SHEFFIELD: Sheffield United's English defender Jack O'Connell (L) and Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (R) go for the ball during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England yesterday. - AFP

LONDON: Liverpool
sent out an ominous warning to the rest of the Premier League yesterday,
proving they can win ugly as Harry Kane rescued 10-man Tottenham. Elsewhere,
there was a first league win of the season for Wolves, against bottom club
Watford, while West Ham's draw at Bournemouth lifted them to third in the
table.

Jurgen Klopp's
Liverpool won their seventh Premier League game out of seven to pull eight
points clear ahead of Manchester City, thanks to Georginio Wijnaldum's
fortunate strike in a 1-0 victory at Sheffield United. The European champions
looked short on invention against the well-organised Blades until Wijnaldum's
shot from the edge of the box 20 minutes from time trickled between the legs of
United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Liverpool, who
have won 16 consecutive league games, finished a single point behind champions
Manchester City in the Premier League last season but are now setting a searing
pace as they chase their first top-flight title since 1990.

"For us it
was important to win, we had unbelievably big chances," Klopp told BT
Sport.  "In the first half we had
two big chances and in the second one which we scored from. These games, they
are not all beauties and you have to work hard for the results."

The hosts had
their chances to spring a huge shock against their off-colour opponents but all
of their good work was undone with one mistake when Wijnaldum pounced on a
loose ball 20 yards from goal. His strike should have been easily handled by
Henderson, who instead watched on in horror as the ball slipped under his
grasp.

KANE STRIKES

Tottenham boss
Mauricio Pochettino recalled his big guns for the Premier League game against
Southampton at home, making 11 changes from the side that suffered a shock
League Cup loss at Colchester in midweek. Spurs had won just two of their
opening eight games in all competitions before and looked in deep trouble when
they were reduced to 10 men against Brighton. Tanguy Ndombele fired the home
side ahead in the 24th minute but they suffered a blow when Serge Aurier was
sent off after half an hour for two yellow cards.

Hugo Lloris then
gifted Southampton an equaliser with a goalkeeping howler, Danny Ings
dispossessing the Frenchman in his six-yard box and forcing the ball home
before Kane restored the home side's lead shortly before half-time. The win
lifted Spurs into fourth place in the Premier League, one spot behind West Ham,
who drew 2-2 away to Bournemouth after beating Manchester United last week.

Crystal Palace
were 2-0 winners against Norwich, thanks to a Luka Milivojevic penalty and a
late Andros Townsend goal while a Matt Doherty strike and a Daryl Janmaat own
goal gave Wolves a much-needed 2-0 victory against Watford. Aston Villa's John McGinn
gave his side a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute but Chris Wood levelled for Burnley
just two minutes later and the match finished level.

Pep Guardiola's
City face a tricky-looking trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton in the late
kick-off, knowing they must win to cling onto Liverpool's coat-tails, even this
early in the season. Early team news revealed Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and
David Silva were all on the bench for City. High-flying Leicester host
struggling Newcastle today while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's misfiring Manchester
United are at home to Arsenal tomorrow. - AFP