Football: Mahrez fires City into top spot, Lloris saves Spurs

LONDON -- Riyad Mahrez fired Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League as the champions won 1-0 against Bournemouth, while Hugo Lloris saved Tottenham in their draw with north London rivals Arsenal on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola's side sit two points above Liverpool thanks to Mahrez's second-half winner at Dean Court.

The only frustration for City in a hard-fought victory were injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones, which could significantly impact their bid to win an unprecedented quadruple.

De Bruyne hobbled off after the Belgian midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in the first half.

City, who are already without injured duo Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte, also lost England defender Stones with a groin problem just after the interval.

But, showing the depth of City's squad, it was Mahrez, who had come on for De Bruyne, who finally gave the champions the lead in the 55th minute.

Mahrez claimed his first league goal since December, the Algeria winger driving his shot under Bournemouth 'keeper Artur Boruc.

"We made one of our best performances. People should understand how difficult it is to attack 11 players who are defending," Guardiola said.

"We demand a lot of the players without giving them the time to rest physiologically, that is why it is incredible. No matter what happens this season they deserve my admiration."

Liverpool can regain pole position if they win the Merseyside derby at Everton on Sunday.

- Lloris rescues Spurs -

At Wembley, Lloris saved a 90th-minute penalty as Tottenham salvaged a 1-1 draw in a pulsating derby.

Mauricio Pochettino's side fell behind in the 16th minute when Aaron Ramsey slotted home from Alexandre Lacazette's pass.

But Harry Kane won a controversial 74th-minute penalty to equalise for Tottenham.

Kane was offside when Christian Eriksen sent over a free-kick, but the flag stayed down and the England striker was bundled over by Shkodran Mustafi.

Kane calmly notched his 22nd goal of the season and his ninth in nine Premier League games against the Gunners.

Arsenal had a golden opportunity to take the points when Davinson Sanchez was penalised for a soft challenge on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Referee Anthony Taylor felt the minimal contact was enough to justify a penalty, but Lloris came to Tottenham's rescue as the France star dived to his right to keep out Aubameyang's low penalty.

Arsenal finished a bruising contest with 10 men after Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira was sent off for a studs-up foul on Danny Rose.

"VAR is coming to help them," Arsenal manager Unai Emery grumbled when asked about Tottenham's equaliser.

The dramatic finale ensured Pochettino, celebrating his 47th birthday, avoided a third successive defeat as Tottenham's record run of 33 league games without a draw came to an end.

"Lloris' save was a massive present. I am so happy because we didn't deserve to lose the game -- we were better than them," Pochettino said.

Third-placed Tottenham remain four points ahead of Arsenal as the fight for Champions League qualification heats up.

- United leapfrog Arsenal -

Arsenal dropped to fifth place after Manchester United moved one point above them into fourth with a dramatic 3-2 win against struggling Southampton at Old Trafford.

Yan Valery smashed a fierce drive past United goalkeeper David De Gea for a memorable first goal of the young Southampton defender's career in the 26th minute.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team equalised in the 53rd minute as Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira bagged his first Premier League goal with a long-range curler.

Romelu Lukaku, back in form after a long barren spell, put United in front six minutes later with a composed finish.

James Ward-Prowse drew fourth-bottom Southampton level with a superb 75th-minute free-kick.

However, in the 89th minute, Belgian forward Lukaku made it four goals in two games with the last-gasp winner.

Paul Pogba's stoppage-time penalty was saved by Angus Gunn, but Solskjaer's unbeaten domestic run as United boss has now reached 15 games.

"The belief is there, they have gone so long without losing games (domestically). The dressing room is bouncing at the moment. They were class finishes from Romelu," Solskjaer said.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace pushed Burnley back into relegation danger with a 3-1 win at Turf Moor, while West Ham beat Newcastle 2-0 with goals from Declan Rice and Mark Noble.

Wolves eased to a 2-0 victory over Cardiff at Molineux that left the visitors stuck in the relegation zone.

Brighton boosted their survival bid with a 1-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield at the Amex Stadium.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

France, England to unite in song and solidarity

LONDON -- A communal rendition of the French national anthem will provide the emotional centre-point as France play England at Wembley on Tuesday four days on from the devastating Paris attacks.

The stadium's bars will shut five minutes before kick-off to encourage fans to observe tributes that will include a minute's silence, the laying of flowers by team captains Wayne Rooney and Hugo Lloris and the singing of 'La Marseillaise', which England's fans have been urged to join in with.

Breaking with convention, the French anthem will be played second, with the hymn's lyrics shown on the stadium's big screens, in order to create a stand-alone moment of solidarity during which the 129 people who died in the carnage that struck the French capital last Friday will be remembered.

"We will sing that together and share in that moment," said France goalkeeper Lloris, who plays for London club Tottenham Hotspur.

"It will be sung by a great number of English people as well, which will make it stronger.

"This game is a good opportunity to represent the French nation. The French nation is more important than French football tomorrow (Tuesday)."

While British authorities have received no specific intelligence about any planned attacks, armed police will be deployed around the stadium to reassure an expected crowd of around 80,000 that will include Prince William as well as 1,400 travelling supporters.

Fans have been urged to arrive early as security checks are expected to take longer than usual, with the bags of every single person in attendance due to be searched.

Paris's Stade de France was targeted by suicide bombers during Friday's attacks, leaving four people dead including three attackers, but the Football Association said that tickets for Tuesday's game had sold at a healthy rate in the days since. Only around 100 tickets have been returned.

The FA has confirmed that the giant arch over Wembley will continue to be lit in the red, white and blue of the French Tricolor, while France's motto -- 'Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite' -- will be shown on screens outside the ground.

The match itself promises to be a curious spectacle, with players on both sides having admitted that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to focus on football so soon after Friday's horrors, which also left over 350 people injured.

- 'Night of togetherness' -
But all are mindful that the event will serve as a powerful show of unity, echoing FA chief executive Martin Glenn's declaration that "the eyes of the world" will be on Wembley.

"I'm happy the game's on," said Rooney, who is due to return to England's starting XI after starting Friday's 2-0 loss to Spain on the bench.

"It shows France wants to show these terrorists they're standing strong against them, and we have to support that.

"Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a great night of togetherness for everyone to see, for the terrorists to see the world will go on and stand against them."

Friday's attacks claimed by Islamic State touched the France squad particularly closely. The cousin of France midfielder Lassana Diarra, Asta Diakite, was among those killed, while the sister of forward Antoine Griezmann escaped unhurt from the assault on the Bataclan concert hall.

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Diarra's decision to remain with the squad despite the fact the Marseille midfielder was "hurting to the bone".

"We can't forget," an emotional Deschamps told his pre-game press conference.

"We've had two days to get over this immense sadness. Today we're here and our energy has to be focused on preparing for this match with as much dignity and solemnity as possible."

Rooney added: "Sometimes, when bad things happen, football is the place where you feel more comfortable. Their players might take that into consideration."

Euro 2016 hosts France are seeking to record a sixth successive win, following their impressive 2-0 defeat of world champions Germany, while Roy Hodgson's England are hoping to return to winning ways after their 15-game unbeaten run was ended by Spain in Alicante.

Michael Carrick, Fabian Delph and Jamie Vardy have withdrawn from England's squad due to injury, with Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Ryan Mason and uncapped Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard drafted in.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com