SUNDERLAND 0 LIVERPOOL 1
Lazar Markovic struck his first league goal for Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers’ men made hard work of seeing off 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The summer signing from Benfica fired home in the ninth minute but, despite a dominant performance, the visitors missed numerous chances to make the game safe against the below-par hosts.
And after Liam Bridcutt was harshly red-carded in the 49th minute for tripping Emre Can, it was Gus Poyet’s men who came closest to a leveller when Adam Johnson clattered a long-range effort against the bar, but it was to remain 1-0 to the visitors.
BURNLEY 2 QPR 1
Harry Redknapp was forced to endure his QPR side setting to a new, unwanted Premier League record as his side slumped to a 2-1 defeat in the sleet at a bitterly-cold Burnley.
It was Rangers’ 10th consecutive away defeat from the start of the season and the result sees Burnley leapfrog the visitors to leave Redknapp’s side in the bottom three.
Sean Dyche’s side had two exquisite goals to thank for the three points, from Scott Arfield and Danny Ings either side of a Charlie Austin penalty, and Burnley had the better of the chances after that.
LEICESTER 1 ASTON VILLA 0
Leicester’s revival continued as Paul Konchesky’s winner handed them a valuable 1-0 victory over poor Aston Villa.
City extended their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions in front of the watching Andrej Kramaric as the striker waits to complete his club record move from Rijeka.
He saw Konchesky, who was controversially sent off at Villa last month before having the red rescinded, lash in the winner seconds before the break.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men in injury-time when Matty James and Ciaran Clark were sent off after clashing.
SWANSEA 1 WEST HAM 1
Sam Allardyce missed West Ham’s trip to Swansea with a chest infection and his spirits would not have been lifted by being denied two Premier League points in a 1-1 draw.
The Hammers manager had to leave his assistant Neil McDonald in charge at the Liberty Stadium but things were going to plan when Andy Carroll conjured up a goal of the season contender two minutes before the break.
West Ham had good chances to win the game but Swansea claimed a share of the points when Bafetimbi Gomis rose at a 74th-minute corner and his header hit the post before striking Hammers captain Mark Noble for what will probably go down as an own goal.
WEST BROM 1 HULL 0
Saido Berahino’s scoring hot-streak continued as Tony Pulis’ first Barclays Premier League game in charge of West Brom saw the side beat Hull City 1-0 at The Hawthorns to move two points clear of the relegation zone.
Berahino followed up his four goals in last weekend’s 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Gateshead by cracking the ball home in the 78th minute, the England Under-21 striker being teed up from an indirect free-kick in the box awarded for Ahmed Elmohamady’s backpass to Allan McGregor.