THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 SPORTS Suarez puts Liverpool back on track Liverpool 2 Hull 0 LIVERPOOL: Luis Suarez fired Liverpool back into the Premier League’s top four as the Reds returned to form with a 2-0 victory against Hull yesterday. Brendan Rodgers’ team had lost their previous two matches against title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, but they were able to put those disappointing results behind them thanks to the continued excellence of Uruguay forward Suarez. Reds defender Daniel Agger headed his side into the lead in the first half before Suarez SWANSEA: Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony and Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany sealed the victory in the 50th minute with (left) jump for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match yester- another superb free-kick to add to his ever- day. —AP growing collection of stunning goals this season. Suarez’s 20th goal of the campaign ensured Liverpool climbed back above local rivals Everton into fourth place. Hull may have Man City show LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez (second left) scores but the goal is disal- thought their victory over the Reds just four lowed as he is ruled offside during the English Premier League football match between weeks ago at the KC Stadium gave them a Liverpool and Hull City yesterday.—AFP chance of starting 2014 with a shock win at title credentials Anfield. It was Steve Bruce’s side who did threat- missed the ball only for Maynor Figueroa to then and he brushed himself down before curling a en first as Yannick Sagbo fired over from dis- fail miserably with a goal-line clearance. Hull had powerful free-kick into the top corner. Hull boss coming into the game memories were still tance, but his wastefulness would prove to be managed to contain the hosts but after the goal Bruce made three changes soon after, bringing fresh of their 3-0 defeat in the reverse fix- costly considering Hull’s lack of opportunities. their defense looked ragged and out of sorts. on forwards Matty Fryatt, Danny Graham and Man City 3 ture last month. Injuries to key players The Reds thought they had the lead in the Henderson should have doubled Liverpool’s George Boyd in a bid to get something from the Michu, Michel Vorm and Nathan Dyer did 19th minute when Suarez rose to head in lead as a well-worked move between Coutinho game but with little service, they were strug- not help their cause against the league’s Philippe Coutinho’s free-kick, yet the assistant and Iago Aspas put the former Sunderland mid- gling for opportunities as Liverpool continued to most impressive array of talent. City started referee had his flag raised and the television fielder in, only for him to slide the ball wide with dominate possession. Swansea 2 brightly and made their superiority tell in replays suggested the striker was marginally off- McGregor diving the wrong way. The game cer- When a chance did present itself, it fell to the 14th minute when Fernandinho, left side. Soon after Raheem Sterling perhaps should tainly could have been over before the break but defender Curtis Davies and from 20 yards he unmarked on the edge of the area from a have given his side the opener when Suarez Coutinho was the culprit this time as despite delivered a shot befitting of a centre half as it corner, drilled home with a raking low cleverly nodded the ball into his path, but after sublime control to take down Henderson’s pass, bobbled harmlessly wide. Suarez would have a LONDON: The goals continued to flow for drive. racing clear the winger could only shoot straight he could not find the target. late free-kick from distance that he ballooned Manchester City who subdued a spirited They took their foot off the gas, howev- at the on-rushing Allan McGregor in the Hull Suarez, who had been slightly below his best into the famous Kop stand behind the goal Swansea City 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium er, as the rain lashed down in south Wales, goal. Liverpool’s opener eventually arrived in the against City and Chelsea, announced his return which brought good-natured jeers from the yesterday to move top of the Premier allowing Swansea to claw a foothold in the 36th minute as Coutinho’s corner was met by to peak form with a simply sublime goal five home faithful. Coutinho’s run at the end almost League. Second-half strikes from Yaya Toure game and equalize in first-half stoppage Agger. minutes after the interval. The striker was fouled brought a third, but McGregor pushed away his and Aleksandar Kolarov after Swansea’s time. Bony, who looked to be in an offside Jordan Henderson attempted to divert it but about 25 yards out from goal by James Chester shot to deny the Brazilian.—AFP Wilfried Bony had cancelled out position, got between Vincent Kompany Fernandinho’s early opener helped City and Pablo Zabaleta to head home an Angel record their fifth consecutive Premier Rangel cross. At that point it looked as if League win. City’s suspect away form, having already Villa end their Bony grabbed a stoppage-time consola- lost four times on the road, may come back tion and his second of the match with a to haunt them, but nerves were steadied skidding drive into the bottom corner, but with a typically emphatic strike from mid- winless run 1-0 there was to be no dramatic rescue for field powerhouse Toure. Swansea who are now without a win in six He picked up the ball on the edge of SUNDERLAND: Premier League games. City moved to the the box and spun away from two defend- Aston Villa started top of the table with 44 points from 20 ers before firing low into the bottom cor- the New Year with a Sunderland 0 games, two clear of Arsenal who can retake ner, a moment of quality that framed the much-needed win, the lead with victory at home to Cardiff City difference between the two sides. City’s beating Sunderland later. Manchester City, who have now third had an element of good fortune 1-0 at the Stadium of recorded back-to-back away league wins about it as Kolarov’s powerful strike from Light thanks to Aston Villa 1 for the first time this season, have taken 25 the edge of the area, after a lung-busting Gabriel Agbonlahor’s points from their last 27 and scored 57 burst forward down the left flank, found early strike. goals in the opening 20 games to lay down the net due to poor keeping from Gerhard Agbonlahor pounced a marker in the congested tussle at the top Tremmel. Bony, by far Swansea’s most on poor defending to give Villa the lead and the visitors threatening player on the day, smacked of the table. then held on to end a run of five games without a win Swansea’s home form has been their home a skidding drive that seemed to pick up pace of the slippery turf, but there was and inflict a first defeat in six matches in all competi- Achilles heel this season, having recorded tions on the home side. Gus Poyet’s Sunderland remain only two wins at the Liberty Stadium, and to be no dramatic finale. — Reuters bottom of the table and see the gap to safety increase to four points, while Villa rise to 11th with a victory that eases some of the pressure on manager Paul Lambert. Berbatov boost The visitors were looking to continue their good recent record against Sunderland, with whom they drew 0-0 at Villa Park in late November, and Fulham survival Sunderland’s hopes of extending their impressive fes- LONDON: Crystal Palace’s Damien Delaney (left) is challenged by Norwich City’s tive period form were not helped by the absence of sev- Leroy Fer and Sebastien Bassong during their English Premier League soccer match eral key performers. Defensive duo John O’Shea and Berbatov strayed offside and the result- yesterday. —AP ant free-kick was floated long into the box Wes Brown were absent while both Fabio Borini and Fulham 2 where Diame was given the time and Adam Johnson were only on the bench having been space to pick his spot and stab the ball Palace drop back pre-match doubts, and while Sunderland started home. Fulham almost drew level when brightly, poor defending saw them gift Villa the opener Modibo Maiga nodded Fernando with a quarter-of-an-hour played. West Ham 1 Amorebieta’s header off the line and the into bottom three Lee Cattermole was caught out after Valentin equalizer eventually arrived in the 32nd Roberge attempted a pass across defense and minute. Damien Duff took a corner and stages, but had little to show for their Agbonlahor pounced to round goalkeeper Vito Sidwell, arriving late with a good run, pow- LONDON: Dimitar Berbatov dragged efforts before they fell behind shortly Mannone and put Villa into the lead with his second ered in the header. Crystal Palace 1 Fulham out of the Premier League relega- before half-time. goal in as many games. Villa captain Ron Vlaar then tion zone as the Bulgarian’s second half The awful weather further deteriorated Norwich went in front in the 38th goal clinched a crucial 2-1 win over fellow- but the rain failed to dim Fulham’s endeav- deflected a goal-bound shot from Jack Colback behind minute from their first real attack as Wes for a corner as Sunderland toiled, despite monopolising strugglers West Ham yesterday.