Sports

Ishak shines as Newcastle send Man City out of Carabao cup

Published

2 months ago

September 28, 2023

Ishak shines as Newcastle send Man City out of Carabao cup

After defeating Manchester City to advance to this season’s fourth round of the Carabao Cup, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe stated that his team was motivated to “go one better” than their runners-up finish from the previous season.

A mostly underperforming Newcastle team beat a significantly altered City team after the break thanks to a goal from Alexander Isak.

Newcastle, who lost to Manchester United in the championship game a year ago, made 10 changes from the team that defeated Sheffield United 8-0 on Sunday. The visitors dominated the first half with hardly a Newcastle kick.

However, the Magpies were changed after the break when Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon were added, with Isak sliding home after excellent work from Joelinton.

“Pre-game, the run last year was in our thoughts,” Howe told Sky Sports. “It was an inspiration to us and helped our season, albeit the final maybe affected our league results. We look back on it with real pride.

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“We want to try and go one further if we can but there is a long way to go at this stage. We are still there fighting.”

Disciplined but passive in the face of City’s possessional dominance, Howe’s men were fortunate to still be level after 45 minutes, with Julian Alvarez missing two decent chances.

Pep Guardiola opted for seven changes of his own, giving a first start to young midfielder Oscar Bobb among them, but the familiar patient probing was evident.

But the home side deserved their victory thanks to their second-half display, which was full of energy and endeavour and played largely in the face of a City side who could not react.

For Pep Guardiola’s side, it was just a second loss inside 90 minutes in their last 38 games in all competitions.

Newcastle are now unbeaten in four games after a run of three straight losses, with their reward for Wednesday’s win a fourth-round shot at revenge against the side that beat them in last year’s final.

The only downside for Newcastle, with Paris St-Germain to come on Wednesday in the Champions League after Saturday’s league visit of Burnley, was Isak departing the game on the hour with an injury.

Sports

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

Published

3 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Trends Admin

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.

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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, though dominant, struggled throughout to break the hosts down and the returning Alisson came to his side’s rescue in stunning fashion in the first half when he pushed Jefferson Lerma’s first-time shot on to the post.

The visitors again had the Brazilian to thank for another excellent stop to prevent Joachim Andersen providing a dramatic twist with a header from a free-kick in the 100th minute.

Having eventually ended Palace’s spirited resistance, victory took the Reds one point above last season’s runners-up Arsenal, who travel to third-placed Aston Villa later on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

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

Sports

Liverpool move top of Premier League

Published

3 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Trends Admin

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

Sports

I almost followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia — Messi

Published

13 hours ago

December 9, 2023

Trends Admin

Messi, Ronaldo

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.