Established 1961 Sport MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 Djokovic dispatches Fratangelo Hirscher seals eighth straight Bucks crush Hornets, become 25to book Kohlschreiber clash 26 overall World Cup title 27 first team to notch 50 wins Firmino keep Liverpool in touch with City Roberto takes his league tally for the season to 11 LIVERPOOL: Burnley’s English defender Charlie Taylor (R) blocks a shot from Liverpool’s English midfielder Jordan Henderson (L) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England yesterday.—AFP LIVERPOOL: Roberto Firmino returned to goalscoring minute. Defender Joel Matip needlessly conceded a Egyptian drilled over a pacy near-post cross. who started the day just two points outside the relega- form at the perfect moment for Jurgen Klopp’s corner which Ashley Westwood took from the left wing Burnley’s England goalkeeper Tom Heaton and tion places as the second half quickly threatened to Liverpool, hitting the net twice in a 4-2 victory over and curled directly into the Liverpool goal, with home Tarkowski both had chances to clear but somehow turn into a one-way procession towards the visitors’ Burnley that hauled them back to within a point of goalkeeper Alisson protesting furiously that he had allowed the ball to pass through them for Firmino to tap goal before Liverpool struck again midway through the Premier League leaders Manchester City. been impeded in his attempts to deal with it. into an open net. second half. Sadio Mane was also on the scoresheet twice in a Replays suggested Alisson had a strong point, with Liverpool were now firmly in control, clicking Salah broke clear and was poised to shoot when game in which Liverpool were required to respond to defender James Tarkowski leaning on the Brazilian from through the gears and placing the Burnley defence Taylor made a superb tackle which, unfortunately for falling a goal behind against Sean Dyche’s struggling behind and Jack Cork making contact in front of him. under increasing pressure before Mane shot them into the visitors, left the loose ball sitting up neatly for side. And with City having opened a four-point gap The goalkeeper’s furious reaction, sprinting 40 yards to the first lead of the afternoon shortly before the half Firmino to drive it into an open goal from 12 yards. over Liverpool, with a victory over Watford on remonstrate with referee Andre Marriner, earned him a hour. The goal owed much to the persistence of mid- There was late anxiety after Johann Berg Saturday, the pressure was clearly on Klopp and his booking. fielder Adam Lallana, who charged down an attempted Gudmundsson made it 3-2 with an injury-time consola- players to respond, which they did impressively despite This was a real test of Liverpool’s mental fortitude clearance by Phil Bardsley, with the ball breaking for tion after a knock-down in the area from Burnley sub- the controversial manner of Burnley’s opening goal. after a run that has seen them draw five of their previ- Salah, who was well tackled by Charlie Taylor. stitute Peter Crouch. Firmino had a large role to play in steadying ous seven games in the league and Champions League. The rebound fell for Mane, who curled a magnificent But with virtually the last kick of the game in the Liverpool nerves, taking his league tally for the season They trailed for just 13 minutes, equalising with a finish past the diving Heaton from 15 yards, scoring in a 93rd minute, Mane chased a long through ball, rounded to 11 and ending a six-game goal drought as his side flowing move started when Mohamed Salah and sixth consecutive home league game in the process. Heaton and completed the victory by kicking into the reacted impressively to going a goal down in the sixth Georginio Wijnaldum exchanged passes and the It was hard to see a way back for struggling Burnley, open goal. —AFP endure a League Cup final defeat against loan from AC Milan, had another sight of Hazard rescues Manchester City in which Chelsea goal- goal from N’Golo Kante’s pass, but this keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be time his low strike was pushed away by Rui substituted. Under Sarri’s watch, Chelsea Patricio. Chelsea in have also suffered humiliating thrashings at Despite all their possession, Chelsea City and Bournemouth, while supporters lacked a cutting edge in a creatively unin- Wolves draw chanted for his sacking after the FA Cup spired display that was a return to the exit against Manchester United. problems they have endured for much of Beating Tottenham and Fulham in the the season. A monotonous procession of LONDON: Eden Hazard came to Maurizio league and then easing past Dynamo Kiev slow, sideways passes brought no reward Sarri’s rescue as the Chelsea star’s superb in the Europa League last 16 first leg on against Wolves’ massed defence, trigger- late strike earned a 1-1 draw against Wolves Thursday had given Sarri some breathing ing jeers from frustrated Chelsea fans at yesterday. Sarri’s side were seconds away space. half-time. After an anonymous first half, from another damaging defeat after Raul But Wolves have proved a thorn in his Hazard finally showed signs of life with a Jimenez put Wolves ahead at Stamford side this season and, after beating the Blues surge that ended with the Belgian being Bridge. 2-1 at Molineux in December, they left the hauled down by Matt Doherty on the edge Hazard spared the under-fire Sarri’s Italian looking over his shoulder anxiously of the area. But David Luiz’s effort from blushes with his thunderous stoppage-time again. the resulting free-kick bounced tamely off equaliser, but it was still a frustrating day Chelsea are in action at Kiev on the Wolves wall. for the Blues boss. Thursday before a league trip to Everton Having soaked up Chelsea’s futile Sarri’s side had won three times in 10 next Sunday. The international break looms attempts to break them down, Wolves days to temporarily silence reports that the after that and Sarri could do with victories sprang out to snatch the lead with a per- Italian was facing the sack. But Chelsea’s in those games to ensure Chelsea owner fectly executed counter in the 56th minute. LONDON: Wolverhampton Wanderers’ English midfielder Conor Coady (R) pressures Chelsea’s latest misfiring effort raised the possibility Roman Abramovich doesn’t wield the axe. Breaking from their own area, Wolves that Sarri is back on borrowed time in west Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain (L) during the English Premier League football match With Chelsea’s legendary striker Didier exploited the out of position Chelsea between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in London yesterday. —AFP London. With fourth-placed Manchester Drogba watching from the stands, it didn’t defence as Jimenez flicked a pass to Diogo United playing fifth-placed Arsenal later on take long for Gonzalo Higuain-Sarri’s hand- Jota. Jota ran wide before guiding the ball Sunday, Chelsea, languishing in sixth, will picked targetman-to demonstrate the flaws back into Jimenez, who prodded home via a Patrico saved before Pedro’s long-range Patricio as Chelsea pushed for the equaliser. be further adrift of the top four after anoth- in the current crop. deflection off Cesar Azpilicueta for his 14th effort was pushed over by the keeper. With just moments left, Hazard at last ended er tense afternoon for Sarri. After a rapid exchange of passes with goal this season. Higuain couldn’t stretch far enough to score Wolves’ stubborn resistance with a fierce It has been a nightmare debut season for Pedro, Higuain could only muster a shot that Higuain tried to lead the Chelsea when Hazard’s corner was deflected into his long-range drive that flashed past Patricio former Napoli boss Sarri, who had to was blocked by Romain Saiss. Higuain, on response with a shot on the turn, but path. Willian’s low strike was repelled by for his first goal in seven games. — AFP.