Liverpool's livewire Sadio Mane scored one goal and played a crucial part in the other as they reclaimed the Premier League's top spot with a scrappy 2-1 win at second bottom Fulham Sunday. In the other match, goals from forward Richarlison and midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson helped Everton beat Chelsea 2-0, denting the London side's hopes of finishing in the top four. It had looked like being a frustrating day for Juergen Klopp's side after Mane's opener was cancelled out by Ryan Babel following a mistake by Virgil van Dijk, but substitute James Milner slotted home an 81st-minute penalty to take the points. Liverpool has 76 points from 31 games, two more than champion Manchester City which has a game in hand. Fulham has 17 points and a mountain to climb if it is to avoid almost certain relegation from the top flight. Mane scored his ninth league goal in as many games when he fired the visitors into a 26th-minute lead with a classy finish which typified Liverpool's attacking mentality under Klopp. The Senegal forward exchanged a blistering one-two with Roberto Firmino before he buried his shot from seven meters past Fulham keeper Sergio Rico, who then denied Andy Robertson and Van Dijk either side of halftime. Mane shaved the crossbar with a glancing header before a calamitous Van Dijk error gifted Fulham a 74th-minute equalizer, as his poor header back to keeper Alisson Becker was intercepted by former Liverpool winger Babel. The Dutchman beat Alisson to the ball and refrained from celebrating against his former club after stroking the ball into an empty net. Another howler, this time by Rico, decided the contest as the keeper spilled a tame Mohamed Salah shot and then hauled down Mane who pounced on the rebound, leaving Milner to stroke home the winner from the spot. Brazil's Richarlison headed Everton in front from close range in the 49th minute after Kepa Arrizabalaga had kept out striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin's powerful header from Sigurdsson's corner. Everton went 2-0 up in the 72nd minute when Sigurdsson tucked the ball in past Arrizabalaga after his penalty kick was saved by the Chelsea goalkeeper following a foul in the box on Richarlison by Marcos Alonso. The host was a transformed side after a poor opening half and went close two minutes after the restart with Arrizabalaga pushing away midfielder Andre Gomes's stinging left-footed shot from distance. Chelsea had been unlucky not to score after a bright start. Eden Hazard's low drive was saved by Jordan Pickford in the sixth minute, before he cut in and hit the post a minute later and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain had a shot cleared off the line. Defeat for sixth-placed Chelsea left it with 57 points from 30 matches, a point behind Manchester United and three points behind Arsenal in fourth. — Reuters
