ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Crystal Palace 1
Manchester City 3
LONDON • Manchester City will not let up. There was a period near the end when the Premier League champions endured something akin to pangs of anxiety as Crystal Palace pressed fitfully for an unlikely equaliser.
How Liverpool must have yearned for more wounds to be inflicted by City's hosts than Luka Milivojevic's free kick, belted inside the post nine minutes from time to halve the deficit at Selhurst Park.
As it was, City substitute Gabriel Jesus, collecting from Kevin de Bruyne on the counter, would slide a third goal inside Vicente Guaita's near post in stoppage time to seal a 3-1 win.
It was a win devoid of drama. It was a masterclass in the suffocation of a team by blanket possession and the perfect stroll, given City have a 1-0 deficit to overcome in the their Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham on Wednesday.
Said City manager Pep Guardiola, an avid golfer: "Now it's time to rest, take the bus, one ear to Liverpool-Chelsea and another for the Masters with Molinari-Woods."
Raheem Sterling, whose two goals had established City's dominance, was not certain he would watch former club and title rivals Reds, saying: "I'm hungry. I need to eat food - will see how it goes."
His form remains untouchable, his scuttling running full of menace. Palace, a team shorn of first-choice centre-halves and saddled by a dreadful home record, never came close to stifling his threat.
He had already scuffed a shot wide of a gaping net when found unmarked in front of goal by Ilkay Gundogan's pull-back.
Palace had been breathing a sigh of relief to have won a free kick in the visitors' half, only for the ball to be repelled and channelled up-field at such pace.
17Â
Leroy Sane has now registered 17 assists in all competitions this season, the outright most by any Premier League player in 2018-19.
De Bruyne, permitted to advance to the halfway line, slid through the sumptuous pass inside Patrick van Aanholt onto which Sterling sprinted. Scott Dann was in no position to overhaul the forward, with the finish dispatched emphatically across Guaita and high into the net.
Other chances were passed up, though the dominance was permanent. The German midfielder Gundogan had been imperious, dictating play in the absence of the injured Fernandinho, although the Brazilian should be fit for Spurs.
All that was missing was breathing space in the scoreline, which Sterling eventually supplied just after the hour.
Palace had been pulled out of position by the latest flurry of clipped passes and subtle movement, with Leroy Sane fizzing in a pass across goal which the forward, untracked by van Aanholt, side-footed first time with a thud of his boot across Guaita and into the far corner.
Sterling said the early glaring miss had not upset him unduly.
"When I was younger, you always want to score your first opportunity and sometimes it doesn't happen like that," he said. "You don't beat yourself up. There's 80 minutes left, you just have to be ready for the next opportunity."
He did not let up, even after the match, saying the title race will go down to the wire.
"100 per cent the way Liverpool have been playing," he told the BBC. "I don't see us slowing down now. Liverpool have a great squad, great self-belief, but so do we."
Guardiola told Sky Sports: "This pressure is incredible. We are fighting to be champions back to back.
"In two seasons, we've got 83 points with five games left. We've won two titles (Community Shield and League Cup) and now it's the FA Cup final."
THE GUARDIAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Football: Free curry fish head, bak chor mee for Liverpool
Atletico Madrid fell to their first La Liga defeat in five months as they were beaten 1-0 at Real Betis on Sunday, missing a golden chance to close the gap with leaders Barcelona and slipping six points adrift of the Catalans.
Atletico suffer defeat at Betis in Morata debut
Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Tottenham plan to trigger a one-year extension on Toby Alderweireld's contract. Alderweireld's current deal expires at the end of this season. By triggering the
Man City 1-0 West Ham: Sergio Aguero penalty, Man City one point behind leaders Liverpool Sergio Aguero's penalty gave champions Manchester City a slender win over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium
New chapter for Tottenham as stadium hosts first game
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz. 1 day ago. VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June
2019 Women's World Cup Live Updates: Australia vs. Italy
Football: Liverpool stun Barcelona 4-0 to reach Champions
Liverpool will benefit in the Premier League because of their win, says Tim Sherwood (Pic: SKY SPORTS) "It wasn't about the 29 years and winning the Premier League, they are probably sick of hearing it now, we all are.
Bayern vs Liverpool: Reds won't sacrifice Champions League
Read ⠀⠀026; A QUEEN IN THE MAKING from the story 𝑰𝑴𝑨𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑬. 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘭. by NASASTAN (𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒂) with
Adam Lambert Isn't Interested In Making New Queen Music
Noh meaning in Urdu: جاپان کا روایتی ڈراما جِس میں رقص اور موسیقی بھی شامل ہوتی ہے - Japan ka riwayati drama jiss mein raqs aur moseeqi bhi shaamil hoti hai meaning, Definition Synonyms at English to Urdu dictionary gives you the best and accurate urdu translation and meanings of Noh and Japan ka riwayati drama jiss mein raqs aur moseeqi bhi
8 Fun Corporate Team-Building Activities In Singapore Even
Qatar has stunned Japan and the football world to win a historic Asian Cup crown. Football world in shock over insane Asian Cup boilover. North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Korea, the
2019 Asian Cup: Son aims to continue golden period with South
Football: Hougang United seek Fifa resolution after new signing Rafael Ramazotti quits and joins Mexican club Feb 8, 2019, 12:05 am Subscribe to The Straits Times
Fifa News from Singapore, Latest Fifa News from Singapore
news.trendingnews.co.in/singapore/fifa
Get the Fifa News from Singapore, Latest Fifa News from Singapore, Trending Fifa News from Singapore, Current Fifa News From Singapore on trendingnews.co.in. Grab exclusive coverage on breaking national news, current politics, regional and educational news with trending now, most popular from Singapore.
2019 Hougang United FC season - Wikipedia
The balls that I missed I put 100% into. "I did have chances in the decider. All you ask for is one opportunity and I had plenty, so that's the most disappointing thing.
McGeeney rues missed Orchard chances in replay defeat - bbc.co.uk
Home » News » Sports » Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic. Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic. On April 30, 2019 11:59 pm In Sports by adekunle Comments.
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic | Aaj News
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen