Manchester City Top Table, Decimate Spurs 5 – 1 at White Hart Lane

Football

BY NISAR KHAN

TOTTENHAM – Manchester City climbed back to the top of the table with a dominant victory over Spurs at White Hart Lane and roadblocked Tottenham’s hopes of getting fourth place.



Yaya Toure added a goal with a second half penalty. COURTESY: GETTY IMAGES

Kick-Off: Wednesday 29 January at 7:45pm (GMT)
Location: White Hart Lane, Tottenham
Score: Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 5 Manchester City
Goalscorers: Aguero 15′, Y. Toure 51′, Dzeko 53′, Capoue 59′, Jovetic 78′, Kompany 89′
League Positions following game: Manchester City 1st and Tottenham 5th

Sergio Aguero added a goal just fifteen minutes in, but concern from Manchester City would rouse towards the late stages of the first half, as the Argentine suffered a hamstring injury.

SEE ALSO: Everton 5 – 1 Liverpool (Report, Comment & Analysis)

Steven Jovetic scored his first Premier League, while Yaya Toure scored a penalty after Danny Rose was sent off. Edin Dzeko also added to the scoreline culminating a great team goal from the visitors. Vincent Kompany captained his team to an even bigger win, scoring his third goal of the season. With a different scorer for every goal, Manchester City had another clockwork-like performance to top the league.

In one of four simultaneous kick-offs around the league, the rain poured heavily on White Hart Lane with the proceedings underway. There was nothing to differentiate between the teams in the early goings of the game.

Approximately seven minutes in, and Manchester City looked like the team carrying a more legitimate goal-scoring threat. Sergio Aguero, who had been on flying form ever since his return from injury, rattled the woodwork to culminate an exquisite passing build-up from the visitors.

Moments later, his striking partner, Edin Džeko, squandered an opportunity to take the lead with his build-up with Aguero. The ball was blasted over and into the stands.

Manchester City were off to the much better start, with Tottenham failing to register any early scares or threats to the visitors.

Sergio Aguero would score in his eighth consecutive game, affirmatively slotting it past Lloris after David Silva set him up with a delightful through ball. Manchester City instantaneously swung the game in their favour, with Aguero’s twenty-sixth goal of the season.

While it was all-City for the moments following the goal, Tottenham began to make a little more noise to the delight of their home fans at White Hart Lane. Emanuel Adebayor’s surging run, followed by an attempt at goal, was deflected and out for a corner – of which Eriksen swung in brilliantly, only to come off Kompany and into Joe Hart’s hands.

Soon after, almost in a back-and-forth manner, Sergio Aguero would be emphatically denied in doubling the lead. Hugo Lloris made one of the best saves of the season to deny the Uruguayan, as he stuck out a strong hand to keep the deficit down to one goal for the time being.

Sergio Aguero was causing a World of troubles for Tottenham, with another one of his attempts being frantically dealt with. Danny Rose cleared his shot off the line, before his second effort fizzed over the bar.

Manchester City continued to press and put pressure on Spurs throughout the first half. 

Tottenham’s fans momentarily erupted in celebration when Michael Dawson struck the ball into the net from Christian Eriksen. However, as they were running to celebrate, the raising of an offside flag silenced the crowd with Manchester City maintaining their lead.

While it was looking to be a comfortable and promising finish to the first half for The Citizens, a bitter blow was felt when Sergio Aguero pulled up with a hamstring injury. In pursuit with Michael Dawson, the Argentine pulled up with concern on the touchline, considering Aguero’s importance to the side and only returning from injury a few weeks ago,

That would be all for the first forty-five. Manchester City were all over Tottenham for a vast majority of the game, however the hosts had their glimpses and when doing so proved a threat with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Emanuel Adebayor causing some trouble. Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero – who had made the night uneasy for Tottenham’s defenders – suffered an injury blow, leaving for a very open second half that had all to play for.

Goal Machine: Sergio Aguero added to his goals tally at White Hart Lane, but suffered a second half hamstring injury. COURTESY: TWITTER.COM/MCFC

Just minutes into the second half and Manchester City had a slight scare, as their Spanish maestro David Silva was down and injured. After receiving some treatment, he was good to continue.

A controversial penalty award to Manchester City would firmly place the game into the visitors’ grasp. Danny Rose was sent off for a challenge on Edin Dzeko in the box. Later replays showed that the Englishman did get the ball, but also may have got the player. Fans at the Lane were evidently furious at the call. Yaya Toure stepped up to the penalty, striking it right and calmly doubling the lead.

Edin Dzeko scored a terrific third goal for the away side with some excellent build-up from City, defining what a team goal should look like. Firing from close range, Dzeko took advantage of poor work from Spurs’ defense to clear away safely. Nine minutes into the second half and all hope was lost for Tottenham, down by three goals and also lost a player with the red card.

Suddenly the spirit of Spurs would come into play, and White Hart Lane became significantly louder. Etienne Capoue smashed home his first goal for Spurs from a corner, where Fernandinho could easily have been sent off for an attempted stoppage of it. White Hart Lane was roaring, with Spurs getting a goal back and the crowd fully behind them, as they took advantage of City’s slack for the first.

Manchester City enjoyed a lengthy spell of keeping the ball and increasing possession, taking the sting out of the game and extinguishing any hopes refueled by Capoue’s goal. 

Steven Jovetic scored his first Premier League goal to add a fourth and further crush and humiliate Spurs at home. Fernandinho’s run opened up Jovetic, who drove to the side in the box and his shot took a deflection, moving away from Lloris to add a fourth.

Tottenham were looking the side where the final whistle would be welcomed with open arms.

Even captain Vincent Kompany would get in on the act, scoring the rebound after Lloris parried Dzeko’s shot to edge home an unprecedented fifth goal.

With the full-time whistle blowing, it was all over. Manchester City made a masterclass at White Hart Lane, while Tottenham suffer another big loss at home.

Comment & Analysis: “Spurs Simply Outdone” writes Nisar Khan

Manchester City once again re-instate their claim to the title, with another huge win over a big team. 

And they also emphatically dismissed claims of a one-man time, with a different goalscorer for every goal.

Sergio Aguero, scores, in what is becoming a routinely sight now – although causes for concern came with his injury. However, that didn’t stop Manchester City from going on to score four more goals.

The real turning point in this game was Danny Rose’s sending off. Spurs are right to feel hard-done-by from the decision, as it was a speculative call. From then on, it was one steep battle for Tottenham to reduce the deficit, and they were simply outdone.

An interval with optimism for Tottenham would be greeted by a sudden turn of events where it was all turned upside down.

The only positive that can be taken is that Spurs only lost by five goals this time, rather than six in their fixture earlier this season. Hardly an improvement, but that is one of the only takeaways from this game for them, along with not having to face City in the league again this season.

One thing Manchester City need to make sure of is that they are not vulnerable to injuries. When Aguero was injured, concern was high. And even when David Silva and Jesus Navas were down (although they would continue playing after) there were causes for concern on the City touchline. Should they amend their injury issues, they are strong league candidates.

Manchester City were relaxed for everything but around two minutes of the second half. Creative, composed and just having a field day out there, a completely one-sided affair. 

Spurs also clearly missed Paulinho and Sandro among others, they simply were outdone. Another dominant win from City, its becoming nothing out of the ordinary nowadays.

Questions are back around again for Tottenham, with another heavy loss at home.

Manchester City thump Tottenham in emphatic fashion once again. Another away win sees them top the table with a goal difference that is unheard of. Yet again, Manchester City have a goal-fest against a top team.

TheSportMatrix.com

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Liverpool Make Title Race Intents in Undoubted Derby Rout, Thrash Everton 4 – 0

Football

BY NISAR KHAN

LIVERPOOL – Daniel Sturridge scored twice in Liverpool’s emphatic four-goal Merseyside Derby win over Everton, in a glorious night for the Reds.



Deadly Duo: Daniel Sturridge scored twice while Luis Suarez added another. COURTESY: TWITTER.COM/LFC

Kick-Off: Tuesday 28 January at 8pm (GMT)
Location: Anfield Football Ground, Liverpool
Score: Liverpool 4 – 0 Everton
Goalscorers: Gerrard 21, Sturridge 33′ & 35′, Suarez 50′

Daniel Sturridge fell short of a hat-trick, in a game where the skipper, and his striking partner hit the back of the net as they thumped four goals past their Merseyside rivals.

An atmospheric Anfield witnessed an opening ten minutes of some good quality football, with great tackles being made around the pitch. Uruguayian Luis Suarez had the closest chance of the game to that point, forcing Everton’s keeper Tim Howard to make a save in the corner.

Jordan Henderson and Ross Barkley were eager to get in the act early on, with long-range efforts, none too troubling for either goalkeeper. 

Rather than a frantic start, it was a good one, with the rain pouring down on the pitch – although not dampening Liverpool’s hopes as we would come to see just minutes later.

Twenty-one minutes in, and the rout would begin. Liverpool’s skipper Steven Gerrard scored in his 31st Merseyside Derby heading in from Luis Suarez’s curled cross. England’s captain left no doubt as he powerfully headed it past the Toffees.

And if conceding the opener was bad, Everton’s fans’ despair would instantly turn up a notch, as Romelu Lukaku was substituted after picking up an injury in the corner. Teammate Gareth Barry collided with the Belgian, resulting in a suspected ankle ligament injury.

It was a Liverpool takeover for the next few minutes to follow, as Everton were on the backfoot and at the verge of breaking point. The hosts were smelling blood early on.

Daniel Sturridge would continue his superb run of goalscoring form, getting on the end of a pin-point ball from Phillipe Coutinho and clipped it past to double the lead.

Just two minutes later and it seemed that the game was up and beyond Everton’s grasp. Daniel Sturridge doubled his goal tally with an excellent lofted ball past the onrushing Tim Howard. Kolo Toure provided the assist for Sturridge’s second.

Liverpool comfortably eased their way towards the interval, while away fans watched in disarray. Roberto Martinez had one tough time talk to ensue during the break, but we would soon realize that it would not turn things around.

Gareth Barry had his name in the books for a foul on Raheem Sterling. Whether it was out of frustration or just a bad tackle, it was reminiscent of what was becoming a very troublesome outing for Everton.

Captain Fantastic: Steven Gerrard celebrates the opening goal. COURTESY: TWITTER.COM/LFC

Everton came out on a roll to start the second half. Liverpool were being pushed back and their resolve was being tested most to that point in the game. Around five minutes of this would amount to nothing, in fact further damage, for Everton.
A defensive mishap from Phil Jagielka would let Luis Suarez through, surging down the middle with two defenders hot on his tails. Keeping composed, he slotted it past Tim Howard to surely seal the game for the hosts.

It had become a game almost contrary to their six-goal thriller earlier this season.

Liverpool continued to dominate the game with a four-goal cushion. Daniel Sturridge scuffed a hat-trick opportunity with a penalty to make it five. The penalty was awarded after Tim Howard fouled Raheem Sterling in the box. Sturridge blasted it over the bar, and would later be replaced for Victor Moses in the 70th minute.

Prior to his substitution, he failed to convert when it was three-on-two, but John Stones managed to clear away – with Suarez and Sturridge in a bit of a disagreement. Goals mean goals, no matter how much you are leading by.

Everton were down and out, but Ross Barkley had other ideas – and so did Mignolet, who batted away his effort to maintain his clean sheet thus far.

With the time slowly ticking down towards the full-time whistle, the fans were as contrasting as each team in the game. Glum Everton fans exited the arena, while Liverpool fans savored every minute as they cruised to a big victory over their neighbors.

Liverpool were unable to get a fifth in the 88th minute, as Victor Moses smashed it over, with Luis Suarez in promising territory, albeit shunned for that chance. 

And it finished 4 – 0, with Liverpool embracing their glory as they picked up a vital win that catapulted them back into possible title contention.

“We wanted to get back to the way we’ve been playing. We’ve been ruthless at home.” Steven Gerrard spoke to BT Sport following the game. The skipper also took responsibility for allowing Daniel Sturridge taking the penalty, “I wanted Daniel to experience the same feeling that I did” of scoring in the Derby.

“We played good football. And the boys created good chances,” double-scorer Daniel Sturridge explained. He also apologized if anyone was offended by his reaction to being substituted off.

Comment & Analysis: “From a thrilling draw last season to an undoubted rout this time round” writes Nisar Khan

A win of this magnitude is simply unheard in the Merseyside Derby.

With Everton placing one of their best Merseyside Derby squads for this game, a lot of questions need to be asked as to how they were so dominated by Liverpool at Anfield.

Quick comparisons of their match and the thriller earlier this season have shown a vast change. Romelu Lukaku, arguably the most significant piece to the puzzle, was taken off twenty-one minutes in, a bitter blow to Everton that the loss will only further worsen. 

While the first goal came from a set-piece, they wouldn’t prove a factor. It would be through balls, that for some reason, Jagielka and his defensive teammates were unable to deal with. Sturridge’s second goal showed it all, how was he let into so much vast space to finish like that?

The number of chances, even with Lukaku on, show Everton’s problem (at least one of them) in the game. In the first twenty minutes, the hosts had six chances to Everton’s one chance – despite a very even and top-quality start for both sides.

Everton no doubt can bounce back from this game, but it will be a real test of their resolve. This acts as encouragement for Liverpool, going six games unbeaten, and now a demolition over their rivals to keep them well-and-truly alive in the title race, taking advantage of Arsenal’s draw on the same night.

Striking prowess was yet again clearly evident for all to see on the Reds’ part. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge’s partnership is proving to be a lethal one, of which Everton have witnessed firsthand.

Midfielders were yet again influential, with Coutinho working his socks off today, along with Steven Gerrard, thriving in his 31st Merseyside Derby appearance.

Maybe the only negative performances was Aly Cissokho, who was wasteful in possession and messed up on creating assists for the strikers downfield. Meanwhile, Kevin Mirallas stood out for Everton with his vein effort amounting to nothing, except a pinch of recognition.

Everton’s chance to go ahead of Liverpool has been thwarted, and thwarted in some emphatic fashion by the hosts, putting on a superb performance against their rivals.

It’s the biggest win in a Merseyside Derby since 1982.

It’s Liverpool’s day as they leave no doubt to thwart Everton’s chances to go ahead of them. Four goals in a problematic outing for the Toffees, while Liverpool were on another level.

TheSportMatrix.com

 – Sports for the Fans, by the Fans.

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