palace followed up their surprise 1-0 win at Liverpool with a 5-2 derby defeat of West Ham. Palace struck four times in the opening 32 minutes to set up their best win of the season and deepen West Ham depression after the Europa League exit to Bayer Leverkusen.

Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke succeeded where two Frenchmen in 2022 and two men of Lille in the Conference League last week failed when he beat Emi Martinez from the penalty spot. Not that it did his team any good. Aston Villa hit back to win 3-1 and tighten their grip on fourth place.

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