SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2014 Sigurdsson strike sees Swansea past Villa Swansea 1 Aston Villa 0 SWANSEA: Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson delivered the goal that earned Swansea a 1-0 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium yesterday. Swansea manager Gary Monk made four changes from the side that beat Hull by the same scoreline last weekend. Top scorer Wilfried Bony returned after being left on the bench against Hull, and also back after injury were Sigurdsson and Jefferson Montero. Monk’s Aston Villa counterpart Paul Lambert was able to field Gabriel Agbonlahor after his successful appeal against the red card he picked up in the draw with Manchester United last time out. Alan Hutton and Tom Cleverley were back after suspension. With heavy rain falling at the Liberty Stadium, Tottenham import Sigurdsson sent Swansea into a 13th minute lead, his free-kick narrowly escaping the clutches of Villa’s keeper Brad Guzan on the American’s 100th appearance for the club. Villa were downed 4-1 on their last visit to the Liberty in April and in a bid to shake up his attack Lambert sent on strik- er Andreas Weimann to replace left-back Aly Cissokho for the second half And in the 62nd minute he forced Swansea ‘keep- er Lukasz Fabianski into saving his left-footed shot from the right of the box. Down at the other end, Sigurdsson almost turned provider, presenting Ki Sung-yueng with a chance to put Swansea further ahead but the South Korean sliced his shot wide. In stoppage time, Christian Benteke almost nicked an equaliser, his header from the centre of the box only denied by good work from Fabianski. The win pushed Swansea up a place into seventh, with Villa slipping a spot into LONDON: Burnley’s Ashley Barnes (right) holds off Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva during their English Premier League soccer match at Turf Moor. — AP 13th. — AFP Sterling sinks Burnley Stoke see off Everton The last time Liverpool had visited the ball frequently had Liverpool on Everton 0 Turf Moor, in 2010, a facile 4-0 win the back foot and Ashley Barnes and Burnley 0 confirmed Burnley’s relegation back George Boyd both threatened with to the Championship at the first time efforts that went over the top. of asking. Liverpool had offered little at the But this time around, the other end, despite the darting runs of Stoke 1 Liverpool 1 Lancashire club look far better Sterling, and it should have been the equipped to handle the top flight and home side who led at the break. in striker Danny Ings have a potential Scott Arfield went close when his LIVERPOOL: Everton slumped to back-to-back Premier League BURNLEY: Raheem Sterling scored star in the making. goal-bound volley was diverted just defeats for the first time this season as Stoke City came away with a 1- the winner as Liverpool won 1-0 at The England Under-21 internation- wide following a corner via a vital toe 0 win at Goodison Park yesterday. al was instrumental in a dominant from Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva. Having been humbled 3-1 at Southampton last Saturday, Everton Burnley yesterday to end a three- game winless run and keep their first-half performance by Sean Dyche’s Rodgers made a change at the start were hoping to bounce back and make up ground on the top five, side, as Liverpool were made to look of the second half, but did not alter but a 38th minute penalty from Bojan Krkic sealed all three points for opponents in the Premier League rele- coach Mark Hughes on a return to one of his former clubs. gation zone. nothing like a team heading back in his formation, as midfielder Emre Can Bojan was fouled by James McCarthy and then stepped up to rifle It was a far from convincing per- the right direction. The three-man replaced Kolo Toure in the back three. home the spot-kick, right-footed into the bottom right-hand corner. formance by Brendan Rodgers’s side defence preferred by Rodgers in It did little to add any authority to A number of injury delays in a physical first-half on a miserably and the outcome was tough on a recent games was badly exposed, par- Liverpool’s performance, but in cold, wet day on Merseyside led to almost 10 minutes being added Burnley team who lost at home for the ticularly down Liverpool’s left side, Sterling they always have a potential on, but Stoke showed no sign of relinquishing their advantage, first time in five outings. where Mamadou Sakho and Lazar match-winner. despite Everton having the lion’s share of possession. But the result was all that mattered Markovic, who looked out of place as The England international has not Martinez’s side remained unable to show much intensity after the for Liverpool, whose position of 10th a wing-back, were targeted time and done his talent justice with sufficient break, as Ross Barkley struck wide and Romelu Lukaku shot tamely to in the Premier League on Christmas time again. goals this season, but when his side goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. There was more tough tackling before the Day was their lowest since 1992. Liverpool also had to make an early needed him to deliver, he duly did. end, though, with Gareth Barry being booked for clattering Steven And it came thanks to Sterling, change in goal, with Simon Mignolet, From Philippe Coutinho’s lofted pass, Nzonzi and Stoke substitute Charlie Adam receiving the same punish- who, in the absence of the injured left out for the previous three games, Sterling sprinted away, rounded goal- ment for bringing down Kevin Mirallas. Daniel Sturridge and with the return- replacing the injured Brad Jones after keeper Tom Heaton, and finished The result brought Everton’s five-match unbeaten home run to an a quarter of an hour. calmly from a diminishing angle. end and stemmed the slide for Stoke, who had taken just four points ing Mario Balotelli being trusted only with a place on the bench, is currently Moments earlier, Jones had been Burnley must have feared such an from a possible 18 in their previous six games. only a spectator as Ings shot against outcome after not being able to Steven Naismith had a header cleared off the line, Kevin Mirallas being asked to lead Liverpool’s attack. the foot of a post. From virtually score themselves. Their last hope of passed up a decent-looking chance to equalise and Leighton Baines’ The 20-year-old had not scored in drive was parried by Asmir Begovic, but Everton struggled overall to the league since September, but his Mignolet’s first touch, the Belgium any reward disappeared when on- create much against a solid Stoke outfit. In an inconsistent season, superbly taken sixth goal of the sea- international allowed Ings to charge loan Manchester United defender Everton have now lost three times at home and won only one of their son, 17 minutes into the second half, down his attempted clearance, which Michael Keane headed into the side- last six league games. Roberto Martinez’s men slipped a place to 12th, at least edged Liverpool closer to the did little to help bring any calm to netting from a Kieran Trippier cross with Stoke - following only their second victory in seven matches - top-four place Rodgers believes they Rodgers’ jittery rearguard. following another mistake by replacing them in 11th. — AFP are still capable of securing. Burnley’s energy and clever use of Mignolet. — AFP.