Costa goal hands Chelsea win at Liverpool

Diego Costa's 10th goal of the season maintained Premier League leaders Chelsea's unbeaten record and inflicted yet more pain on Liverpool at Anfield.

Back in April their win on Merseyside signalled the beginning of the end of the Reds' title dream and while this 2-1 victory was not as heartbreaking or damaging for the home side it was just as frustrating.

Midfielder Emre Can's first goal since his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen had given Liverpool an early lead but it has not been a situation they have been comfortable with all season.

Gary Cahill's scrambled 13th-minute effort via the goal decision system ensured Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho could have no complaints and he would have been positively overjoyed with Costa's clinical first-time effort midway through the second half.

While Mourinho is sitting pretty at the top of the table his former protege Brendan Rodgers finds himself under more scrutiny having placed particular emphasis on this game by making seven changes for the midweek Champions League defeat at Real Madrid.

Substitute Shane Long struck twice late on as second-placed Southampton stayed within touching distance of the leaders with a 2-0 win over Leicester at St Mary's Stadium.

Both sides struggled in awful conditions on the south coast with Sadio Mane closest to a first half opener when his close-range effort was ruled out for offside.

Long replaced Mane in the 67th minute and curled home a fine opener eight minutes later, before beating the visitors' offside trap to stroke home his second with 10 minutes to go.

Louis Van Gaal was a relieved man after watching his Manchester United side labour to a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

United's defensive frailties were once again in evidence as Fraizer Campbell was gifted a golden chance to open the scoring in the first half after hesitation between Daley Blind and Paddy McNair.

Yannick Bolasie also missed a good chance but United rode their luck and grabbed the winner in the 67th minute when substitute Juan Mata played a neat one-two with Angel di Maria before firing home.

Mata also hit the post late on as United improved and ultimately did just enough to earn their victory.

Burnley claimed their first top-flight win at the 11th time of trying as they edged a 1-0 win over Hull at Turf Moor.

Recalled Ashley Barnes was the hero as he headed home Kieran Trippier's 50th minute cross to finally get Sean Dyche's season up and running.

Andy Carroll came agonising close to claiming all three points for West Ham in his first appearance of the season at Upton Park.

The Hammers were largely frustrated by a resolute Aston Villa side who were looking to end a miserable run of six successive defeats.

Diafra Sakho missed two late chances before Carroll replaced Mark Noble in stoppage time and saw a strong late header brilliantly saved by Brad Guzan as Villa clung on for a goalless draw.