SPORTS Sunday, April 29, 2018 21 Wenger set for Sanchez reunion London Having been named man of Liverpool rsene Wenger admits it the match in last weekend’s will be “strange” to come FA Cup semi-final win over Aup against Alexis Sanchez at Tottenham, Sanchez will Old Trafford on Sunday. now meet his former club for The Arsenal boss gave the the first time in what will be green-light to Sanchez leaving Wenger’s last visit to United as for Manchester United in Gunners’ boss. frustrated January in a straight-swap deal The 68-year-old announced with Armenia international last week he will step down in Henrikh Mkhitaryan. the summer after over 21 years Sanchez, 29, was running in charge, Sanchez labelling down his contract at the Wenger a “football master” as Emirates Stadium and would he paid tribute to his lengthy by Stoke have been able to walk away tenure. for free at the end of the season. Now, however, the Chile Liverpool dropped points against Once it became clear he forward will want to ruin his a relegation threatened side for a would not be signing a new former manager’s farewell tour deal, Arsenal acted to bring in – with Wenger conceding it will second successive week Mkhitaryan as Sanchez joined feel unusual to have Sanchez on Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. the opposing side. (PA Sport) London So there was a feeling of disbelief remier League leading scorer when the ball went wide. Mohamed Salah had a rare It set the tone for Salah, brilliant Poff day as Liverpool continue to in midweek with two goals and two stumble towards guaranteeing a assists against Roma, to have one top-four finish after a goalless draw of his poorest performances in a Liverpool’s at home to Stoke. red shirt. It was the first time since Mohamed Salah However, it was even more Boxing Day he had started a match at (Pic courtesy: the- damaging for struggling Stoke, whose Anfield and did not score. guardian) point failed to see them escape the Credit should be given to Stoke bottom three. With all their relegation left-back Erik Pieters, who barely left rivals having games in hand, their Salah’s side for the entire 90 minutes top-flight future looks bleak. and did an effective job of shackling Jurgen Klopp’s side still require the Professional Footballers’ a maximum of four points from Association Player of the Year. The their last two matches but equally sight of Salah limping slightly in the worrying were injury scares for latter stages, after Henderson had Jordan Henderson and Salah ahead received treatment earlier after being of Wednesday’s Champions League caught on the ankle by Xherdan semifinal second leg which they Shaqiri, will have done little to help lead 5-2. That impending date with Klopp’s mood. destiny, and the early kick-off, did Aside from Mame Diouf heading little to enliven a game which could into the side-netting and Peter OTHER SCORES have been so different had 43-goal Crouch just failing to connect with Burnley 0 0 Brighton Salah been his usual prolific self after Shaqiri’s low cross into the six-yard Crystal Palace 5 0 Leicester City just six minutes. box, they gave a poor impersonation Huddersfield 0 2 Everton When the Egypt international of a team supposedly fighting for Newcastle 0 1 West Bromwich broke clear on his own and dinked their future until Ryan Shawcross Southampton 2 1 AFC Bournemouth the ball over goalkeeper Jack Butland, stabbed wide at the far post with two most of Anfield started to celebrate. minutes remaining. (PA Sport) FC Bayern beat Frankfurt 4-1 Munich first. Frankfurt’s Luka Jovic C Bayern Munich enjoyed tested Ulreich from 20 yards, a successful dress rehearsal Evina aiming too far at the Ffor the Champions League, other end. Visiting netminder beating Eintracht Frankfurt Lukas Hradecky proved equal 4-1 yesterday afternoon. FCB to a Wagner effort. Frankfurt reserves captain slowly but surely got a grip crowned his pro debut, handing on the contest and were in the his side the lead shortly before driving seat after the half-hour. half-time. Eintracht’s dominance doubled the resulted in two gilt-edged lead with a quarter-hour to chances. Mijat Gacinovic go, but Frankfurt’s Sébastien fired just wide from 15 yards Haller replied immediately. following a counter. Barely two Subs Rafinha and Niklas Süle minutes later Jovic ghosted closed out the meeting shortly past the rearguard and had only before the final whistle. Ulreich to beat, and Bayern had The Bavarians started with to thank their shot-stopper for Sven Ulreich in goal and Joshua keeping the scores level with a Kimmich, , Lars fine save. Lukas Mai and Juan Bernat in Highlight from the match (Pic courtesy: fcbayern) But Bayern soon had the a back four. deck, handing playing time to Shabani and Evina around the home crowd on their feet, anchored a midfield featuring a clutch of youngsters. Besides hour mark. Wagner shining with a strong Meritan Shabani, Corentin Mai, Dorsch, Evina and The 75,000 capacity crowd first touch and perceptively Tolisso, Dorsch and Franck Shabani made their pro debuts. at the Allianz Arena saw a setting up Dorsch, the 20-year- Evina, with Sandro Wagner as Rafinha replaced over from dour first half-hour. The sides old proving a cool customer the sole striker. Kimmich at half-time, Thiago felt each other out, Bayern and slotting home from eight Arsene Wenger Jupp Heynckes shuffled his and Süle taking over from dominating possession at yards. (fcbayern)