Football: Sterling calls for more black managers in football

LONDON -- Manchester City star Raheem Sterling has urged English football to use the global anti-racism protests to initiate debates and find solutions regarding the lack of black representation in top leadership positions in the sport.

Calling for racial justice, thousands of protesters have rallied across the UK, joining a wave of demonstrations sparked by the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of US police last month.

England forward Sterling, who has previously been prominent in calling out racism in both the domestic and international game, is the latest sports star to lend his support to the protests. 

"The protest is a great starting point, to make your voice be heard. But just protesting alone is not going to make a change in this country," Sterling said Monday in a BBC TV interview.

"It's how we move on from here. It's about highlighting things, the society that needs changing, and then acting upon it. We've done a lot of talking, and it's time now to act."

"This is a time to speak on these subjects, speak on injustice, especially in my field," he added.

Sterling pointed a finger at the long-running disparity between the number of high-profile Black, Asian and minority ethnic players and the dearth of those who go on to hold significant managerial, coaching or administrative jobs.

"There's something like 500 players in the Premier League and a third of them are black and we have no representation of us in the hierarchy, no representation of us in the coaching staffs. There's not a lot of faces that we can relate to and have conversations with," he said.

"With these protests that are going on it's all well and good just talking, but it's time that we need to have conversations, to be able to spark debates. 

"But at same time, it's coming together and finding a solution to be able to spark change because we can talk as much as we want about changing and putting people, black people, in these positions that I do feel they should be in."

- 'Give equal chances' -

Sterling contrasted the managerial paths of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who have landed top roles at Rangers and Chelsea, to equally experienced black players who have been compelled to start much lower down the ladder.

"The coaching staff that you see around football clubs: there's Steven Gerrard, your Frank Lampards, your Sol Campbells and your Ashley Coles. All had great careers, all played for England," said Sterling.

"At the same time, they've all respectfully done their coaching badges to coach at the highest level and the two that haven't been given the right opportunities are the two black former players.

"The change is being able to speak to people in Parliament, people at the hierarchy at my football club, football clubs across the country, people at the national team of England, to implement change and give equal chances to not just black coaches but also different ethnicities.

"I feel like that's what's lacking here, it's not just taking the knee, it is about giving people the chance they deserve."

Agence France-Presse

Football: Man City win League Cup as Chelsea keeper defies Sarri

LONDON - Manchester City retained the English League Cup in a shootout after Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri's hopes of a long-awaited first trophy ended in bizarre fashion on Sunday with his keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga openly disobeying orders.

Raheem Sterling smashed home the decisive spot kick as City clinched the English season's first silverware 4-3 on penalties, with the Wembley showpiece having ended 0-0 after extra time.

The clash, the first between the clubs in a major final, had slowly warmed up, but took the most unlikely of twists deep into the extra period when Arrizabalaga saved from Sergio Aguero.

It appeared the young Spanish keeper had injured himself and Sarri immediately told substitute Willy Caballero to get ready to come on for the closing seconds as penalties loomed.

With his number being held up, Arrizabalaga refused to obey the call to depart, leaving Sarri fuming in the technical area.

At one point the raging Italian coach appeared to walk down the tunnel, before returning to brief his players for penalties.

Caballero still looked poised to take over but it was Arrizabalaga who stood guard in front of the Chelsea fans.

The Spaniard allowed Sergio Aguero's weak penalty to creep under his body into the net but then redeemed himself with a brilliant save from Leroy Sane leaving the shootout at 2-2.

Chelsea's David Luiz thumped his penalty against the post, however, to hand the advantage back to the Manchester side and, although Hazard scored, Sterling smashed his kick high past Arrizabalaga to send City's fans into delirium.

UNDER PRESSURE

Sarri began the match under pressure with his inconsistent side having lost five of their last 11 games, including a 6-0 thrashing at City in the Premier League and a 2-0 home loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round.

The United defeat provoked fury from Chelsea fans who have lost patience with the former Napoli manager's tactics.

A fortnight after the humiliation by Pep Guardiola's side's, Sarri's tactics were spot on as Chelsea stifled City's much-vaunted attack and created the better chances.

Had N'Golo Kante not blazed over after being teed up by Hazard's brilliant run midway through the second half, the headlines could have been about Sarri winning his first silverware after 29 years as a manager.

Instead, he was left answering questions about what looked like a blatant case of a player undermining his authority.

"I misunderstood the problem and only realised the situation when the doctor arrived at the bench," he said later.

"It was a big misunderstanding because I understood the keeper had cramp and was unable to go to the penalties. But it was not cramp and he could go to the penalties."

HARD WORK

City have now won the League Cup four times in six seasons and are second on the all-time list, with six titles, behind title rivals Liverpool who have won eight.

They had to work hard for it, though, with Guardiola correctly predicting before the match that Chelsea would be desperate to avenge their demolition at the Etihad.

"Chelsea have incredible quality and after the result two weeks ago we knew it would be more difficult," said Guardiola, who picked up his third major trophy for City and the 25th of a managerial career spanning three countries.

Asked if his side could claim four trophies this season, and surpass the treble he achieved with Barcelona in 2008-09, Guardiola added: "What we did in Barcelona is unique. This is new players, new club, now we will see how far we can go."

City dominated possession in the first half but only had a couple of Aguero attempts to show for it.

Chelsea were rejuvenated after that with Hazard coming to the fore against an increasingly uneasy City side.

Aguero did have a goal ruled offside and also had chances in extra time, but Chelsea had looked the more likely winners. 

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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Football: Sterling winner caps late Man City comeback at Schalke

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany -- Raheem Sterling sealed a dramatic 3-2 Champions League win for 10-man Manchester City at Schalke on Wednesday as the English champions scored twice in the last five minutes.

Sterling tucked away the winner at the Veltins Arena in the 90th minute just after substitute Leroy Sane fired home a stunning free-kick for the Premier League leaders against his former club in the last 16, first leg.

"I waited for my chance and wanted to shoot from there as I had previously scored from that position and it restored our confidence," a delighted Sane told broadcaster DAZN after his equaliser.

Schalke led 2-1 at half-time as the video assistant referee (VAR) twice intervened to award penalties, both converted by Nabil Bentaleb, cancelling out Sergio Aguero's opener in Gelsenkirchen.

City were in real trouble with 22 minutes left when Nicolas Otamendi, who gave away the controversial first penalty, was sent off for a second yellow card before Sane's moment of brilliance and Sterling's winner.

"We will not go far in this competition unless we improve," said City manager Pep Guardiola.

"At the end the quality of Sane and Sterling made the difference."

However, City still have some work to do in the return leg on March 12 with Fernandinho, who was booked when conceding the second spot-kick, and Otamendi both suspended.

Schalke are just above the Bundesliga's relegation places and winless in their last four league games, yet they gave Premier League leaders City an almighty scare.

The hosts initially struggled to get out of their half as Man City dominated the opening 30 minutes, until the game swung dramatically Schalke's way with the two penalty decisions.

Schalke shot themselves in the foot for City's opening goal on 18 minutes when a lazy pass from goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann to Salif Sane was snapped up by David Silva.

The Spaniard drew Faehrmann and selflessly served up a simple tap-in for Aguero to claim his 10th goal in his last seven City appearances.

- Schalke sparked into life -

However, falling behind sparked life into Schalke.

Striker Mark Uth fired wide, then ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Bentaleb got the better of Ilkay Gundogan in midfield.

Likewise, a cheer went up when US international Weston McKennie nicked the ball off Kevin De Bruyne.

Schalke drew level after Daniel Caligiuri fired in a speculative shot which clipped Otamendi's arm.

There was a delay of nearly three minutes for a VAR review, which Sky reported was caused by a technical problem as referee Carlos del Cerro Grande could not view the replay.

Despite City's furious protests, the spot-kick was duly awarded, which Bentaleb tucked away to the delight of the home crowd on 38 minutes and they would be celebrating again soon after.

The Germans took the lead when Fernandinho pushed Senegal defender Salif Sane when a free-kick flew into the box, and VAR again intervened and another penalty went Schalke's way.

Bentaleb stepped up to smash the spot-kick past Ederson and put Schalke ahead.

The second half was a much more even affair with Schalke no longer intimidated to be playing star-studded City.

In turn, the visitors' problems were compounded on 68 minutes when Otamendi clattered Schalke's replacement forward Guido Burgstaller and was dismissed.

Guardiola reacted by swapping midfielder David Silva for veteran centre-back Vincent Kompany to settle the defence.

In a bid to turn the match with 13 minutes left, Leroy Sane came on for Aguero and the Germany international produced the goods against the club he left in 2016.

Then Sterling latched onto goalkeeper Ederson's long clearance as the home defence hesitated and slotted in.

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Sterling strikes twice as City hit Saints for six

MANCHESTER, England - Raheem Sterling struck twice as Premier League leaders Manchester City crushed Southampton 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, the fourth time they have scored five or more goals in the 11 games so far this season.

The defending champions were 4-1 up by half-time and the result could have been even worse for Mark Hughes on his return to his former club.

Sterling was outstanding, a constant threat down the flank, and he was delighted that his side took advantage of second-placed Liverpool's draw at Arsenal on Saturday.

"I thought it was a great team performance, not just with the ball. We were brilliant at times today," said the former Liverpool forward.

"I am grateful for the position I am in, learning and trying to get better. It is great times at the moment.

"After Liverpool dropped points it was important that we won," he added.

City, who now have a two-point lead over Liverpool, took just six minutes to open the scoring. David Silva fed Leroy Sane on the left and the German’s low cross was turned by Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt into his own net.

Six minutes later and City were 2-0 up after Bernardo Silva fed Sterling on the right and the England winger’s low cross was slotted home from close range by Sergio Aguero, the Argentine’s 17th goal in his last 13 home games.

The game was virtually over by the 18th minute when Sterling’s cross from the right eventually found David Silva whose left-foot drive flew past the helpless Alex McCarthy.

Southampton got a little encouragement when Danny Ings was brought down by City keeper Ederson and rose to convert the spot kick in the 30th minute but on the stroke of half-time City restored their three-goal advantage when Aguero passed to Sterling inside the box and he took his time before firing home.

Sterling struck again to make it 5-1, drilling into the bottom corner after being slipped in by the unselfish Aguero and Sane completed the rout in stoppage time.

Southampton are in 16th place, two places above the relegation zone with a solitary win this campaign and manager Hughes was left to rue the disastrous start to the game.

"Opening period is always important in any game and we didn't really acquit ourselves well. City will always ask questions and have a lot of talent, power and pace. They create two versus ones in good areas.

"You need to be more aggressive than we were able to show. We found ourselves 3-0 down and to all extents and purposes the game is gone," said the Welshman.

"I was more pleased second half that we showed some pride. The scoreline is maybe a bit of a harsh state from our point of view. But you have to hold your hands up, City are a very good team."

(Reporting by Simon Evans; editing by Clare Fallon)

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Sterling stunner keeps City clear, chasers all win

LONDON - Just when the chasing pack thought the Manchester City juggernaut was suffering a misfire Raheem Sterling scored a stunning stoppage-time winner to give the Premier League leaders a 2-1 victory over Southampton on Wednesday.

With Manchester United having cut the gap to five points and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool winning, any City stutter would have been cause for celebration. But Pep Guardiola's side thundered on with a club record 12th successive league victory.

Former Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne's opener in the 75th minute but six minutes into stoppage time Sterling, for the third match running, snatched City's winner, this time with a sublime curling shot.

Manager Antonio Conte was sent to the stands after a verbal meltdown at Stamford Bridge as his Chelsea side laboured to a 1-0 defeat of struggling Swansea City at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Rudiger's first Premier League goal sealed victory.

"I have apologised because I did the wrong thing," Conte said of his angry reaction to a fourth official when his side were denied a corner in the first half.

"I have been in to see them after the game. It's right to speak and apologise with them."

Arsenal struck three goals in four second-half minutes as they thrashed Huddersfield Town 5-0 with Mesut Ozil scoring one and supplying assists for Olivier Giroud, who scored a brace, and Alexis Sanchez.

Alexandre Lacazette's early goal had separated the sides before the interval although the French striker went off with a suspected groin injury and will probably miss Saturday's home clash against Manchester United. Arsenal have won 12 consecutive home matches.

Liverpool moved into fifth place with Mohamed Salah taking his tally for the season to a chart-topping 12 thanks to a double in a 3-0 victory at Stoke City.

After 14 games City have 40 points, with United on 32, Chelsea 29, Arsenal 28 and Liverpool 26.

   
HEADY SIXTH

Burnley rose to a heady sixth, ahead of a sliding Tottenham Hotspur, as Chris Wood and Robbie Brady scored in a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth - their fourth win in five league games.

"Where we are in the league, everyone will be surprised by that," Burnley boss Sean Dyche said.

Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, the third with a wonder goal from inside his own half, as Everton thrashed West Ham United 4-0 on a horrible return to Goodison Park for David Moyes whose West Ham side remained in the bottom three.

Sam Allardyce, who will be named shortly as Everton's new manager, watched on from the stands as caretaker boss David Unsworth signed off with a victory that lifted Everton to 13th.

Whatever happens below them, City are looking unstoppable and with 40 points from 14 games and a goal difference of 35 they have recorded the best start in Premier League history.

They were not at their fluent best and Southampton came closest to scoring before the break with Wesley Hoedt striking the woodwork for the visitors.

But Sterling's effort sparked wild celebrations at the Etihad as the former Liverpool player struck yet another late goal to take his tally for the season to 13.

He has now earned City nine extra points this season with his timely interventions and his latest effort was arguably his best, picking out the top corner with an unstoppable effort.

"Raheem is a match-winner, I am so happy for him. He is special, it was an amazing goal. It is more than important, it is beautiful," Guardiola, whose side have dropped only two points this season, said.

City are now two wins away from matching Arsenal's record 14-match winning run in the Premier League.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)

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Record-breaking City march on, Everton's woes continue

LONDON - Manchester City restored an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 come-from-behind win at Huddersfield Town, while Everton's season went from bad to worse following a toothless 4-1 defeat at Southampton on Sunday.

Huddersfield appeared on course to earne an impressive point against City but Raheem Sterling bundled home a fortunate 84th-minute winner for the visitors after Sergio Aguero had earlier converted a penalty to cancel out Nicolas Otamendi's own goal.

With a 12th victory in 13 games, Pep Guardiola's City have made the best ever start to a Premier League season and lead second-placed rivals Manchester United by eight points.

Southampton's Charlie Austin scored twice as they coasted to victory over managerless Everton, while Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez scored a 92nd-minute winner as they climbed into the top four with a 1-0 victory at stubborn Burnley.

City did not sweep aside Huddersfield as many expected, but the manner of their post-match celebrations illustrated how important victory was on a winter's evening in Yorkshire.

They may have had many more eye-catching performances this season, but Sunday's victory was typical of title-winning sides.

A rapidly-maturing Sterling, who has scored 12 times in 18 games this season in all competitions, won the penalty that led to Aguero's equaliser and was in the right place at the right time late on to score after Gabriel Jesus was denied.

"Today was a game that epitomised the Premier League - winter is here, it's colder, it's harder to move the ball, they defended well," said City captain Vincent Kompany after his side reached 37 points from a possible 39.

"I feel the team deserved the win, we kept at it, even being 1-0 down we believed."

United are second on 29 points after a 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday followed by Chelsea (26), who drew 1-1 at Liverpool (23), Arsenal (25) and Tottenham Hotspur (24).

EVERTON WOES

Everton have scored just 13 league goals since the departure of striker Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United in the close season, while the 28 they have conceded is the most of any side in the top flight this term.

On the south coast, Dusan Tadic gave Southampton a deserved lead with a neat finish in the 18th minute before Everton equalised when Gylfi Sigurdsson's long-range effort went in despite hitting the crossbar twice and the post once.

Austin restored the home side's lead with a close-range header in the 52nd minute before adding a near carbon-copy second to double the advantage six minutes later.

Steven Davies added a fourth with a superb effort late on as Everton's despondent players capitulated after the break.

The Toffees, who sit two points above the relegation zone with 12 points, have now won only once under caretaker manager David Unsworth.

"I take responsibility, but we all have to as well," said former Everton defender Unsworth. "We're in a tough place and things have to change quickly.

"Confidence is as low as it has ever been. The club has to decide (on a new manager) and the sooner that happens the better. The players need this resolving.

"What I see is a happy squad but I'd rather have an unhappy squad that's winning. I want what's best for the club and I hope the players do too."

NERVELESS PENALTY

After top-four contenders Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool failed to win on Saturday, Arsenal capitalised but were indebted to Sanchez's nerveless late penalty against Burnley.

Arsenal have now won three successive games against the Lancashire club with goals on or after the 90th minute.

"In the first half we didn't find our game, they stopped us from playing very well," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. In the second half it was a question of the final ball and patience, not making a mistake at the back,"

Asked about the late penalty decision, the Frenchman said: "From outside it looked 100 percent (a penalty).

And regarding the battle for Champions League qualifying places, he added: "It's early, (the top four) changes from one week to another. We wanted to win away from home and we did it. Let's focus on the next one."

(Reporting by Tom Hayward; editing by Ken Ferris)

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Five-star Manchester City edge thriller with Monaco

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City came out on top in an epic Champions League battle against Monaco as late goals by John Stones and Leroy Sane secured a 5-3 victory in a last 16 first-leg thriller on Tuesday that had goals galore and a missed penalty.

City took the lead through Raheem Sterling but were then playing catch-up as Monaco drew level thanks to Radamel Falcao's header and then went ahead with a powerful finish from 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe five minutes before halftime.

South American poachers Sergio Aguero for City and Falcao, who also missed a penalty, then traded blows with Aguero equalizing for 2-2 and then 3-3 after Falcao's exquisite chip gave Monaco the lead for the second time at The Etihad.

City, however, then pulled clear as Stones tapped in at the far post and Sane rolled the ball into an empty net to give City a two-goal advantage ahead of the return on March 15.

City manager Pep Guardiola had called Monaco "killers" in the box before the game and while they showed just why they are European football's most deadly assassins, they were embarrassingly fragile at times at the back.

They were behind after 26 minutes when Sterling tapped home after Sane dazzled down the left and teed up the England winger.

ROUTE BACK

Monaco were handed a route back into the match after 32 minutes following an error by City's Willy Caballero, the first of the night's goalkeeping blunders.

He gave the ball away with a poor clearance and the visitors worked it to Fabinho whose devilish cross was headed home by former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Falcao, who has found his best form again since returning to France.

City were denied a penalty by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz when Aguero appeared to be upended by keeper Danijel Subasic before Monaco grabbed the lead through Mbappe.

The 18-year-old was released through the middle and lashed his finish into the top corner past Caballero.

The visitors should have extended their advantage soon after the restart but Falcao's tame penalty was saved after Nicolas Otamendi had been penalized for catching the Colombian as he tried to convert Benjamin Mendy's cross.

City swiftly made Monaco pay as Aguero ended a six-game goal-drought thanks to a Subasic howler. Sterling slid the ball through and the Argentine fired straight at the keeper but it squirmed out of his hands into the net after 58 minutes.

Parity was short-lived, however, as Falcao turned City defender Stones before lifting an exquisite chip over the stranded Caballero to make it 3-2 to the principality club.

Aguero levelled once more when he volleyed home from 12 metres after a corner and City took the lead when Kevin De Bruyne's set-piece was turned in by Stones at the far post.

The final twist in one of the most entertaining encounters in the competition's recent history came when Aguero rolled the ball into the path of Sane who tapped into an empty net.

(Writing by Toby Davis; editing by Ken Ferris)

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PREMIER LEAGUE: De Bruyne shines as Man City juggernaut rolls on

LONDON - Manchester City maintained their imperious start to the season with a fifth straight victory on Saturday as Bournemouth were swept aside 4-0 to become the latest victims of Pep Guardiola's table-toppers.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Kelechi Iheanacho, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Guendogan, on his Premier League debut, wrapped up the points after another scintillating display from the title favourites who continue to lay down a marker to their rivals.

Heading the chasing pack are Everton, who stayed two points behind City with a 3-1 home win over Middlesbrough, Gareth Barry marking his 600th league appearance with a goal.

Arsenal made it three successive league wins for the first time since January when they eased past 10-man Hull City 4-1 with Alexis Sanchez scoring twice and missing a penalty.

There was also a double strike at Leicester City where new signing Islam Slimani enjoyed a league debut to remember as the champions rediscovered their domestic form to beat Burnley 3-0.

Some pundits predicted Manchester City might suffer during Sergio Aguero's three-match suspension but, after winning the Manchester derby last weekend, they tore into Bournemouth and wasted little time in taking the game away from their opponents.

City were 1-0 up after 15 minutes when De Bruyne cleverly fired a free kick beneath the wall and into the net. They doubled the lead 10 minutes later when Iheanacho stabbed the ball home.

The Nigerian then turned provider for Sterling soon after halftime and Guendogan rounded off the scoring when he drilled the ball low inside the post.

There was a sour note for City when they had Spaniard Nolito sent off for a head-butt with four minutes remaining.

That did little to dampen the spirits of Guardiola, however, who heralded another superb display from Belgium playmaker De Bruyne.

"We are so lucky we have Kevin with us," the coach said. "It was a fantastic performance."

Everton trailed against Middlesbrough following an own goal by keeper Maarten Stekelenburg before Barry levelled.

Further first-half goals from Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku then gave Ronald Koeman the best five-game start to a Premier League season by an Everton manager.

FIRST TASTE
It was a day of superb individual displays with Slimani whetting the appetite of Leicester fans with two goals.

Slimani, who made his debut in the Champions League in midweek after costing a club record 29 million pounds ($37.70 million) last month, was handed his first taste of Premier League action and scored twice in four minutes either side of halftime.

The Algeria striker met Christian Fuchs' inswinging free kick in first-half stoppage time and then headed home after the break when Riyad Mahrez showcased his dancing feet to shimmy into the box.

Ben Mee's own goal completed the scoring late on as Leicester took their haul to seven points from five games.

Arsenal's season has yet to fully ignite but they made light work of a Hull side who had Jake Livermore sent off for handball in the first half.

Sanchez deflected the ball home to put Arsenal ahead after 17 minutes but the Chilean had his penalty saved by Eldin Jakupovic following Livermore's dismissal.

It was plain sailing from there on in, though, as Theo Walcott doubled the lead 10 minutes into the second half and, although the hosts pulled a goal back from the penalty spot through Robert Snodgrass, there was to be no late fightback.

Sanchez rifled the ball high into the net and Granit Xhaka made it 4-1 with a bullet finish from distance in stoppage time, putting the London club third in the table on 10 points.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Nacer Chadli marked a superb home debut with two goals, one a penalty, and two assists as they beat hapless West Ham United 4-2 to hand the Londoners a third straight league defeat.

($1 = 0.7692 pounds) (Editing by Tony Jimenez)

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FOOTBALL WRAP: Ronaldo sets new record, United and City win

Record Ronaldo goal helps put Real top of La Liga

Real Madrid opened a two-point lead over Villarreal at the top of La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo set a club scoring record in a 3-0 stroll at home to Levante on Saturday.

Marcelo fired Real ahead in the 27th minute at the Bernabeu when he exchanged passes with Ronaldo and blasted the ball past Ruben in the Levante goal.

Ronaldo made it 2-0 three minutes later when he cracked a long-range effort into the corner, his 324th Real goal putting him one clear of former Spain striker Raul.

It ended a rare four-match goal drought in Spain's top flight for the Portugal captain, his joint-worst run since he joined Real in 2009. -- Reuters

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Barca's four-goal Neymar coy on secret of success

Neymar was delighted after netting his first four-goal haul, including two penalties, for Barcelona on Saturday but the Brazil forward was not about to give away any clues to the secret of his success.

It was one of the 23-year-old's best performances since joining Barca in 2013 as the Spanish and European champions fought back from 1-0 down to beat a spirited Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at the Nou Camp.

After they fell behind in the 15th minute, Neymar won and converted a pair of spot kicks and added two more goals in the second period before teeing up Luis Suarez to score a fifth for the home side late on.

He is the first Barca player other than Lionel Messi to score four in a match since Samuel Eto'o in 2008 and his eight goals in La Liga this term are helping offset the impact of Messi's absence through injury. -- Reuters

Goals rained in for Manchester City and Manchester United but Juergen Klopp's first game as Liverpool manager was solid rather than spectacular as they drew 0-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday.

Raheem Sterling's hat-trick and a Wilfried Bony double helped leaders City to a 5-1 home win against Bournemouth while a few miles down the motorway United thumped Everton 3-0 with Wayne Rooney scoring his first away league goal for 11 months.

City have a two-point lead over United and Arsenal, who moved up to second with a 3-0 win at Watford. West Ham United, who won 3-1 at Crystal Palace, are a further two points adrift.

Liverpool's sixth draw in seven matches in all competitions left them down in 10th place but there was reason for optimism for Klopp who replaced the sacked Brendan Rodgers this month. -- Martyn Herman, Reuters

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Unstoppable Bayern beat Werder for record league start

Bayern Munich edged past struggling Werder Bremen 1-0 on Saturday courtesy of Thomas Mueller's first half goal to set a Bundesliga record for the best start to a season with their ninth consecutive victory.

Germany international Mueller, in sensational form this season, was left unmarked in the box to latch onto a superb Thiago Alcantara chip and tap in from close range in the 23rd minute for his ninth league goal as Bayern improved the record they had set themselves in the 2012/13 season.

Unbeaten Bayern, who did not need to hit top form and eased off late in the game granting Werder more space, have a maximum 27 points, seven more than second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who won 2-0 at Mainz 05 on Friday. Bayern face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday. --Reuters

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Mourinho lauds Chelsea discipline after win without Hazard

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the struggling English champions will stick to their back-to-basics approach after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday in which Eden Hazard started on the bench.

He added that the Belgium winger, Chelsea's stand-out player in last season's title-winning team, was among the substitutes as part of a revamp to end his side's miserable run of form.

"I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals, we need to defend better, we need our midfield players to be just in the central area of the pitch," Mourinho told reporters.

"When, for example, a central midfielder has to be worried about providing cover to one of the sides, it's like a blanket, you pull this side, you have your feet in the cold, you know?"

Hazard, the Premier League's player of the year last season, had previously started every league game for Chelsea this season but only came on as an 83rd minute substitute on Saturday.

By then, the game was effectively over, thanks to a first-half goal by Spain striker Diego Costa and a 53rd minute own-goal by Alan Hutton who deflected in a strike by Costa. -- William Schomberg, Reuters

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Is Sterling the real deal for City?

LONDON - Manchester City are about to find out whether Raheem Sterling has the ability to justify his enormous price tag or is just another over-rated young English footballer motivated purely by his bank balance.

City are investing 49 million pounds ($76.2 million) on the fleet-footed and tricky forward in the hope that he can provide the sparkle to bring the Premier League trophy back to the Etihad Stadium.

Sterling, 20, will become the the most expensive English player ever when he completes his move from Liverpool, the club where he made his name before controversially rejecting a new contract.

Liverpool have first-hand experience of the pitfalls of splashing out big money on unproven young English players.

In 2011 they paid Newcastle United 35 million pounds for striker Andy Carroll but sold him to West Ham United for less than half the price two years later.

City finished eight points behind Premier League champions Chelsea last season and manager Manuel Pellegrini knew he had an ageing group of players.

Sterling's arrival will inject energy and youthful exuberance to a squad with an average age of around 29.

The England winger, who signed for Liverpool as a 15-year-old from Queens Park Rangers in 2010, can operate on the right, left or down the middle and will give City the option of playing with a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation.

If Sterling can strike up the same partnership with City striker Sergio Aguero as he did with Luis Suarez during the Uruguayan's spell at Liverpool, then Pellegrini's side could challenge Chelsea.

However, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes City have paid over the odds for Sterling.

"At Liverpool, sometimes he was outstanding, but in the second half of last season he tailed off a bit," Carragher told Sky Sports. "The same thing will happen at Man City because he's still only young.

"Raheem Sterling -- at this stage of his career and what he's done up to now -- is possibly worth around 30 million pounds.

"In the next three or four years, if Sterling can take City to a couple of Premier League titles, more success in the Champions League, they will say he's been worth it." ($1 = 0.6431 pounds) (Editing by Ed Osmond)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Liverpool and Man City agree £49m Sterling move: reports

LONDON -- Liverpool have reached an agreement with Premier League rivals Manchester City over the £49 million ($76 million, 68 million euro transfer) of England forward Raheem Sterling, the BBC and other British media reported Monday.

However, the 20-year-old's proposed move is still subject to personal terms and a medical.

Sterling was left behind by Liverpool when the club flew out to Thailand for a pre-season tour on Sunday, fuelling speculation that a move to City was imminent, despite being named Saturday in a 30-man squad for a trip that also includes matches in Australia and Malaysia.

Earlier this month it was reported that Liverpool had turned down a £40 million bid for Sterling from City, with only an offer closer to £50 million likely to tempt them to let the wantaway forward leave Merseyside.

Sterling's refusal to commit to Liverpool has angered the club's supporters, who jeered him at an end-of-season awards dinner.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers's relationship with Sterling cooled considerably when the player turned down a lucrative new contract worth £100,000 per week in January this year.

In February, Rodgers said Sterling had been offered an "incredible deal".

Two months later, Sterling's relationship with the Liverpool hierarchy became even more strained when, in an interview with the BBC given without the club's approval, he confirmed he had rejected the Reds' latest contract offer.

Sterling's agent, Aidy Ward, then added to the growing rift by saying his client would not sign a new deal with Liverpool even for "£900,000 a week".

Amid the row over whether he would or should sign a new Liverpool deal, Sterling was involved in controversy after photographs emerged of him appearing to puff on a shisha pipe, and then allegedly inhaling laughing gas, were published.

But it is the contract dispute and Sterling's recent absence from training which have angered Liverpool fans above all else.

Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, Sterling's captain at Anfield until the end of last season, was decidedly unimpressed by the behaviour of his former team-mate.

"It looks very disappointing from where I'm sat. The fans have shown him great support, they want him to stay and I believe that he should too," Gerrard told Sky Sports from Los Angeles where he made his debut for LA Galaxy on Saturday.

Sterling returned to training on Friday after a two-day hiatus when he said he was ill.

"I'm not happy with all that carry-on. He needs to go in and see the owners. You don't have to throw in illness, or refuse to go on tour," said Gerrard.

Sterling joined Liverpool from QPR's academy in 2010 and has since scored 23 goals in 129 senior appearances for the club.

He made his senior England debut in 2012, scoring one goal in 16 appearances.

Liverpool finished sixth in the Premier League last season and so missed out on the Champions League, whereas runners-up City have qualified for European football's elite club competition.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com