Page 28 - Irish Examiner USA

sportsexaminer
28

2019 Wolves Share The Spoils With Liverpool Extend Lead
Sheffield United At Molineux
4th, scored with a At The Top With Win
Matt Doherty
December s e c o n d - h a l f

header to earn

| Wolverhampton Against Seagulls
Wanderers a 1-1
EXAMINER against Sheffield
draw
home
United.
The Blades had a superb start, with Lys Mousset
IRISH opening the scoring after two minutes when he
controlled George Baldock’s cross before firing his
fourth goal in six matches.
Dean Henderson tipped Raul Jimenez’s header
over the crossbar in Wolves’ best chance of the
first half.
David McGoldrick was denied twice by Rui
Patricio in the opening six minutes of the second
period before Doherty headed Wolves’ equalizer
with 26 minutes remaining.
The draw extended Wolves’ unbeaten run to
nine matches and they stayed sixth on 20 points.
Sheffield United remained unbeaten away from
home this season and are seventh with 19 points.
C
Palace Defeat Burnley To Secure
First Win In Six Games Virgil van Dijk gets the better of Lewis Dunk to score his second headed goal as Liverpool double their advantage
Crystal Palace earned their first win in six Virgil Van Dijk dou- them. decided with 21 minutes
matches with a 2-0 victory against Burnley at Turf ble sent Liverpool 11 They broke through after 18 remaining to give a rest to
Moor. Apoints clear in the minutes as Trent Alexander- Salah, who has been troubled by
Palace had controlled the first half with Jordan Premier League despite a Arnold clipped in a superb free- an ankle injury in recent weeks,
Ayew putting the ball in the net, only to be flagged nervy finish against kick for Van Dijk to head home. and replace him with Adam
offside. Brighton after Alisson Brighton keeper Mat Ryan paid Lallana.
But they went ahead in first-half stoppage time Becker was sent off. for a moment’s hesitancy as the The Egyptian did not look
from Wilfried Zaha’s second goal in as many Two first-half headers from Dutchman’s header looped over pleased with the decision as he
matches, a powerful low shot from the left. Van Dijk put the leaders on him and into the net. brushed past Klopp on his way
Burnley responded with Chris Wood firing over course for a comfortable victory Ryan then had a busy spell as to the bench. He was soon fol-
from a great position. at Anfield but a rash decision he turned a Firmino shot behind lowed by Firmino as Liverpool
Palace punished that miss on 78 minutes when from Alisson and a Lewis Dunk and then denied Sadio Mané made another change.
substitute Jeffrey Schlupp pounced on Ben Mee’s reply left them hanging on for a moments later. Those substitutions may
loose clearance to finish between Nick Pope’s legs. 2-1 success. Van Dijk had an awkward have been made with the best
Wood was denied by a great save from Vicente Alisson was dismissed for moment when he mishit a clear- intentions, but they left the
Guaita as Palace held on. handling outside his area and ance across his own goal but he Reds looking light in attack after
They rose to 10th, level on 18 points with his replacement Adrian was was at his inspirational best Alisson’s moment of madness
Burnley, who are eighth. C
caught out by the quick-think- again when he doubled the lead changed the complexion of the
ing Dunk. after 24 minutes. game late on.
Southampton Come From Behind Yet despite a nail-biting con- The assist again came from Alisson came out of his area
To Pile More Pain On Hornets clusion – with Mohamed Salah Alexander-Arnold, this time as Leandro Trossard chased a
James Ward-Prowse’s late free-kick earned and Roberto Firmino having from a corner, swung tempting- long ball downfield and was
Southampton a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory already been substituted – the ly into the box and met unerr- adjudged to have handled as he
against Watford. hosts held on to ensure they ingly by Van Dijk. touched it away from the
Ismaila Sarr gave Watford the lead after 24 min- took full advantage of champi- Liverpool then eased off the Belgian.
utes, latching on to a long pass down the right ons Manchester City’s draw at gas and Brighton briefly threat- Referee Martin Atkinson
before firing high past Alex McCarthy. Newcastle earlier in the day. ened as Davy Propper forced a showed the Brazilian a straight
Southampton substitute Shane Long saw his The tension of the closing save from Alisson from distance red, forcing immediate changes
close-range effort tipped on to the crossbar by Ben moments was in contrast to but the first half ended with as Oxlade-Chamberlain was sac-
Foster before Danny Ings equalized with 12 min- most of the game, which Firmino testing Ryan again. rificed for deputy goalkeeper
utes remaining. Liverpool controlled with little The Seagulls had an opportu- Adrian.
Moussa Djenepo got to the byline with great alarm. nity early in the second half Liverpool were still reorgan-
skill and crossed low for Ings to scramble in at the They did start slowly with an when Dunk glanced a header izing when Dunk caught them
near post for his sixth goal in his last eight matches. Andy Robertson shot well over across goal from a corner. unawares with a clever low
Ward-Prowse completed the comeback on 83 the bar and a Salah effort into Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain free-kick into the bottom cor-
minutes, with Foster unable to prevent his curled the side-netting all they pro- showed good footwork in the ner.
free-kick from finding the top-left corner. duced in the opening 15 min- area before Ryan turned his That left them needing to
Watford substitute Andre Gray lashed wide in utes. shot around the post and play out the final 10 minutes
stoppage time but 18th-placed Southampton held But Brighton offered little Alexander-Arnold had another with 10 men but, despite
on for their first home win of the season to move
four points clear of the Hornets in 20th. C and once the hosts upped the effort deflected over. Brighton pushing them back,
tempo they could not contain Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp they held on. C