Real edge out Levante 3-2

MADRID, September 14

Real Madrid clung on to record a nervy but vital 3-2 win at home to Levante in La Liga today following a shoddy second-half performance after taking a three-goal lead with a Karim Benzema double and Casemiro strike.

Benzema headed Real in front after 25 minutes when he met a cross from Dani Carvajal and the France forward struck again a few minutes later with a well-taken finish from a James Rodriguez pass.

Brazil midfielder Casemiro stretched Real's advantage right before half-time with a gut-busting run to meet a cross from compatriot Vinicius, but Levante hit back shortly after the interval through former Madrid forward Borja Mayoral. The visitors then reduced the deficit to one goal with 15 minutes to go thanks to a near-post header from Gonzalo Melero and twice came close to levelling in stoppage time.

City flop, Liverpool stay on top

London: Liverpool recovered from a shock Newcastle opener to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win at Anfield, as Tottenham and Chelsea bounced back to form with big wins today.

Tammy Abraham's sensational form continued as he  scored a hat-trick as Chelsea romped to a 5-2 win at Wolves.

Spurs were 4-0 up by half-time against Crystal Palace to record just their second win of the season as Son Heung-min scored twice, while Erik Lamela and an own goal from Patrick van Aanholt rounded off the scoring on a miserable day for the Eagles.

An injury-hit Manchester United coped without Paul Pogba to inflict Leicester's first defeat of the season as Marcus Rashford scored the only goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. United join Tottenham and Chelsea on eight points from five games, but Liverpool protected the only 100 percent record in the league by reacting to a slow start in style. 

Norwich City outclassed champions Manchester City 3-2 with striker Teemu Pukki scoring one and setting up another for a famous win at the Carrow Road. 

Neymar saves PSG’s blushes

Paris:  Neymar scored a spectacular last-gasp goal for Paris St Germain that was greeted with more cheers than boos in a 1-0 Ligue 1 win over Racing Strasbourg on his first appearance of the season following a failed transfer to Barcelona. The Brazil forward scored a bicycle kick two minutes into the stoppage time.  — Agencies