(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency)
London, Rabi'II 08, 1439, December 26, 2017, SPA -- Manchester United's fading Premier League title hopes
took a hit on Tuesday, while Tottenham's Harry Kane rewrote the
record book, according to dpa.
United were held to a 2-2 home draw by Burnley that kept them second, but still 12 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City.
Substitute Jesse Lingard's second-half brace salvaged a point for United, who fell behind to goals from Ashley Barnes and Steven Defour.
"Obviously we created a lot of chances; we should have won the game," Lingard said.
"We dominated the game, so we're disappointed." Kane, meanwhile, capped off a remarkable year by scoring his second straight hat-trick as Tottenham thrashed Southampton 5-2.
The striker finished 2017 with 39 Premier League goals, three more than the record for a calendar year set by Blackburn's Alan Shearer in 1995.
"It was hard not to think about it, being level going into the game," Kane told Sky Sports.
"I wanted to win the game, but of course I wanted to score as a striker.
"Getting that record was a great feeling." Burnley looked primed for the upset win at Old Trafford thanks to Barnes and Defour.
But Lingard came on to pull United one back early in the second half and then rescued them in stoppage time.
"A lot of pride in a team that is stretched at the moment," Burnley manager Sean Dyche said of his side's effort.
"To come out with a point is pleasing." United will fall 15 points behind Man City if the leaders win at Newcastle on Wednesday.
At Wembley Stadium, Kane's trio of goals gave him 56 for club and country on the year, two more than Lionel Messi's tally for Barcelona and Argentina.
Dele Alli and Son Heung Min also scored as Spurs remain one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who overwhelmed bottom side Swansea 5-0.
Roberto Firmino scored two of Liverpool's four second-half goals as the Reds made it 11 unbeaten in the league. "The boys did well again today," Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored the final goal, said. "In the first half we did OK. We knew we had to step it up the second half and we did that." Swansea's ninth loss in 12 leaves them rooted to the foot of the table, five points from safety.
Alvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso scored as third-placed Chelsea beat Brighton 2-0 to pull within a point of Manchester United.
Watford came from behind to beat Leicester 2-1 and end a six-game losing run, while a controversial stoppage-time goal gave Bournemouth a 3-3 draw with West Ham.
Callum Wilson's equalizer was originally disallowed for offsides before referee Bobby Madley awarded it.
Bournemouth remain in the relegation zone, one place and point behind the Hammers.
Stoke moved three points clear of the drop with a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield, while second-bottom West Bromwich's winless league run stretched to 18 games following a goalless draw with Everton.
--SPA
22:53 LOCAL TIME 19:53 GMT
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