01-21-2020, 05:43 AM
LONDON -- Arsenal and Manchester United played out a dour 0-0 draw that frustrated both teams while Liverpool snatched a last-minute 3-2 victory at Fulham to return to the title Premier League race on Wednesday. Fourth-place Liverpool came from behind twice to maintain its three-point lead over Tottenham, which won 4-0 at Newcastle. Liverpools last-gasp win, secured by a Steven Gerrard penalty, left Brendan Rodgers side just four points behind league leader Chelsea. Arsenal missed the chance to go top after Chelseas 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, and remains a point behind in second place. After being thrashed 5-1 at Anfield on Saturday, Arsenal looked focused but lacked a cutting edge up front. "Overall, we could have won it. It was a game of few chances," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "In the end, either side could have won 1-0. Manchester United are a good team, so when you go forward they can catch you." Robin van Persie had Uniteds best chances on his return to Arsenal, but failed to make the most of a one-on-one in the early stages and then saw a late header saved by Wojciech Szczesny. The result, combined with Liverpools win, further damaged Uniteds ambition as the Red Devils are now 11 points behind the Champions League places. "I see it as a positive result, its a hard place to come and theyve had a great season up to now," United manager David Moyes said, having failed again in his bid to secure a first away win against a top-four club as a manager. "Id have liked to have won tonight, but there were a lot of good things to come out of it." Manchester City is three points behind Chelsea in third place after its dress rehearsal of the League Cup final against Sunderland was postponed because of bad weather. Evertons game against Crystal Palace was also called off because of stormy conditions in northwest England. Liverpool, which has not lost in the league since late December, had to wait until the last minute to earn a dramatic win at Craven Cottage. "Were going to keep pushing. Weve shown enough times were a very good side," Rodgers said. "Were chasing, other teams are still ahead of us. We need some of them to drop points. We know we still have Man City and Chelsea to play at home. Well take it game by game. Im enjoying as a coach watching the team improve." Kolo Toures own goal gave Fulham the lead before Daniel Sturridge levelled following Gerrards superb pass. Kieran Richardson then made the most of poor defending by Martin Skrtel but Philippe Coutinho equalised from 20 yards before Gerrards penalty. Elsewhere, Stoke drew 1-1 with Swansea. Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Tottenham thrashed Newcastle at St. James Park to maintain its push for a Champions League spot. It was Newcastles fourth straight home defeat for the first time in the Premier League era. Brazil midfielder Paulinho and Nacer Chadli completed the rout for Spurs. Tottenham stays fifth, three points behind Liverpool. "Adebayor hasnt really surprised me because Ive seen him be fantastic for many clubs hes played for," Spurs manager Tim Sherwood said. "Im delighted hes in such great form. His concentration levels and the way he trains is magnificent, hes a good example to all young players, especially at our club." Brent Jones Jersey . - Quarterback Brady Quinn says he has been released by the Miami Dolphins. Ricky Watters Jersey . -- The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three goals in 33 seconds of the second period en route to defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-1 in American Hockey League action on Friday. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-...2318d.html . To be fair, the celebrations are already anything but tame. Nerf ball tricks shots are just the tip of the iceberg for a group that has performed in zero gravity, faced pro-skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and an assembled team on the MTV series "Fantasy Factory", and even hit a basketball trick shot from a passing blimp. Mitch Wishnowsky Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract. Solomon Thomas Jersey . LOUIS -- David Ross never expected to be on a World Series podium. LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant is swiftly regaining his confidence and timing. His conditioning improves daily, and hes already leading the Los Angeles Lakers in scoring again. Yet thanks to Goran Dragic and the exciting Phoenix Suns, Kobe still doesnt have a victory. Dragic scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and the Suns beat the Lakers 114-108 Tuesday night, dropping Bryant to 0-2 in his comeback. Bryant scored 20 points while playing 29 mostly sharp minutes in his second game back from nearly eight months out with a torn Achilles tendon. He led a fourth-quarter rally by the Lakers, but they only got within four points with 3 minutes left before Phoenix held on. Bryant gave his performance a "B" grade, but realizes hes got more work to do -- both on his game and his chemistry with the rest of the Lakers. Bryant had just three turnovers against Phoenix after committing eight in his season debut two days ago against Toronto, but contributed just two rebounds and three assists while the Suns comfortably held on. "Its a process," Bryant said. "You just continue to figure out what you can and cant do. Every game, you try to step up and do a little bit more and just go from there." The Suns handled the Lakers with teamwork, shredding Los Angeles lousy defence during a 35-point fourth quarter to earn their first three-game winning streak of the season. Marcus Morris scored 22 points and Eric Bledsoe had 18 points and nine assists for the surprising Suns, who never trailed after the opening minutes. Phoenix held off the Lakers with superb fourth-quarter play from both Morris brothers, who scored nine points apiece down the stretch. Markieff Morris finished with 15 points. "We kept pushing the ball and didnt slow it down too much," Marcus Morris said of the fourth quarter. "We came out with a lot of energy and kind of got them on their toes. They were playing small, so we had a great opportunity to attack the boards. And thats what we did." Pau Gasol scored 19 points while Jodie Meeks, Nick Young and Jordan Hill added 13 apiece for the Lakers, who have llost three of four to fall back below .dddddddddddd500. Los Angeles NBA-best bench contributed 43 points while using just four reserves, but Phoenix dominated the boards, outrebounding the Lakers 43-33. Phoenix hadnt beaten the Lakers at Staples Center since November 2010. "I think we have a group of guys who play hard all the time, and theyre not selfish," Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. "They genuinely like each other to do well. If guys take bad shots, well take them out of the game. But for the most part, they run our offence. Weve got two great point guards in Goran -- who had a great game -- and Eric." Dragic hit two 3-pointers and didnt miss any of his 11 free throws, finishing one point shy of his career high in his latest outstanding performance against the Lakers. Phoenixs small, active lineup led by Dragic and Bledsoe was too much for the slower Lakers in the final minutes. "Its there. Weve just got to execute a little better," Bryant said. "The willingness and competitiveness is there. We just have to make sure we come out in the right areas and execute it." The game was another bump in a long road for Bryant, who had nine points in a rocky season debut on Sunday night. But Kobe felt fresher than expected after his first game since April, and coach Mike DAntoni is still limiting Bryants minutes to keep him healthy for the teams stretch of four road games in five nights starting later this week. Bryant started off his night against Phoenix with his first dunk of the season off a two-footed leap in the first quarter. Bryant still emphasized playmaking over shooting, but played a more polished floor game in the first half with 10 points, just one turnover and two assists, including the pass for Gasols buzzer-beating jumper. NOTES: Shawne Williams got a technical foul in the final seconds of the first half for putting a forearm into Dragic, who crashed to the ground. ... DAntoni changed his lineup, putting Meeks and Williams in the starting five and bumping C Robert Sacre to the bench. ... Phoenix C Alex Len didnt play with a sore left ankle. ' ' '
