Leaders Liverpool rally to beat Spurs
Reds regain six-point advantage over Manchester City after a 2-1 win over Champions League finalists Tottenham at Anfield
LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah claimed the 50th Anfield goal of his Liverpool career from the penalty spot as the Premier League leaders restored their sixpoint advantage at the top of the table after surviving a major scare against Tottenham.
It was a comeback victory that had Liverpool’s demanding manager Jurgen Klopp heaping praise on his players for their composure in responding after Harry Kane had shot Spurs into a shock lead with only 47 seconds played. Salah struck a clinical 75th-minute penalty into the bottom right-hand corner after Serge Aurier tripped Sadio Mane, which took him to a half-century of home goals in just his 58th outing. It completed a second-half comeback, started when Jordan Henderson cancelled out a dramatic opening goal from Kane.
There was more good news for Liverpool supporters after the game when Klopp revealed that Salah, who limped off in the closing minutes with what appeared to be an ankle problem, was only removed as a precaution. “When we were 1-0 down, we didn’t chase it immediately. We just played it,” said a delighted Klopp. “Very often the result is the result of the performance. The performance was really, really good. I liked it a lot. Being 1-0 down against Tottenham with the strength they have in counter-attacking is really tough.” He added: “The game I loved, a super game, how football should look, how we should play against a really strong, good organised side.”
Kane struck inside a minute, becoming the joint-third highest scorer in the famous club’s histhe tory with his 174th goal in Tottenham colours.
It was also one of the simplest after Moussa Sissoko sparked a scrambling counter-attack and set Son Heung-min racing upfield. The South Korean’s powerful strike from the edge of the area took a wild deflection off the head of Dejan Lovren before striking the woodwork but the rebound fell kindly for Kane to stoop and head into the gaping net. It was a lead that lasted, somehow, until the 52nd minute when a Henderson cross was headed clear and turned back into the area by Fabinho.
Danny Rose appeared to nudge Roberto Firmino in the back but, with referee Anthony Taylor unmoved, the ball continued to the corner of the six-yard area where Henderson hit it on the half-volley into the Spurs goal.
Minutes earlier, Spurs might have doubled their lead when Son was sent clear on the end of a long clearance by keeper Paulo Gazzaniga. He rounded Alisson Becker but could only strike the crossbar from a tricky angle.
But the equaliser was no more than Liverpool deserved after a dominant first-half spell in which only an inspired performance from stand-in ’keeper Gazzaniga maintained the visitors’ lead. In one breathless, four-minute spell, Liverpool carved out five excellent chances, with Gazzaniga peerless in dealing with them.
XHAKA-FANS FEUD
LONDON: Unai Emery refused to confirm if Granit Xhaka will remain as Arsenal captain after admitting the Swiss star was wrong to become embroiled in an astonishing feud with Gunners fans during Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Emery’s side blew a two-goal lead at the Emirates Stadium before Xhaka’s tantrum laid bare the simmering tensions at a club in danger of spiralling into crisis.
When Xhaka was replaced by Bukayo Saka in the second half, the midfielder trudged slowly to touchline while petulantly gesticulating to the fans who had cheered his substitution and were angrily urging him to get off the pitch quicker.
Xhaka’s meltdown climaxed when he ripped off his shirt, appeared to shout f**k off at supporters and stormed past Emery straight down the tunnel to more derision from the stands.
Having watched his skipper behave in such a childish manner, Emery conceded Xhaka was out of line. “He was wrong. I want to be calm but, really, he was wrong in this action,” Emery said. “We are working with the players to play under pressure. In a difficult moment you can be hot. You have to be clever. We play for the supporters. We need to have a lot of respect for them when they are applauding us and when they are criticising us.”
UNITED BEAT NORWICH
Manchester United beat struggling Norwich City 3-1 at Carrow Road on Sunday despite missing two penalties to claim their first Premier League away win of the season and move up to seventh. Goals by Scott Mctominay and Marcus Rashford put United in control by half-time but they could have been out of sight had Tim Krul not saved spot-kicks from Rashford and Anthony Martial—both penalties awarded after VAR interventions.
Mctominay swept the visitors in front on 21 minutes, United’s 2,000th Premier League goal, and after Rashford was denied by Krul from the spot the striker made no mistake when he was played in by Daniel James after 30 minutes. Krul dived to his left to save Martial’s spot-kick but the French forward atoned with a neat finish after 73 minutes.