SPORTS
Liverpool Crush Man United at home, Mohamed Salah Scores Hat Trick in Five-Star Show
Mohamed Salah scored a hat trick as Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 5-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, putting pressure on United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United were four goals down by halftime — the largest margin ever in their history at that stage of a game — and looked disjointed as Salah, Diogo Jota and Naby Keita all found the net.
Salah added his third moments into the second half before Paul Pogba was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
“I think it is great to win 5-0 here, we knew before the game it would be tough if we did not play our game,” Salah said after the game.
“We knew they will come and try to give everything, so we had to give 100 percent.
“We just tried to play our football and play in between the lines to create more chances. We did that and were lucky to score.
“As long as the team keep winning I am happy and to give my best to the team to win.”
Bruno Fernandes had an opportunity to open the scoring for United after just four minutes, but blasted over the crossbar.
Liverpool responded to the scare with a goal on five minutes after poor defending from United saw Luke Shaw attempting to mark Salah, Keita and Andy Robertson. Salah chose to play in Keita, who hit the ball past David de Gea.
United were guilty of more poor defending on 13 minutes, when Trent Alexander-Arnold put a low cross into the box and Jota stretched to place it in the net.
Salah scored his first goal on 38 minutes with a low side foot past De Gea and his second five minutes into added time at the end of the first half with a superb strike from the corner of the box.
The Egypt international completed his hat trick five minutes into the second half.
His three goals on Sunday make him the top-scoring African player in Premier League history, overtaking former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba by two goals.
“I am so disappointed, we gave them so many chances,” United captain Harry Maguire said.
“They were so clinical, we had a lot of chances ourselves, but I am a defender and to concede four in the first half, especially at Old Trafford, is nowhere near good enough
“As a player I know myself. I’ll be looking at myself and my individual performance.
“We have to stick together, there is no point blaming each other, but look at ourselves. Look in the mirror when we go home tonight and think where we can do better.
Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had pulled one back for United on 52 minutes with an excellent piece of individual skill, but VAR replays showed he had been offside in the build-up, and the goal was disallowed.
United’s day went from bad to worse when Pogba was sent off on the hour mark for a studs-up challenge on Keita, who had to be stretchered off the pitch.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he did not expect a 5-0 result.
“Pressing high, winning balls, scored wonderful goals,” Klopp said.
“I told them at halftime to play better. We started incredibly well and stopped playing football. We controlled the game after the fifth, it was not about scoring more, just trying to get out without more injuries.
“The result is insane, I asked if there was one like this in history and if there isn’t, then it will take a while.
“The players put a nice piece in the book. It is special, but we don’t celebrate like crazy, we have respect for the opponents.
“We were lucky in some moments; United are not in their best moment.” (NAN)
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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