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
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at United, Pogba sent off Paul Pogba sent off late in the game. leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 football match between Manchester United and Paris
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at United, Pogba sent off
What is another word for high-stakes gambler? Need synonyms for high-stakes gambler?Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.
Gambler's stakes -- Crossword clue | Crossword Nexus
The history of GCC summits held in Saudi Arabia. China to Asian Cup quarter-finals after fightback win over Thailand Son Heung-min was just the player South Korea needed to really get its
Bahrain hold UAE in Asian Cup opener - ARAB TIMES
China-US Trade Ties: US businesses optimistic on China growth, but bemoan 'unfair' treatment. US businesses optimistic on China growth, but bemoan 'unfair
UPDATE 1-U.S. businesses optimistic on China growth, bemoan
"This is the ideal storm for Mars science," said Jim Watzin, director of NASA's Mars Exploration Program at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "We have a historic number of spacecraft operating at the Red Planet.
NewsNow: Video Assistant Referees news | Breaking News 24/7
In November 2009, Singapore hosted Thailand at the National Stadium and lost 3-1, but won the return fixture 1-0 a few days later, earning Singapore their first victory on Thai soil in 48 years. Singapore next hosted Iran, losing 1-3, and the 1-2 defeat against Jordan which followed ended their hopes of Asian Cup football in 2011.
'Internet addiction a mental disorder'
malaysia.shafaqna.com/EN/AL/502806
Football: Ikhsan Fandi the match-winner as Singapore Under-22s beat Thais 1-0 to capture Merlion Cup - straitstimes Respect PM's decision on MACC chief's post, says Mukhriz
Newspapers | Media | Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/news/world-briefs-teen-climate-activist-to-get-human-rights-award/
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; Football: Polish fans fined for fighting each other before Euro qualifier, team beat North Macedonia for 3rd win; Football: Ikhsan Fandi the match-winner as Singapore Under-22s beat Thais 1-0 to capture Merlion Cup
West African farm bootcamp gets green entrepreneurs into shape
malaysia.shafaqna.com/EN/AL/503292
Football: Ikhsan Fandi the match-winner as Singapore Under-22s beat Thais 1-0 to capture Merlion Cup - straitstimes Respect PM's decision on MACC chief's post, says Mukhriz
Home yesterday also launched the MacPherson Protectors programme for 2019, which aims to engage youths living in MacPherson to attend football training sessions at the Home United Youth Academy
Football: Home United engage youth in MacPherson through
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas has suggested Hugo Lloris should be dropped for Paulo Gazzaniga against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Lloris made a costly mistake in the 90th minute against Liverpool on Sunday, resulting in a Toby Alderweireld own goal and consigning Spurs to their fourth defeat in five Premier League outings.
Pundit says Spurs must consider dropping star after Liverpool
Lions hunt in their prides, or groups. They stalk their prey while low to the ground. They like to hunt at night because the animals have a harder time seeing them, but lions actually see better
Do lions hunt? - answers.com
Argentina hands 128 Boca Junior fans four-year stadium ban Argentina hands 128 Boca Junior fans four-year stadium ban AFP/File / ALEJANDRO PAGNI Ultra leaders Rafael Di Zeo, centre, and Mauro
How Face Recognition Keeps Banned Fans Out of Stadiums
Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praises Romelu Lukaku impact. Forward Alexis Sanchez failed to impress in another lacklustre showing, but striker Lukaku scored two well
Lukaku inspires Man United to 3-1 win at Palace - Reuters
Football: Palace's Zaha banned for referee sarcastic clap
Iqbal Hussain proved his coach wrong when his goal helped salvage a well-deserved 1-1 draw with title favourites Tampines Rovers at the Hougang Stadium.
Women's World Cup 2019 preview: What to know when USA takes
sportslifetale.com/soccer/womens-world-cup-2019-preview-what-to-know-when-usa-takes-on-thailand/
The wait is over. The U.S. women's national team will take the field Tuesday to compete in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup with its first match against Thailand in Group F. Thailand, ranked 34th in the world by FIFA, is relatively new to the World Cup stage as it first made the tournament in […]
Draw news | Serendeputy: Newsfeed Engine for the open web
Feb 24, 2019 · Leicester have sacked Claude Puel as their manager after the 4-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday and want to appoint Brendan Rodgers as his successor. Rodgers their top target after
Leicester City Target Celtic's Rodgers To Replace Puel
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen