Divock Origi spares Liverpool blushes, Henrikh Mkhitaryan fires Manchester United past Spurs

New Delhi: Liverpool took the lead against West Ham United but then had to come from behind in another game of thrills and spills for Juergen Klopp`s unpredictable side who where held to a 2-2 home draw in the Premier League on Sunday.

Liverpool, six points adrift of leaders Chelsea, managed one goal in four games with West Ham last season but took just five minutes to score at Anfield when Adam Lallana turned cleverly to meet Sadio Mane`s cross and shoot low into the net.

However, West Ham got back on level terms when Frenchman Dimitri Payet fired a 20-metre free kick past goalkeeper Loris Karius who, as at Bournemouth in last week`s 4-3 defeat, should have done better after getting a hand to the ball.

Another Liverpool mistake led to West Ham`s second goal when Joel Matip, supposed to be the calming influence in defence, failed to clear a ball that looped over his head and fell for Michail Antonio, who slotted past the stranded Karius.

Third-placed Liverpool, though, did not have a trademark on mistakes and three minutes into the second half West Ham keeper Darren Randolph flapped at another Mane cross, leaving Divock Origi a simple job to bag his fourth goal in as many games.

Anfield expected another goal to come although, given Liverpool`s current mood, no one could be sure at which end. Jordan Henderson and Nathaniel Clyne went close as the hosts tried to capitalise on their almost total control of possession.

Time and again intricate passes took Liverpool into the visitors` area before each move broke down as West Ham threw enough bodies in the way to hang on for the point that lifts them out of the relegation zone.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Henrikh Mkhitaryan`s first Premier League goal earned Jose Mourinho`s Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory over high-flying Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Armenian, who was carried off on a stretcher with 10 minutes remaining after a heavy tackle by Danny Rose left him clutching his ankle, blasted home on 29 minutes after Ander Herrera intercepted a sloppy Harry Kane pass in midfield.

Herrera fed the ball through and Mkhitaryan, a 25 million pounds ($31.43 million) close-season buy from Borussia Dortmund who was left out in the cold earlier in the campaign, did the rest with a rocket of a shot over keeper Hugo Lloris.

The unmarked Victor Wanyama missed a good chance to grab an equaliser for Spurs following a free kick in the 56th minute, his header going inexplicably wide at the back post, while Paul Pogba struck the woodwork for United in the 64th.

The hosts remained sixth with 24 points, three behind fifth-placed Tottenham who might otherwise have overtaken Manchester City -- beaten 4-2 at champions Leicester City on Saturday -- on goal difference.

United remain one of the two current Premier League teams that Kane, last season`s top marksman, has yet to score against and the England forward offered little in the way of danger despite Tottenham having plenty of possession.

The victory was United`s first at home in the league since September and ended a run of three games without a win in the top flight.

"It`s an important win against a very good team," Mourinho told Sky Sports television.

"We didn`t deserve to spend the last 10 or 15 minutes with our hearts in hands ... (but) at this moment 1-0 is magic because we needed the points."

The Portuguese played down Mkhitaryan`s injury, saying it looked more serious than it was and that the midfielder could be out for a week.

"Maximum a couple of weeks. It doesn`t look like something that is very dangerous or difficult. He brings everything I want an attacker to play. Maybe one week out and it is better to be fresh for Boxing Day (Dec. 26)," he said.