The Nation Newspaper

Tag: liverpool

  • EPL: Liverpool  crush City to open 11 points lead

    EPL: Liverpool  crush City to open 11 points lead

    Liverpool took another step towards the Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Manchester City after talisman Mohamed Salah scored their first goal and set up Dominik Szoboszlai for the second as they went 11 points clear at the top.

    Arne Slot’s side have 64 points from 27 matches ahead of second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand. City are fourth on 44 as their early-season quest for a fifth consecutive title has unravelled into a chase for a Champions League berth.

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    Salah struck his league-leading 25thC goal of the season in the 14th  minute following a corner with a blistering shot from near the top of box that deflected off the outstretched foot of City defender Nathan Ake past goalkeeper Ederson.

    Szoboszlai took advantage of City’s atrocious defending to double the lead in the 37th . Salah found the unmarked Hungarian in the box for an easy pass into the net to the dismay of City fans, whose dismal mood was matched by the driving rain.

  • Things to know as City take on league leaders Liverpool 

    Things to know as City take on league leaders Liverpool 

    Pep Guardiola’s side faces their old rivals in a crucial showdown for both teams.

    Manchester City, currently fourth in the table, will be eager to solidify their position in the Champions League spots. While their title hopes are fading, they will be keen to disrupt their opponent’s ambitions on Sunday.

    City heads into the clash on the back of a dominant 4-0 victory over Newcastle last weekend but will be looking to bounce back from their midweek European exit against Real Madrid.

    Football fans can expect high-stakes action, with Egyptian stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush set to feature in the contest.

    Here are few things to know ahead of the contest 

    1. Manchester City have lost just one of their last 15 Premier League home games against Liverpool (W8 D6), going down 4-1 in November 2015 under Manuel Pellegrini.

    2. Following their 2-0 win at Anfield in December, Liverpool are looking to complete the Premier League double over Manchester City for just the third time (also 2005-06 and 2015-16).

    3. Liverpool have achieved the Premier League double over the reigning champions six times previously, more than any other side in the competition’s history (vs Blackburn in 1995-96, Man Utd in 2000-01, 2001-02, 2008-09 and 2013-14, and Chelsea in 2010-11).

    4. Since Christmas, only Liverpool and Arsenal have won more points in the Premier League than Manchester City (17 – W5 D2 L1). In their eight games beforehand, City picked up only four points (W1 D1 L6).

    Read Also: FULL LIST: UCL: Madrid face Atlético, PSG host Liverpool, other last 16 draw

    5. Liverpool are unbeaten in each of their last 13 Premier League games played on a Sunday (W11 D2) while scoring multiple goals in each of those matches, since a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in April 2024.

    Manchester City vs Liverpool – Predicted lineup and team news

    Manchester City Predicted Lineup

    Man City predicted XI: Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Nico, Kovacic, Silva; Foden, Marmoush, Haaland.

    Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota

    When is Manchester City vs Liverpool?

    KO: 5:30pm 

    Venue: Etihad Stadium

    Bet Predictions 

    Over 1.5 goals 

  • Liverpool ready for last battle at Goodison Park, says Slot

    Liverpool ready for last battle at Goodison Park, says Slot

    Liverpool are ready for their 122nd  and final battle at local rival Everton’s Goodison Park, manager Arne Slot said, adding that his side are eager to bounce back from their shock FA Cup defeat by Plymouth Argyle.

    Today’s Premier League match, originally scheduled for December 7, was postponed due to Storm Darragh. Everton will bid farewell to Goodison Park, first opened in 1892, at the end of this season and move to the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.

    Liverpool lead the league standings on 56 points, six ahead of second-placed Arsenal while Everton are 16th  with 26.

    “I think it’s an extra reason why the atmosphere will be even better than all the ones before. I haven’t been to one before but people tell me at Goodison Park, as at Anfield, it is always a fantastic atmosphere,” Slot told reporters.

    “I assume our players are ready for another battle tomorrow for the simple reason that they have been ready for the whole season and many of them are experienced in this tie.

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    “We have to show a different side of us tomorrow because (losing at Plymouth) was not acceptable and not just that but the performance was far from what Liverpool standards are as well.”

    Liverpool were defeated 2-0 at Everton in their last trip under their former managers Juergen Klopp and Sean Dyche. David Moyes, who took over at Everton last month in his second spell in charge, has won three of his last four league matches.

    “David did incredibly well (in his first term there) but in the last few seasons, Everton were not competing for top four anymore. They are definitely in a better place than a few months ago,” Slot said.

    Everton won 1-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion and 4-0 at home against Leicester City in their last two league games. They have kept nine clean sheets in the league this season, trailing only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest (who have 10 each).

    Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has been ruled out of the match, and right back Trent Alexander-Arnold is a doubt, Slot said.

    Alexander-Arnold has missed Liverpool’s last two games with a thigh injury and Gomez was forced off in the early stages of Sunday’s loss at Plymouth.

    “Trent has done parts of a training session with us yesterday, not ‘sessions’. So, let’s see how he is today. He will train, hopefully, with us again and we will decide if we can take him to the game,” Slot said.

  • Second-tier Plymouth stop Liverpool’s quadruple dream

    Second-tier Plymouth stop Liverpool’s quadruple dream

    Liverpool’s quest for a quadruple came to a crashing halt as they were dumped out of the FA Cup 1-0 by Championship strugglers Plymouth.

    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.

    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.

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    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.

    Hardie kept his cool to drill home the penalty after Harvey Elliott handled Darko Gyabi’s flick on 53 minutes.

    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 Jarell Quansah’s headed deep into nine minutes of stoppage time.

  • Carabao Cup : Arsenal, Liverpool seek final spot live on GOtv

    Carabao Cup : Arsenal, Liverpool seek final spot live on GOtv

    Premier League title contenders Arsenal and Liverpool face uphill battles as they seek to overturn first-leg deficits in their Carabao Cup semifinal clashes.

    Arsenal, trailing 2-0 from the first leg against Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium, must produce a strong performance at St. James’ Park today to stand a chance of reaching the final at Wembley.

    Mikel Arteta’s side has lost three of their last four visits to Newcastle, including a 1-0 league defeat earlier this season. However, Arteta remains optimistic, stating, “Nothing is impossible. We have to go there with the mindset to turn the tie.” Fans can watch the match live on GOtv Channel 65 at 9 pm tonight.

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    Defending champions Liverpool will host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield tomorrow, looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. The Reds boast a strong home record against Spurs, having won four of their last five encounters at Anfield. The match will be live on GOtv channel 65 at 9 pm on Thursday.

    Arne Slot’s team, chasing a historic quadruple, will be eager to keep their dream alive in front of a passionate home crowd. Liverpool thrashed Spurs 6-3 in the league earlier this season, and a similar result would comfortably send them to the final.

    Meanwhile, Spurs, without a major trophy since winning the Carabao Cup in 2008, are hoping to end their drought. Manager Ange Postecoglou, who has a history of securing silverware in his second season, will be determined to guide his side to the final.

    GOtv subscribers can take advantage of the Step-Up offer to enjoy more football action across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, Europa League, and Carabao Cup matches. Customers on the Jolli package who upgrade to Max will be automatically upgraded to Supa, while those upgrading to Supa will gain access to Supa Plus at no extra cost. The offer is available until March 31.

  • EPL: Gakpo scores twice as Liverpool beat Ipswich

    EPL: Gakpo scores twice as Liverpool beat Ipswich

    Cody Gakpo scored twice as Liverpool comfortably saw off struggling Ipswich to maintain their six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.

    The Reds scored three goals in the first half to effectively end the game as a contest, and even looked like going eight clear with a game in hand until 10-man Arsenal beat Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

    Nevertheless Liverpool did what they had to do to stay on course for a second league title in six years, with Gakpo scoring in either half, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah also netted.

    Ipswich were thrashed 6-0 at home by reigning champions Manchester City in their last outing and arrived at Anfield clearly determined to avoid a similar scoreline.

    They barely offered any attacking threat as they sat deep to try to frustrate Liverpool, but their resistance lasted just 11 minutes as an incisive attack by the Reds opened them up, Ibrahima Konate threading a ball through to Szoboszlai, who drove a shot in at the near post.

    Salah has accounted for the majority of Liverpool’s goals at Anfield, so it was no surprise when he got on the scoresheet 10 minutes before the break, firing into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

    A third duly arrived just before the break when Szoboszlai’s shot was parried and Gakpo was on hand to turn in the loose ball.

    The second half was largely a non-event with the damage already done, but Gakpo added a fourth when he powered in a header.

    The travelling fans were given something to celebrate in stoppage time when Jacob Greaves headed home a consolation from a corner.

    Ipswich remain 18th, level on points with Wolves in 17th.

  • Dad faults Liverpool’s Slot over ‘exciting’ football

    Dad faults Liverpool’s Slot over ‘exciting’ football

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot joked  that his father sometimes complains that his football is not “exciting” enough.

    The Premier League leaders, six points clear of second-placed Arsenal, play relegation-threatened Ipswich today but the Dutchman is expecting a difficult game.

     “They’ve been a bit unlucky sometimes in the last moments of games,” said Slot, who faced Ipswich in his first game in charge at Anfield in August, winning 2-0. “The second half of the season is always more difficult than the first half because some teams strengthen themselves during the winter break.

     “Many teams work with their manager for half a season and that normally leads to a team becoming better.”

    Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich have had the occasional encouraging result but last week they were hammered 6-0 by Manchester City.

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    Slot was asked at his pre-match press conference whether Liverpool fans would expect a similar result at Anfield.

     “That is difficult for fans, and my father is a fan as well, and when I call him after the game he can also say it wasn’t as exciting as other games of Liverpool when he watched the game against Lille (a 2-1 Champions League win in midweek),” he said.

     “And then I have to try to explain to him that these games you can easily lose if you’re starting to force all kinds of difficult balls. But he’s not always agreeing with me.

     “But as a manager I was quite happy with our performance against Lille, because they were a team that are so well-organised and so much control.”

  • EPL: Late Nunez double snatches Liverpool win at Brentford

    EPL: Late Nunez double snatches Liverpool win at Brentford

    Substitute Darwin Nunez scored a late double to guide Liverpool to victory at Brentford and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points.

    It looked like Liverpool’s wait for a league win in 2025 was going to stretch to three games until Nunez stepped up in stoppage time.

    Nunez grabbed the opener in the 91st minute with a simple finish from close range after meeting a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

    The Uruguay forward scored again two minutes later, showing patience in a crowded area to round off a counter-attack as Brentford were caught short in defence.

    Despite taking so long to break the deadlock, Liverpool had dominated possession and territory for large periods and were fully deserving of all three points.

    Dominik Szoboszlai saw an effort crash off the top of the crossbar in the first half and Luis Diaz should have made better of an attempt with his head after emerging unmarked at the far post.

    Brentford were happy to sit deep and soak up pressure but struggled to pose any serious threat on the counter, with striker Bryan Mbeumo left isolated.

    Liverpool maintained complete control of the tempo in the latter stages as Brentford dropped ever deeper, but lacked the potency in front of goal which they oozed in the first half of the season until Nunez delivered the decisive blows.

    Victory gives the league leaders further breathing space over second-placed Arsenal, who face Aston Villa at 17:30 GMT, while Brentford stay 11th.

  • Liverpool, Forest cruise into FA Cup 4th round

    Liverpool, Forest cruise into FA Cup 4th round

    Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning strike lit up Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley to cruise into the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday as Chelsea thrashed Morecambe 5-0.

    Brentford were the only Premier League side to fall to lower league opposition as Plymouth, who sit bottom of the Championship, stunned the Bees 1-0 thanks to Morgan Whittaker’s late winner.

    There was never any hint of an upset at Anfield despite Arne Slot making eight changes for Liverpool.

    Read Also: Tosin Adarabioyo scores twice in Chelsea FA Cup win

    Alexander-Arnold was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk and led by example after a being criticised for his display in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last weekend.

    Ryan Yates, the Forest captain, was the driving force for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, and scored the first goal for the Premier League high-fliers, a stooping header after a fine cross from Ramón Sosa to stop Exeter 2-0.

    The Paraguayan then scored Forest’s second himself, sliding in from close range after Jota Silva’s pass from the right wing to follow up six consecutive Premier League wins with a comfortable stroll into the next round.

  • Arsenal, Liverpool in Carabao Cup Semifinals Live on GOtv

    Arsenal, Liverpool in Carabao Cup Semifinals Live on GOtv

    The race for the first silverware of the 2024/25 season intensifies as Premier League leaders Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal will be in Carabao Cup semi-finals action this midweek.

    Arsenal will host Newcastle United in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium today, while Liverpool travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow. Both matches will be broadcast live on GOtv Channel 65 at 9 PM.

    Fresh from their impressive 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday, Newcastle will aim to build on their momentum and secure a favorable result ahead of the second leg at St. James’ Park. The Magpies have already defeated Arsenal 1-0 earlier this season, and another strong performance could leave the Gunners with a steep hill to climb in the second leg.

    Newcastle will be without their influential captain, Bruno Guimarāes due to suspension, while Arsenal battle with illness issues in the squad which has seen Kai Havertz miss the last two matches.

    Arsenal, who haven’t lifted the Carabao Cup in 31 years, view this competition as a vital chance for silverware, especially with their league title hopes fading.

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    On the other side of North London, Tottenham Hotspur face defending champions Liverpool, hoping to avoid a repeat of their 6-3 thrashing by their visitors just 17 days ago. Spurs have managed just one win in their last eight matches at home in all competitions—a narrow 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the quarterfinal. Their last taste of silverware came 17 years ago when they won this competition.

    Meanwhile, Liverpool, who have lost just one match all season, are chasing an ambitious quadruple. A victory over Spurs on Wednesday would put them on the brink of securing a spot in the final at Wembley.

    Football fans can enjoy all Carabao Cup matches, Premier League, Serie A, Laliga and Champions League action live by reconnecting or upgrading to the GOtv Super Plus package. Simply dial *288# to renew or upgrade your subscription.