LONDON -- Liverpool returned to winning ways and the top of the Premier League table while Manchester United climbed into fourth place on Saturday as English football paid tribute to the late Emiliano Sala.
First-half goals from Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum together with Mohamed Salah's 48th-minute effort saw Liverpool to a 3-0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.
Victory meant Liverpool, who had been second on goal difference, leapfrogged Manchester City by three points ahead of the reigning champions' match at home to Chelsea on Sunday.
Meanwhile United's revival under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continued with an equally comfortable 3-0 win away to Fulham.
Liverpool had dropped points in successive 1-1 draws against Leicester and West Ham, sparking suggestions they were losing their nerve in a quest to end the club's 29-year wait to be crowned champions of England once again.
- 'Convincing' Liverpool -
Mane, however, eased the pressure with an early headed goal at Anfield.
Liverpool doubled their lead through Wijnaldum's 34th-minute lob before Salah's curling shot sealed victory.
"We knew we were not happy with our performance in the last two or three games," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. "We want to play convincing football we want to perform."
In London, Paul Pogba scored two goals -- including a second-half penalty -- either side of an Anthony Martial strike as United made it 10 wins in 11 game since former striker Solskjaer was put in temporary command.
Chelsea could regain a spot among the Champions League qualifying places against Manchester City.
But United, 11 points adrift of the top four when Jose Mourinho was sacked in December, are back in the hunt now.
"There are so many games left, but we hope to stay in the top four," said Solskjaer.
Arsenal inflicted more misery on Huddersfield with a 2-1 win away to the bottom-of-the-table club.
Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal 2-0 up before half-time, with Sead Kolasinac's own-goal too late for the Terriers.
Elsewhere under-pressure Everton manager Marco Silva's return to Watford ended in a 1-0 defeat thanks to an Andre Gray goal.
Everton's loss was compounded when Kurt Zouma was sent off after the final whistle for complaining to referee Lee Probert.
- Cardiff win as they mourn Sala -
An emotional week for Cardiff ended with a dramatic 2-1 win away to Southampton that saw them climb out of the relegation zone just days after the death of transfer-window signing Sala was confirmed without him having played a game for the Welsh club.
The Argentinian's body was formally identified by an English coroner on Thursday, a day after it was recovered from underwater aeroplane wreckage in the Channel.
Cardiff wore special shirts embroidered with a yellow daffodil, the national emblem of Wales and the team colour of French side Nantes, Sala's former club, with a minute's silence observed prior to kick-off.
Bluebirds captain Sol Bamba's second-half volley gave Cardiff the lead only for Jack Stephens to equalise in stoppage-time.
But there was still time for Kenneth Zohore to score a 93rd-minute winner at St Mary's Stadium.
"It's been a tough couple of weeks," said Bamba. "I know Emiliano Sala was looking from up there so it's good to get the three points."
Burnley were in the relegation zone after Cardiff's win.
But they moved three points clear in a 3-1 late kick-off win at Brighton, Chris Wood scoring twice as Southampton were left in the bottom three.
"It's always tough coming here and we showed we can fight and grind it out," said Wood.
"It's a big win at this stage of the season," he added.
London rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham drew 1-1, with Hammers captain Mark Noble scoring with a first-half penalty before Eagles striker Wilfried Zaha marked his return from suspension with an equaliser 14 minutes from time at Selhurst Park.
Third-placed Tottenham welcome Leicester to Wembley on Sunday, with in-form Wolves at home to Newcastle on Monday.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
LONDON -- Leicester paid an emotional tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha as the grief-stricken club won 1-0 at Cardiff following their owner's tragic death, while Alexandre Lacazette's late equalizer gave Arsenal a 1-1 draw against new Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday.
Thai billionaire Vichai was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed outside Leicester's King Power Stadium last weekend.
With Vichai's funeral underway on Saturday in Bangkok, Leicester headed to Cardiff for a match that served as a chance to honor their late owner and begin the healing process.
While results have been rendered irrelevant by the crash, it was fitting that Leicester took the points in their first match since Vichai's death, thanks to Demarai Gray's second-half winner at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel felt the tragedy more than most as he witnessed the immediate aftermath of the crash moments after the helicopter went down.
"I feel proud. It's been a really tough week for everyone. The way everyone at the club handles themselves is a testament to the family Vichai built," Schmeichel said.
"That took a lot. It has been an emotional day. I'm glad we got three points for him.
"I can't imagine what his family are going through. We did it for him and his family."
Leicester's players had worn white t-shirts bearing Vichai's image and the words "The Boss" on the front of them during the pre-match warm-up.
A minute's silence was impeccably observed, with a wreath laid on the pitch and images of Vichai shown on the scoreboards behind either goal.
Leicester's players and staff linked arms on the center circle to pay tribute during a poignant silence that left Schmeichel in tears.
Claude Puel's team, playing with poise and desire despite their traumatic week, finally had a cathartic moment in the 55th minute.
A superb cross from Ben Chilwell was finished off by Gray, who celebrated by lifting his shirt to reveal a message that read "For Vichai".
It earned Gray a booking from referee Lee Probert in a move that followed the letter of the law, but showed little common sense given the circumstances.
Leicester's players huddled together in celebration at full-time, with many of them due to fly to Thailand to join Vichai's funeral immediately after the game.
On any other weekend, the showdown between revitalized Arsenal and title-chasing Liverpool would have hogged the spotlight which instead shone on Leicester.
The Emirates Stadium clash proved a classic encounter as Arsenal showed they are capable of going toe to toe with the top four after years of underachievement.
Unai Emery's side fell behind to James Milner's clinical finish after Bernd Leno pushed out Sadio Mane's cross in the 61st minute.
But fifth placed Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 14 games as French striker Lacazette smashed home from a tight angle in the 82nd minute.
"I am only 50 percent happy because we wanted to win. The balance was good in our speed and intensity. Maybe we deserve a little more," Emery said.
Liverpool, unbeaten in their 11 league games this season, move one point above Manchester City, who would reclaim top spot if they avoid defeat against Southampton on Sunday.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp added: "They had a few chances for sure. They are in a good moment.
"We deserved a point and we could have had more. We had clear chances."
At Dean Court, Marcus Rashford's close-range finish in stoppage-time helped Manchester United hit back to win 2-1.
Callum Wilson's 11th-minute opener for Bournemouth was cancelled out by Anthony Martial's 35th-minute effort as United survived a series of missed chances from the hosts.
- Sloppy start -
It was United's third victory in their last four league games, but boss Jose Mourinho was furious with his side's latest sloppy start.
"We were defensively awful. The first half was a disaster. The second half was much better," Mourinho said.
Tottenham climbed to fourth place with a thrilling 3-2 win at Wolves.
Erik Lamela put Tottenham ahead in the 27th minute, Lucas Moura doubled their lead three minutes later and Harry Kane notched the third in the 62nd minute.
There was a tense finish as Wolves' Ruben Neves scored a 68th minute penalty before team-mate Raul Jimenez netted with another spot-kick in the 79th minute.
Newcastle earned their first league win this season with a 1-0 success against Watford at St James' Park.
Everton beat Brighton 3-1 and West Ham won 4-2 against Burnley.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
