Chelsea stunned 1-0 at Sunderland as Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1

Chelsea suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Premier League strugglers Sunderland on Sunday, while Liverpool got back on track with a 3-1 win over bottom-half Crystal Palace.

Sunderland hand Chelsea a setback

Xabi Alonso's side came to the Stadium of Light hoping to strengthen their push for a top-four finish and a Champions League place. Instead, they left after a loss to third-bottom Sunderland, who won a league match for only the second time this season.

Chelsea, who are fifth, were hit in the 36th minute when Enzo Le Fee converted a penalty after Brian Brobbey was brought down by Levi Colwill. Alonso, the former Real Madrid manager, has now seen his side beaten four times in 10 league matches under his leadership.

Alonso said Chelsea had not created enough chances in the final third against Sunderland's low block and had not controlled the attack well enough. He acknowledged that his side had not done well enough in several situations despite preparing for the match during the week.

Liverpool bounce back at Selhurst Park

Liverpool had lost to Arsenal in the Premier League and to Fenerbahce in the Champions League before travelling to south London, and questions had been raised about Andoni Iraola in his first season in charge at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister headed Liverpool in front from Dominik Szoboszlai's cross after 40 minutes. Florian Wirtz doubled the lead in the 54th minute with a composed finish from Bradley Barcola's cross, his first league goal of the season. Alexander Isak made it 3-1 in the 89th minute, finishing off a pass from Wirtz, to end a two-match losing run.

Eddie Nketiah scored a stoppage-time penalty for Palace after a foul by Milos Kerkez, but it was no consolation. Palace have slumped to the bottom of the table after their seventh defeat in 10 league matches, and manager Pierre Sage, who replaced Oliver Glasner in the close season, is under intense pressure. Iraola said the win was important going into the international break, adding that his side had struggled defensively in the first half but had closed the game well.

Brighton and Bournemouth also win

Brighton moved up to second with a 2-0 win over Brentford at the Amex Stadium. Diego Gomez fired the Seagulls ahead in the 15th minute with a 25-yard strike. Brentford striker Igor Thiago was sent off midway through the first half for catching Chema Andres in the face. Pascal Gross doubled the lead with a 42nd-minute penalty after Keane Lewis-Potter fouled Luka Vuskovic. It was Brighton's sixth win in their last seven league games, lifting them above third-placed Manchester City and within five points of leaders Arsenal.

Evanilson continued his hot run in Bournemouth's 2-1 win at Ipswich. The Brazilian forward scored in the fifth minute, his seventh goal in his last eight games. Leif Davis put through his own goal in the 46th minute to extend the lead, and Jack Clarke's 73rd-minute penalty was not enough to rescue Ipswich.

Carrick under pressure ahead of Villa game

In Sunday's late kick-off, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces Aston Villa at Old Trafford in a match he cannot afford to lose, according to the report. United have not won in their last seven league games and have claimed just one top-flight victory this season. They had come from two goals down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday, ending a winless run of nine matches in all competitions.