Premier League leaders Liverpool needed two Mohamed Salah penalties to beat bottom-of-the-table Southampton 3-1 on Saturday, while Nottingham Forest took a giant step towards the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Liverpool stretched their lead at the top to a massive 16 points, despite a sloppy first 45 minutes.
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Fresh from a smash-and-grab 1-0 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool boss Arne Slot made just three changes.
However, the Dutchman was forced into making three half-time alterations to kickstart the champions-elect.
“The manager was like going for us – but that’s something you need sometimes. Because first half, the game was sloppy,” said Salah.
Southampton have taken just nine points from 28 games all season, but stunned Anfield when Will Smallbone fired the visitors in front in first-half stoppage time.
Alisson Becker was Liverpool’s hero at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but the Brazilian and Virgil van Dijk got in each other’s way to allow Smallbone to roll into an unguarded net.
Slot turned to Harvey Elliott, Alexis MacAllister and Andy Robertson at the break, and the changes had the desired effect with two goals in three minutes before the hour mark.
Darwin Nunez levelled with a sharp near-post finish from Luis Diaz’s cross. Nunez was then upended inside the area and Salah converted from the spot. The Egyptian slotted home a second penalty two minutes from time to take his tally for the season to 32 goals.
Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand on the leaders, the first of which comes away to Manchester United on Sunday.
But it appears a matter of when not if Liverpool will clinch just their second league title in 35 years.
Gunners create UCL history in 7-1 win | 01:00
Forest pulled four points clear of City in third thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late winner at the City Ground.
The former Chelsea winger fired past Ederson on 83 minutes from Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass to spark jubilant scenes of celebration as Forest beat the English champions for the first time since 1997.
Two-time European champions, Forest have not experienced the continent’s top competition since 1980.
But they are closing in on the Champions League with a top-five finish almost certain to be enough thanks to the strong performance of English teams in Europe this season.
“We are not here to joke”, Hudson-Odoi posted on social media. “Goal, MOTM (man-of-the-match), three points!” City remain fourth and are looking over their shoulders after a ninth league defeat of the season.
Pep Guardiola’s men are likely to be overtaken by Chelsea, when they host struggling Leicester on Sunday.
Crystal Palace shrugged off the loss of top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta to a serious ear injury to beat Ipswich 1-0 thanks to Ismaila Sarr’s winner.
The Eagles have won nine of their last 11 games in all competitions and climb to 11th.
Brighton boosted their own Champions League hopes courtesy of Joao Pedro’s 98th-minute penalty to beat Fulham 2-1.
Raul Jimenez’s spectacular strike opened the scoring for Fulham, but Jean Paul van Hecke levelled before half-time.
Pedro’s spot-kick lifts the Seagulls to sixth and within one point of City. Aston Villa travel to Brentford and Wolves host Everton in Saturday’s later kick-offs.
An action-packed mid-week slate of mouth-watering Premier League fixtures delivered with Liverpool extending their lead as several other results shook up the top four race.
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Manchester City overcame a wasteful Tottenham 1-0 courtesy of an early goal from Erling Haaland upon his return to the starting line-up, while Arsenal and Nottingham Forest drew as Manchester United overcame some horrific defensive blunders to earn a come-from-behind win against 18th placed Ipswich Town.
LIVERPOOL MARCH ON
Liverpool now sit 13 points clear of Arsenal, with a game in hand, as they overcame Newcastle 2-0 at Anfield despite suspended manager Arne Slot having to watch from the stands.
Dominik Szoboszlai buried an 11th minute goal after being fed through by Luis Diaz to open the scoring, and Alexis Mac Allister rifled home the second in the 63rd minute after a one-two with Mohamed Salah following a Newcastle turnover in midfield.
Liverpool continue to hog the Premier League spotlight as an almost-flawless campaign approaches a memorable climax.
The Reds look certain to win the Premier League for the first time since 2020, which will move them level with Manchester United on a record-equalling 20 English titles.
Having won 2-0 at fading champions City on Sunday 24 hours after Arsenal lost to West Ham, Slot’s men kept their foot on the gas to turn the title race into a procession.
Szoboszlai netted with a clinical finish in the 11th minute and Mac Allister’s fine strike in the 63rd minute made it 20 wins and just one defeat from 28 league games this term.
In his first season after replacing Jurgen Klopp, Slot has made an astonishing impact, which could yet include Champions League and League Cup glory as well.
The Reds play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 first leg next week and face a rematch with Newcastle at Wembley in the League Cup final on March 16.
TOP FOUR RIVALS STALEMATE
Second-placed Arsenal and third-placed Nottingham Forest played out a scoreless draw at the City Ground, allowing Liverpool to extend their lead at the top.
The Gunners had the better of the match, statistically, registering 13 shots to six and having 65% possession as their midfield controlled the match.
But only one of Arsenal’s shots was on target, compared to two from Forest.
The hosts defended resolutely to make it appear as if the game would never break open, and they also never seriously threatened in attack.
A point is enough to keep Forest in third, ahead of defending champions Manchester City.
Arsenal’s title chances have been hampered by injuries suffered by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
Midfielder Mikel Merino was retained by Arteta in a centre-forward role despite failing to impress in a shock 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday.
In the absence of fit and in-form attackers, Arsenal have been reliant on defenders coming up with big goals and Riccardo Calafiori nearly obliged.
The Italian international came closest to scoring for the visitors when his first-half effort came back off the inside of the post.
Merino forced Matz Sels into his only serious save with a header from a corner early in the second period.
Arsenal did at least limit Forest to precious little as an attacking threat. Chris Wood had the hosts’ only chance 20 minutes from time but Forest’s talisman fired too close to David Raya.
However, after three defeats in their last four league games, Nuno Espirito Santo may see this as a point gained in his side’s challenge to reach the Champions League for the first time, having last played in the European Cup in 1980.
UNITED SURVIVE DEFENSIVE HORROR SHOW
Meanwhile, Manchester United came from behind to pick up a 3-2 win at Old Trafford against relegation battlers Ipswich Town.
The visitors scored after just four minutes courtesy of a defensive breakdown by the hosts.
United defender Patrick Dorgu ran down a long ball over the top and tried to touch it back to André Onana, but the goalkeeper had come out to collect the ball himself and Dorgu’s touch took the ball behind Onana.
The blunder was a gift for Ipswich’s Jaden Philogene who ran onto the ball and tapped it into an empty net.
United hit back with two goals in the space of just four minutes to take the lead, however.
An own goal off Ipswich captain Sam Morsy’s head from a United free kick levelled the scores before defender Matthijis de Ligt scrambled home a rebound from a corner in the 26th minute.
But then things got chaotic again with Dorgu’s horror night ending via a red card after a dodgy tackle that missed the ball and collected Omari Hutchinson’s shins.
Reduced to ten men, United then conceded an equaliser in added time with Philogene scoring his second to head into the sheds at 2-2.
The script flipped again three minutes after the break, with Harry Maguire heading home United’s third goal, all of which have come from set pieces.
Elsewhere, Brentford drew 1-1 at home to Everton with Yoane Wissa scoring on the stroke of half time for the hosts before Jake O’Brien found an equaliser in the 77th minute.
Liverpool took a giant stride towards the Premier League title on Sunday as a 2-0 win over Manchester City opened up an 11-point lead at the top of the table over Arsenal.
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Mohamed Salah was again Liverpool’s star performer as he opened the scoring with his 30th goal of the season before setting up Dominik Szoboszlai to double the lead before half-time.
Just days after exiting the Champions League to Real Madrid, this was another sobering defeat for the dethroned English champions, who are now 20 points adrift of the leaders.
So often during Pep Guardiola’s glorious reign, Liverpool have come up just short in English football’s great rivalry of recent years.
However, their time to match Manchester United’s record of 20 English top-flight titles now appears just months away in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
Arsenal’s shock 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday had eased the pressure on Liverpool, that had built after dropping points in two of their last three games at Everton and Aston Villa.
Newcastle hold on in SEVEN goal thriller | 01:18
A trip to the Etihad has for so long been the stiffest test of all, but City’s defensive frailties were easily exposed and they also badly missed the presence of the injured Erling Haaland in attack.
Liverpool, by contrast, had their talisman fit and firing as Salah took his staggering tally this season to 25 goals and 16 assists in 27 Premier League appearances.
The Egyptian fired the visitors in front on 14 minutes thanks to a brilliantly executed set-piece routine.
Alexis Mac Allister’s corner was flicked by Szoboszlai into Salah’s path and his shot deflected off Nathan Ake past the despairing dive of Ederson.
At the other end, City’s own Egyptian international showed his ability to finish, but Omar Marmoush had strayed off-side before being played in by Phil Foden.
City winger Jeremy Doku was skipping past Trent Alexander-Arnold at will, yet the Belgian consistently failed to deliver a telling cross or shot.
Salah was not so forgiving as he raced onto a long ball over the top and teed up Szoboszlai to wrong-foot Ederson.
The final outcome could have been much more humiliating for City had Liverpool had been as accurate on the counter-attack after the break.
Curtis Jones had a third goal ruled out by a VAR review for off-side after Szoboszlai just failed to time his run through the heart of the City defence.
“We didn’t hit the levels today!” | 01:02
Ederson was forced into a stunning save from Luis Diaz and only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Abdukodir Khusanov denied Szoboszlai a second.
Marmoush scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s 4-0 win over Newcastle and remained a lively threat as he flashed another effort across the front of Alisson Becker’s goal.
But City lacked the end product to make nearly 70 per cent possession count. Despite an eighth league defeat of the season, Guardiola’s men remain in fourth and will be confident of securing their place in the Champions League next season with a top-five finish likely to be enough.
However, after an unprecedented run of four consecutive titles, City look like yesterday’s team with Liverpool now champions in waiting.
– ‘We need another title’, says Salah after ‘special’ Man City win –
Mohamed Salah said Liverpool’s veterans need another Premier League title after inspiring a 2-0 win at Manchester City to surge 11 points clear at the top of the table.
Salah was central to a statement win for the Reds as he opened the scoring and then teed up Dominik Szoboszlai to double Liverpool’s lead before half-time.
Arne Slot’s men are in a commanding position to secure a record-equalling 20th English top flight title, although second-placed Arsenal have a game in hand.
City, who have won the last four Premier League titles, are now 20 points behind the leaders down in fourth.
Spurs win 3rd straight – Gunners choke | 03:05
“It is incredible. It is a very hard place to come and play here,” said Salah after Liverpool’s first league win at the Etihad for a decade.
“They are a tough team and they have an incredible manager I am glad in the end we won the game. It is special. Especially when you are in the title race, it is incredible.
“Hopefully we keep calm because sometimes the pressure gets to us.”
Salah took his tally for an incredible season to 30 goals and 21 assists and said he is enjoying his football more than ever despite speculation over his future.
The 32-year-old, captain Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson were all part of the Liverpool side that ended a 30-year wait to win the title in 2020.
And Salah reiterated his belief that they need another Premier League winner’s medal to burnish their legacy.
“Maybe people prefer my first seasons or now but I prefer now because winning the league, helping the young players, it is special,” he added.
“We need another title. Me and the big guys in the team, we need another title.”
– Forest felled by Isak as Newcastle bolster top four bid –
Newcastle blew Nottingham Forest away with four goals in 11 minutes as Alexander Isak’s double inspired a vital 4-3 win in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four.
Eddie Howe’s side recovered from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s early opener to run riot with a first half goal spree at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Lewis Miley bagged Newcastle’s equaliser, sparking an astonishing spell of dominance as Jacob Murphy put the hosts ahead.
Isak netted twice in less than two minutes to reach 50 Premier League goals and leave Forest in tatters.
The Sweden striker has 19 league goals this season, taking him level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in second place behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in this season’s scoring chart.
Nikola Milenkovic and Ryan Yates scored for Forest in the second half, but it was too late for an incredible escape act.
After three defeats in their previous four league games, fifth-placed Newcastle are back in the hunt to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish.
The Magpies are behind fourth-placed Manchester City on goal difference, with third-placed Forest just three points above them.
“I’m trying to control my thoughts and stay positive. We won the game and that’s what we needed to do,” Howe said.
“It was a great performance in the first half, then a couple of frailties showed in terms of defending set plays.
“We can reflect on that. There are things we can do better. We pride ourselves on getting the details right.”
Leicester lose 6th straight game | 01:21
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo added: “In the first half I didn’t recognise our team. In the second half we were much better.
“We made mistakes. It was two totally different halves. We started well and then they just rolled over us.” Newcastle keeper Nick Pope made his first league start since early December in place of Martin Dubravka.
But Pope was partially at fault as Newcastle gifted Forest the lead in sloppy style after just six minutes Jacob Murphy lost the ball in his own half as Hudson-Odoi pressured the Newcastle midfielder into conceding possession.
Hudson-Odoi wasn’t closed down quickly enough by Dan Burn and the winger unloaded a powerful low drive that caught Pope out of position as it flashed into the net.
Miley ensured Newcastle’s strong response to that early setback was rewarded in the 23rd minute.
– Newcastle hold on –
With Forest’s usually rock-solid defence slow to react, Miley had time to control Lewis Hall’s pass inside the penalty area and drill his shot through a sea of legs past unsighted keeper Matz Sels.
Murphy made amends for his earlier mistake to put Howe’s team ahead two minutes after Miley’s equaliser.
Hall’s driving run was the catalyst as the defender took Isak’s return pass and hit a deflected cross that looped over Sels for Murphy to bundle home from virtually on the goal-line.
Newcastle were firing on all cylinders and they struck again in the 33rd minute. Ola Aina used his arm to block Hall’s cross, conceding a penalty that Isak dispatched past Sels with an audacious lofted effort that left the keeper sprawled on his back as he tried in vain to claw it out.
Forest had no answer to Newcastle’s intensity and it was no surprise when they conceded a fourth just 60 seconds later.
Joe Willock raced unchecked through the Forest midfield and slipped his pass to Isak, whose shot from 12 yards took a deflection on its way past the wrong-footed Sels.
Newcastle eased up in the second half and Milenkovic reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute, flicking Chris Wood’s cross past Pope from close-range.
When Yates steered home in the 90th minute, a nervous hush descended on St James’ Park, but Newcastle held on by their fingernails.
Tottenham won the battle of the Premier League’s underachievers 1-0 on Sunday to inflict another dismal result on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.
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James Maddison scored the only goal on 13 minutes as Spurs moved above United in the table into 12th thanks to a third win over the Red Devils this season.
The Spurs midfielder delivered his trademark goal celebration before putting his fingers to his lips.
It appeared to be a response to stinging criticism from United legend Roy Keane who doubted Maddison’s return would do much to improve Spurs fortunes.
“People say, ‘Maddison’s the man’, but when is he going to step up to the plate? He got relegated with Leicester and [looks like] with Spurs. Maddison isn’t bad but if you think he’s going to come back and get Spurs top six, you’re in cuckoo land,” Keane said on the Stick to Football podcast this week.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, celebrates after James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“He’s a talented player, but if you’re a player in the Spurs dressing room and he’s back in the squad, you wouldn’t be looking and going, ‘James is back today – we’re going to be fine!’”
Speaking after the game Maddison hinted that his goal celebration may have been in response to Keane’s comments.
“It’s always difficult being out injured. You miss one game or 10, you are always champing at the bit to get back. I went into the game today knowing I can be the difference.
“I’m really proud of the boys, obviously it has been an up and down season, we are not where we want to be in the league table. I’m really happy for the lads and for the fans, we’re sending them home happy. I’ve always been a goalscoring midfielder.
“That’s why Spurs brought me to the club. I’m there to be that creative outlet and score goals. There was a little bit of outside noise this week. People will have their opinions. Nobody is more critical of me than myself.”
Victory eased the pressure on under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou after exiting both domestic cup competitions this month to go with their lowly league position.
EPL Wrap: Ange claims back-to-back wins | 02:53
United now find themselves down in 15th, but do enjoy a 12-point cushion over the bottom three.
Tottenham’s first home league win since November came amid a spirit of revolt among their support.
Before kick-off Spurs fans again vented their frustration towards owners ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy.
A huge banner read “24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy – Time for change” as a sizeable contingent of the home crowd joined a protest calling for Levy to go.
However, the mood for Postecoglou was lifted even before kick-off as he was able to welcome back a host of first-team regulars who have been sidelined by injury.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made his first appearance since November along with Maddison in the starting line-up, while Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert were on the bench.
United had their own injury troubles with Amad Diallo joining Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines for the rest of the season and Kobbie Mainoo ruled out for a month.
Amorim had to name eight teenagers among his nine substitutes, forcing Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to start together up front after both were overlooked for United’s last league game, a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Hojlund had the first chance when he fired too close to Vicario before the Italian flew to his left to deny Alejandro Garnacho.
Instead it was Spurs who got the opener when Andre Onana could only parry Lucas Bergvall’s shot into the path of Maddison, who tapped into an empty net for his 10th goal of the season.
United should have been at least level by half-time as Garnacho blazed over a glorious opportunity with just Vicario to beat after being picked out by Bruno Fernandes.
Vicario continued to frustrate Garnacho with another fine save after the break. Zirkzee wasted a huge chance to equalise 20 minutes from time when the Dutch international headed Noussair Mazraoui’s cross wide with the goal gaping.
But United’s inability to put the ball in the net comes as little surprise. Only the bottom three plus Everton have scored fewer than United’s 28 goals in 25 league games this season.
At the other end, Onana kept the visitors in the game by parrying Dejan Kulusevski’s powerful effort.
But even Spurs’ makeshift backline could not be breached by Amorim’s men to allow Postecoglou to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
– ‘This one is big’: Slot salutes Liverpool spirit in win over Wolves –
Arne Slot hailed Liverpool’s fighting spirit as the “fatigued” Premier League leaders survived a tense 2-1 win against Wolves on Sunday.
Slot’s side moved seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal thanks to Luis Diaz’s early opener and a Mohamed Salah penalty before the interval at Anfield.
It wasn’t easy for Liverpool despite that strong start as fourth-bottom Wolves hit back impressively.
Matheus Cunha’s blast reduced the deficit and Liverpool had to hold on in the closing stages before they could celebrate a first win in three games in all competitions.
Indebted to Alisson Becker for some crucial saves, Liverpool boss Slot said: “This one is big. We needed to fight and we needed Alisson.
“Wolves took a lot of risks. In a season where you want to achieve something, you need to have wins like this as well.
“It’s never the game-plan never to create anything at all. They got better and better, we got worse and worse.
“We had to show a different mentality and got it over the line. If this is what it takes to win a game then I’m happy the players could do that again.”
Slot admitted Liverpool were running on fumes at times after Wednesday’s emotionally draining 2-2 draw at Merseyside rivals Everton, which featured a stoppage-time equaliser for the Toffees, and last weekend’s embarrassing FA Cup exit at second tier Plymouth.
“Fatigue comes from running a lot and a bit of mental fatigue a lot. We were mentally tested today. We thought we’d scored a third and then a penalty for the third but both were correct from the referee,” he said.
“Maybe it did lead to us being a bit tired. I did see for the first time this season that players were more tired than they have been.
“If you want to achieve something it is not only about bringing the ball out from the back or Mo scoring goals, it is also about defending.”
– ‘You can never breathe’ –
Liverpool’s ability to grind out a fourth win in their last five league matches kept Arsenal at bay in the title race.
Chasing a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020, Liverpool are 13 games away from the trophy.
They face significant clashes with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle in their next three league games.
And Slot knows Arsenal — who have finished runners-up for the last two seasons — will do everything they can to take the race to a dramatic conclusion.
“If you look at the last few seasons it has mostly been a battle between two teams. As things stand now it mostly looks like between us and Arsenal,” he said.
“You can never breathe in this competition. I saw Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten run and the gap has always been the same so that shows that we do.
“If you want to compete for something special then you have to win a lot of games in this league.” Slot was able to sit on the bench against Wolves despite being charged with abusive behaviour towards the match officials after being sent off at the end of the stormy Merseyside derby.
The Dutchman could eventually face a suspension and he said: “It is an ongoing process, it is not smart to talk about it.
“We’ve seen the comments from the referee and now we can say our part. It’s down to a panel to decide if I get a ban.”
James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool in a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski’s blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot’s men in front.
Abdoulaye Doucoure, Curtis Jones and Slot were then sent off as tempers flared at the final whistle on a night Liverpool will come to regret if they do not go on to lift a record-equalling 20th English top flight title.
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates after his equalising goal stands following a VAR review as Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool appears dejected during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Everton are set to move to a new 53,000 capacity stadium in Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock next season and gave their home since 1892 a night to remember against their local rivals.
Liverpool’s quest for a quadruple came unstuck with a shock FA Cup exit to second-tier strugglers Plymouth on Sunday.
Slot made 10 changes as he resorted to his strongest available side with Salah and Virgil van Dijk among those who had been afforded the weekend off.
Everton’s own FA Cup exit to Bournemouth on Saturday had punctured some of their momentum since David Moyes’ return for a second spell in charge.
The Toffees had won their previous three Premier League games to pull nine points clear of the relegation zone and got off to a flying start.
Liverpool were caught napping on 11 minutes by a quick free-kick by Jarrad Branthwaite to free Beto, who beat Alisson Becker for his third goal in two league games.
The visitors could have been swept away in the feverish atmosphere early on but the Reds immediate response was the making of champions.
Alexis Mac Allister started and finished the move as the diminutive Argentine midfielder ghosted into the penalty area to head in Salah’s teasing cross.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Referee Michael Oliver speaks to Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker of Liverpool at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesLiverpool’s English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones is held back by stewards as he remonstrates with Everton players after the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on February 12, 2025. The match ended in a draw at 2-2. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) /Source: AFPLIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: David Moyes, Manager of Everton, waves to the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Everton then suffered a huge blow as their creative hub Iliman Ndiaye limped off in tears after a long stoppage.
The first half never recovered its flow amid a flurry of fouls and yellow cards as the Premier League fixture with the most red cards in history threatened to boil over once more.
Everton started the better once more in the second period. Doucoure wasted a great chance to retake the lead when he headed wide when unmarked inside the area.
The home crowd briefly erupted once more when Branthwaite fired home only for the celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag.
Slot was growing visibly frustrated with his side’s lack of penetration going forward and turned to his bench for an impact with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jones and Darwin Nunez sent on to find a winner.
The changes worked as Salah delivered what looked like a potential title-clinching moment.
Jones and Nunez exchanged a one-two and when the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Branthwaite, it fell kindly for Salah to prod in his 27th goal of the season.
Only a brilliant save by JOrdan Pickford crucially denied Salah a second late on.
And Everton rallied when Liverpool failed to deal with a hopeful ball into the box and it fell to centre-back Tarkowski to fire into the top corner.
A lengthy VAR check followed for offside and Everton fans had to be cleared off the pitch before the game could restart.
When it did there was more fireworks as Doucoure and Jones were both shown a second yellow card for clashing after the Everton midfielder celebrated in front of the travelling Liverpool support.
Slot was also shown red for his protests towards referee Michael Oliver.
Liverpool’s quest for a quadruple came to a crashing halt on Sunday (Monday AEDT) as they were dumped out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 defeat by Championship strugglers Plymouth.
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Ryan Hardie scored the only goal from the penalty spot as Arne Slot was made to pay for resting his star names as he suffered just a fourth defeat in 38 games as Liverpool boss.
Plymouth sit rock bottom of the English second tier, but have now taken two Premier League scalps on their way into round five after winning at Brentford in round three.
“We all came here today with a dream and we have done it,” said Hardie. Slot made 10 changes from the side that thrashed Tottenham 4-0 on Thursday to reach the League Cup final.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo were among those left completely out the squad, but Liverpool still started with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa in attack.
Yet, the Reds’ fringe players did little to make their case for more playing time as they succumbed to one of the FA Cup’s great shocks.
Plymouth’s Scottish striker Ryan Hardie (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot against Liverpool.Source: AFP
“We were not having a very good day. A result like this is the outcome,” said Slot.
“I can’t say the boys didn’t fight, both teams barely created a chance and then it was a penalty. In a game like this, it is up to one moment. That moment was for them and they deserve it.”
Hardie kept his cool to drill home the penalty after Harvey Elliott handled Darko Gyabi’s flick on 53 minutes.
Ryan Hardie of Plymouth Argyle scores his team’s shock winner.Source: Getty Images
Moments later it needed a fine save from Caoimhin Kelleher to deny Hardie a second.
Slot threw on Darwin Nunez to add more firepower to the forward line, but Plymouth stood strong thanks to a pair of stunning late saves from Connor Hazard.
Jota’s strike that was headed for the top corner was clawed away by the Northern Ireland international before he tipped over Nunez’s header deep into nine minutes of stoppage time.
“I’m speechless, and normally they tell me I’m eloquent! It’s a big moment, day for us,” said Plymouth boss Miron Muslic, who replaced the sacked Wayne Rooney last month.
“It’s a magical day for us. I told the lads in the locker room to enjoy it.”
Ryan Hardie celebrates with his son.Source: AFP
SLOT SHOCK
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said his side’s shock FA Cup exit to second-tier Plymouth was a setback after a near flawless start to his reign in charge.
The Reds had been on course for a quadruple of trophies before they travelled to Argyle, who sit bottom of the Championship, but came unstuck at Home Park as Slot paid a heavy price for making wholesale changes.
The Dutchman retained only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from the side that thrashed Tottenham 4-0 on Thursday to reach the League Cup final and left Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk out of his a squad entirely.
The Premier League leaders should still have had enough to progress as Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa started up front, while Darwin Nunez was introduced in a bid rescue the game in the second half.
“We were not having a very good day. A result like this is the outcome,” said Slot.
“It hurts everyone that is involved with Liverpool – fans, me players. We were all wanting to be in this competition for as long as possible and when you go out in the second possible game, that’s a setback.”
The game was decided by Ryan Hardie’s penalty eight minutes into the second half after Harvey Elliott handled inside the box.
Diogo Jota and Nunez forced Conor Hazard into late saves but Plymouth held out for one of the great all-time FA Cup upsets.
“I can’t say the boys didn’t fight, both teams barely created a chance and then it was a penalty. In a game like this, it is up to one moment. That moment was for them and they deserve it,” added Slot.
“I think they were able to do better but it’s a system and a way of playing which is hard to create against. I wasn’t surprised. When we had the ball they were really aggressive.
“Not easy to create especially if a team has not played together all the time. It hurts everyone. We were all wanting to be in this competition for as long as possible.
“They kept on fighting until the last second, it wasn’t a work rate problem but they couldn’t find chances. We have to be more creative.”
Arne Slot speaks to the media losing to Plymouth.Source: AFP
NACHOS AND FANTA
Plymouth’s “boring” boss Miron Muslic celebrated his side’s stunning FA Cup humiliation of Liverpool by “eating some nachos and drinking a Fanta”.
Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty gave the Championship’s bottom club an astonishing 1-0 victory over the Premier League leaders at Home Park on Sunday.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot named a reserve team for the fourth round tie, resting stars including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
Plymouth took full advantage to end Liverpool’s quadruple bid with one of the FA Cup’s more memorable giant-killings.
But the low-key Muslic opted against celebrating with alcohol. “Normally I’m very good in my words and eloquent, but I’m a little bit speechless,” said Muslic, who succeeded the sacked Wayne Rooney as Pilgrims manager in January.
“It’s a day for Argyle, a day for Plymouth, a day for the ‘Green Army’. They deserve it and I want them to give it celebrations their all.
“I will go home and re-watch the game, eat some Nachos and drink a Fanta. It’s very boring for me.”
Masterminding a famous victory over Liverpool while fighting to haul Plymouth off the bottom of the Championship was no hardship for Muslic, who was a refugee from war-torn Bosnia as a child.
Muslic was forced to move to Austria aged nine, escaping his home town of Bihac after it fell under siege by Serbian forces in 1992.
Plymouth’s Bosnian-born Austrian head coach Miron Muslic soaks up victory.Source: AFP
“I’m very emotional because I realised the task and the opponent. It’s the biggest moment so far in my coaching career, no doubt, because it’s the FA Cup and Liverpool,” he said.
“But the biggest moment will be staying up in the Championship. This is my goal, this is what I have in my mind and my soul.”
Plymouth had already beaten Premier League side Brentford in the third round, but their victory against West Brom last weekend was their first in the league since November.
They subdued Liverpool’s understudies with a gritty display before snatching the lead when Hardie converted from the spot after Harvey Elliott handled Darko Gyabi’s overhead kick.
Plymouth fans celebrate their shock win over Liverpool.Source: AFP
Plymouth had to withstand nine minutes of stoppage-time during which Conor Hazard made superb saves to deny Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.
“We knew we would have a lot of moments to defend and it was a huge task to keep them away from the goal,” Muslic said.
“I watched them a couple of nights ago against Tottenham and the wave of Liverpool was unstoppable.
“Liverpool made changes but I said to the players there was nothing to be afraid of, nothing to lose and everything to win.
“We played like this and we have added another part in the history of Argyle that nobody can take away from us.”
Raphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) and virtually ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16 — meanwhile, Liverpool beat Lille and Aston Villa lost to Monaco (scroll down for reports).
Benfica were leading 4-2 with under 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool.
Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, in part thanks to two big errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
However a Robert Lewandowski double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia’s header and a brace for Raphinha helped Barcelona claim a stunning last-gasp triumph in Lisbon.
“We knew how hard it would be here, in front of their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top level players,” Raphinha told Movistar.
“We didn’t let ourselves sink at 3-1 down, we were focused on what we needed to do to try and change the game.
“It was a spectacular game for everyone. They could have won, or us, but we managed to take it.”
Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Raphinha celebrates victory at Benfica.Source: AFP
Benfica opened the scoring in the second minute, when Pavlidis escaped Pau Cubarsi and fired home from Alvaro Carreras’ low cross.
Barcelona responded swiftly with Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde was brought down by Benfica defender Tomas Araujo.
The hosts nosed back ahead through a stroke of luck, when Szczesny raced out of his goal to try and cut out a through-ball, but crashed into Balde.
Greece international Pavlidis gleefully collected the loose ball and rolled his second into the empty net.
Barcelona, who lured Szczesny out of retirement to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in October, soon fell further behind.
Pavlidis completed his half-hour hat-trick with a penalty after another Szczesny mistake, with the goalkeeper flying in to try and dispossess Kerem Akturkoglu but bringing him down.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed good chances before the break as Barcelona pushed forward.
Raphinha controls the ball in Lisbon.Source: AFP
Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved from Jules Kounde, who should have scored, and Lewandowski could not turn home from Pedri’s dangerous ball across the face of goal.
Raphinha pulled one back for Barcelona in bizarre fashion as a clearance by Trubin struck his head on the edge of the area and flew back into the net.
However, Benfica soon struck again, with Ronald Araujo nudging past Szczesny into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross.
Barcelona kept pushing and Lewandowski converted another penalty after Nicolas Otamendi brought down Yamal.
The Catalan giants, who last won the Champions League in 2015, pulled level when substitute Garcia headed home from Pedri’s inviting cross.
Szczesny saved former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria’s low shot before Raphinha’s dramatic winner.
With Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a quick breakaway and the Brazilian winger slotted home to end a blockbuster battle.
Players from both sides clashed after the final whistle as tempers flared following the thrilling denouement.
“To go behind in the second minute… spoils your plans,” said Garcia. “The team showed an incredible mentality.”
Robert Lewandowski scores Barcelona’s first goal.Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL BEAT LILLE
Liverpool maintained their perfect Champions League record to guarantee a top-two finish in the league phase and automatic last-16 qualification with a 2-1 win over Lille at Anfield on Tuesday.
Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike secured a seventh consecutive Champions League victory for Arne Slot’s men after Jonathan David cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s opener.
Liverpool remain three points clear of Barcelona, who came from 4-2 down to beat Benfica 5-4.
Lille’s first defeat in 22 games in all competitions leaves the French side 11th.
Liverpool will welcome direct progress to the last 16, without the need for a play-off round, with the Premier League leaders still involved in four competitions.
Slot took the chance to rotate with the Reds already all but assured of progress to the next round.
Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez, fresh from his match-winning contribution, came in from the side that beat Brentford 2-0 on Saturday to open up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai celebrate their win.Source: AFP
Lille arrived on Merseyside full of confidence with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid among the notable scalps on their long unbeaten run.
The visitors were far from overawed early on as they started impressively without ever seriously threatening Alisson Becker’s goal.
Liverpool had struggled to get going until one defence-splitting pass from Jones freed Salah to gallop clear and coolly slot in his 50th European goal for the club on 34 minutes.
Jones had to be replaced at half-time in an injury concern for Slot, who also took the chance to rest Ryan Gravenberch for the second 45 minutes as Elliot and Alexis Mac Allister were introduced.
Lille’s task looked to be an impossible one when Aissa Mandi was sent off for a second bookable offence for chopping down Luis Diaz.
Yet, within three minutes, Liverpool’s club-record European run without conceding was brought to an end.
David swept home the rebound after Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s effort had been blocked by Kostas Tsimikas.
Liverpool had not conceded for one minute shy of 10 hours since Christian Pulisic struck for AC Milan inside the first three minutes of their opening Champions League game of the season.
Yet, not for the first time this season, Liverpool’s strength in depth made the difference with another winner from a substitute.
There was an element of fortune about this one as Elliott’s strike from the edge of the area took a huge deflection off Ngal’ayel Mukau to wrongfoot Lucas Chevalier.
The Lille ‘keeper denied Federico Chiesa a third in stoppage time, before Nunez was flagged offside as he swept in the rebound.
Arne Slot applauds the Liverpool fans.Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA DEFEATED BY MONACO
Monaco ground out a 1-0 home win against Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday, denying the Premier League side the chance to all but book their spot in the round of 16.
Wilfried Singo’s early header was the difference between the teams as Villa tasted defeat for the first time in six outings in all competitions.
Monaco had only won two of their last 11 matches, including back-to-back defeats in the Champions League, but now have their eyes on securing progress to the knock-outs.
The defeat dropped Villa from fifth to seventh provisionally. They can qualify automatically for the last-16 with a top-eight finish.
“We started the Champions League not being favourites to finish in the top eight, and we still aren’t. Tonight we are disappointed,” said Villa manager Unai Emery.
Emery’s side host 21st-placed Celtic in their final league phase match next week.
Villa and Monaco are among nine teams on 13 points, ahead of the rest of this week’s matches, a pack headed by Arsenal in fourth place in the table with Monaco in ninth Monaco conclude their league phase campaign with a visit to Italian champions Inter Milan — also on 13 points ahead of a visit to Prague on Wednesday — knowing nothing but a win will do to avoid a play-off spot.
“We have one match remaining which will be very difficult. We are going to go to Milan next week with a lot of ambition and to win,” said Singo.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts during a loss to Monaco.Source: AFP
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s every touch was booed by the home support in the early stages — the crowd had not forgotten his role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final victory over France.
To the delight of their fans, Monaco’s opener came after the Argentinian parried Thilo Kehrer’s header from a corner up into the air. Singo pounced to nod home from close range on eight minutes.
Martinez showed his class with a sprawling dive to claw away Maghnes Akliouche’s whipped effort shortly afterwards.
Villa came within inches of levelling in first-half added time following excellent build-up play by Emiliano Buendia, but Radoslaw Majecki got down quickly to deny Ollie Watkins.
At the start of the second period, Morgan Rogers flashed a strike narrowly wide, before Akliouche had a strike disallowed for offside.
Emery turned to Jhon Duran from the bench to give his side a spark, sending on the Colombian 11 minutes after the interval in place of winger Bailey.
With Watkins and Duran on the pitch together, Villa boasted a striking duo with 22 goals between in all competitions this term.
Rogers and Matty Cash combined to create Villa’s next chance, the right-back dragging his effort across goal and wide on 69 minutes.
Monaco looked the more likely to score in the final 20 minutes. Aleksandr Golovin rippled the side netting from a tight angle in the 88th minute.
Duran then attempted a bicycle-kick in the crowded box in the 92nd minute, but his ambitious effort flew well over the bar as Monaco held firm.
“It was an important win,” said Monaco coach Adi Huetter. “I give compliments and praise to my team for how they fought.”
Liverpool moved a step closer to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title as a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
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Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota were on target for the rampant Reds in east London as they ended the year as huge favourites to deliver just a second league title in 35 years.
Nottingham Forest are the surprise closest challengers in second, but Arsenal and Chelsea can close the gap when they are in action later in the week.
Arne Slot has repeatedly stressed nothing can be won yet with Liverpool still one game shy of the halfway mark in the Premier League.
But the Dutchman’s succession of Jurgen Klopp continues to look flawless after a 23rd win in 27 matches in all competitions.
Slot was able to recall Diaz, who had been rested for the 3-1 win over Leicester on Boxing Day, and it was the Colombian who opened the floodgates on 30 minutes at the London Stadium.
Diaz’s intended pass into Curtis Jones rebounded back into his path off a West Ham defender and he dispatched his shot low into the corner.
Mohammed Kudus was inches away from an equaliser when his effort came back off the post.
Spurs blow golden chance to down Wolves | 00:49
But another heavy home defeat puts Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui back under pressure after a four-game unbeaten run.
Two goals in four minutes just before half-time killed the game as a contest. Salah’s delightful turn helped tee up Gakpo to roll in his ninth goal in 14 games.
The Egyptian then curled in at Alphonse Areola’s near post, with some help from the West Ham goalkeeper, to hit the 20-goal mark for the eighth consecutive season since joining Liverpool in 2017.
Speculation over Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s futures has not derailed Liverpool’s flying start under Slot.
All three could discuss a move to a foreign club on a free transfer next season within days, but remain focused for the moment on winning a second Premier League title together.
Rumours over Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid have resurfaced again in the Spanish media over the past week and the England international showed why he is a man in demand with a thunderous strike that deflected in off Max Kilman.
Jota’s appearance as a substitute was further evidence of the extra firepower Liverpool enjoy over their title rivals.
The Portuguese set the seal on a dominant win with the finish for the fifth goal, but had another sumptuous Salah assist to thank for it.
Salah jinked his way beyond three West Ham defenders before laying the ball to Jota for his 13th Premier League assist of the season to go with 17 goals in 18 games.
EPL powerhouses fail to fire | 02:11
‘JUST RELIEF’ FOR PEP
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said relief was his overriding emotion after a 2-0 victory at Leicester secured just a second win in 14 games for the crisis-hit English champions on Sunday.
Savinho and Erling Haaland struck either side of half-time as City ended a run of eight away games without a win.
The performance was still far from the standards that Guardiola’s side have set in winning an unprecedented four consecutive English top-flight titles.
But the effusive celebrations of Haaland’s header 16 minutes from time showed that three points was all that mattered for the visitors to at least temporarily halt their remarkable slump in Guardiola’s 500th game in charge “It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years,” said Guardiola.
Arsenal keep pressure on Liverpool | 01:27
“We have done a lot of things that will be in the memory forever and maybe this period, which feels like a 100 months, will make us realise how nice it was and hopefully we can come back, maybe not be what we were but more close than now.” “Today we won and this is what we needed for our minds and souls.” Victory lifts City up to fifth but they are still 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
After a bright start to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s reign, Leicester have lost their last four to fall into the bottom three.
The Foxes were left to rue not taking their chances to inflict more misery on a City side still showing a clear lack of confidence.
Any time the home side crossed into City territory in the first half they appeared a major threat.
Jamie Vardy would surely have won a penalty had he not strayed offside before being brought down by Stefan Ortega, while James Justin’s header hit the post after a goalmouth scramble.
City, though, got the crucial opening goal on 21 minutes.
Jakub Stolarczyk should have done better than to parry Phil Foden’s long-range effort into the path of Savinho, who swept the rebound into the roof of the net for his first City goal.
Chances continued to come and go for Leicester early in the second half. Justin should have levelled but his mishit finish from close range allowed Manuel Akanji to clear off the line.
Vardy then had the biggest chance to level when he prodded over Stephy Mavididi’s brilliant in-swinging cross.
“We created those moments in a great way, there was some excitement going on,” said Van Nistelrooy, himself a prolific goalscorer in his playing days.
“As a striker, you know you need a bit of luck in taking those chances, but that is where the game is decided.” However, Leicester were hit by a City sucker punch to end the defending champions’ miserable run on the road.
Savinho was the creator this time as his cross perfectly picked out Haaland who powered home his 19th of the season, ending a four-game goal drought for the Norwegian.
“It’s always a relief when you score, it was an important goal to go 2-0 up,” said Haaland.
“It’s been a difficult time, now it’s New Year’s — five or six days till the next game. It’s the longest time in a long period so we can rest a little bit.”
FOREST MOVE TO SECOND, SPURS DRAW
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest beat Everton to win their fifth straight Premier League match, leapfrogging Chelsea and Arsenal.
Chris Wood chipped over Jordan Pickford for the opening goal in the 15th minute after being set up by Anthony Elanga.
Wood turned provider for Forest’s second, which came just after the hour mark when Morgan Gibbs-White lashed home to make it 2-0.
Nuno refused to get carried away, saying: “We are enjoying it, we are especially enjoying because our fans are enjoying with us.
“Nothing changes, we cannot change. We have to realise we didn’t achieve anything.”
Injury-hit Spurs were on track to end a torrid December on a high after first-half goals by Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson cancelled out Hwang Hee-chan’s brilliant opener for Wolves.
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min also squandered a 43rd-minute penalty, but it did not appear to be too costly until substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen smashed home in the 87th minute.
“I’m the person in charge, so of course it hurts,” said Postecoglou, whose team have won just one of their past seven Premier League matches.
“When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think today they deserved a reward for their efforts.”
New Wolves manager Vitor Pereira remains unbeaten, with two wins and a draw in his first three matches in charge.
Crystal Palace won just their second home league game of the season, seeing off bottom club Southampton 2-1, thanks to goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Eberechi Eze.
Dango Ouattara scored an 89th-minute leveller as Bournemouth drew 2-2 at Fulham. Chelsea and Manchester United are in action on Monday, with Arsenal travelling to Brentford on Wednesday.
Ange Postecoglou has threatened to stop answering a certain type of question from reporters after Tottenham were battered 6-3 at home by Premier League leaders Liverpool.
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The Australian manager never shies away from this attack-first philosophy, a cornerstone of which is his side’s high defensive line, despite recent criticism and an injury-hit, fatigued defence.
Postecoglou made no changes to the starting XI that overcame Manchester United 4-3 in a thrilling Carabao Cup quarter-final with first-choice goal keeper Guglielmo Vicario as well as centre back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven still on the sidelines.
Arne Slot’s side meanwhile was full strength, and there was a sense of the inevitable before kick-off when Postecoglou joked on Sky Sports that “it’s got all the hallmarks of a 0-0, mate”.
Liverpool came out ruthless as they routinely capitalised on Tottenham’s defensive frailties as they produced 24 shots on goals with Luis Diaz and Mohammed Salah scoring braces, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also got on the score sheet.
“Spurs stayed high, caution to the chill wind. Liverpool simply ran through them,” The Guardian’s David Hytner wrote at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was such a dominant display that Reds’ legend Jamie Carragher declared on Sky Sports that they “could’ve got ten” into the back of the net on Sunday.
‘Painful one for us’: Ange dejected | 01:06
The insistence from Postecoglou to stick to his guns despite being regularly exposed, as they also conceded four goals in a home loss to second-placed Chelsea earlier this month, has copped widespread criticism.
When he was asked yet again by the BBC whether Spurs’ injury woes were to blame for their issues at the back, Postecoglou responded in fiery fashion, showing that he is fed up with condemnation.
“I’m just going to stop answering these questions,“ he said.
“If people can’t see the obvious I‘m not going to point it out. Make of it what you want, yes we’re conceding goals.
“If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and left-back and that hasn’t coincided with what we’re doing… I don’t know what to say anymore.
“I think people make up their mind in their own way. They either think what I’m doing is good or bad, and that’s fine.
“It’s fairly significant [losing injured players]. If you took out Liverpool’s goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back – or any team other than Liverpool – they’d find it tough going as well.”
Slot defends Postecoglou despite loss | 00:59
Not everyone agrees with the injury struggles being the root cause of the fact Tottenham will sit 11th on the Premier League at Christmas Day despite scoring more goals than anyone else in the league.
Carragher said post-game that “nobody has ever won anything playing like that”.
“Not that I expect Tottenham to win the Premier League but nobody has ever won anything playing like that,” the Sky Sports pundit said after the game.
“It was almost Kevin Keegan-like. The other team I could associate with that was almost Brendan Rodgers with Liverpool, where it was just end-to-end, 6-3, 5-4, and at the end of it they just come a little bit short.
“You’ve got to respect the opposition, you’ve got to respect the defensive side of the game.
“I get the idea. It’s not about a style of play. If everyone’s fully fit and he wants to do things slightly different – every manager who comes in has got a little different way of doing things.
“You’ve got to have something that’s a little bit different, that makes you special, that makes you start off in Australia and get yourself to the Premier League. It’s a brilliant journey he’s been on, and he’s got a way about that.
“But when you’ve got your best team, not when you’re down to the bare bones.”
EPL Wrap: Cherries spark Man United | 01:15
One of the key points of conjecture in Tottenham’s defensive set-up has been goal keeper Fraser Forster.
The 36-year-old has never been particularly comfortable playing out from the back, as Postecoglou, likes to do and it led to Forster making two absolute howlers to concede goals against Manchester United mid-week when the Spurs’ defenders passed the ball back to him.
Forster’s confidence was clearly rattled as in the third minute of the game, he passed the ball straight to Salah but that was one of the chances that went unpunished, and supports Carragher’s “could’ve got ten” view.
The former England shot stopper found himself an ally in legendary Manchester United goal keeper Peter Schmeichel, who slammed Postecoglou post-match.
“It’s on [Ange Postecoglou]. He’s playing to his principles. Today it was crazy, the high-line, the space they left behind, they’re not playing with a ‘keeper who’s comfortable cleaning up behind. You can’t play a system the players can’t play because of principle. For that they’ve conceded three on Thursday [in the League Cup] and six today,” Schmeichel said.
“When you look at the table, they’re not on the front page, they’re on the second page. Tottenham are not supposed to be on the second page, it’s because of the way they play.
“The stubbornness of wanting to play that way, they got what they deserved and it could have been a lot worse.”
Man City’s top 4 dreams take ANOTHER hit | 03:29
The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew was similarly scathing of Postecoglou, and Tottenham as a club more broadly.
He labelled them “unserious” on a day when Spurs’ fans protested against club chair Daniel Levy.
“Tottenham are not serious about this. They win spectacularly, and then they lose spectacularly, and it doesn’t really matter because over the past couple of years they have engendered a culture in which progress is basically divorced from outcomes,” Liew wrote.
“League positions are of no consequence. Champions League qualification is not a target, because the entire success of this multi-billion-pound operation is geared around whether a middle-aged Australian man feels his ideas have taken root this week or not.
“There are clear and tangible advantages to this approach. Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun. This is expressive football with no compromises, a young and essential energy, and occasionally the ultimate rush. When it destroys the quadruple champions or puts seven past Manchester United in two games, it feels like total vindication, and who doesn’t love one of those? This is the entertainment business, there are Tunnel Club packages to be sold, and being the Premier League’s top scorers is a pretty persuasive pitch if you’re not really fussed about who wins.
“But there are also disadvantages to being an unserious team, and perhaps you glimpse them most sharply when you come up against a serious team. A team that don’t take a weird solace in denying their rivals the league, or entertain bizarre superstitions about maybe winning the FA Cup when the year ends in a one. A coach who believes his job is to make his players look good, rather than the other way around.”
Not all in the British press have been as brutal.
The UK Telegraph’s chief football correspondent Jason Burt wrote from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that it would cruel to judge Postecoglou too harshly given the fact he has a second-choice goal keeper in Forster, 18-year-old right-back Archie Gray and 22-year-old back-up Radu Dragusin as his centre back pairing, as well as the forgotten Djed Spence at left back.
While Spurs supporters might be tearing their hair out, neutral observers are getting value for money, as evidenced by Postecoglou jokingly asking “are you not entertained?” in a post-match interview after their Carabao Cup win against Manchester United.
“There must be sympathy for Ange Postecoglou, especially given how bravely he continues to demand his team play, but it does lead to criticism of its own. They give up simple goals at times and so it proved,” Burt said.
“The fact Gray, at 18, is playing at centre-half highlights how stretched Spurs are, of course, but no-one can deny their spirit – they never take a backward step – and desire to score and they claimed two goals as firstly Kulusevski volleyed in after a fine link-up with Dominic Solanke and then Solanke also guided the ball home from a header by substitute Brennan Johnson.
“But it only served to annoy Liverpool as they swiftly bewildered Spurs again for Salah to slip a pass through to Diaz who finished with a powerful angled shot. And with that there was a thumbs-up from Slot who took the pair off. It showed just how ruthless they can be and their work was done. And, yes, we were entertained.”
The rollercoaster will roll on for Spurs with more crunch fixtures to come either side of New Year’s.
A Boxing Day trip to the feel-good story of the season, fourth-placed Nottingham Forest will be difficult.
They then face relegation-threatened Wolves and seventh-placed Newcastle at home, before hosting Liverpool once again in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on January 6.
That will be a fascinating test of how they can change in a short-space of time, but Postecoglou will not shy away from his attacking philosophy.
He never has, and he has always been up front about the fact that he is not going to.
“I’ve been really patient the last 18 months, answering the same questions over and over again,” he said post-match.
“If people want me to change my approach, it’s not going to change.
“We’re doing it for a reason, we’re doing it because we think it’ll help us be successful.”
Liverpool swept four points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah’s masterclass inspired a memorable 6-3 rout of Tottenham on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
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Salah delivered a sublime performance featuring two goals and a pair of assists as Arne Slot’s side ran riot in north London.
Liverpool took advantage of second-placed Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Everton earlier in the day to cement their status as title favourites heading into the Christmas period.
Hapless Tottenham had no answer to Liverpool’s intelligent pressing and supreme passing and movement, with Egypt star Salah at the heart of their lethal attack.
Salah is the only Premier League player to reach double figures in goals (15) and assists (11) this season.
The 32-year-old is now Liverpool’s fourth top scorer ever with 229 goals. His brace took him past Billy Liddell, with only Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285) and Gordon Hodgson (241) ahead of him.
Salah’s latest heroics only underlined the urgency to get his future resolved, with the forward’s current deal due to expire at the end of the season.
He is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January and has hinted several times that this could be his last season at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth goal against Tottenham.Source: Getty Images
With Salah scoring 18 times in all competitions, Liverpool have been on fire since Slot arrived from Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp in the close-season.
Klopp delivered Liverpool’s last Premier League title in 2020 and it looks increasingly likely Slot will emulate that success in his maiden campaign.
The Reds have won 21 of their 25 matches in all competitions under Slot and have a game in hand on Chelsea to strengthen their lead in the title race.
‘Painful one for us’: Ange dejected | 01:06
This was a remarkable display of Liverpool’s firepower as Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister scored to put them in command.
Dominik Szoboszlai grabbed Liverpool’s third just before the interval and Salah took over after the break before Diaz netted again.
Punished for Ange Postecoglou’s insistence on sticking to his high defensive line, it was the first time in 10 years that Tottenham had conceded five or more at home in a Premier League game.
An eighth league defeat this season leaves Tottenham languishing in 11th place as the pressure mounts on Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou shows the strain as Liverpool goals rain down.Source: AFP
Foreshadowing the demolition to come, Salah slalomed past three Tottenham defenders and blasted against the crossbar in the early stages.
Liverpool’s pressure reaped its deserved reward in the 23d minute as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inch-perfect cross arced towards Diaz, who headed past Fraser Forster from six yards.
Tottenham fans released black balloons in protest at chairman Daniel Levy’s reign midway through the first half.
They became even more deflated in the 36th minute as Liverpool struck again. Szoboszlai climbed to meet Andrew Robertson’s cross and the ball deflected kindly for Mac Allister to nod beyond Forster from close range.
Slot defends Postecoglou despite loss | 00:59
Liverpool’s focus briefly wobbled as Mac Allister was robbed by Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison rifled home from 18 yards.
But Szoboszlai quickly restored the two-goal lead, capping a typically incisive raid in the final seconds before half-time.
Salah took Szoboszlai’s flick in stride and returned a clever reverse pass to the midfielder, who took a touch before planting his shot through Forster’s legs.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Ange Postecoglou pre-match but routed the Aussie’s Spurs side.Source: AFP
It wasn’t long before the unstoppable Salah got on the scoresheet. Cody Gakpo slipped a pass into the six-yard box in the 54th minute and, when Tottenham failed to clear, Salah was on hand to tap in.
Salah bagged his sixth goal in his last five games in all competitions seven minutes later with another close-range finish from Szoboszlai’s pass.
Dejan Kulusevski’s 72nd-minute volley from just inside the area was followed by Dominic Solanke’s close-range effort in the 83rd minute as Tottenham hit back.
But Salah provided a fitting coda to his eye-catching display two minutes later with a precise pass that Diaz converted to ensure the scoreline reflected Liverpool’s supremacy.
Tottenham 3 (Maddison 41, Kulusevski 72, Solanke 83) Liverpool 6 (Diaz 23, 85, Mac Allister 36, Szoboszlai 45+1, Salah 54, 61)
Luis Diaz of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s sixth goal with teammate Mohamed Salah.Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER UNITED HUMBLED
Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday.
United boss Ruben Amorim, who once again left Marcus Rashford out of his squad, is set for a miserable Christmas following the worst result of his brief reign.
Languishing in 13th place, United have suffered four defeats in nine matches in all competitions since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
EPL Wrap: Cherries spark Man United | 01:15
United’s second successive loss after their League Cup exit at Tottenham on Thursday underlined Amorim’s belief that their road back to the top will be long and arduous.
United, who have conceded first in their last six games, were booed off at half-time, while the final whistle was greeted by more jeers from the few fans who stayed until the bitter end.
“This game was hard on us. We suffered again on set-pieces and we were a bit nervous. I felt it in the stadium,” Amorim said.
“We have to suffer again but we will try to win.”
Ruben Amorim shakes hands with with striker Rasmus Hojlund after Manchester United ‘s poor 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.Source: Getty Images
Amorim’s decision to play without Rashford for the third consecutive game will face fresh scrutiny after United’s wretched performance.
Amorim surprisingly omitted the 27-year-old England forward from the squad for United’s win at Manchester City last weekend, prompting Rashford to hint he was willing to leave the club for a “new challenge”.
Again, United were exposed at set-pieces in the 29th minute when Bournemouth’s teenage defender Dean Huijsen punished poor marking at a free-kick to glance a header past goalkeeper Andre Onana.
There was even worse to come for Amorim in the second half as Justin Kluivert doubled fifth-placed Bournemouth’s advantage with a 61st minute penalty following Noussair Mazraoui’s foul on the forward.
Antoine Semenyo compounded United’s misery two minutes later with a cool finish from Dango Ouattara’s pass.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca speaks with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after a stalemate at Everton.Source: AFP
With Liverpool playing in Sunday’s late game, second-placed Chelsea would have gone top, for at least a few hours, if they had won at Everton.
But Enzo Maresca’s side had to settle for a goalless stalemate that ended their five-match winning run in the league.
“That was a real game. Everton are one of the best teams in Europe in terms of clean-sheets. We are very happy because this is a tough stadium, not only for us but also in the Premier League,” Maresca said.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira enjoyed a dream debut as his side won 3-0 at relegation rivals Leicester.
Replacing the sacked Gary O’Neil, Pereira made an immediate impact after leaving his role at Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab thanks to goals from Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes and Matheus Cunha.
Third-bottom Wolves are within two points of fourth-bottom Leicester. Bottom-of-the-table Southampton held on for a 0-0 draw at Fulham as new manager Ivan Juric watched from the stands before officially taking charge.
