ARNE SLOT insisted the era of heavy metal football was over – yet for two madcap, marauding moments the speakers went back on.
For no more than a flash and a flicker…but still enough to send Liverpool five points clear after a Red arrows raid that had all the hallmarks of the previous Anfield gaffer.
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A couple of rampant end-to-end counter thrusts served up every week under Jurgen Klopp, finished by a Darwin Nunez piledriver and a magical Mo Salah clip for a 2-0 win.
Ever since Slot stepped into Klopp’s shoes, the gameplan has been more methodical than mayhem. The days of 100mph, in-your-face football aren’t the Dutchman’s style.
How ironic, then, that it took a breakaway goal straight from the Klopp handbook for them to find a way to break the deadlock.
A length-of-the-field assault stemming from a Villa corner, and a finish which threatened to take the net from its moorings.
It was certainly enough to send Anfield wild. Although to be fair, that stunning Brighton win had got this place buzzing half an hour before they even kicked off on Merseyside.
You know those famous European evenings they speak of so fondly here? Well there was a very similar air to events last night, thanks to that result at the Amex Stadium.
It was as though every Kopite realised that what they initially felt would be just one more step down a nine-month journey, could actually be a giant stride instead.
Make no mistake, there was that feel about it all. Knowing this was a chance to open up daylight on City going into the international break.
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Against a side whose form as they arrived in town couldn’t have offered a starker contrast to the Reds, either after four games without a win – the last three of them losses.
The perfect setting for an Anfield onslaught, you thought. For Liverpool to tear out of the traps and put their opponents on the canvas before they know it.
Only the 2024-25 version doesn’t tend to do that. It is a more measured, pick-your-moments one.
Mind you, when those moments arrive, the end product is just as devastating as any of those blow-your-socks off days under Klopp. As we saw after 20 minutes.
Liverpool were actually defending a corner when it broke to Virgil van Dijk a couple of yards outside his own box.
The Reds skipper didn’t need to pause, didn’t need to look up. He knew Mo Salah would be on his bike and clipped the most measured of balls for the Egyptian.
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Salah went stumbling courtesy of the backtracking Leon Bailey…but not before he had slid a pass forward to Darwin Nunez.
And although a rather hefty first touch initially seemed to have taken him too wide as he rounded keeper Emi Martinez, Nunez spun and smashed in the opener.
In a nano-second yells for Bailey to be sent off turned to screams of celebration at the breakthrough.
And credit to referee David Coote as well, for letting play continue when Bailey laid a hand on Salah’s back.
Although perhaps that is being a little kind to the official, as it was hard to say whether he was waving play on or to signal there had been no foul by the Villa man.
Thank Heavens, then, that Nunez buried the chance. No case to answer…and no chance of keeping out a thunderbolt that nearly took the net from its moorings.
Only a second Prem goal of the season for the Uruguayan forward – and ten minutes later he really should have been celebrating a third.
Again it stemmed from a Villa corner, and again they were sliced open by a lightning strike. Excusable once, but a second time? No wonder manager Emery looked ready to explode.
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He surely would have done if the finish from Nunez had been as deadly as his first, too, when Salah once more sent him scooting clear.
But this time, for all it was a far kinder angle to the left of the penalty spot, he blazed over and Villa breathed again.
You still never really felt it would come back to haunt Liverpool. Yet minutes later it so very nearly did.
Again it was a Villa corner, but this time Lucas Digne’s delivery found Amadou Onana’s head, and Caoimhin Kelleher produced a fine reaction save to tip it over.
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And the Liverpool keeper did the same again soon after, when Digne whipped over another that would have gone in without a touch had he not been so alert.
Just as Ryan Gravenberch was when he threw himself to block Ollie Watkins when he seemed certain to bury the follow-up.
The lead remained intact – but not until four minutes from time could they ever relax. And wouldn’t you know, it took another full length raid to bring it about.
There was a hefty slice of luck when Diego Carlos headed against Salah on halfway, and the Kop striker went streaking through.
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But there was nothing fortunate about his finish, waiting for Martinez to commit before dinking into the far corner.
Job done – once it was confirmed, with Pau Torres laughingly trying to claim a penalty at the other end – and five points clear.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill believes that Charles “deserves” the chance to lead the team out at a raucous Windsor Park as a reward for his consistent form.
“For me it was an easy decision, Shea is a player since we have put in the team that has taken huge responsibility, putting an armband around him doesn’t change that,” he added.
O’Neill is confident that Charles has the qualities both on and off the pitch to thrive in the role.
“Shea has got the attributes to play at the highest level of the game and the temperament to do so and that is what you look for as a captain.
“Whether he has the armband or not he is going to be a leader on the pitch and since I have come in he has been available for every game, played every game so as a manager what more can you ask for.”
The manager also feels that Charles playing regular first team football in the Championship – on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Southampton – has only helped his game.
“The biggest benefit to Shea playing in the Championship has been his improvement in his ability without the ball. We all know his abilities with the ball, but he has really improved without the ball,” O’Neill continued.
“Shea doesn’t need coached he needs games, the more games he plays will just elevate him.”
Luke Littler produced a stunning fightback to beat Mike de Decker 10-9 and reach the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.
The 17-year-old was 9-7 down and on the brink of exiting the tournament, but won three consecutive legs to secure a meeting with Jermaine Wattimena.
Littler had taken a 2-0 lead but De Decker got on level terms, then seemed to have the momentum as the match wore on.
The Belgian built an 8-4 cushion but Littler rallied with an 11-dart leg.
De Decker had a chance to win with a checkout of 170, but missed the bullseye before Littler squared the match at 9-9.
In the deciding leg Littler held his nerve and nailed treble 18, double 16, to seal victory and a place in the last eight.
“I don’t know if I enjoyed that. I’ve got to feel for Mike. I didn’t think I was in the game, but I know I can always switch that gear,” Littler told Sky Sports.
“Early on I was at my normal pace but towards the end I was taking an extra second, and that helped me. I might have to throw like that from now on.
“I didn’t think I could overturn the deficit [in the final session]. I just can’t believe it.”
Earlier in Wolverhampton, Wattimena progressed after winning a 10-9 thriller of his own against Dimitri van den Bergh, while Gian van Veen cruised to a 10-2 win over Ryan Joyce.
Interim ONE strawweight champion Jarred Brooks is set to move up to flyweight for his next fight scheduled against Reece McLaren at the upcoming ONE Fight Night 26 card, which is scheduled on Dec. 6 from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
ONE Championship officials confirmed the pairing to MMA Fighting on Thursday.
It’s an interesting move for Brooks after he held the ONE strawweight title but lost the belt following an illegal slam delivered to Joshua Pacio back in March. Rather than get an immediate rematch, Brooks ended claiming an interim strawweight title by taking out Gustavo Balart by rear naked choke in his next outing in August.
Now Brooks moves up to flyweight where ONE currently doesn’t have a champion following Demetrious Johnson announcing his retirement from the sport in September. He will still hold onto the ONE interim strawweight title.
Since moving to ONE Championship, Brooks has gone 5-1 overall with his only loss coming from that disqualification.
As for McLaren, the 33-year-old veteran is a mainstay in ONE dating back to 2015 when he made his debut for the promotion. A perennial contender throughout his career, McLaren has gone 3-1 in his past four fights with hopes that he can take out Brooks and potentially put his name in the hat to compete for the vacant flyweight title.
ONE Fight Night 26 goes down on Dec. 6 from Thailand with more fights expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
LUKE LITTLER refused to celebrate despite producing an epic comeback to move a step closer to lifting the Grand Slam of Darts this weekend.
The Nuke, 17, maintained his 100 per cent record on his debut appearance as he survived a match dart to knock out Mike De Decker from the last 16 in Wolverhampton.
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The Warrington teen came from 8-4 down to win 10-9 in a last-leg decider in the West Midlands.
And he will now take on Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, who survived EIGHT match darts as he overcame Dimitri Van Den Bergh 10-9 earlier in the evening.
But after booking his spot in the final eight with double eight, Littler looked almost embarrassed to go through as he shook his head and held up his hands in apology.
Littler – who won six of the last seven legs – will take part in a fifth TV major quarter-final.
He said: “The crowd were amazing. I feel for Mike. Personally myself, I didn’t think I was in the game.
“I know I can always switch that gear.
“I threw at my normal pace. And then I was taking one second to release it and that helped.
“I may have to throw like that from now on. I know I have it in me. I cannot believe this.”
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De Decker, 28, is the World Grand Prix champion and is enjoying the year of his life but he lost his bottle in the key moments against the Boy Wonder.
Coming into the contest, Littler’s TV average this year was more than 100 and that highlights the incredible standard he has set in his first season as a professional player.
The Nuke – who was serenaded by the crowd – won the Bull backstage and led 3-2 at the first TV break.
De Decker then turned it around to go 8-4 ahead and even had darts to go 9-5 up.
But he had his wobbles late on – including when he went for the bull to secure a Big Fish finale – and Littler ramped up the pressure and enjoyed some luck to record one of his best wins of 2024.
Gian van Veen crushed Ryan Joyce 10-2 with a 106.45 average, seven 180s and a success rate of more than 50 per cent on his doubles earlier on in the night.
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The ceremonial weigh-ins take place at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, hosts Friday’s fight card (Netflix).
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England head coach Borthwick has made four changes from the side beaten by Australia in their last outing, including the reintroduction of full-back Freddie Steward and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet.
George says both players are “frothing” at the prospect of facing South Africa.
“They are ready to take their opportunity because of all the work they have put in off the field,” he added.
“They have trained brilliantly and the nice thing is they are not coming in with one or two caps. They have played at international level and they are frothing at the bit to get involved.
“Whenever that ball goes in the air, the expectation is to catch the ball. Freddie [Steward] retrieves more ball for us than anyone and he is excellent in that area.
“The South African gameplan lends itself to putting the ball in the air a bit more, but there is no better man to have back there.”
England have not won at home since March when they beat Ireland in the Six Nations and George says the hosts need a result to match their performances.
“We always feel pressure to win,” said the 34-year-old.
“We know that the fans want a win and we want to bring that for them. They have been brilliant and we have spoken a lot about this connection with the fans, but I’m aware the performance only goes so far and we need to bring the result.
“I want the Allianz to believe we can win because we believe we can win.”
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