Bernardo Silva scores twice as Man City take top spot with win over Watford
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League as Bernardo Silva scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.
City made the most of Chelsea’s defeat at West Ham earlier in the day with a seventh straight win in all competitions.
Silva struck twice either side of half-time to put the game firmly beyond the Hornets and climb back above Liverpool, who had won 1-0 at Wolves.
FULL TIME | A Bernardo brace and a goal from Sterling see us go to the top of the table! 🔥🔝— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2021
The in-form Portugal star weaved past two defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann to add to City’s advantage following Raheem Sterling’s opener.
The 27-year-old then followed up his first-half strike with a clever curled effort into the top corner for his side’s third.
Watford pulled one back through Cucho Hernandez, who followed up his own shot after it rebounded off a post, to deny Pep Guardiola’s side a ninth clean sheet of the season.
Liverpool had scored at least two goals in their previous 18 Premier League games, but they had to wait until stoppage time at Molineux for Divock Origi’s winner.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Saturday night and I like the way you move…DIVOCK ORIGI!!🎶 pic.twitter.com/kFkgDjzU4T— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 4, 2021
Liverpool were blunted for once by defiant Wolves hosts until substitute Origi continued his habit of scoring important goals.
Origi fired in from close range in the fifth minute of time added on, just as it looked like the Reds would fail to score for the first time in eight months.
The Belgium international spared Diogo Jota’s blushes after the forward hit Conor Coady on the line following Jose Sa’s second-half mistake.
Chelsea were sent spinning to a second league defeat of the season as West Ham won 3-2 at the London Stadium.
Thomas Tuchel’s side led after 28 minutes when Thiago Silva met Mason Mount’s corner with a powerful downward header and Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was unable to keep the ball out.
West Ham levelled when Blues keeper Edouard Mendy made a mess of collecting a Jorginho backpass and compounded his mistake by bringing down Jarrod Bowen.
Manuel Lanzini made no mistake from the penalty spot, but Chelsea were ahead again moments before half-time when Mount buried Hakim Ziyech’s cross-field pass with a first-time finish.
Bowen equalised 10 minutes into the second half when his well-struck shot went through the legs of Andreas Christensen and past an unsighted Mendy.
On to the next one. 👊 pic.twitter.com/IOOEVBNsV0— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 4, 2021
Both sides had chances to win the game before substitute Arthur Masuaku claimed a bizarre winner four minutes from time.
Masuaku’s cross appeared to take a slight deflection to catch out Mendy at his near post and give the fourth-placed Hammers another major scalp after beating Liverpool at home last month.
Newcastle ended their wait for a league win at the 15th attempt as Burnley were beaten 1-0 at at St James’ Park.
Callum Wilson claimed his sixth goal of the season five minutes before half-time to see off fellow strugglers Burnley.
THREE 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗘 POINTS FOR THE MAGPIES! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/u1msBwopr6— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 4, 2021
Eddie Howe’s men were decidedly second best for long periods, but Wilson was in the right place when goalkeeper Nick Pope dropped the ball at his feet.
The win lifted the Magpies off the foot of the table and above Norwich on goal difference.
Neal Maupay rescued Brighton again in a 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Maupay, who scored a late leveller at West Ham in midweek, struck deep into stoppage time after Armando Broja’s smart finish had given Southampton a 29th-minute lead.