2023-12-07 08:05:40
Liverpool strengthens its position, Villa deepens City’s wounds, and United returns
Liverpool strengthened its position in second place in the English Football League by defeating its host Sheffield United, bottom of the standings, 2-0, on Wednesday, in the fifteenth round of competitions, which saw defending champion Manchester City lose to its host Aston Villa 0-1, and Manchester United’s difficult victory over its guest. Chelsea 2-1.
In the first match, Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (37) and Polish Dominik Soboszlai (90 + 4) scored Liverpool’s goals.
Liverpool advanced remarkably in the league standings (Archyde.com)
The Reds entered the match following narrowly escaping the trap of their guest, Fulham, last Sunday, when they turned a 2-3 deficit 10 minutes before the end into a crazy 4-3 victory.
Liverpool raised its score to 34 points in second place, two points ahead of leaders Arsenal, who narrowly won over Luton Town 4-3 on Tuesday at the opening of this stage’s competitions, and also two points ahead of Aston Villa, who snatched third place from City, which fell to fourth, ahead of Tottenham and United in fifth place. The sixth in a row with 27 points each.
Sheffield played its due role a day following abandoning its coach, Paul Heckingbottom (46 years old), and hiring Chris Wilder once more.
Heckingbottom became the first coach to lose his position this season in the league, following Sheffield achieved only one victory in the 14 matches it played before facing Liverpool.
Sheffield almost opened the scoring 12 minutes following the starting whistle, but Liverpool’s Irish goalkeeper Caomin Kelleher blocked James McAtee’s attempt following a counterattack.
Liverpool responded by taking possession of the ball, and Van Dijk was able to score following a corner kick that arrived inside the area, followed by a shot at Al-Tayer with his right foot in the goal (37).
Liverpool tried to settle the score early in the second half, and had a dangerous opportunity through its Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah, but the latter’s shot was successfully blocked by Sheffield goalkeeper Wesley Foderingham (56).
German Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool coach, made substitutions with the aim of disrupting the attacking efforts, bringing in Uruguayan Darwin Nunes and Harvey Elliott, instead of Colombian Luis Dias and Salah (67).
Nunes almost added the second goal following a perfect pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold put him facing the goalkeeper, but the latter saved with his foot (77).
While the match was taking its last breath, Liverpool scored the reassuring goal following Nunes stole the ball and passed it to Soboslaj, alone with the Sheffield goalkeeper, and he shot into the net (90 + 4).
Haaland did not perform as expected today (EBA)
Manchester City continued its poor performances, failing for the fourth consecutive match to achieve victory, losing to Aston Villa 0-1, following three draws once morest Chelsea 4-4, Liverpool 1-1, and Tottenham 3-3.
The only goal of the match was scored by Jamaican Leon Bailey (74).
Aston Villa continued its performances this season, as it did not lose in its last four matches (3 wins versus a draw) and imposed itself as a serious competitor for a ticket in the Champions League next season.
Aston Villa played a great match and outperformed its rival in several periods, specifically in the first half, where it was the most dangerous side, and the referee canceled a goal for it in the 45th minute by Brazilian player Douglas Luiz due to the ball leaving the field during the attack.
The home team scored the winning goal before the final quarter of an hour following an individual effort from Bailly, who shot a powerful ball that bounced off the foot of Portuguese defender Ruben Diash into the goal (74).
Man United achieved a valuable victory (AP)
Manchester United regained the winning tone following falling in the last round at the hands of Newcastle 0-1, and surpassed its guest Chelsea 2-1.
Scot Scott McTominay starred in the ranks of the Red Devils, scoring two goals (19 and 69) following Portuguese Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty kick at the beginning of the match (9), while the Blues’ goal was scored by Cole Palmer (45).
Chelsea’s balance froze at 19 points in tenth place.
Dutch coach Eric Ten Hag’s team had the worst possible start to the match following Fernandes missed a penalty kick 9 minutes following the starting whistle, which the referee awarded following a mistake by Argentine Enso Fernandes on Brazilian Anthony.
United succeeded in opening the scoring through McTominay with a shot from inside the penalty area (19), but Chelsea equalized before the end of the first half following a shot from Palmer in the far right corner (45).
In the second half, McTominay once once more rose to the position of savior and scored the winning goal with a header following a cross pass from Argentine Alejandro Garnacho (69).
Bournemouth beat Crystal Palace 2-0, and Brighton beat Brentford 2-1.
Brighton raised its score to 25 points in eighth place, while Brentford is in eleventh place with 19 points.
Fulham defeated Nottingham Forest 5-0, with Nigerian Alex Iwobi (30th and 74th), Mexican Raul Jimenez (34th and 54th) and Scottish Tom Cairney (86th) taking turns scoring.
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#deserved #lose #Aston #Villa