Liverpool run riot, beat Swansea 5-0
Liverpool retained their grip on fourth place as Philippe Coutinho’s gem inspired a 5-0 demolition of bottom club Swansea.
Coutinho produced a majestic strike to put Liverpool ahead from the edge of the area in the sixth minute.
Roberto Firmino netted from Coutinho’s free-kick seven minutes after half-time.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rounded off the thrashing in the 83rd minute as Liverpool’s unbeaten league run reached 11 matches.
Alvaro Morata returned to lift Chelsea to a 2-0 win over Brighton that took the champions to within a point of second placed United.
Morata was badly missed during his one-game ban as Chelsea laboured to a goalless draw at Everton in their previous match.
But the Spain striker was back in the line-up at Stamford Bridge and he netted 51 seconds into the second half with a header from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.
Marcos Alonso sealed Chelsea’s third win in their last four league games with a near-post header from a 60th minute corner.
“Morata is our number nine and is important. Today he played a good game with and without the ball, his commitment was great,” Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said.
Bournemouth salvaged a controversial 3-3 draw against fellow strugglers West Ham at Dean Court.
West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic scored in the 81st and 89th minutes, before Callum Wilson got the final equaliser with his arm from what the visitors claimed was an offside position.
Watford ended a six-game winless run as Marco Silva’s team came from behind to beat Leicester 2-1 at Vicarage Road.
West Bromwich Albion are without a win in 18 league games after a goalless draw against Everton, while Huddersfield drew 1-1 with Stoke.
AFP