Sports Monday, December 31, 2018 19 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE 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- PEP Guardiola 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 Paul Pogba (centre) celebrates after scoring his goal against Bournemouth during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford 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 playmaker’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 Ander Herrera’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.