Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool clear title favourites after crushing win over Manchester City


Richard Jolly
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The lyrics to You'll Never Walk Alone may invoke a golden sky, but Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp find themselves on cloud nine.

They are undoubtedly favourites in the title race now, defeating the defending champions Manchester City 3-1 to go eight points clear.

For Klopp, it was an unrivalled ninth triumph against Pep Guardiola, spread over two clubs, a total no other manager can remotely approach.

Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane scored to give Liverpool a 20th win in 21 league games and extend City’s hoodoo at a ground where they have not tasted victory in 19 attempts.

Liverpool played with pace and penetration, intensity and inspiration.

Their goals each contained something memorable in creation or execution. Theirs was the display of champions.

They had terrific performances across the pitch, from the colossal Virgil van Dijk at the back to the flying machines Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson on the flanks, through the forceful Fabinho in midfield to their formidable front three.

They demonstrated that, as City know to their cost, they can score in devastating bursts. With momentum, they can feel unstoppable.

They scored three goals in nine and 19 minutes in matches two seasons ago. They got two in eight first-half minutes yesterday.

It made for a chastening first league match in 18 months for Claudio Bravo. Whether the injured Ederson would have stopped any of the goals is a moot point but his Chilean deputy was beaten three times.

Fast and furious, open and stretched, it was clear this was different to last season’s clash. Liverpool took advantage. City began the better but were soon two goals adrift.

Fabinho has established himself as the division’s foremost defensive midfielder. He showed another side to his game with a belated first goal of 2019, latching on to Ilkay Gundogan’s clearance and unleashed a superb shot from 25 yards.

City’s complaints were not about the purity of the strike, but that the ball had hit Alexander-Arnold in the Liverpool box 22 seconds earlier, looping up off Bernardo Silva as Sergio Aguero claimed a penalty.

Each had inadvertently handled and VAR did not chalk the goal off.

Then Robertson curled in a delightful cross, Salah met it without breaking stride, heading the ball past Bravo.

The Egyptian, who was fractionally onside, had escaped behind Angelino, a surprise choice in place of Benjamin Mendy.

Thereafter, Liverpool surged forward on a series of attacks. Gini Wijnaldum shot wide. Dejan Lovren headed Robertson’s corner past the post. Bravo denied Roberto Firmino. The third goal nevertheless arrived.

Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal. Reuters
Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal. Reuters

Mane extended his golden run with an 18th goal in as many league games at Anfield by heading it in at the far post, Bravo’s despairing touch not enough to prevent it entering the net.

But the deep cross came from Jordan Henderson, vindicating Klopp. His only real selection dilemma came in midfield where he chose his captain ahead of the in-form Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

For City, a third defeat of the season at least brought a first goal in three Anfield visits, and although Liverpool wobbled after Silva’s low drive, it was only a consolation strike. But City’s efforts were unstinting and they had the chance to score several goals.

The relentless Raheem Sterling was booed, although with less vitriol than on some of his earlier visits to his former home.

He came close to a first goal at Anfield in City colours, heading Kevin de Bruyne’s free kick just wide.

Aguero’s Anfield drought continued despite an effort that Alisson saved well and a shot that whistled past the far post.

It felt inevitable that the defence-splitting pass to release him came from De Bruyne.

The Belgian was excellent, bringing drive as well as quality, teasing set-pieces and incisive passes. He almost added to his litany of assists this season.

He was also the meat in the sandwich, providing a deft touch in the middle of a one-two when Angelino broke to prod a shot against the post.

The returning Rodri, rushed back after two and a half weeks on the sidelines, was booked for dissent when Sterling was denied a penalty for a nudge by Mane.

Referee Michael Oliver ruled against Sterling again when he claimed Alexander-Arnold had handled. It was a decision that did not go City’s way.

They retrieved a seven-point deficit to overhaul Liverpool last season. Their task looks still tougher now.

Score

Third Test, Day 2

New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)

Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings

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Types of fraud

Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

* Nada El Sawy

A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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