Football: Manchester City and Liverpool both missed the opportunity to go top of the premier league after playing out a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Erling Haaland is on track for another Premier League golden boot but was all-but-invisible for City against Liverpool. The star striker was exceptionally shut down by Virgil van Dijk and managed just 21 touches – fewer in his 90 minutes than Mohamed Salah managed in half an hour off the bench for Liverpool.
“To deliver that and get that accuracy and speed, brilliant. They’d worked on the movement, a little bit of blocking, but the delivery was absolutely fantastic.” This season, City have again conceded the fewest set-piece goals, just two, though Arsenal lead the league with 18 goals scored from set pieces.
Against a deadly attack like Manchester City’s, the Reds faced a tough test. But van Dijk was absolutely magnificent. He kept Erling Haaland to just one shot – well below his season average of more than four per game. Van Dijk was top or equal first in tackles , interceptions , and last-man tackles , and his passing was typically excellent, completing 77 of 79 attempts for a game-high completion rate.Van Dijk has won every single aerial duel in the Premier League since January.
The Reds have overcome all of those injuries to remain firmly in the title race. Without van Dijk, they’d be nowhere near.ANGE’S TROOPS SHAKE OFF ‘SPURSY’ TAG AS RIVALS’ BOLD TACTICS BACKFIRE It was the first time Villa had used that approach all season long and for the first 45 minutes it worked, even if it left Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey largely isolated in attack.
The 4-0 win kept Tottenham in fifth, but they are now just two points behind Villa and have a game in hand. With a win over their biggest rival in terms of Champions League qualification, Postecoglou will hope the three points proves to be the torpedo of momentum the team needs, especially with a three-game run against Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the not-too-distant future.
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