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Liverpool's defeat by Manchester City was a setback for Jurgen Klopp's side but it is not a result that will knock their confidence or affect the Reds' belief that they can win this title race. Their loss had nothing to do with nerves, or any lack of effort or ability, and it is not as if City won by dismantling Liverpool or exposing any flaws in their team. The Reds were just edged out of a very tight game against one of the best teams in Europe, and it could easily have ended up with a different outcome. Of course it opens things up at the top of the Premier League table, but Liverpool are still four points clear with 21 games gone, which is better than they probably expected at the beginning of December, let alone at the start of the season. Yes, they have just lost to their closest rivals, but that is the only negative about their situation. If you had said to Klopp in August that Liverpool would have clear daylight at the top at the start of January,

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won his first four games as interim manager Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he believes his side can win "every single game". United's 2-0 win at Newcastle  on Wednesday meant he became the second manager in the club's history to win his first four league games in charge, emulating Sir Matt Busby in 1946. They host Reading in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (12:30 GMT). "When you come into a club like this you expect to win games," said Solskjaer. "And when you win four, you expect to win the next one as well. I don't look at them and think we can't win that. I think we can win every single game." The 45-year-old was named as interim boss after the club sacked Jose Mourinho in December. He took up the position after being given permission by Molde, although the club in his native Norway stressed they were only "lending" Solskjaer to United, indicating they

This was only Manchester City's second win in their past 12 matches against Liverpool Manchester City demonstrated substance as well as style as they overcame Liverpool, the greatest threat to their hopes of retaining their Premier League title, on a night of searing tension. Pep Guardiola's City side - who made history to win the league with 100 points last season - knew they would need to dig deep into their reserves to beat a Liverpool team arriving at Etihad Stadium on the back of a 20-game unbeaten start to the campaign. The purist flourishes that have become the hallmark of City's style were set to one side for much of a frantic, intense encounter in favour doing the dirty work required to get the job done after Guardiola admitted himself that a failure to win would make their title task close to impossible. And while the headlines may go to goalscorers Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane, City's whole approach and their victory was built on the performance of

Alex Brosque netted a sublime hat-trick — his first in the A-League — as Sydney FC came from behind to win an enthralling match 5-2 against a 10-man Central Coast Mariners side. Four goals in 16 minutes turned the match on its head as Sydney recorded their fourth win on the trot, a result that sends them to the top of the A-League table, while the misery continues for the Mariners. The Sky Blues went into the break a goal down after Connor Pain’s first half strike stunned the home side, but the writing was on the wall for the Mariners when Kalifa Cisse got his marching orders in the 26th minute.

by  DANIEL GARB AND CARLY ADNO Source:  FOX SPORTS Graham Arnold has some selection headaches ahead of the Socceroos’ Asian Cup opener. Source:  AAP Graham Arnold has some selection headaches ahead of Australia’s Asian Cup opener against Jordan on Sunday night. The Socceroos have been rocked by key injuries, the latest to new Roo Martin Boyle, which have threatened Arnold’s plans for the tournament. Already without Aaron Mooy and, for the group games at least, Mathew Leckie, the Socceroos coach has had to reshuffle his attack. But the squad remains upbeat, with no evidence the players have been rattled by so many injuries leading into the tournament. Chris Ikonomidis is expected to be named in the starting line-up against Jordan. Source:  Getty Images So who will get the nod against Jordan? Chris Ikonomidis stood out against Oman in last week’s training match and by all accounts the Perth Glory forward has continued to impress Arnold during the training. There’s

January 4, 2019 8:33pm CARLY ADNO @carlyadno226 Source:  FOX SPORTS Kalifa Cisse’s red card changed the game. Source:  FOX SPORTS Two decisions changed the game for the Central Coast Mariners according to Mike Mulvey, whose team had started so brightly against Sydney FC. Connor Pain had given the Mariners a shock lead in the 16th minute, but Mulvey says Kalifa Cisse’s 26th-minute red card and Adam Le Fondre’s second half penalty cost them the game. “The send off changed everything,” Mulvey said after his team went down 5-2 to the Sky Blues. Cisse's simply stupid red 1:15 Three minutes after being booked for kicking the ball away, Cisse’s bad challenge on Siem de Jong earned him a second yellow card. As he walked off the field, there appeared to be a heated exchange between him and Mariners assistant coach Nick Montgomery on the sideline, though Mulvey dismissed the suggestion. “We’re a team that’s fighting for our lives,”