Football / Sports

Reds survive early scare to keep Premier League title hopes alive

Man City made its move, and Liverpool responded in kind, ensuring the Premier League title race will come down to the final day of the season.

After City barely survived against Newcastle, needing a three-goal comeback to secure all three points, Liverpool also fell behind early but managed to grind out a victory on the season’s penultimate matchday. Now, with the Reds sitting a point adrift at the top of the table, the two teams will look to better the other’s result on Sunday.

Nathan Redmond put Southampton up early and put Liverpool’s title chase on life support with a deflected strike 13 minutes in. The hosts were dangerous in spurts, but had to fend off waves of high Liverpool pressure and attacking flow.

Liverpool found an equalizer through Takumi Minamino, making his first Premier League start for Liverpool after a loan spell at Southampton last season. Then, after halftime, the Reds broke the deadlock as Joel Matip looped an awkward but effective header into the back of the net off a corner.

Now, with Liverpool chasing an historic quadruple, Jurgen Klopp essentially has two finals to look forward to as the season comes to a close: one in the Premier League against Wolves and one in the Champions League against Real Madrid. The only wrinkle is Man City must slip for Liverpool to have a chance to claim them both.

Southampton vs. Liverpool final score

1H 2H Final
Southampton 1 0 1
Liverpool 1 1 2

Goals:
13th min — SOU — Nathan Redmond
27th min — LIV — Takumi Minamino
67th min — LIV — Joel Matip

Commentary:

FULL-TIME: Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

The Reds’ second-string lineup manages a come-from-behind victory and ensures the title race will come down to the final day of the season. It’s not exactly the ideal finish for Liverpool, but it’s enough for now.

Jurgen Klopp clearly prioritized the Champions League with his starting lineup, and the minimum job required was achieved. Southampton gave it a real go at times, troubling the Reds on …

Football / Sports

Champions League: Liverpool survive Atletico Madrid comeback

Liverpool survived an Atletico Madrid fightback to win 3-2 and Lionel Messi scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat RB Leipzig by the same score on a breathless night of Champions League action on Tuesday.

In other games, Karim Benzema netted for Real Madrid as the 13-time European champions thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 in Ukraine on the eve of the start of his trial in France on charges of complicity in blackmail.

Much of the night’s drama happened at the Wanda Metropolitano in the Spanish capital where Mohamed Salah scored another impressive goal, twisting away from a string of Atletico defenders before his shot deflected in off James Milner to open the scoring.

Naby Keita doubled Liverpool’s lead with a stunning volley but Atletico hit back with French international Antoine Griezmann scoring twice to fire up the home crowd.

Just as Atletico seemed to have the upper hand, Griezmann was given a straight red card for a high boot in the face of Roberto Firmino.

A pulsating game was decided from the penalty spot in the 78th minute as Salah sent Jan Oblak the wrong way after Mario Hermoso pushed Diogo Jota. The Egyptian’s 31st Champions League goal makes him the club’s top scorer in the competition, overtaking Steven Gerrard.

In a dramatic finish, Atletico were denied a penalty when the referee studied the VAR and decided Jota had not fouled Jose Maria Gimenez.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BT Sport: “We played a really solid second half in a tough game with intense football from both teams.

“We got the penalty, then there was a red card and obviously it was in our favor.”

The Reds are top of Group B with three wins out of three while Atletico are equal on four points with Porto, who beat AC Milan 1-0 in Portugal.…