Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/904009
maltatoday SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2017 53 PREMIER League leaders Man- chester City brushed aside Leicester City 2-0 for their 16th successive win in all competi- tions as Manchester United wel- comed back long-term absentees Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahi- movic in a 4-1 rout of Newcastle United. With Tottenham Hotspur los- ing ground after a 2-0 derby defeat at neighbours Arsenal, the league continues to look an argument between Manchester's big two who are separated by eight points. A tap-in by Gabriel Jesus and a stunning strike from Kevin De Bruyne provided the City goals against a Leicester team who have often troubled them in the past. The home side went close to equalising when Harry McGuire hit the post after the break, but City went straight up the other end and put the result beyond doubt with a stunning counter- attack that De Bruyne rounded off with an unstoppable 20-yard shot in the 49th minute. The only concern for City man- ager Pep Guardiola was an injury to John Stones, who hobbled off before the break and may not play again this year. "We are going to miss (John Stones) for a long time, maybe six weeks off," said Guardiola af- ter the game. "It is tough because the calen- dar is so demanding. We don't have many central defenders and they will suffer but we will find a solution." The successful return of Vin- cent Kompany from injury will provide compensation although the Belgian was fortunate to es- cape with a booking for a foul on Jamie Vardy in the third minute. United's Pogba and Ibrahi- movic were also back in action at Old Trafford. The Frenchman contributed an assist and scored United's third in an impressive 70-minute appearance before Ibrahimovic made an unexpect- ed return from the bench after seven months out with a knee injury. "It's my head that is playing; my knee just needs to follow," he said after his 15-minute cameo. Anthony Martial, Chris Small- ing and Romelu Lukaku scored the other goals as United hit four in the league for the seventh time this season after Marcus Gayle had given Newcastle the lead. At Arsenal, Tottenham manag- er Mauricio Pochettino said he was "disappointed in the perfor- mance and the way we conceded the goals" after the derby defeat scuppered suggestions of a per- manent shift in the north Lon- don balance of power. Arsenal went ahead through a controversial goal from Shkodran Mustafi, which Po- chettino thought should not have stood. "The goal was offside. But we lose," he said. "I'm not blaming the referee. It's a strange situ- ation. It changed the dynamic of the game. We need to accept that. We can't control that." At Anfield, Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool beat Southampton 3-0 to record three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time in 2017. The Egyptian's brace on 31 and 41 minutes made it 14 goals in 18 games for Liverpool with Philippe Coutinho rounding off the afternoon with their third to put them one point off the Champions League places. Chelsea had an equally un- troubled afternoon after beat- ing West Bromwich Albion 4-0, a result that piled more pressure on Baggies manager Tony Pulis whose side are without a win in 11 games. "The defending was very poor," said Pulis after the defeat in which Eden Hazard scored twice. "It leaves me in the posi- tion I was in before the game. The board of directors will de- cide what they have to do." The Premier League's two worst defences, Crystal Palace and Everton, predictably leaked goals as honours were shared in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Sel- hurst Park. Palace were pegged back after twice taking the lead though James McCarthur and Wil- fried Zaha although Christian Benteke should have sealed it with an easy chance for Roy Hodgson's side in the second half. Callum Wilson scored a hat- trick to earn 10-man Bourne- mouth victory over Huddersfield Town. "We had to dig deep," said the striker, whose goals were his first since he fought back from serious injury. Burnley continued their im- pressive start to the season with a 2-0 win over Swansea City. Jack Cork and Ashley Barnes scored the goals to leave seventh-placed Burnley level on points with Liv- erpool and Arsenal. FOOTBALL Sports Balzan ........................ 1 Tarxien Rainbows ........ 0 WARREN ZAMMIT BALZAN scored the all-impor- tant goal on the 8th minute. Samir Arab sent a perfect cross in the direction of Bojan Kalje- vic who slotted the ball inside the net. Balzan starting line-up: Se- an Mintoff, Alfred Effiong, Bruno Giglio De Oliveira, Mi- chael Johnson, Carlos Eduardo Mendes, Bojan Kaljevic, Alex Da Paixao Alves, Milos Lepovic, Uros Ljubomirac, Elkin Serrano Valero, Justin Grioli Tarxien Rainbows starting line- up: Christian Cassar, Andrew Agius, Ebiabowei Baker, Artur Benes, James Brincat, Eduard Calin, Ryan Darmanin, Matteo Desira Buttigieg, Luke Grech, Faria da Silva, Andre Scicluna Referee: Darryl Agius Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Paul Apap Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant BOV Player of the Match: Car- los Eduardo De Fiori Mendes (Balzan) St Andrews ................. 1 Lija Athletic ................ 1 WARREN ZAMMIT LIJA went ahead after thirteen minutes. Bello Osagie served Raphael Kooh Sohna and the latter hit a powerful drive that gave Matthew Calleja Cremona no chance. St Andrews equalised on the 79th minute. Nigel Spiteri fouled Martin Davis inside the penalty area and the referee signalled for a penalty. From the eleven me- tres mark, Joseph Farrugia made no mistake. St Andrews starting line-up: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Travis Blagrove, Adrian Borg, Kyle Butler, Kevaun Atkinson, Martin Davis, Joseph Farrugia, Aidan Jake Friggieri, Marcus Grima, Jacob Walker, Enmy Pena Beltre Lija Athletic starting line-up: Luke Bonnici, Predrag Babic, Osagie Bello Abubaker, Patrick Borg, Carl Cassar, Rafael Kooh Sohna, Djamel Leeflang, Aaron Sammut, Daniel Scerri, Leejoe Schembri, Ousmane Sidibe Referee: Stefan Pace Assistant Referees: Edward Spi- teri, Thomas Debono Fourth Official: Malcolm Spi- teri BOV Player of the Match: Mar- tin Davis (St Andrews) Balzan's positive run of results continued with a 1-0 win over Tarxien Rainbows Lija Athletic won another important point after sharing the spoils with St Andrews in a 1-1 draw Balzan secure narrow win St Andrews and Lija share the spoils Zlatan returns as United trounce Newcastle Zlatan Ibrahimovic