SUPER Eagles forward Emmanuel Dennis scored his sixth goal of an impressive debut Premier League season on Wednesday night.
However, the strike was not enough to prevent his struggling Watford side from losing 2-1 at home to leaders Chelsea.
After the match was suspended for about 30 mimutes as an ill fan was attended to by emergency services, Mason Mount gave Chelsea the lead.
Dennis equalised just before half-time to give the Hornets some hope, but Morocco forward Hakim Ziyech came off the bench to score the winner in the 72nd minute as Chelsea retained their spot at the top of the pile.
Liverpool kept the chase on by thrashing neighbours and fierce rivals Everton 4-1 to pile the pressure on former Reds manager Rafael Benitez on Wednesday, and ensure the Premier League top three remain separated by just two points.
Liverpool had won just once at Goodison Park, but they were in devastating form on Wednesday as Egypt forward Mohamed Salah scored twice to take his tally for the season to 19 goals in 19 games in all competitions.
Jordan Henderson opened the scoring before Salah made it 2-0 early on.
Demarai Gray pulled one back before half-time to brielfy give Everton hope, but Salah and Diogo Jota completed the emphatic win after the break.
At Villa Park, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could not do his old club a favour His 100 per cent start as Aston Villa manager was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, who featured former Villa hero Jack Grealish.
Gerrard had won his first two games as Villa boss with back-to-back victories over Brighton and Crystal Palace but champions City were a different test entirely.
An injury-hit City dominated the first half and were 2-0 up at half-time courtesy of brilliant finishes from Portugul pair Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva.
Ollie Watkins pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half but City held out for the vital three points.
West Ham’s hopes of a top-four finish suffered a blow as Brighton equalised late to claim a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
Tomas Soucek gave the Hammers the opening goal after just five minutes, but after a second for David Moyes’s men was controversially ruled out by a VAR review, Neal Maupay earned a point for Brighton a minute from time.In the other match affected by a lengthy delay to attend to an ill fan in the crowd, Leicester came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw at Southampton.
Jan Bednarek and Che Adams put the home side in front in the first half, but Jonny Evans and James Maddison levelled to keep Leicester just five points off the top four.
Two Nigerian players, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman, were involved in Evans’s goal.
James Maddison’s corner was headed away but only to Lookman who teed up Ndidi, the Super Eagles midfielder’s shot was saved but Evans was there to slot home the rebound.
