Liverpool move top of Premier League

Liverpool have moved top of the Premier League after defeating 10-man Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday in a game they came back from a goal down to win.

Palace were in control of the match after they had gone ahead when Jordan Ayew was sent off, bringing Liverpool back to the game.

After a goalless first half, Palace scored in the 57th minute from the penalty spot.

Jean-Philippe Mateta ran up to the ball, stopped and waited for Alisson to commit before slotting the penalty into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

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Ayew was sent off in the 75th minute for a foul on Liverpool’s player. He got his second yellow card and was off the pitch.

A minute after that, Liverpool equalised. Curtis Jones played the ball to Mohamed Salah, whose deflected shot from inside the box went past the helpless Sam Johnstone.

The visitors made it 2-1 a minute into added time. Salah teed up Harvey Elliott on the edge of the box and he fired the ball into the right side of the goal.

Luiz Diaz appeared to have scored the third goal for Liverpool when he put the ball in the net. The goal was ruled out for offside.

Liverpool move top of Premier League

I almost followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia — Messi

Lionel Messi, now with Inter Miami, disclosed that he seriously contemplated joining the Saudi Professional League, closely following the footsteps of his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. This consideration arose when it became evident that his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was coming to an end.

The 36-year-old football icon, a sought-after talent last summer, had interest from Barcelona, Inter Miami, and Al-Hilal. Ultimately, Messi opted for a move to the USA, but he recently admitted that he gave serious thought to the tempting offer from the Gulf nation.

Messi, who was named TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year, shared in an interview that his initial preference was to return to Barcelona after departing PSG. However, given the financial challenges faced by the club, a feasible deal couldn’t materialize at that time.

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Reflecting on his decision-making process, Messi revealed, “I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi League, where I know the country. They have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future. As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me.”

Despite the allure of the mega-money offer from Saudi Arabia, Messi ultimately chose Inter Miami’s deal. He acknowledged that while his first choice was to return to Barcelona, circumstances prevented it, leading him to explore alternative options.

The football star’s revelation sheds light on the complexities and considerations that influence decisions in the highly competitive world of football transfers.

I almost followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia — Messi

Tottenham 1-2 West Ham: Latest Spurs defeat ‘unacceptable’ – Son Heung-min

TOTTENHAM captain Son Heung-min called Spurs’ latest defeat “unacceptable” and said his fellow players “need to take responsibility” after they dropped points from a winning position for a fifth consecutive game.

Ange Postecoglou’s men deservedly took an early lead at home to West Ham on Thursday night but were ultimately beaten 2-1 following a second-half comeback.

No team has dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League this season than Tottenham, who have relinquished 16.

And Spurs’ run of five matches without a win has caused the Lilywhites to drop from first, with a five-point lead at the top of the table, to fifth.

“[Whether we] deserved better or not means nothing – we lost the game. It is unacceptable,” Son told Amazon Prime.

“As players [we] should take responsibility. Attacking players should [especially] feel responsibility because we had chances to kill the game.”

Tottenham hit the post through Giovani Lo Celso’s deflected cross in the first half, while Richarlison had a fine chance to restore the hosts’ lead in the second period but nodded a close-ranger header wide.

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Ultimately, though, West Ham were clinical and Tottenham lacked a ruthless touch despite racking up 23 shots.

“If you dominate a game of football you have to turn it into something meaningful and we didn’t,” Postecoglou added on BBC Match of the Day.

“We let ourselves down when we should have won the games [we have taken the lead in] comfortably.”

Tottenham made a brilliant start to the Premier League season, winning eight of their first 10 matches.

But they last tasted victory in October and have now lost three consecutive league home fixtures for the first time since September 2008, when they were managed by Juande Ramos.

After defeats by Chelsea, Wolves, Aston Villa and West Ham – all having taken the lead – talk of a title push is turning into worries of another finish outside the top four.

“The challenges are there. It is no good feeling sorry for ourselves,” said Postecoglou. “We still have a long way to go as a team and today shows that.

“In a game of football if you don’t put those chances away teams are always going to have the opportunity to punish you. In both boxes we were nowhere near where we need to be.”

Tottenham face Newcastle in the Premier League in their next match on Sunday.

Tottenham 1-2 West Ham: Latest Spurs defeat ‘unacceptable’ – Son Heung-min