SPORTS
Chelsea, Manchester City 4-4 Thriller Considered Premier League At Its Best?
Players have scored for and against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, with two of them – Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling – doing so in this game
“The Premier League at its best.”
Defenses certainly were not on top as Chelsea and Manchester City played out an epic eight-goal 4-4 thriller where, finally, football was the main talking point.
In recent weeks officials and video assistant referees have taken center stage but, bar a disputed City penalty which Erling Haaland scored to make it 1-0, it was the players and coaches who made this one.
After Haaland’s opener, 39-year-old Thiago Silva became Chelsea’s oldest goalscorer and Raheem Sterling netted against his old club.
Manuel Akanji leveled for City just before half-time and Haaland scored just after it – his 49th Premier League goal in his 47th game.
Nicolas Jackson, after his bizarre hat-trick against Tottenham, leveled again for Chelsea – but then Rodri scored what looked like a late winner for City.
However, deep in stoppage time, Chelsea had a spot-kick of their own which Cole Palmer – a summer signing from City – slammed home.
Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher called it “the Premier League at its best”.
He said on Sky Sports: “The game we all watched on Monday [Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Tottenham], it felt like everyone was talking about that game for days afterward and I think this will be the same.
“It was fantastic and it just felt right that Chelsea got the equalizer. I know the Man City fans will be disappointed but it felt right that there shouldn’t be a winner in that game. It was that good.”
Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, watching for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “That was an amazing game. From the start, the intensity was so high. It was a fantastic performance against the best side in the world at the moment.”
Former City defender Micah Richards added: “That was exceptional. It was fantastic. It had everything – goals, bad defending, and tackles.
“Cole Palmer was outstanding, showing his worth. If you were a spectator, you got your money’s worth.” ht goals, two penalties, and a whole host of storylines – including ex-players scoring against their former clubs – it is no wonder the pundits were purring over the spectacle.
And they were not the only ones.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino described it as “an amazing evening” despite only coming away with a draw at home.
“It was amazing – that is why the Premier League is the most unbelievable in the world. Everybody wants to be involved in amazing games,” he added.
“It is difficult to talk as everyone wants to say how exciting the game was. Manchester City are the best team in the world and Chelsea were brave and tried to go for three points.”
Opposite number Pep Guardiola has enjoyed his fair share of crucial matches while in charge of Manchester City but even he could not hide his admiration for what both teams produced.
It was only the fifth match in Premier League history to feature as many as four equalizing goals scored – and the first since 2009.
“It was a good advert and an entertaining game for the Premier League,” said Guardiola. “Both teams wanted to win. I wouldn’t have expected it differently. Chelsea have a fantastic team and players
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been announced as the award winner for the Italian Footballers’ Association Footballer of the Year for his outstanding performance with the Napolitans last season.
Osimhen’s 26 goals were crucial in the Partenopei winning their first Scudde in 33 years.
Other awards presented during the Monday night presentation were team of the year, coach of the year, club of the year, and goal of the season.
Despite a difficult start to the 2023-24 season and subsequent injury troubles, Osimhen has maintained his outstanding goals-per-game ratio, with six from ten following the 14th game week.
Rafael Leao, Gianluigi Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andrea Pirlo, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have previously received the honour.
Dr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, has declared that his administration is serious about using sports to connect the people and grow the state’s economy.
Governor Otti made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from Sports Nigeria, a private-sector initiative aimed at bringing the government and the business sector together to harness talent and develop sports infrastructure in Nigeria.
“We are very deliberate about using sports to unite our people who could support our economy and also to do a few other things that we have mentioned here,” the Governor stated.
He stated that Abia State is endowed with tremendous abilities and promised to support any initiative aimed at harnessing them for the development and growth of the state’s sports industry.
The State Chief Executive Officer revealed that the Nsulu Games Village in Isiala Ngwa North has already been designated as an entertainment and games village.
Dr. Otti went on to say that the state already has a quality production brand that would be given greater attention in terms of manufacturing. He told the team that the details of its presentation would be investigated and areas of interest for collaboration found, and he commended the delegation for its commitment in sports development in the state.
Earlier, while making a presentation to the Governor on a document titled, “Abia State Sports Infrastructure Investment – A Value Proposition”, the Chief Executive Officer, Sports Nigeria and Chairperson, Nigerian Football League, Mrs. Nkechi Obi, said her organisation specialises on facilitating cross sectional alliances to build sports.
She sought the commitment of Abia State Government in providing necessary support for the development of the framework, strategy policy and implementation plans critical to sports infrastructural development, disclosing that Abia stands to benefit bountifully through community empowerment, job creation and economic growth, social cohesion and health wellness.
According to her, everything that is needed for sports development is supposed to be done at the State level and stressed the need for Abia to leverage sports to boost development.
As Liverpool locks horns with LASK Thursday night, Jurgen Klopp wants goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to seize his chance when deputising for Alisson in the Europa League.
Alisson sustained an injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City and is expected to be sidelined for two weeks.
Kelleher has featured five times this season across the Carabao Cup and Europa League.
“He [Kelleher] would have played anyway,” Klopp said.
“He deserves his opportunity to get a few more games and hopefully he can show his full potential.”
The Republic of Ireland international has started three games in the Europa League this campaign, conceding five goals, but the Reds top Group E as they prepare to face bottom side LASK at Anfield.
Kelleher has made 25 appearances across all competitions since graduating from Liverpool’s academy to make his senior debut in 2019.
He is also likely to be handed further game time against Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday before trips to Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, and Union St-Gilloise in the Europa League over the next fortnight, while Manchester United visit Anfield on 17 December.
Liverpool are also set to be without forward Diogo Jota after the Portuguese limped off at the Etihad.
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