Premier League: Liverpool Back on Top, Chelsea’s Top 4 Bid Dashed

The Reds temporarily leapfrog Man City atop the standings, while Chelsea stay three points behind the UCL spots.

James Milner (centre) celebrates after hitting a decisive 81st-minute penalty in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Fulham.

(Photo: AP)

A combination of goalkeeping errors and penalties earned Liverpool a return to the Premier League summit and Brighton a place in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, 17 March, even as Chelsea slumped to an away defeat at Everton that severely dented their hopes of finishing in the English top four.

James Milner converted an 81st-minute spot kick – after two mistakes in a matter of seconds by Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico – to secure a 2-1 win for Liverpool at Craven Cottage, lifting the Reds above Manchester City and two points clear in the title race.

City have a game in hand in their quest for an unprecedented quadruple. Pep Guardiola’s side have already won the English League Cup, are into the Champions League quarter-finals, and now know they will play Brighton in the last four of the FA Cup.

Brighton only made it to extra time in their quarter-final match against second-tier Millwall by scoring an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time, when goalkeeper David Martin allowed a free kick to sail into the corner .

The score stayed 2-2 after extra time and Brighton won the penalty shootout 5-4 to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1983.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford complete the all-Premier League lineup for the last four, with the semifinal games taking place at Wembley Stadium on 6 & 7 April.

Mane Remains Red-Hot

Mohamed Salah's goal drought extended to seven games in all competitions in another frustrating display by the Egypt forward at Fulham.

Luckily, Liverpool has Sadio Mane in the form of his life.

The Senegal international made it 11 goals in his last 11 games by putting Liverpool ahead at Craven Cottage. He now has 17 league goals for the season, the same as Salah and just one behind Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero – the top scorer.

Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring the opening goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Fulham.(Photo: AP)

Mane was also influential in Liverpool's second goal after he was dragged down by Rico, moments after the goalkeeper failed to hold a weak effort from Salah. Milner calmly floated his penalty down the middle.

Fulham equalized against the run of play through former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel, who capitalized on a defensive mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Babel nipped in as Alisson failed to collect Van Dijk's header back, and tapped into an empty net.

“I have no doubt about my players’ nerves. I always want perfection but it’s rare that you get it. People will say we should be more convincing in games like this but this is us, we are in the middle of a development, not at the end.”

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager

Eden Hazard (left) cuts a frustrated figure during Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Everton.(Photo: AP)

Wasteful Chelsea Feel The Blues

Chelsea's best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League might yet come via winning the Europa League.

With eight league games left to play, Chelsea are sixth after losing at Goodison Park – three points off the top four.

Their 2-0 defeat to Everton didn’t look the likely result with the visitors dominating the first half. Eden Hazard sparkled early on, hitting the post with a fierce drive, but faded like his teammates after the break.

Richarlison nodded home from close range in the 49th after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header was parried out by Kepa Arrizabalaga at a corner. Richarlison earned the penalty that led to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s goal in the 72nd, from the rebound after his spot kick was saved by Kepa.

This was a first win for Everton over one of the league’s ‘Big Six’ since beating Manchester City in January 2017.

Chelsea advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals on 14 March, and will next play Slavia Prague. The winners of that competition qualify for the Champions League.