United, Liverpool play out draw
MANCHESTER: Manchester United ended Liverpool’s perfect start to the Premier League season with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford here on Sunday.
Frontman Marcus Rashford struck the opener for the host in the 36th minute after being fed by Daniel James. Substitute Adam Lallana equalised for the away side five minutes from time to rescue a point. Liverpool now has 25 points after nine fixtures, six more than second-placed Manchester City.
United is still in the bottom half of the table, with 10 points after the same number of matches as its rival. The entire Liverpool side and manager Jurgen Klopp were unhappy with the United goal as they felt Divock Origi was fouled in the build-up by Victor Lindelof. VAR didn’t spot a clear and obvious error and granted the goal. United played to the whistle, with James delivering a superb cross to Rashford, who tucked it home.
In the second half, Lallana tapped the ball in after an Andy Robertson cross evaded many players in the box.
We must be more clinical: Pep
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called on his side to be more clinical after it brushed aside Crystal Palace 2-0 on Saturday.
The defending champion travelled to London with questions over its ability to sustain a title challenge after two defeats in four league games, but produced some incisive football without applying its usual killer touch. City had 21 shots but Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey kept his side in the game.
The visitor had its own shotstopper, Ederson, to thank for a couple of outstanding saves at the other end.
“We played good, created a lot of chances,” said City boss Guardiola. “Palace is always so strong for the second ball. Unfortunately, we could not convert the chances we had but it was an important three points after the international break. Hopefully, we can start from here and continue our good performance. The host’s ‘keeper made a lot of saves but hopefully we can be more clinical.”
Mallorca stuns Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s unbeaten start to the La Liga season came to an abrupt and surprising end as Real Mallorca claimed a stunning 1-0 victory at a rocking Son Moix. The home team had managed only six goals in its opening eight games, but one was enough to down its illustrious visitor.
It was a cracker too, thrashed home in the seventh minute by Ivorian Lago Junior, who with one swing of his right foot wrote his name into Mallorcan sporting folklore alongside tennis great Rafael Nadal, who celebrated his wedding earlier.