LONDON (REUTERS) - Manchester City stumbled to the most sensational defeat of the Premier League season on Saturday (Dec 22) before neighbours Manchester United began their brave new world under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a glorious reminder of long-forgotten attacking swagger.
After City’s sensational 3-2 reverse against Crystal Palace at their Etihad fortress, United seemed liberated and re-energised after Jose Mourinho’s midweek sacking as they romped to a 5-1 win at Cardiff City – the first time they have hit five in the league since their golden Alex Ferguson era.
A remarkable 30-metre thunderbolt from Andros Townsend adorned Palace’s remarkable comeback from a goal down in the rain as Pep Guardiola’s champions City saw their 100 percent league home record this season shattered.
So, what recently looked like an imperious title defence now looks problematic as City lie four points behind leaders Liverpool, who had thrown down the gauntlet with a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.
There was more good news for the Reds as fourth-placed Chelsea also squandered their unbeaten home record with a 1-0 defeat by Leicester City.
Arsenal kept up their pursuit in fifth, thanks to a double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a 3-1 home win over Burnley that put the Gabonese striker top of the league’s goalscoring charts.
After 18 matches, Liverpool are now the only unbeaten side left in England’s top four divisions on 48 points, with City on 44 and Tottenham Hotspur, who visit Everton on Sunday, third on 39. Chelsea and Arsenal both have 37, while United are on 29.
Â
Â
Â
Â
On a remarkable, rain-sodden afternoon at the Etihad, Manchester City, who had lost their season’s unbeaten record at Chelsea two weeks ago, seemed predictably dominant when striding into a first-half lead through Ilkay Gundogan.
But Palace responded quickly with a Jeffrey Schlupp strike and three minutes later a wondrous volley from 30 metres from the mercurial England international Townsend, which will be a contender for goal of the season.
Luka Milivojevic put the visitors further clear with a penalty after the break before Palace survived a late onslaught that saw Kevin De Bruyne score five minutes from time.
“It’s complicated but we fight until the last second. We are in December and we will try and recover and try and win games again,†shrugged Guardiola, conceding that his side needed to “recover mentally and recover physicalityâ€.
UNITED REBORN
In stark contrast, after a traumatic week which saw the end of Mourinho’s two-and-a-half-year reign, Manchester United seemed mentally and physically re-born, playing with verve, pace and attacking intent that reflected the smile of their still fresh-faced caretaker boss and old club hero, Solskjaer.
He was beaming after three minutes when Marcus Rashford’s free kick put United ahead and further goals before halftime from Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial – after a dazzling passing interchange – and a second-half double from Jesse Lingard made it a perfect start for the Norwegian.
United, with Paul Pogba back in the fold, poured forward in a free-spirited manner rarely seen under Mourinho and Lingard’s last-minute goal ensured they netted five in a league match for the first time since Ferguson’s final match in charge in 2013.
Chelsea’s loss at Stamford Bridge seemed almost as unlikely as Manchester City’s with Leicester facing the prospect of a third straight defeat but Jamie Vardy’s first-time finish soon after the break brought much-needed relief for the Foxes’ manager Claude Puel.
At the Emirates Stadium, the predatory Aubameyang took his season-leading tally of league goals to 12 with his double in the win over Burnley, one more than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Fulham earned a goalless draw at Newcastle United but remained bottom of the table on 10 points alongside Huddersfield Town, who were beaten 3-1 by a Southampton side that look rejuvenated under new Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuettl.
Watford moved into seventh place with a 2-0 win at West Ham United, thanks to goals from Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu.
European Minnows are freshwater fish. Is minnow a Chordate or non Chordate? The minnows, certain small saltwater and freshwater fish, are chordates as they are fish. Fish bigger then minnows
What fish eats minnows - answers.com
London, April 10: Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears Harry Kane could miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury sustained against Manchester City. The striker had to be helped down the tunnel by Spurs staff after appearing to turn his left ankle following a challenge with Fabian Delph in the second half of Tuesday's Champions
Kane could be out for the season, says Pochettino
Liverpool send classy message to Spurs after Champions League triumph against Pochettino's men A video posted by BT Sport shows footage of Henderson going up to Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino as Liverpool's players and fans celebrated inside the stadium.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino 'disappointed' with Premier
Karim Benzema scored his sixth goal in four games as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-0 on Sunday for a fourth successive LaLiga victory which took the European champions to within eight points of leaders Barcelona.
Real Madrid stroll to fourth straight win | TODAY.NG
VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football
Soccer: Italy upset Australia with Bonansea double - gcf-vn.org
Solskjaer: Don't call me boss, call me Ole But there is growing support for Solskjaer to be United's permanent manager. Feb 07, 2019 06:00 am. I didn't want them to call me boss."
Danny Higginbotham: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Sack Demands Are
Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier. Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying
Football: Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020
sports-life-news.com/soccer/football-depay-fires-dutch-past-belarus-in-euro-2020-qualifying-opener/
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (AFP) - Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday (March 21) despite having to play the final 20 minutes with 10
Football: Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette will be available for the Lacazette free to face Rennes as ban reduced international's three-match European ban was reduced to two by UEFA on
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 30, 2018, with the headline 'FAS' media-rights partner begins bankruptcy process'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Headlines
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur to trigger Toby
Former Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic criticised Gareth Bale for lacking leadership qualities and hit out at coach Santiago Solari after the club's La Liga title ambitions were dented by Thursday's 2-2 draw at Villarreal.
Bale nowhere near being a Real Madrid leader - Mijatovic
Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League title suffered a potentially grievous blow as struggling Newcastle United earned a remarkable 2-1 comeback win over the champions at St James' Park on Tuesday. City were far from their rampant best but a goal after 24 seconds from Sergio
This rout virtually guaranteed Portugal passage to the second round and a second goalless draw with Brazil confirmed qualification. In the second round, they lost to Spain 1-0 and were knocked out having failed to score in three of their four World Cup matches. Queiroz was sacked by the Portuguese Football Federation on 9 September 2010.
Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa's sportsmanlike decision to allow Aston Villa to score unopposed in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds has been hailed by former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. Wenger said that the incident was more remarkable given that promotion to the Premier League was at stake for the Championship club.
Wenger hails Leeds' Bielsa for sportsmanship in Villa draw
Luis Enrique hails solid defensive display against Real Sociedad. FC Barcelona manager delighted with attitude and intensity shown by his team as they take a huge step towards qualification for
Barcelona beat United 1-0 in an unspectacular but solid display
0 comments:
Post a Comment