SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014 SPORTS Gerrard benched as Liverpool fire blanks Martin Skrtel clashed with Adam Johnson and then when Connor Wickham claimed Liverpool 0 he had been tripped by Lucas. On both occasions, it appeared that referee Neil Swarbrick had been correct to dismiss the visitors’ appeals. Sunderland 0 STERLING ELECTRIFIES Buoyed by Brown’s attempt, Sunderland started the second period in slightly more LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Brendan adventurous mode. Jordi Gomez surged Rodgers’s decision to rest captain Steven from midfield to the edge of the area, from Gerrard backfired as his side were held to a where his on-target shot deflected just disappointing 0-0 draw by Sunderland in wide off Skrtel. the Premier League yesterday. Gerrard was The same Liverpool defender was soon brought on after 67 minutes at Anfield as required to concede another corner, after a Rodgers desperately sought what would dangerous header from John O’Shea flew have been a third league victory in eight into the six-yard box. days. From that set-piece, Wickham’s left-foot But the former England captain could volley flashed menacingly across the face not inspire his team to victory, leaving of the home goal. Wickham, operating Liverpool at a low ebb ahead of Tuesday’s wide on the left, was becoming an increas- must-win Champions League group game ing threat and found himself in another at home to Swiss side Basel. promising situation after 55 minutes, with The draw left Liverpool four points his shot deflecting behind off a Liverpool below the Champions League places and defender once more. With the home crowd 15 points shy of leaders Chelsea. There was growing increasingly frustrated, Jordan a Rickie Lambert header from an Adam Henderson had the chance to lift the ten- Lallana cross mid-way through the first half sion, but his free-kick landed on the roof of that cleared the crossbar by some distance. the goal. Philippe Coutinho made room for him- Moments later, Lucas made a 20-yard self with some quick footwork on the edge attempt that was easily fielded by of the box, but his low shot presented visit- Pantilimon. Rodgers threw on Gerrard and ing goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon with no the Liverpool captain immediately won a problems. free-kick on the left wing that he took him- Those half-chances aside, Liverpool self. Pantilimon dropped the ball but was enjoyed ample possession outside the granted a reprieve, with Swarbrick ruling Sunderland penalty area without ever he had been fouled. The chances continued unleashing the decisive pass that could to come for the home side, with Liam LONDON: Stoke’s Phillip Bardsley (right) is challenged by Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez during the English Premier League soccer match. — AP have unlocked the route to goal. Bridcutt required to throw his body in the It was the same sort of well-drilled and path of a Coutinho shot. highly organised defensive display that had An electrifying run by Raheem Sterling, earned the north-east club a deserved covering half the length of the field, culmi- More misery for Wenger goalless draw with leaders Chelsea a week nated in another sight of goal for Coutinho, earlier. Gus Poyet’s players were content to whose crisp shot was well held by the goal- try and hurt Liverpool on the break and in keeper. Sunderland substitute Will Buckley fact procured the best chance of the first livened up proceedings for the visitors, but as Stoke stun Gunners half, with the unmarked Wes Brown head- with the home side continuing to press, it ing over from a Sebastian Larsson corner. required a huge defensive effort from ries and two draws from their eight league Republic of Ireland international Walters then There were also a couple of half-hearted Poyet’s players to secure a hard-earned matches against them at the Britannia Stadium - got in on the act on the stroke of half-time, lash- penalty appeals for Sunderland, first after point. — AFP Stoke 3 and the ease with which they got at Wengerís ing in at the far post after a Bojan corner fell team is sure to see more questions raised over invitingly for him to complete a stunning first 45 the Frenchmanís tactics. minutes from Hughesí team. Then the controver- There has been an edge to this fixture ever sy came as Bojan cut inside before beating Arsenal 2 since the controversial challenge by Ryan Martinez at his near post with a low strike only Shawcross on Ramsey in 2010 which left the for Taylor to rule the goal out, much to Stokeís Arsenal midfielder with a broken leg, while frustration. Potters supporters have never forgiven Wenger Taylor appeared to deem Mame Biram Diouf STOKE-ON-TRENT: Stoke ensured 10-man for subsequently likening their tactics to that of was interfering with play from an offside posi- Arsenal suffered more misery at the Britannia a ìrugbyî team. Surely even Hughes could not tion, yet it looked a harsh call from the official. Stadium as Mark Hughesí team sealed a 3-2 vic- have dreamt up such a perfect start, however, as The decision had a galvanising effect on the tory that piled more pressure on Arsene Wenger his team seized the lead within just 19 seconds. visitors and within a minute Taylor had further yesterday. The plaudits belonged to Crouch as he neatly incensed the home side when he pointed to the First-half efforts from Peter Crouch, Bojan laid the ball off to Steven Nzonzi, wide on the penalty spot when Mathieu Flamini went to Krkic and Jonathan Walters had put Stoke in right, before continuing his run into the box and ground inside the penalty area after a tangling complete control at half-time and only a contro- the towering forward could not believe his good of legs with Diouf. versial decision from referee Anthony Taylor fortune as Hector Bellerin - a surprise inclusion - Cazorla converted the 68th-minute penalty midway through the second half had denied lost his footing at the crucial moment to gift despite the best efforts of Asmir Begovic, who them a four-goal lead. Crouch a virtually empty net with goalkeeper guessed correctly. Begovic saved well from Taylorís ruling threatened to be a major talk- Emiliano Martinez already wrong-footed. Welbeckís first-time effort as the Gunners finally ing point when two quickfire goals from Santi embarked on a period of dominance and, from Cazorla, from the penalty spot, and Aaron WENGER TAUNTED the resulting corner, Ramsey volleying in Alexis Ramsey gave the Gunners hope, however the Next it was Bojanís turn to get on the score- Sanchezís delivery from the edge of the penalty dismissal of Calum Chambers ruined the visitorsí sheet as, with 35 minutes gone, he expertly stole area to make it two goals in as many minutes. momentum. A point would have flattered in at the near post to exquisitely volley home The momentum swung back towards Stoke, Wengerís team after a catastrophic first-half Waltersí whipped right-wing delivery. however, when Chambers was red carded in the ANFIELD: Sunderland’s Jordi Gomez (right) falls during a challenge from Liverpoolís showing as they missed the chance to move into It was his second goal in the league and first 79th minute for a second bookable offence fol- Lucas Leiva during the English Premier League soccer match. — AP the Premier Leagueís top four. at the Britannia Stadium - and there were cries of lowing a shirt tug on Bojan and it proved pivotal Stokeís win continued their excellent home ì2-0 to the rugby teamî and ìSwing low sweet as the Potters hung on to complete a memo- Hull into drop zone record against the Gunners, making it five victo- chariotî aimed at Wenger from the home fans. rable victory. —AFP the relegation places, they are scarcely better Austin lifts QPR before seeing red placed. Irvine gambled by leaving top scorer Hull 0 Saido Berahino out of his starting XI, while record signing Abel Hernandez returned up front for Hull after spending time in Uruguay on paternity leave. QPR 2 West Brom 0 West Brom were handed an early opportu- nity to break the deadlock when Jake Livermore was penalised for wrestling with Victor Anichebe, but McGregor plunged to his Burnley 0 LONDON: Hull City goalkeeper Allan left to save Dorrans’s spot-kick. The 32-year- McGregor foiled West Bromwich Albion but old Scotland international has saved all three could not prevent his slide slipping into the of the penalties he has faced in the Premier LONDON: Charlie Austin scored his eighth Premier League relegation zone after a 0-0 League. After a turgid first half, both managers Premier League goal of the season before seeing draw yesterday. called for reinforcements during the second red as Queen’s Park Rangers won 2-0 at home McGregor saved a ninth-minute penalty period. Robbie Brady, Andy Robertson and from fellow Scot Graham Dorrans and also Nikica Jelavic were summoned by Bruce and against Burnley yesterday. Austin had helped stood firm in the second half on a day of pre- Berahino entered the fray alongside Silvestre Leroy Fer open the scoring six minutes after the cious few clear chances at the KC Stadium. Varela and Brown Ideye for West Brom. break and gave QPR a two-goal cushion on 74 But Queens Park Rangers’ 2-0 win at home Hull midfielder Stephen Quinn had the minutes but just over a minute later was walking to Burnley meant that Steve Bruce’s Hull, who best chance to break the deadlock after the off the pitch after a second yellow card.