Manchester United fought again for a dramatic 2-1 win in opposition to Manchester City that left their arch-rivals fuming over a controversial VAR determination to permit Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser, whereas troubled Liverpool crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.
On a dramatic day of Premier League motion, Everton boss Frank Lampard was pushed nearer to the sack as his struggling aspect had been crushed 2-1 by relegation rivals Southampton.
With simply 12 minutes left at Old Trafford, United had been trailing to Jack Grealish’s sixtieth minute header within the season’s second Manchester derby.
But City’s title defence suffered a dangerous blow as Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes equalised in vastly debatable style earlier than Marcus Rashford bagged United’s 82nd minute winner.
Fernandes’ objective was the turning level and City boss Pep Guardiola and his gamers had been seething after the flag went up for offside when Rashford ran on to Casemiro’s go.
Rashford didn’t contact the ball and was deemed by VAR to not have interfered with play, however City had been adamant the England ahead clearly distracted the defenders and goalkeeper Ederson.
Manchester United’s English striker Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring the workforce’s second objective in the course of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on January 14, 2023.
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AFP
“The first goal is a joke that it can be allowed,” City defender Manuel Akanji advised BBC Sport.
“He runs for 30 metres, he’s chasing the ball. In the situation, I played him (Rashford) offside. I understand he doesn’t touch the ball, but for me it is clearly offside.”
Guardiola insisted there was little doubt Rashford’s run impacted the reactions of Akanji and Ederson.
“The decision is the referee’s, the VAR, but our defenders make a line for Rashford,” he mentioned.
“If we know it’s Fernandes we don’t make the line, we follow the action, and after the action the interference for Ederson.”
Third positioned United at the moment are only one level behind second positioned City, who’re in peril of dropping substantial floor within the title race this week.
A win for leaders Arsenal at north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday would put the Gunners eight factors clear.
While City splutter, United are in superb kind following their ninth successive victory in all competitions.
Asked if they’re within the title race, boss Erik ten Hag mentioned: “The fans may dream but we are not. We have improved, that is obvious. There is still a long way to go.”
Dismal Liverpool in ninth
Liverpool’s hopes of salvaging a high 4 end from a troublesome marketing campaign suffered a serious hit as Brighton swept to victory on the south-coast.
After dominating the primary half with out making the breakthrough, Brighton deservedly took the lead within the forty seventh minute.
Joel Matip carelessly surrendered possession to Alexis Mac Allister and he discovered Kaoru Mitoma, whose cross was completely weighted for the unmarked Solly March to faucet in.
Liverpool had been in disarray and 6 minutes later, March crashed a superb end into the far nook from simply inside the realm.
Danny Welbeck wrapped up the victory, flicking March’s go over Joe Gomez and volleying house.
Beaten at Brentford of their earlier league recreation, Liverpool are languishing in eighth place, seven factors adrift of the highest 4, and look a shadow of the workforce that almost received the quadruple final time period.
Other outcomes
Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton are in much more dire straits after Southampton’s 2-1 win at Goodison Park.
Everton’s board of administrators didn’t attend the sport due to a “real and credible threat to their safety”.
Everton chief govt Denise Barrett-Baxendale was reportedly manhandled by a fan and had her automobile attacked after final week’s 4-1 house defeat by Brighton.
Everton have received solely one in every of their final 13 matches in all competitions and banners and flags calling for the board to depart had been unfurled earlier than kick-off.
Southampton fell behind within the thirty ninth minute as Amadou Onana headed house from Demarai Gray’s nook.
But lower than two minutes into the second half, James Ward-Prowse collected Che Adams’ knock-down on the sting of the realm and drilled Southampton’s equaliser.
Ward-Prowse inflicted larger ache within the 78th minute when he whipped one in every of his trademark free-kicks previous Jordan Pickford.
Southampton stay backside of the desk however they’re now behind second backside Everton solely on objective distinction
West Ham fill the ultimate place within the backside three after a 1-0 defeat at Wolves that noticed the hosts transfer above the hapless Hammers.
Daniel Podence netted within the forty eighth minute to depart West Ham and not using a win of their final seven league video games.
Brennan Johnson struck twice as Nottingham Forest beat midlands rivals Leicester 2-0 on the City Ground.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
