LIVERPOOL: Liverpool stretched their commanding lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points and advantage over Manchester United to 30 as goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah earned a 2-0 win over their historic rivals at Anfield.
A 13th straight league win since the sides last met at Old Trafford in October continues Liverpool’s relentless run toward a first league title in 30 years, while United remain five points off the top four in fifth.
Liverpool also have a game in hand to come on closest challengers Manchester City and could have been more comfortable winners after seeing two first half goals ruled out and a host of clear chances go astray.
United are the only team to take Premier League points off the European champions this season, but it rarely looked like lightning would strike twice once the hosts went in front on 14 minutes.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s game plan was undone by a simple set-piece as Van Dijk rose highest to power home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner.
The Norwegian had set up with a back five, with Luke Shaw forced to deputise out of position as a third center-back, and only a great challenge from the former Southampton left-back denied Sadio Mane a certain second as he burst onto Roberto Firmino’s pass.
Jurgen Klopp’s men did have the ball in the net twice more before the break, but VAR and the offside flag came to United’s rescue to keep the score down.
Firstly, Firmino’s brilliant strike was ruled out as Van Dijk was penalized for an aerial challenge with David de Gea after a VAR review.
Georginio Wijnaldum then slotted past the Spaniard after a brilliant through ball from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the Dutchman had strayed marginally offside.
Shorn of injured top scorer Marcus Rashford, United failed to even muster a shot in anger for the first 40 minutes until Anthony Martial pulled his effort wide of the near post.
However, they could easily have been level against the run of play moments later when Andreas Pereira could not stretch to turn home Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s ball across the face of the goal.
At the other end, De Gea had one more key intervention before the break as he saved with his feet from Mane’s driven effort.
United rode their luck even more at the start of the second half as Salah somehow skewed wide from point-blank range before Jordan Henderson smashed a shot off the post.
But Liverpool’s failure to put the game to bed could have cost them when Martial blazed over United’s best chance of the game after a well-worked one-two with Pereira just before the hour mark.
Just like in the 1-0 win at Tottenham last weekend Liverpool tired in the final 20 minutes, with Klopp forced to withdraw Mane and Firmino to bolster the midfield.
However, the hosts held out for a seventh consecutive clean sheet in all competitions and took another giant step toward the title as Salah secured the three points with virtually the last kick of the game.
The Egyptian was picked out by goalkeeper Alisson Becker and ran from inside his own half before slotting under De Gea.
Goals from Salah and van Dijk see Liverpool brush aside Man Utd
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Goals from Salah and van Dijk see Liverpool brush aside Man Utd
- Salah ran from inside his own half before slotting under De Gea
- Liverpool’s relentless run toward a first league title in 30 years continues
Owen Edwards surges into share of lead with stunning 63 at Madinaty
- Welshman joins overnight leader Juan Salama on 12 under, setting up final-round showdown at the Egypt Golf Series event
CAIRO: Welshman Owen Edwards fired a 7-under-par 63 on Wednesday to join overnight leader Juan Salama on 12-under at the top of the leaderboard heading into Thursday’s third and final round of the Egypt Golf Series event at Madinaty.
Edwards, who began the day seven shots behind Salama, produced the round of the day at Madinaty Golf Club in Cairo to set up a thrilling conclusion to the finale of the two-week, four-event series. He was steady through the opening stretch before catching fire on his back nine (the front nine on the scorecard), where he picked up six birdies to storm into contention.
“It was a bit of a tale of two halves,” said Edwards. “We went out early at 7:30 a.m., so it was dewy and colder to start and I wasn’t quite feeling it. But then momentum kicked in and I hit some really good shots when it mattered.
“The key moment was probably the second hole; it was tricky, with the wind pushing toward the water, for me as a lefty but I hit a 7-iron to 4 feet and that really got things going.
“Playing four events in a row has helped massively. Back home it’s hard to get competitive rounds, so to come out here and get 12 proper tournament rounds makes a huge difference and gives you confidence that you’re ready for the next part of the season.
“The prize funds and opportunities on the MENA Golf Tour are unbelievable; it’s proper competition and a great experience.”
Salama, who set a course record with a sensational 60 in the opening round, showed resilience on day two to card a 2-under 68 despite a shaky spell mid-round. Back-to-back bogeys at the first and second (his 10th and 11th holes of the day) threatened to undo his good work, but the Spaniard responded with three birdies over the last seven holes to maintain a share of the lead.
“It was definitely a different day today and it wasn’t easy coming back after shooting so low yesterday,” Salama said. “I knew everything happened for a reason, so I expected it to be tougher. The magic was still there but I just couldn’t hole the putts I made yesterday or leave it quite as close. Still, I think 2 under par is a good score today and it gives me a chance going into tomorrow.”
The winner of last week’s Egypt Golf Series event at Al-Marassi Golf Club in El-Alamein, Jack Davidson, kept himself firmly in the hunt with a bogey-free round of 66 to sit in third place, two shots back on 10-under. He will join Salama and Edwards in the final group to tee off on Thursday.
“Playing again with Jack is amazing, and to be alongside one of the best players on the MENA Golf Tour is something really special for me and I’m going to fight as hard as I can,” Salama said.
Argentina’s Gaston Bertinotti is on his own in fourth place on the leaderboard on 9-under after a 66 on Wednesday, with Italy’s Ludovico Addabbo and England’s Oliver Sullivan sharing fifth at 8-under. Sullivan’s round of 65 was a story of extremes: seven birdies offset by a double bogey at the par-3 15th.
Addabbo’s position on the leaderboard is significant in the context of the MENA Golf Tour Rankings; with top-ranked Chris Wood absent this week as he competes at the Qatar Masters, a strong finish could see the Italian close the gap on him at the top of the standings.
Jordan Wrisdale and Ben Jones, both from England, share seventh place at 7 under, alongside Ireland's Alex Maguire, who birdied the last hole on Wednesday as he recorded a round of 66.
