Liverpool thrash Fulham 4-0 at Anfield
LONDON: Chelsea’s Eden Hazard scored a controversial penalty with the last kick of the game to salvage a 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and preserve Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten home Premier League record.
Referee Andre Marriner was surrounded by furious West Brom players after Brazilian midfielder Ramires went down under what appeared to be an innocuous challenge from Steven Reid.
Belgian international Hazard, fined by Chelsea manager Mourinho earlier this week for losing his passport, returning from France late and missing a training session, made amends by keeping his cool to score.
The draw took Mourinho’s unbeaten home league record at Stamford Bridge to 66 matches following 60 unbeaten games in his first spell there between 2004 and 2007.
Although Chelsea blew the chance to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to two points, Liverpool made no mistake, crushing a woeful Fulham side 4-0 at Anfield to move up to second.
Southampton were the other big winners, beating Hull City 4-1 at St Mary’s to go third.
Arsenal, who play Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, top the table with 25 points from 10 matches, followed by Liverpool on 23, Southampton with 22, and Chelsea on 21.
Everton, who drew 0-0 at bottom side Crystal Palace, and Tottenham Hotspur, who play Newcastle United at home on Sunday, both have 20 points.
Mourinho told a TV channel that he was convinced it was a penalty.
“I have watched it on the screen after the match from different angles and different speeds and there is no doubt it was a penalty,” he said. “I just know it’s hard when you get a penalty against you in the last minute and you are winning the game it is hard to accept.”
Reid said he thought the penalty was harsh.
“It was very soft. There was obviously contact there but it was a fair shoulder-to-shoulder challenge and Ramires has gone to ground very easily,” he said.
West Brom manager Steve Clarke, 11 years a Chelsea player and Mourinho’s former assistant at the Bridge, was angry about the decision.
“It was not a penalty. I am sad, I am angry. But I am also very proud of my players because we were magnificent today and we deserved to get the three points and if we play like that for the rest of the season we’ll be good.
“(Jose) has to say its a penalty. He’s in the opposition dugout. We had a great chance to make it 3-1 before the non-penalty. It is ridiculous to have to take that, because it wasn’t a penalty.”
Samuel Eto’o put Chelsea ahead shortly before halftime but goals from Shane Long and Stephane Sessegnon in an eight-minute spell midway through the second period gave West Brom a lead they held until the dying embers of the match.
While Chelsea were grasping for a point, Liverpool sailed serenely to all three, crushing Fulham 4-0 with Luis Suarez scoring twice to take his tally to eight in the seven matches he has played since returning from suspension.
An own goal by Fulham’s Fernando Amorebieta opened the scoring, Martin Skrtel made it 2-0 after 26 minutes before Suarez basically sealed the points with the first of his two goals in the 36th. He added a second early in the second half.
Southampton were impressive in their 4-1 win over Hull City with Morgan Schneiderlin, Rickie Lambert, from the spot, and Adam Lallana, with a superb individual goal, putting them 3-0 ahead after 37 minutes. Steven Davis added a fourth in the 88th.
Aston Villa ended a run of 7-1/2 hours without a league goal when Leandro Bacuna scored after 76 minutes to set them on the way to a 2-0 win over Cardiff City, with Libor Kozak adding a second in the 83rd minute.
Norwich City were to play West Ham United in the late kickoff. (Reuters)