TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017 SPORTS Five things we learned from English Premier League LONDON: Five things we learned from goal in the 82nd minute. Mkhitaryan has already supplied four Alexander-Arnold on the other flank, equaliser ruled out for offside, even the the English Premier League this week- assists. Liverpool kept only their fourth home Frenchman had to admit Arsenal had end: Ibrahimovic loss a blessing clean sheet of 2017. been sluggish and unconvincing. in disguise for Man Utd Liverpool have options at full-back Spurs need a Wembley win Zlatan Ibrahimovic could scarcely Full-back was something of a prob- Wenger woes return Brighton rocked Tottenham’s impressive display in have enjoyed a better maiden season at lem area for Liverpool last season. A new season has brought familiar Back in the top flight for the first time their 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea gave Manchester United, scoring 28 goals in Manager Jurgen Klopp was heavily problems for Arsene Wenger as in 34 years, Brighton are learning that the lie to suggestions they are unable to 46 games and inspiring his side to dependent on Nathaniel Clyne at right- Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Stoke highlight- fairytales can quickly turn sour. Chris perform at Wembley, their home for the League Cup glory before injury curtailed back and became so disillusioned with ed his team’s Achilles heel once again. Hughton’s side captured the imagina- season while White Hart Lane is rebuilt, his campaign. But while Ibrahimovic Alberto Moreno’s performances on the Having battled back for a dramatic 4-3 tion with their long awaited return to but the sooner they get a win there, the thrived, United’s other forwards strug- other flank that midfielder James Milner win over Leicester in their season open- the top flight, but so far the Seagulls better. Spurs have lost eight and won gled, with nobody else in the squad ended up slotting in at left-back for the er, Arsenal had shown a rare glimpse of have struggled to show they can make just one of the last 10 games they have mustering more than 11 goals. New entire season. This season, things the kind of fighting spirit often missing their stay last longer than a season. played at the national stadium, a record striker Romelu Lukaku is a far more appear to be different. Eighteen-year- from their play. But just eight days later Beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in their that has created talk of a ‘Wembley mobile player than Ibrahimovic and his old Trent Alexander-Arnold has earned they reverted to type with a tame sur- season opener, Brighton fared no better curse’. Their loss to Chelsea, who pre- movement has opened up space for rave reviews in the absence of the render at the hands of old nemesis at Leicester as goals from Shinjo Okazaki vailed through Marcos Alonso’s 88th- United’s other attacking players to injured Clyne and in the 1-0 win over Stoke. Most alarming for Wenger was and Harry Maguire sealed the points for minute winner, brought an end to a run exploit. Lukaku took his tally to four Crystal Palace, enterprising left-back the limp manner in which his back three the hosts. Worringly for Hughton, who of 14 successive home league wins. goals in three games in United’s 4-0 win Andy Robertson was named man of the allowed Jese Rodriguez to gallop has broken Brighton’s transfer record They were unfortunate not to have at Swansea City, while Paul Pogba and match in his first appearance since sign- through unchecked for the 47th minute three times since last season in a bid to claimed at least a point, having drawn Anthony Martial have each scored two ing from Hull City. With 20-year-old Joe winner. And for all Wenger’s complaints improve his squad, Albion managed just level through Michy Batshuayi’s own goals in two games and Henrikh Gomez slotting in assuredly for about Alexandre Lacazette having an two shots on target. — AFP Antalyaspor sign Man City’s Nasri ISTANBUL: Former French international Premier League title in the 2011/2012 midfielder Samir Nasri yesterday signed and 2013/2014 seasons. a two year deal to join Turkish top flight But he then fell out of favour after side Antalyaspor from Manchester City, injury, with Guardiola showing little the club said. Nasri, who spent last sea- interest in the player. He has since also son on loan at Sevilla, appeared unlikely bowed out of international football. to figure in Pep Guardiola’s plans this Guardiola had been expected to offload season with Manchester City keen to Nasri this summer although he did take offload him and rejuvenate their own- the volatile Frenchman on a pre-season line up. trip to the United States. Antalyaspor “After talks with Samir Nasri and the are one of Turkey’s most ambitious club, a two year deal has been signed,” sides, despite only winning promotion Antalyaspor said in a brief statement to the Super Lig in 2015, and want to headlined “Welcome Samir Nasri” with- break the league domination of the out disclosing financial details. Istanbul giants. Manchester City confirmed the depar- They were disappointed to finish ture of the player, writing on Twitter the 2015-16 season in ninth place but that his six year stay at the club had improved to fifth place last term, just come to an end, adding: “thank you for missing out on a spot in the Europa some brilliant memories, Samir Nasri!” League. Antalyaspor’s key player over Nasri had arrived in the Turkish the past couple seasons has been for- Mediterranean resort city on Sunday mer Cameroon international striker where he was mobbed by fans before Samuel Eto’o, who remains at the club leaving the airport and had to be despite persistent rumours he is escorted out by Turkish security forces. unsettled. Club sources said that an official cere- This summer the team also signed mony to introduce the player was France international and former Roma expected today. Nasri, 30, will earn an and AC Milan playmaker Jeremy annual salary of four million euros ($4.7 Menez from Bordeaux. Antalyaspor million) plus bonuses at the club, got off to a slow start to the season, MILAN: Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi, center, challenges for the ball with Fiorentina’s Vitor Hugo during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Turkish news reports have said. Nasri losing 2-0 away to champions Besiktas Milan and Fiorentina at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday. — AP joined Manchester City in 2011 after and then drawing 2-2 to Akhisarspor three seasons at Arsenal, emerging as on Sunday with both Nasri and Menez SOCCER one of their key players and winning the watching from the stands.— AFP Champ Muguruza routs Inter, Milan match Juve Halep for Cincy title with winning starts CINCINNATI: Wimbledon champion residue from Paris. It takes some time to Garbine Muguruza humbled second- get over that.” Halep apologized to spec- MILAN: Inter captain Mauro Icardi hit a brace Fabio Quagliarella hit a goal in either half in a 2-1 Kolarov capped his Roma debut with a clever ranked Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 in Sunday’s tators after the embarrassing defeat, and Ivorian Franck Kessie opened his AC Milan win over league newcomers Benevento. first-half free-kick to secure a 1-0 win for last sea- final of the WTA Cincinnati Open, deny- thanking them for support “even if I account as the northern giants matched Fellow promoted side SPAL, back in Serie A son’s runners-up at Atalanta. ing the Romanian the world number one played so bad and Muguruza played so Juventus’s winning start to the Serie A season after 49 years, held on to earn a point at Lazio, Roma, who finished only four points behind spot in the process. well.” “It was a big shame to lose 6-1, 6-0 with respective 3-0 victories on Sunday. while at Udinese former Milan midfielder Valter Juventus last term, gave Eusebio Di Francesco Sixth-seeded Spaniard Muguruza in the final,” Halep said. “I got dominated. Left in the shade by Juventus for the past six Birsa hit a 54th minute winner as Chievo his maiden win as coach, the former Sassuolo needed only 56 minutes to capture her I can’t control anymore the points. That’s seasons, both Inter and Milan are hoping to turn stunned the northerners 2-1. handler having tasted title success with the second title of the year and her first in a why I got down in my confidence.” the tables and challenge for the scudetto on Former Manchester City defender Aleksandar Giallorossi as a player in 2001. — AFP US event, taking the $522,450 top prize Muguruza admitted after the lopsided their way to claiming one of four Champions in the last major US Open tuneup. win: “I feel a little bit bad. But I want to be League places. And neither of the San Siro giants “The American swing was never going in her position. I wanted to win. What can disappointed on their way to going joint top of TENNIS my way,” Muguruza said. “Finally, this I do?” Czech Karolina Pliskova, a semi- the table with Juventus, Napoli, Chievo, year, I improved that.” final loser to Muguruza, will remain Sampdoria and Roma also sitting on three It marked the third loss of the year for world number one by a five-point mar- points following opening day victories.