THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 SPORTS Suarez puts Liverpool back on track

Liverpool 2

Hull 0

LIVERPOOL: Luis Suarez fired Liverpool back into the ’s top four as the Reds returned to form with a 2-0 victory against Hull yesterday. ’ team had lost their previous two matches against title rivals Chelsea and City, but they were able to put those disappointing results behind them thanks to the continued excellence of Uruguay forward Suarez. Reds defender Daniel Agger headed his side into the lead in the first half before Suarez SWANSEA: Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony and Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany sealed the victory in the 50th minute with (left) jump for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match yester- another superb free-kick to add to his ever- day. —AP growing collection of stunning goals this season. Suarez’s 20th goal of the campaign ensured Liverpool climbed back above local rivals Everton into fourth place. Hull may have Man City show LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez (second left) scores but the goal is disal- thought their victory over the Reds just four lowed as he is ruled offside during the English Premier League football match between weeks ago at the KC Stadium gave them a Liverpool and Hull City yesterday.—AFP chance of starting 2014 with a shock win at title credentials . It was ’s side who did threat- missed the ball only for Maynor Figueroa to then and he brushed himself down before curling a en first as Yannick Sagbo fired over from dis- fail miserably with a goal-line clearance. Hull had powerful free-kick into the top corner. Hull boss coming into the game memories were still tance, but his wastefulness would prove to be managed to contain the hosts but after the goal Bruce made three changes soon after, bringing fresh of their 3-0 defeat in the reverse fix- costly considering Hull’s lack of opportunities. their defense looked ragged and out of sorts. on forwards Matty Fryatt, Danny Graham and Man City 3 ture last month. Injuries to key players The Reds thought they had the lead in the Henderson should have doubled Liverpool’s George Boyd in a bid to get something from the , and did 19th minute when Suarez rose to head in lead as a well-worked move between Coutinho game but with little service, they were strug- not help their cause against the league’s Philippe Coutinho’s free-kick, yet the assistant and Iago Aspas put the former Sunderland mid- gling for opportunities as Liverpool continued to most impressive array of talent. City started referee had his flag raised and the television fielder in, only for him to slide the ball wide with dominate possession. Swansea 2 brightly and made their superiority tell in replays suggested the striker was marginally off- McGregor diving the wrong way. The game cer- When a chance did present itself, it fell to the 14th minute when Fernandinho, left side. Soon after perhaps should tainly could have been over before the break but defender and from 20 yards he unmarked on the edge of the area from a have given his side the opener when Suarez Coutinho was the culprit this time as despite delivered a shot befitting of a centre half as it corner, drilled home with a raking low cleverly nodded the ball into his path, but after sublime control to take down Henderson’s pass, bobbled harmlessly wide. Suarez would have a : The goals continued to flow for drive. racing clear the winger could only shoot straight he could not find the target. late free-kick from distance that he ballooned Manchester City who subdued a spirited They took their foot off the gas, howev- at the on-rushing Allan McGregor in the Hull Suarez, who had been slightly below his best into the famous Kop stand behind the goal Swansea City 3-2 at the er, as the rain lashed down in south Wales, goal. Liverpool’s opener eventually arrived in the against City and Chelsea, announced his return which brought good-natured jeers from the yesterday to move top of the Premier allowing Swansea to claw a foothold in the 36th minute as Coutinho’s corner was met by to peak form with a simply sublime goal five home faithful. Coutinho’s run at the end almost League. Second-half strikes from Yaya Toure game and equalize in first-half stoppage Agger. minutes after the interval. The striker was fouled brought a third, but McGregor pushed away his and Aleksandar Kolarov after Swansea’s time. Bony, who looked to be in an offside attempted to divert it but about 25 yards out from goal by James Chester shot to deny the Brazilian.—AFP Wilfried Bony had cancelled out position, got between Vincent Kompany Fernandinho’s early opener helped City and Pablo Zabaleta to head home an Angel record their fifth consecutive Premier Rangel cross. At that point it looked as if League win. City’s suspect away form, having already Villa end their Bony grabbed a stoppage-time consola- lost four times on the road, may come back tion and his second of the match with a to haunt them, but nerves were steadied skidding drive into the bottom corner, but with a typically emphatic strike from mid- winless run 1-0 there was to be no dramatic rescue for field powerhouse Toure. Swansea who are now without a win in six He picked up the ball on the edge of SUNDERLAND: Premier League games. City moved to the the box and spun away from two defend- Aston Villa started top of the table with 44 points from 20 ers before firing low into the bottom cor- the New Year with a Sunderland 0 games, two clear of Arsenal who can retake ner, a moment of quality that framed the much-needed win, the lead with victory at home to City difference between the two sides. City’s beating Sunderland later. Manchester City, who have now third had an element of good fortune 1-0 at the Stadium of recorded back-to-back away league wins about it as Kolarov’s powerful strike from Light thanks to Aston Villa 1 for the first time this season, have taken 25 the edge of the area, after a lung-busting Gabriel Agbonlahor’s points from their last 27 and scored 57 burst forward down the left flank, found early strike. goals in the opening 20 games to lay down the net due to poor keeping from Gerhard Agbonlahor pounced a marker in the congested tussle at the top Tremmel. Bony, by far Swansea’s most on poor defending to give Villa the lead and the visitors threatening player on the day, smacked of the table. then held on to end a run of five games without a win Swansea’s home form has been their home a skidding drive that seemed to pick up pace of the slippery turf, but there was and inflict a first defeat in six matches in all competi- Achilles heel this season, having recorded tions on the home side. Gus Poyet’s Sunderland remain only two wins at the Liberty Stadium, and to be no dramatic finale. — Reuters bottom of the table and see the gap to safety increase to four points, while Villa rise to 11th with a victory that eases some of the pressure on manager Paul Lambert. Berbatov boost The visitors were looking to continue their good recent record against Sunderland, with whom they drew 0-0 at in late November, and Fulham survival Sunderland’s hopes of extending their impressive fes- LONDON: Crystal Palace’s Damien Delaney (left) is challenged by Norwich City’s tive period form were not helped by the absence of sev- Leroy Fer and Sebastien Bassong during their English Premier League soccer match eral key performers. Defensive duo John O’Shea and Berbatov strayed offside and the result- yesterday. —AP ant free-kick was floated long into the box Wes Brown were absent while both Fabio Borini and Fulham 2 where Diame was given the time and Adam Johnson were only on the bench having been space to pick his spot and stab the ball Palace drop back pre-match doubts, and while Sunderland started home. Fulham almost drew level when brightly, poor defending saw them gift Villa the opener Modibo Maiga nodded Fernando with a quarter-of-an-hour played. West Ham 1 Amorebieta’s header off the line and the into bottom three Lee Cattermole was caught out after Valentin equalizer eventually arrived in the 32nd Roberge attempted a pass across defense and minute. Damien Duff took a corner and stages, but had little to show for their Agbonlahor pounced to round goalkeeper Vito Sidwell, arriving late with a good run, pow- LONDON: dragged efforts before they fell behind shortly Mannone and put Villa into the lead with his second ered in the header. Crystal Palace 1 Fulham out of the Premier League relega- before half-time. goal in as many games. Villa captain Ron Vlaar then tion zone as the Bulgarian’s second half The awful weather further deteriorated Norwich went in front in the 38th goal clinched a crucial 2-1 win over fellow- but the rain failed to dim Fulham’s endeav- deflected a goal-bound shot from Jack Colback behind minute from their first real attack as Wes for a corner as Sunderland toiled, despite monopolising strugglers West Ham yesterday. Rene or as Taarabt hit the a post. The turning Hoolahan set Gary Hooper away and his Meulensteen’s side started 2014 third bot- point came in first half stoppage-time Norwich 1 possession in the first half. knock back for Bradley Johnson teed up Indeed, while visiting ‘keeper Brad Guzan had little to tom of the table following an embarrass- when Amorebieta and Nolan tangled. the for a right-foot shot from ing 6-0 loss at Hull on Saturday. And the Nolan took exception to being nudged and outside the box which cannoned off Julian do in the opening period, only a good Mannone save west Londoners looked up against it again kicked out at Amorebieta, whose tumble LONDON: Crystal Palace’s recent revival Speroni’s left-hand post and into the top prevented Agbonlahor from making it 2-0 following a when Mohamed Diame put West Ham to the turf convinced referee Mark under new manager Tony Pulis faltered right corner. But Palace fought back to neat flick by Christian Benteke, who started the game ahead early in the first half at Craven Clattenburg to reach for the red card It was again yesterday when they were held to a equalize a minute before the break when having been a fitness doubt before kick-off. The pattern Cottage. But Steve Sidwell equalized and the West Ham captain’s second dismissal 1-1 draw at home by fellow-strugglers Leroy Fer fouled Mile Jedinak in the area was much the same after the break as Mannone - who West Ham’s was sent off within a month after also departing early in Norwich City. It means Palace dropped and stepped up to convert had been outstanding in the Boxing Day victory at before half-time, setting the stage for for- the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on December 7. back into the Premier League bottom three the resulting penalty left-footed into the Everton - got down well to beat clear Leandro Bacuna’s mer Manchester United striker Berbatov to The second goal looked imminent as as they are overtaken by Fulham, who won bottom right corner. shot from 25 yards which took a deflection off Roberge. Irish winger Duff steered a shot just over bag the winner midway through the sec- 2-1 at home to second-from-bottom West There was little more to shout about in Sunderland, who had not won any of their nine the crossbar and was then denied by Jussi ond half. Fulham climb to 16th, two points Ham United. The conditions were far from the second half beyond Fer getting his games against bottom-half opposition this season com- above the relegation zone, while West Jaaskelainen. Fulham continued to pepper conducive to flowing football as Pulis had marching orders nine minutes from the ing into this encounter, were denied an equalizer when Ham remain second bottom and are now the opposition goal and Jaaskelainen was warned before the game, which only went end for another bad foul on Jedinak. Borini, on as a half-time substitute for Cattermole, con- three points adrift of safety. Meulensteen the savior once more as he got fingertips ahead on a soggy pitch after Norwich held out and will have been mar- verted a Steven Fletcher knock down only for the off- had reacted to the rout at Hull by making to an attempt by Taarabt to turn it onto the a late inspection by referee Mike Dean. ginally the more satisfied with the point side flag to cut short his celebrations. And Villa again seven changes, among them the return of woodwork. West Ham were rocking and Pulis, who ironically lost his first match even though it extended their winless run missed chances to add to their lead as a Benteke effort Berbatov and Adel Taarabt from injury. they finally cracked in the 66th minute in charge after replacing Ian Holloway away to five games - a poor return for their £20 Fulham’s overhauled line-up made a pur- when substitute Alexander Kacaniklic at Norwich, said: “There are certain areas of million ($33.1m) summer spending spree. was cleared off the line by Phil Bardsley and Mannone poseful start amid awful conditions as marauded down the left wing and found the pitch which will be difficult, but it The draw keeps them just above the drop thwarted substitute Marc Albrighton. Lambert’s side wind and rain lashed , but . Showing superb awareness, seems as though the ball is rolling OK.” And zone and under-pressure manager Chris continue to average less than a goal a game this season they were soon undone as some weak Parker played the ball in to the unmarked so it proved, although Palace seemed to Hughton will be glad to have got some- but their margin of victory would certainly have been defending allowed Diame to snatch the Berbatov who was on target from six yards have mastered the conditions slightly bet- thing from a ground where the Canaries greater without the inspired form of Sunderland’s lead in the seventh minute. out.— AFP ter than their opponents in the early have now failed to win in 14 visits.— AFP Italian ‘keeper.— AFP Chelsea report £49.4m losses Everton grabs late

LONDON: Chelsea made a £49.4million stage elimination from the Champions UEFA and by the Premier League has draw at Stoke 1-1 ($81.8m, 59.9m euro) loss in the last League shows we have structured our brought that to the top of the agenda financial year, the English Premier business and are growing in the correct for football clubs. STOKE: Leighton League club announced yesterday. way for long-term stability. “Our philoso- “We are pleased therefore that we will Baines converted an Turnover for the year ending June 30, phy is we build upon success on the meet the stipulations set down by UEFA injury-time penalty to Stoke 1 2013 was a record £255.8m ($424m, pitch and although in these financial in their first assessment period, and by earn Everton a 1-1 308m euro), but the club’s early results we haven’t repeated the sizeable our own analysis we are progressing draw at Stoke yester- Champions League exit contributed to profits made the previous year from from a commercial viewpoint as well as day as his side the loss in income. Jose Mourinho’s side player transfers, we believe the age pro- continuing to add trophies to our col- Everton 1 dropped out of the will still however satisfy UEFA’s Financial file of the existing squad means we will lection, which we never lose sight of as Fair Play (FFP) regulations as the two- benefit from that investment for many our most important goal.” The next top four of the Premier year monitoring period includes the years to come. financial year’s results will be boosted League. Everton £1.4million ($2.3m, 1.6m euro) profit “A successful team builds awareness by, amongst other things, a new 10- enjoyed plenty of pos- made in the 2011/12 season. The club around the world and our increased year kit deal with Adidas. The deal with session and hit the woodwork twice in the first half before also saw a 19 per cent rise in commercial commercial revenues in 2012/13 and the sportswear manufacturer is worth a gave Stoke a 49th minute lead against income from £67m ($111m, 80m euro) new or extended partnership deals reported £300m ($497m, 361m euro) the run of play. The visitors were rewarded for all their pres- to £79.6m ($132m, 95.8m euro) as they demonstrate we are working hard to and, while announced in June, will be sure at the very end, though, when Jermaine Pennant won the Europa League. capitalize on that.” Chairman Bruce Buck recorded from the 2013/14 accounts. STOKE ON TRENT: Everton’s Leighton Baines (centre) is challenged by Stoke fouled Leon Osman and Baines made no mistake with the Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay added: “A long-term objective was finan- Chelsea are third in the Premier spot kick. Everton slipped to fifth in the standings, a point said: “For Chelsea FC to achieve a record cial sustainability, and the subsequent League, two points behind leaders City’s Steven N’Zonzi (left) and Jermaine behind Merseyside rival Liverpool - which moved up after level of turnover despite our first group- implementation of Financial Fair Play by Arsenal.— AFP Pennant during their English Premier League match yesterday. —AP beating Hull 2-0.— AP