A rousing comeback
against struggling Sheffield United helped Liverpool record a 2-1 win to go
level with Everton at the summit of the Premier League as Manchester United and
Chelsea played out a drab, goalless draw at Old Trafford to continue
underwhelming starts to their respective domestic campaigns.

Earlier, Pep
Guardiola’s Manchester City were pegged back by West Ham at the London Stadium,
leaving the Citizens stranded at 12th as a topsy-turvy season begins
to take shape.

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Jurgen Klopp’s
defending champions extended their unbeaten run at Anfield to 62 after
surviving an early scare with Sheffield’s Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge converting
from the spot to hand the visitors an unlikely lead.

However,
Roberto Firmino drew the hosts level on the 41st minute-mark and
although a spectacular Mohamed Salah goal was ruled out for offside, a Diego Jota
header midway through the second half secured the three points.

The three
points draws Liverpool level with their Merseyside rivals Everton at the top of
the tree, although the Toffees have a superior goal difference and a game in
hand to their advantage.

“I’m not
surprised at all — you always have to work hard against Sheffield United,” AFP
quoted Klopp as saying.

“It’s hard
to take for (Sheffield manager) Chris Wilder. The penalty was not even a foul.
During a season there are so many different periods, we have had an injustice
and we have had to go again. I love these games, as you earn all of the rest.
You earn the easier games when it all goes your way on nights like this,” Klopp
said.

The day
started with City taking on David Moyes’ resurgent West Ham, as Phil Foden’s second
half effort helped salvage a point after Michail Antonio gave the hosts an
early lead with an incredible overhead kick.

The draw
means injury-hit City, who are without the services of Aymeric Laporte, Nathan
Ake, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus, have taken just five points from their four
previous matches.

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In typical
style, they dominated possession but could not create openings and goalkeeper
Lukasz Fabianski produced a string of excellent saves to deny the visitors a
winner.

City are now five points behind league leaders Everton, who have a game
in hand and appear to be more fragile than at any point in Guardiola’s four
years in charge.

“I would
prefer to have results but we have to analyse where we are,” Guardiola said.

“Many
injuries, a lack of preparation, no recovery time, and tough games we’ve played
so far. But the players gave everything on the pitch. Now we recover and think
about the next game,” he added.

There could
be further bad news for the Spaniard, with Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, who
only last week returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, suspected to
have picked up a hamstring injury.

Edinson
Cavani made his debut for Manchester United against big-spending Chelsea but
the teams cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw on a night of torrential rain.

United’s
previous two Premier League home games this season resulted in a 9-2 aggregate
scoreline against them in defeats by Crystal Palace and Tottenham.

Marcus
Rashford came close to breaking the deadlock but Cesar Azpilicueta had a strong
penalty appeal rejected when Harry Maguire wrestled him down at a Chelsea
set-piece.

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The result
means United have failed to win any of their opening three home league games in
a season for the first time since the 1972/73 season.

“We
miss the fans, I must say,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

“It is
the same for all teams but I think everyone agrees that the edge has gone and I
can’t wait to get the fans back. But I thought we were closest to winning the
game, we kept a clean sheet and we have stopped the run of home defeats.”

Chelsea
boss Frank Lampard felt his side had been denied a clear penalty, adding,
“Maguire got Azpilicueta in a headlock.”

Elsewhere,
goals from Jairo Riedewald and Wilfried Zaha in a 2-1 win for Crystal Palace
condemned promoted Fulham to their fifth defeat in six matches.