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Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1: Arne Slot triumphs in first big test as Reds manager to lay down gauntlet in title race

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Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1: Arne Slot triumphs in first big test as Reds manager to lay down gauntlet in title race

IF Thomas Tuchel tuned in to witness this heavyweight Premier League battle, there would have been one man who made him sit up and take notice.

And while there were six Englishmen in the starting line-up of his former club Chelsea, it was Liverpool’s match-winner Curtis Jones who demanded his attention.

Curtis Jones celebrating his winner in a match full of VAR drama

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Curtis Jones celebrating his winner in a match full of VAR dramaCredit: PA
Jones beat the offside trap to restore Liverpool's lead on 51 minutes

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Jones beat the offside trap to restore Liverpool’s lead on 51 minutesCredit: PA

At 23, and into his fifth season as a regular Anfield first-teamer, it is surprising that Scouser Jones is yet to win a full England cap.

Many more performances like this and Jones will not be ignored by new Three Lions boss Tuchel.

Jones did not just net the winner early in the second half to send Liverpool back to the top of the table, but he won the penalty for Mo Salah’s opener, was originally awarded a second spot-kick, and produced an outstanding all-round display.

It was Liverpool’s seventh straight win in all competitions and their 10th in 11 outings under Arne Slot, as they re-asserted their one-point lead over champions Manchester City at the start of a run of demanding fixtures.

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For Chelsea, it was the end of a seven-match unbeaten run but a performance with plenty of positives for Enzo Maresca, who is bringing sanity to the Stamford Bridge madhouse.

Neither Slot nor Maresca seem inclined to spit poison as Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez often did during the golden age of the rivalry between these clubs.

Both new managers had enjoyed fine starts but both had been helped by relatively gentle fixture lists.

Maresca welcomed back skipper Reece James after an injury lay-off of almost a year, while Romeo Lavia was brought in for a rare start alongside Moises Caicedo – both midfielders having snubbed Liverpool for the Blues last year.

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Nicolas Jackson slotted Chelsea level, after an offside ruling was overturned

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Nicolas Jackson slotted Chelsea level, after an offside ruling was overturnedCredit: AFP

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From the off it was testy and tempestuous with ref John Brooks the centre of attention.

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First up, Tosin Adarabioyo pulled down Diogo Jota just inside the Chelsea half but with Levi Colwill covering the Chelsea defender escaped with a yellow card – narrowly avoiding the same fate as Arsenal’s William Saliba the previous day.

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Next Jadon Sancho went down after a tangle with Trent Alexander-Arnold but Brooks turned down his penalty appeals. Chelsea were playing some neat stuff early on.

Noni Madueke, who was giving kittens to Andy Robertson, teed up for Cole Palmer, whose shot was blocked by Jones. But then the Liverpool penalty shouts began to rain down.

Salah went down under pressure from Colwill but the Egyptian was too obvious in looking for spot-kick.

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Slot earned a yellow for dissent but he didn’t have to wait long for a successful spot-kick appeal against Colwill.

This time Colwill tripped Jones and Brooks pointed to the spot, Salah hammering home and sending Robert Sanchez the wrong way after plenty of Chelsea delaying tactics.

It was Salah’s seventh goal of the season and a kick in the wotsits for the club which allowed him to leave early in his career.

Jota, struggling after an early knock, was replaced by Darwin Nunez but soon Liverpool thought they had doubled their lead.

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A poor kick from Sanchez put Chelsea under pressure and a slick move from Jones to Salah to Cody Gakpo, netting at the back stick, came to nothing courtesy of an offside flag.

Maresca was hopping mad when Nicolas Jackson angled a shot narrowly wide of the near post when he might have aimed across goal.

Tosin Adarabioyo escaped with a yellow card for this challenge on Diogo Jota

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Tosin Adarabioyo escaped with a yellow card for this challenge on Diogo JotaCredit: X
Robert Sanchez couldn't keep out Mo Salah's penalty opener

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Robert Sanchez couldn’t keep out Mo Salah’s penalty openerCredit: Getty

In first-half injury-time, Nunez slipped a pass to Jones, who kippered Tosin with his turn and was brought down by an on-rushing Sanchez.

Brooks pointed to the spot again but was sent to his screen by VAR Michael Oliver who spotted that Sanchez touched the ball before the man.

The on-field ref concurred with his more senior colleague in Stockley Park – but Sanchez had got lucky – it was a subjective call and the ‘light touch’ VAR approach appears to be fading, as most refereeing edicts do.

Before the break, Madueke teased Robertson again and laid back for Palmer, who shot over.It was a warning shot for Liverpool but one they didn’t heed because Chelsea were soon level at the start of the second.

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Caicedo’s through-ball was met by a perfectly-timed run from Jackson who drilled past Caoimhin Kelleher – although Oliver was needed again to overturn an incorrect offside call.

Slot’s men were straight back at it, though, and regained their lead within 76 seconds.

Salah’s low centre was met with a Jones surge to the back post, where he cheated the offside trap, controlled and poked past Sanchez.

Maresca, who had sent on Pedro Neto for Sancho at half-time, responded with a triple substitution – introducing Enzo Fernandez, Benoit Badiashile and Renato Veiga.

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But Liverpool were sensible in managing their slim lead.

Jones departed ten minutes from time to a standing ovation – and Tuchel might even have got off his sofa to applaud him as well.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls out of third successive tournament as he withdraws from Northern Ireland Open at last minute

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Ronnie O'Sullivan pulls out of third successive tournament as he withdraws from Northern Ireland Open at last minute

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open.

The seven-time world champion made the move due to medical reasons.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open, marking the third event in a row he has withdrawn from

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Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open, marking the third event in a row he has withdrawn fromCredit: Getty

The Belfast event started yesterday.

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But O’Sullivan‘s withdrawal marks the third straight tournament he has missed out on.

It comes after he sat out the British Open and the Wuhan Open.

The World Snooker Tour confirmed the news on Sunday.

As a result of the withdrawal, his first-round opponent, Long Zehuang, was handed a bye into the round of 32.

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The Rocket had lost three previous Northern Ireland Open finals to Judd Trump between 2018 and 2020.

O’Sullivan had also withdrawn from last year’s event due to medical reasons.

The world No5 has not played competitively since being knocked out of the first round of the English Open on 17 September – which saw him harshly brand himself “useless” and “embarrassing”.

O’Sullivan has hinted at retirement several times this year.

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He recently announced a new side hustle by opening a snooker academy in Saudi Arabia.

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O’Sullivan also revealed how he would have pursued a career in motorsport if he never pursued a career in snooker.

You can find all the latest updates on the Northern Ireland Open by reading SunSport’s snooker blog HERE.

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FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O’Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.

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Skate America: Great Britain’s Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear win gold in Grand Prix event

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Skate America: Great Britain's Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear win gold in Grand Prix event

Great Britain’s Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear won gold in the ice dance at Skate America in the first ISU Grand Prix of the season.

The pair beat defending ISU world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the United States by a fraction of a point in Allen, Texas, while Spain’s Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck finished third.

In January, Gibson and Fear won silver for a second consecutive year in the ice dance at the European Figure Skating Championships.

“We were so proud to be up there on the podium. It was definitely a heartwarming moment, especially to be surrounded by our amazing team-mates,” said Fear of the other two pairs she trains alongside.

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Gibson and Fear led after the rhythm dance and finished second in the free dance for an overall score of 206.38 points, with Chock and Bates second on 205.63.

The six-leg Grand Prix series continues on Friday with Skate Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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2024 World Series: Yankees vs. Dodgers Preview | MLB on FOX

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2024 World Series: Yankees vs. Dodgers Preview




The “MLB on FOX” crew preview the New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series.



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Gruesome moment ice hockey star snaps bent finger back into place after punching rival numerous times in head

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Gruesome moment ice hockey star snaps bent finger back into place after punching rival numerous times in head

FANS were left squirming after an ice hockey star appeared to snap his bent finger back into place during a game.

The incident occurred during the American Hockey League clash between the Laval Rocket and Syracuse Crunch on Friday.

An American Hockey League player had his finger bent out of place during a brawl

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An American Hockey League player had his finger bent out of place during a brawlCredit: X
Vincent Arseneau appeared to snap his ginger back into place on the ice

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Vincent Arseneau appeared to snap his ginger back into place on the iceCredit: X

Rocket left wing Vincent Arseneau was left with a gruesome injury after a brawl with Crunch star Kale Kessy.

Officials had to separate the pair before either of them fell to the ice, with one of Arseneau’s fingers appearing to be bent the other way afterwards.

The 32-year-old could then be seen snapping it back into place as he made his way to the penalty box.

Despite attempting to correct his injury, the Canadian did not return to the action as his side went on to win 5-2.

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He also missed the rematch between the two teams on Saturday, which the Rocket also won 1-0.

Fans were left stunned by the incident on social media after Friday’s clash.

Reacting on X, one supporter wrote: “That’s a hockey player right there.”

Another added: “Tell me you’re a hockey player without telling me you’re a hockey player.”

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Meanwhile, a third fan also commented: “I did not need this visual.”

The Rocket, an affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, are in action once again this weekend.

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They take on the Utica Comets at home on Friday before facing them away the following day.

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It is not yet known whether Arseneau will make his return to the ice in either of those games.

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Ulster Rugby: In-form Jacob Stockdale a ‘very different’ player to 2018

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Ulster Rugby: In-form Jacob Stockdale a 'very different' player to 2018

With Andy Farrell set to name his Ireland squad for next month’s four Test matches on Wednesday, Stockdale is expected to be included in the panel for games against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia.

Whether he can displace Leinster’s James Lowe on the left wing for what would be a first cap since before the last World Cup will be another matter.

Either way, Stockdale feels he has done all he can to put himself in the frame

“Whether I play or not, obviously I want to, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t really matter to a certain degree as I’m doing what I can out on the pitch at the moment.

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“I feel like I’m doing everything I can to warrant getting an opportunity.

“If it doesn’t come, it doesn’t come but I’m feeling good.”

Indeed, perhaps the only way he could be preparing for Ireland camp in a better frame of mind would be if he was coming in off a career hat-trick.

Between his first and second scores against Ospreys on Friday night, he had dotted down once more only to have the try chalked off by the TMO for a forward pass after both the conversion and restart.

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“I was a bit unhappy, to say the least,” he said.

“It seems a bit crazy to me to hit the conversion and hit the restart and then get brought back for the TMO.

“Where does it end? Is it going to be at a point where we’re 15 minutes later and someone says, ‘oh, that try you scored earlier doesn’t count anymore’.

“I don’t know, fair enough if it’s forward, but it needs to be called earlier.”

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Kyle Larson after recovering to 11th: ‘Nothing has gone very clean for us’

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