Sports
EPL stunners as Liverpool lose 7-2 to Aston Villa, Manchester United 6-1 to Spurs
Premier League champion Liverpool was humiliated 7-2 by Aston Villa to end its perfect start to the title defence on Sunday.
Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick and Jack Grealish scored twice as Villa made it three wins out of three after only surviving in the league on the last day of last season.
Liverpool became the first reigning Premier League champions to concede seven in a game. The last time it happened in English football’s top division was in 1953.
With Alisson Becker out with a shoulder injury, Adrian was in the Liverpool goal and his mistake allowed Watkins to open the scoring in the fourth minute.
A poor attempt at a pass was pounced upon in the Liverpool box by Grealish, who laid the ball to Watkins for a simple finish.
Villa doubled its advantage when Watkins, again set up by Grealish, cut inside Joe Gomez and fired past Adrian into the top corner.
Liverpool reduced the deficit in the 33rd as the ball came to Mohamed Salah in the box and he cracked it in.
But within moments the visitors had conceded again, with John McGinn’s volley going past Adrian via a deflection off defender Virgil Van Dijk.
Ross Barkley then got his debut goal after joining on loan from Chelsea in the 55th, hitting a shot from outside the box that flew in off Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Grealish again the provider.
Salah fired in at the other end five minutes later to make it 5-2, but Villa was not finished, with Grealish adding a brace.
His first came in the 66th minute, another goal involving a deflection as the Villa skipper’s shot hit Fabinho en route to the net.
Watkins was then denied by Adrian, before Grealish burst clear of the Liverpool defense as he latched onto McGinn’s pass and calmly tucked the ball past Adrian.
With three wins from three games, Dean Smith’s Villa are up to second place in the table, level on points with Liverpool – which has played four matches – plus Leicester and Arsenal.
The quartet is three points behind Liverpool’s Merseyside rival, Everton, which Juergen Klopp’s side faces at Goodison Park in their next match on October 17.
Tottenham tore apart Manchester United for a 6-1 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, exposing the defensive weaknesses in Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side by inflicting the team’s joint-heaviest Premier League defeat at home.
Only once since 1930 has United conceded six at home — to Manchester City nine years ago. Not since 1986 has United opened the league season with back-to-back home losses.
This was a crushing defeat to a Tottenham side managed by Jose Mourinho, who was fired in 2018 to make way for Solskjær. And against a team that has played eight games in 22 days across three competitions and was trailing after two minutes at Old Trafford.
But after Bruno Fernandes’ penalty, United’s wretched defense allowed Tanguy Ndombele to level in the fourth minute and Son Heung-Min to net again inside three minutes.
United can be aggrieved that Erik Lamela’s apparent playacting led to Anthony Martial being sent off in the 28th minute. But the team was already being run ragged by Tottenham.
Harry Kane scored his first on the half-hour, Son netted again in the 37th, Serge Aurier was on target in the 51st and Kane wrapped up the rout from the penalty spot in the 79th.
“Very impressive,” Mourinho said. “The team was phenomenal since the second minute. Losing 1-0, big personality.”
Tottenham’s Harry Kane scores his team’s sixth goal against Manchester United, from the penalty spot. (AP)
Unlike United, which opened the season with 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace. Two more goals were conceded at Brighton last weekend but Fernando came to United’s rescue with a winner from the penalty spot in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
In contrast to that late penalty on the south coast, United was immediately off the mark from the spot against Tottenham.
The game was barely 30 seconds old when Davinson Sanchez tripped Anthony Martial to halt a run into the penalty and Fernandes converted from the spot.
Fernandes can be relied on to score penalties — this was his 18th in a row including at previous club Sporting in Lisbon. What cannot be relied on is United’s shambolic defense despite captain Harry Maguire becoming the world’s most expensive defender when he was signed last year for 80 million pounds.
Twice he weakly headed the ball, unable to clear the danger, before Ndombele prodded in the leveler.
United was carved apart when Kane slipped the pass through for Son who lifted the ball over goalkeeper David De Gea. It was the first time in a decade that three goals had been scored in the opening seven minutes of a Premier League game.
The blot of Tottenham’s day came with Lamela seeming to deceive the referee after being softly struck by Martial in retaliation for a light push on his face by the Argentine. Lamela clutched his face before dropping to the ground — and Martial’s red was upheld by a VAR check.
Tottenham didn’t seem to need the man-advantage it was so ruthless and United was so poor.
Eric Bailly received the ball and passed sloppily to Nemanja Matic, whose failure to control was seized on by Kane. The striker intercepted the ball and played a one-two with Son before netting.
United was torn apart down the right flank for Tottenham’s fourth. After being released by Moussa Sissoko, Aurier put the ball through the legs of Maguire, the center half who had drifted into a left back position, and Son flicked a shot through De Gea.
United was in disarray and fortunate not to concede again until after the break. It was Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s weighted pass that set up Aurier for the fifth.
Pogba compounded a dismal display by fouling Ben Davies to concede the penalty that Kane converted.
The coronavirus pandemic kept fans out of the stadium — sparing Solskjær boos from his own supporters.
Sports
Kane’s Historic Night as England Thrash Czechia 3-0
Kane’s Historic Night as England Thrash Czechia 3-0
Harry Kane marked his record-equalling 125th England appearance with a brace as the Three Lions defeated Czechia 3-0 in their UEFA Nations League clash at Wembley on Tuesday night.
Kane scored twice after helping England take the lead through Vladimír Coufal’s own goal, producing another outstanding display as Thomas Tuchel’s side strengthened its position in Group A3.
The victory gave England their third consecutive Nations League win after earlier victories over Czechia and Croatia. They now have nine points from four matches, three behind group leaders Spain.
The night belonged to Kane, who made his 125th appearance for England, drawing level with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton as the country’s most-capped men’s player.
READ ALSO:
- ‘We Are Ignorant, We Don’t Read’ — NAFDAC DG Raises Food Safety Concerns
- 2027: Obi Makes U-Turn, Vows to Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected
- 2027: Galadima Alleges APC Offering N50m, N200m to Lawmakers to Step Aside
The Bayern Munich striker also took his international goal tally to 91, further extending his record as England’s all-time leading goalscorer.
England broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when Kane delivered a low cross from the right that Coufal inadvertently turned into his own net.
Kane then doubled England’s advantage in the 40th minute.
Elliot Anderson released Morgan Rogers with a superb pass, and Rogers’ delivery found Kane in the box. The England captain made no mistake from close range to score his 90th international goal.
Kane completed his brace in the 57th minute, finishing another flowing England attack to put the result beyond doubt.
The Czech side struggled to contain England for long periods, with the hosts controlling possession and creating several opportunities before and after the goals.
Kane was substituted in the 82nd minute and received a warm reception from the Wembley crowd after another landmark performance for his country.
The result also continued England’s impressive response after their 3-2 defeat to Spain in their opening Nations League fixture.
Tuchel’s team has since recorded victories over Czechia, Croatia and Czechia again, scoring 12 unanswered goals across those three wins.
Kane’s latest milestone adds to an already remarkable international career. At 33, he is England’s record goalscorer and now shares the men’s appearance record with Shilton.
With the group stage continuing in November, England remain firmly in contention for a place in the Nations League Finals.
Kane’s Historic Night as England Thrash Czechia 3-0
Sports
Messi Reflects on Argentina Future: ‘I Would Like to Play Forever’
Messi Reflects on Argentina Future: ‘I Would Like to Play Forever’
Lionel Messi has admitted that he would love to play for Argentina forever, while acknowledging that time may eventually force him to step away from international football.
The Argentina captain made the emotional remarks after his country’s 3–0 victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Speaking to supporters after the match, Messi said he did not want to leave the national team and described representing Argentina in front of its passionate fans as an experience he wished could continue indefinitely.
“I don’t want to leave. I would like to play forever here, in front of you, wearing this shirt, but time passes for everyone, and it is simply not possible,” Messi said.
The comments have renewed attention on the 39-year-old forward’s international future, with Messi having previously acknowledged that he is approaching the final stages of his playing career.
Rather than confirming an immediate retirement from international football, Messi’s remarks reflected his deep attachment to the Argentina shirt and the supporters who have followed his journey.
READ ALSO:
- Trump Links French Protests To Islam ‘Taking Over’ France
- Court Denies Bail To Anambra Pastor Accused Of Marrying Mother, Daughter
- Nigeria Fight Back From 3-1 Down To Hold Russia To 3-3 Draw
His career with the national team has included periods of intense disappointment, particularly after defeats in major finals, before a remarkable run of success.
Messi helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the World Cup triumph in Qatar representing the biggest achievement of his international career.
He also thanked his teammates and supporters for standing by him through the difficult years and stressed the importance of the collective effort behind Argentina’s success.
Messi said he would continue supporting the national team and the players who eventually take over from the current generation.
“I’m going to miss all of you so much, but I’ll always be on your side. I’ll be supporting these boys and everyone who comes after them,” he said.
The remarks underline the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of Messi’s Argentina career. While the veteran forward has not ruled out his continued involvement, his comments suggest he is increasingly conscious of the passage of time.
For Argentine supporters, Messi’s words offered an emotional reminder of the extraordinary journey that has taken him from years of international heartbreak to becoming a World Cup winner and one of the country’s most decorated footballers.
Whatever decision Messi eventually makes about his international future, his relationship with Argentina remains one of the defining stories of his career.
Messi Reflects on Argentina Future: ‘I Would Like to Play Forever’
Sports
Nigeria Fight Back From 3-1 Down To Hold Russia To 3-3 Draw
Nigeria Fight Back From 3-1 Down To Hold Russia To 3-3 Draw
The Super Eagles of Nigeria staged a dramatic late comeback on Tuesday to secure a 3-3 draw against Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Nigeria twice came from behind after taking an early lead, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Osayande Edokpolor and Akor Adams scoring for the Super Eagles.
Russia found the net through Lechi Sadulaev, Matvey Kislyak and Aleksey Miranchuk.
Nigeria made a bright start and took the lead in the 10th minute when Iheanacho produced a composed finish from the edge of the box.
The advantage, however, lasted only 20 minutes before Sadulaev levelled for Russia in the 30th minute after the hosts capitalised on a defensive lapse.
READ ALSO:
- Troops Take Down Zamfara Bandit Kingpins Baban Love, Mai Zamani, Three Others
- FG Gives N250m To Families Of 37 Miners Who Died In NSCDC Custody
- Tompolo’s PBAT Movement Suspends Campaign Over Ondo Military Crash
Russia then completed the turnaround shortly before half-time, with Kislyak scoring in the second minute of added time to give the hosts a 2-1 lead at the break.
The hosts increased the pressure after the restart and extended their advantage in the 54th minute through Miranchuk, leaving Nigeria facing a 3-1 deficit.
The Super Eagles, however, refused to surrender.
Edokpolor pulled one back in the 78th minute with a right-footed finish following a fast break, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and giving Nigeria hope of salvaging a result.
Nigeria continued to push forward in search of an equaliser, and the pressure finally paid off deep into stoppage time.
In the 94th minute, Akor Adams finished a fast counter-attack after receiving the final pass from Umar Abubakar to make it 3-3.
The late equaliser completed a remarkable recovery for Nigeria, who had appeared destined for defeat after Russia moved two goals clear.
The result provides encouragement for coach Eric Chelle as he continues to assess his squad ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming competitive assignments.
The character shown by the players in recovering from 3-1 down will also be a major positive for the Super Eagles as they prepare for their next fixtures.
Nigeria Fight Back From 3-1 Down To Hold Russia To 3-3 Draw
-
metro2 days agoTragedy Strikes FMC: Medical Director Loses Two Daughters—A Doctor and a Pharmacist—Within 48 Hours
-
metro2 days agoTransporters Urge IGP Disu to Arrest Illegal Highway Tax Collectors
-
metro2 days agoArmy, DSS, Amotekun Kill ISWAP Commander Planning Attacks in Southern Nigeria
-
Politics2 days ago2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA
-
metro2 days agoKidnappers torture abducted corps members, slash ransom to N100m
-
News2 days agoBREAKING: Many Feared Dead as Helicopter Crashes in Ondo Community
-
metro3 days agoOjudu Reveals How Tinubu, He Narrowly Escaped Death In Third Mainland Bridge Crash
-
metro2 days agoGrand Chief Imam of Oyoland Urges Rabitah 1964 to Regulate ‘Yorubaland’ Islamic Titles
You must be logged in to post a comment Login