The Malta Independent on Sunday
Salah has rare day misfiring as Liverpool is held by Stoke Chelsea keep Champions League hopes alive
Football in the UK
Premier League leading scorer Mohamed Salah had a rare off day as Liverpool stumbled in its chase for a top four finish by drawing 0-0 with Stoke yesterday.
When the Egypt forward broke clear and dinked the ball over goalkeeper Jack Butland, most of Anfield started to celebrate. So there was a feeling of disbelief when the ball went wide and he was denied a 44th goal of the season in all competitions. It was the first time since December 26 Salah had started a home match and did not score.
It was Liverpool’s third draw in four league games. Jurgen Klopp’s third-place side still requires a maximum of four points from its last two matches, including a trip to fifth-place Chelsea, to be sure of Champions League qualification.
Liverpool’s priority is currently this season’s Champions League and protecting a 5-2 lead over Roma heading into the semifinal second leg on Wednesday.
The draw did little to help Stoke’s survival bid as it remains in the relegation zone surrounded by teams with games in hand. Chelsea kept their hopes of a topfour finish alive and dented Swansea City’s survival bid with a 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium.
In a game of precious few chances, it was Cesc Fabregas’ superb fourth-minute strike that proved decisive – his 50th in the Premier League.
The win lifts Antonio Conte’s side just two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who face Watford at Wembley tomorrow.
Swansea, meanwhile, are just one point ahead of 18th-placed Southampton following Mark Hughes’ side’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth earlier in the day.
Carlos Carvalhal’s men now have three games to preserve their top-flight status, including home clashes with the Saints and Stoke City, in what promises to be a nail-biting climax to the season. Burnley set for 1st European campaign in more than 50 years
Burnley is virtually assured of playing in Europe for the first time in over 50 years after picking up a point in a 0-0 draw with Brighton.
A spot in the Europa League qualifying will be clinched if Burnley holds onto seventh place. The northwest England club is six points clear of eighth-place Everton with two games remaining and a superior goal difference.
Burnley, whose last European campaign was during the 1966-67 season, came closest to scoring at Turf Moor when Kevin Long hit a post in the first half.
Brighton moved five points clear of the relegation zone with nine points to play for. Palace close to securing English Premier League status
Crystal Palace moved to the brink of English Premier League safety by beating 10-man Leicester 5-0 yesterday.
Palace, which looked destined for relegation after losing its opening seven fixtures without scoring a goal, has climbed to 11th place to sit six points clear of the bottom three, where only Southampton are capable of catching the south London club.
Wilfried Zaha again excelled and scored the opening goal and James McArthur doubled the lead before gaining a man advantage in the 55th minute. Marc Albrighton was sent off for bringing down Zaha.
The goal flurry came in the last 10 minutes when Ruben LoftusCheek and Patrick van Aanholt netted and Christian Benteke struck a penalty. Everton piles pressure on Huddersfield
Everton piled the pressure back on relegation-threatened Huddersfield by winning 2-0 yesterday.
Turkey forward Cenk Tosun’s clinical finish gave Everton a halftime lead and Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye blasted home their second with 13 minutes left.
It was a damaging defeat for Huddersfield, whose victory over Watford in their last match gave their survival hopes a big lift.
A seventh home loss of the season, though, coupled with wins for relegation rivals Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion, has left Huddersfield three points above the drop zone. Tadic scores 2 to boost Southampton’s survival hopes
Dusan Tadic scored twice as relegation-threatened Southampton boosted its chances of Premier League survival with a 2-1 victory over south coast rival Bournemouth.
Struggling Saints had not won in the top flight at St Mary’s since November but the recalled Tadic changed that with a goal in either half to end a nine-game winless league run. Yesterday Liverpool-Stoke...............................0-0 Burnley-Brighton ............................0-0 Crystal Palace-Leicester ..................5-0 Huddersfield-Everton......................0-2 Newcastle-West Brom ....................0-1 Southampton-Bournemouth...........2-1 Swansea-Chelsea ............................0-1 Today Tomorrow Today Championship PW D L F A Pts Yesterday