Liverpool kept their Premier League title hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Anfield, the Reds’ seventh consecutive win in the league. Victory means Brendan Rodgers’ side are back in second place, one point behind leaders Chelsea. Manchester City are a further two points off the pace, although they have two games in hand. Liverpool have still to welcome City and Chelsea to Anfield, where they have been in imperious form all season.
On Tuesday Arsenal followed up Saturday’s thumping at Chelsea with a 2-2 draw at home to Swansea, a result that ended the Gunners title hopes. But Liverpool have a little more steel than Arsene Wenger’s side and took a deserved lead when Steven Gerrard scored from a free-kick six minutes before half-time.
When Daniel Sturridge doubled the advantage with a deflected shot three minutes after the break, his 20th league goal of the season, it seemed a matter of how many Liverpool would get. But credit to Sunderland thee did not give up and when Ki Sung-Yong headed in Adam Johnson’s corner they were back in the game. But unlike Arsenal, Liverpool were able to withstand the pressure and grab all three points.
In the day’s other fixture, West Ham moved up to 11th with a 2-1 win at home against Hull City. Mark Noble converted from the penalty spot and James Chester inadvertently turned into his own net either side of Nikica Jelavić’s effort for Hull. The big story though was the reaction of Hammers boss Sam Allardyce after the game. The final whistle was greeted with boos by the home supporters and Allardyce appeared to cup his ear before heading down the tunnel.
West Ham fans have never taken to Allardyce because of his stye of play, which is not pleasing to the eye. With West Ham heading to the Olympic Stadium in 2016, the club will need to be playing a more entertaining style of football if they are to sell out the bigger ground. That is not Allardyce’s style and I would not be surprised to see him get fired at the end of the season regardless of where the Hammers finish in the table.
