SPORTS
Manchester City five Points Clear After Winning at Liverpool, Spurs Seventh
Manchester City romped to a 4-1 win at champions Liverpool on Sunday to open up a five-point lead at the top of the 2020/2021 English Premier League (EPL).
They however have more in their Favour, with a game in hand.
Ilkay Guendogan scored twice while Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden got the others as Manchester City won at Anfield for the first time since 2003 with their 10th straight league win.
Manchester City have now matched the all-time winning run by an English top-flight side in all competitions, winning their last 14 matches.
It was the same number as Preston North End in 1892 and Arsenal in 1987, according to statisticians Opta.
“It gives us every chance to go on and win it (the league) now,” Foden said.
“The job’s not done, we need to keep going. When you beat the champions, everyone’s confidence is going to be sky high now. So, it can only help us. We’re just happy to win today.”
Liverpool remain fourth —- 10 points behind Manchester City —- while the result gave them a third straight home defeat for the first time since 1963.
Manchester City dominated possession early on and should have taken the lead in the first half, only for Guendogan to sky a penalty kick over the bar.
The Germany midfielder made amends with the opening goal four minutes into the second half.
But Mo Salah equalised from the penalty kick spot after he was fouled by Ruben Dias.
Two mistakes from goalkeeper Alisson took the match away from Liverpool.
First, Guendogan side-footed home from two yards, and then Sterling headed home from close-range for his 100th goal under Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Foden then smashed a fourth straight through Alisson to give Manchester City victory and open up a big gap at the top.
“We competed well. This was more like the performance we are used to, but mistakes at the wrong moments cost us,” Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said.
“It is hard to take now, but in football you have to move on quickly. We need to use this week to prepare the best we can for a tough game with Leicester City.”
Leicester City lost ground on the top two after they drew 0-0 at Wolves, while Harry Kane scored on his return from injury as Tottenham beat West Brom 2-0.
Jamie Vardy had a great chance to win it for Leicester City in injury-time but he headed just wide, while Kasper Schmeichel saved brilliantly from Wolves’ Fabio Silva at the other end.
Leicester City remain third, two points behind second-placed Manchester United and three above Liverpool, with Wolves staying 14th.
Spurs went into their game with West Brom after three straight defeats.
But they were too good for their visitors, who have picked up just five points in Sam Allardyce’s first 10 games in charge.
Even though it took them until the second half to find the net, Jose Mourinho’s side were good value for their win, putting them closer to the top four.
Kane and Son Heung Min scored the goals in five minutes early in the second half.
“It was only a couple of games but we missed him a lot,” Son said. “Him coming back and scoring straight away, it’s what we needed. I missed him.”
Allardyce said his team would continue to struggle if they keep making defensive mistakes.
“Until we shut the back door, better life is going to be difficult for us,” he said.
“We’ve got to start winning games and we won’t do that by keeping on losing. We need an undefeated run with more wins than draws in it.”
Chelsea beat bottom side Sheffield United 2-1 in the day’s late match at Bramall Lane in Sheffield.(dpa/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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