Barclays Premier League Table: Updated 2014 EPL Outlook After Week 14 Results
Liverpool finally found their way back into the top half of the Premier League table after Brendan Rodgers' team defeated relegation favourites Leicester, 3-1, away from home.
Returning skipper Steven Gerrard found his way onto the scoresheet, with additional strikes from Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson sealing the points.
Manchester United's fine winning streak also continued, which sees them now sit second in the form guide only behind leaders Chelsea.
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The Red Devils made it 12 points from their last four games after goals from Marouane Fellaini and a curling free-kick from Juan Mata.
Here are the latest results from Week 14 and updated league standings:
| Tuesday, Dec. 2 | Burnley | 1-1 | Newcastle United |
| Tuesday, Dec. 2 | Leicester City | 1-3 | Liverpool |
| Tuesday, Dec. 2 | Manchester United | 2-1 | Stoke City |
| Tuesday, Dec. 2 | Swansea City | 2-0 | Queens Park Rangers |
| Tuesday, Dec. 2 | Crystal Palace | 0-1 | Aston Villa |
| Tuesday, Dec. 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 1-2 | West Ham United |
| Wednesday, Dec. 3 | Arsenal | vs. | Southampton |
| Wednesday, Dec. 3 | Chelsea | vs. | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Wednesday, Dec. 3 | Everton | vs. | Hull City |
| Wednesday, Dec. 3 | Sunderland | vs. | Manchester City |
| 1 | Chelsea | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 11 | 19 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 13 | 14 | 27 |
| 3 | Southampton | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 26 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 25 |
| 5 | West Ham | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 16 | 6 | 24 |
| 6 | Swansea City | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 22 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 20 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 20 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 20 |
| 10 | Newcastle United | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 17 | -2 | 20 |
| 11 | Everton | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 17 |
| 12 | Aston Villa | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 16 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 15 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 14 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 13 |
| 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 13 |
| 17 | Burnley | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 22 | -12 | 12 |
| 18 | Hull City | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 11 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 27 | -13 | 11 |
| 20 | Leicester City | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 24 | -10 | 10 |
Liverpool
It has been a turbulent season for Rodgers and company as they've adjusted to life after losing possibly the best striker on the planet.
Luis Suarez's move to Barcelona has crippled the Anfield machine, and the speed of thought in attack has evaporated at an alarming rate.
But on Tuesday, Liverpool got back to scoring goals and took a well-earned win at Leicester City.
The Reds had been behind early in the match after calamitous goalkeeper Simon Mignolet conceded an own goal.
A shot from Leicester's Leonardo Ulloa ricocheted off the post, hitting the unlucky goalkeeper on the back of the head and passing into his net.
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker highlighted the Reds goalkeeper's bad luck and his lack of confidence at present:
"A Mignolet own goal has given Leicester the lead. He's having a bit of a shocker, to be honest.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 2, 2014"
But Liverpool were back into the match just moments later, as England international Lallana levelled the scores.
And it was left to Gerrard and Henderson to seal the win, driving Liverpool up the table.
The Foxes had much of the play and goal chances, but their defence simply was not adequate enough during the match, allowing Liverpool the triumph.
Rodgers' side now have two wins in quick succession, and they will be hoping that this triggers a run of points accumulation we have not yet witnessed from Liverpool in recent times.
Work is needed to be done in the January transfer window, but if the Reds can stabilise their season, they still have an outside chance of grabbing a Champions League position.
Manchester United
Louis van Gaal has clearly found the transition to English football a tough one, but his side have now found their feet in the Premier League. United grabbed their fourth win in a row behind Fellaini and Mata.
The Red Devils of last season would surely have dropped points in this kind of match, with Stoke going very close to grabbing an equaliser at the death. But dramatic last-gasp actions from David de Gea and Ashley Young made sure Van Gaal's good run continues.
United are starting to find a rhythm to their play, and despite Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria being absent from Tuesday evening's events, the team provided their fans with constant attacking play.
James Wilson also made his first start of the campaign—in place of Rooney—and the young striker nearly capped off a good performance with a goal, shooting just wide after a lung-busting run at Stoke's defence.
It is vital that United now keep themselves ahead of the chasing pack as attempts are made to heal their squad of their pandemic-level injuries.
United still have important players to return to the side—including Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Rafael and Luke Shaw—and once they are back, United will be much stronger in their squad depth.
LvG's team are still far from being a finished product, but they are certainly heading toward a dramatic improvement in their consistency. Last year, David Moyes looked after a team that lacked motivation and speed, and the Old Trafford club paid for it with a disastrous run of home results.
But United are on track for a top-four finish, and if Van Gaal achieves this in his first season in charge, he will have succeeded in the club's first steps of recovery.
