LIVERPOOL – Penantian Liverpool untuk menjadi juara Liga Inggris selama hampir 30 tahun lamanya akhirnya telah berakhir. Liverpool yang tampil luar biasa di Liga Inggris 2019-2020 pada akhirnya berhasil juga mendapatkan gelar yang sudah lama mereka idam-idamkan tersebut.
Banyak hal yang membuat Liverpool bisa mencapai kesuksesan tersebut di musim ini. Dimulai dari faktor sang pelatih, Jurgen Klopp, lalu ada juga yang bilang karena hadirnya Virgil van Dijk dan Alisson Becker, sampai dikarenakan adanya trio lini depan Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, dan Roberto Firmino.
Semua itu tentu ada benarnya. Namun, menurut Salah, keberhasilan Liverpool menjuarai Liga Inggris 2019-2020 itu karena tim tersebut telah bersabar cukup lama. Bagi pemain asal Mesir itu, 30 tahun adalah waktu yang cukup lama dan Liverpool berhasil tetap bersabar dan terus berusaha.
Salah memiliki kepercayaan bahwa kesabaran pasti akan memberikan Anda sebuah penghargaan yang sangat baik dan itulah yang dirasanya telah dilakukan Liverpool selama 30 tahun ini. Trofi Liga Inggris menjadi sebuah penghargaan dari rasa sabar yang telah diperlihatkan oleh Liverpool selama ini.
Dengan kesabaran yang luar biasa itu serta tentunya usaha yang amat keras, pada akhirnya Salah merasa Liverpool benar-benar layak mendapatkan trofi Liga Inggris 2019-2020. Ia pun senang karena telah membantu The Reds –julukan Liverpool– dalam meraih gelar yang sangat dinantikan klub tersebut sejak lama.
“Bagi saya, kesabaran selalu menjadi perbuatan baik yang terbesar. Kami (Liverpool) sudah berusaha keras untuk teris bersabar dalam berbagai hal. Terutama ketika kami sedang diuji,” cerita Salah, seperti yang disadur dari Daily Mail, Selasa (21/7/2020).
Neil Warnock will be hoping to not have to rely on other results to keep Boro out of the drop zone | Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
We’re often told that the Championship is the most unpredictable league in the world, but this season it has surpassed itself.
Every one of the teams in England’s second tier has played 45 games, with Wednesday’s round of fixtures bringing down the curtain on another frantic campaign. Usually by this stage of the season there’s only a handful of teams nervously waiting to find out which league they’ll be playing in next season, but this year absolutely everything is up for grabs.
While the automatic promotion and play-off races are going right down to the wire, the entertainment they’re providing doesn’t even come close to the Royal Rumble that’s currently taking place towards the bottom of the table.
Unbelievably, no one has been mathematically relegated yet, with ten clubs in danger of dropping down to League One.
To add further confusion into the mix, the three relegated sides won’t even be confirmed by Wednesday night, with Wigan Athletic, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday facing points deductions (after the Latics went into administration and the Rams and the Owls were charged with financial misconduct).
So, if that’s left you absolutely bamboozled by what on earth is going on at the bottom of the Championship – never fear. He’s 90min’s rundown of the clubs facing relegation and the task ahead of them if they’re to retain their status as a second-flight club.
Who would have thought it? Wayne Rooney’s Derby County (rolls eyes).
Incredibly, Derby find themselves in mid-table and yet still facing the threat of relegation.
The club have been far from squeaky clean in recent years, with rumours of owner Mel Morris buying Pride Park Stadium off the club to balance the books, and claims a betting site had a hand in the deal to bring Rooney to the club.
Derby travel to Birmingham on Wednesday, though in truth the result of the game is likely to matter little. Phillip Cocu’s side’s fate will be decided by the EFL.
They face a potential 21-point deduction for the breach of financial regulations. With the Rams currently 12 points above the drop zone, if they do receive the full penalty they’ll be in League One next year.
The Latics were in real trouble before the three-month break, though an incredible burst of form which has seen them take 27 points from a possible 36 has seen them rocket up to 13th in the table.
However, after the club went into administration in July, they now look set to receive a 12-point deduction, though they’re still awaiting confirmation of the penalty.
Despite the deduction seeming inevitable, Wigan are still in with a chance of survival. Paul Cook’s side will be two points adrift of safety if they are docked 12 points, and they host Fulham on Wednesday knowing they’ll need all three points if they want to avoid awaiting the outcome of Derby and Sheffield Wednesday’s trials.
Sheffield Wednesday find themselves in the same position as Derby – their result at home to Middlesbrough on the final day is likely to matter little.
They currently find themselves eight points above the relegation zone, however, they too have the threat of a 21-point deduction for Financial Fair Play breaches hanging over them.
The outcome of their trial is unlikely to be confirmed before Wednesday, meaning they face an anxious wait to find out whether they’ll be playing in the Championship next season.
The Terriers are the safest of the ten teams who could still drop into League One.
After their fantastic win over promotion-chasing West Brom, the club are almost certain to be a Championship club next year…though they rather strangely sacked manager Danny Cowley just days after the win.
Huddersfield currently sit three points above 21st-placed Luton Town, though with a substantially better goal difference (14 goals to be precise), it would take something extraordinary for them to be dragged into the bottom three. A point from their trip to Millwall would confirm survival.
After Jonathan Woodgate appeared to be doing his best to drag his hometown club into the third tier for the first time since 1987, Neil Warnock has come in and steadied the ship.
Though Boro’s home form continues to be a problem, vital points on the road have steered them away from the bottom three, picking up three away wins from four since Warnock’s arrival.
Boro travel to Hillsborough to face old boss Garry Monk’s Owls side on the final day. They sit two points above 22nd, and with a significantly superior goal difference, a point should be enough to see them safe.
It’s often said that a team comes from nowhere to grab a place in the play-offs – Birmingham are doing the opposite at the wrong end of the table.
Pep Clotet’s men have failed to pick up a win from any of their last 14 games in all competitions – a run which has seen them plummet from mid-table and they now sit perilously above the drop.
A point at home to Derby wouldn’t be enough to see them mathematically safe, though their goal difference means realistically it would be sufficient.
Lee Bowyer did brilliantly in getting Charlton promoted from League One last season, though after just one season away they could be set for a swift return.
On paper they couldn’t face a tougher assignment on the final day, with a trip to Elland Road to face newly-crowned champions Leeds United. However, with the title in the bag, could Charlton be facing the Whites at the perfect time?
Points deductions aside, only Luton can catch Charlton in the bottom three, so if they can match or better the Hatters’ result they’ll be safe.
Having looked dead and buried earlier in the season, Luton have somehow managed to give themselves a fighting chance ahead of the final day.
Nathan Jones’ side host Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, knowing if they can better Charlton’s result they will be a Championship side next season.
However, they’ll need to improve on their recent home form if they are to stay up. Having looked solid at Kenilworth Road earlier in the campaign, they’ve failed to win any of their last five games at home.
The appointment of Gerhard Struber was a bold one, and in fairness it hasn’t really paid off.
Barnsley have languished around the drop zone for the majority of the season, though they could still avoid the drop with a win. Anything less than three points would see them relying on the points deductions of others.
The Tykes face the unenviable task of a trip to Brentford on Wednesday, but if they can pull off an upset and grab the win, they’ll stay up if Luton and Charlton both lose.
Alright, so no club is mathematically relegated, but Hull aren’t far off.
Realistically the Tigers need to win away at Cardiff City if they’re to stand any chance of surviving, and even then they’ll be depending on teams above them getting beat as well as at least one of Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan receiving a deduction.
Nobody likes to see a team relegated, but getting beat 8-0 by Wigan and creating that ‘Mauled by the Tigers’ song is as a good a reason as any for a team deserving the drop.
HLV Watford Nigel Pearson bị sa thải | Pool/Getty Images
Watford đã sa thải HLV Nigel Pearson, ngay trước khi Ngoại hạng Anh kết thúc với hai vòng đấu cuối cùng.
Watford đang trong khủng hoàng ở Ngoại hạng Anh mùa này khi đứng thứ 17 trên BXH và chỉ còn cách vị trí xuống hạng có ba điểm.
Tuy vậy, The Hornets vừa nhận ‘tin vui’ khi đối thủ cạnh tranh suất trụ hạng là Bournemouth vừa thua Southampton ở vòng 37. Việc sa thải HLV là khá bất ngờ khi Pearson chỉ mới được bổ nhiệm hồi tháng 12 2019 vừa qua.
Thành tích của Watford dưới quyền của HLV 56 tuổi là không tệ. Họ chỉ thua một trận trong số tám trận đầu tiên mà Pearson dẫn dắt.
Trong số các trận thắng của Watford có cả việc vượt qua Manchester United và Wolves. Hai trận thắng này góp phần giúp CLB của Pearson thoát khỏi nhóm xuống hạng. Watford còn từng đè bẹp Liverpool hồi tháng Hai 2020, tuy nhiên đây là trận thắng duy nhất trong 11 trận tiếp theo.
Watford hoàn toàn có thể xuống hạng khi hai trận cuối cùng họ phải đụng độ Manchester City và Arseal.
Pearson là HLV thứ ba bị Watford sa thải chỉ trong một mùa, với người đầu tiên chính là Javi Gracia và sau đó là Quique Sanchez Flores, người chỉ tại vị đúng ba tháng.
KUALA LUMPUR: Pelumba Moto2 negara, Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah berjaya meraih tempat keenam daripada 23 pelumba pada Kejuaraan Motosikal Grand Prix Sepanyol di Litar Jerez selepas mempamerkan tunggangan mantap pada perlumbaan hari ini.
Pelumba pasukan Inde Aspar Team Moto2 itu yang memulakan perlumbaan di petak ke-15, melakar catatan masa 39 minit 38.875 saat pada perlumbaan yang melibatkan 23 pusingan itu.
Pelumba Itali, Luca Marini dari pasukan Sky Racing Team VR46 meraih kemenangan sulung musim ini setelah merakam masa 39 minit 23.297 saat, disusuli dua pelumba pasukan Red Bull KTM Ajo, Tetsuta Nagashima dan Jorge Martin dari Sepanyol yang masing-masing ketinggalan 1.271 saat dan 4.838 saat di belakang Marini.
“Perlumbaan kali ini agak panas dan sukar bagi kesemua pelumba, apapun saya dah buat yang terbaik.
Saya dah hilang ‘penghayatan’ macam ini dah lama, jadi saya amat bersyukur dapat tempat keenam.
“Apapun, terima kasih kepada pasukan yang terus membantu saya dan saya akan buat yang terbaik untuk perlumbaan selepas ini,” kata Hafizh Syahrin menerusi rakaman video pendek selepas perlumbaan itu.
Hafizh Syahrin akan meneruskan saingan Moto2 pada perlumbaan seterusnya pada GP Andalusia yang dijadualkan berlangsung di litar yang sama, hujung minggu depan.
BARCELONA – Barcelona mungkin kehilangan gelar juara mereka musim ini. Akan tetapi, megabintang mereka, Lionel Messi, tetap punya catatan positif di 2019-2020 ini.
Penyerang asal Argentina itu kembali memenangkan trofi El Pichichi atau pencetak gol terbanyak dalam satu musim setelah mengemas total 23 gol sepanjang 2019-2020 ini. La Pulga -julukan Messi- mengungguli penyerang Real Madrid, Karin Benzema, yang mencetak 21 gol untuk timnya.
Dengan ini, ujung tombak tim katalan total telah meraih tujuh kali atau empat kali berturut-turut gelar serupa. Pertama kali Messi meraih trofi El Pichichi adalah pada 2009-2020 dengan mengoleksi 34 gol.
Kemudian pada dua musim berturut-turut yakni pada 2011-2012 dan 2012-2013 Messi kembali mencatatkan namanya sebagai pencetak gol terbanyak kompetisi. Pada 2011-2012 Messi mencetak hingga 50 gol sedangkan di 2012-2013 jumlah golnya menurun menjadi 46 saja.
Messi kemudian kembali membuktikan kalau dirinya merupakan striker paling tajam di kompetisi domestik pada 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019. Musim ini, Messi memastikan trofi El Pichichi usai membawa Barcelona mengalahkan Deportivo Alaves di pekan terakhir.
Barcelona tampil luar biasa saat bertamu ke markas Deportivo Alaves di pekan ke-38 La Liga Spanyol 2019-2020. Gerard Pique dan kolega berpesta gol ke gawang tim tuan rumah pada laga yang berlangsung Minggu 19 Juli 2020 kemarin.
Stefan de Vrij scored Inter’s first against Roma | MB Media/Getty Images
Inter dropped more points in the Serie A title race as Romelu Lukaku’s late penalty rescued them a point at Roma in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
After Gianluca Mancini missed a big chance for the hosts, Nerazzurri defender Stefan de Vrij nodded his team in front from an Alexis Sánchez corner. Yet to the Dutchman’s dismay, he would end up deflecting Leonardo Spinazzola’s shot into his own net, levelling the score at 1-1 just before half time.
Lautaro Martínez would see his goal ruled out for offside, before the Giallorossi turned the game around when Henrikh Mkhitaryan smashed in from close-range to make it 2-1. Inter manager Antonio Conte made a number of changes as a result, with Christian Eriksen and Romelu Lukaku thrown on to rescue the game.
The Belgian would duly deliver, converting a late penalty after Victor Moses was fouled by Spinazzola to make it 2-2. The Nerazzurri will see it as an opportunity missed, and now will be reliant on Juventus losing against Lazio if they are to have any hopes of winning the Scudetto.
Key Talking Point
Roma came into this game in great form, having picked up three consecutive league wins and would have been confident of racking up another three points to solidify their Europa League qualification for next season.
They initially struggled in the first half, with lone striker Džeko struggling for service and help from his teammates. Inter’s defence was never truly tested, with the hosts’ unable to create clear chances. Not to mention they also looked vulnerable at the back, with the speed of their opponents cutting open their defence at various moments. Fortunately for Roma, Spinazzola’s goal kept them on level terms heading into half time.
But after the break, they looked a different side going forward. Mkhitaryan was able to push further forward, making his team a bigger threat in attack, and his advanced positioning was chiefly why he was able to score his team’s second. While they faded in the later stages, it’s clear that Paulo Fonseca should prioritise getting his players forward to help the Bosnian striker in the future.
As the game went on, Mkhitaryan was able to impose himself on the game, and played a key part for Roma’s attack.
The on-loan Arsenal midfielder supported Džeko in attack and constantly looked a threat with the ball, helping to create many chances for his team.
Key Talking Point
With Christian Eriksen surprisingly dropped to the bench, Marcelo Brozović was pushed further forward by Conte in the number ten role, behind the duo of Sánchez and Martínez.
Yet the Croatian was ineffective in the advanced role, and was unable to impose himself. Often drifting all over the pitch in search of the ball, he couldn’t create many chances and left his team lacking a central creative figure to support the front two. It was certainly something to note as Inter saw their first-half dominance fade towards the end of the first half, when their opponents equalised just before the break.
Mkhitaryan’s goal was the wake-up call the Nerazzurri needed to make the necessary changes, with Eriksen introduced midway through the half, moving Brozović into a deeper role. He looked more comfortable, with more time on the ball to initiate offensive moves in his own half.
With the Dane able to impact the game late on, Conte’s substitutions could be seen as the key to turning the match around for the visitors.
One of the most in-form players around at the moment, Sánchez produced another terrific display in Inter’s attack.
The Chilean was dynamic in his movement and always looked to take his opponents on throughout the game. His reward for his efforts was another assist, as it was his corner that was nodded in by De Vrij.
Looking Ahead
Roma next travel to already-relegated SPAL on Wednesday night, while Inter next host Fiorentina at the same time.
Tên của Bielsa được đặt cho tên đường ở Leeds sau kỳ tích vô địch Championship
Một con đường tại Leeds mới đây đã được đặt tên là Marcelo Bielsa để vinh danh HLV vừa đưa Leeds United lên ngôi vô địch Championship.
Leeds vừa vô địch giải hạng nhất Anh và qua đó trở lại đấu trường Ngoại hạng Anh sau 16 năm vắng bóng, đây là kỳ tích đáng nể và được tạo ra bởi HLV Bielsa.
Để tôn vinh HLV người Argentina, chính quyền tại Leeds đã dùng tên ông để đặt cho một trong những con đường quan trọng nhất tại thành phố.
Theo những người đứng đầu thành phố, đây là khoảnh khắc tuyệt vời cho nơi đây và họ muốn tất cả đều nhớ đến công trạng của Bielsa đã làm được khi đưa CLB về lại với đấu trường danh giá nhất nước Anh.
Đây cũng là lần đầu tiên trong vòng 30 năm mà Leeds đã vô địch ở 2nd Division của nước Anh. Lần cuối cùng điều này xảy ra là vào mùa 1989/90, cũng là thời điểm mà Liverpool lần cuối cùng vô địch nước Anh ở cấp độ cao nhất.
