LONDON, Sept 30, 2018 (News Wires) - A stunning late strike from Daniel Sturridge rescued a point for Liverpool in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea while Manchester United's 3-1 defeat at West Ham United confirmed their worst top-flight start for 29 years and piled more pressure on manager Jose Mourinho. The contrast with neighbours Manchester City could not be more marked, with Pep Guardiola's side beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 to go ahead of Liverpool on goal difference. Sturridge's late intervention at Stamford Bridge, which preserves his team's unbeaten start to the season, came moments after Juergen Klopp brought him on, perhaps in the hope he might replicate the goal he managed against the same opponents in the EFL Cup at Anfield on Wednesday. Amazingly, Sturridge did exactly that, unleashing a 25-metre shot that found the top corner of the Chelsea net just when it looked like Liverpool, who had won all six of their previous league games this season, had run out of ideas. "What a game, a spectacular football game," said Liverpool manager Klopp. "It was so deserved for Daniel (Sturridge), a really nice moment and I'm so happy for him." It is the first time that Chelsea, for whom Eden Hazard scored with a low first-half drive, have not won after going ahead this season. The result sets up nicely next weekend's Anfield clash with City -- whom they trail on goal difference. City brushed aside the limited challenge of Brighton with goals from Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero after the Argentine linked superbly with the Englishman to net his seventh goal in all competitions this season. Liverpool and City are now nine points ahead of United, who are being quoted at an unlikely 150/1 to win the title this season. United manager Jose Mourinho will be more concerned with where their next win will come from after another lacklustre showing ended with him lambasting his team for their "quality and mental approach" at West Ham. The defeat marked another low after a turbulent week in which Paul Pogba was stripped of the vice-captaincy and United were dumped out of the EFL Cup by Derby.
