Manchester United in crisis after Liverpool humiliation. Arsenal and Chelsea continue their hunt for silverware in the Carabao cup. Emma Raducanu seeks to solidify her place on top the WTA rankings. Football Black List 2021 unveiled.
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Man United in crisis
The Football world has given a scathing assessment of Manchester United following their 5-0 loss at home to Liverpool over the weekend. The five-goal loss was United’s heaviest at home to Liverpool, while it was their first defeat by that scoreline at Old Trafford since being beaten by Manchester City in 1955.
Liverpool took a four-goal lead in the first itself and then further increased their tally in the 50th minute to pile on Manchester United’s misery. Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah netted a hat-trick and Naby Keita and Diogo Jota scored the other two goals. The return of club legend, Cristiano Ronaldo has not assuaged the downward spiral at Old Trafford. Ronaldo hit the ground running upon his Old Trafford comeback as he registered five goals in his first six games for the Red Devils.
Although he has scored 11 goals in 11 games this season, for club and country, he’s howver hasn’t struck in the league since September 19 at West Ham. This suggests that although his reputation creates panic in European and international football, over here the opposition study the evidence and decide it isn’t working. Ronaldo is losing his fear factor under Solskjaer.
Arsenal and Chelsea breeze into Quarter final of Carabao Cup
Chelsea FC
Chelsea progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup as they beat Premier League rivals Southampton on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Reece James scored the decisive spot-kick for the league leaders after Theo Walcott and Will Smallbone failed to hit the target with their efforts for the Saints.
The hosts settled better into their rhythm and took the lead a minute before half time when Kai Havertz headed home his third goal of the season from a corner.
However, Southampton responded two minutes after the restart when Che Adams stabbed in from close range after Kepa spilled Kyle Walker-Peters’ shot.
Smallbone almost marked his return to the first team after nine months out, following an ACL injury.
A late header was saved by Kepa, who produced two brilliant stops in stoppage time to deny Lyanco and Mohammed Salisu.
Those proved crucial as Chelsea came out on top in the penalty shootout to keep themselves firmly in th e hunt for silverware this season.
Arsenal FC
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Eddie Nketiah has a future at the club after he scored to help the Gunners see off Leeds United and reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Substitute Calum Chambers’ header crept over the line seconds after coming off the bench, before former Leeds loanee Nketiah pounced to wrap up the tie.
The forward cleverly flicked the ball over a stranded Illan Meslier and just did enough to nudge it over the line before the visiting keeper could recover.
“I have full belief that he is going to be a top, top player and hopefully at Arsenal,” said Arteta, who has helped develop a number of young Arsenal players, including Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.
Football Black List 2021: Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford and pundit Alex Scott named on list.
Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford, has been named on a list of Britain’s most influential black footballers.
The annual Football Black List recognises the efforts of black figures working in various areas of the game.
Rashford, 23, has earned huge praise for his off-field work around food poverty among children.
Alex Scott, former Arsenal and England full-back, and the presenter of Football Focus, is also named on the media list.
Scott, 37, succeeded Dan Walker as the show’s host in May, becoming the first permanent female host in the programme’s 46-year history.
The Football Black List, first published in 2008, highlights black industry professionals who are positive influencers.
Rashford is joined on the players’ list by Anita Asante (Aston Villa), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Ivan Toney (Brentford) and Nikita Parris (Arsenal).
Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is joined on the coaching and management list by Sheffield Wednesday’s Darren Moore.
Emma Raducanu fights back to win at Transylvania Open
Emma Raducanu fought back at the Transylvania Open to earn her first win since becoming the US Open champion.
The 18-year-old Briton was beaten in the second round at Indian Wells following that historic victory at Flushing Meadows last month.
The world number 23, seeded three in Romania and had the perfect response against Slovenia’s Polona Hercog, 30.
Playing in her father Ian’s homeland for the first time, Raducanu won 4-6 7-5 6-1 to move into the second round.
Despite being a Grand Slam champion, this was her first WTA tour win, and due to Covid-19 restrictions, no fans were allowed in Cluj-Napoca. However, her 88-year-old grandmother Niculina, who lives in Bucharest, was present for the hard-fought victory.