No risks with De Bruyne
MANSFIELD’S 17-match unbeaten league run came to an end with a
3-2 defeat at CARLISLE.
The Stags had midfielder Neal Bishop sent off for a clash in the tunnel during half-time, when they trailed 2-0, but almost fought back.
Carlisle took the lead through Jack Sowerby and Hallam Hope added a second. Matt Preston pulled a goal back with 13 minutes left.
Hope restored the two-goal lead before Tyler Walker set up a tense finale.
BURY replaced Mansfield in third thanks a 1-0 win at struggling YEOVIL. Nicky Maynard scored the only goal.
Ollie Palmer’s penalty earned CRAWLEY a
1-0 home win against CHELTENHAM, while CAMBRIDGE beat STEVENAGE 2-0 with goals from David Amoo (above) and Jevani Brown.
Sol Campbell’s MACCLESFIELD suffered a 2-1 home defeat as Jak McCourt’s stoppage-time strike sealed victory for SWINDON.
FORMER Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is backing Jurgen Klopp to beat Pep Guardiola to the Premier League – after hailing the Liverpool boss as a superior coach to his Manchester City rival.
Van Gaal reckons the Reds will win the title, despite seeing their lead at the top slashed to four points by a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad on Thursday.
The Dutchman believes City possess better players but insists Klopp is giving Guardiola a masterclass in coaching.
Van Gaal, a seven-time title winner in Holland, Spain and Germany, led United to finish fourth and fifth in his two seasons at Old Trafford. He said: “Klopp has turned Liverpool into an absolute fighting machine, both attacking and defending, so if I was to put my money on one club for the league it would be Liverpool.
“Liverpool’s team is not based on the highest quality when it comes to their players. In fact, the highest-quality players are at City.
“But at the same time that is the weakness in Guardiola. He only coaches his teams in an attacking way, always.
“The moment his team has to defend they look terrible. Liverpool have a team which can defend much better. That’s because Klopp has trained them to be a fighting force, whether they have the ball or not. That’s exactly what is lacking in Guardiola’s team now.
“City have fabulous football ideas and a sparkling way of playing but not the right fighting spirit.
“Don’t get me wrong, I still love to watch the way City play but the way Klopp makes Liverpool play is absolutely fantastic.”
City blew the title race wide open by ending Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season. Now the Merseysiders face the first test of their resolve, with a trip to Wolves in the FA Cup tomorrow followed by a MANCHESTER CITY are taking no chances with Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness as boss Pep Guardiola plans for the knockout stages of the Champions League .
Midfielder De Bruyne (right), 27, has made just four starts this season after two serious knee injuries. He complained of muscle soreness after playing 70 minutes of the 2-1 defeat to Leicester on Boxing Day, then was left out of the squad that won at Southampton