Diaz strikes twice and Liverpool tops the Premier League while Newcastle loses at Fulham

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Luis Díaz scored two fine goals inside two minutes as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-0 to move to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday.

Arne Slot's side leads Manchester City on goal difference only and the defending champion needs a draw at home to Arsenal in Sunday's big game to reclaim first place.

On a rare quiet day for teammate Mohamed Salah in front of goal, Díaz scored off both feet to display his own finishing skills at Anfield.

The Colombia forward chased down a long pass from defender Ibrahima Konaté, controlled the ball exquisitely on his waist as he turned, and then glided past goalkeeper Kepa before sliding the ball into the bottom left corner in the 28th minute.

That was with his right foot, and his second goal came off his left in the 30th.

Liverpool broke from midfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold galloped forward before slipping the ball to Díaz inside the left of the penalty area and he clipped it neatly past Kepa.

Darwin Núñez scored a fine third in the 37th. Collecting the ball wide right he looked to cross it, before changing his mind and curling a fine shot in off the left post.

Victory would have moved Newcastle to the top of the league but it lost at Fulham 3-1 to drop to sixth spot.

Fulham led early through Raúl Jiménez’s shot into the bottom right corner and a howler by goalie Nick Pope gifted Emile Smith Rowe Fulham’s second in the 22nd.

Harvey Barnes pulled one back after halftime but Reiss Nelson sealed victory in stoppage time.

In-form England striker Ollie Watkins came to the rescue as Aston Villa bounced back to beat rock-bottom Wolverhampton 3-1 in a fiery derby match to move into third spot.

An awful pass from Diego Carlos gifted Matheus Cunha the opening goal.

Villa struggled to create anything against a winless team before Watkins levelled in the 73rd with a deflected finish for his fourth goal in three matches.

Ezri Konsa fired in a cross by Youri Tielemans in the 88th and Jhon Duran lived up to his super-sub reputation by netting in stoppage time. It was the fourth time this season the Colombia forward has come off the bench to score.

There was nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time at Villa Park due to a lengthy delay while Colombia defender Yerson Mosquera was treated for an injury before being taken off on a stretcher.

Villa is level on points with City but trails on goal difference, with both two points ahead of Chelsea.

Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson marked his 50th club appearance with two early goals to inspire his team to a 3-0 win at West Ham.

Jackson added an assist for Cole Palmer against a poor West Ham side which was booed at the end of the match by home fans. New West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after his third loss.

Chelsea's three league wins have all come away from home.

Chelsea scored in the fourth minute when Jackson played a one-two with Jadon Sancho and surged forward before cutting in from the left and firing between goalie Alphonse Areola’s legs.

Jackson doubled his tally in the 18th after latching onto a Moises Caicedo throughball and drilling into the bottom left corner. He turned provider in the 47th for Palmer, who fired in off the left post.

Tottenham hit back to beat Brentford 3-1 after Bryan Mbuemo scored in the first minute for the visitors.

Dominic Solanke leveled from close range seven minutes later after James Maddison’s shot was saved.

Brennan Johnson put Spurs 2-1 ahead in the 28th on a pass from captain Son Heung-Min, who set up Maddison's late goal.

Manchester United remained midtable after squandering a host of chances in a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.

After United winger Alejandro Garnacho had an early effort saved, defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez saw efforts saved by goalie Dean Henderson.

Midway through a frantic first half, Garnacho then hit the crossbar and midfielder Bruno Fernandes did likewise when he followed up.

The result left United in 11th place and Palace in 16th.

Southampton was denied its first win when visiting Ipswich scored in the fifth minute of injury time to draw 1-1.

Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved Dara O’Shea's header but Ipswich captain Sam Morsy scored from the ensuing corner with a fine 20-meter strike.

Veteran midfielder Adam Lallana set up 18-year-old midfielder Tyler Dibling early on for Southampton, which is in 18th place.

Everton leaked again when it drew 1-1 at Leicester, where torrential rain delayed the start of the second half by six minutes.

Everton lost its previous two games despite going 2-0 up.

This time it led 1-0 through Iliman Ndiaye’s 12th-minute goal only for forward Stephy Mavididi to equalize in the 73rd and leave Everton in 19th spot.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho and Crystal Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson, left, react at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Crystal Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson goes for a save in front of Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Leicester City's Stephy Mavididi celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Everton, at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, England, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

Fulham's Emile Smith Rowe and Newcastle United's Joe Willock, right, battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Newcastle United at Craven Cottage, London, Saturday Sept. 21, 2024. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Saturday Sept. 21, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Southampton's Tyler Dibling scores his side's first goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Ipswich Town, at St Mary's Stadium, in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson, center scores his side's second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke, center, celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game with teammate Son Heung-Min, during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)

West Ham's head coach Julen Lopetegui reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Chelsea at the London stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson scores during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Chelsea at the London stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson celebrates after he scored during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Chelsea at the London stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Liverpool's Luis Diaz, second right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth, at Anfield, in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Luis Diaz scores his side's second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth, at Anfield, in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run homer, drove in four runs ad scored twice to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

De La Cruz, who had three hits, joined Eric Davis and Barry Larkin as the only Reds' players with 25 homers and 65 stolen bases in a season. He stole his 100th career base in his 251st game on Friday night.

Rookie Rhett Lowder (2-2) made his fifth start for Cincinnati and allowed five hits in five innings. He has a 1.40 ERA through five starts, allowing one earned run or fewer in four of them.

De La Cruz doubled and scored on Tyler Stephenson's single to put the Reds ahead 1-0 in the third. Ty France followed with his 13th homer of the season to make the score 3-0.

In the fourth, De La Cruz's three-run homer struck the railing just below the upper-level bar in right field to make the score 6-0.

Pirates rookie Jared jones (6-8) tied season-highs with six earned runs and two homers allowed.

Billy Cook hit a solo homer off Alan Busenitz in the ninth for Pittsburgh's run.

TRAINERS ROOM

Reds: LHP Sam Moll (left shoulder impingement) will not pitch this season. ... C Austin Wynns (right teres major tear) had planned for a rehab assignment this month, but instead will be shut down.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Paul Skenes (10-3, 2.07) has the lowest ERA in the major leagues since debuting on May 11.

Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (9-4, 2.83) will come off the injured list to make his first start since Aug 13.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz hits a three-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz watches his three-run homer with Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal (6) and home plate umpire Charlie Ramos during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz watches his three-run homer with Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)