Mahrez blows City’s big chance of victory
MANCHESTER City winger Riyad Mahrez missed an 86th minute penalty as the Premier League champions were held to a 0-0 draw at Liverpool in a top of the table clash yesterday.
Substitute Leroy Sane was brought down in the area by the lunging Virgil van Dijk but Algerian Mahrez blasted the spot kick high over the bar at Anfield.
The result leaves the pair level with Chelsea on 20 points although City stay top on goal difference.
Liverpool, who remain unbeaten in their last 18 home games against City, came out roaring and dominated the opening 10 minutes but Pep Guardiola’s visiting side weathered that early storm and were the more dangerous after the break.
Mahrez twice forced good saves out of Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker but then failed to find the target from the penalty spot when it mattered most.
Aaron Ramsey produced a contender for goal of the season in Arsenal’s 5-1 rout of Fulham earlier yesterday to underline why he will be such a loss if, as expected, he leaves the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old midfielder began and ended a wonderful free-flowing move at Craven Cottage to score Arsenal’s third just 39 seconds after coming on as a 67th-minute substitute.
First he dinked the ball over a defender deep in his own half before running on to make two key headers around the halfway line to allow the push forward to keep its momentum.
Finally he met Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s low cross with a delicate flick with the inside of his boot to beat Marcus Bettinelli in the Fulham goal and conjure memories of the sort of goals Dutch great Johan Cruyff used to score.
“It was an important goal for Aaron and an important goal for us,” said manager Unai Emery with more than a touch of understatement.
“The best performer for us is every player.”
With Ramsey also providing a superb through ball to set up Aubameyang’s second – and Arsenal’s fifth – his contribution to the win was immense, with all five of Arsenal’s goals beautifully worked.
Although Emery has said he would like to keep Ramsey, who is Arsenal’s longest serving player after joining in 2008, Arsenal are keen to keep their wage bill under control and look willing to allow the Welshman to leave on a free transfer, just as Jack Wilshere did during the close season.
“Our performance over the 90 minutes was very important; to be together and with our performance we found each moment and each player,” said Emery.
The win was Arsenal’s ninth in succession in all competitions and put them into the top four.
“I believe in us, we believe in our process but also we must keep taking confidence. I think we are in the first competition in the war. It is very difficult but we must prepare, continue improving and show big commitment,” said Emery.
Meanwhile, Ross Barkley scored his first goal for Maurizio Sarri’s unbeaten Chelsea to help them to a 3-0 win at Southampton yesterday.
Willian had a shot deflected on to the crossbar and Danny Ings missed a golden opportunity from close range at the other end, before Barkley created the opener for Eden Hazard. The English midfielder pressed high to win back the ball and set up Hazard who netted his seventh of the league season after 30 minutes at St. Mary’s.
Barkley tapped in the second