Liverpool see fourth successive defeat, Spurs humbled at home

LIVERPOOL/LONDON Manchester United condemned Liverpool to a fourth successive defeat as Harry Maguire’s late goal sealed a 2-1 win over the spluttering Premier League champions on Sunday.

Earlier, Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia inspired Aston Villa’s fightback to win 2-1 against Tottenham on Sunday as the north Londoners suffered more misery on home turf.

After losses against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea, Arne Slot’s side endured their most painful setback of the season at the hands of their bitter rivals.

Bryan Mbeumo put United in front after two minutes and although Cody Gakpo equalised in the 78th minute, Maguire secured his club’s first win at Anfield since 2016 with an 84th minute header.

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Defeat leaves Liverpool four points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the table and Arne Slot still searching for answers in how to get the right blend after splashing out nearly £450 million ($604 million) on new players in the transfer market.

United close to within two points of their historic rivals and up to ninth in the table to ease the pressure on Amorim after his biggest win in nearly a year in charge.

Liverpool had only lost one of the previous 14 Premier League meetings between the sides and United had not tasted victory at Anfield since the early days of Jurgen Klopp’s reign in January 2016.

However, the Reds are in a state of flux after transforming the squad that stormed to the title last season and the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July.

ERRATIC GAKPO

Gakpo should have levelled for the defending champions when he hit the post from Mohamed Salah‘s through ball in Liverpool’s one flowing move of the first half.

However, it was United who should have been further in front by half-time.

Bruno Fernandes spurned a glorious chance to double the Red Devils’ lead when he hit the outside of the post when unmarked from the edge of the area.

At the other end, Senne Lammens was rarely troubled in the first 45 minutes, but produced a big save when called upon to deny Alexander Isak his first Premier League goal since joining Liverpool for a British transfer record £125 million.

A Gakpo deflected cross then came back off the post and the Dutchman rattled the woodwork for a third time early in the second half.

ASTON VILLA COME FROM BEHIND

Rodrigo Bentancur put Thomas Frank’s side ahead early in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But Rogers equalised with a superb strike before the interval and Buendia came off the bench to seal the points in the closing stages.

Tottenham’s woeful home form in the Premier League — 11 defeats and just three wins in 18 league games — has proved a major issue for Frank since he replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou in the close-season.

While the majority of those home losses came under Postecoglou last term, Frank’s short tenure has produced mixed results at the club’s 62,000-seat stadium, with boos audible after a defeat to Bournemouth in August and a 1-1 draw with lowly Wolves last month.

The end of Tottenham’s seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions left them in sixth place after the second defeat in Frank’s eight league games.

“It was exactly the game I expected it to be, very tight. There weren’t too many chances. I think overall it could’ve gone either way,” Frank said.

“I think 1-1 would’ve been a fair result. Villa scored two goals from outside the box in moments where you wouldn’t expect them to score.

“Fair play for their moments of quality. We also easily could have won.”

FIVE STRAIGHT WINS

Villa have responded to their longest winless start to a season since 1964 with five successive victories, three in the top-flight and two in the Europa League, extending their unbeaten streak to eight matches.

It was especially notable that Villa finally beat a top-four rival away from home after taking just one point from their six trips last season to the English sides currently in the Champions League.

Unai Emery’s team are up to 10th place as they try to climb back into the race for Champions League qualification.

“The way the players responded, even when we were losing 1-0, this is the way we are trying to get better at and try to build the team with this structure,” Emery said.

“Most importantly we are recovering some players. The dressing room is different now.”

ROGERS ROCKET

Already without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Destiny Udogie and Dominic Solanke due to fitness issues, Frank lost captain Cristian Romero to an injury in the pre-match warm-up.

Despite that blow, Tottenham needed just five minutes to take the lead.

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Mohammed Kudus’s cross was headed back across goal by Micky van de Ven towards Bentancur, who dispatched a clinical finish past Emiliano Martinez from eight yards.

Bentancur celebrated by shoving the ball under his shirt to create a bump in tribute to his wife, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child.

Tottenham forward Wilson Odobert threatened with a low shot that Martinez palmed away in the driving rain.

But Rogers hauled Villa level in spectacular fashion after 37 minutes.

The England midfielder’s first goal this season was well worth the wait.

Taking aim 20 yards from goal, Rogers unloaded a stunning strike that left Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario grasping at thin air as it curled over his out-stretched arm.

Odobert’s goal-bound rocket was blocked by Ezri Konsa before Martinez denied Joao Palhinha as Tottenham looked to take charge in the second half.

But Mathys Tel joined Tottenham’s growing injury list as the forward limped off to have a heavy bandage wrapped around his knee.

Frank’s problems were mounting and Villa took full advantage in the 77th minute.

Matty Cash’s cross-field pass found Lucas Digne and he teed up Buendia, who whipped a fine finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Randal Kolo Muani, making his Premier League debut, should have rescued Tottenham in stoppage-time, but the on-loan Paris Saint-Germain striker scooped over with the goal at his mercy.