LIVERPOOL (REUTERS) - Winter returned to Anfield on Friday (April 26) but while the temperature dropped, the standards of Juergen Klopp's side certainly did not as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both struck twice in a 5-0 thrashing of relegated Huddersfield Town.
Liverpool kept the pressure up on Premier League title rivals Manchester City, moving to the summit on 91 points, two more than City, but Pep Guardiola's side will regain top spot with a win at Burnley on Sunday.
Despite the wind, rain and freezing temperature, Liverpool had little trouble collecting their seventh league win in a row and with a trip to Newcastle United and home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers to come, Juergen Klopp's side could well keep that streak going until the end of the season.
Ninety one points was enough to win 20 of the 27 Premier League titles and Klopp's side could end the campaign with just a solitary league defeat to go with several other records - but none of that will count for much if Pep Guardiola's side do not drop points in their three remaining matches.
"Ninety one points. Wow, that's crazy. It's only possible because the boys play like they do, the attitude they have," Klopp said.
"You cannot ask for luck or destiny, you have to work for it. We said we want to write our own history, that's what we're doing. The boys are outstanding," he added.
Liverpool, who face Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, were without forward Roberto Firmino who was rested due to a slight muscle strain.
Â
But Klopp's side do not lack for firepower even without their Brazilian striker.
Salah and Mane now have 21 and 20 goals each this season - making them the top two scorers in the Premier League.
EARLY GOAL
It took 14 seconds for Liverpool to go in front with Huddersfield defender Jon Gorenc Stankovic giving the ball away to Salah just outside the box and the Egyptian fed Naby Keita who slotted home off the inside of the post.
Mane headed in the second in the 23rd minute, meeting a trademark Andy Robertson cross from the left after Virgil Van Dijk had started the move with a surge out from the back.
On the stroke of halftime, Salah put the game beyond Huddersfield when he latched on to a long pass forward from Trent Alexander-Arnold and knocked the ball past the advancing Jonas Lossl.
Huddersfield, who opted against massed defence and tried to be positive, started the second half in determined fashion, creating three promising openings, but Liverpool soon took back control.
Mane scored his second and Liverpool's fourth in the 66th minute, heading in a deep cross from Jordan Henderson and he went close to a hat-trick in the 78th minute when he headed a Xherdan Shaqiri cross against the post.
Salah made it 5-0 with a simple close-range tap-in from a low Robertson cross.
"All in all it was great, a really brilliant performance," said Klopp.
"Composure and everything that you need was there. So really happy.
"It's obviously an outstanding group of players, who did well against a Huddersfield side who are much better than this result shows. They had proper counter-attacks so we needed to be patient and we scored wonderful goals."
To add to a very positive evening, midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned to action as a substitute, his first appearance since suffering a knee injury a year ago.
Pogba has scored seven spot-kicks this season but still coolly tucked away the crucial two penalties Pogba's best season - the key stats from the spot for United in a single season. Pogba
Man Utd: What is the problem with Paul Pogba - and what is
England soccer captain Harry Kane received the MBE award on Thursday for services to football after leading the national team to the World Cup semi-final in Russia last Summer, according to Reuters. Prince William, the president of the English Football Association, presented
England soccer captain Harry Kane is made an MBE (Member of
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 31, 2019, with the headline 'Start off well, Solskjaer tells United after winning run ends'. Print Edition
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer misses out on history as Man Utd winning
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex Sport > Football > C1 > Liverpool > Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex By 24matins.uk with AFP, published 1 June 2019 at 22h59 BST , updated on 2 June 2019 at 1h32 BST .
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex
Messi calls for search to continue for missing Sala, Football
Football: China all but confirmed as 2023 Asian Cup hosts after South Korea withdraws (Reuters) - China was all but confirmed as the host nation of the next Asian Cup tournament in 2023 after the only other bidders South Korea withdrew from the process.
China all but confirmed as 2023 Asian Cup hosts after Korea
Liverpool could match Arsenal's Invincibles by going through a Premier League season without defeat, according to Unai Emery. Jurgen Klopp's side reached the halfway stage of the campaign with a 4-0 Boxing Day defeat of Newcastle United at Anfield, a result that moved the Reds six points clear at the top of the table.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool can be the new 'Invincibles', says
I think the issue with VAR is simply how we perceive what the rules are. The reason so many of us 'disagree' with many of the calls made is because we just don't know the way the law is worded. The team of refs in the VAR room constantly talk to the referee as he makes calls on the pitch.
442oons - YouTube
The Barcelona quartet of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba have been named in FIFA 19's Ultimate Team La Liga Team of the Season.. Between the posts, Atletico Madrid's Jan
Football: "Stratospheric" Messi scores 400th La Liga goal in
Feb 20, 2019 · Unai Emery has said it is up to Mesut Özil to get his Arsenal career back on track Mesut Özil's Arsenal future is in his own hands, says Unai Emery sign up and get our daily football
Liverpool set to earn almost £150 million after second-placed finish in Premier League to the Champions League final, with victory over Tottenham in Madrid of the domestic and overseas TV
Liverpool's record with Champions League final referee will
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has aimed a cheeky dug at Liverpool. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will welcome their arch-rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford ahead of the high voltage Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Solskjaer aims veiled dig at Mourinho as he seeks to return
Edinson Cavani missed a stoppage-time penalty as Paris St Germain continued their stuttering end to the season with a 1-1 Ligue 1 draw at home to Nice, with Neymar notching his 50th goal for the club.
Football: Neymar hits half-century as PSG are held by Nice
Pep Guardiola believes playing Manchester United at Old Trafford is no longer scary for Manchester City. City struggled for results at the home of their local rivals before Sheikh Mansour's
Old Trafford holds no fears for Guardiola - sports.yahoo.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment