Arab Times

Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimeso­nline.com Reds extend perfect home run in EPL to 50

Chelsea edge Arsenal to ruin Arteta home debut

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LIVERPOOL, England, Dec 29, (AP): Liverpool extended their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 50 games with a 1-0 win against Wolverhamp­ton in a scrappy match where two video replays went in the runaway league leaders’ favor.

Liverpool are 13 points clear of second-place Leicester, having played one game less.

Sadio Mané’s goal in the 42nd minute was allowed after VAR ruled out a handball from passer Adam Lallana, and a Wolves equalizer from Pedro Neto in first-half injury time was not allowed because VAR revealed there was a fractional offside beforehand.

It is the second time in Liverpool’s history they have gone 50 league games at home unbeaten in the top division. Chelsea are the only other side to have previously reached the mark once.

The Champions League winners, however, looked tired after a hectic recent schedule.

After Mohamed Salah’s tame volley was easily saved and Roberto Firmino’s glancing header from a corner went wide, Mané swept the ball in from close range. Lallana had moved smartly between two defenders to reach Virgil van Dijk’s long pass and knock the ball down.

Referee Anthony Taylor called for a video replay, which establishe­d that the ball struck the top of Lallana’s shoulder and not his arm. It appeared unclear, however, if Van Dijk handballed when receiving a high ball before launching his pass to Lallana.

There was more frustratio­n to come for the angry Wolves bench.

After Van Dijk, Firmino, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all failed to clear a cross from the right, Neto finished neatly from 15 meters out.

Neto’s joy was swiftly cut short as images showed Jonny was fractional­ly offside - because his hand was ahead of the defender marking him.

Wolves forced a corner in the final seconds of injury time, and Anfield

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, (right), challenges for the ball with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea, at the

Emirates Stadium in London, Dec 29. (AP)

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