SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - James Maddison scored a second-half equaliser as Leicester City twice came from behind to force a 2-2 Premier League draw with hosts Southampton on Wednesday (Dec 1) in a match delayed for 18 minutes by a medical emergency in the crowd. Jan Bednarek and Che Adams scored first-half goals for the home team either side of a Jonny Evans strike for the visitors to lead 2-1 at halftime. A medical emergency in the crowd during the break forced a delay to the second period, but once the action got back under way, it was the visitors who were much the brighter as Maddison soon equalised. The draw moves Leicester up to 19 points, while Southampton are on 15 points. The home side were in front inside three minutes when Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved brilliantly from Mohamed Salisu's shot, but Bednarek reacted quickest to turn the ball home. It was the third time in four games they took the lead inside five minutes. Leicester, who have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day of the campaign, equalised midway through the first half. Home goalkeeper Alex McCarthy could only parry Wilfred Ndidi's shot into the path of Evans, who had a simple finish. But Leicester-born Adams, a boyhood fan of the Foxes, headed the home side back in front when he connected with Nathan Redmond's deflected cross to give them a 2-1 halftime lead. After the 33-minute interval, the visitors were back on level terms early in the second period as Maddison twisted and turned in the box and drilled the ball low past McCarthy at his near post. Leicester forward Jamie Vardy had an excellent chance to grab the winner when he was one-on-one with McCarthy, but produced an uncharacteristically wild finish over the bar.
LONDON (AFP) - West Ham ended Manchester City's four-year hold on the League Cup on Wednesday (Oct 27) as Liverpool and Tottenham booked their places in the quarter-finals. City's record run in the competition came to an end at the London Stadium as the Hammers emerged 5-3 winners from a penalty shootout after both sides were guilty of missing plenty of chances in a 0-0 draw. Phil Foden was the only man to miss from the spot as Mark Noble, Jarrod Bowen, Craig Dawson, Aaron Cresswell and Said Benrahma all found the net for David Moyes' men. Pep Guardiola characteristically named a strong side and will feel City should have continued their run of 21 League Cup games without defeat. Nathan Ake, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling all wasted big opportunities as the scoreline belied a contest which raged from one end to the other. Tomas Soucek also side-footed wide two big chances to win the game for the hosts. Foden was thrown on along with Jack Grealish in an attempt to win the game from Guardiola. But the England international pulled City's first penalty wide and stand-in goalkeeper Zack Steffen could not bail his teammate out despite getting a hand to Bowen and Benrahma's strikes. Liverpool will now fancy their chances of winning the League Cup for the first time in nine years, but had to overcome a poor start to win 2-0 at Preston. The Reds had scored 30 goals in eight previous away games this season, but a much-changed side from Jurgen Klopp failed to hit the heights of Sunday's famous 5-0 win at Manchester United. Preston had by far the better of the first-half as Adrian made a point-blank save from Sean Maguire, Neco Williams cleared off the line and Brad Potts fired over within a matter of seconds. Liverpool were clinical as they went in front with their first shot on target just after the hour mark as Williams' cross was acrobatically flicked home by Takumi Minamino. Klopp's men then controlled the final half hour and doubled their lead in spectacular fashion when Divock Origi's backheel dinked the ball over Delcan Rudd. Tottenham's bid for a first trophy since they last won the League Cup in 2008 remains on course as Nuno Espirito Santo was rewarded for naming a strong side with a 1-0 win at Burnley. Lucas Moura scored the only goal 22 minutes from time with a powerful downward header from Emerson Royale's cross. Leicester also needed penalties to see off Brighton after an entertaining game ended 2-2. The Foxes twice pounced on Brighton gifting possession away in dangerous areas to take the lead through Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman in the first-half. Adam Webster and Enock Mwepu levelled for the Seagulls, but Mwepu and Neal Maupay failed to beat Danny Ward from the spot. Brentford reached the last eight for the second consecutive season with a 2-1 win at Stoke thanks to first-half goals from Sergi Canos and Ivan Toney.
MADRID (REUTERS) - Real Madrid slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League on Tuesday (Sept 28) as the visitors pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history with a stunning 89th-minute strike from Sebastien Thill. Champions League debutants Sheriff went ahead against the 13-times European champions in the 25th minute with a header from Uzbek midfielder Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, who narrowly missed a chance to double their lead later in the first half. Real dominated in both halves but needed a penalty to level. Karim Benzema buried his spot-kick in the 65th after Vinicius Jr was felled and awarded a penalty following a VAR review, having been denied after a previous review moments earlier. Real substitute Luka Jovic spurned a great chance to score but Sheriff quickly went down the other end and following a throw-in the ball fell to Luxembourg midfielder Thill, who unleashed a lethal shot into the top corner on the half volley. Sheriff, from the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria, top Champions League Group D with six points from two games while Real are second with three. Thill’s unstoppable strike gave Sheriff a win that flew in the face of match statistics showing Real had 30 shots on goal to the visitors’ four and won 13 corners compared to none for the Moldovan side while the Spaniards had 67% of possession. “I’m a little sad as I think we deserved to win,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. “You could say we had bad luck, we lost the game on the small details, they scored their goals on the counter-attack and from a throw-in. We had a lot of shots at goal but sometimes luck deserts you in games. “Everything went well for them, everything went wrong for us.” Biggest result Sheriff came through four rounds of qualifying to become the first Moldovan team to play in the group phase of Europe’s elite club competition and surprised a highly experienced Champions League side in Shakhtar Donetsk to win their opening game 2-0. Before kick off the club, founded in 1997, had a mere 6,000 followers on Twitter, contrasting with Real’s army of over 38 million on the social media platform. They faced an unbeaten Real side and were outplayed for most of the game but pulled off the biggest result in their 24-year-history, making the most of few chances and relying on some top-drawer saves from Greek goalkeeper Georgios Athanasiadis. Real made a strong start and Vinicius and Benzema each went close to giving them the lead, Athanasiadis making the first of many saves to tip a stinging shot from Benzema over the bar. But Ancelotti’s side were outdone on the counter when Cristiano tore down the left wing and crossed to the unmarked Yakhshiboev, who headed into the net. More on this topic Related Story Football: Salah strikes twice as Liverpool thrash injury-hit Porto in Champions League Related Story Football: Messi off the mark for PSG in Champions League win over Man City Real continued to threaten, Benzema and Vinicius each fizzing shots just off target before halftime although Yakhshiboev could have scored again down the other end following a glaring error from home keeper Thibaut Courtois. The Spaniards looked set to go on to win the game after Benzema levelled from the spot but Sheriff had the ball in the net again through substitute Bruno, although the goal was ruled out for offside. Luka Modric was then thwarted by Athanasiadis, who saved a thumping shot from the Croatian with his face, before Brazilian forward Rodrygo fired narrowly over the bar. A Real winner looked inevitable but instead it came down the other end when Thill tried his luck from the edge of the box, scoring the most important goal in his club’s brief history. “We had so many shots, their goalkeeper made a lot of saves and I think you have to congratulate them for scoring two goals,” said Real midfielder Casemiro. “We were in control of the game, had many chances and then they scored a wonder goal.” More on this topic Related Story Football: Last-gasp Suarez penalty earns Atletico victory over 10-man Milan in Champions League Related Story Football: Chelsea's Kante tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Juventus clash
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Brighton and Hove Albion moved joint top of the Premier League as first-half goals by Shane Duffy and Neal Maupay earned them a comfortable 2-0 home win against Watford on Saturday (Aug 21). Defender Duffy struck with a bullet header from a corner after 10 minutes to give the hosts the perfect start. Watford then gifted Brighton their second a few minutes before the interval when they lost the ball trying to play out from the back and Maupay curled home. The visitors did improve after the break and had a goal by Emmanuel Dennis ruled out for offside, but Brighton were comfortably the better side as they moved to six points. It is the first time Brighton have started a top-flight season with back-to-back wins, and the only blemish was an injury to Maupay who did not come back out for the second half after appearing to hurt his shoulder. Graham Potter’s well-drilled Brighton side were in command once Duffy, who suffered a difficult last season on loan at Celtic, rose highest to power in a Pascal Gross corner. Brighton’s second was a gift as Yves Bissouma pounced on a sloppy pass by Watford defender William Ekong and touched the ball through to Maupay who beat Daniel Bachmann with ease. It was a case of back to reality for Watford who marked their return to the top flight last week with a 3-2 win over Aston Villa at Vicarage Road. But for Brighton manager Graham Potter these are heady days with his side looking capable of residing in the top half. “Back to back wins at any stage are hard to achieve. We are in a good place, but it is just a start,” he said. On Maupay’s injury Potter said: “It’s early, but we are hopeful. Days more than weeks. But it is disappointing for him as he was doing really well.” Watford manager Xisco Munox took heart from a better second half display but said his side must learn from their mistakes. “Everybody knows the Premier League is the best league in the world,” he said. “It’s important everybody stays together. “I promise you we’re working very, very hard. It’s one step back, but we have to try to make two steps forward.”
SINGAPORE - Two patients suffering from serious side effects related to the Covid-19 vaccine have each received the highest payout of $225,000 in government financial aid so far, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). One of them is a 16-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest after his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The boy is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. "The Tier 1 payout of $225,000 has been extended to a total of two applicants so far, including this case," an MOH spokesman told The Straits Times late at night on Monday (Aug 16). The spokesman did not provide details of the second case and whether it was related to the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine. Under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP) rolled out earlier this year, a one-time payout will be given to those who experienced medically significant serious side effects. This is to give a greater peace of mind for those taking Covid-19 vaccination. MOH added that a total of of $782,000 has been paid out, or is in the process of being paid out, to 144 applicants who have been assessed to have met the qualifying criteria for VIFAP. MOH said on Monday (Aug 16) that the 16-year-old boy would likely be discharged in the coming weeks. He is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and can perform his activities of daily living without assistance. The 16-year-old had collapsed at home following a gym weightlifting session on July 3, six days after receiving his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine. He had developed acute severe myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, which led to the cardiac arrest. On Monday (Aug 16), MOH added that the myocarditis was likely a serious adverse event caused by the vaccine, which may have been aggravated by the youth's strenuous lifting of weights and high consumption of caffeine through energy drinks and supplements. On its website, MOH said that the amount of financial assistance provided through VIFAP is fixed and dependent on the severity of the serious side effect. These side effects are classified into three categories. Those with the first type, which results in death or permanent severe disability, can receive a one-time payout of $225,000. The second category, which applies to cases that require admission to high dependency or intensive care wards, with subsequent recovery, can get $10,000. More on this topic Related Story S'pore teen who suffered cardiac arrest after Covid-19 jab gets $225k in aid Related Story 0.12% of over 7.5 million Covid-19 vaccine jabs linked to suspected adverse events: HSA The last one, which applies to patients who need inpatient hospitalisation and medical intervention, with subsequent recovery, can get $2,000. In a written parliamentary reply last month (July), Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that as at June 25, the authorities had approved $451,000 worth of financial aid under VIFAP to 102 applicants who had suffered serious side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine. A month before in Parliament, then-Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said that the Government had approved 30 applicants to receive payouts under VIFAP. Out of 104 applications, 45 had been rejected. Of the 30 successful applicants, there were 21 cases of hypersensitivity allergic reactions, four related to neurology, three to cardiology, one to haematology and one dermatology-related case. More on this topic Related Story Heart inflammation after Covid-19 jabs: What does it mean for you? Related Story No evidence that vaccines can directly cause heart attacks and strokes: HSA
LEGANES, SPAIN (REUTERS) - A youthful Spain side outclassed Lithuania to claim an impressive 4-0 victory on Tuesday (June 8), with the hosts' under-21 side drafted in after their first team were forced into isolation. Valencia defender Hugo Guillamon opened the scoring after three minutes, before Brahim Diaz doubled the lead on 24 as Spain's youngsters threatened to run riot - with Abel Ruiz missing a penalty on the half hour. Juan Miranda netted a free kick eight minutes after the restart, before substitute Javi Puado sealed a comfortable victory on 73 minutes. The unfamiliar team were called into action after Spain captain Sergio Busquets tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, sending the entire senior squad and coaching staff into isolation. Under-21 coach Luis de la Fuente was placed in temporary charge, and his squad, who lost in the semi-finals of their European Championship last Thursday, replaced the senior side so that the fixture could be fulfilled. The starting team contained 10 debutants for the first time since 1941 with Eibar's Bryan Gil the only previously capped player. It was also the youngest ever in Spain's history with an average age of 22 years and 102 days, and they gave senior coach Luis Enrique food for thought should he require any replacements if there are multiple Covid-19 cases or injuries. "It was an unbeatable night," forward Puado said. "As a player you always want to get called up by Spain, even if this was under special circumstances. "We don't want there to be any more positive cases, those lads (the senior squad) were picked for the Euros - but we will always be here to help. While this call-up has been because of a terrible situation, we're happy to be here." Six senior players - Kepa Arrizabalaga, Raul Albiol, Brais Mendez, Pablo Fornals, Rodrigo Moreno and Carlos Soler - were called up to train in a parallel bubble should multiple replacements be required. The Spanish FA also said that a number of the Under-21 players will remain in Madrid and train separately to the main squad following the victory.
LONDON (REUTERS) - West Ham United blew their chance to apply real pressure in the race for a Premier League top-four finish as they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by an Everton side who maintained their European qualification hopes on Sunday (May 9). Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 24th-minute goal proved decisive against a West Ham side who huffed and puffed but never really hit their stride on a crucial afternoon. The closest West Ham came to an equaliser was when Vladimir Coufal's shot hit the post and Jarrod Bowen could not bundle in the rebound from point-blank range. Everton hit the post late on through Josh King and they hung on for the win that keeps them in the frame for a European spot. West Ham remained in fifth place with 58 points, five points behind fourth-placed Leicester City with three games remaining. Liverpool are only a point behind West Ham with a game in hand. Everton are eighth with 55 points and have four games left.
PRAGUE (REUTERS) - Arsenal cruised past Slavia Prague 4-0 to book a Europa League semi-final spot on Thursday (April 15) after they struck three quick-fire goals in seven first-half minutes to advance 5-1 on aggregate. Alexandre Lacazette scored twice, including a penalty, while Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka also found the net in the quarter-final second leg to set up a last-four clash with Villarreal. Arsenal, surprisingly held to a 1-1 home draw by the Czech champions, signalled their intent from the start as they pressed forward to create chances while Slavia struggled to move the ball out of their own half and rarely threatened in attack. "I feel like in the first leg we played really well but didn't take our chances," Arsenal's Saka told BT Sport. "The way we pressed, they couldn't get out and the control we had over the game, the movement, the rotations, they couldn't stop us." The visitors opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Pepe drove a shot home from a pass by Emile Smith-Rowe, who had a goal disallowed for offside minutes earlier after a VAR review. Lacazette then coolly slotted in a spot-kick after 21 minutes after Czech midfielder Jakub Hromada bundled over Saka. Arsenal struck again three minutes later when Saka cut inside a defender and fired a low shot past keeper Ondrej Kolar. Lacazette netted his second of the night in the 77th minute when he latched onto Pepe's cross before jinking away from two defenders to create some space to beat the Czech keeper. Arsenal, who ended Slavia's 21-match unbeaten streak at home in all competitions this season, next face their former manager Unai Emery's Villarreal side who beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate to reach the semis. Slavia, who made four changes after the break, were without defender Ondrej Kudela who was serving a 10-match Uefa ban for "racist behaviour" in their Europa League last-16 match against Scottish side Rangers last month. The home side, who beat Leicester City as well as Rangers en route to the quarter finals, reached the end of the road against an Arsenal side that pressured the Czechs all over the pitch. "They were better today by every measure," Slavia coach Jindrich Trpisovsky told reporters. "They scored with their chances and we lacked better movement to be more successful in the attack."
LONDON (AFP) - Harry Kane became England's all-time leading penalty scorer on Wednesday (March 31) as Gareth Southgate's side beat Poland 2-1 to make it three wins out of three and seize control of their World Cup qualifying group. The England captain's 10th international goal from a spot-kick was cancelled out in the second half by Jakub Moder after a defensive howler from John Stones. But England regained the lead with five minutes left on the clock when Harry Maguire smashed home after central defensive partner Stones headed a corner back across goal. The nervy win at an empty Wembley means England top Group I with nine points after wins earlier in the international window against San Marino and Albania. Only the team that finishes top of the group are guaranteed a place at the World Cup finals in Qatar next year. The visitors, who have not beaten England since 1973, were missing injured Bayern Munich sharpshooter Robert Lewandowski and were depleted following a coronavirus outbreak in the camp. England made just one change from the side that started Sunday's match in Tirana, with Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell coming in for Manchester United's Luke Shaw. Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden headed over from a Chilwell cross early in the game as the hosts started on the front foot. England took the lead their football deserved in the 19th minute after Raheem Sterling charged into the box and was upended by Barnsley defender Michal Helik. Kane smashed the spot-kick down the middle, giving Wojciech Szczesny no chance. The goal forced Poland to be more proactive but Sterling continued to look dangerous on the left side of the England attack, nearly setting up Foden and then going on a slaloming run into the opposition penalty area. Szczesny made a fine save from a powerful Kane shot as England tried to turn the screw but for all their dominance, they were forced to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break. The home side were in control at the start of the second half but failed to create clear openings and the visitors equalised against the run of play as Stones was caught in possession. The City defender, who has been in fine form this season, was in no danger when he received the ball on the right side of the England penalty area but Brighton's Moder robbed him and lashed home after collecting an Arkadiusz Milik return pass. Milik headed wide when presented with a chance as England struggled to recapture their earlier rhythm against their galvanised opponents. England huffed and puffed but Southgate stayed patient, refusing to turn to the substitutes' bench and was rewarded by Maguire's late goal.
TIRANA (REUTERS) - Harry Kane scored his first England goal since 2019 to lead his side to a comfortable 2-0 win against Albania in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday (March 28) to top Group I. Albania initially made things difficult for England but once skipper Kane headed home in the 38th minute for his 33rd goal for his country it was a relatively straightforward assignment for Gareth Southgate's team. Kane also hit the woodwork, as did Phil Foden, before midfielder Mason Mount doubled England's lead just past the hour mark with a deft finish from Kane's pass. Albania were left to rue an early chance squandered by Myrto Uzuni, after which they rarely threatened an England side who followed up their 5-0 rout of San Marino on Thursday with a sure-footed display against much stiffer opposition. They top the standings with six points from two games ahead of their home clash with most-likely group rivals Poland at Wembley on Wednesday. Albania have three points following their victory over Andorra in midweek. More on this topic Related Story Football: Dembele scores, Mbappe misses penalty as France beat Kazakhstan Related Story Football: Mitrovic sets record as Serbia earn 2-2 draw with Portugal
LONDON (REUTERS) - Fulham's Premier League survival hopes suffered a damaging blow as a 2-1 home defeat by Leeds United on Friday (March 19) left them in the relegation zone with games running out. Scott Parker's side would have climbed out of the bottom three with a win but goals by Patrick Bamford and Raphinha earned Leeds the points at Craven Cottage. Joachim Andersen had cancelled out Bamford's goal before halftime but the visitors were the better side and thoroughly deserved a victory that moved them into 11th place. Fulham's failure will come as a huge relief for fourth-bottom Newcastle United who would have slipped into the drop zone had the London side managed a victory. Parker's team remain on 26 points from 30 games while Newcastle, who play at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, are two points better off having played two fewer games.
LONDON (REUTERS) - West Ham United maintained their push for a top-four finish as goals by Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson earned them a 2-0 home victory over Leeds United in the Premier League on Monday (March 8). Lingard converted a rebound from his own saved penalty in the 21st minute for his fourth goal in six appearances since arriving on loan from Manchester United. Dawson headed in West Ham's second goal seven minutes later to help his side up to fifth spot with 48 points from 27 games. David Moyes's side are two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea having played a game less. Leeds twice had goals ruled out before West Ham scored and squandered several good opportunities to get back into the game. In the end a frustrating night for Marcelo Bielsa's side left them in 11th spot.
LONDON • Defender Andy Robertson has conceded that Premier League champions Liverpool are not in the title frame following their damaging 1-0 home defeat by Brighton on Wednesday. Having gone 68 top-flight games without losing at Anfield, the Reds have now lost twice here in the space of a fortnight, this time to Steven Alzate's first league goal. Jurgen Klopp's side failed to score for the third successive home league game for the first time since 1984 and managed only one effort on target, as they fell seven points behind leaders Manchester City (47), who still have a game in hand. Fourth-place Liverpool host Pep Guardiola's men on Sunday and a loss could all but see the end of their title hopes in early February. A 10-point gap that could potentially rise to 13 would be a tall order to close, even with more than three months of the term to go. The Reds' goal-less run at Anfield stands at 348 minutes and against a City side who have conceded only four times in their past 20 games, that is a bad omen. Robertson admitted his teammates would have to dig deep to rediscover their spark ahead of their clash with Guardiola's side. "Any game against Manchester City is a big one," said the defender. "As this moment stands, we're not in the title race. We are seven points behind them and they have a game in hand. "I'm sure they'd say the same if they were potentially 10 points behind. We need to get back to the Liverpool everyone knows. We're still a good team. We don't turn into a bad team overnight." Liverpool have been hit by injuries to key players such as Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip - all long-term absentees and are unlikely to have a part to play this season. FOR NOW, WE'RE OUT OF IT As this moment stands, we're not in the title race... We're still a good team. We don't turn into a bad team overnight. ANDY ROBERTSON, Liverpool's Scottish defender, adds his team need a quick pickup before Sunday's clash against leaders Man City. Naby Keita and Diogo Jota have also been on the sidelines for months and will not be available for City. Sadio Mane and Fabinho have missed Liverpool's past two and three games respectively through injury, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker skipped the Brighton match because of illness. This was the sixth time this season Klopp's men have been without eight first-team players for a fixture, and only Alisson, Mane and Fabinho have a chance of returning against City. The hosts appeared to have rediscovered their spark with consecutive away wins last week over Tottenham and West Ham but were easily stifled by an impressive Brighton side, who claimed their first league win at Anfield since 1982. Admitting their injury crisis had gotten to his side, Liverpool boss Klopp said: "The only explanation now is that we are a fatigued team, mentally more or less. "We had our moments but they deserved to win. We had to defend with a lot of running, there is no formation in the world where you are always in the right place. "The best way to defend against a team like that is to keep the ball yourself but we couldn't do it tonight. It has been a tough week and tonight, it was not enough." Deadline-day signing Ben Davies was left as an unused substitute here, while Schalke loanee Ozan Kabak was not part of the squad. Klopp is unlikely to give either player their debut against a City side who have won their past 14 matches in all competitions but given their dearth of options at the back, the German said he had work to do on the training pitch in the next few days. "City are flying and we have to find solutions," he added. REUTERS
BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann fired Barcelona to a 2-1 win at home to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday (Jan 31), avenging their recent defeat to the Basque side in the Spanish Super Cup final. Messi curled in a free kick after 20 minutes for his 650th Barca goal on the day the club pledged to sue Spanish newspaper El Mundo for publishing the full details of the Argentine's contract. The hosts missed several more opportunities before Athletic levelled in the 49th through a Jordi Alba own goal but Griezmann, who scored twice in the 3-2 Super Cup final defeat, restored the hosts lead in the 74th. Ronald Koeman's Barca side saw out the game to record a fifth straight Liga victory and move above Real Madrid on goal difference into second place on 40 points, 10 behind leaders Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand.
LONDON (REUTERS) - West Ham United became the latest club to challenge the Premier League hierarchy after Tomas Soucek's double helped secure a well-deserved 3-2 win at London rivals Crystal Palace and took them up to fourth spot on Tuesday (Jan 26). Relegation battlers last season, David Moyes's Hammers side are now contenders for a European spot in what continues to be a fluid situation in the upper reaches of the table. Palace had made a perfect start when Wilfried Zaha struck after two minutes at a drizzly Selhurst Park but a West Ham side brimming with confidence hit back to claim a fourth straight league victory. Czech Soucek headed the equaliser in the ninth minute and gave his side the lead after 25 minutes in a dominant first half by the visitors for whom Michail Antonio twice struck the post. Craig Dawson's header gave West Ham breathing space midway through the second half and Palace could not respond until deep into stoppage time when Michy Batshuayi struck a consolation. West Ham moved above Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool into fourth place with 35 points from 20 games although their nearest rivals all have games in hand. Palace have now won once in their last seven league games and remain in 13th spot on 23 points. Commanding display While the scoreline looked close it was a commanding display by West Ham who would have won by more with sharper finishing. "Really pleased with the performance and the comeback. Our finishing boots weren't on though," Moyes, whose side are the first in the club's history to win their opening six games of a calendar year in all competitions, told reporters. "I want to grow the club steadily, we are doing brilliantly but we need to take it steadily." It had looked bright for Palace when an intricate passing move ended with Zaha combining superbly with Christian Benteke before fizzing a low shot past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. Rather than build on that, though, Palace fell apart. Within seven minutes West Ham were level when Pablo Fornals worked his way into the area and found Antonio whose clever flicked cross was headed home by Soucek. From the restart Palace gave the ball away and Antonio hit the woodwork but West Ham went ahead when Aaron Creswell's free kick was missed by Antonio but Soucek was lurking to volley in at the far post. Antonio then wasted a golden opportunity when he diverted Creswell's shot against the post when it looked easier to score. Zaha had a chance for Palace immediately after the break but Fabianski saved well and when Dawson headed home in the 65th minute West Ham were in complete control. "I thought we lost to the better team, our first half performance was nowhere near as good as we expected," Palace manager Roy Hodgson said.
LONDON • Liverpool's slump continued as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by archrivals Manchester United on Sunday but manager Jurgen Klopp said his side were moving in the right direction. A woeful run since Christmas has seen Liverpool win only once in seven games and that was against a virtual Aston Villa under-23 team in the FA Cup third round. The English champions lost a league game at Anfield for the first time in nearly four years on Thursday to Burnley to fall six points behind United at the top of the table. In response, Klopp named a strong side despite making five changes as Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino returned for the fourth-round clash at Old Trafford. They looked far more like their old selves, playing high up, forcing errors and dominating possession (58 per cent). Their misfiring forward line also appeared to find form with Salah's two well-taken goals. His first gave his side an 18th-minute lead before Mason Greenwood levelled, and then again in the 58th minute after the outstanding Marcus Rashford had slotted United ahead. But Liverpool looked uncomfortable at the back, as United counter-attacked to devastating effect and were knocked out by a superb Bruno Fernandes free-kick goal late on. The Portuguese substitute used Paul Pogba to unsight custodian Alisson Becker and fired the ball low into the left-hand corner. It is one of the toughest periods Klopp has endured at Liverpool for some time but the German was upbeat despite highlighting the decisive mistakes which proved costly. "It's not what we wanted, so it's frustrating," he said, after the 3-2 loss that meant he has reached the fifth round of the FA Cup only once in six attempts and will have to wait another season for hopes of a first Cup title in England. "We weren't on our absolute top, but we made a lot of steps in the right direction. FA CUP 5TH ROUND Manchester United v West Ham Everton v Tottenham/Wycombe (II) Swansea (II) v Manchester City Barnsley (II) v Chelsea Wolves v Southampton Leicester v Brighton Burnley v Bournemouth (II)/Crawley (IV) Sheffield United v Bristol City (II) Premier League unless otherwise stated EAGER TO IMPROVE We know exactly what we have to work on. If you are in a situation you don't like, you want to get out of it. JURGEN KLOPP, Liverpool manager, who is pleased his team put up a fight and scored twice but were often caught on the counter-attack. "You could see the boys really wanted to change the fortune, they wanted to score goals... We did that, we scored twice. That's all okay but in the end they scored three, we scored two and they are through. But we can take positives out of this game." After watching the way his side were undone on the break by United, he said they would need to work on the training ground this week to prepare for the trip to Tottenham, who also rely heavily on counter-attacking. Klopp added: "We know exactly what we have to work on. If you are in a situation you don't like, you want to get out of it." He denied that his team, who would slip out of the top four in the Premier League if they lose to Spurs on Thursday, are running low on confidence. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, in contrast, have gone from strength to strength. United have lost only once - a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in the League Cup semi-finals - since exiting the Champions League in December. "It's fantastic to win games over last year's champions," said the Norwegian after his side earned a last-16 tie against West Ham. "Look at the difference to six months back. We're getting better and winning tight games. The morale and confidence is very good - everyone is elated and on a high." Leicester struck three times in the second half to win 3-1 at Championship side Brentford and next host Brighton. Everton, meanwhile, thumped second-tier Sheffield Wednesday 3-0. REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) - Sergio Aguero scored on his return from injury as a heavily-rotated Manchester City comfortably saw off Marseille 3-0 to end the French side's hopes of dropping into the Europa League. City had already secured top spot in Champions League Group C and Pep Guardiola took the chance to hand a number of his key players a rest ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester United in the Premier League. But City's reserves were still far too strong for Marseille, who slipped to a 14th defeat in their last 15 Champions League games, and missed out on the chance to leapfrog Olympiakos into third place in the group. Guardiola made nine changes from the side that beat Fulham 2-0 on Saturday, including a Champions League debut for American goalkeeper Zack Steffen. However, Steffen was rarely troubled as City recorded a fifth consecutive clean sheet. Steve Mandanda kept the visitors in the game before the break as the veteran goalkeeper made a brilliant save from Riyad Mahrez, while Aymeric Laporte headed over. Dimitri Payet did have the ball in the net at the other end, but the former West Ham midfielder was well offside before slotting past Steffen. City finally made the breakthrough three minutes after half-time when Ferran Torres pounced after Valere Germain inadvertently played in the Spanish international as he tried to tackle Mahrez inside the box. Uncharacteristically for a Guardiola side, City have struggled to score goals, particularly in the Premier League so far this season. Aguero's predatory instincts have been sorely missed as he had featured in just four games in between two lengthy injury spells prior to Wednesday. The Argentine was introduced midway through the second half and took just 10 minutes to show why he is City's all-time leading scorer with a poacher's finish to prod home the rebound after Mandanda had saved Nathan Ake's powerful header. Raheem Sterling netted his first goal in seven games at the weekend and the England international got another confidence boost when he tapped home the third in stoppage time to round off a dominant performance.
MUNICH • Thomas Muller can further fuel appeals for him to be recalled by Germany when Bayern Munich launch their Champions League title defence at home to Atletico Madrid today. Having managed a record 21 assists in the Bundesliga last season, he has continued his sparkling form this campaign by scoring five goals and creating four more in all competitions, including two goals in a 4-1 league win at Arminia Bielefeld last Saturday. His latest eye-catching club performance has prompted fresh hopes of a Germany recall for the 31-year-old, who was dropped by Joachim Low from the national set-up last year alongside Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels. Now Bastian Schweinsteiger has joined fellow former Bayern and Germany players Didi Hamann and Lothar Matthaus in calling for the forward to be reinstated. "If I was national coach, Muller as well as Boateng would be in the national side," he told German magazine Kicker. The 36-year-old Schweinsteiger won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil alongside Muller, who knows he still has plenty to offer Germany after 100 internationals and 38 goals. "Everyone can see that I am in good form. Let's just see what happens," Muller told broadcaster ZDF. Bayern will need his creativity against an Atletico side who have conceded just one goal in four La Liga games so far this season. The Bavarians have a perfect record at home against Diego Simeone's side, having twice beaten them in Munich in 2016. Yet Atletico knocked Bayern out in the semi-finals in 2015-16 and the German side remain wary of their Spanish opponents. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warned that Atletico are a "strong team" who were "uncomfortable" to play against. 7 Thomas Muller has already been involved in seven goals (scoring three plus four assists) in four Bundesliga appearances this season. On Saturday, coach Hansi Flick criticised his team for a poor second-half performance, after individual errors led to a goal for Bielefeld and a red card for Bayern's Corentin Tolisso. They can ill-afford a repeat against Atletico. Joshua Kimmich should bring more stability to Bayern's midfield, with the Germany midfielder expected to return after he missed Saturday's game to be with his wife, who is expecting the couple's second child. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE BAYERN V ATLETICO Singtel TV Ch112 & StarHub Ch216, tomorrow, 2.55am