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5 things we learned from this weekend's Premier League action

Liverpool are a point ahead of Manchester City in the title race.

Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with victory over Manchester United while Manchester City are just a point back after defeating Everton.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at the talking points following the weekend's Premier League action.

Liverpool can last the course

Liverpool v Manchester United – Premier League – Anfield
Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice as Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-1 (Peter Byrne/PA)

The pressure was on in one of Liverpool's biggest games of the season against rivals Manchester United.

Manchester City's win over Everton had taken them back to the top of the table on Saturday but Liverpool responded in style with a deserved 3-1 win.

They showed the character to deal with the mounting expectation and Jurgen Klopp's side proved they can handle the heat when it is on.

Paul Pogba's future remains in doubt

Liverpool v Manchester United – Premier League – Anfield
Manchester United's Paul Pogba was left on the bench at Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA)

The World Cup winner was left on the bench for one of the most eagerly-awaited fixtures in the Premier League calendar.

If it was a powerplay from boss Jose Mourinho it backfired as United lost 3-1 and questions about the pair's relationship will only continue to grow.

Speculation over Pogba's future is mounting and the fact he was not even used as a substitute at Anfield – Marouane Fellaini, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata being sent on ahead of him – will do little to quell that.

Southampton are off and running

Southampton v Arsenal – Premier League – St Mary's Stadium
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl won on his St Mary's debut (Adam Davy/PA)

Ralph Hasenhuttl earned a home debut win as Southampton boss to lift them out of the bottom three.

A 3-2 victory over Arsenal was just the Saints' second win of the season but they are out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

There is still a long way to go after the struggles under Mark Hughes but perhaps Southampton have started the road to recovery.

Wolves can be the best of the rest

Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth – Premier League – Molineux Stadium
Raul Jimenez scored in the win over Bournemouth (Aaron Chown/PA)

After a wobble Wolves have won three straight top-flight matches for the first time since 1980.

Saturday's 2-0 win over Bournemouth lifted them to seventh and they are just a point behind Manchester United.

The top five will be out of sight but Nuno Espirito Santo's side can be the best of the rest, especially if United continue to flounder.

No Ranieri reaction

Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri has won just once as Fulham boss (Chris Radburn/PA)

Fulham have won once in Claudio Ranieri's five games in charge after a 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

They sit rock bottom with just nine points with a swift return to the Sky Bet Championship looking increasingly likely.

Despite a multi-million pound spending spree in the summer the Cottagers have failed to keep a clean sheet and have a goal difference of minus 26.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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