Liverpool Thrash Newcastle 4-0 Extend Lead at the Top of the Table
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Established 1961 Sport THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018 Kohli, Pujara make Australia toil Irving shoots Celtics past Ronaldo rescues point for 25after impressive Agarwal debut 26 Philadelphia 76ers in OT 27 10-man Juventus at Atalanta LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) crosses the ball as Newcastle United’s Scottish midfielder Matt Ritchie (R) attempts a block during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England yesterday. —AFP Liverpool thrash Newcastle 4-0 Extend lead at the top of the table LIVERPOOL: Liverpool treated their fans to some five players across the back. them a third goal at any moment, and it came when now matters,” he added. With little money available to Christmas cheer with a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle But defender Jamaal Lascelles inadvertently teed Xherdan Shaqiri stabbed home Trent Alexander- spend in the upcoming transfer window, Benitez United at Anfield yesterday, extending their lead at the Dejan Lovren up for the opening goal, carelessly head- Arnold’s low cross from close range in the 79th minute. seemed barely able to conceal his frustration at top of the table. ing an attempted clearance into the path of the Fabinho made it 4-0 by heading home Salah’s corner. Newcastle’s situation. The win put Liverpool on 51 points at the halfway Liverpool centre back, who cracked home a fine half- Liverpool’s fans burst into song as news reached the “Obviously, we play against a very good team but point in the season, six ahead of Tottenham Hotspur volley in the 11th minute. Anfield stands that Manchester City had lost at there are two key moments in the game,” the Spanish who hammered Bournemouth 5-0, and seven clear Newcastle managed to hold firm until halftime but Leicester, giving the Merseysiders the Christmas gift coach said. “The first goal we made a mistake, and the of champions Manchester City who lost 2-1 at within minutes of the restart they were two down as they wanted as they chase a first league title since second goal (was) a soft penalty that gave them con- Leicester City. Mohamed Salah scored his 13th league goal of the sea- 1990. “We just focused on ourselves and it’s game by trol. For us, it was very difficult to react,” he added. Returning to the club he led to the Champions son from the penalty spot following an innocuous foul game for us. Every game is a final for us,” Lovren said. Benitez must lift his side ahead of their visit to League title in 2005, Newcastle manager Rafael on him by Paul Dummett. “We need to keep this momentum and after the next Watford on Saturday while Liverpool host Arsenal later Benitez picked his team with defence in mind, stringing Liverpool’s enormous pressure threatened to give couple of games we will see where we are. Every game on the same day. —Reuters the trophy prised from their grasp. In a rarity for after injury setbacks and withdrawn in the second half, Man City’s title Guardiola’s impressive team, Leicester had them rattled on City lacked a spark. occasions, especially in a 10-minute spell at the end of the It looked set to matter little on 14 minutes, where bid hit by shock first half in which Claude Puel’s side threatened to seize Leicester were caught square at the back for Bernardo the initiative completely. Silva’s opener. Ben Chilwell played the goalscorer onside Leicester failed to make the most of that period but as Aymeric Laporte and Aguero combined to tee him up defeat at Leicester claimed victory with eight minutes remaining as Pereira for a crisp finish past Schmeichel. pounced with a 20-yard blast to give a fine Leicester per- But the lead lasted for just five minutes before a lethar- LEICESTER: Manchester City’s bid to retain the Premier formance its deserved reward. City dominated much of gic City were hit with an equaliser on the counter-attack. League title suffered a major blow as the champions the second half but failed to significantly trouble Kasper They claimed a foul for Chilwell’s challenge on Bernardo crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at Leicester yesterday. Just Schmeichel in the Leicester goal to lay bare one of the Silva but referee Mike Dean waved play on and Leicester days after their surprise home loss to Crystal Palace, Pep issues facing Guardiola-an uncharacteristic lack of attack- were ruthless. James Maddison found Jamie Vardy out Guardiola’s side took the lead through Bernardo Silva’s ing cohesion. wide and the striker hung a dangerous cross to the far early goal. Sergio Aguero, made captain for the day, played a key post, where Albrighton arrived to head home. But Marc Albrighton equalised for Leicester and hand in Silva’s goal yet struggled on the whole to make City pressed for much of the second half but Ricardo Pereira’s 81st-minute rocket handed City a third any impression on a solid Leicester defence led superbly Schmeichel was rarely troubled and he saw Pereira score a loss in their last four league games. City are now seven by the impressive Harry Maguire. With Raheem Sterling spectacular winner on 81 minutes. A corner by Albrighton LEICESTER: Leicester City’s English striker Jamie Vardy (R) points behind leaders Liverpool and drop to third place also kept quiet by Leicester’s disciplined display, only was cleared poorly by Sane and Ricardo drilled the ball vies with Manchester City’s English defender John Stones below Tottenham. Leroy Sane of City’s attacking trio made any real inroads inside the far post. (L) during the English Premier League football match The problems are mounting up for Guardiola as into the home side’s defences. When Delph was dismissed for a high challenge on between Leicester City and Manchester City at King Power Liverpool extended their lead at the top to leave City With Kevin De Bruyne, the creative lynchpin of last Pereira in the dying moments, Guardiola’s misery was Stadium in Leicester, central England yesterday. —AFP ruing a week either side of Christmas that threatens to see season’s title success, struggling to recapture his best form complete. —AFP.