Liverpool survive goalkeeper howler to beat Leicester, Chelsea beat Bournemouth

LIVERPOOL have conceded their first goal of the season after a nightmare mistake by new goalkeeper Alisson, Chelsea stay perfect and Manchester City back on track. FULL EPL WRAP HERE

Liverpool players celebrate Sadio Mane’s (third left) goal against Leicester. Picture: AP

LIVERPOOL’S new goalkeeper Alisson has suffered a nightmare moment but it failed to prevent them maintaining their 100 per cent start to the English Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory at Leicester City.

First-half goals by Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino ultimately proved more important than Alisson’s ill-advised fancy footwork after the break as Liverpool made it four wins from four games to stay top on 12 points along with Chelsea on Saturday.

Big mistake today from #Liverpool keeper #Alisson. Game ended 1-2 to #LFC. #LEILIVpic.twitter.com/MgBRD6Ubsm

— FJ Football (@fjfootballblog) September 1, 2018

Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson, centre, shows he is much better with his hands than his feet with this fine save against Leicester City. Picture: AP Photo

The London side had struggled to break down a stubborn Bournemouth outfit at Stamford Bridge but goals from substitute Pedro and Eden Hazard in the last 20 minutes secured a 2-0 win to make it four in a row for new Blues manager Maurizio Sarri.

Champions Manchester City got back to winning ways after their surprising draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers by beating Newcastle United 2-1 at home with Kyle Walker scoring the winner after DeAndre Yedlin had cancelled out Raheem Sterling’s opener.

Chelsea's Pedro, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal. Picture: AP Photo

Chelsea's Eden Hazard controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Bournemouth. Picture: AP Photo

City have 10 points although either Watford or Tottenham Hotspur, the two other clubs apart from Liverpool and Chelsea to win their opening three games, can move above Pep Guardiola’s side with a victory when they meet at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

While Liverpool have won their first four league games of the season for the first time since 1990, big-spending West Ham United suffered a fourth consecutive league defeat and remain rooted to the foot of the table. It seemed they were on course for their first point of the season but Wolverhampton Wanderers substitute Adama Traore struck in stoppage time at the London Stadium.

Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero attempts an overhead kick during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Newcastle United. Picture: AFP

Raheem Sterling of Manchester City (not pictured) scores his team's first goal past Martin Dubravka of Newcastle United. Picture: Getty Images

While promoted Wolves enjoyed their first top-flight win since February 2012, West Ham’s woes continued as they have lost their first four league games for only the second time.

“I don’t think it is a bad start, it is a very bad start,” manager Manuel Pellegrini said.

“Here at home to lose we must be very worried.” Southampton beat Crystal Palace 2-0 away for their first win of the season — Liverpool loan signing Danny Ings and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on target for the Saints.

Brighton & Hove Albion hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home with Fulham thanks to Glenn Murray’s second-half double after former Chelsea player Andre Schuerrle and Aleksandar Mitrovic had put Fulham in control. Everton drew for the third time in four games after being held 1-1 at home by Huddersfield Town.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ryan Bennett, top, pulls back on West Ham United's Felipe Anderson. Picture: PA via AP

Liverpool were not at their best at Leicester and Alisson’s error was a nasty reminder of the Loris Karius howler that proved so costly in last season’s Champions League final loss.

Instead of clearing the ball midway through the second half the Brazilian opted to try some clever footwork and was robbed of possession by Kelechi Iheanacho, who centred for Algerian Rachid Ghezzal to give Leicester a lifeline. Manager Juergen Klopp said Alisson’s mistake was “not cool” but he was happy that Liverpool still “ticked the box.”

Oh dear, Alisson...

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on the goalkeeper's mistake against Leicester City. 🔴#LFC #LCFC #PL pic.twitter.com/eqBckzcFIm

— Goal (@goal) September 1, 2018

“In the end, if Alisson with the first touch puts the ball away, everything is fine,” he said. “For some reason, he didn’t do that, he dribbled and they scored the goal.

“That’s it. I said to him, it’s the best game to do it because we still won the game.” Chelsea have been equally impressive since the start of the season and once again on Saturday they showed patience to score late goals, as they did in wins against Arsenal and Newcastle.

“I’m really very happy with my players. For us now it’s not important to think of matchday four, it’s important to think of the next match,” Sarri said. “They (Bournemouth) were very organised and they defended very well but usually in this match you have to be patient because you can win in the last 20 minutes.”

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS:

Leicester 1 (Ghezzal 63) Liverpool 2 (Mane 10, Firmino 45)

Brighton 2 (Murray 67, 84-pen) Fulham 2 (Schurrle 43, Mitrovic 62)

Chelsea 2 (Pedro 72, Hazard 85) Bournemouth 0

Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2 (Ings 47, Hojbjerg 90)

Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 36) Huddersfield 1 (Billing 34)

Manchester City 2 (Sterling 8, Walker 52) Newcastle 1 (Yedlin 30)

West Ham 0 Wolves 1 (Traore 90)

Playing Sunday Burnley v Manchester United (1500 GMT), Cardiff v Arsenal (1230 GMT), Watford v Tottenham (1500 GMT)

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Originally published as Liverpool survive goalkeeper howler to beat Leicester, Chelsea beat Bournemouth