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FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020
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Ramos free-
kick sends
Madrid back
to top
Page 30
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool are on the brink of
clinching the Premier League title after the
leaders powered to a 40 win against Crystal
Palace, while Anthony Martial hit a hat-trick
in Manchester United’s 30 victory over Shef-
ield United early yesterday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side took control thanks
to irst-half goals from Trent Alexander-
Arnold and Mohamed Salah behind closed
doors at An ield.
Fabinho and Sadio Mane netted after the
interval and Liverpool will be crowned cham-
pions if Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge.
If second-placed City win in west Lon-
don, then Liverpool could wrap up their irst
English title for 30 years in their next game
- against Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad
Stadium on July 2.
“Imagine if the stadium could have been
full and people could have experienced that
live. It would have been amazing,” Klopp said.
“The atmosphere on the pitch was in-
credible. That was the best counter-pressing
game I have ever seen behind closed doors.
The attitude the boys showed was amazing.”
Asked if he would be watching when City
face Chelsea, Klopp added, “Tonight was
a big step, that’s clear. I have to watch the
game tomorrow because we play them one
week later. That’s being professional and do-
ing my job.”
After a drab goalless draw at Merseyside
rivals Everton last Sunday, the champions-
elect were far more vibrant and Alexander-
Arnold opened the scoring with a superb
free-kick in the 23rd minute.
Salah doubled the lead in the 44th minute,
taking Fabinho’s lofted pass and guiding in
his 21st goal of the season.
Fabinho scored with a thunderous 30-yard
strike in the 55th minute and Mane capped
a ine move in the 69th minute as Liverpool
moved 23 points clear of City.
United are still far o› challenging again
for titles at the top of the table, but there
are growing signs of momentum for Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer’s men as they extended
LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City have been
given the go-ahead to stage their Premier
League match against Liverpool at their Eti-
had Stadium next week despite a police re-
quest to stage the game at a neutral venue.
The game, on July 2, could see City
cede their title to Liverpool.
Before the resumption of the top light
last week, the match was one of ive that
police asked to be held at neutral venues
because of safety concerns. All games are
being played behind closed doors due to
restrictions imposed.
However, yesterday Manchester City
Council announced the game could go
ahead in Manchester.
“Following the most recent round of
Premier League ixtures which have all
taken place behind closed doors the SAG
has signalled it has no objections to the ix-
ture taking place at the Etihad Stadium as
planned,” said councillor Luthfur Rahman.
Liverpool on brink of title,
Man Utd make top four move
their unbeaten run to 13 games. Martial
produced two predatory irst-time inishes
before half-time to put United in command
at Old Tra›ord.
She¡ield United were riding high in March
before football’s shutdown for three months,
but the Blades have now picked up just one
point and failed to score in their three games
since the restart.
United could have piled on much more
pain after the break, but were content with
one more goal as Martial completed his irst
career hat-trick with a cheeky chip from Mar-
cus Rashford’s pass.
“Very happy for Anthony,” Solskjaer said.
“The third goal was a great goal, but for me
the irst and the second were better.
“He’s in the box, ready to go. We have
worked on that, getting in the box in that situ-
ation more often. I thought our performance
deserved a win, de initely.”
Fifth-place could still be good enough
for a place in next season’s Champions
League depending on the outcome of
City’s appeal against a two-season ban from
European competition.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores his side’s second goal during the English Premier League
match against Crystal Palace at An ield Stadium, England. PHOTOS: AP
Manchester United’s Anthony Martial
celebrates after scoring his side’s third
goal against She ield United at Old Traord
Etihad Stadium
given go-ahead
to host Man City-
Liverpool game
BERLIN (AFP) - Borussia Dortmund will go
into next season with Lucien Favre still the
head coach as they bid to break Bayern Mu-
nich’s monopoly on the Bundesliga, Sports
Director Michael Zorc con irmed yesterday.
“We will have the same set up in the new
season. We want to go on the attack,” Zorc
said ahead of Dortmund’s inal game this
season at home to Ho›enheim tomorrow.
There is a year left on Favre’s contract,
but there has been speculation hemay leave
as his Dortmund side has inished second to
Bayern for the last two league seasons.
Last season, under Favre, Dortmund led
by nine points and topped the table as late
as April before inishing runners up by two
points. This season they will again inish
second, but trail Bayern by 10 points.
Favre to remain
Dortmund head coach