EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

Mohamed Salah scored his 200th Liverpool goal as Jurgen Klopp’s side produced a late comeback against 10-man Crystal Palace to move top of the Premier League and increase the pressure on former boss Roy Hodgson.

It was Harvey Elliott who delivered the decisive moment inside the first of 10 minutes of added time, producing a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area to lift Liverpool above Arsenal.

Salah’s goal arrived just 98 seconds after Jordan Ayew was dismissed for a second bookable offence, and the visitors had failed to land a shot on target prior to that moment.

Palace, booed off by their supporters following a disappointing home loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday, were on course to deliver a surprise blow to the Red’s title aspirations following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty.

READ ALSO:

• Osun Rep unveils N100m varsity scholarship
• 21-year-old university’s student commits su!cide in Nasarawa
• Many abducted as terrorists invade Kaduna community over failure to pay levies

The game had continued for more than one minute after Jarell Quansah caught Mateta when attempting to clear a cross before the video assistant referee intervened – but referee Andy Madley did not take long to award Palace a spot-kick after being sent to the pitchside monitor.

Palace had seen a penalty decision in their favour overturned during the first half when Madley took three minutes to review a challenge by Will Hughes on Endo in the lead-up to Virgil van Dijk’s foul on Odsonne Edouard inside the box.

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.

READ ALSO:

• Reps to monitor probe of military drone attack
• BREAKING: Northern lawyers to sue FG over Kaduna bombing
• Tinubu commiserates Saudi Royal family over death of Prince

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.

READ ALSO:

• I get jealous of Portable’s other women — Fiancee, Ashabi Simple
• Appeal Court fines Makinde N50m for withholding ex-council Chiefs’ funds
• Policeman arrested for attacking s3x shop worker after wife demanded for big toys

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