Sport
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.
7
7
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.
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.
7
7
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
From the off it was testy and tempestuous with ref John Brooks the centre of attention.
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.
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.
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.
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.
7
7
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.
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.
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.
7
The players uniting against the sponsorship have more than 2,300 international caps between them and include England defender Niamh Charles, as well as the captains of Canada and Italy’s national teams.
They have been supported in their campaign by the organisation Athletes of the World, external, which brings together sportspeople to advocate on issues such as climate change and poverty.
Danish international Sofie Junge Pedersen was one of the architects of the letter, external which describes the sponsorship as “worse than an own goal” adding that women’s football “deserves better” from its governing body.
“We would like Fifa to replace Saudi Aramco with other sponsors whose values align more with with gender equality, human rights and a safe planet for everyone,” Pedersen added.
“Then we also suggest that they create a committee with player representation who can be part of deciding which sponsors should be chosen [in the future].”
Both Pedersen and Miedema agree that different sponsors should be sought even if it means the deals are less lucrative for women’s football.
Miedema says that if Aramco remains as a sponsor for the 2027 Women’s World Cup it could lead to further action from players.
“I think you’ve seen over the past couple of years that women’s teams are not scared to stand up for what they believe in.
“You’ve seen boycotts from numerous teams, obviously recently, like with the America team, with the Canadian team, everyone is very open and willing to share their opinions.
“That shows you that going forward, there will be a lot of attention and there will definitely be things happening around the World Cup.”
Carlos Alcaraz said in September the tennis schedule will “kill us in some way” – but can anything be done in a calendar packed with big-money tournaments?
Continue reading with advertising …
… or with a subscription
Visit motorsport.com as usual with advertising and tracking. You can revoke your consent at any time via the data protection page.1
Use motorsport.com without any advertising banners, personalized tracking and commercials for a small fee.
More information about advertising and tracking in our Data protection notice, the List of our partners and in Data protection information center.
Already a subscriber?
Log in here
Sport
Mason Greenwood ends goalscoring drought in style as ex-Man Utd star fires timely reminder to new England boss Tuchel
MASON GREENWOOD ended his goalscoring drought in a timely reminder to new England boss Thomas Tuchel.
The forward made a fast start to life in Ligue 1 after joining Marseille, scoring five goals in his first three games.
1
But Greenwood then went on a barren run of four games without a goal.
However it appears the international break did him good as he returned to form with a goal and an assist in Marseille’s 5-0 demolition of Montpellier.
Greenwood showed devastating pace and trickery to beat his man before firing low past the goalkeeper on his weaker foot to score Marseille’s fourth.
The former Manchester United star has proved himself to be a key player already for Roberto De Zerbi‘s side.
And Greenwood wants to know if his form could lead to an England recall following the appointment of Tuchel, SunSport revealed.
If not, Greenwood will accept Steve McClaren’s invitation to switch allegiance and play for Jamaica.
Greenwood’s international future has been in limbo since he spent 18 months out of the game after being charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour in January 2022. The charges were later dropped.
A source told SunSport: “Mason knows his chances of playing for England again are very slim. But he wants to check with the FA and Tuchel now he has been appointed, to see what they think.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“He is determined to play at the highest level and that means the World Cup.
“So if England don’t want him, he’ll switch to Jamaica and try and get to the 2026 World Cup that way.”
Continue reading with advertising …
… or with a subscription
Visit motorsport.com as usual with advertising and tracking. You can revoke your consent at any time via the data protection page.1
Use motorsport.com without any advertising banners, personalized tracking and commercials for a small fee.
More information about advertising and tracking in our Data protection notice, the List of our partners and in Data protection information center.
Already a subscriber?
Log in here
Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart assesses where their lacklustre defeat at Kilmarnock leaves Rangers.
-
Science & Environment1 month agoHyperelastic gel is one of the stretchiest materials known to science
-
Technology4 weeks agoIs sharing your smartphone PIN part of a healthy relationship?
-
Science & Environment1 month ago‘Running of the bulls’ festival crowds move like charged particles
-
Science & Environment1 month agoHow to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics
-
Science & Environment1 month agoMaxwell’s demon charges quantum batteries inside of a quantum computer
-
Technology1 month agoWould-be reality TV contestants ‘not looking real’
-
Science & Environment4 weeks agoX-rays reveal half-billion-year-old insect ancestor
-
Science & Environment1 month agoSunlight-trapping device can generate temperatures over 1000°C
-
Science & Environment1 month agoLiquid crystals could improve quantum communication devices
-
Science & Environment1 month agoQuantum ‘supersolid’ matter stirred using magnets
-
Womens Workouts4 weeks ago3 Day Full Body Women’s Dumbbell Only Workout
-
Science & Environment1 month agoWhy this is a golden age for life to thrive across the universe
-
Science & Environment1 month agoQuantum forces used to automatically assemble tiny device
-
Science & Environment1 month agoLaser helps turn an electron into a coil of mass and charge
-
TV3 weeks agoসারাদেশে দিনব্যাপী বৃষ্টির পূর্বাভাস; সমুদ্রবন্দরে ৩ নম্বর সংকেত | Weather Today | Jamuna TV
-
Science & Environment1 month agoNerve fibres in the brain could generate quantum entanglement
-
Science & Environment1 month agoHow to wrap your mind around the real multiverse
-
Science & Environment1 month agoA slight curve helps rocks make the biggest splash
-
Technology3 weeks agoUkraine is using AI to manage the removal of Russian landmines
-
Science & Environment1 month agoA new kind of experiment at the Large Hadron Collider could unravel quantum reality
-
Science & Environment1 month agoITER: Is the world’s biggest fusion experiment dead after new delay to 2035?
-
News1 month ago▶️ Hamas in the West Bank: Rising Support and Deadly Attacks You Might Not Know About
-
Business3 weeks ago
DoJ accuses Donald Trump of ‘private criminal effort’ to overturn 2020 election
-
Business2 weeks agoWhen to tip and when not to tip
-
News1 month ago
the pick of new debut fiction
-
Science & Environment1 month agoTime travel sci-fi novel is a rip-roaringly good thought experiment
-
News1 month ago▶️ Media Bias: How They Spin Attack on Hezbollah and Ignore the Reality
-
Science & Environment1 month agoNuclear fusion experiment overcomes two key operating hurdles
-
News4 weeks agoOur millionaire neighbour blocks us from using public footpath & screams at us in street.. it’s like living in a WARZONE – WordupNews
-
Technology4 weeks agoWhy Machines Learn: A clever primer makes sense of what makes AI possible
-
News2 weeks agoNavigating the News Void: Opportunities for Revitalization
-
Technology3 weeks agoMicrophone made of atom-thick graphene could be used in smartphones
-
MMA3 weeks agoJulianna Peña trashes Raquel Pennington’s behavior as champ
-
News2 weeks agoMassive blasts in Beirut after renewed Israeli air strikes
-
Technology2 weeks agoSamsung Passkeys will work with Samsung’s smart home devices
-
News2 weeks ago▶ Hamas Spent $1B on Tunnels Instead of Investing in a Future for Gaza’s People
-
Science & Environment1 month agoPhysicists have worked out how to melt any material
-
Science & Environment1 month agoPhysicists are grappling with their own reproducibility crisis
-
Sport3 weeks agoWorld’s sexiest referee Claudia Romani shows off incredible figure in animal print bikini on South Beach
-
Technology3 weeks agoThis AI video generator can melt, crush, blow up, or turn anything into cake
-
Football3 weeks agoRangers & Celtic ready for first SWPL derby showdown
-
News2 weeks agoHeavy strikes shake Beirut as Israel expands Lebanon campaign
-
TV2 weeks agoLove Island star sparks feud rumours as one Islander is missing from glam girls’ night
-
Sport2 weeks agoCoco Gauff stages superb comeback to reach China Open final
-
Sport2 weeks agoWales fall to second loss of WXV against Italy
-
Sport3 weeks agoBoxing: World champion Nick Ball set for Liverpool homecoming against Ronny Rios
-
MMA3 weeks agoDana White’s Contender Series 74 recap, analysis, winner grades
-
News3 weeks agoHeartbreaking end to search as body of influencer, 27, found after yacht party shipwreck on ‘Devil’s Throat’ coastline
-
MMA2 weeks agoPereira vs. Rountree prediction: Champ chases legend status
-
Sport3 weeks agoSturm Graz: How Austrians ended Red Bull’s title dominance
-
MMA2 weeks ago‘Uncrowned queen’ Kayla Harrison tastes blood, wants UFC title run
-
Business3 weeks ago
Eurosceptic Andrej Babiš eyes return to power in Czech Republic
-
News1 month agoYou’re a Hypocrite, And So Am I
-
Sport1 month agoJoshua vs Dubois: Chris Eubank Jr says ‘AJ’ could beat Tyson Fury and any other heavyweight in the world
-
Technology4 weeks agoMeta has a major opportunity to win the AI hardware race
-
TV3 weeks agoPhillip Schofield accidentally sets his camp on FIRE after using emergency radio to Channel 5 crew
-
News2 weeks agoGerman Car Company Declares Bankruptcy – 200 Employees Lose Their Jobs
-
Technology2 weeks agoTexas is suing TikTok for allegedly violating its new child privacy law
-
TV2 weeks agoMaayavi (මායාවී) | Episode 23 | 02nd October 2024 | Sirasa TV
-
Money2 weeks agoWhy thousands of pensioners WON’T see State Pension rise by full £460 next year
-
MMA2 weeks agoPereira vs. Rountree preview show live stream
-
Technology3 weeks agoAmazon’s Ring just doubled the price of its alarm monitoring service for grandfathered customers
-
Technology3 weeks agoMusk faces SEC questions over X takeover
-
Technology2 weeks agoPopular financial newsletter claims Roblox enables child sexual abuse
-
News2 weeks agoHull KR 10-8 Warrington Wolves – Robins reach first Super League Grand Final
-
News2 weeks agoFamily plans to honor hurricane victim using logs from fallen tree that killed him
-
Technology2 weeks agoA very underrated horror movie sequel is streaming on Max
-
Science & Environment1 month agoRethinking space and time could let us do away with dark matter
-
Science & Environment1 month agoCaroline Ellison aims to duck prison sentence for role in FTX collapse
-
Science & Environment1 month agoA tale of two mysteries: ghostly neutrinos and the proton decay puzzle
-
News1 month ago
The Project Censored Newsletter – May 2024
-
Technology3 weeks agoQuantum computers may work better when they ignore causality
-
Technology3 weeks agoUniversity examiners fail to spot ChatGPT answers in real-world test
-
Health & fitness1 month agoThe secret to a six pack – and how to keep your washboard abs in 2022
-
News1 month agoNew investigation ordered into ‘doorstep murder’ of Alistair Wilson
-
Sport3 weeks agoWatch UFC star deliver ‘one of the most brutal knockouts ever’ that left opponent laid spark out on the canvas
-
Technology3 weeks agoEpic Games CEO Tim Sweeney renews blast at ‘gatekeeper’ platform owners
-
Business3 weeks ago
Bank of England warns of ‘future stress’ from hedge fund bets against US Treasuries
-
Business3 weeks agoChancellor Rachel Reeves says she needs to raise £20bn. How might she do it?
-
MMA3 weeks agoAlex Pereira faces ‘trap game’ vs. Khalil Rountree
-
Football3 weeks agoSimo Valakari: New St Johnstone boss says Scotland special in his heart
-
Technology2 weeks agoApple iPhone 16 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S24+
-
News2 weeks agoReach CEO Jim Mullen: If government advertises with us, we’ll employ more reporters
-
News2 weeks agoBalancing India and China Is the Challenge for Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake
-
Technology2 weeks agoThe best shows on Max (formerly HBO Max) right now
-
Sport2 weeks agoMan City ask for Premier League season to be DELAYED as Pep Guardiola escalates fixture pile-up row
-
Business3 weeks ago
Sterling slides after Bailey says BoE could be ‘a bit more aggressive’ on rates
-
News2 weeks agoHungry customer left gobsmacked as two blokes riding giant HORSES stroll into local chip shop
-
Technology2 weeks agoUlefone Armor Pad 4 Ultra is now available, at a discount
-
News2 weeks agoTrump’s Response To Melania’s Abortion Stance Has Critics Saying Same Damning Thing
-
Business2 weeks ago
Maurice Terzini’s insider guide to Sydney
-
Money2 weeks agoWetherspoons issues update on closures – see the full list of five still at risk and 26 gone for good
-
Politics3 weeks ago
Rosie Duffield’s savage departure raises difficult questions for Keir Starmer. He’d be foolish to ignore them | Gaby Hinsliff
-
Politics2 weeks agoHochul’s careful conversations
-
Football1 month agoMike Williamson: Carlisle United appoint MK Dons boss as head coach
-
Politics1 month ago
UK consumer confidence falls sharply amid fears of ‘painful’ budget | Economics
-
Technology4 weeks agoRobo-tuna reveals how foldable fins help the speedy fish manoeuvre
-
Servers computers4 weeks agoWhat are the benefits of Blade servers compared to rack servers?
-
Technology3 weeks agoArtificial flavours released by cooking aim to improve lab-grown meat
-
Business3 weeks ago
Should London’s tax exiles head for Spain, Italy . . . or Wales?
You must be logged in to post a comment Login