LONDON (REUTERS) - A Roberto Firmino hat-trick proved the highlight of Liverpool's 5-1 demolition of Arsenal as the Premier League leaders opened a nine-point gap over Tottenham Hotspur, who lost 3-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley.
With third-placed Manchester City playing Southampton on Sunday (Dec 30), Liverpool capped an astonishing month with their ninth successive league victory to leave manager Juergen Klopp conceding that he "had nothing to moan about".
Struggling Cardiff City and Fulham bolstered their survival chances with added-time goals in 1-0 wins at Leicester City and home to Huddersfield Town respectively.
Brighton & Hove Albion beat Everton by the same score and Watford equalised late to draw 1-1 with Newcastle United.
Anfield has become such a fortress that even the unexpected setback of Ainsley Maitland-Niles' early goal did not knock Liverpool off their stride.
Within minutes, Brazilian Firmino hit them with a scoring one-two - his second goal a brilliant solo effort - with a further strike from Sadio Mane and a penalty from Mohamed Salah following before halftime.
Firmino rounded off the scoring with another spot kick as Liverpool, who next travel to Manchester City on Thursday, cruised home to leave no one in doubt as to their title credentials.
"(Manchester City) is a huge one," said Liverpool full back Andy Robertson.
"But in December we've knocked the games off one by one and we've now got a healthy lead. We look forward to it."
Â
Â
Â
Â
Tottenham's day could hardly have started better with England's Harry Kane marking his award of an MBE for services to sport in the New Year Honours list with a stunning left-foot strike that looked likely to kick off another goalfest.
But the inconsistent visitors from the Midlands refused to roll over and hit the home side with three goals in 18 second-half minutes through Wily Boly, Raul Jimenez and Helder Costa as Wembley was silenced, along with talk of Tottenham's title challenge.
"We have achieved something very special in getting to the Premier League and it has been a very special year," said delighted Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
"We had a lot of belief after the equaliser, I would have said a draw was a good result, but I cannot control the emotions of the boys if they see space in front of them."
MITROVIC WINNER
The drama came even later at Fulham where Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the winner in stoppage time to frustrate their relegation rivals Huddersfield.
Fulham's joy was all the greater because they had earlier missed a penalty amid extraordinary scenes after their players tried to take the ball off Aboubakar Kamara as he stepped up to take the spot kick.
His team mates wanted Mitrovic to take the penalty but Kamara refused, disobeying the orders of Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri, only to look deeply embarrassed seconds later when his effort was saved by Jonas Lossl.
Ranieri was not amused: "I said to Aboubakar Kamara to leave the ball to Aleksandar Mitrovic, he is the man who shoots the penalties. It is unbelievable, he did not respect me, the club, the team and crowd. I spoke with him, it is not right.
"I want to kill him, that is normal when one man takes a ball, only because he scored the last penalty (against Manchester United). It should be Mitrovic, that is it."
At Leicester, Cardiff's Neil Etheridge saved James Maddison's 75th minute penalty to set up a victory secured by Victor Camarasa's stunning stoppage time strike for the Welsh side, who are now four points above the drop zone.
Brighton finish the year comfortably in mid-table after Juergen Locadia's second-half goal was enough to see off Everton.
At Vicarage Road, the sought-after substitute Abdoulaye Doucoure scored Watford's equaliser before then wasting a late chance as the home side almost secured a comeback win against Newcastle.
A solid win for the Blues. Emerson - 6.5: Decent game, but had a hard time against Ryan Sessegnon. Ranieri's exit was the last nail in the coffin for Fulham.
Premier League investigates Man City over FFP allegations. Reuters. 8 March 2019. Reblog. Share. Tweet. Share. Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City - Vitality
Pep Guardiola on Juventus, Man City FFP allegations, Antoine
Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier
PARIS (AFP) - Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman said on Tuesday (Feb 12) the club will pay the fee for striker Emiliano Sala if they are contractually required to do so.. Read more at
Ligue 1 » News » Cardiff to pay Sala fee if necessary - report
Liverpool powered back to the top of the Premier League as Xherdan Shaqiri inspired a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United, while Arsenal's 22-match unbeaten run was shattered by a shock
Liverpool back on top as Shaqiri sinks United, Arsenal's
Paris - Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3. The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted a photo on his Instagram account on
Neymar Visits Recovering Pele In Hospital - newvision.co.ug
Fabio Quagliarella became the oldest ever player to score for Italy as the 36-year-old converted two penalties in a crushing 6-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win by the Azzurri over Liechtenstein on
Quagliarella becomes oldest Italy scorer in 6-0 Liechtenstein
Zinedine Zidane's second spell as coach of Real Madrid got underway on Wednesday as the Frenchman took his first session at the club's training ground in Valdebebas. Zidane leads first session
Zidane leads first session since return to Real Madrid | Sport24
- Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has ruled himself out of the vacant job at Benfica, saying he has no intention of coaching in his native Portugal for the time being.
Jose Mourinho lands punditry role as he rules himself out of
Watch highlights as League One AFC Wimbledon pull off a stunning FA Cup shock by beating West Ham to reach the fifth round. MATCH REPORT: AFC Wimbledon 4-2 West Ham United Available to UK users only.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of League Two side Oldham Athletic on a one-and-a-half year contract. Scholes said: "I just feel ready, really. I've had
Paul Scholes: Manchester United great appointed manager of
Real Madrid have signed Serbia striker Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt for 60 million euros ($67 million), reports suggest. Jovic, 21, scored 10 goals for the German side in their run to the
Football: Real Madrid sign Jovic for 60 million euros: Report
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar