Sports Monday, December 31, 2018 19 ENGLISH Defeat against Liverpool means title race is ‘over’ for City: Guardiola

afp “Against Crystal Palace Southampton and Leicester they were happy with 1-1 and they found a sec- has warned his ond one, I always judge our Manchester City side a failure intentions of the game and al- to beat Liverpool at the Etihad ways our intentions are to try.” Stadium on Thursday will ef- The former Barcelona and fectively mean their title chal- Bayern Munich boss added: lenge is “over”. “We won a lot of games but un- Reigning champions City fortunately we lost two and we revived their bid to retain the have a rival (Liverpool) who at Premier League trophy with a the moment is the best team in 3-1 win away to Southampton Europe, or in the world. on Sunday that followed shock “That’s why it’s a challenge defeats by Crystal Palace and for us next Thursday, to try Leicester. and win and sustain this posi- Victory at St Mary’s, how- tion as far as possible to arrive ever, still left City seven points at the end of the season fight- behind leaders Liverpool and for a while it seemed Guar- Liverpool may diola’s side might drop more points on the south coast. drop few points David Silva put City ahead after 10 minutes but they then “It would be almost squandered several chances impossible. Of course they are and gifted Pierre-Emile Hojb- going to drop points but not jerg a 37th-minute equaliser. too many. If you want to be But the uncertainty that there as far as possible until crept into City’s play was end- the end we have to remember ed by a James Ward-Prowse what happened last season own goal and a Sergio Aguero and this as well -- apart from Manchester United’s (centre) celebrates after scoring his goal against Bournemouth during their English Premier League match at in Manchester on Sunday. afp) header just before half-time the last few days,” Pep that left City 3-1 up. Saints’ frustrations boiled Guardiola said. over with a red card for Hojb- jerg after a wild challenge on ing for the title.” Fernandinho late in the game. - ‘Know what we have to Man City bounce back as “We knew it, that with the do’ -City may again be with- position of Liverpool, if we out Kevin de Bruyne against drop points then it is over, Liverpool because of the in- it (the title race is finished,” fluential ’s muscle Guardiola said. problem, but Guardiola re- Pogba shines for Man U “It would be almost impos- jected suggestions that a de- sible. Of course they are go- feat of Southampton had sent ing to drop points but not too a message to Jurgen Klopp’s many. If you want to be there Liverppol side. United remain eight points off the top four as Chelsea ground out a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace as far as possible until the end “We’re not here to send a we have to remember what message,” he said. “Liverpool afp put United 3-0 up. happened last season and this know what they have to do, we Manchester Nathan Ake reduced as well -- apart from the last know what we have to do next Bournemouth’s deficit before few days,” the City manager Thursday. I know the distance Manchester City cut Liv- half-time, but Pogba turned added. is big, seven points, especially erpool’s lead at the top of the provider for substitute Romelu Guardiola was adamant he because they’re so solid and Premier League to seven points Lukaku to make it 4-1 and only had not lost confidence in his consistent, but we’re at home. with a 3-1 win at Southampton the post denied Pogba a first side, despite the Palace and “Hopefully our people at as Paul Pogba shone again for ever hat-trick. Leicester reverses. the Etihad can help, they can Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man- Despite Solskjaer’s 100 “How can I doubt them?,” support us. Not just for the chester United by scoring twice percent record, United remain he said. “Football is like this. game, but these players de- in a 4-1 victory over Bourne- eight points off the top four as We make 30 exceptional min- serve it. What they have done mouth on Sunday. Chelsea ground out a 1-0 win at utes again, especially without in the last 14 or 15 months, City’s shock run of three Crystal Palace thanks to N’Golo the ball, we create chances to how they defend this club, is defeats in four league games Kante’s winner. go 2-0 or 3-0, we concede one incredible, it’s massive,” Guar- has allowed the unbeaten Liv- The French World Cup goal. diola added. erpool to close in on a first title winner has been encouraged by since 1990 with the sides set to Maurizio Sarri to get into more meet at the Etihad on Thurs- goalscoring positions with day. Jorginho occupying Kante’s But after Jurgen Klopp’s usual holding midfield role for men thrashed Arsenal 5-1 on the Londoners this season. “He Saturday to open up a nine- is improving, especially in his point lead, the champions re- movement without the ball,” sponded despite an early scare said Sarri. at St Mary’s. Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero scores their third goal against Southampton at St Mary’s on Sunday. (aFP) “Today his movement was Charlie Austin wasted a really very good and done with great chance to give South- ling’s cross into his own net Jose Mourinho, but continues the right timing.” Southampton ampton the lead before David before Alex McCarthy couldn’t Results to flourish since the Portu- are now above the relegation Silva slotted home Bernardo keep out Sergio Aguero’s head- Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Chelsea guese’s departure with his sec- zone only on goal difference as Silva’s cross to put the visitors er. Burnley 2 - 0 West Ham ond double in four days. third bottom Burnley secured in front. Guardiola’s men should Southampton 1 - 3 Man City The Frenchman’s opener just a second win in 13 games However, just as in defeats have added to their advantage on five minutes owed much by beating West Ham 2-0. to Crystal Palace and Leicester, as Aguero hit the bar and Mc- Man U 4 - 1 Bournemouth to the brilliant skill of Marcus Sean Dyche dropped for- City surrendered the lead when Carthy made amends by deny- Rashford who dribbled beyond mer England number one goal- Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg blasted ing Gabriel Jesus. two Bournemouth defenders keeper Joe Hart to the bench high past Ederson eight min- Fernandinho had been jbjerg was shown a straight red before crossing for Pogba to tap for the first time in the league utes before half-time. badly missed in City’s recent card for scything down the Bra- into an empty net. this season and was rewarded The game swung back in defeats, but his return from zilian five minutes from time. Pogba then powered home with a rare clean sheet as first back in City’s favour just be- injury made a huge difference Pogba had scored just one a header from ’s half goals from Chris Wood fore the break as James Ward- in midfield and Southampton goal from open play in the Pre- inviting cross before Rash- and Dwight McNeil secured a Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola during the Premier League Prowse turned Raheem Ster- ended with 10 men after Ho- mier League this season under ford’s outside of the boot finish vital three points. match at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on Sunday. (afp)

Barca confirm Rabiot contact Federer crushes Norrie as Switzerland but deny breaking transfer rules

GOAL.COM tero Henrique claimed Ra- vanquish Britain at Hopman Cup MADRID biot “misled” the club over his intentions to re-sign and dpa 37-year-old said. match and obviously all the accused Barcelona of not fol- Sydney “So I’ve got a lot of defend- credit is to David coming back Barcelona have denied lowing transfer rules, alleging ing to do this Australian sum- from a set down and a break reaching an agreement to a pre-contract agreement had Roger Federer demolished mer but I’m ready to go.” Ben- down,” Zverev said, adding sign Paris Saint-Germain been sought with the player Cameron Norrie in just 57 cic overpowered Boulter easily that the former world number midfielderA drien Rabiot and outside of the permitted win- minutes at the Hopman Cup in in the first set but the Brit, who 3 would be much missed on the dismissed allegations of im- dow in the final six months of Perth on Sunday, as defending only broke into the top 100 this tennis circuit. propriety in their transfer a contract. champions Switzerland took an year, fought back in the second, Zverev has had a break- dealings. La Liga champions Barca unassailable 2-0 lead over Brit- pushing her to a tiebreak in through year, beating both The La Liga champions have released a statement in ain. which Bencic then took control. Federer and Novak Djokovic on have been extensively linked response, confirming they The 20-time grand slam The wins meant the mixed his way to winning the ATP Fi- with a move for Rabiot, whose twice made contact with PSG champion beat the British new- doubles finale to the Group B nals in November. contract at the Parc des Princ- over Rabiot but denying any comer 6-1, 6-1 while his team- session at the RAC Arena was a The Germans, who next play es expires at the end of this further arrangement have Belinda Bencic also de- dead rubber. France’s Alize Cornet and Lu- season. been sought or agreed. feated Katie Boulter in straight Earlier in the day German cas Pouille on Wednesday, also However, Liverpool, Ar- “FC Barcelona wish to sets 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) on the second favourites Angelique Kerber claimed the mixed doubles, 4-2, senal and Juventus are also address stories published in day of the mixed team, round- and Alexander Zverev defeat- 4-3 (5-3). On Monday Ameri- among the teams credited France regarding the signing robin event. ed Spaniards Garbine Mugu- cans Serena Williams and her with an interest in the France of players from Paris Saint Federer, who is also pre- ruza and David Ferrer 3-0 in Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return during the men’s singles team-mate Frances Tiafoe take international, who can start Germain, and make clear that paring to defend his Austral- Group A. The Germans lost out match on day two of the Hopman Cup in Perth on Sunday. (afp) to the court for their open- discussing a summer move they have not breached any ian Open title next month, said to the Swiss duo in the last edi- ing matches, facing Stefanos with other clubs as of Janu- rule in this regard,” the state- he was feeling good about his tion of the tournament and are back effort to take the second. mer world number three now Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari of ary. ment read. game and that defending was keen to avenge that defeat. But the German broke early ranked 126, who forced him to Greece, who lost to the Brits on The 23-year-old withdrew “The only contact made “easier than winning the first World number 2 Kerber in the third to lead 3-1 before a tiebreak in the final set. Saturday. from talks over an extension was during the month of Au- time around.” “You’ve got to beat Spain’s two-time grand continuing to hold serve for The 21-year-old German But the tournament’s high- and has not started for the gust and one week ago. In break it, you know, like that nut slam champion Muguruza con- the match. afterwards paid tribute to light will come on Tuesday, runaway leaders since both cases, this contact was and you’ve got to crack it once vincingly 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Her teammate, world num- 36-year-old Ferrer, who is to re- when the US take on Switzer- December 5, although head made with PSG’s sporting and once you know how that After Kerber took the first ber four Zverev, afterwards tire next year, calling him “may- land, pitting Federer and Wil- coach insists management to show FC Bar- works, that second time around set comfortably, 25-year-old ground out a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7- be the greatest fighter we’ve liams against each other in the that is a footballing decision. celona’s interest in the player you know the technique,” the Muguruza mounted a come- 0) win against Ferrer, a for- ever seen in tennis.” “What a mixed doubles. PSG sporting director An- .”