LONDON: Odion Ighalo was on the mark twice as a buoyant Watford won 3-0 at home to Liverpool on Sunday to consolidate seventh position in the Premier League, only one point behind the top four.

It was a bad blow for Juergen Klopp’s side, who would have overtaken them with a win but remained ninth, having taken only one point from three games.

Nathan Ake the Dutch Under-21 international on loan from Chelsea, scored in only the third minute after a howler from Hungarian goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, who was deputising for the injured Simon Mignolet.

Bogdan was soon beaten again on an unhappy league debut when Watford captain Troy Deeney sent leading scorer Ighalo away to net for the fourth game in succession.

The third goal came five minutes from the end when Ighalo was left unmarked to head in a cross from Valon Behrami.

Liverpool’s performance was comically bad at times and ranked as the heaviest loss of Klopp’s two months in charge.

The Reds are now without a win in their last three Premier League matches, leaving them five points off the top four heading into the hectic Christmas period.

CHELSEA RESTORE ORDER

On Saturday, Chelsea began the post-Jose Mourinho era with a 3-1 win over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge to ease away from the Premier League’s bottom three.

Mourinho, sacked on Thursday after Chelsea’s worst start to a season since 1978, had his name chanted by the fans while the likes of striker Diego Costa and midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who some supporters blame for the champions’ malaise, were booed.

Some sense of normality was restored in west London with Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar on target as Guus Hiddink, confirmed on Saturday as interim coach for the second time having performed the role in 2009, watched from the stands.

Chelsea, who began the day a point above the relegation zone, moved up one place to 15th.

After the match, captain John Terry said he understood why supporters are unhappy.

“Absolutely and rightly so, as well,” Terry said. “They will support us through the difficult period and when we come out on top, sooner or later. If we keep on putting performances like that the fans will be happy.”

LEICESTER MARCH ON

Leicester City’s unlikely title challenge gathered momentum with a 3-2 victory at Everton that ensures they will spend Christmas top of the table, a year after occupying bottom spot heading into the hectic holiday schedule.

Only Norwich City (1987-88/1988-89) have achieved a similar transformation in top-flight history.

Two Riyad Mahrez penalties and a goal from Shinji Okazaki put Leicester on 38 points from 17 games, with chasing Arsenal and Manchester City, who clash at The Emirates on Monday, on 33 and 32 respectively.

“I am very honest,” said Leicester’s former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, who is now being quizzed on a weekly basis about his side’s chances of staying top. “If there are two matches left I think of the title. Now I enjoy.”

Mahrez slotted home from the spot in the 26th minute after Okazaki was bundled over by Ramiro Funes Mori but Romelu Lukaku equalised soon after and has now scored in seven consecutive league matches.

Algerian Mahrez converted his second penalty just past the hour before Okazaki struck and Kevin Mirallas’s late replay proved in vain for the home side.

NORWICH IMPERIL VAN GAAL

Cameron Jerome and Alexander Tettey netted in each half as Norwich City won at Manchester United to imperil their manager Louis van Gaal — their 2-1 win, their first victory at Old Trafford since 1989.

Anthony Martial pulled one back for United in the 66th minute, the team’s first shot on target, but Van Gaal’s side managed only one more attempt that required a save.

Van Gaal’s side has not won in six games and his position as manager could be under more scrutiny now that Mourinho is available.

Tottenham Hotspur took advantage of United’s woes to move above them into fourth place on goal difference thanks to a 2-0 win at Southampton — Harry Kane and Dele Alli scoring.

Sixth-placed Crystal Palace won 2-1 at Stoke City while promoted Bournemouth claimed a third consecutive league win to move above from danger with a late Charlie Daniels penalty sealing a 2-1 success at West Bromwich Albion.

Bottom club Aston Villa claimed a point in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United thanks to a fine Jordan Ayew goals but remain in deep trouble — 10 points adrift of the safety zone.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2015