Liverpool lose once more at dwelling as EPL title protection collapses

After going 68 Premier League video games unbeaten at Anfield, Liverpool has slumped to back-to-back losses on the stadium that was its impenetrable stronghold for practically 4 years.
The newest defeat — to lowly Brighton — left the champions’ title protection on the point of collapse.
Just like in opposition to Burnley two weeks in the past, Liverpool was crushed 1-0 by a workforce battling to keep away from relegation. Jurgen Klopp’s workforce dropped seven factors behind chief Manchester City, which has a recreation in hand and is on a nine-match profitable streak.
City is the subsequent customer to Anfield, on Sunday. A win for Pep Guardiola’s workforce could successfully knock Liverpool out of the title race — with greater than three months of the season remaining.
“The only explanation now is that we are a fatigued team,” stated Klopp, whose squad has been badly hit by accidents this season, particularly in protection. “City are flying and we have to find solutions.”
Seeking to regain the title it relinquished to Liverpool final season, City produced one other dominant show in overwhelming Burnley in a 2-0 victory at Turf Moor.
Highlights:

That restored City’s three-point benefit over second-place Manchester United, which gained 9-0 over Southampton on Tuesday. City has performed a recreation lower than United, too.
Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling scored first-half targets as City gained a thirteenth straight recreation in all competitions — a run of victories stretching again to Dec. 15.
While City has conceded simply two targets in 13 league video games, Liverpool’s points in protection proceed because it struggles to beat the doubtless season-long absence of Virgil van Dijk. They weren’t helped by goalkeeper Alisson Becker lacking out in opposition to Brighton due to an sickness and a muscle drawback maintaining Sadio Mane out for a second straight recreation.
The title would possibly quickly be gone for Liverpool, and a spot within the high 4 is hardly assured.
The Reds are in fourth place however solely two factors forward of fifth-place West Ham, which gained 3-1 at Aston Villa. Everton is 2 factors additional again in sixth after beating Leeds 2-1.
Leicester moved above Liverpool into third place with a 2-0 win at Fulham due to purpose by Kelechi Iheanacho and James Justin.
SEAGULLS SOARING
From seemingly nowhere, Brighton has changed into one of many type groups of the league, with the win at Anfield coming three days after a victory over Tottenham by the identical rating.
Steven Alzate scored the winner within the 56th minute for his first Premier League purpose, and Brighton held on comparatively comfortably to make it 4 league matches with out conceding since working Man City shut in a 1-0 loss at Etihad Stadium on Jan. 13.
By taking 10 factors from a attainable 12, Brighton climbed two locations to fifteenth and is 10 factors away from the relegation zone.
“Brighton deserved to win, they played well,” Klopp stated. “They are a good football side.”
TWO-GOAL DEBUT
Jesse Lingard is trying to resurrect his Premier League profession at West Ham. After scoring two targets in West Ham’s win at Villa, the on-loan Manchester United midfielder won’t be too removed from a return to the England squad, both.
Lingard made a surprising debut for the Hammers on his first league recreation since July, scoring their second and third targets to construct on the opener by Tomas Soucek. Ollie Watkins replied for Villa.
England supervisor Gareth Southgate attended the match at Villa Park and West Ham supervisor David Moyes was delighted along with his new signing who was an everyday for England on the 2018 World Cup.
“If he keeps up the form he showed tonight — and he is not completely match fit — and is scoring the goals, he will not be far away from Gareth Southgate’s England squad (for the European Championship) in the summer,” Moyes stated. “And he will help us no end before the summer. All round, a really great performance.”
EVERTON’S AWAY STREAK
Everton has gained 4 immediately video games within the league for the primary time because the membership’s glory years within the mid-Nineteen Eighties.
And it’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s targets that are main Carlo Ancelotti’s workforce towards a end within the European locations.
Calvert-Lewin struck his first purpose in eight league video games and is now on 12 for the marketing campaign, making him the second highest-scoring striker after Harry Kane.
Gylfi Sigurdsson opened the scoring for Everton earlier than Calvert-Lewin’s ninth headed purpose of the season made it 2-0 earlier than the break. Raphinha decreased the deficit quickly after halftime.
“This is a result of this season,” Ancelotti stated, explaining why his workforce has gained seven occasions on the street. “All the teams have more possibility to win away because there is no crowd there in the stand.”