Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SPECIAL K
Reds rookie Kabak ‘so happy’ after first victory and first clean sheet
OZAN KABAK had just one word for his first Liverpool win and, crucially, first clean sheet: “Special!”
The January signing was placed under an intense spotlight in Hungary, where a tricky Champions League showdown with RB Leipzig presented the last chance of silverware for Liverpool this season.
And the 20-year-old went into the tie under extra pressure, after a calamitous error between him and Alisson had given Leicester a surprise platform for victory
last weekend. But he responded with a mature European performance that had some pundits making him man of the match.
Kabak said: “It was so special for me because this was my first clean sheet and my first win in this jersey.
“I’m a new player, I’m a young player, and there’s a lot of stars here. I need a little time to adapt and, with time, I will be better.
“We played very well and gave everything on the pitch. We won all the challenges in midfield, I think we deserved to win and I’m so happy.”
Kabak is just 20, and the Premier League is an eyeopening challenge for any player, given the intensity of the competition.
And he will get a taste of that this weekend, with the ferocious heat of the Merseyside derby versus Everton next up for the Reds, in an unrelenting campaign.
The Turkey international added: “We controlled Leipzig really well, and it was a really impressive game from us.
“The last three matches we lost in the Premier League, but we played very well. That’s football – sometimes you can play good but lose.
“I hope, if we continue to play like this, we will win our next Premier League game.”
Skipper Jordan Henderson knows exactly what the weekend means, admitting victory over Leipzig changes nothing, unless the Reds can back it up in the derby.
And he insisted it is vital now to underline an important win with more consistent form in the League.
“We just want to keep going, keep fighting every time we play. Leipzig was a good step in the right direction and we need to continue that with our form and performance level,” he said.
“It’s only one good result. Now we’ve got to turn our attention to the Merseyside derby, which is important.
“We’ll recover well and we’ll give it everything in that game as well.”
SCOTT PARKER believes Fulham are ready to drag Newcastle into the fight for survival after securing a hard-earned point at Turf Moor.
Parker’s side were unable to hang on to their lead, but left a point closer to the 17th-placed Magpies, having made up four points on them in four days.
With the gap to Steve Bruce’s side now just six points and the Cottagers’ next two games against bottom-club Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, Parker’s men have a chance to make up further ground.
Fulham played with enterprise here, but were unable to plunder a winner after Ola Aina’s opener was cancelled out moments later by Ashley Barnes (celebrating, below).
But after a 2-0 win at Everton, their first at Goodison Park, and a point here, Fulham have now lost just three of their last 13 League games and have Bruce’s strugglers in their sights.
Asked if they can reel in Newcastle, Cottagers boss Parker said: “Our focus is on how we perform, but of course that’s our aim.
“It’s a big game against Sheffield United on Saturday, then Palace. I believe we can win every game, so let’s keep racking up those points on the board and see where it takes us.
“Now we go into the Sheffield United game and let’s go and beat them. Let’s take seven points from this week.
“It’s a massive week for us. Ten points the gap was, it’s now six, so this team is going in the right direction.”
With few chances in the first half, Fulham tried an ambitious move from a corner just before the break, Bobby Decordova-reid picking out Mario Lemina on the edge of the area.
As an attempt to replicate Paul Scholes’ iconic strike in 2000 against Bradford, it failed abysmally, Lemina’s effort soaring high into the stand behind the goal.
Hosts Burnley should have taken the lead on half-time, Dwight Mcneil and James Tarkowski combining down the left, the latter firing the ball across the face of the Fulham goal, Barnes and Jay Rodriguez both failing to turn it in.
But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 49th minute, Ademola Lookman’s corner flicked on by Joachim Andersen, the ball deflecting off the chest of Aina and over the line, Robbie Brady unable to keep it out.
Burnley were level within three minutes, Rodriguez selling Tosin Adarabioyo with a clever dummy down the right, then crossing firsttime for Barnes to apply a calm finish beyond Alphonse Areola.
Reflecting on his team taking a share of the spoils, Clarets boss Sean Dyche said: “It’s another point on the board. The reaction to their goal was excellent and I thought we defended well.”
MANCHESTER CITY stretched their lead at the top to an impregnable looking 10 points... and set a new Premier League record in the process.
But they were made to work hard by Everton for a 17th straight victory which surely puts them beyond reach of their nearest rivals now...and gives them another milestone on their remarkable run.
The win means they have become the first team to win their opening 10 Premier League matches in a calendar year, breaking the record of nine set by bitter rivals Manchester United in 2009.
And it was delivered by a fine goal fitting for such an occasion, with Riyad Mahrez, making a compelling claim to a more regular first-team start, with a wondrous finish just after the hour, as he danced on to a pass from Bernardo Silva, and curled a miraculous shot into the far corner.
Bernardo himself produced a passable imitation of his team-mate 13 minutes from time as he too skipped in from the right to unleash a curling left-foot shot, that perhaps confirmed their status as championselect.
But Everton can feel hard done by, as they held the league leaders for so long to a fortunate goal from Phil Foden, and even threatened themselves with a leveller from Richarlison before the break.
It was another relentless victory for Pep Guardiola though, who was even afford the luxury of bringing Kevin
De Bruyne on as a late sub on his return from injury.
Yet it was Foden, the player identified, perhaps, as the Belgian’s long-term successor who made the early impact, on what was a surprisingly subdued start for City.
He took up some similar positions, too. Yet his goal, when it came, had little to do with any sublime movement, or real creativity from the visiting side, who had struggled to break down a resolute Everton rearguard. With Michael Keane providing a magnificent marshalling job, even after the disruption of Yerry Mina limping off just 18 minutes, the leaders were forced to shuffle too often sideways.
One of many City corners was only partly cleared to Mahrez on the right, and a clearing header fell to Foden.
His shot was mistimed, but struck sub
Seamus Coleman, and cruelly bounced up and over the diving Jordan Pickford.
Given Everton’s record against City in recent years – coming into the game they had won just one in their last 14 in the Premier League, and lost their last five straight – it seemed a desperate blow. Yet this Carlo Ancelotti team is nothing if not surprising.
And they had shown flickers of threat, even before the leveller, with Lucas Digne and Alex Iwobi providing outlets wide.
On 38 minutes, they forged a neat move down the right, and Coleman stood up a fine cross to the far post, with City’s defence surprisingly open.
Digne’s cultured left foot crashed a shot against the post, and went in off Richarlison’s thigh, with the Brazilian knowing little about it.
For their tenacity, it was what Everton deserved.
Yet it roused City, who knew victory here would make a powerful, compelling statement at the top of the table.
Mahrez produced that one moment of class, and Bernardo added his deserved goal...leaving City to contemplate a procession towards the return of their crown, with De Bruyne back to lead it.