Silva’s gem fires Man City to victory at Villa

Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea as Bernardo Silva’s sublime strike inspired a 2-1 win against Aston Villa on Wednesday.

City’s trip to Villa Park was billed as Jack Grealish’s return to the club he left to join the English champions in a club record £100 million ($132 million) move in the close-season.

But Grealish, a boyhood Villa fan, only played the final few minutes after coming off the bench.

Greeted with jeers and pointed chants of “Villa til I die” from the Holte End faithful, Grealish won’t have enjoyed his return, but Silva will think of the fixture far more fondly.

The Portugal forward doubled City’s lead with a majestic volley after Ruben Dias had put Pep Guardiola’s side ahead.

Ollie Watkins pulled one back for the hosts in the second half, but City survived a sustained onslaught to hand Steven Gerrard his first defeat in three games as Villa boss.

City’s mix of guile and grit kept them just one point behind Chelsea, who won 2-1 at Watford on Wednesday.

Guardiola’s men have now won six in a row in all competitions despite the fitness issues that saw the Spaniard claim his team were suffering an injury “emergency” this week.

Kevin De Bruyne remained absent as he recovers from the coronavirus, while Phil Foden was only ready to be on the bench.

Regardless, City made a flying start and Gabriel Jesus curled just wide before Rodri’s drive was tipped over by Emiliano Martinez.

Dias put City in front after 27 minutes when the Portugal defender met Raheem Sterling’s cut-back with a 25-yard strike that flashed past Martinez.

City kept their foot on the gas and Riyad Mahrez’s shot was blocked after Oleksandr Zinchenko carved open the Villa defence.

Silva doubled City’s lead in the 43rd minute, showing perfect technique to cap a sumptuous move from the rampant visitors.

From deep in their own half, City launched a lethal counter as Fernandinho’s long pass found Jesus and his pin-point cross was swept past Martinez with a stylish volley from Silva.

Underling Silva’s return to form of late, the Portugal forward has four goals in his last seven league appearances for City, as many as in his previous 55 games in the competition.

City had been totally dominant in the first half, but Villa snatched a lifeline two minutes after the interval to the delight of their royal fan Prince William in the stands.

Douglas Luiz’s corner caught Sterling napping as Watkins peeled away from him to guide a low strike past Ederson via the near post.

Suddenly, City were rattled and they had a narrow escape when Ezri Konsa poked just wide after Watkins headed John McGinn’s cross into the defender’s path.

Jesus should have steadied City’s nerves but the Brazilian sliced wastefully wide from Silva’s cross.

Villa substitute Carney Chukwuemeka had a golden opportunity to equalise from Emi Buendia’s pass, but Ederson saved with his leg to preserve the points.

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Salah stars as Liverpool thrash Everton

Liverpool (AFP) – Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool showed no mercy on former manager Rafael Benitez to leave the Spaniard clinging to his job as Everton boss after losing the Merseyside derby 4-1.

The Reds had won just one of their previous nine visits to Goodison, but were in complete control from the first whistle against Benitez’s men, who have now taken just two points from the last 24 on offer in the Premier League.

Stunning strikes from Jordan Henderson and Salah inside 20 minutes gave Everton a mountain to climb.

Demarai Gray’s strike gave the Toffees hope before the break.

But that was extinguished by another clinical Salah finish just after the hour mark as the Egyptian took his tally for the season to 19 goals in 19 games before Diogo Jota blasted home a fourth 12 minutes from time.

Benitez was an unpopular appointment among many of the Everton support before he had even taken charge of a game given his history as Champions League winning coach for Liverpool during six years at Anfield.

A positive start had quelled some of the disquiet, but Everton are sinking fast towards a relegation battle with the fans in no doubt as to who is responsible.

The travelling Liverpool fans sang Benitez’s name in ironic celebration, but he was met with a barrage of boos as he headed down the tunnel at full-time.

Liverpool could have been out of sight inside 10 minutes as Joel Matip headed just wide before Salah turned Sadio Mane’s dangerous cross over from close range and was then denied by a brilliant save from Jordan Pickford.

The opener arrived on nine minutes when Andy Robertson picked out Henderson in acres of space at the edge of the box and the England midfielder caressed the ball past Pickford.

Pickford was responsible for the cruciate ligament damage suffered by Virgil van Dijk in this fixture last season that derailed Liverpool’s title defence and forced the Dutchman to miss the final seven months of the campaign.

The England goalkeeper was doing his best to frustrate the visitors once more as he then turned Trent Alexander-Arnold’s powerful drive behind.

However, he was helpless when Salah added to his collection of special goals in the past few months when he sprinted onto Henderson’s perfect pass and bent the ball into the top corner.

Michael Keane nearly turned into his own net moments later as Everton were rocking.

But they and the crowd were given fresh belief seven minutes before the break when Richarlison picked out Gray in space between Matip and Alexander-Arnold to fire low past Allison Becker.

Everton at least made the game a contest for the first 20 minutes of the second period.

But one moment’s hesitation from Seamus Coleman was pounced upon by Salah as he sprinted from halfway before slotting into the far corner.

Jota then rounded off the scoring in style by drilling the ball high past Pickford as Liverpool scored four for the third consecutive league game.

Jurgen Klopp’s men remain on the tails of leaders Chelsea and champions Manchester City, both of whom also won on Wednesday, with the top three separated by just two points.

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Liverpool thrash Everton as Chelsea, Man City grind out wins

London (AFP) – Liverpool thrashed local rivals Everton 4-1 to pile the pressure on former Reds boss Rafael Benitez on Wednesday, while victories for Chelsea and Manchester City ensured the Premier League top three remain separated by just two points.

Leaders Chelsea were made to work hard for a 2-1 win at Watford in one of two games held up by lengthy delays to allow treatment for an ill supporter in the crowd.

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could not do his old club a favour as his 100 percent start as Aston Villa manager was ended by a 2-1 defeat to City.

Liverpool had won only once in their last nine visits to Goodison Park, but the gulf in class between the sides currently was obvious as Mohamed Salah produced two more stunning finishes to take his tally for the season to 19 goals in 19 games.

Jordan Henderson opened the scoring before Salah curled the first of his double into the top corner.

Demarai Gray’s strike brielfy gave Everton hope heading into half-time, but further strikes from Salah and Diogo Jota gave the scoreline the reflection it deserved from a one-sided contest.

– Emergency support –

Chelsea needed Hakim Ziyech to come off the bench and score the winner 18 minutes from time at Vicarage Road to hold off City and Liverpool at the top of the table.

After a half an hour hold up early in the match as a fan was attended to by emergency services, Mason Mount gave the European champions the lead.

Emmanuel Dennis hit back for Watford on the stroke of half-time and for a while it looked like Chelsea could drop points for the third time in four league games.

But Ziyech’s powerful finish from Mount’s cross maintained their slender one-point advantage over City.

Gerrard had got off to a flying start as Villa boss with back-to-back wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace to ease fears of being dragged into a relegation battle, but admitted before the game that the champions posed a very different test and so it proved. 

An injury-hit City dominated the first half and went in 2-0 up at the break thanks to brilliant finishes from Portuguese international duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva. 

Ollie Watkins pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half but City held out for a vital three points as Jack Grealish celebrated a victorious return to Villa Park.

West Ham’s hopes of a top-four finish suffered another blow as Brighton struck late to snatch a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium. 

Tomas Soucek opened the scoring for the Hammers after just five minutes, but after a second for David Moyes’s men was controversially ruled out by a VAR review, Neal Maupay earned a point for Brighton a minute from time. 

In the other match affected by a lengthy delay to attend to an ill fan in the crowd, Leicester twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw at Southampton. 

Jan Bednarek and Che Adams put the home side in front in the first half, but Jonny Evans and James Maddison levelled to keep Leicester just five points off the top four. 

Burnley edged a point closer to survival but have still only won once this season after a 0-0 draw at Wolves.

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Real Madrid go seven points clear as fans salute ‘Ballon d’Or Benzema’

Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema applauded Real Madrid’s fans after they chanted “Karim, Ballon d’Or” as his goal against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday sent Madrid seven points clear at the top of La Liga.

Benzema’s 20th goal in 24 games this season proved the difference in a 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu that puts Madrid firmly in charge of the Spanish title race, even after only 15 games played.

A run of seven consecutive wins in all competitions has helped pull Carlo Ancelotti’s team away from the chasing pack and Benzema, along with the explosive Vinicius Junior, has been instrumental.

Ancelotti insisted on Tuesday Benzema had not been “crying” about losing out to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or on Monday, with the Frenchman finishing fourth in the final vote.

But there was more than a hint of rebellion in the air when the Madrid fans toasted his goal by chanting “Karim, Ballon d’Or” and the 33-year-old responded by applauding them back.

Ancelotti predicted Benzema would be even more motivated to win the award next season and perhaps his best hope would be to play a decisive role in Madrid winning either La Liga or the Champions League.

With Barcelona rebuilding under Xavi Hernandez and Atletico Madrid struggling to balance their usually dependable defence with a wealth of options in attack, Real Madrid are certainly emerging as clear favourites now in Spain.

They defeated Sevilla 2-1 last weekend and now face third-placed Real Sociedad and second-placed Atletico in their next two games, fixtures that could give them a formidable lead if the victories keep coming.

Athletic, meanwhile, stay eighth, without a win now in six.

Madrid rode their luck against Sevilla and were stretched again here, with Athletic squandering a string of golden opportunities. 

The first came from a long ball over the top, which hit Eder Militao on the back and allowed Inaki Williams in, but he shot wide.

Then David Alaba left a long punt downfield for Thibaut Courtois behind him but Williams was there again, only for his first touch to let him down.

Raul Garcia had the best chance, with a free header from three yards out, but he nodded straight at Courtois and there was an air of inevitability about Madrid making Athletic pay.

Vinicius started it, with a driving run in off the left, exchanging with Luka Modric before feeding Marco Asensio, whose curled shot came back to Modric. 

He fluffed the rebound but so badly that it fell nicely into the path of Benzema, who slotted in.

Athletic were still the better team in the second half and the home crowd grew increasingly agitated. 

Raul Garcia’s shot had to be blocked by the sliding Lucas Vazquez and Courtois was required to deny Oihan Sancet. Mikel Vesga should have headed in late on but again Militao was there.

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Leaders Napoli collapse at Sassuolo to allow Milan rivals to close gap

Milan (AFP) – Napoli have the Milan giants breathing down their necks in the Serie A title race after throwing away a two-goal lead late at Sassuolo to draw 2-2 on Wednesday.

Luciano Spalletti’s side looked set to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the league following second-half strikes from Dries Mertens and Fabian Ruiz.

But a superb finish from Gianluca Scamacca with 19 minutes remaining put the hosts back in the game and Gian Marco Ferrari snatched a draw in the final minute with a bullet header.

Sassuolo thought they had won it in a franctic finale in which Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti was sent off when Gregiore Defrel slotted home the third. But with the home players and fans celebrating wildly, the referee was called to check a Domenico Berardi foul on Amir Rrahmani and the goal was ruled out.

To make matters worse for Napoli, who host high-flying Atalanta on Saturday, they lost both scorers and defensive lynchpin Kalidou Koulibaly to injury.

AC Milan are now a point back in second after strolling to a 3-0 win at Genoa while Inter Milan are a further point behind in third following their 2-0 home victory over Spezia.

Junior Messias continued his incredible rise with a brilliantly taken brace either side of half-time at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had curled in a perfect free-kick to give Milan a 10th minute lead.

Brazilian Messias, a 30-year-old former fridge deliveryman who is only in his second ever Serie A season, looped in a distance header in first half stoppage-time to double the away side’s lead before rolling home a delicate finish in the 61st minute to seal the points.

His double comes after he struck the winning goal at Atletico Madrid which keeps alive Milan’s hopes of making the Champions League last 16 ahead of the visit of Liverpool next week.

– Inter’s hot streak –

Roberto Gagliardini and Lautaro Martinez struck in each half for Inter at a freezing San Siro as Simone Inzaghi’s side extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 games.

The win was their fourth on the bounce with a much-changed line-up as Inzaghi shuffled his deck with a host of defensive injuries and a trip to Roma coming on Saturday.

Spezia have conceded a whopping 34 goals in 15 games and were brushed aside by an Inter side which was without several starters and in second gear for much of the night.

Gagliardini got them up and running nine minutes before half-time when he finished a delightful team move by meeting Martinez’s delicate flick with a perfectly placed first-time finish.

Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu were both stopped from doubling the hosts’ lead by Ivan Provedel in the minutes after the restart while Correa crashed a shot off the bar, but it was not long before Inter had their second.

Kiwior was penalised for handball after Martinez’s thumping shot struck his arm in the penalty area, and the Argentine made no mistake from the spot with just over half an hour remaining.

Bologna are eighth, level on 24 points with Juventus and Fiorentina after Mattias Svanberg fired them to a 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Swede Svanberg, who was reportedly being watched at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara by scouts from Manchester City, struck a beautiful winner from distance to move Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side to within one point of fifth-placed Roma.

The result is also great news for Atalanta, who after their win over Venezia on Tuesday are six points away from their nearest challenger for fourth and the final Champions League spot.

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Inter pile pressure on leaders Napoli with Spezia win

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan moved to within one point of Serie A pacesetters Napoli on Wednesday after comfortably seeing off Spezia 2-0, while Roma crashed to a miserable 1-0 defeat at Bologna.

Roberto Gagliardini and Lautaro Martinez struck in each half for Inter at a freezing San Siro as Simone Inzaghi’s side jumped above AC Milan in second place ahead of their city rivals’ match at struggling Genoa in one of two late fixtures.

It extends Inter’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 games and was their fourth win on the bounce with a much-changed line-up as Inzaghi shuffled his deck with a host of defensive injuries and a trip to Roma coming on Saturday.

Inter’s hot streak has them right on the heels of Napoli, who are at Sassuolo at the same time as Milan face club legend Andriy Shevchenko at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Shevchenko’s Genoa are just a point behind 17th-placed Spezia and can dump the Tuscans and their coach, former Inter favourite coach Thiago Motta, into the drop zone.

Spezia have conceded a whopping 34 goals in 15 games and were brushed aside by an Inter side which was without several starters and in second gear for much of the night.

Gagliardini got them up and running nine minutes before half-time when he finished a delightful team moved by meeting Martinez’s delicate flick with a perfectly placed first-time finish.

After Jakub Kiwior did brilliantly to block Joaquin Correa’s goal-bound low drive Samir Handanovic made sure Inter led at the break with a superb save from Kelvin Amian’s header in first half stoppage-time.

Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu were both stopped from doubling the hosts’ lead by Ivan Provedel in the minutes after the restart while Correa crashed a shot off the bar, but it wasn’t long before Inter had their second.

Kiwior was penalised for handball after Martinez’s thumping shot struck his arm in the penalty area, and the Argentine made no mistake from the spot with just over half an hour remaining.

Bologna are eighth, level on 24 points with Juventus and Fiorentina after Mattias Svanberg fired them to their win over Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Swede Svanberg, who was reportedly being watched at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara by scouts from Manchester City, struck a beautiful winner from distance to move Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side to within one point of fifth-placed Roma.

The result is also great news for Atalanta, who after their win over Venezia on Tuesday are six points away from their nearest challenger for fourth and the final Champions League spot.

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Arsenal defender Gabriel fends off robbers armed with baseball bat

London (AFP) – Arsenal defender Gabriel fought off a baseball bat-wielding thief who attempted to steal his car in video footage released by the Metropolitan Police.

The Brazilian had just returned to his home in Barnet, north London, when he was approached by three men as he got out of his car on August 20.

One of the men, Abdi Muse, 26, was armed with a baseball bat.

The men ordered Gabriel to give them his car keys, but the 23-year-old refused to do so.

Footage of the incident shows the ensuing struggle between Gabriel and the men as he fended them off.

The men fled with his keys but left the car behind in the garage.

Muse was later arrested, and he was jailed at Harrow Crown Court earlier this month for five years after admitting robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

“It’s not a nice thing to go through, when you have family involved and they’re trying to access your house,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

“Gabby showed a lot of character, you see the reaction that he had straight away. Credit to the boy. After that he was fine.

“He was shocked and obviously he wanted to change a few things in his life to make sure that didn’t happen again.”

Arteta added that Arsenal supported Gabriel in the wake of the robbery.

“The club gave him all the support that was needed to try and help him forget about the situation, learn about it and move on”, he said.

Gabriel joined the Gunners from Lille for £27million ($36 million) last year.

At the time of the robbery he had been sidelined with a knee injury, but he has since made 10 Premier League appearances for the club.

It was not the first time that an Arsenal player has had to face off against robbers.

Two armed men attempted to rob expensive watches from defender Sead Kolasinac and midfielder Mesut Ozil in Hampstead, north-west London, in 2019.

However, Kolasinac fought back and was able to jump into a car driven by Ozil.

Ozil then drove them from the ambush as the would-be robbers pursued them on a moped.

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