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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 22, 2013
Suarez puts Liverpool top as Man City hit four By Mark Meadows LONDON, England (Reuters) - Luis Suarez celebrated his new contract by sending Liverpool to the top of the Premier League thanks to two goals and another virtuoso display in a 3-1 home win over crisis club Cardiff City yesterday. Manchester City moved up to second despite a bizarre Vincent Kompany own goal in a 4-2 victory at lowly Fulham while champions Manchester United, in seventh, overcame West Ham United 3-1 through Danny Welbeck, Adnan Januzaj and Ashley Young. The irrepressible Suarez, who looked to be heading out of Anfield in the close season, following a ban for biting an opponent, expertly volleyed in the opener before setting up Raheem Sterling for the second after a superb ball from the resurgent Jordan Henderson. It was soon 3-0 as the 26-year-old Suarez netted his 19th league goal of the season on the stroke of halftime with a superb curling shot from the edge of the box following more Henderson magic with a back-heel. Liverpool hammered Tottenham Hotspur 5-0 away last weekend and could have had more against Cardiff with Suarez almost completing a hattrick when he clipped the post. “I am happy with the new contract but I was focused on the game. We played very well in the first half,” the Uruguay striker told BT Sport television.
the first time as Cardiff won 4-0 away. That was never going to happen yesterday but Jordan Mutch did pull a goal back for the visitors in an improved second- half show.
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez (L) celebrates with team mate Jordan Henderson after scoring a second goal against Cardiff City, during their Premier League match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England December 21, 2013. last season. Suarez, again captain in the “It’s too early to say (we can Cardiff fans should have continued absence of the injured win the title). It is important we been enjoying the trip to faSteven Gerrard, penned a longwork for the next game. When mous Anfield in their debut term deal on Friday as Liverwe play at home we are strong.” Premier League season but inpool try to build on a strong start The easy win over sixth stead held up ‘Tan Out’ banners and finally challenge for the title from bottom Cardiff, and and booed the controversial again after years of woe. their beleaguered manager sunglasses-wearing tycoon who Facing one of the in-form Malky Mackay, sent Liverpool has also recently switched the players in world football was a point clear at the top with 36 club kit from the traditional not what Mackay wanted at from 17 games. blue to red. the end of a week when meArsenal (35 points), who The clubs had only predia reports said he had been are third, can take back first viously met in the league in asked to resign or be sacked position by winning at home 1959, when Liverpool great by Malaysian owner Vincent to fourth-placed Chelsea (33) Bill Shankly took charge for Tan despite gaining promotion tomorrow (2000 GMT).
Sixers continue Sydney Smash success THE Sydney Thunder’s Big Bash misery continued into a third season despite a David Warner cameo last night. Warner, released from the Test squad for the opening BBL round, smashed 50 from 31 balls as he easily transferred the form which has dominated England into cricket’s shortest format. But it was a wasted effort as the Thunder’s winless streak was extended into a new year. The Sixers continued their cross-city dominance by chasing down the target of 167 with six wickets and 10 balls to spare in front of 18 180 fans. The Thunder have collected back-to-back wooden spoons and have not won a match since December 23, 2011, while the Sixers remain unbeaten against their western Sydney rivals. Wa r n e r , w h o s t r u c k a match-winning century in his only previous appearance for the Thunder,
Nic Maddinson did his best to change that. He and Usman Khawaja The leading Ashes scorer this (66 off 51) put on 116 for summer, with 457 runs at 91.4, the opening Thunder wicktook little time settling into the et but were given next to Twenty20 format - spanking no support as high profile three boundaries from the first teammates Mike Hussey (2) five balls he faced. and Eoin Morgan (4) failed
to deliver. The final nine Thunder overs delivered just 50 runs as they posted 166, still a record for the franchise. But it never looked enough as Nic Maddinson put on a Warner-esque show of his own, pounding 61 off 40 balls. Maddinson displayed all of the strokeplay that earned him an international T20 debut against India in October, hitting six boundaries and four sixes. One of those sixes was a sublime flick off the hip that sailed into the second tier of the Members Pavilion - and came one delivery after being struck on the chin by a Gurinder Sandhu bouncer. His cavalier knock ended when caught by the man of the moment, Warner, for 61. But efforts from skipper Steve Smith (22), Ravi Bopara (27 off 17) and Moises Henriques (28 off 18) steered them home. (CA)
ATTEMPTED CLEARANCE Manchester City (35 points) moved above Arsenal on goal difference after a patchy performance that underlined their problems away from home this season. Another Yaya Toure free kick on 23 minutes and Kompany’s goal at the right end of the field put City 2-0 up at second from bottom Fulham. The home team equalised after the interval with a goal from Kieran Richardson and when Kompany sent an attempted clearance spiralling into his own net. Jesus Navas restored City’s lead in the 78th minute and poor defending allowed James Milner to make it 4-2. City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart made his first league start since October 27 having been dropped in favour of Romania’s Costel Pantilimon who was on the bench this time following last weekend’s 6-3
win over Arsenal. Manchester United were never in any danger against fast-dropping West Ham, Welbeck adding to his two goals from last weekend’s 3-0 victory at Aston Villa with a neat finish although debut Spanish keeper Adrian could have done better. Young winger Januzaj, a rare bright spot in a difficult season for United after David Moyes took over as manager from Alex Ferguson then grabbed his first Old Trafford goal. After the break Young defied his critics by blasting home another cracker and Carlton Cole netted for West Ham. Sixth-placed Newcastle United sealed a sixth victory in eight games with a 3-0 win at third from bottom Crystal Palace. Stoke City rose to 10th after a 2-1 triumph at home to Aston Villa, Peter Crouch hitting the winner against his former club. Managerless West Bromwich Albion began life without Steve Clarke, after his surprise sacking last weekend, with a 1-1 draw at home to Hull City thanks to Matej Vydra’s late equaliser Wes Brown hit the post and was also sent off for a rash challenge late on as Sunderland drew 0-0 at home to Norwich City to leave Gus Poyet’s side bottom at Christmas - something that normally implies doom come the end of the season.
Pakistan draft in Gul for Sri Lanka ODI series KARACHI, Pakistan - (Reuters) - Experienced pace bowler Umar Gul could make his international comeback next week following a nine-month injury break after being drafted into the Pakistan squad for the one-day series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates. The 29-year-old, who has been out of the national side since February due to a knee injury, will be available for selection after he joins the team today, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on yesterday. “Gul is being flown to join the team on the request of the tour management and national selectors who want the bowling attack to be strengthened for the last three one-dayers,” a board spokesman said. Gul was injured during Pakistan’s tour to South Africa and underwent knee surgery in Melbourne in May. After completing his rehabilitation, the bowler returned to action in domestic cricket. Gul has taken 163 Test, 161 one-day and 74 Twenty20 international wickets. The five-match ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is tied at 1-1, with the remaining matches scheduled for today, Wednesday and Friday.
Umar Gul