EPL Scores & Highlights 2014: Chelsea Continues Atop the League While Sergio Aguero Saves Manchester City From Defeat
Liverpool's woes continue this weekend losing 2-1 to English Premier League (EPL) leaders Chelsea in front of their hometown fans at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool struck first in the ninth minute when midfielder Emre Can blasted a shot from outside the box that caught Thibaut Courtois off-guard. But "The Blues" Gary Cahill rebounded a shot Nemanja Matic attempted to blast on a corner kick five minutes after Liverpool scored to the tie the match 1-1. Diego Costa scored his 10th goal of the year in the 67th minute of the game, making Liverpool pay for their defensive break down to give Chelsea the 2-1 win.
The heat on Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers will likely continue to increase after benching Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, and Mario Balotelli against Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League match -- losing 1-0 on Tuesday -- while failing to beat Chelsea on Saturday after resting his players.
"I wouldn't have done anything different at all, we just didn't get the results," said Rodgers. "This week will be an experience for us and we can use that and go forward."
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Defending EPL champions Manchester City also continue their struggles this weekend after losing to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday in Champions League action, needing heroics from Sergio Agüero to bail them out against Queens Park Rangers. QPR's Charlie Austin put them ahead in the 21st minute blasting Mauricio Isla's through-ball pass past Man City keeper Joe Hart. Agüero managed to tie the game 1-1 in the 32nd minute after he took Eliaquim Mangala's pass and broke down two defenders to equalize the game. Manchester City defender Martín Demichelis put his team in a hole, heading the ball past his own keeper trying to clear a QPR cross pass in the box. But Agüero would save the day for Man City with a goal in the 83rd minute, scoring his league-leading 12th goal of the year, giving Manchester City a 2-2 draw to eke out a point on the road in Loftus Road Stadium.
Manchester City is currently sitting in third place with 21 points, eight points behind Chelsea, in the EPL standings. Manuel Pellegrini says he is not concerned about the current league leaders, telling the press that he is focused on his own team, who have only won one game out of their last six games in all competitions (EPL, Champions League, and Capital One Cup tournament).
"I'm not thinking about Chelsea," said Pellegrini. "I'm thinking about my team. We have 27 games more and the championship is very long."
Queens Park Rangers vs Manchester City
Manchester City is still four points behind second-place Southampton, who cruised past Leicester City on Saturday. Forward Shane Long scored both goals for Southampton to give them a 2-0 victory on Saturday, helping Southampton remain unbeaten at home. The defense has been rock-solid for the Saints, who have four consecutive clean sheets going into the international break.
"We have had a good run in the last few weeks but we need a rest," said Southampton coach Ronald Koeman. "That's difficult because we have 17 players on international duty. We hope they all come back fit."
Results from the rest of Saturday's EPL games:
Manchester United 1 - Crystal Palace
West Ham United 0 - Aston Villa 0
Burnley FC 1 - Hull City 0
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