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SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020
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Liverpool wins, Arsenal close gap on top four
LONDON: Liverpool moved to within The spread of coronavirus could to move into the top four as a disap- nine points of claiming the Premier have a big impact on the Reds’ title cel- pointing 0-0 draw at home to Brighton League title by coming from behind to ebrations in the weeks to come with the left them still two points adrift of Labuschagne hits century beat Bournemouth 2-1 as Arsenal possibility of games being played Chelsea in fifth. A vital point for the boosted their charge towards the behind closed doors. But the abandon- Seagulls edges them two points clear of Champions League places with a 1-0 ment of the normal pre-match ritual of the relegation zone. but SA sweep series win over West Ham. handshakes was the only disruption to Sheffield United moved above Jurgen Klopp’s men had suffered the Premier League calendar this week- Manchester United and Tottenham into POTCHEFSTROOM: Australia’s Marnus ball,” said Australian captain Aaron Finch. It was three defeats in four games in all com- end. Despite the coronavirus risk there sixth to further their dreams of Labuschagne hit a maiden one-day international a bitter-sweet day for Labuschagne, who was petitions, including their first in the was no halt to players celebrating wildly Champions League football next season century on returning to his South African roots - born in Klerksdorp, 50km away, and started Premier League for 45 matches at with each other and Arsenal players thanks to captain Billy Sharp’s winner to but could not prevent South Africa from complet- school in Potchefstroom before his family moved Watford last weekend. Callum Wilson’s piled on top of Alexandre Lacazette beat bottom-of-the-table Norwich 1-0. ing a series clean sweep in the third and final to Australia when he was nine years old. controversial early opener threatened after a long VAR review of the Roy Hodgson celebrated his new one-day clash at Senwes Park yesterday. He said it was “very special” to score a centu- another major upset. But all of Frenchman’s winner at the Emirates. contract as Crystal Palace boss with a 1- Applauded by a large group of his South ry so close to the town where he was born. “I Liverpool’s setbacks of late have come West Ham were made to rue a series 0 win over Watford as the Eagles moved African family, Labuschagne made 108 in an carried on like a bit of a goose,” he said on away from Anfield and they set an of missed chances as they remain just into the top half of the table. Newcastle Australian total of 254 for seven after they were SuperSport television of his emotional celebra- English top-flight record for 22 consec- outside the relegation zone on goal dif- also secured the win that should guar- sent in to bat. South Africa were always ahead of tion on reaching his hundred, “but it was amazing. utive home league wins as two quickfire ference. Jarrod Bowen hit the woodwork antee their survival courtesy of Allan the required rate and coasted to a six-wicket win I have 50 of my family members out there from goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio and Bernd Leno made a string of saves Saint-Maximin’s strike to beat 10-man with 4.3 overs to spare. Man of the match Jon- all over South Africa.” Mane turned the game around. from Michail Antonio and Sebastien Southampton 1-0. Jon Smuts (84), Kyle Verreynne (50) and man of But he was quick to add there were no divided The runaway league leaders still Haller, but it was Arsenal who made the Moussa Djenepo gave the Saints a the series Heinrich Klaasen (68 not out) made loyalties. “I left so young, I love Australia, it’s my needed a miraculous goal-line clearance breakthrough 12 minutes from time. mountain to climb when he was shown half-centuries. country,” he said. “Although I was born in South from James Milner to deny Ryan Fraser Mesut Ozil was originally flagged a straight red card for a lunge of Klaasen hit 242 runs in the series and was only Africa and there’s a little spot in my heart for the an equaliser, but defeat leaves offside as he latched onto Pierre- Isaac Hayden on 28 minutes. Alex dismissed once. “It’s been a fantastic couple of country, I’m Australian through and through.” Bournemouth still marooned in the bot- Emerick Aubameyang’s deflected shot McCarthy kept Southampton in the weeks for me,” he said. It was South Africa’s third Labuschagne, with help from D’Arcy Short tom three. and headed down for Lacazette to game as he saved Matt Ritchie’s successive one-day series win against Australia (36), Mitchell Marsh (32) and Jhye Richardson (24 “We are not geniuses, but we can sweep home. But the goal was finally penalty, but Saint-Maximin stabbed and their 11th win in 12 matches against them, not out) had to rebuild the innings after the South really fight and that’s all we have to do given after a delay of several minutes to home the winner 11 minutes from time going back to September 2016. African bowlers took advantage of early life in “It’s been disappointing but credit to South the pitch and reduced Australia to 55 for three until the end of the season and see what move Arsenal to within five points of to take the Magpies eight points clear Africa, they put us under pressure with bat and after 15 overs.—AFP we get from it,” said Klopp. the top four. Wolves missed the chance of the drop zone. — AFP