LONDON: Mohamed Salah rescued Liverpool as the Egypt star’s late equalizer earned a pulsating 2-2 draw against title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s side were on the brink of only their second defeat this season until Salah netted with nine minutes left at the Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool had fallen behind to Bukayo Saka’s early opener and, although Virgil van Dijk equalized, Mikel Merino put Arsenal back in front before half-time.
Salah’s eighth goal in 13 games in all competitions this season was aided by Arsenal’s latest rash of injuries, with defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber both forced off in the second half.
Manchester City were the real winners on Sunday as the draw in north London ensured they finished the weekend on top of the Premier League.
Unbeaten City, who beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday, are one point ahead of second-placed Liverpool, with third-placed Arsenal sitting five points adrift of top spot.
It was only the second time Liverpool had failed to win since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the close-season, starting his Anfield reign with 12 victories from 13 games in all competitions.
Even so, Liverpool will be happier with the point after showing impressive resolve to twice come from behind against a fellow title contender.
Arsenal were left to lick their wounds after the defensive injuries that left them fatally exposed.
They were already without Riccardo Calafiori, sidelined by an injury suffered against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, while William Saliba served a suspension following his dismissal in last weekend’s loss at Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta’s side have now gone two league games without a win, leaving them with only three victories in their last seven top-flight matches in a major setback to their hopes of a first title since 2004.
Saka, back from two games out with injury, had given Arsenal the perfect start in the ninth minute.
Ben White’s sublime long pass sent Saka surging down the right flank before he deftly cut back into the Liverpool area, leaving Andrew Robertson trailing in his wake as he lashed a fierce close-range strike into the roof of the net.
Merino nearly gifted Liverpool an immediate equalizer when he carelessly let the ball run to Salah, who rifled his shot just wide from the edge of the area.
So often over the last two seasons, Arsenal have been dead ball masters thanks to their set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, but for once they were exposed as Liverpool drew level in the 18th minute.
Luis Diaz beat Kai Havertz to flick on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner and Van Dijk got in front of Thomas Partey as the Dutch defender stooped to head home from close-range.
But Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces enabled them to regain the lead in the 43rd minute.
Declan Rice’s teasing free-kick arrowed into the Liverpool area and Merino was perfectly placed to thump his header past Caoimhin Kelleher from six yards.
A lengthy VAR check followed to confirm Merino was just onside as the Spain midfielder celebrated his first goal since his close-season arrival from Real Sociedad.
Arsenal keeper David Raya plunged to his right to keep out Alexis Mac Allister’s header on the final seconds of a thrilling first half.
Arteta’s already makeshift defense suffered another blow when Gabriel limped off with a knee injury after a challenge from Darwin Nunez early in the second half.
Without their first choice center-back, Arsenal adopted a more cautious approach and Raya was booked for time-wasting with over 20 minutes to play.
But the Gunners lost Timber to an injury in the closing stages as their defensive issues reached crisis point and handed Liverpool a lifeline.
With just nine minutes left, Arsenal’s under-manned rearguard was ruthlessly exposed as Alexander-Arnold’s lofted pass sent Nunez clear of teenage substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Nunez slipped in the unmarked Salah and he slotted home as Arsenal slumped to the turf in frustration.
Mo Salah strikes late as Liverpool snatch draw at title rivals Arsenal
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Mo Salah strikes late as Liverpool snatch draw at title rivals Arsenal
- Salah’s eighth goal in 13 games in all competitions this season was aided by Arsenal’s latest rash of injuries
Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico
- The Spanish football federation expressed its “absolute condemnation” of the abuse
MADRID: Real Madrid condemned racism from some of their supporters aimed at Barcelona players including teenager Lamine Yamal during the club’s 4-0 Clasico defeat on Saturday.
La Liga said they would report the incidents to Spanish authorities, while the government was also critical of the abuse.
“Real Madrid strongly condemns any kind of behavior involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults that a few fans uttered last night in one of the corners of the stadium,” said Los Blancos in a statement Sunday.
Videos emerged on social media after the game of racial abuse aimed at Barcelona players including Yamal, with 17-year-old Spain star Yamal targeted during a goal celebration after becoming the youngest Clasico scorer.
The Spanish champions said they had “opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults.”
“La Liga will immediately report the racist insults and gestures directed at Barcelona players to the hate crime unit of the national police,” said the Spanish top flight in a statement.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who has often been the victim of racial abuse in Spain himself, offered his support to Yamal and other Barca players who were abused.
“It’s regrettable what happened yesterday at the Bernabeu with the racist insults,” wrote Vinicius on social media network X.
“There’s no space for these criminals in our society. All my support to Lamine, Ansu (Fati) and Raphinha.
“I know that Madrid and the police will work to identify and punish those guilty.”
The Spanish football federation expressed its “absolute condemnation” of the abuse.
Spain’s sports council (CSD) said their Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in sport would meet Monday to discuss the case.
“The Clasico is one of the greatest spectacles in the world, a true expression of the importance that football has in our country,” said the CSD in a statement.
“In it, as in any other sporting event, there can never be any room for expressions of violence, racism, xenophobia, hatred or intolerance.”
“Neither racism, nor insults, nor violence have a place in our country’s sport,” wrote Pilar Alegria, Spain’s minister for education, professional development and sports on X.
Elma Saiz, Spain’s minister for inclusion and migration, also offered support to Yamal.
“The racist insults aimed at Lamine Yamal in the Clasico are everything we in the government will fight against,” she wrote on X.
“We will not allow attacks that we do not tolerate in other spaces to become normalized in sport.”
Spanish football is struggling to combat racism in stadiums across the country.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius has become a figurehead in the fight against racism and has been targeted on numerous occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018.
The Brazilian winger earned worldwide support in May 2023 when he squared off with Valencia supporters after suffering abuse at their Mestalla stadium.
In June three Valencia supporters were sentenced to eight months in prison as a result.
In January 2023, an effigy in a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near the club’s training ground alongside a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real.”
In December, four Atletico Madrid fans were charged over the incident, with prosecutors pushing for jail terms of four years.
This week Spanish police arrested four men suspected of inciting an online hate campaign against Vinicius.
Saudi Cup Festival 2025 to have upgraded races, record prize money
- Developments reflect Kingdom’s growing stature in equestrian world
LONDON: The upcoming 2025 Saudi Cup Festival will see notable upgrades to its race lineup alongside substantial increases in prize money, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Key races, including the Riyadh Sprint Cup and the Longines Red Sea Cup, have been elevated to Group 2 status, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global horse racing.
The Jockey Club has announced enhancements for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, now boasting a prize of $2 million following a $500,000 increase.
The Red Sea Cup, a $2.5 million race won last year by Aidan O’Brien’s horse Tower of London, will retain its substantial purse.
Held on Feb. 21-22 next year, the Saudi Cup Festival’s second day will include one Group 3 race, four Group 2 races, and two Group 1 races: the $20 million Saudi Cup, the world’s richest horse race, and the Obaiya Cup for purebred Arabian horses, sponsored by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
Day one will host the Group 1 Manifa Cup for purebred Arabian horses, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, alongside the four-round World Jockeys Challenge, drawing top riders from around the world.
Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Equestrian Authority and the Jockey Club, said that the developments reflected Saudi Arabia’s growing stature in the equestrian world, adding that they provided a strong foundation for the future of Saudi racing on a global scale.
Cole Palmer fires Chelsea to victory over Newcastle, West Ham pile more pressure on Ten Hag
- The Blues got back to winning ways with Palmer at the heart of their best work
LONDON: Cole Palmer inspired Chelsea to a 2-1 victory over Newcastle as West Ham piled more pressure on beleaguered Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag with a dramatic win by the same scoreline on Sunday.
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 at Crystal Palace, who picked up their first win of the season.
Chelsea had been beaten in the Premier League for the first time since Enzo Maresca’s first match in charge at Liverpool last weekend despite an impressive performance.
The Blues got back to winning ways with Palmer at the heart of their best work.
The England international had a goal marginally ruled out for offside inside the first five minutes.
Palmer was the creator for the opening goal, despite not being credited with the assist, as his sumptuous ball over the top freed Pedro Neto, who picked out Nicolas Jackson to slot in his sixth goal of the season.
Newcastle are now winless in five league games as the pressure mounts on Eddie Howe ahead of a rematch against Chelsea in the League Cup on Wednesday.
The Magpies did get back on level terms before half-time as Alexander Isak tapped in Lewis Hall’s cross at the end of a well-worked move.
Palmer took just two minutes into the second period to make the decisive impact with a driving run forward and powerful finish that beat Nick Pope at his near post.
Newcastle should have left London with a point, though, as Isak botched a huge chance to level 15 minutes from time after rounding Robert Sanchez.
Ten Hag was left to rue a familiar lack of ruthlessness as United’s fourth league defeat in nine games will spark further speculation on how long he will be given to turn the Red Devils’ fortunes around.
The visitors should have been out of sight by half-time at the London Stadium.
Alejandro Garnacho hit the woodwork inside two minutes and Edson Alvarez also headed off his own crossbar.
But it was Diogo Dalot who missed the biggest chance when the Portuguese international somehow fired over with the goal gaping after rounding Lukasz Fabianski.
Under-fire West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui showed his disgust with the Hammers’ first-half display by making three substitutions at the break.
Crysencio Summerville was one of those introduced and he slid in to open the scoring against the run of play on 74 minutes.
Casemiro brought United level nine minutes from time with a header from point-blank range.
But there was late drama when VAR intervened for a foul on Danny Ings by Matthijs de Ligt.
Jarrod Bowen smashed in the resulting spot-kick to take West Ham above United, who sink to 14th in the table.
Palace began the day in the relegation zone but were good value for the three points at Selhurst Park as Tottenham’s struggles on the road continue.
Eberechi Eze’s deft flick teed up Jean-Philippe Mateta to fire home the only goal.
Eze had a second ruled out for offside in the second half, but Tottenham, without injured captain Son Heung-min, were toothless in attack.
Spurs have won just once in five away league games this season as they slip to eighth, four points off the top four.
Left-field thought and patio heaters: How Pakistan turned series on head
- A revamped selection committee dropped out-of-form batsman Babar Azam, pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah
- Azam’s replacement Kamran Ghulam, prolific in the domestic game but hitherto ignored, rewarded selectors with a century on debut
RAWALPINDI: When Pakistan slumped to a sixth Test defeat in a row, by an innings as England piled up 823-7 in Multan just over two weeks ago, it sparked some soul-searching and a radical rethink.
A revamped Pakistan selection committee dropped out-of-form batsman Babar Azam, pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah and instead turned to spin with instructions to groundstaff to produce pitches to match.
The featherbed batsmen’s paradise of the first Test at Multan was recycled, with the help of a dowsing by water and industrial fans, into a turning pitch for the second.
Azam’s replacement Kamran Ghulam, prolific in the domestic game but hitherto ignored, rewarded the new selectors with a century on debut.
But it was the recalled Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who ripped England apart with spin, guile and a flourish as they took all 20 wickets on their way to a 152-run victory.
More of the same was ordered for the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi and Pakistan completed a remarkable turnaround by nine wickets on Saturday.
The 2-1 triumph over England was their first home series win since February 2021.
“We were losing matches after matches, series after series because there was no plan,” former Pakistan wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal told AFP.
“It’s thanks to the PCB for thinking out of the box and selectors for picking the discarded spinners that this win was forced,” said Akmal.
Pakistan took a punt using the same pitch for two Tests in a row in Multan.
But they pulled out all the stops in Rawalpindi, which had a reputation in the past of favoring seam bowlers, employing patio heaters and rakes to set up a spinning track.
Noman and Sajid this time shared 19 wickets as England crumbled to 112 all out and Pakistan cruised to victory by nine wickets.
Former England captain Michael Atherton gave credit to Pakistan for finally finding a way to win after a dire spell in all formats of the game.
“Pakistan now have a template to win at home,” said Atherton, who was a TV commentator for the series.
“You have got to be strong at home. Then you search for ways to adapt your game to win abroad.”
His TV colleague, another former England captain Nasser Hussain, said Pakistan “switched a plan mid-series and it’s paid dividends.”
Pakistan has had five PCB chairmen in as many years, with 26 different selectors and six head coaches over that same period.
Hussain said as a result, their previous tactics “would last a week” before being chopped and changed, ruling out an overarching strategy like the one that yielded two Test victories in a row.
“We met some fans who told us that they are happy that Pakistan at least have a plan now, even if it is an unorthodox one,” said Hussain.
“The win with a new plan has given them new joy.”
The series victory is the first Shan Masood since he was appointed captain last year and has given him respite from calls for his resignation.
But Pakistan will next play a two-match Test series in South Africa in December, where they have never won.
“We will need to plan and work hard for further progress and just not sit on this one win,” warned Akmal.
“A win will motivate everyone,” he said. “I am sure this will lift our cricket and we will regain our glory of the past.”
Azam, Afridi back in Pakistan squad for Australia tour
- Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi will be rested for limited-overs matches against Zimbabwe next month
- Pakistan will play three ODI matches against Australia on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth
LAHORE: Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi were named on Sunday in Pakistan’s squads for the November limited-overs series in Australia after being dropped from the last two Tests against England.
However, selectors said the duo will be rested for the limited-overs matches in the Zimbabwe tour later next month.
A new captain for Pakistan’s white-ball format will also be announced later on Sunday to replace Azam, who stepped back this month after a second turn in the post.
Pakistan open the Australia tour with three one-day internationals in Melbourne (November 4), Adelaide (November 8) and Perth (November 10).
That will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals in Brisbane (November 14), Sydney (November 16) and Hobart (November 18).
Allrounders Aamer Jamal and Arafat Minhas, spinner Faisal Akram, wicketkeeper batsman Haseebullah and batsmen Irfan Khan and Saim Ayub have been selected for the first time in ODIs.
Likewise, allrounders Jahandad Khan and Salman Agha have been selected for the first time in T20Is.
Azam, appointed white-ball captain for the first time in 2019, stepped down after Pakistan’s disastrous first-round exit from the ODI World Cup in India last year.
However, he was re-appointed for a second time in March ahead of the T20I World Cup in the United States and West Indies — where Pakistan exited in the first round again, adding pressure on him to resign.
Squads for Australia:
ODI SQUAD: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I SQUAD: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
Squads for Zimbabwe:
ODI: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
T20I: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan
