SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014 SPORTS

Preview Rodgers, Wenger in spotlight

LONDON: Two managers for whom criti- Old Trafford, but Rodgers saw encouraging cism has become an unwelcome bedfellow signs during the victory over this season face off in the Bournemouth. today when Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal tackle Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool at Anfield. BALOTELLI BANNED Arsenal’s confidence has been improved by “The kid has been fantastic wherever back-to-back 4-1 wins over Galatasaray and he’s played this season. He was outstanding Newcastle United, but it was only two the other night (against Bournemouth),” weeks ago that Wenger was barracked by Rodgers said. “It’s been incredible, the stick fans of his own club following a 3-2 loss at the kid has received, with people trying to Stoke City. Rodgers, meanwhile, is under criticise him and put the focus on to him. real scrutiny for the first time in his He’s been outstanding for us and it was Liverpool tenure following a return of just another great performance from him the two wins from eight league matches. other night in a difficult game.” Last weekend’s chastening 3-0 defeat at Asked if Sterling would reprise his role Manchester United left last season’s run- up front against Arsenal, Rodgers replied: ners-up in 11th place, seven points below “We’ll see what’s in the best interests of the the Champions League places and a yawn- team.” ing 18 points behind leaders Chelsea. Rodgers can draw solace from the fact The highs of last spring now seem a dis- that his team destroyed Arsenal 5-1 when tant memory, but Wenger, who has been at Wenger’s side last came to Anfield in the Arsenal helm for 18 years, believes it February, plundering four goals in a devas- SPAIN: Barcelona’s Gerard Pique heads the ball to score against Cordoba during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium. —AP will only be a matter of time before tating 20-minute spell at the start of the Rodgers’s side start climbing the table game. But although Arsenal also fell to again. “I’ve sympathy for every single man- heavy defeats at Manchester City (6-3) and Barca thrash Cordoba 5-0 ager in the Premier League. Everybody Chelsea (6-0) last season, Wenger believes goes through periods where it goes a bit that they are now a more solid prospect. MADRID: Luis Suarez scored his first La Liga goal obsessed with getting on the scoresheet. The ever, when Messi, Iniesta and Pedro combined to less well,” said the Frenchman, whose side “We’ve won five of our last six games,” and Lionel Messi netted twice as Barcelona most important thing was that the team won hand Suarez a glorious chance to get up and began the weekend two points below the he said. “Liverpool are always very strong at moved to within a point of leaders Real Madrid and we achieved that”. running in La Liga and this time the Uruguayan top four in sixth place. home and that’s why we want to continue with a 5-0 thrashing of Cordoba in their final Despite coach Luis Enrique claiming that made no mistake with a deft first touch before “Our job is to survive crises. Part of the to be faithful to our philosophy and play game of the year yesterday. The hosts got off to Neymar had fully recovered from an ankle injury, slotting under Carlos. job, not all the job. When you want to make our game, but as well be solid defensively.” a flying start as Pedro Rodriguez, once again the Brazilian watched on from the bench as Rakitic nearly made it 3-0 moments later in a long career, you cannot only win, unfortu- Arsenal trio Theo Walcott, Alex-Oxlade deputising for Neymar, opened the scoring with Pedro was rewarded for his hat-trick in the 8-1 spectacular fashion as he crashed a drive from nately.” Rodgers cut an unusually taciturn Chamberlain (both groin) and Nacho a smart finish from Ivan Rakitic’s wonderful thrashing of Huesca in midweek and the Canary 25 yards off the post. The Croatian then made figure in his pre-game media briefing on Monreal (ankle) are due to undergo late fit- through ball inside two minutes. Islander continued his scoring streak in the first way for Xavi Hernandez 25 minutes from time Friday, according journalists only four and a ness tests, but Aaron Ramsey is out with a Barca then struggled to build on their lead for meaningful attack of the game. Rakitic’s intelli- and it was the veteran midfielder who provided half minutes of his time and responding to hamstring problem. Calum Chambers the rest of the first period, but Suarez capped gent left-footed pass over the top was trapped a perfect cross for Pique to power home a head- their questions curtly. returns from suspension. Liverpool have another quick start to the second period when by the Spain international before he lashed the er to make it 3-0. Two minutes later Messi got his But the Northern Irishman did become doubts over centre-back Dejan Lovren, he poked home from close range to end a sev- ball into the roof of the net to register his sixth name in the scoresheet from another set-piece animated when asked to discuss the form who was forced off against Bournemouth en-game drought in the league since returning goal in as many games. as Cordoba only partially cleared a corner from of Raheem Sterling, who scored twice as with a groin injury. from a four-month ban for biting. Andres Iniesta then shot straight at Juan the right and the four-time World Player of the Liverpool beat Championship leaders Midfielder Joe Allen is expected to Gerard Pique headed in a third before Messi Carlos before Suarez was inches away from mak- Year smashed the ball right-footed home off the Bournemouth 3-1 in the League Cup quar- return after missing the trip to Dean Court, rounded off the scoring with two stunning fin- ing his mark with an acrobatic effort that flew underside of the bar from the edge of the box. ter-finals on Wednesday. but Balotelli is unavailable due to a Football ishes in the final 10 minutes. “I was able to score into the side-netting. Messi added one final moment of magic in With Daniel Sturridge injured and new Association suspension. The Italian striker and that helps relax me. I don’t know if we were stoppage time when he spectacularly controlled signings Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert has been banned for one game for sharing affected, but the draw with Getafe last week FINE REACTION a looping ball on the outside of his left foot toiling, Sterling has started as a ‘false nine’ a picture of video-game character Super annoyed us. We had to come here today and Nabil Ghilas and Fede Cartabia shot into the before spinning to fire home with his right in Liverpool’s last two games. Mario on Instagram that contained the show that we’re in the fight for the Liga title,” side-netting in Cordoba’s only two attacks of despite Carlos’s best efforts to keep it out. The 20-year-old squandered several words “jumps like a black man and grabs Suarez said. note in the first 45, and they could have been Victory moves Barca six points clear of cham- excellent opportunities against United at coins like a Jew”. —AFP “Scoring is always important, but with the further behind at the break but for a fine reac- pions Atletico Madrid, who visit Athletic Bilbao support of everyone we all knew that this happy tion save from Carlos to turn Pique’s header from today. Real Madrid will end the year on top moment would come. “I’m a forward and I have close range behind for a corner. despite having played a game less than the to score goals, but I’m also helping the side to There was nothing the Cordoba ‘keeper could Catalans as they take on San Lorenzo in the final achieve its aims. For this I hadn’t got too do seven minutes into the second period, how- of the Club World Cup late yesterday. —AFP Dortmund woes deepen

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga crisis deepened yesterday after suffering their tenth defeat of the season in losing 2-1 at fellow strug- glers Werder Bremen to drop to second from bottom. Having started December at the foot of the table, Dortmund can finish 2014 back at the bot- tom if Freiburg score and pick up a point against Hanover 96 on Sunday. Dortmund continue to have the most defeats in Germany’s top flight at the season’s halfway stage with just 15 points from 17 games as PARIS: Paris Saint Germain’s David Luis (center) vies for the ball with Montpellier’s Bremen claimed only their fourth win of the sea- Joris Marveaux (right) as referee Sebastien Moreira (left) looks on during their son to climb off the foot of the table. Borussia League One soccer match. —AP coach Jurgen Klopp insists they are not relega- tion candidates, despite their league position. “I wouldn’t write us off yet,” Klopp insisted PSG held, Marseille on course with the Bundesliga to resume at the end of January following the winter break. PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain failed to find counterpart Laurent Blanc reflected on “We have three weeks to prepare ourselves the killer punch in a drab goalless draw at what might have been. for the second half of the season. “We must, and home to Montpellier yesterday, handing Ironically, the two will meet again in we will, improve, we have shown a lot of weak- arch-rivals Marseille the chance to end the their very next next competitive match, nesses in the first half of the season, but we’re year on top of the Ligue 1 table. Marseille having been drawn together in the French not as weak as that. We need to charge our bat- stay top on goal difference before they take Cup, with the tie to be played in early GERMANY: Werder’s Alejandro Galvez (front) and Dortmund’s Ciro Immobile challenge for the teries and fight back in the new year.” ball during the German First League Bundesliga soccer match. —AP on Lille at home today while third-placed January. —AFP Borussia, who face Juventus in the last 16 of Lyon, who could theoretically upset the the Champions League, fell behind with just converted a penalty to make him the league’s side of half-time. apple cart if Marseille came unstuck, travel three minutes gone when Bremen’s 19-year-old top scorer with 13 goals in 16 games before The result leaves Augsburg sixth while to Bordeaux. But for the Parisians, it was Matches on TV striker Davie Selke curled in a superb goal from Leverkusen’s Germany winger Karim Bellarabi Gladbach drop to fourth. On Friday, Pep another case of failing to live up to the (Local Timings) 15 metres out. equalised seven minutes from time. Roberto di Guardiola’s Bayern broke more league records as pressure, following defeats to Barcelona in Selkie then turned provider by outsprinting Matteo’s Schalke 04, who have drawn Real Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben the Champions League and then Dortmund captain Mats Hummels to put in a Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, scored in their 2-1 comeback win at Mainz after Guingamp in the league, before an uncon- English Premier League great cross which Bremen midfielder Fin Bartels stay fifth in the table after being held to a goal- Colombia midfielder Elkin Soto had given the vincing 3-1 victory at second-tier AC Newcastle v Sunderland 16:30 converted on 62 minutes. less draw at home to Hamburg in a poor display. hosts’ a shock first-half lead. The Mainz result Ajaccio in the League Cup in midweek. beIN SPORTS 1 HD Hummels pulled a goal back when he headed There was some good news for Royal Blues saw Bayern claim a new record for the fewest An error-strewn first-half at the Parc des beIN SPORTS 11 HD Liverpool v Arsenal 19:00 home unmarked a corner from fellow Germany fans before kick-off as Netherlands striker Klaas- goals conceded in the first-half of the season as Princes saw the mid-table visitors knock international Ilkay Gundogan on 69 minutes, but Jan Huntelaar extended his contract until 2017 their defence have leaked just four goals. the Parisians out of their normally fluid beIN SPORTS 1 HD beIN SPORTS 11 HD it was no more than a consolation. having scored 66 goals in 116 Bundesliga match- At the season’s halfway stage, Bayern will fin- style and frustrated them throughout the es. ish the weekend at least 11 points ahead, claim- first 45 minutes. Spanish League SCHALKE STAY Stuttgart remain above the bottom three ing a new record for the league’s biggest advan- Montpellier could even claim the best Rayo v Espanyol 0:00 Second-placed Wolfsburg host mid-table places after their goalless draw at home to tage at the halfway stage, beating their own chance of the first 45 minutes when beIN SPORTS 2 HD Cologne later on Saturday hoping for the three Paderborn. joint best mark of 10. Morgan Sanson had the the ball in the net Villarreal v Deportivo 14 :00 points which would trim Bayern Munich’s huge Augsburg fought back for a 2-1 win at home Bayern have also equalled their own record with an acrobatic volley from Antony beIN SPORTS 2 HD lead at the top of the table back to 11 points. to Borussia Moenchengladbach, who took the for the highest goal difference at the halfway Mounier’s cross from the left, but Mounier Granada v Getafe 19:00 Bayer Leverkusen stay third after coming lead after only two minutes when Max Kruse point of plus 37, the same they managed in was harshly ruled offside and the goal did beIN SPORTS 2 HD Elche CF v Malaga 21:00 from behind for a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht converted a penalty before midfielder Markus 2012/13, the season they last won the not count. Frankfurt. Eintracht captain Alexander Meier Feulner and striker Raul Bobadilla scored either Champions League. —AFP PSG had to wait until five minutes from beIN SPORTS 6 HD Bilbao v Atletico 23:00 half-time before carving out a creditable beIN SPORTS 2 HD chance of their own but failed to take Preview advantage as Edinson Cavani needed one Italian Calcio League touch too many on Marco Verratti’s Hellas v Chievo 14:30 through pass and the ball ran away from beIN SPORTS 3 HD him, allowing Montpellier ‘keeper Jonathan Sampdoria v Calcio 17:00 Pardew bids to avoid unwanted record Ligali to smother it at his feet. beIN SPORTS 6 HD The home side were looking anything Atalanta v Palermo 17:00 NEWCASTLE: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew but if any manager asked me, ‘What’s the being on target in the last two Tyneside der- like reigning champions even after upping beIN SPORTS 3 HD has set his sights on avoiding an unwanted biggest game you’ve been involved in’, I’d say bies, loves the occasion. the tempo at the start of the second half, as Fiorentina v Empoli 17:00 record in the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle v Sunderland,” Pardew said. “I try to concentrate on it as I would for any beIN SPORTS 2 HD Montpellier managed to soak up every- Sunderland yesterday. “The electricity of this game really is some- other game, but you can always feel it’s a little Torino FC v Genoa 17:00 Pardew’s side have been beaten by hated thing else, and you have to be at it to appreci- bit extra special on game day,” he said. “For a lot thing PSG could throw at them. But PSG beIN SPORTS 9 HD gave notice that it might not be long local rivals Sunderland in each of their last ate it. I’m looking forward to experiencing that of the fans, this is the only game that matters.” Inter v Lazio 22:45 three meetings and no Newcastle boss has again, but not so much if you lose. before they took the lead as they moved up beIN SPORTS 3 HD a gear in the 63rd minute. beIN SPORTS 2 HD ever lost four derbies in a row. “Particularly around Christmas time when COLBACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT First Lucas had a penalty appeal waved Two seasons ago, Sunderland’s manager it’s goodwill to all men, the gravy is going to be Newcastle’s former Sunderland midfielder away after tangling with Abdelhamid El German Bundesliga famously ruined an expensive a bit lumpy if we lose, so it’s important to win.” Jack Colback scored an excellent goal for the Kaoutari in the area and from the resulting Hertha v Hoffenheim 17:30 suit by sliding along the touchline after While the odds on another 3-0 Sunderland Black Cats last season against the team he sup- corner, taken by Thiago Motta, Thiago Silva beIN SPORTS 4 HD Stephane Sessegnon scored their opening goal victory on Sunday are 55-1, Poyet would settle ported as a youngster. rose unchallenged to head goalwards only Freiburg v Hannover 19:30 in a 3-0 win, while was in charge of for success by any scoreline after five draws However, Colback is now a Newcastle player beIN SPORTS 4 HD for Mounier to scramble it off the line. another 3-0 success for the Black Cats earlier and a defeat in Sunderland’s last six league and would love to make amends for last sea- However, it was not be as the clock ran this year. games. Sunderland’s problem, as so often this son’s goal by scoring one against his old club. French League Pardew, who also oversaw a 2-1 defeat last season, will be locating the firepower needed The midfielder expects to be a target for down with neither side looking likely to Marseille v Lille 16:00 break the deadlock. Montpellier had scored season, would dearly love to be the manager to unlock a Premier League defence, even abuse from Sunderland’s travelling supporters, beIN SPORTS 5 HD celebrating at St James’ Park this weekend in a Newcastle’s which has conceded eight goals in but Pardew believes he will cope with the situ- seven goals in their previous two matches, Etienne v Gaillard 19:00 but seemed mostly content to play a con- beIN SPORTS 5 HD fixture he regards as one of the most heated in their two games. ation. “I have no worries about Jack Colback, I taining game and manager Rolland Courbis Bordeaux v Lyonnais 23:00 world football. Adam Johnson, one Sunderland player who think he’s handled himself impeccably since looked the happier at the final whistle as beIN SPORTS 5 HD “I’ve been lucky enough to play in cup finals, knows how to score at St James’ Park after the transfer,” Pardew said. —AFP