WATFORD: Liverpool’s 44-game run without defeat in the Premier League came to a crashing end as relegation-threatened Watford thrashed the European champions 3-0 on Saturday.
Ismaila Sarr’s double and Troy Deeney’s strike 18 minutes from time ended Liverpool’s hopes of romping to a first league title in 30 years with an unbeaten season as they lost in the league for the first time since January 2019.
Jurgen Klopp’s men still enjoy a 22-point lead at the top of the table, but their sluggish return from a two-week winter break earlier this month was finally punished.
After single-goal victories over struggling Norwich and West Ham either side of a Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, Liverpool were comprehensively beaten at Vicarage Road.
A 55-point gap separated the sides before kickoff, but the out-of-sorts visitors failed to muster even a single effort on goal in the first 45 minutes.
Gerard Deulofeu’s dipping effort just did not come down in time as it landed on the roof of the net before he teed up Abdoulaye Doucoure, who saw his shot deflected behind by Virgil van Dijk.
Deulofeu then had to be stretchered off with a nasty looking knee injury that seems certain to end his season.
Watford’s heads did not drop without one of their most dangerous players, though, as only Alisson Becker’s fleetness of foot allowed the Brazilian international to save from Deeney deep into first half stoppage time.
Andy Robertson’s driven effort finally forced Ben Foster into a save early in the second half, but just as Liverpool were beginning to build up a head of steam, they were stung by two quick strikes by Sarr.
Firstly, the Senegalese beat Robertson to Doucoure’s low cross to stab home at the near post.
Six minutes later, Sarr had too much pace for a flat-footed Liverpool defense as he raced onto Deeney’s through ball and showed fantastic composure to lift the ball over the advancing Alisson.
Sarr also had a big part to play in Watford’s third as he pounced on a short passback and had the vision to pick out Deeney, who lofted the ball nonchalantly over Alisson to make it 3-0.
Watford had thrown away a lead in three of their last four Premier League games to fall back into the bottom three.
But they never looked in any danger of doing so again as they moved back out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Sarr should even have had a famous hat-trick with his final touch as he curled wide when one-on-one with Alisson.
However, that was the only gloss missing from a glorious night for Watford as Liverpool remain four wins away from the title.
Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League run ended by Watford
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Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League run ended by Watford
- Liverpool had been unbeaten in 44 games in the Premier League
Late Frattesi strike gives Inter edge over Bayern in Champions League
- The late goal consigned Bayern to their first home defeat in the Champions League since 2021, a run of 22 matches
MUNICH, Germany: An 88th-minute Davide Frattesi goal took Inter Milan to a 2-1 win at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, giving the Italians the edge after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Undermanned Bayern, nursing a bulging casualty ward, set the tone in the first half-hour, with Michael Olize and Harry Kane narrowly failing to break through.
Inter opened the scoring on the 38-minute mark when Marcus Thuram’s clever back-heel found Lautaro Martinez who blasted home.
The Italians maintained control until Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller, days after announcing a summer departure after 25 years at the club, scored the equalizer with a typical poacher’s finish with five minutes remaining.
Not content to be spectators to a Bayern fairytale ending, Inter broke on the counter just three minutes later, with Carlos Augusto finding Frattesi, who scored Inter’s second.
Inter, defeated in the final by Manchester City two seasons ago, have their noses in front in their bid to make the last four of the competition.
The late goal consigned Bayern to their first home defeat in the Champions League since 2021, a run of 22 matches.
Semi-finalists last season, Bayern’s preparation for the game was hampered by an injury crisis. The German giants were particularly hard hit in defense, with England veteran Eric Dier and Kim Min-jae the only two fit center-backs.
Inter had their own injury woes in the rematch of the 2010 Champions League final but welcomed the news that Alessandro Bastoni, subbed off at halftime in Serie A on Saturday, was fit to start.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany replaced the injured Jamal Musiala by moving left-back Raphael Guerreiro to the number 10 position behind Kane, leaving veteran Mueller on the bench.
The hosts dominated the opening half hour, with Olize carving up the Inter defense at pace, but without finding the breakthrough.
Olize flashed just wide with seven minutes gone, hit a shot straight at Yann Sommer on the quarter-hour mark and found Kane to head at the ‘keeper shortly after.
The English-born France international dribbled through Inter’s defense to create Bayern’s best chance of the opening half, finding an unmarked Kane but the England captain hit his effort against the far post.
Inter’s forays into Bayern territory were brief but their confidence grew.
The Italians were ahead shortly before half-time, Thuram backheeled blind to Martinez who blasted into the top of the net.
Once ahead, Inter found the control which had eluded them earlier, managing the tempo and the tone of the match.
With 56 minutes gone, Bayern’s rookie goalkeeper Jonas Urbig kept Martinez out with a superb reflex save at the near post.
Kompany brought Mueller on with 15 minutes remaining and the Bayern veteran seemed to have given the match a fairytale ending in typical fashion, catching the Inter defense napping to tap in at the far post.
The goal was just the third Inter have conceded in 11 games in Europe this season.
Three minutes later however, Inter broke on the counter, Augusto finding Frattesi to guide home.
Al-Taawoun edge close to Asian final with narrow win over Sharjah
- An early strike from Abdelhamid Sabiri was enough to settle the clash
- All to play for in the second leg in UAE next week
BURAIDAH: Al-Taawoun took a big step towards the final of the AFC Champions League Two on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Sharjah in the first leg of their last four clash.
An early strike from Abdelhamid Sabiri was enough to settle the clash in Saudi Arabia but there is still much work to do in the United Arab Emirates next week in the return match.
The home fans in Buraidah were celebrating, waving their yellow flags and dreaming of a first ever continental trophy inside two minutes. Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi’s cross caused problems for the visiting defence, it was headed out to the edge of the area and there was Sabiri to fire home with a fierce shot.
The visitors were rattled and after giving the ball away in defence two minutes later, were relieved as Al-Kuwaykibi’s shot from long range went just over the bar with the goalkeeper struggling.
Sharjah came close to the equaliser after 19 minutes but while Guiherme Biro was found in a good position in the area, the Brazilian slightly slipped as he sent the shot over.
It seemed to get better for the UAE team seven minutes into the second half as they were awarded a penalty as Ousmane Camara went down in the box under a challenge from Mohammed Mahzari. Yet, after a VAR intervention, the decision was reversed, much to the relief of the home fans.
Yet it was the away team who were happier with 18 minutes remaining as Al-Taawoun came within millimetres of extending their lead.Musa Barrow broke free down the right, cut inside and, with just the goalkeeper to beat, the Gambian goalgetter fired his shot against the inside of the post.
It means that there is all to play for in the second leg in Sharjah next week. It should be quite the battle.
Scheffler eyes rare Masters repeat, McIlroy primed for another Grand Slam tilt
- Much of the excitement ahead of this year’s Masters revolves around Scheffler and McIlroy, the two best players in the world
AUGUSTA, Georgia: Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is the man to beat at this week’s Masters where Rory McIlroy, oozing confidence after a marvelous start to the year, makes his 11th and perhaps best shot at completing the career Grand Slam.
Played amidst the blooming azaleas, towering pines and flowering dogwoods at Augusta National, the Masters may be the most anticipated of golf’s four majors and this year’s edition is no exception given a plethora of compelling storylines. Not even the absence of Tiger Woods, a five-times champion and golf’s top attraction who is recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon, can dampen enthusiasm for an event that marks the spiritual start of spring.
Much of the excitement ahead of this year’s Masters revolves around Scheffler and McIlroy, the two best players in the world, who are in great form and could deliver a final-round duel for the ages if they are both in contention on Sunday.
“I think that it sets up to be headlined by those two. I really do. I think you have to begin there,” veteran broadcaster Jim Nantz said on CBS Sports’ Masters preview call.
World No. 1 Scheffler, whose season debut was delayed by about a month after hand surgery following a December cooking accident, finished runner-up at his Masters tune-up in Houston for his third top-10 in six starts on the year.
A win for Scheffler, who first triumphed at Augusta National in 2022 and has a game that appears to be a perfect fit for the layout, would make him only the fourth golfer to retain a Masters title and first since Woods in 2001-02.
“It’s his happy place,” said Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee. “He can go there and play his normal game, and everybody can struggle to beat him. That’s just how good he is and how great a fit Augusta National is for him.”
Exclusive club
McIlroy is eager to become the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors this week but to join that exclusive club he will need to overcome an Augusta layout that has been the site of several frustrating moments for him.
But, in a sign that this could finally be his year, McIlroy has enjoyed a superb start to the year and lifted two PGA Tour titles before April for the first time in his career — at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship.
“There’s never been a better week for him to win the Masters. Never,” said Chamblee.
Perhaps the only question mark for McIlroy is that after finishing in a share of fifth at Houston, the Northern Irishman said his right elbow had been bothering him “a little bit” and he may seek treatment. The Masters will also provide a brief respite from the ongoing divide in the sport given it will be the first time since last July’s British Open that players from the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf will compete against each other.
A dozen LIV players, including 2023 champion Jon Rahm and fan favorite Bryson DeChambeau, are among those in the field this week. Rahm had his worst-ever result at Augusta National last year as he finished in a share of 45th place but the Spaniard cannot be overlooked given he has five top-10 finishes in eight career Masters starts.
Twice major champion DeChambeau will be eager to get another crack at a Green Jacket having finished in a career-best tie for sixth place last year when he sat alone atop the first-round leaderboard and held a share of the halfway lead.
The only guarantee this week is that Augusta National will present challenges at every turn given the pristine course is known for small landing zones on speedy and undulating greens that put a premium on course management and accuracy. Twice champion Bernhard Langer, 67, is in the field for what is expected to be his final Masters, while 2009 champion Angel Cabrera returns for the first time since serving a 30-month prison sentence for domestic abuse.
The opening round is scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Australia in ‘limbo’ without permanent coach as Asian Cup looms
- The World Cup semifinalists have been coached by interim boss Tom Sermanni since September as Football Australia continues its search for a long-term replacement
MELBOURNE: Australia remain without a permanent coach less than a year before hosting the Women’s Asian Cup, leaving players frustrated with a team in “limbo.”
The World Cup semifinalists have been coached by interim boss Tom Sermanni since September as Football Australia continues its search for a long-term replacement.
Steph Catley, who captained the Matildas to a 2-0 win over South Korea in Newcastle on Monday, praised Sermanni for creating an “amazing culture” at the team.
But she said the uncertainty over his successor made it hard for them to build for the Asian Cup next March.
“We’ve got a year to build — well, less than a year now, but that’s what it’s about,” Catley told reporters.
“It’s hard as a playing group when you’re in limbo a little bit.
“You haven’t got clear direction in how we’re going to play moving forward.”
Joe Montemurro, the head coach of French women’s powerhouse Lyon, is linked with the role and confirmed to Australian media last week he had been in discussions with Football Australia.
Catley, who was coached by the Australian at Melbourne City and English club Arsenal, said she had “no idea” about it.
“He’s obviously in a role right now so I don’t really know how that works,” she said.
“He’s a great coach. I’ve had him a couple of times and he’s doing well over there at Lyon (but) I’m not picking the coach.
“We’ll wait and see and hopefully it gets done sooner rather than later.”
Esports World Cup 2025 will be ‘best ever,’ says foundation chief
- Faisal bin Horman, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, spoke to Arab News at the Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh
RIYADH: The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be the “best esports tournament ever,” said Faisal bin Horman, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, during an interview with Arab News at the Sports Investment Forum.
The Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh, taking place from April 7-9, is providing a platform for industry leaders to explore entrepreneurial opportunities, said Homran.
“Sports is a big industry, and we have newcomers every year, and one of them is esports” he said. “Forums like this introduce the private sector for the future investors, for the future stakeholders, to be a part of this. It gives more information and kjore crdibility for [sports industries]”
Homran who oversees the major development of esports in the Kingdom, predicts that by 2034, the Kingdom will have the top two events for sports: football’s FIFA World Cup and the Esports World Cup.
Speaking on theEsports world Cup 2025, he commented: “This year will see the best esports tournament ever, for anyone who loves gaming or esports. Online or physical [audiences], they will have the best time of their life.”
During LEAP, the Kingdom announced being the host of the first-ever Esports Olympic Games in 2027, a landmark achievement in the country’s ambitious quest to become a global leader in gaming and esports.
Homran says everyone will watch the game and be proud of Saudi Arabia’s evergrowing achievements.
Similarly to Japan and China, two nations known for their video gaming culture, Saudi Arabia has looked to showcase its heritage and culture through esports.
“It is a good opportunity for us (Saudi Arabia) to connect community culture with Esports.”
As part of its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to diversify its economy, with the industrial and manufacturing sectors playing a key role in reducing the country’s reliance on oil.
Programs like the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program are central to the Kingdom’s strategy, aiming to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading regional hub for advanced manufacturing, with a focus on petrochemicals, mining, and renewable energy.
The inaugural edition of the three-day Sports Investment Forum sees local and international leaders, officials, investors, and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in the Kingdom’s evolving sports landscape.
The forum aims to expand the scope of sports investment in Saudi Arabia by fostering effective partnerships, attracting capital, and launching initiatives to drive growth across the sector.
