லிவர்பூல் அதிரடி முகம்: ஃபுல்ஹாமை முதல் லெக்கில் 2-1 வெற்றியை அடைந்துவிட்டது

 

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லிவர்பூல் தனது கராபோ கோப்பை அரையிறுதியின் முதல் லெக்கில் ஃபுல்ஹாமுக்கு எதிராக 2-1 என்ற கோல் கணக்கில் வெற்றி பெற்றது. வில்லியனை கோல் அடிக்க விர்ஜில் வான் டிஜ்க்கின் பிழை காரணமாக ஆரம்பத்தில் பின்தங்கிய போதிலும், லிவர்பூல் இரண்டாவது பாதியில் தங்கள் தாளத்தைக் கண்டறிந்தது.

கர்டிஸ் ஜோன்ஸ் திசைதிருப்பப்பட்ட நீண்ட தூர முயற்சியுடன் ஸ்கோரை சமன் செய்தார், வேகத்தை லிவர்பூலுக்கு சாதகமாக மாற்றினார். மாற்று வீரர்களான டார்வின் நுனெஸ் மற்றும் கோடி காக்போ ஆகியோர் இணைந்து மென்மையாய் இரண்டாவது கோலைப் போட்டபோது, மூன்று நிமிட இடைவெளியில் திருப்பம் நிறைவடைந்தது.

மொஹமட் சலா மற்றும் காயமடைந்த ட்ரெண்ட் அலெக்சாண்டர்-அர்னால்ட் இல்லாதது ஆரம்ப பரிமாற்றங்களில் லிவர்பூலின் ஆதிக்கத்தை தடுக்கவில்லை. இருப்பினும், ஃபுல்ஹாம் வில்லியன் ஒரு சிறந்த கோல் மூலம் பார்வையாளர்களை ஆச்சரியப்படுத்தினார். லிவர்பூல் அமைதியை மீட்டெடுக்க போராடியது, வான் டிஜ்க் மஞ்சள் அட்டையைப் பெற்று மேலும் தண்டனையை எதிர்கொண்டார்.

ஃபுல்ஹாமின் கச்சிதமான பாதுகாப்பு சவாலானது, ஆனால் லிவர்பூல் இரண்டாவது பாதியில் மேம்பட்டது. ஃபுல்ஹாம் தங்கள் முன்னிலையை இரட்டிப்பாக்கும் வாய்ப்பை இழந்த போதிலும், லிவர்பூல் அந்த வாய்ப்பைப் பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டது, ஜோன்ஸ் மற்றும் காக்போ முக்கிய கோல்களைப் பெற்றனர்.

இந்த வெற்றி ஜனவரி 24 அன்று க்ராவன் காட்டேஜில் நடைபெறும் இரண்டாவது லெக்கில் லிவர்பூலுக்கு ஒரு கோல் நன்மையை அளிக்கிறது. ஜூர்கன் க்ளோப்பின் அணி இந்த சீசனில் நான்கு கோப்பைகளை தொடரும் பாதையில் உள்ளது. இரண்டாவது லெக்கில் வெற்றி பெறும் அணி கராபோ கோப்பை இறுதிப் போட்டியில் மிடில்ஸ்பரோ அல்லது செல்சியை எதிர்கொள்ளும்.

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Liverpool's Thrilling 2-1 Comeback Against Fulham in Carabao Cup Semis

 

Liverpool staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 2-1 victory against Fulham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. Despite falling behind early due to a Virgil van Dijk error that allowed Willian to score, Liverpool found their rhythm in the second half.

Curtis Jones leveled the score with a deflected long-range effort, turning the momentum in Liverpool's favor. The turnaround was completed in a three-minute span when substitutes Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo combined for a slick second goal.

The absence of Mohamed Salah and the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold didn't hinder Liverpool's dominance in the early exchanges. However, Fulham surprised the visitors with a well-taken goal by Willian. Liverpool struggled to regain composure, with Van Dijk receiving a yellow card and risking further punishment.

Fulham's compact defense proved challenging, but Liverpool improved in the second half. Despite Fulham missing a chance to double their lead, Liverpool capitalized on the opportunity, with Jones and Gakpo securing the crucial goals.

The victory gives Liverpool a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg at Craven Cottage on January 24. Jurgen Klopp's side remains on track in their pursuit of four trophies this season. The winner of the second leg will face either Middlesbrough or Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final.

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Arsenal Move to 3rd Place

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Arsenal vs Everton

Arsenal2VEverton0

• FT 90' +8
• HT 1-0

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUEDate: Sunday, 1st MarchKick off: 14:05 GMTVenue: Emirates Stadium

Key events

• ArsenalGoalGiroud 39'
• ArsenalGoalRosicky 89'

CloseMatch details

Olivier Giroud's opener was his ninth goal in 13 matches

• Arsenal bounce back from Champions League defeat
• Giroud scores fourth goal in four matches
• Wenger's side record third straight league win
• Everton six points above the bottom three

Olivier Giroud rewarded manager Arsene Wenger's support with a goal as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 to climb back to third place in the Premier League.

Wenger kept the striker in his starting line-up even though he missed several chances duringWednesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat by Monaco.

Giroud volleyed in Mesut Ozil's corner six minutes before half-time.

Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Arsene Wenger happy with Gunners' response

Everton's Romelu Lukaku was denied by keeper David Ospina before Tomas Rosicky's late goal sealed the win.

The visitors were the better side for most of the second half but struggled to create clear chances, aside from Lukaku's near-post shot from Ross Barkley's cross, which Ospina tipped over brilliantly.

Roberto Martinez's side once again failed to transfer impressive European results to the Premier League, in which they have taken 11 points from their last 15 matches and could yet be dragged into a relegation battle.

Yet they could justifiably claim to have deserved something from the match against an Arsenal side who wobbled to victory.

Giroud's selection proved pivotal to that win, as did Wenger's decision to give centre-back Gabriel Paulista a first Premier League start in place of the out-of-form Per Mertesacker.

Gabriel was shaky at first, misjudging a long clearance and allowing Lukaku to get in behind him, with Ospina racing from his line to pat the ball clear.

But the Brazilian defender won applause from the home fans for a perfectly timed challenge as Everton's Belgium striker threatened to tear through and score eight minutes before half-time.

Everton were unlucky - Roberto Martinez

That lifted an Arsenal side who had been ponderous for the opening 35 minutes, and they were soon ahead.

Giroud, who had earlier planted a header wide from eight yards out, found a few inches of space inside a crowded penalty area to turn a lovely low volley into the corner of the net from Ozil's corner.

Arsenal had to survive a significant spell of Everton pressure after half-time, but aside from Lukaku's effort, the only chance came when substitute Aaron Lennon steered Seamus Coleman's low cross straight at Ospina.

Wenger's side did finish strongly, and only a magnificent saving tackle by Phil Jagielka stopped Ozil scoring from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's through-pass.

Rosicky eased the jitters of the home fans with a shot that was deflected past keeper Tim Howard by the unlucky Jagielka.

Olivier Giroud was defended in the match programme by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Giroud has scored nine Premier League goals for Arsenal this season

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Liverpool beat Manchester City, Near to Champions League spot

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Liverpool vs Manchester City

Liverpool2VMan City1

• FT 90' +4
• HT 1-1

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUEDate: Sunday, 1st MarchKick off: 12:00 GMTVenue: Anfield

Key events

• LiverpoolGoalHenderson 11'
• Manchester CityGoalDzeko 25'
• LiverpoolGoalCoutinho 75'

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Philippe Coutinho scored a stunning winner as Liverpool dented Manchester City's Premier League title defence with a narrow victory at Anfield.

Jordan Henderson's curling effort put the Reds ahead before Edin Dzeko finished off a slick move to equalise.

But Brazil midfielder Coutinho capped a fine display with the decisive goal when he struck from 25 yards.

The result leaves City five points behind Chelsea having played a game extra, while Liverpool move to fifth.

Liverpool's 3-2 victory in this fixture last Aprilwas seen as a pivotal moment for the Reds in last season's title charge, although ultimately it was City that went on to win the Premier League a month later.

With current league leaders Chelsea in League Cup final action against Tottenham, City manager Manuel Pellegrini had underlined the importance of this match and the need for his side to "keep fighting" in the title race.

City made a two-point gain on Chelsea last weekend but they were unable to make up further ground on Jose Mourinho's side after Coutinho scored the winning goal against them at Anfield for the second consecutive season.

For Liverpool, it kept their unbeaten record league in 2015 and having taken 26 points from a possible 30 momentum appears to be building in their bid to finish in one of the Champions League places.

Liverpool only arrived back at 4.30am on Friday following their penalty shootout defeat by Besiktas in the Europa League last week, and despite the physical toils of their travels Rodgers felt his players would be "mentally ready"(external) to face City.

They showed few signs of tiredness, although it was Coutinho, rested for last week's trip to Istanbul, who was at the heart of Liverpool's attacking play.

Coutinho's sharpness helped Liverpool take an 11th-minute lead when he stole the ball off Vincent Kompany, making his 200th league appearance for City, and Raheem Sterling slipped the ball out wide to Henderson.

The England midfielder, who wore the Liverpool captain's armband in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, cut inside onto his favoured right foot and curled a stunning shot past Joe Hart and into the top right corner of the net.

The goal brought greater urgency to City's play and they almost equalised when Sergio Aguero latched on to David Silva's through ball only for the Argentine forward's shot to rebound off the post.

City got themselves on level terms before the half-hour mark with a slick move that culminated in Aguero's clever pass into the area for Dzeko, and the Bosnia forward clinically dispatched a low shot past Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.

Aguero headed over from a dangerous position shortly after half-time, while Liverpool's Adam Lallana had the ball in the net again when he glanced in a free-kick only for the officials to judge he did so from an offside position.

Coutinho always seemed Liverpool's most likely source of another goal and delivered the telling blow with a strike akin to the quality of the one he scored in their 2-0 win against Southamptonlast Sunday.

The playmaker jinked in from the left flank and curled a spectacular shot past Hart and into the top-right corner of the net in front of the Kop.

Jordan Henderson also scored his first league goal against Manchester City, for Sunderland in 2009

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany made his 200th Premier League appearance for the club at Anfield

Edin Dzeko now has four goals in the Premier League for City this season

Philippe Coutinho scored the winning goal in Liverpool's 3-2 victory over City last season

Brendan Rodgers has now won two and lost two of his four encounters with Manuel Pellegrini

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English Premier League Week 26 Schedule

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