BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE SOCCER Saturday’s games

Chelsea 4, Stoke City 2

LONDON

Willian scored twice as leader Chelsea overcame Stoke to equal an English Premier League record for 13 straight wins in a single season. Bruno Martins Indi and Peter Crouch struck for Stoke to cancel out goals by Gary Cahill and Willian. But Willian struck for a second time moments after Crouch’s 64th-minute equalizer and Diego Costa netted a fourth. Chelsea held a nine-point lead over Liverpool, which hosted Manchester City on Saturday night.

Liverpool 1, Manchester City 0

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND

Georginio Wijnaldum’s early header cemented Liverpool’s title credentials by clinching a victory over Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s side slipped 10 points behind leader Chelsea. While Guardiola is discovering just how competitive the English Premier League is in his first season at City, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp will start the second half of the season only six points behind Chelsea.

Manchester United 2, Middlesbrough 1

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

Jose Mourinho’s year looked like ending badly before his Manchester United team scored two goals in the closing minutes to beat Middlesbrough. Anthony Martial struck in the 85th minute at Old Trafford, quickly followed by Paul Pogba in the 86th, after Middlesbrough had taken the lead 12 minutes into the second half through Grant Leadbitter. United has now won five league games in a row. It stays sixth with 36 points from 19 rounds, still 13 points behind leaders Chelsea at the halfway point of the season.

Swansea City 0, AFC Bournemouth 3

SWANSEA, WALES

Swansea’s miserable form continued in the first game following Bob Bradley’s firing, with Bournemouth beating the league’s bottom club. Benik Afobe and Ryan Fraser scored first-half goals and substitute Josh King completed a comfortable win for Bournemouth in the 88th minute. Under the caretaker command of Alan Curtis, Swansea slumped to a fourth straight defeat and faces a huge task to avoid the drop in 2017.

Leicester City 1, West Ham United 0

LEICESTER, ENGLAND

Leicester moved six points clear of the relegation zone on Saturday after the struggling champions beat West Ham for their first English Premier League victory in four matches. Club record signing Islam Slimani headed in the 20th-minute goal at King Power stadium. Leicester moved up one spot in the standings — from 16th to 15th. Midtable West Ham lost its first league game after three consecutive victories. Michail Antonio hit the bar for the Hammers.

Burnley 4, Sunderland 1

BURNLEY, ENGLAND

Burnley moved closer to mid-table safety after a hat trick by Andre Gray helped his side to a victory at home to Sunderland. Gray took advantage of a long ball forward to give Burnley a 31st minute lead, and then followed up six minutes after the restart by rounding goalkeeper Vito Mannone to score his second after latching onto another pass upfield. Ashley Barnes provided the assist for the hat trick.

Southampton 1, West Bromwich Albion 2

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND

Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu struck a second-half winner as West Bromwich Albion came from a goal down to beat Southampton. Shane Long had put Southampton ahead in the 41st minute, only for Matt Phillips to equalize two minutes later in a game between two mid-table sides. Southampton enjoyed plenty of first-half possession and Ronald Koeman’s side made it count shortly before the break.

Associated Press