Premier League Wrap: Austin, Ings end Gunners' long unbeaten run; sensational Hazard powers Chelsea

London, December 16: Charlie Austin gave Ralph Hasenhuttl his first victory in charge of Southampton and ruined Arsenal's 22-game unbeaten run with an 85th-minute winner in a 3-2 triumph on Sunday (December 16).

Premier League Results | Premier League Points Table | Premier League Fixtures

Danny Ings and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both hit braces before Bernd Leno came and missed Shane Long's cross to allow substitute Austin to head the hosts to their first victory in 15 outings.

Much of the build-up centred on the role Laurent Koscielny, starting his first top-flight match since April, would play in stabilising a makeshift three-man defence, yet it was he who twice lost Ings for a pair of first-half headers.

Mkhitarayan replied with one of his own before the break and levelled for the second time with a deflected 53rd-minute shot, but the Gunners' second-half fightback stopped short on this occasion as they were left three points adrift of the top four.

2 - Henrikh Mkhitaryan has scored his first Premier League brace, and his first in the top five European leagues since August 2015 (for Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Mönchengladbach). Double. pic.twitter.com/ddgD21NrV5

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 16, 2018

Chelsea secure hard-fought win

Eden Hazard starred for Chelsea as he scored one and set up another in a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Hazard netted a double in Chelsea's 4-0 win in the corresponding fixture last season, and the winger dazzled Brighton in the first half on Sunday.

With Pedro having benefited from Hazard's exceptional play for Chelsea's opener, the Belgian doubled the visitors' advantage with his first goal in eight games just after the half-hour, although he was replaced late on after picking up a knock.

Solly March's close-range finish after Marcos Alonso had hit the woodwork set up a grandstand finish, but Chelsea held firm to move back within two points of third-placed Tottenham.

Buoyed by his goal against Manchester City, David Luiz had Chelsea's first attempt, Mat Ryan doing well to judge the defender's dipping free-kick.

Goal ✅
Assist ✅

Hear the thoughts of @hazardeden10 in the Chelsea app shortly! 🔥 #BHACHE pic.twitter.com/Gh3QCfzV0l

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 16, 2018

But Ryan was beaten in the 17th minute, as Hazard came to the fore.

After seeing his initial shot blocked, Hazard capitalised on the ricochet, driving into the area before sliding a disguised pass to the far post, setting up Pedro for a simple finish.

Hazard turned from provider to scorer 16 minutes later, racing clear of Brighton's defence to latch on to Willian's throughball and slot beyond Ryan.

Shaqiri's late show bails out Alisson as Reds return to the top

Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice to bail out Alisson following a first-half howler to secure Liverpool a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, lifting the Reds back to the Premier League summit.

United looked to be on course for a commendable point after Alisson gifted Jesse Lingard a first-half equaliser, but substitute Shaqiri struck twice in the final 17 minutes to halt Liverpool's eight-match winless run against their great rivals in the league.

Liverpool deservedly went ahead through Sadio Mane's well-worked opener, but it did not last long despite their domination, as Lingard converted to punish Alisson's error just after the half-hour mark.

Chances were not so frequent after the break and United appeared to be coping better at the back, but Shaqiri – introduced for Naby Keita in the 70th minute – score two deflected goals to leave hapless United down and out.

After a frantic start, the breakthrough eventually came in the 24th minute – Mane losing his marker and coolly slotting past David de Gea after bringing Fabinho's incisive pass down on his chest.

Dejan Lovren should have made it 2-0 when he blasted over from close range shortly after, and United capitalised in the 33rd minute – Alisson inexplicably spilling a Romelu Lukaku cross and Lingard punished the Brazilian.

United had to rely on De Gea again early in the second half, as the Spaniard got down brilliantly to his left to keep out Roberto Firmino's goal-bound toe-poke.

But Shaqiri was not to be denied, as he found the net via the crossbar and a deflection off Ashley Young following Mane's cut-back.

He completed the win 10 minutes from the end, his 20-yard strike flicking off Eric Bailly to send Liverpool back to the top.

It was quite the contribution from the substitute. In contrast, Paul Pogba remained on the United bench even when Mourinho chased the game.