Liverpool ended a run of three Barclays Premier League matches without a win by securing a battling 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield. Jordan Henderson impressed, setting up the first for Adam Lallana and scoring the winner for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
After an even contest Lallana played a one-two with Henderson on the edge of the area and slotted in his first goal for the club on the stroke of half-time. But 11 minutes after the restart Dejan Lovren fouled Saido Berahino and the in-form West Brom forward, who had twice come close to scoring, converted the resultant penalty to level the score.
Henderson, however, ensured parity did not last long as he latched on to Raheem Sterling’s cross in the 61st minute to finish in the far corner.
Papiss Cisse scored another brace to rescue a point for Newcastle United in a 2-2 draw at Swansea City. The Senegal striker came off the bench to score twice and salvage a 2-2 draw with Hull City at St James’ Park a fortnight ago, and he replicated the feat with two clever finishes at the Liberty Stadium.
Wilfried Bony opened the scoring in the 17th minute for the hosts after a neat interchange with Gylfi Sigurdsson but Cisse levelled shortly before half-time, poking in Gabriel Obertan’s right-wing cross. Wayne Routledge looked to have condemned his former club to defeat when he restored Swansea’s lead, lifting the ball over Tim Krul having been fed by Sigurdsson. But Cisse stole in 15 minutes from time to convert Sammy Ameobi’s cross from the right and seal a share of the spoils. Newcastle remain without a Barclays Premier League win this season, while Swansea have gone four top-flight matches without victory after winning their first three in the 2014/15 campaign.
Sunderland picked up their first win of the Barclays Premier League season with a 3-1 victory over Stoke City at the Stadium of Light. Steven Fletcher, who had not found the net since December’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff City, had a hand in all three Sunderland goals as Gus Poyet’s men picked up maximum points at the seventh attempt.
Connor Wickham got Sunderland off to an ideal start by heading home his maiden league goal of the season just five minutes in from Fletcher’s delivery. Charlie Adam was given enough time and space to level 10 minutes later, but Fletcher then got on the scoresheet to restore Sunderland’s lead midway through the opening period with a well-placed header following a quick corner from the hosts. The Scotland striker wrapped up the points with a close-range finish late on, the goal owing much to a superb run from Wickham.
Ross Wallace rescued a point for Burnley with a stunning stoppage-time free-kick to earn a 2-2 draw at Leicester City. The substitute’s 96th-minute set-piece from the edge of the penalty area ensured Sean Dyche’s men secured their fourth draw of the Barclays Premier League season.
Leicester had looked on the verge of victory thanks to Riyad Mahrez, who had created one and scored the other. The Algeria forward had set up Jeffrey Schlupp’s opener before edging the home side back in front after Michael Kightly had ended Burnley’s goal drought since the opening match to level. The point extends Leicester’s unbeaten home start in the league to four matches, while Burnley climb off the foot of the table at the expense of Queens Park Rangers.
Hull City secured a first Barclays Premier League win since the opening day of the season in a 2-0 triumph over Crystal Palace at the KC Stadium. Steve Bruce’s side had gone five top-flight matches without winning but second-half goals from Mohamed Diame and Nikica Jelavic ended that run.
Hull made the breakthrough on the hour when Diame met Andrew Robertson’s superb cross for his third goal since joining from West Ham United. Their first league win on home soil this season was confirmed in the closing stages thanks to a composed finish from Jelavic, who had been released by Jake Livermore and kept his cool to score and hand Neil Warnock a first top-flight defeat since returning for a second spell as Palace manager.
source: premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 