Daily Mirror - 19.08.2019

DAILY MIRROR 19.08.2019

mirror.co.uk/sport/football

But Klopp praises his bloodied,

wounded heroes who displayed

old-fashioned fight to show they

can roll with the punches and

be champions this season

10

DM1ST

ADRIAAAN IS

IN ASSOCIATION

WITH

THE EXPERTS’ WAY

MAY BE TO DELAY!

MYSTERIES OF

THE WEEKEND..

ANOTHER weekend, another batch

of VAR controversies.

Players and managers are having

to adjust quickly, as are fans who

have found celebrations cut short.

But could one of the biggest

losers of the new technology be

sitting in the commentators’

gantry?

Gary Neville admitted he didn’t

know how to react to incidents

during Manchester City’s very

eventful draw with Tottenham.

With a final decision potentially

minutes in the making, could this

spell the end of memorable

moments from the men behind the

mic?

Less Aguerroooooooo, more

Aguerrrrr....oh

21 UP?

GREALISH

HOPES NOT
JACK GREALISH
set an unwanted
record on Saturday
when Aston Villa’s
defeat to
Bournemouth
meant he became the first player
to lose 20 Premier League games
in a row.
All eyes now on Villa’s next clash
against Everton at Villa Park at the
end of the week. Will Friday night be
fright night for the midfielder?
Grealish will be working overtime to
prevent another horror show and
end his losing streak.

MANUEL PELLEGRINI

probably knows there is no

point asking Javier

Hernandez to think outside the

box.

The West Ham striker’s equaliser

at Brighton was his 53rd Premier

League strike – and every one has

come from inside the penalty area.

DANI CEBALLOS made an

instant impression on his

Arsenal home debut – and

his performance will have left its

mark on Mesut Ozil.

Illness meant Ozil watched from

the stands as the Real Madrid

loanee ran the show.

And he saw Ceballos contribute

two assists – as many as Ozil

managed in the league in the

whole of last season.

Looks like the Germany

international might need a helping

hand to force his way back into

Unai Emery’s side.

sure we did not have those nervy

moments at the end. They could

have scored again and made it 2-2.

We must decide it much earlier.”

Norwich and Southampton

have had a combined total of 26

shots in the opening two league

games against Liverpool, a stat

that cannot be blamed on any

goalkeeper, and Arsenal

a r e u p n e x t.

“There

was no

margin

for

error

last

sea-

son and I

think it will be

the exact same

this season,” said

Andy Robertson, one

of the stars of Liver-

pool’s European cam-

paign last term. “We will

need to be better and we will

be. It’s just the start of the sea-

son, we are just getting going.

“We got a good start last

season and we need to be the

same this season.”

goal in first-half injury time, his

former club Southampton had

created clear chances for Maya

Yoshida and Che Adams and Liv-

erpool were lucky to be level.

Klopp defended his midweek

hero Adrian after a shocking

blunder but there is no doubt the

calming presence of injured first-

choice stopper Alisson was

missed.

A 71st-minute strike

from Robert Firmino

(left) should have set-

tled the game as

Liverpool found form

after the break, only

for Adrian to donate a

goal to Danny Ings to

set up a tense finish.

Former Reds striker Ings then

missed a great chance to equalise.

“We got the lead, we were in

control, we don’t need to mention

the goal,” said Kop left-back Andy

Robertson.

“It was stupid on our behalf and

we put ourselves under pressure.”

Anfield midfielder Georginio

Wijnaldum added: “We deserved

to win it but we should have killed

the game much quicker to make

League record of 11 straight wins

to add to their midweek Super

Cup triumph. Klopp (above)

lauded the old-school spirit and

hunger of a squad which has yet

to reach the heights of last season

but which now tops the table after

two games.

“We like to be old-fashioned, to

be honest,” said the German.

“Not everything was

better in the past but a

couple of things were

really good.

“I like the attitude

of the boys.

“There was no

doubt that, if there was

any chance of Adrian

playing, he would play.

“And with Millie (Milner), it’s

this old-fashioned attitude that I

really love, coming here and fight-

ing for the three points like they

were the last three points ever in

the Premier League.

“That’s the attitude which took

us to the finals we have played and

that’s what we have to continue.”

The genius of Sadio Mane also

helps. Before the Senegal striker

scored his 15th Premier League

BY NEIL McLEMAN

JURGEN KLOPP claimed

Liverpool showed the same

“old-fashoned attitude” at St

Mary’s that took them to the

Champions League title.

But this latest win was also an

unwanted throwback to when the

Reds defence looked shaky in

front of an unconvincing keeper.

Adrian passed a late fitness test

on his injured ankle while James

Milner (above right, with Trent

Alexander-Arnold) played most

of the match with his head

bandaged after a clash of heads.

It was the kind of blood-and-

guts contest that used to be

played down the road at the old

Dell.

Despite a slow start and late

blunder from Adrian, their

Spanish goalkeeper, Liverpool

held on to equal their Premier

SOUTHAMPTON 1

Ings 83

LIVERPOOL 2

Mane 45+1, Firmino 71

we did not have those nervy

ents at the end. They could

cored again and made it 2-2.

ust decide it much earlier.”

rwich and Southampton

had a combined total of 26

in the opening two league

s against Liverpool, a stat

annot be blamed on any

eeper, and Arsenal

up next.

re

no

n

r

r

t

• nd I
  it will be
  xact same
  season,” said
  Robertson, one
  e stars of Liver-
  European cam-
  last term. “We will
  to be better and we will
  just the start of the sea-
  we are justgettinggoing.
  e got a good start last
  n and we need to be the
  this season.”

choice st

miss

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set u

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was

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HOT FINISH

Gunn has no chance

as Mane opens the

scoring for visitors