Leicester hopes dented after West Ham draw, Liverpool beat Bournemouth

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Leicester snatch late draw

An equaliser with the final kick of the game earns Leicester a point against West Ham.

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London: Leicester City stumbled on their march towards the Premier League title by dropping two points in a 2-2 draw with West Ham United despite a last-minute equaliser from Leonardo Ulloa at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp made 10 changes from the team that beat Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League and watched his experimental side overcome Bournemouth 2-1 in a low-key game in the south coast sunshine.

At The Emirates Stadium, Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw to Crystal Palace after Yannick Bolasie struck a late goal to leave Arsene Wenger's side looking over their shoulders in the race for a top four place.

Early joy for Leicester: Vardy is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the opening goal.

Early joy for Leicester: Vardy is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the opening goal. Photo: Rui Vieira/AP

But all eyes were on Leicester as they finished the match with 10 men after goalscorer Jamie Vardy was sent off early in the second half for a second yellow card.

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Leicester coach Claudio Ranieri praised his side for saving a point, which put them eight clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur with four matches to play.

Spurs' match in hand is at Stoke City on Monday and if they win that they will narrow Leicester's lead to five points.

Andy Carroll continued his push for an England place, scoring West Ham's first goal against Leicester.

Andy Carroll continued his push for an England place, scoring West Ham's first goal against Leicester. Photo: Rui Vieira/AP

"The sending-off changed the whole match, but I judge my players, not the referee," Ranieri said without commenting on the red card.

"This was our soul, we play every match with blood, heart and soul, it was magnificent," added the Italian, whose team had won their last five games to close on their first English top-flight title.

West Ham almost scored in the second minute when Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel saved a header from Cheikhou Kouyate, tipping the ball on to his left-hand post before it rolled across the line and hit the other upright.

Leicester City's Leonardo Ulloa celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot.

Leicester City's Leonardo Ulloa celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot. Photo: Rui Vieira/AP

Vardy put Leicester ahead after a lightning counter-attack in the 18th minute with a left-foot shot into the corner of the net before picking up his first booking for a late challenge on Kouyate.

His second yellow came early in the second half when referee Jon Moss ruled he dived looking for a foul and the match gradually swung West Ham's way.

They equalised through an 84th-minute Andy Carroll penalty after Wes Morgan hauled down Winston Reid and looked to have won the game two minutes later when Aaron Cresswell scored a stunning goal with a fierce shot from the edge of the box which dipped and swerved as it flew past Schmeichel.

Tommy Elphick wins a a header for Bournemouth against  Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium.

Tommy Elphick wins a a header for Bournemouth against Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. Photo: Steve Bardens/Getty Images

But with only seconds of stoppage time remaining Leicester equalised when Ulloa scored from the spot after Carroll fouled Jeffrey Schlupp.

At Bournemouth, both Liverpool goals came at the end of the first half, Roberto Firmino ending a superb move with a close range tap-in after 41 minutes before Daniel Sturridge made it 2-0 with a header from a Jordan Ibe free kick.

Bournemouth replied in stoppage time when Josh King half-volleyed in from the edge of the box.

Before the kick-off flowers were laid on the pitch in memory of the Liverpool 96 fans who died at Hillsborough in April 1989 with the club's anthem You'll Never Walk Alone played as the short ceremony took place.

At The Emirates Stadium, Alexis Sanchez put the hosts ahead when he nodded home Danny Welbeck's delightful dinked ball just before halftime but Bolasie equalised with a low drive from the edge of area that beat Petr Cech at his near post in the 82nd minute.

Arsenal dominated possession with Sanchez and Mesut Ozil close to scoring from free kicks, while the Germany midfielder was denied from point-blank range by visiting goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey just before the Chile forward opened the scoring.

Bolasie's leveller shook the fourth-placed home side and they were almost caught out again in stoppage time when only a last-ditch tackle from Gabriel Paulista stopped dangerous winger Wilfried Zaha in his tracks as he burst into the area.

Reuters