Firmino scored Liverpool's 500th goal under Klopp
According to the results of the 19th round of the English Premier League, Liverpool is one step closer to the long-awaited league title. In the central match of the day's play, Jurgen Klopp's wards unexpectedly easily dealt with Leicester. Departure to visit the club, which occupies the second line of the standings, promised to be a serious test for the Reds. However, in reality, everything turned into a rout - 4: 0.
Before the match, the German specialist called the principle of forming a nuclear submarine calendar during Boxing Day, when teams have to play every other day, as a “crime”. The schedule for the Merseysiders is really busy. Only recently they returned from Qatar, where they won the title of club world champion, and on December 29 they will have another meeting in the Premier League.
In the reporting match, Liverpool opened the scoring after two-thirds of the first half. Trent Alexander-Arnold moved to the far post, from where Roberto Firmino hit the gate with his head from close range. The minimum score was maintained until the middle of the second 45-minute, when when giving the corner, the fox defender Charlar Soyunju accidentally touched the ball with his hand. The penalty was clearly realized by James Milner.
Over the next seven minutes, the Merseysides scored two more goals. Firmino and Alexander-Arnold were noted.
It is worth noting that one of the goals of the Brazilian became the 500th for Liverpool under the leadership of Klopp. Since October 2015, when the German stepped on the coaching bridge, Firmino scored 72 times. Only Mohamed Salah scored more than him (84), Sadio Mane 70 goals.
The winning streak of the Reds lasted up to nine matches, and the Merseysiders have not lost for 35 meetings in a row. This is still the fourth such series in the history of the championship of England. The record of all time holds the London Arsenal. In the 2003/2004 season, the “gunners” did not know the misfires in 49 games in a row.
Having a serious problem, the current Arsenal in the 19th round of the nuclear submarine from the technical zone was first led by Mikel Arteta. The debut of the Spanish specialist was mixed. On the one hand, the red-and-white were able to escape from defeat in Bournemouth, answering Dan Gosling's ball with a shot from Pierre-Emerick Obameyang (1: 1). But on the other hand, Arsenal really needs victories. After half a season, he takes only 11th place in the standings with 28 points behind Liverpool. But it’s hard to win when you almost don't score on goal. In the game with Bournemouth, the Londoners only twice hit the target.
Ancelotti returned to England with a victory
In turn, Manchester United took advantage of the cascade of errors performed by Newcastle (4: 1) at home. The visitors came forward in the middle of the first half by the efforts of Matthew Longstaff. However, very soon their goalkeeper Martin Dubravka unsuccessfully set up his hands after hitting Anthony Martial from the corner of the box. And in the 36th minute, in a simple situation, Fabian Cher rolled the ball on Mason Greenwood's leg. The 18-year-old striker scored a rebound. Then Marcus Rushford increased the advantage, jumping higher than anyone in the penalty area.
He even joked about this, posting on Twitter a photo of the goal scoring with the caption: “I have not reached the jump level of Cristiano Ronaldo, but I'm working on it.”
Not quite @Cristiano jumping levels yet but working on it 😅💪🏿 pic.twitter.com/ggascWaONb
- Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) December 26, 2019After the break, the Forty players continued to give MJ Christmas presents. At the 51st minute, Longstaff tried to kick the ball back to Dubravka, but failed to count with a pass and put Martial in one on one with the goalkeeper. The Frenchman confidently put an end to the match.
By the way, in this game, Mankunian midfielder Scott Macktominey managed to get the fastest yellow card in the history of the Premier League. The referee showed her at the 24th second. In the course of the game, Maktominey got a knee injury and left the field.
United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskher joined Klopp’s words about the tournament’s unacceptable schedule. According to the Norwegian, it is unfair to require teams to enter the field twice in three days.
Tottenham's mentor Jose Mourinho suffered a personal loss before meeting with Brighton. At Christmas, his dog Leia died. The Yorkshire Terrier lived in a Portuguese family for more than ten years and was a universal favorite. In 2007, Mourinho was nearly arrested because of his pet. As a Chelsea coach, he brought Leia to and from Portugal without vaccinations. And when the police came to his house, Mourinho entered into a skirmish with them.
Telling reporters about the death of the dog, the specialist barely held back tears. But Tottenham won his match against Brighton and Hove, which could serve as any consolation for him (2: 1). On the goal of Adam Webster at the “spurs” said Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
Three points ahead of Tottenham, their sworn Chelsea rivals lost the second home game in a row dry. After losing two weeks ago to Bournemouth, the Blues were unable to cope with Southampton (0: 2). This happened with Chelsea for the first time since 1998. All the British media drew attention to the goal drought of Frank Lampard's wards in games at the Stamford Bridge. Thus, the Londoners missed a chance to get closer to the "Leicester". Clubs are still shared by seven points and Manchester City, which will hold its match with Wolverhampton on Friday.
Another notable event of the 19th round occurred in Liverpool. Famous mentor Carlo Ancelotti successfully returned to the Premier League after leaving Chelsea almost nine years ago. Now the Italian is working with Everton. The Toffees were able to please their new coach: in the 80th minute, Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent the only goal into the Burnley goal. Everton made 21 shots on goal, preventing the enemy from disturbing England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford at least once. With 22 points, the Liverpools are still 13th in the table.