ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Southampton 1
Manchester City 3
LONDON • The alarm bells shrilled for Manchester City. Almost out of nowhere, they had lost three Premier League games out of four and, with Liverpool flicking on the after-burners, it is no exaggeration to say that another reverse would have imperilled their title defence.
Pep Guardiola and his players could feel a bit better after this. City imposed their front-foot football and, although they wobbled at times during the first half, they had too much for Ralph Hasenhuttl's rebooted Southampton.
The victory cut Liverpool's lead at the top of the table to seven points, ahead of Thursday's seismic clash between the clubs at the Etihad Stadium. Win that and City would be back in business.
They will have to tighten up on the finer details to do so. Defensively, there were flaws before the interval and it is doubtful whether Liverpool will afford them as many chances as Southampton did.
POTENTIAL DECIDER
The same as always, we want to win. It is one of those key games you live for. Every living soul that comes into the stadium on Thursday has to be ready to fight.
VINCENT KOMPANY, Man City captain, looking forward to the Liverpool clash.
Nevertheless, the positives far outweighed the negatives, after first-half goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero, either side of a James Ward-Prowse own goal, gave them an unassailable cushion.
Southampton were second best and their frustrations were summed up by the dreadful Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg challenge on Fernandinho in the 85th minute that saw the home captain receive a straight red card.
Hojbjerg, who had earlier scored the Saints' equaliser, was high and out of control with a scissors-style tackle. Guardiola was incensed and he immediately withdrew Fernandinho, who had made an impressive comeback from a thigh injury.
The City manager had mentioned confidence - or the sudden lack of it - after the Boxing Day defeat at Leicester and what would have pleased him the most was how it returned. The early goal from David Silva certainly helped and it came when Southampton left great spaces down their left-hand side.
City might have been further in front before they were pegged back during an entertaining first half.
Raheem Sterling had outmuscled Jack Stephens only to be denied by Alex McCarthy while the Southampton goalkeeper blocked from Aguero at point-blank range following Sterling's low cross.
Southampton were level shortly after Ederson had kept out Charlie Austin's flick header from a corner with a diving one-handed save.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was the City villain, gifting possession to Hojbjerg, and it was an excellent finish from him. He drove into the area, shifted the ball smartly onto his right foot and sent his shot rising inside the near corner.
Southampton had their tails up and they shouted loudly for a penalty when Ward-Prowse took a raking crossfield ball and had the run on Zinchenko inside the area. There was a little contact and down he went but it did not feel sufficient for the penalty to be awarded.
City scored almost immediately and it was another hard-luck story for Ward-Prowse. Sterling darted into space inside the area and, when he crossed, the ball deflected wickedly off Ward-Prowse and flew inside the near corner.
City took a 3-1 lead into the interval when Zinchenko crossed and Jan Bednarek lost Aguero whose header squirmed underneath McCarthy. The one-two punch deflated Southampton and City eased to the win. Bring on Liverpool.
At Turf Moor, goals from Chris Wood (15th) and Dwight McNeil (34th) gave relegation-threatened Burnley a crucial 2-0 win over West Ham.
THE GUARDIAN
The party has started for Liverpool. Reds fans everywhere are celebrating wildly after their team claimed the Champions League crown with a 2-0 win over Tottenham in Madrid.
Manchester City face no action over 'Allez' chant - AOL
-The court found that the use of a confusing mark in a movie would consume consumer and injures the plaintiffs business reputation Licensing A right granted by an owner, known as the licensor, to a third party, the licensee, which permits the licensee to associate his or her goods, services, or business with the logos, names, and mascots of the
Adidas - Wikipedia
Maurizio Sarri insists Chelsea can still finish in the Premier League's top four after Eden Hazard's late strike rescued a 1-1 draw against Wolves on Sunday. Sarri's side were seconds away from
Hazard Late Show Rescues Chelsea in Wolves Draw - News18
Mohamed Salah Calls For Gender Equality, Urges People to Treat Women Better Mohamed Salah was named one of the US magazine's 100 most influential figures of the year, alongside Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Naomi Osaka.
'Mo' Salah Asks Muslim World To Treat Women Better - The New
An increase in SPL local coaches, but Kadir Yahaya urges for honour and respect the veteran who now coaches at St Joseph Institution is excited by the prospect of another talented young coach
Young Rams Unfazed By Rain As They Prep For Saints Sequel
In the dying minutes of Iran's 3-0 defeat to Japan on Monday, striker Sardar Azmoun slapped Japan midfielder Gaku Shibasaki in the face, sparking a melee that also involved his teammates Ehsan Hajsafi and Ramin Rezaeian. Ali Motahari, deputy speaker in Iran's parliament, called for them to be disciplined.
MADRID (AFP) - Sergio Ramos scored twice to put Real Madrid on the brink of the Copa del Rey semi-finals as they came from behind to beat Girona 4-2 in a thrilling first leg on Thursday (Jan 24)..
Copa del Rey: Sergio Ramos' double puts Real Madrid within
Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back, scoring four power-play goals en route to a 7-2 victory Wednesday night at Enterprise Center. The win was Boston's seventh on the road this postseason, which is a new franchise record for a single playoff run. Bruins' power play sets rare feat in Game 3
NHL playoffs: Joe Pavelski scores first goal in Sharks Game 7 win
Football News -The challenge is different for Liverpool. New favourites Liverpool face two stiff tests of title credentials have the burden of being branded favourites in an English
Latest JURGEN KLOPP | The Straits Times
Ole rues missed chances - theworldnews.net
Boeheim courts controversy again in postgame remarks by Jonathan Tannenwald , Posted: February 22, 2011 Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim's postgame press conference last night was going along quite nicely for the first five minutes or so.
Model Marisa Papen Courts Controversy Again With Nude Photo
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at
World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon to leave PSG: club Gianluigi Buffon joined PSG last summer after ending a trophy-packed 17-year career at Italian giants Juventus.
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain
yoursoccernews.com/world-cup-winner-buffon-to-leave-paris-saint-germain/
"Following joint discussions, Paris Saint-Germain and Gianluigi Buffon have agreed to not renew the legendary goalkeeper's contract which expires on 30 June 2019," PSG said in a statement. The 41-year-old goalkeeper, who won the World Cup in 2006 and is Italy's most-capped player with 176 appearances, did not say whether he would be
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain | Free
0 comments:
Post a Comment