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.
Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach Deschamps
Ronaldo '1,000%' sure of staying. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri embracing Cristiano Ronaldo, both with their heads covered in foam, after the Italian club sealed their eighth consecutive
Zidane sure of Ronaldo's stay - YouTube
Newcastle United's 2-0 win over 10-man Huddersfield Town on Saturday eased their Premier League safety fears and sent the Terriers hurtling ever faster towards relegation to the Championship.
EPL: Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop
Mar 29, 2019 · Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has issued a hands-off warning to Real Madrid and Barcelona over Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford by insisting both players are "vital" to his plans to build a Manchester
Solskjaer - Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford key to Manchester
Learn Spanish with Fluencia, the easiest way to learn Spanish from the creators of SpanishDict Explore SpanishDict We've combined the most accurate English to Spanish translations, dictionary, verb conjugations, and Spanish to English translators into one very powerful search box.
Contact Us | Axe
Ikhsan Fandi signs a two-year deal with Norway second-tier club Raufoss IL to become first Lion in 30 years to join a European team, and the third after his father Fandi Ahmad and V. Sundram Moorthy.
Football: Ikhsan Fandi focused on task as he begins Norway
Home snap Albirex's title-winning streak The long trophy streak has, at long last, been broken. After hoovering up all 11 trophies on offer in the previous three seasons, Albirex Niigata finally tasted defeat when Home United triumphed 5-4 on penalties to lift the Community Shield last night as the new Singapore Premier League (SPL) season
Derby boss Frank Lampard hits back at Leeds fans with Spygate
sportslifetale.com/soccer/derby-boss-frank-lampard-hits-back-at-leeds-fans-with-spygate-dig-after-play-off-triumph/
Following their first-leg win at Pride Park, Leeds fans mocked Lampard over the spying scandal with a chant to Oasis' 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' which sang: "All of the spies are hidden away, just try not to worry, you'll beat us some day. We beat you at home, we beat you away, stop crying Frank Lampard."
Albirex Niigata vs. Home United - Football Match Report
Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2019 ) :Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for Saturday's all-English Champions League final, and use a drone for the first time to monitor fan activity.
Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English Champions
Apr 14, 2019 · Jurgen Klopp hails "amazing" Liverpool, Mohamed Salah after Chelsea win, wind at Anfield At the final whistle there were further cheers for Klopp, as he went to the Kop and punched the air in
Liverpool news: Klopp hails 'outstanding' Salah after
Lippi earns sympathy despite reign ending on gloomy note. Qatar's Abdulaziz Hatem (No. 6) celebrating his goal against South Korea during their 1-0 Asian Cup quarter-final win yesterday, as Korean
Lippi earns sympathy despite reign ending on gloomy note
Jordan Henderson admits he is in Jordan Pickford's debt "forever" after England's World Cup 2018 penalty shootout win setting Henderson up for a potentially bright future in TV star eager
The Guardian's 2008 List of England's 20 'Future Stars
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to footballer Sala said Mayor Julio Muller in an emotional tribute. Sala had played for Nantes, becoming one of the top strikers in France
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to
Jack in the Green, also known as Jack o' the Green, is an English folk custom associated with the celebration of May Day.It involves a pyramidal or conical wicker or wooden framework that is decorated with foliage being worn by a person as part of a procession, often accompanied by musicians.
Rub - definition of rub by The Free Dictionary
From Madrid - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Roberto Firmino is fit to feature in the Champions League final clash with Tottenham on Saturday night. Firmino missed Liverpool's
Arsenal beaten in Belarus. Arsenal face an uphill battle to progress after a 1-0 defeat by BATE in a game which saw Alexandre Lacazette sent off for elbowing Aleksandar Filipovic with five minutes
Alexandre Lacazette sent off as sloppy Arsenal see Bate
0 comments:
Post a Comment