(REUTERS) - A spectacular strike from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool maintain their two point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League title race with a crucial 2-0Â win over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday (April 14).Â
City won 3-1 at Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday meaning Liverpool have 85 points with four games to go and City are on 83 with an additional match to play.Â
But with Pep Guardiola’s side having to face Tottenham and Manchester United in the next 10 days and Liverpool having no more matches against top six teams, Juergen Klopp’s side have a glorious chance to end their club’s 29-year wait for a domestic league title.Â
After a fascinatingly even first half, Liverpool turned on the style after the break with a 51st minute header from Sadio Mane and then a long-range screamer from Salah two minutes later blowing Chelsea away.Â
“I’m so proud of the team, it was a fantastic performance,†said Klopp. “What a team, what a stadium, what an atmosphere. I’m so thankful I can be a part of this, it’s great. It’s just outstanding, very overwhelming at times,†said the German.Â
Although the brilliant Eden Hazard hit the post for the visitors, there was a real determination about the way Liverpool approached the second half – closing down across the field and yet still pushing forward in search of a third to totally kill the game.Â
BIGGEST OBSTACLE
That did not come but with only lowly Cardiff City, relegated Huddersfield Town, Newcastle United and Wolves remaining as hurdles, this was the biggest obstacle in Liverpool’s run in, cleared with some margin to spare.Â
Hazard, playing in a central role, had been a constant threat in the opening half while Liverpool’s cutting edge was not quite there. Mane went close with a curling effort and a Firmino toe poke forced Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into action.Â
Chelsea had arguably had the better of the opening half but whatever Klopp said to his team at the break certainly had the desired effect.Â
The breakthrough came when Salah weaved into the area, putting the Chelsea defence on the back foot and Henderson picked out Mane at the back post with the Senegalese forward confidently heading home.Â
If that goal brought a feeling of relief, it was pure joy two minutes later when Salah scored a sensational second – the Egyptian receiving the ball on the right flank and cutting inside before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 25 metres out into the far, top corner.Â
“It blows me away,†said Klopp. “I had the best view of it. I saw earlier than most people that it would go in. What a finish, what a shot. But the whole move around it. Wow, brilliant,†he added. Â
Chelsea responded positively, though, with David Luiz picking out Hazard with a ball over the top, the Belgian beating the advancing Alisson Becker only to see his shot bounce out off the post.Â
Moments later, Becker then had to be alert to keep out a Hazard shot from a Willian cross as Chelsea searched in vain for a way back. But having been warned,Â
Liverpool were alert to the Hazard threat and they could have had a third themselves in the 89th minute with Mane forcing Arrizabalaga into a reflex save. The jubilant reaction of the crowd at the final whistle, showed the importance of these three points.Â
The pressure is on City ahead of 10 days which could determine the outcome of this fascinating title race.
Â
Why Chelsea can cope with transfer ban. Maurizio Sarri says he is not worried about Chelsea's looming transfer embargo, insisting he has confidence in his squad as he targets a top-four finish
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri Nigeria News
Pep Guardiola is confident his achievements at Manchester City will not be tarnished by UEFA's investigation into alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches and trusted the club to resolve the
Guardiola trusts Man City to resolve FFP allegations | The
MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) - Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked their Champions League berths on Sunday. The result left Milan fifth on 68 points
AC Milan miss out on top-four finish despite SPAL win - Egypt
Solskjaer & Young rue missed chances in Arsenal defeat | Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United | Reaction Hear from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ashley Young after the Reds' defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Tuchel rues missed chances as PSG crash out of - One News
'Brilliant' Reds have belief Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking about the Champions League final during a press conference at the club's Melwood training ground on Tuesday. In Madrid on
Football: 'Brilliant' Reds have belief - theworldnews.net
LONDON (AFP) - British crash investigators on Tuesday (Feb 5) launched an underwater operation to recover a body from the wreckage of the plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala in the
MADRID (REUTERS) - Real Madrid have signed Serbia striker Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt for 60 million euros (S$92 million), television channel Sky Germany said on Thursday (May 16).. Read
Real Madrid agree Luka Jovic signing for 60 million euros
'Robust' security steps for Champs League final MADRID • Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for tomorrow's all-English Champions League final, and use a drone for the first time to monitor fan activity.
'Robust' security steps for Champs League final - Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/robust-security-steps-for-champs-league-final/
MADRID • Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for tomorrow'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
Real Madrid News: Santiago Solari 'trusts' VAR after Ajax win - Nicolas Tagliafico saw his opener ruled out due to a marginal offside call, a decision that Madrid's boss believes was correct Santiago Solari said head co - February 14th, 2019
Real Madrid News: Santiago Solari 'trusts' VAR after Ajax win
Claude Puel has spoken of his "honour" at being given the opportunity to manage Leicester following his sacking at the weekend. The 57-year-old Frenchman's 16-month reign came to an end after Saturday's 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, Leicester's sixth defeat in seven matches.
Sacked Puel says an 'honour' to manage Leicester | The
The 2019 Women's World Cup in France is fast approaching with the hosts kicking off the event on June 7 against South Korea. The Matildas superstar is the one Australian player that opposition
The players to watch during the World Cup in France - One
Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino (Reuters) Spurs lost 4-3 in a classic encounter against City in Wednesday's quarter-final second leg, but went through on away goals
Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino
Football: PSG's Dani Alves house burgled during match: Report PARIS (REUTERS) - Thieves broke in and stole luxury watches from the home of Paris St Germain's Dani Alves while the Brazilian defender was playing a match earlier this week, French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported on Saturday (Feb 23).
PSG's Dani Alves house burgled during match - L'Equipe| All
Paris (AFP) - Tottenham followed in Liverpool's footsteps by pulling off one of the most stunning fightbacks in Champions League history on Wednesday as Lucas Moura's hat-trick snatched a dramatic
Great UEFA Champions League comebacks
0 comments:
Post a Comment