LONDON — Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League Sunday when it beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium with both goals scored by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Arsenal will stay top at least until Monday's match between Manchester City, whom it knocked off the summit, and third-placed Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal has 55 points from 24 games, followed by City on 53 from 23 and Chelsea on 50 from 23. Liverpool, which was held to a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion Sunday, is fourth with 47 points. Palace, which has improved since Tony Pulis became manager at the end of November, remained just a point above the relegation zone. Oxlade-Chamberlain, playing in central midfield rather than on the wing as usual, had a fine game in his first league start after returning from a long injury layoff. He opened the scoring with a clever lofted shot after 47 minutes, his first goal of the season, and doubled Arsenal's lead in the 73rd minute, firing home after a neat one-two with Olivier Giroud. A dreadful mistake by defender Kolo Toure cost Liverpool victory when he gifted West Brom the equalizer in a 1-1 draw. Under no pressure, the defender played a loose ball straight across his own 18-yard line to substitute Victor Anichebe who was unmarked on the edge of the box and he fired home in the 67th minute. Liverpool went ahead in the 24th minute when Daniel Sturridge tapped home a cross from Luiz Suarez. Ex-Liverpool, Chelsea striker Hateley dies Former Liverpool striker Tony Hateley has died at the age of 72 following a period of illness, the Premier League club has announced. “The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club go out to his family and friends at this sad time,” read a statement published on the Liverpool website. Hateley joined Liverpool from Chelsea in 1967 for a then club-record fee of £96,000 ($158,000, 117,000 euros) and spent just over a year at Anfield, scoring 28 goals in 56 games. He also played for Notts County, Aston Villa, Coventry City, Birmingham City and Oldham Athletic, and retired with 211 league goals to his name. His son, Mark, played 32 times for England at center-forward and represented sides including AC Milan, Monaco and Rangers during the 1980s and 1990s. His grandson, Tom, who is currently playing professionally in Poland, wrote on Twitter: “Very sad to hear my dadda Tony passed away today.” — Reuters
