Updated27. April 2024, 7:29 p.m.
Football: Liverpool hanging on, Klopp and Salah clash
Hanging on West Ham (2-2), Liverpool undoubtedly sees their last title hopes disappear in the Premier League. A scene of tension between Jürgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah broke out.
At the start, Jürgen Klopp had another difficult match with his Reds.
AFP
Liverpool almost said goodbye to the Premier League title by dropping points again on Saturday at West Ham (2-2). A poor performance which leaves the way clear for Arsenal and Manchester City, three weeks before the end of the season.
At the other end of the standings, Sheffield United sank 5-1 on Newcastle’s lawn, a 25th defeat in 35 matches which mathematically sends the Blades back to the second division, a year after leaving it.
Liverpool gets stuck
Liverpool are experiencing a downturn at the worst time: two draws and two defeats in the last five league games have broken their momentum and buried their title dream. The crown appears inaccessible for the current 3rd in the championship with 75 points behind Arsenal (1st, 77 points) and Manchester City (2nd, 76 points) who have, respectively, one and two more matches to play. The Gunners play the north London derby at Tottenham and the Cityzens travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with the hope of fending off Jürgen Klopp and his clique a little further.
The German coach saw his team disintegrate in April, between elimination from the Europa League, two Premier League defeats against teams well within his reach (Crystal Palace and Everton) and draws against Manchester United and West Ham. Added to these sporting concerns on Saturday was a public quarrel, at the edge of the pitch, with its star striker Mohamed Salah, who appeared angry and almost threatening just before he came into play in the second half.
Klopp spoke of a closed incident in the post-match conference, but his attempt at demining failed when Salah blurted out in front of journalists present in the mixed zone: “It will be fire today if I speak” .
On the pitch, his team showed two faces that had become familiar in this second part of the season: a defense that was too lax, particularly on set pieces, and an attack that was restless but often clumsy. West Ham took the lead after a quickly taken corner, thanks to a nice uncrossed header from Jarrod Bowen (43rd, 1-0), his 16th goal of the season in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s strength, however, lies in its ability to react, and this allowed it to equalize on a lackluster strike from Andy Robertson (48th, 1-1), then to go ahead on a deflected shot from Cody Gakpo by two defenders then Alphonse Areola (65th, 1-2). The French goalkeeper, back from injury and starting for the first time in a month, then multiplied the decisive interventions, before the equalizer signed Michail Antonio (77th, 2-2).
Shocks against Tottenham and Aston Villa now await Liverpool, before a final home match against Wolverhampton.
Zeki Amdouni scores at Old Trafford
Manchester United’s season experienced a new hitch at Old Trafford against the penultimate, Burnley (1-1), came back at the very end of the match with a penalty converted by Zeki Amdouni (88th). The Geneva striker, relegated to the bench for several weeks, entered the game in the 57th minute and scored his fifth goal of the season in the Premier League. The first since January 12.
Zeki Amdouni scored his fifth Premier League goal of the season.
Imago
“I am very frustrated, this (editor’s note: the draw) should not happen,” commented coach Erik ten Hag on Sky Sports. The team was “very good” in several sequences, but “we gave up again at the end of the match”.
Manchester United only retains its 6th place with a small point more than Newcastle, executioner – with Fabian Schär replaced at the break – of Sheffield United (5-1). The bottom side conceded one defeat too many at St James’ Park, the one which sends them back to the Championship even before the last three matches of the season. “The championship was too powerful for us throughout the season,” coach Chris Wilder commented to the BBC, pointing to “a total lack of leadership” in his “young” team: “I sometimes thought that I was going to have a heart attack trying to get the messages across.”
The Blades have only 16 points after 35 matches, ten less than the current non-relegation leader, Nottingham Forest (17th, 26 pts), who has only played 34 matches. Mathematically, they can no longer leave the red zone.
Luton (18th, 25 pts) failed to escape on Saturday. The promoted side lost 2-1 at Wolverhampton, their fourth defeat in the last five matches. Everton (15th, 36 points), on the other hand, took a further step towards maintaining their position by achieving a third victory in a row, against Brentford (1-0), thanks to a goal from Idrissa Gueye.
Chelsea are rebuffed
Knocked out on Tuesday by Arsenal (5-0 defeat) and led by two goals at half-time by Aston Villa, Chelsea managed to obtain a draw (2-2) to keep their European hopes alive for next season. In added time, Axel Disasi even thought he would give the Blues victory but the referee invalidated the goal of the French defender, who had entered shortly before, for a foul by his passer Benoît Badiashile. The Londoners remain 9th, but they are only six points behind Manchester United, who have played one more match.
Aston Villa, for its part, has a lead of seven points over its pursuer, Tottenham (5th, 60 points). Spurs have certainly played three fewer matches, but their end-of-year menu is particularly copious with, from Sunday, the reception of rival Arsenal.
(afp)