IT’S RUINED?
It speaks volumes about the title race, and the exacting standards to be met that Manchester City have imposed on anyone hoping to beat them in it, that the largely unexpected defeats to both Liverpool and Arsenal on Sunday have been labeled ‘choking’ in some quarters. Although the sight of both sides blowing a one-point lead over the course of 24 hours will never be the same as that of Greg Norman throwing away a seemingly unlosable Masters or Jan Novotna mentally disintegrating after a double fault in what should have been After the Wimbledon final against Steffi Graf, there were several signs at both Anfield and the Emirates that, even though all three title chasers still have six matches in hand, the players and fans of both sides felt deep down that a great opportunity was wasted for at least another season.
On Merseyside, where Liverpool lost their first home game in 18 months, the faces of several players looked more ghostly than a whole series of Scooby-Doo theme parks. They scored a remarkable goal, scored by a Crystal Palace team who looked for all the world as if they were on a warm-up rondo at the corner flag and had invited a handful of Liverpool mascots to take part in a futile chase for the ball. Meanwhile, those responsible for Arsenal’s late capitulation to Villa in north London were forced to watch their visitors celebrate before a jubilant away match, while enduring the mournful silence of at least 40,000 empty red seats that had become vacant by the club’s dedicated supporters during the split. -second Leon Bailey’s opener hit the net. With City now two points clear at the top, there is still plenty of football to be played and a sporting opportunity. City could still make a mistake, but you get the feeling that everyone is connected to Liverpool and Arsenal. hopinginstead of expecting Pep’s Champions to do another boo-boo now that they’re off the hook.
Jurgen Klopp, who famously stood up despite the mildest criticism, magnanimously declared in his post-match interviews that his team deserved the brickbats that came their way after their third uncharacteristically poor performance in eight days. “The criticism in these moments is completely fine,” he said through gritted but dazzling teeth. “It’s absolutely right. It’s about how we deal with it. It didn’t bother us in the first half, but in the second half we kept everything together and we should have won the match.” After falling behind in the fourteenth minute following Eberechi Eze’s beautiful goal, Liverpool certainly should have enough time to turn things around “I felt like I was out there for a year,” Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson said of the attack his team faced in the second half “I didn’t think there was would ever come to an end.”
Compared to Liverpool and Arsenal, City faced a relatively simple task the previous day: hosting a Luton side whose trademark grit was further enhanced before kick-off when team sheets revealed the squad had been put together with sticky plastic, bandages and pieces. of rope. And it was telling that even after a 5-1 defeat, Rob Edwards’ side had probably put in a better weekend side than City’s two pretenders to the throne. If anything served as an omen of what would happen for Arsenal and Liverpool the next day, it was of course the sight of City’s opening goal: an errant volley from Erling Haaland that was diverted into the opponent’s goal after he hit an unfortunate bystander in the face. In the race for the Premier League title, everyone has a plan to beat Pep until they get a football in their mouth.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Ninety-seven people have been unlawfully killed and not one person has been held accountable. How do you think we feel? We had to give up thirty years of our lives for the fight, otherwise they would have gotten away with it. It’s the worst scandal ever. All those lives were lost, then we had the police against us, the media at the time, the government, we had a hell of a battle on our hands” – Margaret Aspinall, the last chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group whose son James was one of the 97 people unlawfully killed on April 15, 1989, speaks out about the painful lack of responsibility that families still face 35 years later. Read David Conn’s powerful report here.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Perhaps now Arsenal fans will appreciate the true meaning of the word Emery” – Krishna Moorthy.
Regarding your letters from Christian Goldsmith (and 1,057 other pedants) on Friday: May I be one of the 1,058 pedants to congratulate you on acquiring a reader, or turning a reader into a pedant? Anyway, congratulations” –Guy Stephenson.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter of the day is… Rollover.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Wrexham have won back-to-back promotions, baby! The Welsh club, which you may have heard is owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, secured their place in League One next season with a 6-0 win over Forest Green. “If you told me a few years ago that I would be crying tears of joy over a football match in North Wales, you would be Rob McElhenney. Congratulations to Wrexham and my fellow[chief suit] in Crime. Double the city! This is the ride of our lives,” Reynolds gushed on TwiXer. Leaders Stockport also completed promotion on Saturday and will clinch the League Two title with one more win from their remaining three games.
In League One, the champagne remains on the ice for Portsmouth, who still need a point to earn a return to the Championship after a 1-1 draw with third-placed Bolton. A home game against Barnsley on Tuesday seems like the perfect opportunity to get that.
Football Australia and New South Wales police are investigating a spectator who appeared to give a Nazi salute during this weekend’s A-League derby clash between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC.
Manchester United and Tottenham will take part in the Women’s FA Cup final. United, last year’s defeated finalists, beat Chelsea 2-1, while Tottenham also won by a single goal in three games thanks to an extra-time winner against Leicester.
And after accusing Dundee of ‘negligence and unprofessional conduct’ after their match at Dens Park was canceled due to the unsuitable state of the playing field, Rangers may have wished Ross County had also had a waterlogged pitch after they suffered a 3-2 defeat crashed at Dingmuur. The loss to the SPL’s second team leaves Rangers four points behind Celtic with a game in hand.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Philippe Auclair and Barney Ronay as both Arsenal and Liverpool lose in a potentially crucial weekend in the Premier League title race. Listen to the Football Weekly podcast here.
‘ABOVE THE STREETS AND HOUSES…’
“I have a three-year-old girl who still believes in rainbows and unicorns. I honestly think we’re going to get out of this situation. I believe we will survive. Maybe I’m naive or I’m the one who believes in rainbows and unicorns” – Burnley assistant manager Craig Bellamy should look at the sky more often because he might realize that rainbows do indeed exist. Perhaps this fact will further strengthen his belief that the Clarets can survive.
DO YOU WANT MORE?
“It’s time for Bayer Leverkusen”: Xabi Alonso’s historic Bundesliga title has changed the club forever, writes Andy Brassell.
The Premier League title race is not over after Sunday’s defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal, says Barney Ronay. It just feels that way.
Jonathan Wilson reflects on familiar themes that contributed to Liverpool’s tired 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
More fallout from this weekend’s Premier League action: 10 talking points. Count them.
Roma defender Evan Ndicka’s collapse brought back dark memories, but the quick response and patience in the stands showed progress has been made in Italy in tackling such incidents, writes Nicky Bandini.
Athletic Club had the week of their lives after recording a historic Copa del Rey victory, reports Sid Lowe.
PSG, Marseille and Lille benefit from a weekend off. But is it fair, asks Ligue Urrrrrn enthusiast Luke Entwistle.
And here’s Barney Ronay on the thrill of watching top footballers flop.
MEMORY LONG
Let’s rewind to February 6, 2002 and here is a young Xabi Alonso struggling for the ball with Barcelona’s Rivaldo in a 2-0 defeat for Real Sociedad at Camp Nou. The Brazilian was on the scoresheet next to Javier Saviola. Alonso spent a few more seasons at his hometown club before joining Liverpool for £10.5 million.