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JOTA MAKES HISTORY AS LIVERPOOL THUMP LEICESTER
Liverpool were not derailed by an injury crisis as Jurgen Klopp’s men produced a commanding display to beat Leicester 3-0 and level on points with Premier League leaders Tottenham.
Klopp was missing seven first-team regulars through injury and top scorer Mohamed Salah due to a positive coronavirus test, but Liverpool still swept a team from Leicester that had started the weekend at the top of the table.
Jonny Evans ‘own goal was just a reward for the Reds’ brilliant start before Diogo Jota set a record start at Anfield.
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The Portuguese international became the first Liverpool player to score in his first four league games at home when he directed a perfect cross from Andy Robertson home.
Kasper Schmeichel on Leicester’s goal kept the score down as he made a series of stops in the second half, notably from Sadio Mane and Jota, while Evans had a lucky escape as the post prevented him from scoring a second own goal. .
Roberto Firmino thought that he had only been denied his third league goal in 24 games when the Brazilian’s shot went back to the post and his follow-up was cleared by Marc Albrighton with just 10 millimeters of the ball off the line.
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But Firmino completed a brilliant team performance by rising higher to find James Milner’s corner.
Another muscle injury suffered by Naby Keita was the only negative for Klopp on a night in which his team showed that they will not give up their title easily despite losing to center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez for the remainder of the season.
“They had something to prove,” said soccer legend Alan Shearer.
“No other club could have endured the amount of players as Liverpool did. It was as if there were no players outside. “
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has lost all three games against his former club and, as in the previous meeting between the teams, which Liverpool won 4-0 in December, the Foxes were shown the abyss they have. to save to become title contenders.
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Harvey Barnes blew a great opportunity for the visitors when he cut Jamie Vardy’s center at 1-0.
But at the end of a six-game winning streak, Leicester falls back to fourth place, two points off the top.
Liverpool paid tribute to former goalkeeper Ray Clemence, who died at 72 after a long battle with prostate cancer this week before kickoff.
Alisson Becker sported a replica of Clemence’s jersey from the 1981 European Cup final victory over Real Madrid in the warm-up, while former teammates Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush paid their respects from the stands.
And two of Liverpool’s best players also had the opportunity to show their appreciation for the current vintage, which surpassed a club record they set between 1978 and 1981, as Klopp’s men are now undefeated in 64 league games at Anfield. dating back to April 2017.
ESCAPE FROM THE ARSENAL WITH A DRAW DESPITE THE ‘IDIOTIC’ HELMET
Arsenal held on to a 0-0 draw in Leeds after Nicolas Pepe was sent off by a header from Ezgjan Alioski.
Pepe joined Arsenal for a deal worth $ A130 million, but has struggled to recover.
His senseless dismissal in the second half left Mikel Arteta’s team in trouble at Elland Road and they had to use their luck to escape with a point.
“It’s one of those if heads meet and you don’t move forward, you may be fine, but that little move towards Alioski,” Gary Neville said.
“He would never get away with it. They spent a long time without the ball in the first half, you can only imagine that it will get worse now for this Arsenal team.
“At the beginning he was not particularly good at the game, now he has left his team short, which is even worse.
“Now he has an agonizing 40 minutes in that locker room, hoping his teammates can get him out of trouble.”
Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler said the header was ‘idiotic’ and that Pepe ‘was disappointed’, according to talkSPORT.
“No [excuse], it’s unacceptable, ”Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports after the game.
Leeds hit the wood three times in the final stages, but failed to inflict a second straight loss on Arsenal, whose problems increased when Bukayo Saka limped off with a late injury.
Arsenal have won just one of their last five Premier League matches and are ranked 11th, while Leeds are 14th after their third straight winless game.
At the end of a week in which Arteta had to deal with a line in the training ground between Dani Ceballos and David Luiz, the Arsenal manager will be relieved that his team has shown some fighting spirit to keep Leeds at bay. .
Pepe had an early glimpse of the goal when the Ivory Coast winger stepped ahead of Luke Ayling for a cross shot that came off the bar.
Patrick Bamford tested Bernd Leno with a powerful volley, one of 13 shots Leeds made while dominating the first half without making the breakthrough.
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Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a rare opportunity in the center-forward role, but it was largely anonymous and has only scored two goals in his last nine games.
The Gunners were reduced to 10 men in the 51st minute when Pepe, frustrated by a previous confrontation with the Leeds player moments earlier, stuck his head in Alioski’s face and sent him rolling onto the grass.
Referee Anthony Taylor went to check the court monitor and showed Pepe a straight red.
Leeds substitute Rodrigo hit the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
Bamford also hit the wood with a header before Raphinha’s shot in injury time came back off a post to Arsenal’s relief.
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QUICK START EVERTON TAKES OFF TO VICTORY
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored after just 42 seconds as Everton ended their losing streak with a 3-2 win at Fulham.
Calvert-Lewin maintained his good form to put Carlo Ancelotti’s team ahead within a minute at Craven Cottage.
Bobby Decordova-Reid tied for Fulham, but England striker Calvert-Lewin scored again and Abdoulaye Doucoure got Everton’s third before the break.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek cut the deficit in the second half, but Everton held on to win for the first time in five league games.
After a three-game losing streak hurt their attempt to finish in the top four, Everton moved up to sixth place.
“The most important part of the game was winning again,” Ancelotti said.
“We lost energy in the second half, the players were tired. I changed to put more fresh legs on the field but we had to defend. In the end it turned out well ”.
Everton made the perfect start when Richarlison advanced into the Fulham area before passing a low cross Calvert-Lewin scored for the 12th goal of the season.
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Fulham leveled in the 15th minute when a Tom Cairney pass caught Decordova-Reid and released Yerry Mina to shoot.
Everton struck back when Calvert-Lewin scored again in the 29th minute from a Lucas Digne cross.
Digne was the provider once again in the 35th minute when his center was directed home by Doucoure.
Ben Godfrey gave away a penalty in the 68th minute with a stumble at Loftus-Cheek.
Ademola Lookman had shamefully missed from the spot against West Ham in Fulham’s previous game, so Ivan Cavaleiro stepped forward, but the winger slipped as he launched his kick and the ball flew high over the crossbar.
Loftus-Cheek got a lap in the 70th minute when he was met by Lookman’s pass with a shot that was deflected from Mina.
Fulham remain one place above the relegation zone after their third defeat in four games.
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SHEFFIELD’S WINTERLESS RACE CONTINUES
At the bottom of the table, Sheffield United are hoping for their first win this season after they were beaten 1-0 by West Ham at Bramall Lane.
Chris Wilder’s team has lost eight of its nine league games, breaking the feel-good factor after last season’s impressive first season in the top flight.
Sebastien Haller broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with his first goal since September.
When Pablo Fornals’ shot bounced off Haller outside the box, the Ivory Coast forward unleashed a fierce shot that crashed into the roof of the net.
It was Haller’s first goal from outside the box in 190 games in the Eredivisie, Bundesliga and Premier League combined.
Declan Rice headed against the bar as West Ham watched for a second, but Oli McBurnie was inches from equalizing when he slammed a left-handed shot into the wood.
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