Football: Man City win Premier League title after epic fightback

LONDON -- Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City's "legends" as they won the Premier League for the fourth time in five seasons after staging an incredible comeback from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Sunday.

Guardiola's side were teetering on the brink of blowing the title after falling 2-0 behind midway through the second half in the final chapter of their pulsating battle for supremacy with Liverpool.

But Ilkay Gundogan sparked an astonishing City revival at the Etihad Stadium as the German midfielder reduced the deficit before Rodri grabbed the equalizer.

Gundogan turned in City's third goal in the space of five minutes in the 81st minute, triggering wild celebrations and rendering second placed Liverpool's 3-1 victory against Wolves irrelevant.

City finished with 93 points, one ahead of Liverpool as they ended their rivals hopes of winning an unprecedented quadruple.

On a breathtaking final day, Burnley were relegated as Leeds beat the drop, while Tottenham qualified for the Champions League at the expense of their north London rivals Arsenal.

It was City who hogged the spotlight on a day their fans will never forget.

Guardiola's men can rightly be called a dynasty after joining Manchester United as the only clubs in the Premier League era to have won four titles in five seasons, with Alex Ferguson's teams doing it on three separate occasions.

The eighth league title in City's history is Guardiola's ninth major trophy since arriving at the club in 2016.

"These guys are legends. When you win in this country four times in five years, it is because these guys are so special. They will be remembered forever," Guardiola said.

Fittingly, it was long-serving City captain Fernandinho who lifted the trophy in his last game before leaving the club.

"It feels like we came back from the dead to win the league. This is the Man City spirit. You never give up," Fernandinho said.

Once again, City saved the best until last as they edged Liverpool out on the final day of the season for the second time after beating them to the finish line in 2019.

It was 10 years since Sergio Aguero's famous last-second goal against QPR sealed City's first title since 1968 and this jaw-dropping success was almost as unlikely.

City were stunned in the 37th minute when Matty Cash got in front of Joao Cancelo to score with a bullet header.

Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho doubled Villa's lead with a cool finish in the 69th minute.

The shell-shocked Guardiola slumped into his seat, but City would not surrender and Gundogan headed them back into contention in the 76th minute.

Rodri's low strike from the edge of the area two minutes later set up a nerve-jangling finale.

And in the 81st minute, Kevin de Bruyne's low cross reached Gundogan at the far post and the substitute tapped home to send City into ecstasy.

"After their second goal it was really difficult. It was 'get the first goal', then we had momentum and our people did the rest. Winning at home with our fans is the best," Guardiola said.

City's celebrations were tarnished when the club was forced to apologise after Villa keeper Robin Olsen was "assaulted" by fans during a post-match pitch invasion.

Having already won the FA Cup and League Cup, Liverpool can still enjoy a memorable season of their own if they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris on Saturday.

- Spurs back in Champions League -

Rocked by Pedro Neto's third minute opener for Wolves, Liverpool equalized through Sadio Mane in the 24th minute.

Mohamed Salah poked Liverpool ahead with six minutes left but by then news of City's extraordinary recovery had reached Anfield, which was in subdued mood by the time Andrew Robertson scored in stoppage-time.

"Congratulations to Man City and Pep Guardiola. It's not the result we wanted. Finishing second is the story of my life," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.

Tottenham's 5-0 rout of relegated Norwich secured fourth place at Carrow Road and ended their two-year absence from the Champions League.

Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min scored two each and Harry Kane also netted.

Tottenham's victory left Arsenal in fifth place despite their 5-1 win against Everton.

Burnley's six-season stay in the top tier ended with a 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle, with Leeds staying up after a 2-1 win at Brentford.

Leeds started the day below Burnley on goal difference, but the Clarets were beaten by Callum Wilson's brace, while Jesse Marsch's team escaped thanks to Raphinha's penalty and Jack Harrison's last-gasp strike. 

Manchester United lost 1-0 at Crystal Palace, but qualified for the Europa League thanks to West Ham's 3-1 defeat at Brighton.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Ronaldo makes history as treble sinks Spurs, Liverpool close gap on Man City

BRIGHTON -- Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time leading men's goalscorer in football history as his brilliant hat-trick inspired Manchester United's 3-2 win against Tottenham, while Liverpool closed the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City with a 2-0 victory at Brighton on Saturday.

Ronaldo had netted just once in his previous 10 games amid speculation that the Portugal striker was considering his future after less than a season of his second spell with United.

The 37-year-old's commitment was questioned when he reportedly jetted to Portugal last weekend rather than watch his team after being ruled out of their 4-1 defeat at Manchester City with a hip injury.

Even United interim boss Ralf Rangnick conceded he didn't know if Ronaldo was happy at the club.

But Ronaldo proved his commitment to the United cause with a superb display to single-handedly dispatch Tottenham at Old Trafford.

With recently retired NFL legend Tom Brady watching from the stands, Ronaldo bagged his first United treble since 2008.

His brilliant 25-yard drive put United ahead in the 12th minute before Harry Kane equalized with a 35th minute penalty awarded for Alex Telles' handball.

Ronaldo restored United's lead three minutes later from Jadon Sancho's cross, but Harry Maguire's 72nd minute own goal threatened to ruin his evening.

However, Ronaldo headed home from Telles' corner in the 81st minute to claim his 807th career goal, making him the top-scoring men's player in history, according to FIFA statistics, as he surpassed Josef Bican.

Ronaldo's heroics earned a standing ovation from Brady and lifted United into fourth place, while Tottenham are five points behind them in seventh.

"Today it was his best performance, at least since I arrived. He was good in training on Thursday and that is why I decided to start him," Rangnick said.

"A fantastic performance. It was not just the three goals, it was also he was part of the team when they were in possession of the ball.

"We showed the kind of reaction we were due after the bad second half at City."

At the Amex Stadium, Luis Diaz opened the scoring for Liverpool with a 19th minute header and Mohamed Salah netted with a 61st minute penalty awarded after Yves Bissouma's handball.

Jurgen Klopp's side have won their last eight league games, keeping the pressure on City, with the champions playing at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Salah has reached 20 goals in a Premier League season for the fourth time, with his latest strike coming at just the right time amid his tense contract negotiations.

Klopp said on Friday it is up to Salah whether he signs a new deal, a claim that was followed by the Egypt forward's agent tweeting a series of laughing emojis just minutes later.

Salah's long-term value to Liverpool is immense, but of more immediate concern to Klopp will be the knock that saw him replaced by Diogo Jota soon after his first goal in four games.

With a testing trip to Arsenal looming on Wednesday followed by an FA Cup quarter-final at Nottingham Forst, Klopp will hope his star makes a quick recovery.

"Something was not right. I think there was a situation where his foot got stretched. We'll have to see," Klopp said.

While City are in fine form, Liverpool's hot streak is equally impressive.

The Reds have scored 21 goals and conceded just twice in their winning run, while also keeping a third successive league clean sheet for the first time this term.

On the title race, Klopp said: "It's always the same, you expect Manchester City to win every game when you watch them play.

"The only thing we can do is as win as many football games as possible. We're ready, we don't need to call it a title race, we just want to win games."

Brentford boosted their bid to avoid relegation with a 2-0 home win against third bottom Burnley thanks to a pair of late goals from Ivan Toney.

Agence France-Presse

Liverpool taxi bombing suspect named as police release 4 men

LONDON (AP) — A suspected bomber who died when his homemade device exploded in a taxi outside a Liverpool hospital was an asylum-seeker from the Middle East who had converted from Islam to Christianity, British police, church officials and others said Tuesday.

Police said 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen was killed when a blast ripped through the vehicle as it pulled up outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Sunday morning. The taxi driver was injured.

Police have called the blast a terrorist act and believe the dead man built the bomb, but they are still working to determine his motive, how the attack was planned and whether anyone else was involved.

Four men in their 20s who had been detained under the Terrorism Act as part of the investigation were released late Monday. Russ Jackson, the head of counterterrorism policing for northwest England, said “following interviews with the arrested men, we are satisfied with the accounts they have provided and they have been released from police custody.”

Jackson said police now had “a much greater understanding of the component parts of the device, how they were obtained and how the parts are likely to have been assembled.” But he said “there is a considerable way to go to understand how this incident was planned, prepared for and how it happened.”

Security Minister Damian Hinds said police needed “time and space” to investigate.

“There’s always the possibility that further links can be detected,” Hinds told the BBC. “People sometimes talk about lone wolves and so on -- people are rarely totally alone because they talk to others and so on.”

The Times of London said Al Swealmeen — who also used the name Enzo Almeni — claimed to be of Syrian and Iraqi background and had applied for asylum in Britain in 2014, but was rejected. It’s unclear what his legal status was at the time of the bombing.

Liverpool couple Malcolm and Elizabeth Hitchcott told British media that Al Swealmeen had spent time in a psychiatric hospital several years ago and stayed with them for eight months after his release. The couple said Al Swealmeen was interested in Christianity and converted to the faith.

“We’re just so, so sad,” Elizabeth HItchcott told the BBC. “We just loved him. He was a lovely guy.”

A spokesman for Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral said Al Swealmeen was baptised there in 2015 and confirmed in 2017, but lost contact with the cathedral in 2018.

“Like so many, I have been shocked and saddened by the bombing in Liverpool and the revelation that the bomber was part of the cathedral community for a while,” said Bishop Cyril Ashton, who conducted the confirmation.

The taxi driver, David Perry, escaped from the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames. He was treated in a hospital and released.

Britain’s official threat level was raised from substantial to severe — meaning an attack is highly likely — following the blast, the U.K.’s second fatal incident in a month. Conservative lawmaker David Amess was stabbed to death in October in what police said was an act of terrorism.

-Associated Press

Football: Messi restricted in PSG draw as Man City, Liverpool win thrillers

PARIS, France -- Lionel Messi made his first Paris Saint-Germain start in a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, while last season's runners-up Manchester City and Liverpool won high-scoring thrillers.

Real Madrid, the record 13-time European champions, left it late to beat Inter Milan at the San Siro in a section topped by Moldovan debutants Sheriff Tiraspol after the first round of group stage matches.

Argentine star Messi lined up with both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for the first time, after being limited to just 24 minutes in a PSG shirt since his shock exit from Barcelona.

Ander Herrera, who scored twice in the weekend win over Clermont, gave PSG the lead by steering in Mbappe's cross on 15 minutes, but Brugge soon levelled through Hans Vanaken.

Messi curled against the bar from the corner of the area but PSG then lost Mbappe to injury and had to settle for a point against a team viewed as makeweights in a demanding Group A.

"We need time for them to get to know each other," PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said of his all-star attack.

"We have to improve and find the right balance, I said that before, but we must stay calm. I'm happy with how Messi played, his desire and his attitude, and the way he's adjusting." 

Pep Guardiola's City, beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in May's final in Porto, overcame a hat-trick from Christopher Nkunku to beat RB Leipzig 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium.

Nathan Ake headed City ahead from a corner and Nordi Mukiele's own goal doubled their advantage, but Nkunku nodded in to get Leipzig back in the game.

Riyad Mahrez added a third with a penalty before half-time only for Nkunku to head in again early in the second period. 

Jack Grealish notched his first Champions League goal following his British record £100 million ($136 million) signing, with Nkunku completing his treble before Joao Cancelo and Gabriel Jesus strikes wrapped up a wild victory for City.

Leipzig finished with 10 men after former City player Angelino was sent off for a second booking.

"I loved it. I've been waiting a while. The past few weeks, I couldn't wait for this game. It's a great night," Grealish told BT Sport.

"It was one of those games. It had absolutely everything."

- Henderson stars for Liverpool -

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson hit the winner for Jurgen Klopp's side as they came from behind to defeat Milan 3-2 at Anfield in a meeting of two clubs who have combined for 13 European Cups.

Fikayo Tomori inadvertently deflected in Trent Alexander-Arnold's effort to put Liverpool in front but Mohamed Salah saw his penalty saved by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

The momentum swung sharply in Milan's favour as Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz struck twice in as many minutes before the break.

Salah atoned with an equaliser on 49 minutes that was initially discounted for offside before Henderson drove in on the half-volley from the edge of the box.

"It is a tough group. That is why it is important we won this game. It does not decide anything but it gave us a winning start," Klopp told BT Sport.

In the other Group B game, Spanish champions Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 at home to Porto, who were frustrated by a decision to disallow Mehdi Taremi's late goal.

Rodrygo snatched victory for Real as he flicked in with a minute to play in Milan, stunning Inter who had dominated much of the game and forced Thibaut Courtois into several saves.

Newcomers Sheriff defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 thanks to goals from Mali international Adama Traore and Guinean forward Momo Yansane.

Sheriff, from a tiny pro-Russian separatist region in Moldova, are the first club from the ex-Soviet country to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham scored one goal and set up Erling Haaland for Borussia Dortmund's second in a 2-1 win away to Turkish champions Besiktas.

Javi Montero headed in a consolation for Besiktas in stoppage time.

Ajax powered to the top of Group D as Ivorian striker Sebastien Haller bagged four goals in a 5-1 demolition of Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon.

Steven Berghuis added the other goal for the four-time European champions with Paulinho grabbing a consolation for the hosts.

Agence France-Presse

Fabinho’s home burglarized while Liverpool celebrated title

LIVERPOOL, England— The home of Liverpool midfielder Fabinho was burglarized while he and his teammates celebrated their Premier League title.

The burglary occurred in the town of Formby, north of the city, either late Wednesday or early Thursday while Liverpool hosted Chelsea, Merseyside police said.


Jewelry and an Audi RS6 were stolen, although the car was later recovered 20 miles away in Wigan, police said. The occupants discovered the burglary when they returned home early Thursday.

Police said they are collecting security footage and have forensically examined the 26-year-old Brazil international’s home and car.

Liverpool beat Chelsea 5-3 at Anfield — their final home game of the season — before lifting the Premier League trophy to end a 30-year title drought. The team had clinched to title with seven games to spare.

Nine of the estimated 3,000 fans who gathered outside the stadium were arrested on charges ranging from assault to disorderly conduct, police said Thursday.


Fans were urged to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Police said the “vast majority of the crowd were good natured and had dispersed by 2 a.m.”

Fabinho is the latest star athlete to be victimized. Tottenham player Deli Alli was held at knifepoint by burglars who stole jewelry from his London home during coronavirus lockdown in May.

The home of Sadio Mané, Fabinho’s teammate at Liverpool, has been targeted twice in recent years.

Associated Press

Liverpool recovers to beat Tottenham 2-1, takes 6-point lead

LIVERPOOL, England — Tottenham transformed its first-minute fortunes against Liverpool, just not the outcome.

A goal after 47 seconds by Tottenham captain Harry Kane at Anfield on Sunday contrasted with the misery of Madrid in June when a penalty was conceded 22 seconds into the Champions League final against the same team.

But just as Mohamed Salah netted the penalty that set Liverpool on its way to a sixth European Cup, the striker also scored from the spot again 148 days on against Tottenham to complete a domestic comeback.

With a 2-1 victory — aided by captain Jordan Henderson’s equalizer — Liverpool restored its six-point lead at the top of the league.

“We are very critical of ourselves,” Henderson said, “and always want to do better.”

Liverpool is chasing its first league title since 1990. For Tottenham, it is finding a way to rise from 11th place closer to the top four where it has finished for four consecutive seasons.

With 12 points from 10 games, the north London club is enduring its worst start since Mauricio Pochettino took charge in 2014.

“We have the belief and the confidence,” Pochettino said. “But we didn’t find a way to keep possession.”

At least Mousa Sissoko found some early redemption on Merseyside, having handled to concede that penalty in the 2-0 final loss.

Launching a counterattack after 30 seconds on Merseyside, Sissoko’s surging run left a trail of red shirts in his wake before he picked out Son Heung-min on the left wing.

The South Korea forward brushed past Henderson before his shot hit the bar, helped by a deflection off Dejan Lovren.

Kane was primed to connect with the rebound, sending a stooping header past Alisson Becker with only 47 seconds on the clock.

“The best thing about my team today was that you couldn’t see any influence of the goal to be honest. We weren’t nervous, anything,” Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said.

“We followed the plan and filled the plan with passion, emotion, everything in the right way.”

Just finding a way past Paulo Gazzaniga was a problem.

Even with first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris out until the new year with an elbow injury, the understudy more than lived up to the task.

There was a double save to deny Salah and Roberto Firmino before getting a fingertip to Virgil van Dijk’s header.

But not even the power of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot from outside the penalty area was enough to find a way past Gazzaniga approaching the half hour.

He was proving a frustrating barrier to the equalizer, scrambling away Firmino’s header and then Lovren’s attempt from the resulting corner at the start of the second half.

Having swarmed Tottenham since conceding in the first minute, Liverpool switched off again to allow Son to embark on a counterattack.

Rounding Alisson, Son reached a tight angle and could only hit the crossbar.

How costly it proved.

Danny Rose failed to clear the ball and then only helped Fabinho’s cross onto the unmarked Henderson, who volleyed the ball past the Tottenham left back into the net.

Gazzaniga was finally beaten, and he was again by Salah’s penalty after Aurier dispossessed Sadio Mane before fouling the Senegal forward as he tried to clear.

With Kane having a header blocked with almost the final move of the game, Tottenham remains firmly in midtable, without an away win in the league since January.

“We can say we were very competitive,” Pochettino said. “We scored early and then I think we suffered in the first half. They were better than us.

“In the second half we controlled more, I think we played more the game that we wanted to play.”

Liverpool, which was held by Manchester United last weekend, has 28 points from a possible 30. Klopp’s side is six points ahead of Manchester City ahead of the second-place champions’ visit to Anfield in two weeks.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Big wins for Liverpool, City; more woe for United, Chelsea

A fourth straight win for Liverpool. Another big victory for Manchester City. More disappointment for Manchester United and Chelsea.

Oh, and the usual dose of VAR controversy.


Just a typical afternoon in this season’s Premier League.

By beating Burnley 3-0 on Saturday, Liverpool achieved a club-record 13th straight league victory and stayed in first place on a maximum 12 points heading into the two-week break for internationals. No other team in England’s four professional leagues has won all its games since the start of the season.

City is hot on Liverpool’s heels in second place, already seemingly reprising the northwest clubs’ duel for the title last season.

It is now 14 goals this season for the defending champions after a 4-0 home win over Brighton that included a double from Sergio Aguero, who is the top scorer in the league with six goals.


City’s win was marred by a first-half injury to arguably the team’s best defender, Aymeric Laporte, which according to manager Pep Guardiola could keep the center back out for “a while.”

Meanwhile, pre-season predictions that this will be a transitional year for United and Chelsea under inexperienced coaches are proving to be true, with the two teams already seven points off Liverpool before September with just one win apiece so far.

Both squandered leads Saturday, United failing to build on Daniel James’ early goal — his third of the season following his offseason arrival from second-tier Swansea — and drawing 1-1 at Southampton.

Chelsea will be even more unhappy, surrendering a two-goal lead at home to promoted team Sheffield United and drawing 2-2.

Every weekend has featured some sort of contentious issues with VAR, which is being used for the first time in the Premier League this season, and the latest dispute was at Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa.


Villa thought it had scored an equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time through Henri Lansbury, only for the goal to be ruled out because teammate Jack Grealish was adjudged to have dived in the build-up. Villa’s players were furious and it looked a tight call, with the video assistant referee choosing not to overturn the on-field decision of the referee.

EASY FOR LIVERPOOL

A touch of fortune and a defensive error helped Liverpool ease to a 13th straight win.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross from the right glanced off the back of Burnley striker Chris Wood and span high and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Nick Pope into the far corner of the net in the 33rd.

Four minutes later, Burnley defender Ben Mee passed the ball straight to Roberto Firmino in midfield and the Brazil forward played in Sadio Mane, who slotted home his finish.

Firmino added the third in the 80th from a counter-attack.

LAPORTE BLOW

Man City’s third victory in four matches might have come at a huge cost with the right knee injury to Laporte.

The French defender, who was called up by his national team on Friday for just the second time, punched the ground as soon as he made contact with Adam Webster as the Brighton center back charged down the right wing. Laporte held his hands behind his head and shook his head as he was carried off.

“It doesn’t look good,” Guardiola said. “I’m waiting for the doctor to call me. He (Laporte) might be out for a while.”


Any lengthy absence for Laporte would be a major blow to City, which released long-serving captain Vincent Kompany in the offseason and has John Stones currently out injured. Fernandinho, a center midfielder, filled in as a center back off the bench against Brighton.

Kevin De Bruyne and substitute Bernardo Silva were the other scorers for City.

POGBA INJURY

The sight of Paul Pogba hobbling away from St. Mary’s stadium was a further blow to United after its poor display against Southampton.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Pogba “got a bad knock on his ankle” but expected the midfielder to still turn up for international duty with France next week.

James’ goal was canceled out by Jannik Vestergaard’s header in the 58th minute. Kevin Danso was handed a second yellow card for a crude, high challenge on Scott McTominay, reducing Southampton to 10 men in the 73rd, but United couldn’t capitalize.

ABRAHAM’S DOUBLE DOUBLE

Tammy Abraham has now scored two goals in consecutive games for Chelsea, cementing his place as the team’s first-choice striker

His first-half double — after his brace against Norwich last weekend — was not enough to see off Sheffield United, which reduced the deficit through Callum Robinson less than a minute after the restart before Kurt Zouma’s own-goal in the 87th minute.

OTHER RESULTS

Jamie Vardy scored twice in Leicester’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, West Ham beat Norwich 2-0 through goals by Sebastian Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko, while Watford collected its first point of the season by drawing 1-1 at Newcastle.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Man City, Liverpool ready for heavyweight Premier League battle

Manchester City have Premier League immortality in their sights as they start their title defence this weekend, but Liverpool’s burning desire to get their hands on the trophy will fuel a heavyweight battle for supremacy.

In the blue corner, treble winners City are at the peak of their powers and look capable of enjoying a period of sustained dominance not seen since Manchester United earned three successive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009.


But in the red corner, European champions Liverpool, chasing a first English title since 1990, have more than a puncher’s chance of ending City’s reign after pushing Pep Guardiola’s side all the way to the final day last season.

The first blows will be landed this week as Liverpool kick off the new Premier League campaign against promoted Norwich at Anfield on Friday, before City head to West Ham on Saturday.

Sunday’s no-holds-barred Community Shield clash showed the growing rivalry between England’s pre-eminent teams, with City beating Liverpool on penalties following a 1-1 draw that underlined how little there is to separate the sides.

Adding Atletico Madrid’s Rodri for a club-record £63 million ($77 million) gives Guardiola an even greater embarrassment of riches.


With five major trophies over the past two seasons — including Premier League crowns clinched with unprecedented hauls of 100 and then 98 points — City are the bookmakers’ favourites to become only the second club to win a hat-trick of English titles in the past 35 years after United did it twice.

Guardiola is a keen student of football history and has revelled in City’s record-breaking feats, so the opportunity to further bolster his team’s credentials as one of England’s all-time greats will not be lost on the Spaniard.

Although City have never won the Champions League and Guardiola last lifted it back in 2011 with Barcelona, he said domestic bliss remains his preferred passion.

“To maintain the health and focus of the team, the most important thing is the Premier League,” Guardiola said.

“It is the standout competition because it is every weekend. In the Champions League, many things can happen in one or two games.


“We will be closer to achieving in Europe when we have more Premier League titles. That is a nice process and the right process to do at Manchester City.

“If I could have one thing this season, right now, it would definitely be the title.”

No hangover
It would be a surprise if Liverpool do not make City sweat right to the finish once again after bouncing back from last season’s agonising near-miss in the title race by winning their sixth European Cup.

No team has ever gathered more points without winning the Premier League than second-placed Liverpool did last season with their tally of 97.

Jurgen Klopp’s side lost just once in their 38 league games — crucially that defeat came against City — but their 2-0 Champions League final win over Tottenham ensured there was no title hangover.

Liverpool had the Premier League’s meanest defence last season and boast an attack featuring two of the campaign’s three leading scorers in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Despite that wealth of talent, Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum admits making a fast start is essential to stop City establishing a stranglehold at the top.

“You just have to collect as many points as possible, especially in the beginning, and try to build a team who will be even better at the end of the season,” Wijnaldum said.

“We can try and do even better than last season. Basically it starts now because now we have the whole team together.”

Challengers to City and Liverpool are likely to be thin on the ground. 



Since winning the Europa League, Chelsea have lost star playmaker Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and hired an idolised but inexperienced new manager in Frank Lampard, who is working under the club’s transfer ban.

Guardiola suggests Manchester United are contenders after making £80-million-man Harry Maguire the world’s most expensive defender and landing young talents Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James.

But it is hard to imagine United, who ended 32 points adrift of City in sixth place, bridging that gap this season.

Arsenal have the look of pretenders rather than contenders, while Tottenham have not invested enough to satisfy boss Mauricio Pochettino despite a paying a club record of around £54 million for Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Liverpool returns to top spot; Everton humiliates Man United

LONDON — Before returning to the top of the Premier League, Liverpool got to savor a Manchester United humiliation.

Now, unusually, Liverpool needs a swift recovery by its great rival after United’s despair at being routed 4-0 by Everton on Sunday.


Liverpool’s hopes of ending a 29-year English title drought could hinge on a big favor from sixth-place United when it hosts Manchester City on Wednesday.

After beating Cardiff 2-0 on Sunday, Liverpool is two points ahead of City with three games remaining. But Pep Guardiola’s champions have a game in hand over Liverpool so defending the title is still under their control — unless they fail to beat United.

“If you are only motivated by winning the holy grail then something is wrong with you,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. “We enjoy the ride together with our fans.”

How his team could do with United holding City to a 0-0 draw just as it did when Liverpool visited Old Trafford in February.

“Man United was in that moment obviously in a much better moment,” Klopp said. “We’ll see what comes out on Wednesday. We have no influence on that, but we still have to play games after that.”

For Arsenal, the challenge in its remaining four matches is sealing a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League. That mission was hampered by a 3-2 home loss to Crystal Palace that left Unai Emery’s side in fourth place but only ahead of Chelsea on goal difference and a point behind Tottenham.

LIVERPOOL RECORD

Liverpool’s breakthrough against relegation-threatened Cardiff only came in the second half — the sixth successive league game which Liverpool has won by scoring a winner after the break.

Georginio Wijnaldum met Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner at the near post in the 57th minute.

“The boys decided the routine for the first goal in the dressing room at halftime,” Klopp said. “We had different routines but the players decided and I love that.”

Liverpool was disrupted by losing Fabinho following a clash of heads and Milner was sent on to play what proved to be a decisive role.

Milner netted from the penalty spot in the 81st minute after Sean Morrison grappled Mohamed Salah, who fell to the ground.

“Morrison used his hands four or five times and (referee) Martin Atkinson took his time but eventually gave a penalty,” Klopp said.

Liverpool now has a club-record 88 Premier League points, beating the 86 managed in the 2008-09 season. But there’s still a first championship crown since 1990 to secure.

Cardiff’s mission is staying in the Premier League and the south Wales side remains in the last relegation place — three points from safety with three games remaining.

UNITED COLLAPSE

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologized to fans after United lost for the sixth time in eight matches in all competitions — a spell that includes the manager’s caretaker position being turned into a permanent job on a three-year contract.

Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson scored before the break, and Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott added to United’s pain with further goals in the second half.

“We have got to apologize to the fans because they were absolutely fantastic and that performance is not good enough for a Man United team,” Solskjaer said. “All the way from me to the players, we know that we let the fans down, we let the club down. That performance is difficult to describe because it is so bad. 



“We were beaten on all the things, all the ingredients you need, added to the talent. There is no place you can hide on the pitch.”

United is where it was when Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December — sixth place.

ARSENAL SETBACK

United’s loss meant Arsenal still ended Sunday in fourth place, two points ahead of Solskjaer’s side despite the north London club’s 10-match winning league home run ending.

After Christian Benteke netted his first goal in 20 games in the 17th minute, Mesut Ozil did level for Arsenal at the start of the second half.

But Benteke set up Wilfried Zaha to restore Palace’s lead in the 61st before James McArthur headed in the visitors’ third.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in the 77th but Arsenal couldn’t find two more goals to extend its 10-match winning league run at home.

“It was very frustrating, because it was a big opportunity,” Arsenal manager Unai Emery said. “But we’ve had plenty of big opportunities before today, plenty of key moments that give us the opportunity to achieve our first target, to play in the Champions League next year.”

That could still be secured by winning the Europa League with Arsenal facing Valencia in the semifinals.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Klopp shies away from Liverpool title talk

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to countenance the suggestion his side might be Premier League title contenders following their impressive 2-1 victory at Chelsea.

Dejan Lovren’s close-range volley and Jordan Henderson’s sublime 25-yard curler earned Liverpool victory at Stamford Bridge on Friday, with Diego Costa replying for the home side.

Liverpool have also beaten Arsenal and defending champions Leicester City this season, but Klopp was no more willing to discuss their title chances than he had been after their 3-1 win here last October.

“I’m really not interested,” he told a reporter in the Stamford Bridge press conference room when asked about Liverpool’s title prospects.

“Someone asked me that when we won 3-1 last season against Chelsea. My answer was: ‘Are you crazy?’ I remember it.

“I learnt a little bit about the English (media). We have 10 points. That’s fantastic. I’m really happy after these difficult fixtures.

“We know we can play good football, we’re convinced about our quality. We just have to do it every week, or every three days.”

The only blot on Liverpool’s league record so far was their surprise 2-0 defeat at promoted Burnley, which was followed by a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.

Liverpool’s performance on Friday was notable for its intensity, with midfielders Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum and Henderson helping to prevent Chelsea gaining a foothold in the game.

Klopp was dismissive when it was put to him that his players might struggle to sustain such a rhythm and said their dominance of possession in the first half had actually helped them save energy.

“I’ve managed for 16 years and I get asked that all the time,” said the German, whose side visit second-tier Derby County in the League Cup on Tuesday.

“It’s not about intensity. It’s about finding a solution for the opponent. In the first half it was not that intense.

“We had the ball, so it’s about movement, playing football simply. We can come through the lines by running.

“The most intense football is if you make a mistake and have to run in the wrong direction, as we did for their goal. We have to improve, but we don’t run like crazy all the time.”

‘Feel the danger’

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte handed a second debut to Brazilian centre-back David Luiz, who returned to the club on transfer deadline day after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.

It was Conte’s first defeat as Chelsea manager and the first time he had seen one of his teams beaten at home in a league game since Juventus lost 2-1 to Sampdoria in January 2013.

The former Italy manager said both of Liverpool’s goals had been the result of defensive inattention from his players.

Philippe Coutinho was allowed to take a short free-kick before crossing for Lovren to put Liverpool in front in the 17th minute, while Henderson’s goal stemmed from a throw-in.

Chelsea slumped to a disappointing 10th-place finish last season and Conte warned his players they risk meeting a similar fate this term if they do not sharpen up.

“I don’t want to repeat a bad season like last year,” he said.

“I don’t want that. For this reason we must pay attention in every single moment of the game, in every minute.

“I’m the coach, so I must work more on this aspect. Now, it’s not enough. Because this is not the first time this has happened.

“We must feel the danger in every single moment of the game, if we want to win and think like a great team.

“Chelsea is a great team, but we must show this in every single game, to pay attention and be focused.”

Chelsea were without captain John Terry, who damaged ankle ligaments in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Swansea City.

Conte said he did not know if the centre-back would be fit for the mid-week League Cup tie at Leicester.

source: sports.inquirer.net

30th Anniversary of John Lennon's Death

Today marks the 30th death anniversary of the murder of John Lennon- most influential man of a generation. John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980 by Mark David Chapman outside his apartment building in New York City. It was around 10:50 PM when John Lennon was returning home from a recording session.

Millions of fans will gather at a memorial garden in Central Park, New York, opposite the apartment block where he was shot dead and many will have a vigil at a new memorial in Liverpool. John Lennon’s death anniversary will be celebrated around the World.


John Lennon is still very popular after three decades since his death and as of 2010, his solo album sales in the United States exceed 14 million units and as performer, writer or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart.




John Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool UK and he formed The Beatles in 1957, at the age of 16. He is 70 years old if he was alive now. However, John Lennon is alive and his music will remain and continue to be passed down through generations.

John Lennon Birthday

Everyone has heard one of the songs of John Lennon. Now, Google is celebrates John Lennon's the 70th birthday today with a music player Google Doodle. It is a YouTube video which is playing the popular song Imagine. A movie called "Nowhere Boy" touches on John Lennon's life. "Nowhere Boy" is the first film to dramatize the early years of John Lennon in Liverpool, his time with his first band, the Quarrymen, and the start of the Beatles. John Lennon left the music industry in 1975 to concentrate and give more time to his family. Then later return in 1980 with a comeback album, Double Fantasy, its best-selling studio album in 3 million shipments in the United States and has won the Grammy Awards for Album of the Year in 1981.