Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/232206
52 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2013 FOOTBALL Liverpool go topas Manchester City move up to second A review of Saturday's action in the Barclays Premier League LUIS Suarez sent Liverpool top of the Barclays Premier League as he celebrated his bumper new deal with two more goals to help his side beat Cardiff at Anfield. A day after signing a new long-term contract, reportedly worth £200,000 a week, the Uruguayan took his tally to 19 goals in 12 league games this season to inspire the hosts to a 3-1 win. Suarez volleyed his first past David Marshall in the 25th minute following an inviting Jordan Henderson cross and, after setting up Raheem Sterling for number two in the 42nd minute, he curled home a brilliant third on the stroke of half-time. It meant Suarez has now scored 10 league goals in December alone, more than any player has ever managed in a single month. Cardiff, with manager Malky Mackay a dignified presence on the touchline throughout in what is expected to be his last game in charge, pulled one back early in the second half through Jordon Mutch. And the away fans chanted the name of their manager, who has been asked to resign or be sacked by club owner Vincent Tan, until the end. The win moved Liverpool, whose last league title came back in 1990, to the summit ahead of Arsenal, with the Gunners taking on Chelsea on Monday. Manchester City went second as they recovered from throwing away a 2-0 half-time lead to win 4-2 at Fulham. Yaya Toure's brilliant free-kick and a Vincent Kompany goal put City in command at the break. But Kieran Richardson pulled one back five minutes after the restart and a comical Kompany own goal, slicing the ball over the head of his goalkeeper Joe Hart, made it 2-2. Jesus Navas spared his captain's blushes with the third in the 78th minute before James Milner got the killer fourth. Manchester United claimed a Today's fixtures English Premier League Southampton - Tottenham H. SwanseaC. - Everton Tomorrow Arsenal - Chelsea 14:30 17:00 21:00 Italy - Serie A Bologna - Genoa Atalanta - Juventus Hellas Verona - Lazio Roma - Catania Sampdoria - Parma Sassuolo - Fiorentina Torino - ChievoVerona Inter - AC Milan 12:30 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 20:45 Spain - Liga BBVA Espanyol - Valladolid Getafe - Barcelona Athletic Bilbao - R. Vallecano Celta Vigo - Osasuna Valencia - Real Madrid 12:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 21:00 Germany - Bundesliga Borussia Mon. - Wolfsburg 15:30 France - Ligue 1 Marseille - Bordeaux Lorient - Lyon Paris Saint Germain - Lille 14:00 17:00 21:00 English Premier league Standings Luis Suarez celebrates his goal fourth straight win in all competitions, 3-1 at home to struggling West Ham. Danny Welbeck scored the first, his third in three games, before teenager Adnan Januzaj added to his burgeoning reputation with the second before half-time, bamboozling James Collins with a neat turn before shooting into the far corner. Ashley Young made it three with a thumping right-foot finish from just inside the area, with Carlton Cole getting a consolation for the Hammers. West Brom, in their first match since the departure of coach Steve Clarke, snatched a 1-1 draw at home to Hull. Jake Livermore's first-half goal looked set to condemn the Baggies to another loss until substitute Matej Vydra levelled four minutes from time. Newcastle continued their impressive campaign by winning 3-0 at Crystal Palace, Yohan Cabaye, a Danny Gabbidon own goal and a late Hatem Ben Arfa penalty doing the damage. Bottom side Sunderland were unable to take advantage of the defeats for their relegation rivals, though, as they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Norwich. And to make matters worse the Black Cats had Wes Brown sent off at the death. Peter Crouch scored the 70thminute winner as Stoke won 2-1 at home to Aston Villa in Saturday's other game. Charlie Adam put the Potters ahead, but Libor Kozak levelled. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Liverpool Manchester City Arsenal Chelsea Everton Newcastle U. Manchester U. Tottenham H. Southampton Stoke City Swansea City Hull City Aston Villa Norwich City Cardiff City West B. Albion West Ham United Crystal Palace Fulham Sunderland P 17 17 16 16 16 17 17 16 16 17 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 Pts 36 35 35 33 31 30 28 27 24 21 20 20 19 19 17 16 14 13 13 10 Acerbi cancer relapse confirmed SASSUOLO have confirmed Francesco Acerbi's failed drugs test at the begining of December was due to a relapse of testicular cancer. The defender had a tumour removed in July after it was spotted during a routine medical for the completion of his loan move from Genoa. The 25-year-old failed a doping test on December 1 after a game with Cagliari, but the presence of the hormone hCG pointed to a much worse scenario. After days of hospital tests, Sassuolo released a statement confirming Acerbi's cancer has returned and that tumour caused the elevated hormone levels. In July the player only underwent surgery to remove the tumour and did not take any medication, but that does not seem to have been enough. "Following consultation with the National Institute for Tumours in Milan and Professor Roberto Salvioni, the pharmacological anti-tumour protocol the player will undergo was defined." Naturally, Acerbi and Sassuolo have lodged an appeal to the anti-doping commission against his suspension. Italian Serie A Standings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Juventus Roma SSC Napoli Fiorentina Inter Hellas Verona Torino Genoa Udinese Lazio Parma AC Milan Cagliari Atalanta Sampdoria ChievoVerona Sassuolo Livorno Bologna Catania Results Livorno - Udinese Cagliari - Napoli P 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 17 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 17 16 16 1-2 1-1 Pts 43 38 35 30 28 26 22 20 20 20 19 19 19 18 17 15 14 13 12 10