LONDON: Mohamed Salah scored his 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool on Saturday but it was not enough to beat Brentford, which twice pegged the Reds back in a breathless 3-3 draw.
Juergen Klopp’s side was unable to reap the maximum profit from slip-ups by Manchester United and Chelsea earlier in the day as it shared the points with Brentford in early-evening entertainment in west London.
Instead Liverpool moved just one point clear at the top, while preserving the top flight’s only remaining unbeaten record.
And Klopp will be relieved at that after Ivan Toney had what would have been a late winner ruled out for offside.
The German coach will also know his side will not face many tougher trips all season, with vibrant Brentford leading through Ethan Pinnock and, following goals from Diogo Jota and Salah, equalizing through Vitaly Janelt.
Then, when Curtis Jones smashed Liverpool ahead again, Bees sub Yoane Wissa came up with another equalizer.
There was a taste of things to come when both teams were denied by goal-line clearances in the opening 10 minutes.
First, Salah missed out on a seventh-minute opener thanks to a spectacular piece of defending from Kristoffer Ajer, who slid in to hook the ball off the line.
Moments later, at the other end, Bryan Mbeumo latched onto Toney’s flick-on and lifted the ball over Alisson, but this time Joel Matip got back to scoop the ball clear from underneath the crossbar.
Brentford was more than holding its own against the 2020 champion and took the lead in the 27th minute. Spanish winger Sergi Canos — who spent three years at Liverpool as a youngster but played only nine minutes for the first team — got down the Reds’ right and drilled in a low cross that Toney helped on for Pinnock to tap in.
The lead lasted barely three minutes, however, before Jordan Henderson swung in a cross from the right and Jota headed home at the far post.
Seven minutes before the interval, Henderson teed up Jones on the edge of the area and his shot was deflected onto a post by Pinnock.
Jota should have been celebrating his second of the afternoon from the rebound but somehow David Raya got his body in the way of the shot and it flew wide.
After the break Salah grabbed his landmark goal. The Egypt striker was initially flagged offside as he tucked away Fabinho’s ball over the top, but a VAR check showed he was in fact onside.
Back came Brentford, though, and when Pontus Jansson slid in to crash Ajer’s cross onto the bar, Janelt popped up at the far post to force the loose ball home.
Jones blasted Liverpool back in front in the 67th with a low drive that took a deflection in a crowded penalty area as it flew past Raya.
Salah should have had goal No. 101 after he was played in by Sadio Mane but he chipped the ball onto the roof of the net.
Moments later Wissa arrived at the far post and produced a composed finish to equalize yet again, before Toney was denied a late winner by the linesman’s flag.
Salah gets 100th PL goal but Liverpool held 3-3 at Brentford
https://arab.news/nagaq
Salah gets 100th PL goal but Liverpool held 3-3 at Brentford
- Juergen Klopp’s side was unable to reap the maximum profit from slip-ups by Manchester United and Chelsea
- Instead Liverpool moved just one point clear at the top, while preserving the top flight’s only remaining unbeaten record
Newcastle pounce on PSV errors to boost Champions League last-16 bid
- Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes
- PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle climbed into position to reach the Champions League last 16 by punishing PSV Eindhoven’s defensive blunders for a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
Yoane Wissa, on his first Champions League start, and Anthony Gordon struck inside the opening half an hour after the Dutch champions played themselves into trouble.
Harvey Barnes rounded off the scoring for his fifth goal in as many games just after the hour mark.
“I thought it was one of our best individual performances from a lot of the players for a while,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes that forced the Brazilian off just before half-time.
Guimaraes could be a big miss for when Howe’s men make the daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain next week in the final round of league phase fixtures, hoping to secure a top-eight finish.
Newcastle sit in the top eight only on goal difference and will likely need to beat the holders on home soil to avoid the play-off round.
Wissa rewarded Howe’s faith for starting him ahead of Nick Woltemade up front with a goal and an assist on what the DR Congo international described as a “special night.”
Signed from Brentford in September, Wissa spent the majority of his career in the lower tiers of French and English football.
“Honestly, unbelievable. That’s why I joined the club... I almost cried,” said Wissa on hearing the Champions League anthem for the first time on the pitch.
“Very emotional. 29 years old, I never believed to be here and so now I’m enjoying every single minute.”
Wissa swept in his first goal in European competition from Joelinton’s pass after a poor clearance by PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table.
Peter Bosz’s men won 4-1 away at Liverpool and hit Napoli for six earlier in the league phase, but are still at risk of missing out on a place in the top 24, which would secure progress to the play-off round.
The visitors were architects of their own downfall again for the second when Yarek Gasiorowski’s underhit backpass allowed Wissa to square for Gordon to roll into an empty net.
The England international now has six goals in the Champions League this season, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in the battle to be the competition’s top goalscorer.
However, a fine half for the home side ended badly when Guimaraes needed lengthy treatment after colliding with Kovar at a corner and was eventually replaced.
Howe’s options in midfield and defense were already depleted by a lengthy injury list amid a gruelling schedule with Newcastle still alive in four competitions.
However, up front he is spoiled for choice with Barnes in fine form since the turn of the year.
The 28-year-old burst through the static PSV defense to fire in his 12th goal of the season 25 minutes from time.
Saudi-backed Newcastle are one of five Premier League teams among the top eight as it stands as the English sides flex their financial muscle in Europe’s elite competition.
But they will have to finish the job against another of the continent’s wealthiest clubs when they travel to Qatari-owned PSG, aiming to deny the holders direct qualification for the last 16.
