Arsenal continue slump with defeat at Brighton
BRIGHTON: Arsenal completed a dreadful week by losing 2-1 at Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday to slip 13 points off the Champions League qualification positions and pile more pressure on manager Arsene Wenger.
After back-to-back 3-0 losses to Manchester City across two competitions, Arsenal stumbled again following two errors by goalkeeper Petr Cech on the south coast.
Cech was beaten to a high ball following a corner to the back post, and Lewis Dunk slotted the loose ball home from the edge of the six-yard box in the seventh minute.
Glenn Murray made it 2-0 in the 26th when his header from Pascal Gross’ pinpoint cross squirmed under the diving Cech.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the deficit for Arsenal by turning in Granit Xhaka’s drive across the face of goal in the 43rd, but the visitors couldn’t turn sustained pressure into an equalizer in the second half.
It was Arsenal’s fourth straight loss in all competitions, and eighth in 14 matches in 2018.
Arsenal are in sixth place and destined for another year out of the Champions League, unless they can win the Europa League to earn a direct passage to Europe’s top competition.
Arsenal lost to City in the League Cup final last Sunday and then in the Premier League on Thursday, placing Wenger under renewed scrutiny in his 22nd season in charge.
LIVERPOOL JUMP TO SECOND
LONDON: Liverpool moved into second place in the Premier League as Egyptian international Mohamed Salah continued his remarkable scoring run in a 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Salah scored for the seventh match running, taking his Liverpool total for the season to 32, when he put the home side ahead after 40 minutes.
Sadio Mane’s goal in the second half ensured there was no joy for Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez, whose Liverpool team won the Champions League in 2005.
Manchester United will start next Saturday’s game at home to the Merseysiders back in second place if they win at Crystal Palace on Monday.
“I thought the boys did brilliantly,” said manager Juergen Klopp.
“Two wonderful goals and a few more possible. I’m happy.”
Tottenham Hotspur, appar- ently affected early in the season by playing home games at Wembley, achieved a sixth straight win there by beating Huddersfield Town 2-0 with a double by Son Heung-min.
MESSI NETS 600TH GOAL IN PRO FOOTBALL
BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi struck a remarkable 600th professional goal for club and country on Sunday by scoring the opener in his side’s Liga clash at home to nearest challengers Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine slammed a free kick right into the near top corner in the 26th minute to break the deadlock in the top-of-the-table clash and put league leaders Barca 1-0 up at halftime, scoring from a set piece for the third game running.
Messi is the leading scorer in La Liga this season with 24 goals and is also the all-time top marksman in Spain’s top flight. He is also the top scorer in the history of Barcelona and Argentina.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Gareth Bale once as Real Madrid eased past 10-man Getafe 3-1.
Madrid face PSG in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, leading 3-1 from the first leg.
This season is worse than last season because last season we won the cup and we made 75 points... we’ll analyse that at the end of the season.
I try to find solutions where the team feels comfortable. At the moment it’s difficult but we also have to take a little bit of perspective.