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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Slick City getting into the Christmas spirit

Manchester City aren’t often top of the English Premier League table at Christmas, but when they are it means trouble for their rivals.

City handed out two thrashings in their last two games (Leeds were beaten 7-0 and Newcastle 4-0) to extend their lead at the top to three points ahead of Liverpool.

Only twice before have City been top at Christmas and on both occasions – 2011-12 and 2017-18 – they went on to win the league.

City had nine different scorers in amassing 11 goals against Leeds and Newcastle, with Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez scoring twice.

And while scoring goals isn’t a problem, City also have the best defensive record in the competition having conceded only nine goals in 18 matches.

Liverpool lose ground as Klopp fumes at officiating

Tottenham Hotspur won’t care a jot, but the officiating during their 2-2 draw with Liverpool infuriated Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp.

The result, in which Harry Kane scored his first Premier League goal in eight matches, extended Spurs’ unbeaten sequence to five matches, while Liverpool haven’t lost in seven.

But Tottenham were given a helping hand when referee Paul Tierney – and his assistants – saw nothing wrong with Emerson Royal’s crude challenge on Dioga Jota when a penalty seemed the obvious decision.

Klopp was also furious that Kane had not been sent off in the first half for a lunging attempt to win the ball ahead of Andrew Robertson.

The referee was quick to make his mind up on other matters, including handing out nine yellow cards (one to Klopp) and a deserved red card to Robertson.

Covid concerns prompt emergency meeting

Chelsea’s request to postpone their clash with Wolves was turned down but an English Premier League meeting today could have implications for upcoming fixtures.

Having drawn with Everton late last week, Chelsea, who were without Jorginho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kai Havertz due to Covid, weren’t keen to take on Wolves. The goalless draw saw Chelsea slip further adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Six of 10 matches were postponed over the weekend because of Covid. Clubs will meet today to discuss how to tackle growing concerns over the coronavirus.

Glory and Sturridge in quarantine

Perth Glory won’t play another game in 2021 and players and staff are facing Christmas in quarantine after midfielder Pacifique Niyongabire tested positive to Covid.

Three games into an eight-game road trip, Glory’s matches against Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United have been postponed and players and staff are in hotel quarantine in Queensland.

It is the second time Glory star signing Daniel Sturridge has been in quarantine after a spell in a Perth hotel on his arrival in Western Australia.

The former Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City striker played just a few minutes of Glory’s season opener at home to Adelaide United in November but has not featured in any of the away games.

Niyongabire is vaccinated and has been suffering only mild symptoms.

Bulls on the charge despite keeper send off

Macarthur extended their unbeaten start to the A-League season to five matches, despite playing for more than 70 minutes with just 10 men in their 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets.

The Bulls pulled off a remarkable comeback after goalkeeper Filip Kurto was sent off 18 minutes in, and Beka Mikeltadze had given the Jets the lead.

Former Perth Glory midfielder Danny De Silva scored a stunning volley to draw Macarthur level before James Meredith’s diving header won it for the Bulls.

After finishing sixth in their first A-League season in 2020-21, Macarthur are the only unbeaten team this season and sit top of the table with five games played.

Sydney FC score first win of the season

Sydney FC, the A-League’s most decorated club, finally have a win under their belt this season.

At the fifth time of asking, Steve Corica’s side produced the goods with a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix.

The five-times A-League champions went into yesterday’s match second-bottom on the A-League table and in desperate need of three points.

Goals from Elvis Kamsoba and Adam Le Fondre put Sydney in a comfortable position, although they were put through some nervy moments late in the game after Ben Waine pulled a goal back for the visitors.

Aussie Ange gets first trophy with Celtic

Just six months after taking on one of the toughest jobs in football, Ange Postecoglou has claimed a first trophy with Celtic.

Kyogo Furuhashi did the damage with two goals as Celtic came from behind to beat Hibernian 2-1 in the Scottish League Cup.

It was fitting that Kyogo, a key Postecoglou signing having been plucked from Japan’s J-League where the Australian coach was previously in charge of Yokohama F Marinos, was the architect of the victory with two stunning goals.

Aguero retires and Eriksen leaves Inter

Two of modern football’s star players have had their careers curtailed by heart problems.

Argentinian football legend Sergio Aguero was reduced to tears as he announced his retirement from football, just days before Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen parted ways with Inter Milan.

Former Manchester City and Atletico Madrid striker Aguero has not played since experiencing “chest discomfort” during a match in October. He has been forced out of the game after playing just five matches for Barcelona, who he joined in July.

Aguero won’t be forgotten in a hurry, especially by fans of Manchester City, who fondly remember his last-gasp winner against Queens Park Rangers to seal a dramatic Premier League title in 2012.

Eriksen, who had a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s European Championship match against Finland in June, can’t play in Italy because of rules that don’t allow players who have cardiac devices fitted.

Napoli back on track with win at Milan

Elif Elmas has revitalised Napoli’s Serie A title hopes with the only goal in 1-0 win away to AC Milan.

The victory snapped Napoli’s three-match winless streak and helped them into second place, above Milan on goal difference.

Inter Milan are four points clear at the top after handing out a 5-0 thrashing of bottom side Salernitana.

In Bergamo, Tammy Abraham and Chris Smalling made history in Roma’s 4-1 win over Atalanta.

Abraham scored twice and Smalling was also on the scoresheet to ensure the fixture was the first in Serie A history to feature two different English scorers.

Lewandowski hits new mark in Bayern blitz

Robert Lewandowski left it late to set a record for the number of goals scored in a calendar year when he volleyed home three minutes from the end of Bayern Munich’s 4-0 thrashing of Wolfsburg.

It was the Polish striker’s 43rd goal of the 2021 and beat the 42 scored by German great Gerd Muller in 1972.

In the same game, Thomas Mueller celebrated his 400th league appearance with the opening goal as Bayern extended to nine points their lead over second-placed Borussia Dortmund heading into the winter break.

Champions League draw done at second attempt

After a farcical first attempt triggered by software problems, UEFA were forced to redraw the Champions League last 16 fixtures.

Manchester United, who had been lined up against Paris Saint Germain in the botched draw, would have been relieved to instead be facing Atletico Madrid, who were also happier having avoided a showdown against Bayern Munich. PSG will instead face Real Madrid.

Liverpool’s passage was made tougher when they were drawn to take on Inter Milan after initially being paired with RB Salzburg, the first Austrian club to reach the knockout phase.

First leg matches will be played on February 15, 16, 22 and 23, and second leg games will be played on March 8, 9, 15 and 16.

The UEFA Champions League, last 16 draw:

Sporting CP (POR) vs Manchester City (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) vs Real Madrid (ESP)

Salzburg (AUT) vs Bayern (GER)
Inter (ITA) vs Liverpool (ENG)

Chelsea (ENG) vs LOSC Lille (FRA)
Villarreal (ESP) vs Juventus (ITA)

Benfica (POR) vs Ajax (NED)
Atlético (ESP) vs Manchester United (ENG)




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