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Injuries add to VAR insults: Liverpool could pay a heavy price for Mersey derby madness
3:08
Where to start? Four goals, a fifth in injury time that should have been, a red card that definitely was, another that it surely was but somehow it was not, a landmark, a majestic Dominic Calvert-Lewin leap once again, and throughout it more confusion conceived by Stockley Park.
Jurgen Klopp was infuriated by Jordan Pickford’s dismissal and then by the computer-generated line that inexplicably deemed Sadio Mane offside. So he was in no mood to talk about Mo Salah and neither, he revealed, did the man who joined the Reds’ 100 club saw the achievement overshadowed on a turbulent afternoon.
It should not be like that. Salah’s left foot to overtake Liverpool was a typically instinctive way to further cement his legacy. Only two players, Roger Hunt and Jack Parkinson, have reached the milestone in fewer than the Egyptian’s 159 games (all competitions) with Liverpool and their overall performance was one of several that will please their coach when the fog has cleared.
Thiago’s was another. In his full debut, he commanded midfield with grace and precision, and that no-looking reverse ball slipped into Mane’s path deserved not to slide into insignificance when he looked at it and the calculation points took over. But Richarlison’s reckless challenge to the Spaniard may have major consequences.
“It doesn’t look good,” the coach said after the whistle, and the same initial forecast was delivered for Virgil van Dijk after Pickford hit his knees with just 10 minutes left.
Not long after the Dutchman left the league early for the first time since September 2018, Michael Keane rose in a corner, wicked by James Rodriguez, with the kind of ease that Van Dijk rarely offers. Klopp, who lost Alisson to a shoulder injury, will not want long to lose the man whose influence extends beyond the tangible.
After that aberration against Aston Villa, this was a Liverpool performance of quality and purpose, but six games are ahead in 21 days, a grueling period that ended with trips to Ajax and Manchester City, and with injuries added to the insult of the VAR, Klopp faces an anxious wait. key men.
Kate burlaga
Aguero’s victory and return provide a timely boost for Man City
Sergio Agüero is substituted in the second half
It was a bold move by Pep Guardiola to include Sergio Agüero early on against Arsenal after the forward had spent so much time on the sidelines, but it was a timely return for City, especially with a congested schedule and long-term doubts. around the aptitude of Gabriel Jesús.
The Argentine had not played since injuring his knee on June 22, but it was as if he had never been out. In his 65 minutes on the field, he played a key role in City’s victory and was a constant threat to Arsenal in what was a performance full of effort and quality.
And his manager was delighted to have him back on the field. “We are very happy with Sergio Agüero, he was out for four months but he’s a guy who needs rhythms. I’m so happy for him that he’s back.”
Raheem Sterling, the winner of the City match, was also pleased to have the forward on the field alongside him. “We haven’t been as fluent this season but in the last two games we have shown that fluency is returning and it’s great to keep up the momentum,” said the England international.
“When Sergio is on the field, you know there can be a goal at any time. It is vital to help us compete on all fronts and it’s great to have him back.”
“We are incredibly happy. It is four months so he is still below his condition, but we have 60 minutes and that is good. On Wednesday we have another match, so it is important because we need his goals and his performances.”
Games are fast approaching for City with the Champions League resuming this week, and Aguero will have to be handled very carefully as City looks to get him back to match sharpness.
But with their all-time leading scorer back, the defense putting on a solid display and the win over the Gunners helping to put their bad start behind them, things are starting to look up for Guardiola and his team.
Oliver Yew
Fights continue in the ‘big six’ to improve Arsenal
2:56
The wait continues for Arsenal.
The Gunners have not only lost each of their last seven league games against Manchester City, but have now been winless in their last 29 Premier League away games against opponents from the ‘big six’ (D10 L19) since the 2-0 win at City in January 2015..
However, there are still signs of progression from Mikel Arteta’s side, which showed improvement since their 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium in June.
They were solid on defense for much of the game and City had to show real quality moments to break through the Gunners defense. They also had a chance to get something out of the game, and were it not for two superb saves by Ederson, one to deny the impressive Bukayo Saka and the other to keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at bay, they may have had a result.
1:36
In the end, Arteta was disappointed with his return to the Etihad. “It saddens me not to get anything out of the game,” said the Spaniard. “I felt like we kept growing and growing, believing more that we could achieve something. I am proud of the way we play individually and collectively. It is not easy to produce a performance in a stadium like that. We need everything to go right. Way to get one. victory here. The three or four chances you need to eliminate them. “
There is a process at Arsenal and there will be some bumps along the way, but despite the loss, the Gunners showed they are still on the right track under Arteta.
Oliver Yew
Everton takes fighting qualities to the limit
Dominic Calvert-Lewin topped the Everton level
Without local representation, there were questions about whether Carlo Ancelotti’s rejuvenated Everton could bring much-needed intensity back to the Merseyside derby. Their last encounter against Liverpool in June was a dismal goalless draw in which both teams each managed just three shots on goal and the visitors had 70 percent possession.
And while Everton couldn’t end their decade-long winless drought against their neighbors, the way they fought twice to earn a point delighted their coach.
“We could have won, drawn or lost,” Ancelotti said afterward. “The performance was good because we wanted to compete and in the end we did very well, in good spirits. When we were depressed, we never lost confidence and we had opportunities to move forward with Richarlison hitting the post. I am very satisfied.” .
“When you concede a goal, you always have to defend better and we have to defend better in certain situations, but against Liverpool it is very difficult. They maintain a high intensity in the field, but we compete well.”
A perceived mental block has previously been debated, but this is a renewed Everton entering the derby for the first time since September 1989 at the top of the table. After several tame renovations, the ferocity returned here when Richarlison saw red with a wild challenge on Thiago: Everton’s record 15th place against rivals in a Premier League match.
It came after Virgil van Dijk had limped off in the first half with a knee injury inflicted by Jordan Pickford, and while Liverpool stayed behind to count the injured, Everton will take comfort in their efforts against rivals from the city. Ancelotti spoke of how the derby would test his team’s mettle, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin joining their scoring run at the start of the season, they emerged from their toughest challenge still undefeated, providing one more indication of progress. that is being achieved with the Italian.
Ben grounds
Werner creates something out of nothing
2:57
The murmurs grew louder. If Timo Werner had gone another 90 minutes without scoring in the Premier League, the questions would have come.
Are you struggling to settle down? Can he keep up with the Premier League? Are you playing in the correct position?
But within half an hour of Chelsea’s 3-3 draw with Southampton, Werner had laid all of that to bed.
They may not have achieved the desired end result, but Werner’s performance on Saturday will bring excitement to Chelsea fans. It’s clear that the 24-year-old is a match winner.
His two goals were made by himself. The first came from a mannequin quite sublime to leave Jan Bednarek in quicksand, before overcoming a couple of challenges and choosing the perfect moment to shoot through a packed penalty area.
The second was pure confidence. This time he got Bednarek’s side of goal in the conventional way with a smart run, before getting a chance to lift him over Alex McCarthy and head into an empty net.
Werner was racing all afternoon, helped in part by pressure from Southampton and the higher-than-usual line, and didn’t stay in one position. In fact, all four of Chelsea’s forwards were free to roam where they saw fit.
Goals aside, Werner displayed good team ethics in his game, happy to go for a more sensible option rather than bursting the ball into the box. He achieved a team-highest 91 percent success rate with his 22 passes, one of which was made by Kai Havertz’s goal in the second half after another run behind.
Brand Gerard
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