Reigning champions Manchester City twice came from behind to grab a 2-2 draw away to Liverpool that denied Brendan Rodgers his first Premier League win as Reds manager.
Martin Skrtel went from hero to villain in the course of an exciting match at Anfield on Sunday, heading Liverpool in front, before his loose back-pass set up a goal for Carlos Tevez that saw City make it 2-2 10 minutes from time.
A much-improved Liverpool, shock 3-0 losers to West Bromwich Albion the previous weekend, took the lead when Skrtel powered in a header from Steven Gerrard’s 34th-minute corner, but City, who came through a see-saw clash to beat newcomers Southampton 3-2 in their league opener, were level in the 63rd minute when Yaya Toure capitalized on the failure of Liverpool’s Martin Kelly to clear a Tevez cross.
Photo: Reuters
However, parity lasted for just three minutes until, following a Jack Rodwell handball, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez curled the ensuing free-kick around the wall and beyond the despairing dive of City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Argentina striker Tevez, with his 100th goal in English soccer, drew City level again in the 80th minute when he seized on a stray back-pass from defender Skrtel and then calmly rounded Pepe Reina before slotting home.
“My glass is very nearly full,” Rodgers told Sky Sports.
“I thought it was a brilliant performance. We were asked a lot of questions and I thought the players were incredible. Some times the best team doesn’t win. Let’s remember we were playing a good side,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers, renowned when in charge of Swansea City for his emphasis on passing soccer, absolved Skrtel of the blame for City’s second goal.
“He was brave enough to play it and that’s the development of the team. As a group we will only get better,” Rodgers said.
This was the fourth game in a row where City had conceded two goals and manager Roberto Mancini said: “This is the time to finish conceding two goals every game, but we have taken one point when we went down two times.”
Earlier, Arsenal failed to score for the second league match in a row following the departure of star striker Robin van Persie to Manchester United, as they were held to a goalless draw away to Stoke City.
“It is not good enough,” Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta said after the Gunners’ second straight 0-0 stalemate. “We had some really good chances, but at the moment we are not taking them. The same thing happened last week.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was pleased by his side’s defensive performance, but said he was looking to bring in more players to the London club before Friday’s transfer deadline.
“I’m pleased with what I have, but yes, I anticipate that we will do something still,” Wenger said.
“We are still in the market. Defensive midfielder, it depends on the quality of the players available,” he said.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care