Liverpool. — Liverpool’s Divock Origi scored a bizarre 96th-minute goal in sensational circumstances as a terrible Jordan Pickford error gifted the Reds victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

It sent his manager Jurgen Klopp sprinting onto the pitch to hug goalkeeper Alisson and the fans into raptures, but it was cruel on Everton, who had at times played the more adventurous football in a lively encounter.

The 232nd meeting between the city rivals looked set to be heading for a draw when Pickford mishandled a sliced Virgil van Dijk shot that had ballooned high up into the air. It seemed set to land on top of his net, but the England keeper clawed the ball back down from above his crossbar and spilled it out to Origi.

A late substitute making his first Premier League appearance since August 2017, all the Belgian striker had to do was nod into an empty net to secure a win that consolidates Liverpool’s second place, two points behind defending champions Manchester City.

In the 87th-minute he had missed what looked to be the standout late chance to seal victory when he smashed against the bar from three yards, unable to convert a ball bouncing loose from a corner.

It was Origi’s third goal against Everton — his best record against any side for Liverpool.

It was the fifth Premier League injury-time winner Liverpool have scored against Everton — again, they have not scored more against any other side in the Premier League era. The Toffees remain without a victory in their past 18 meetings with the Reds, and are winless at Anfield this century.

They remain in sixth position in the table, eight points below Tottenham in fifth and Arsenal in fourth.

At the Emirates, Arsenal produced a relentless attacking performance to overpower Tottenham and deservedly win a pulsating north London derby at Emirates Stadium.

Unai Emery’s side extended their unbeaten run to 19 matches, moving above Spurs into the top four, with a display that reflected the outstanding work the Spaniard has done since succeeding Arsene Wenger. Arsenal’s fast start drew early reward when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them ahead from the spot after Jan Vertonghen’s handball.

Yet Spurs, against the run of play, were ahead before the break. Eric Dier glanced home Christian Eriksen’s free-kick to equalise, sparking a melee involving players from both sides with his celebrations in front of Arsenal’s fans, before Harry Kane scored from the spot after Rob Holding was penalised for a challenge on Son Heung-min.

Emery introduced Alexandre Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey at the start of the second half to dramatic effect. The Welshman set up Aubameyang’s magnificent finish and the France striker’s deflected shot beat goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from the edge of the area to put Arsenal ahead with 16 minutes left.

The outstanding Lucas Torreira ran clear to wrap up Arsenal’s win and Spurs’ misery was complete when Vertonghen was sent off for a foul on Lacazette.

The manner in which Arsenal pressed and powered Spurs into submission here was remarkable but further evidence of their transformation under Emery.

The former Sevilla and Paris St-Germain manager has galvanised the club on and off the pitch after the stale end to the Wenger era. He was a constant blur of movement in his technical area almost guiding every move by hand.

Emery has, crucially, made an instant connection with Arsenal’s fans, regularly urging them to turn up the volume at moments when the stadium threatened to go quiet.

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said Claudio Ranieri can “have a very great impact” at Fulham after his team overcame a spirited Cottagers side to claim a valuable victory at Stamford Bridge.

Ranieri was appointed Fulham boss on November 14 after Slavisa Jokanovic was sacked and the Italian guided his new team to victory over Southampton in his first game in charge last Saturday.

However, despite a brave second-half performance, his Cottagers were unable to breach the Chelsea defence and they fell to defeat through goals from Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek either side of the break.

“Today was about the result — we gave more attention to the defensive phase to get the win,” Sarri told Sky Sports.

“Now we have to start to improve and play our football in a better way.

“Ranieri can have a very great impact at Fulham, in two or three weeks they will defend very well and in a month, playing against them will be a problem for any team.”

The Blues took the lead early on when Pedro slotted home from N’Golo Kante’s pass and they could have had more in the first half had Sergio Rico not twice denied Olivier Giroud. Fulham threatened to find an equaliser in the second half as Chelsea struggled for fluency, but substitute Loftus-Cheek made the win safe when he fired past Rico after an intricate passing move with Eden Hazard and Pedro.

Defeat for Fulham means they stay bottom of the table, having claimed only one point from a possible 24 away from home this season. — BBC Sport.

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