Category sport-news

Aston Villa’s pulsating 2-2 draw on Wednesday let neither team feel satisfied, slowing Liverpool’s attempt to win the Premier League title.

Arne Slot’s men open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Arsenal, but the Gunners now have a game in hand over the Reds.

After Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins swung momentum in Villa’s favor, Liverpool continued to lead thanks to Mohamed Salah.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot secured a point for the visitors, but it should have been more as substitute Darwin Nunez missed a glorious chance to snatch victory.

Villa, though, could also have won it in stoppage time as Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen went close.

Villa, who are currently ninth in the table, have little hope of making it back to the Champions League next season.

Arsenal can win the title race with a second 2-2 draw in eight days, especially as Slot’s side travel to Manchester City on Sunday. Liverpool are currently 22 Premier League games unbeaten.

Unai Emery’s first Villa start came on Saturday against 10-man Ipswich, where Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio were held to a 1-1 draw.

Before Virgil van Dijk turned his cross into his own net, Rashford almost had a hand in the opening goal, but he had sped offside.

When the 29-minute opener did, Villa were the masters of their own demise.

Diogo Jota unselfishly squared for Salah to score his 29th goal of the season with a backpass from Andres Garcia.

Within nine minutes, Villa were level when Liverpool failed to properly clear a free-kick and Tielemans delivered a stylish finish from the spot.

Jota should have immediately given up on the visitors’ advantage when Emi Martinez was the only one to beat when he was blazed high and wide.

In the second half, Villa took the lead as poor Liverpool defending gave Watkins a free run before Lucas Digne’s cross with a header into the far corner.

Just seconds into the second half, Rashford had a big chance to make a name for himself for his new club when he headed past Alisson Becker, but Ibrahima Konate’s towering presence prevented him from doing so.

Following Slot’s successful run of never losing a Premier League game away, the Liverpool assault was rightly followed.

Jota deflected a fine effort off the bar from the box’s edge.

Alexander-Arnold’s deflection off Tyrone Mings gave the game a new life when he levelled on the hour mark.

One of his substitutes should have scored the crucial three points as a substitute for Luis Diaz and Nunez when they were searching for a winner.

After being picked out by Dominik Szoboszlai, Nunez had an open goal to pursue, but he snuck into his manager’s disbelief.

Then, Martinez had to rush off his line to stop Nunez from making another direct run into the goal.

Villa, though, had the majority of the chances in a frantic finale.

Arsenal lost £17.7 million in the 2023/24 season despite a return to the Champions League helping to post a club record £616.6 million ($775 million) revenue.

Before bowing out to Bayern Munich, the Gunners came out on top to finish second to Manchester City in the Premier League and advance to the quarter-finals of their first Champions League campaign since 2016/17.

A return to the elite club competition in Europe resulted in a £71 million increase in broadcasting revenue and a £29 million increase in matchday revenue.

Thanks to the club’s renewal of its contract with Emirates, shirt sponsor, and Sobha Realty’s sale of the training ground’s naming rights, commercial income increased significantly to £218.3 million.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, Man City Must Play With Courage Against Real Madrid – Guardiola

However, wages skyrocketed to £327.8 million from £234.8 million.

The loss of £52.1 million posted in the previous 12 months was improved by the figures.

The Premier League and UEFA have both passed financial sustainability laws, according to a statement from Arsenal.

We look forward to a successful conclusion to the 2024/25 season with the addition of the following: “The results of the club’s executive qualifications for the UEFA Champions League for both the men’s and women’s teams are positive continuation of the club’s progress.”

Ademola Lookman has received backing from Nigeria’s senior men’s national team following public criticism by his coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, for missing a penalty in Atalanta’s Champions League loss to Club Brugge on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles’ X handle quoted Lookman’s statement on the controversy with a message “we are with you, Ade,” showing solidarity with the Nigerian forward.

The national team’s handle also posted graphics showing Lookman’s statics so far in the 2024/2025 season which shows 17 goals and 7 assists. Additionally, the page included videos of him scoring goals under the title “Ademola The King” on the page.

After coming on in the second half, Lookman scored the winning goal, but Gasperini criticized him for it. as one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever witnessed. ”

READ ALSO:  ‘Deeply Disrespectful,’ Lookman Replies Gasperini For Criticism After Penalty Miss

But the Nigerian responded to his coach’s comments in a statement on Wednesday, saying that it was “deeply disrespectful. ”

On a day like this, it depresses me to have to write this statement because, in the end, we have accomplished so much as a team and as a city.

Being given the attention I have received not only hurts, but it also feels disrespectful, not the least of all as a result of the incredible effort and dedication I have consistently put in each day to help this club and the incredible Bergamo supporters succeed.

In truth, I have had a lot of difficult experiences while I have been here, the majority of which I have never discussed because, in my opinion, the team must always be protected and always come first. This makes the events of last night even more tragic.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has stated that the key to beating Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in the Champions League play-off second leg was to have a combination of bravery and flawless play.

Guardiola’s charges lost 3 -2 to Carlo Ancelotti’s side last Tuesday at the Etihad despite a scintillating start with a goal from Erling Haaland.

READ ALSO: Guardiola Is Underestimating Man City Chances, Says Real Madrid’s Ancelotti

The Spaniard still believes the 2022/23 champions should seek redemption because he believes their attacking play can help them.

“You have to make an almost perfect game, obviously”, he said during a press conference on Tuesday.

“The result is not the perfect situation. We have to attack and score goals, this is the idea”.

“We must engage in a nearly flawless game to succeed,” he declared.

“It’s the same going to Arsenal or Liverpool right now or Barcelona, the big teams qualified for the top eight, it is quite similar”.

Guardiola also said “]We must] Play with courage. Be yourself. I learned that as a young player when we didn’t get results.