ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City 1
Tottenham Hotspur 0
LONDON • Revenge might not be exactly the right word, given that the European dimension of Manchester City's quadruple attempt was probably the one that mattered most to them.
But Pep Guardiola will have been satisfied with the reaction his players showed after the draining events of last Wednesday evening, which saw them exit the Champions League, with Spurs prevailing on away goals despite a 4-3 defeat.
The City manager had confessed he had no idea how his side may be affected by such a cruel late setback, with Raheem Sterling thinking he had scored the winner only to see his goal chalked off by the video assistant referee.
However, they gave one of their more solid performances of the season to take three points from a gutsy and resolute Spurs team to move back to the top of the Premier League table yesterday.
Guardiola admitted his relief that "the title is still in our hands as we could have lost the Premier League today".
He told BBC Sport: "It was a real tough game after our mental defeat on Wednesday. The last two days have been really tough for us."
This was not City at their fluent, most incisive best, but Liverpool and Manchester United will still have been impressed after their 10th league win in a row - the best run by any team this season.
As their nearest challengers for the title, Jurgen Klopp's Reds are well aware of the difficulty of grinding out results against stubborn opponents at this stage of the season.
And United, who host City next on Wednesday, will find it challenging to defend for 90 minutes as well as Spurs did after Phil Foden's fifth-minute opener.
Realistically, the third meeting of these sides within a fortnight was never going to live up to the breathless excitement of midweek, but both teams deserve credit for producing professional performances after their exertions in Europe.
The only drawback from City's point of view was the sight of Kevin de Bruyne limping off before the break, though they have prospered without the influential Belgium midfielder for much of the term and appear equipped to do so again.
Bernardo Silva is one of the less celebrated names on the six-man shortlist released yesterday for the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award, the others being teammates Sterling and Sergio Aguero, the Liverpool duo of Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk, and Chelsea's Eden Hazard.
The Portugal midfielder, however, was instrumental in creating the only goal, cutting in from the right to pick out Aguero at the far post, who nodded the ball back across the goal, where Foden's reward for following up assiduously was his maiden strike in the league.
The early breakthrough raised hopes that the game might be an end-to-end goal-fest to resemble the epic match three days earlier.
Yet the rest of the game was relatively muted, with the home side comfortably in control for the most part, without finding their cutting edge.
Spurs were reduced to sending long balls in the direction of South Korean forward Son Heung-min.
Guardiola, calling the Reds "one of the best teams I've seen in my whole life", added: "We are fighting with the best Liverpool ever.
"If we win (the title), we'll be so happy. Even if we don't do it, we've been on a remarkable run. Every day with this club and these players. It doesn't matter what happens next. We'll fight until the end - we'll see how far we get."
THE GUARDIAN
Reds can deal with defeat well: Klopp, Football News & Top
Mourinho heading back to the Bernabeu. Santiago Solari is set to be sacked imminently with Jose Mourinho to be confirmed as the next Real Madrid boss according to reports in Spain. Mourinho returning to the Bernabeu has been brewing for some time now.
Man Utd should sack Jose Mourinho for Real Madrid legend
Man City vs West Ham highlights and reaction as Sergio Aguero scores penalty. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City host West Ham in the Premier League, as attention returns to the Premier League title
Man City 1 - 0 West Ham - Match Report & Highlights
Argentina hands 128 Boca Junior fans four-year stadium ban Argentina hands 128 Boca Junior fans four-year stadium ban AFP/File / ALEJANDRO PAGNI Ultra leaders Rafael Di Zeo, centre, and Mauro
How Face Recognition Keeps Banned Fans Out of Stadiums
Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States. Holders U.S. shrug off
Soccer: Holders U.S. Shrug off Weight of World Cup
Football. March 30, 2013 Juventus extended their lead at the top of Serie A to 12 points after winning a pulsating 'derby of Italy' with Inter Milan 2-1 on Saturday. United States
Vincent Kompany declared Manchester City are the best club in the world as he addressed the adoring fans at the champions trophy parade. On an evening of celebration, the departing captain reflected with both pride and love for the Club he has represented with distinction for more than a decade. The
City are the best: Kompany - straitstimes.com
The striker scored 34 goals in 36 games for Barcelona, putting him ahead of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Tottenham's Harry Kane Lionel Messi collected a record fifth Golden Shoe award on Tuesday
Lionel Messi claims record 5th Golden Shoe - YouTube
Italian Side Inter Milan have completed a deal that will see Antonio Conte becomes their new manager, according to Fabrizio Romano.The former Chelsea boss has reportedly signed a three-year contract that will see him earn €12 million per season.
How Antonio Conte could affect Chelsea and - football.london
Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up by Michail Antonio ensured West Ham United became the first visiting team to win at Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium as Mauricio
Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on their way to a comfortable 2-0 away win over Cyprus in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday.
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
Bottom club Huddersfield Town ended their eight-match losing streak in the Premier League with a goalless draw at fellow strugglers Cardiff City on Saturday.Cardiff, in 17th place, did not manage a shot on target and Huddersfield were left fuming over a decision from referee Lee Mason.
Cardiff City vs. Huddersfield Town - Football Match Report
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety. 12 Apr 2019. AFP / Adrian DENNIS Newcastle's Ayoze Perez heads the winner at Leicester.
Perez heads Newcastle towards safety - premierleague.com
Things Singapore does better than anywhere else Source: Things Singapore does better than anywhere else - CNN.com
The Project Gutenberg eBook, Where the Pavement Ends, by John
Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's fighting spirit as he sets points target for title. Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool's fighting spirit after they recovered from a goal down to beat Southampton and
Messi is unstoppable, Klopp hails Messi - Punch Newspapers
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen