ASTON VILLA SACK SMITH AS WESTHAM END LIVERPOOL’S UNBEATEN RACE

West Ham beat Liverpool 3-2 on Sunday to end the Reds’ 25-match unbeaten run as struggling Aston Villa fired manager Dean Smith on a day of high drama in the Premier League.⁣
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Jurgen Klopp’s team were one game away from setting a new club record of 26 matches unbeaten in all competitions but three costly errors from goalkeeper Alisson Becker cost them dear.⁣
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Elsewhere in the English top flight, Antonio Conte had a taste of the scale of his task at new club Tottenham as they laboured to a 0-0 draw at Everton.⁣
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Liverpool travelled to the London Stadium without a defeat since April but left frustrated as West Ham leapfrogged them into third spot in the table.⁣
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It was a day to forget for Brazilian international Alisson, whose own goal put West Ham ahead early in the first half.⁣
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Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised with a brilliant free-kick, but Alisson was at fault again as Pablo Fornals and Kurt Zouma struck for the Hammers after half-time.⁣
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Divock Origi pulled one back for Liverpool, but it was not enough to preserve their long unbeaten streak and they stay four points behind leaders Chelsea.⁣
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“However long a run is, it will come to an end,” said Klopp, who was disappointed with some of the refereeing decisions.⁣
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“It looked like we lost a bit of patience. We were not that calm in the decisive moments. We can be better, 100 percent.”⁣
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West Ham boss David Moyes said finishing in the Champions League places was realistic after they narrowly missed out last season.⁣
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Spurs sacked Nuno Espirito Santo last week after five defeats in seven Premier League matches and turned to Conte, who has won league titles with Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan.⁣
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A game short on clear-cut chances could easily have ended in another league defeat for the visitors but for an intervention from VAR to overturn the decision to award Everton a second-half penalty.⁣