PL round-up: Liverpool lose again

Liverpool’s disastrous start to 2017 continued as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against a revitalised Hull City at the KCOM stadium.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have now suffered four defeats in five games - including cup games, and can fall out of the top four, if Manchester City win their respective game against Swansea on Sunday afternoon.

Debutant Alfred N'Diaye broke the deadlock for Marco Silva’s team, after Simon Mignolet dropped the ball, leaving the Senegalese striker to stroke home from close-range.

Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in the opening half, and they were punished for their lack of penetration in the 84^th minute when Oumar Niasse – on loan from Everton – finished off a counter-attack for the Tigers.

Hull are now unbeaten in four games at home under Silva, and after claiming four points against Manchester United and Liverpool, know they will need to replicate previous performances when they travel to Arsenal in the Premier League on the 11^th of February.

Meanwhile, Liverpool desperately search for a much needed victory when they host high-flying Tottenham Hotspur on the same date.

Romelu Lukaku bagged four goals as Everton extended their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games with an emphatic 6-3 win over a resilient Bournemouth at Goodison Park.

The former Chelsea striker equalled the record for the fastest Premier League goal, when the Belgian curled his effort into the back of the net, with just 30 seconds on the clock.

Ireland international, James McCarthy added a second for Ronald Koeman’s side in the 27^th minute, after the 26-year-old converted a Lukaku assist, before the Everton number 10 lobbed Artur Boruc after a poor back-pass from Simon Francis.

Eddie Howe’s side rallied after the break, and reduced the deficit when Joshua King hit a quick-fire double, leaving the Blues rattled.

Two more goals for Lukaku arrived inside the last ten minutes, before Ross Barkley added the sixth, and Bournemouth were good value for their third, be it a consolation, when Harry Arthur tapped home in the 90^th minute.

The Toffees move within two points off sixth-placed Manchester United, and will look to apply further pressure on the Red Devils, with a win when they travel to Middlesbrough on the 11^th of February.

While Eddie Howe’s side still search for a win in 2017, with the Cherries sitting six points off the relegation zone.

Four first-half goals helped Sunderland ease past a poor Crystal Palace side 4-0 at Selhurst Park.

The win from David Moyes’ side sees the Black Cats go level with Palace on points, and record a significant win over their former boss.

Lamine Kone tapped home after Wayne Hennessy spilled his catch inside ten minutes, before scoring an incredible three goals in six minutes, when Didier Ndong’s superb effort found the back of the net, before the in-form Jermaine Defoe hit a quick double to shock the home crowd.

Sunderland dominated the second-half proceedings, but could not add to their already impressive tally, while Sam Allardyce’s side failed to lay a glove on a Sunderland side, who claim their first Premier League victory in six games.

Both sides face difficult tests in their next games, with Palace travelling to Stoke City on the 11^th of February, and Sunderland hosting Southampton on the same date.

West Ham moved into the top-half of the Premier League with an impressive 3-1 win over Southampton.

New Saint’s signing Manolo Gabbiadini opened his account for his new club early on, when the Italian hit a magnificent effort from an awkward angle.

The ever-present Andy Carroll struck back for the Hammers in the 14^th minute, after the former Liverpool striker swept home from close-range, before Pedro Obiang’s long-range effort from 30 yards gave Slavan Bilic’s side a deserved lead.

Despite Southampton pressing, West Ham confirmed the three points when Mark Noble’s free-kick found the back of the net, with the help of a wicked deflection off Southampton’s Steve Davis.

West Ham play Tony Pulis’ West Brom on the 11^th of February at the Olympic stadium, while the Saints travel to bottom of the table, Sunderland.

A stubborn Watford edged ten-men Burnley 2-1 at Vicarage Road, as M'Baye Niang shone on his debut.

The Clarets were dealt a massive blow in the sixth minute when Irish midfielder Jeff Hendrick was sent-off after a two-footed challenge on Jose Holebas.

Troy Deeney headed home for his third goal in four games, after Niang found the striker at the back-post in the tenth minute.

Niang - on loan from AC Milan - doubled the Hornet’s advantage just before the interval, after the 22-year-old headed home from a Holebas cross.

Ashley Barnes pulled a goal back from the spot, after Sebastian Prodl handled Joey Barton's effort, but failed to salvage an unlikely point.

An early goal from James Morrison helped West Brom edge Stoke City 1-0 at the Hawthornes.

Tony Pulis’ side had a goal correctly ruled out for offside, after Salomon Rondon was judged to be narrowly beyond the Potter's defensive line.

The home fans were celebrating again two minutes later, and this time it counted, when Nacer Chadlis accurate cross found Morrison, whose effort left Lee Grant with no chance.

Saido Berahino was brought on in the 58^th minute by Mark Hughes, and the former West Brom man failed to create any openings on his return to his old club.

The result sees the Baggies stay a solid eight placed, while Stoke slip into the bottom half of the table into 11^th.

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