Liverpool climb to second spot as London

rival Arsenal, Spurs draw blank

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City can reclaim first place
by avoiding defeat at home to Southampton on Sunday.
Last Updated: Sunday, October 23, 2016 - 11:20
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London: An 81st-minute Gareth McAuley goal prevented Liverpool from provisionally going
top in the Premier League as they defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1.
Needing a two-goal win to move above leaders Arsenal, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead through
Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho yesterday, but McAuley's strike left them in second place
on goal difference.
Arsenal had earlier been held to a 0-0 draw by Middlesbrough, while fourth-place Tottenham
Hotspur played out a goalless stalemate at Bournemouth.
"I'm really pleased with the performance," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports.

"It was unbelievably difficult against West Brom. You have to always concentrate. They are
so dangerous at set-pieces.
"But I think it would have been kind of a joke if we hadn't won today. It was unbelievable,
how we played."
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City can reclaim first place by avoiding defeat at home to
Southampton on Sunday, when Jose Mourinho makes his return to Chelsea with Manchester
United.
Klopp made one change to the Liverpool team held 0-0 by United last Monday, with the fitagain Adam Lallana returning to the starting XI at the expense of Daniel Sturridge.
Roberto Firmino took over from Sturridge up front and played a key role in Liverpool's neat
20th-minute opener, crossing for Mane to volley home after Coutinho's dummy had freed
Emre Can.
Mane turned provider 15 minutes later after a sliced clearance by visiting goalkeeper Ben
Foster, slipping in Coutinho, who cut inside two defenders and scored at the near post.
West Brom centre-back McAuley halved the deficit late on, volleying in from close range at a
corner.
Arsenal, 6-0 winners over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League in mid-week, were
seeking an eighth successive win in all competitions.
But Middlesbrough came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half at the Emirates
Stadium when Gaston Ramirez curled a 21st-minute free-kick against the post.
Arsenal dominated the second half, but had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for ensuring the
visitors' counter-attacks came to nought.
"It is a game where you had a lot of possession, but there were tired legs and you are prone to
counter-attacks," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was celebrating his 67th
birthday.
"You make it difficult for yourself. Seventy-five per
cent possession, but you could have lost the game. That is modern football."- Shaqiri,
Tottenham extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine games -- something they last
achieved in 1990 -- but squandered an opportunity to go top in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Both teams hit the woodwork in the early stages, Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris diverting
Charlie Daniels's shot onto the bar and Erik Lamela clipping the post from distance.
"We had control, but we didn't create enough chances to score," said Spurs manager Mauricio
Pochettino.

"I think we need to be pleased in the end because it's one point more, one clean sheet, but it's
true for us to be contenders we should be winning the games like today."
Champions Leicester City did not need Jamie Vardy as they won 3-1 at home to Crystal
Palace to climb to 12th place.
With Vardy starting on the bench after a groin problem, strikers Ahmed Musa and Shinji
Okazaki struck either side of half-time at the King Power Stadium.
Christian Fuchs sealed victory in the 79th minute, the Austrian left-back netting from distance
with a sensational strike to register his first Leicester goal.
Yohan Cabaye replied five minutes from time for Palace.
"That was our best performance so far this season," said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri.
"It was the shape and model of last season and we concentrated on doing our job."
Sixth-place Everton spurned a chance to make ground on the leading sides in a 2-1 defeat at
Burnley, who took a 39th-minute lead when goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's blunder
gifted Sam Vokes a tap-in.
Yannick Bolasie equalised just before the hour with his first Everton goal, but Scott Arfield
struck at the death to condemn Ronald Koeman's men to a fourth league game without
victory.
Xherdan Shaqiri scored two stunning goals -- the second a free-kick -- as Stoke City won 2-0
at Hull City to climb out of the relegation zone at their hosts' expense.
Sunderland remain rock-bottom after Winston Reid's goal deep into stoppage time earned
misfiring West Ham United a 1-0 win at their London Stadium.
Swansea City stayed second from bottom after Bob Bradley's first home game as manager
concluded in a 0-0 draw with Watford.
PTI