Jurgen Klopp finally got off the mark in the English Premiership while the writing on the wall appears to spell the end of Jose Mourinho’s second
ADVERTISEMENTJurgen Klopp finally got off the mark in the English Premiership while the writing on the wall appears to spell the end of Jose Mourinho’s second coming at Stamford Bridge. In Italy meanwhile, who prevailed in the clash at the top of Serie A?
The battle of Stamford Bridge
Liverpool notched up their first Premiership win under Jurgen Klopp beating Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Ramirez gave the home side an early advantage but the Reds hit back thanks to Philippe Coutinho who scored a brace to deepen the strife for the beleaguered Blues boss Jose Mourinho. Christian Benteke wrapped up the win after coming on as a second half substitute.
It was Chelsea’s sixth domestic defeat; the worst start to a season by the reigning champions. Chelsea have now lost twice as many Premier League games than they did last season. With just 11 points from 11 league games, Chelsea are languishing down in 15th place in the table.
Mourinho in the dock
Mourinho, meanwhile, has reportedly been named a respondent in the legal action being brought against the club by their former team doctor Eva Carneiro for constructive dismissal.
The Portuguese manager was angry when she ran on to the pitch to treat midfielder Eden Hazard during the opening match of the season against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were already down to ten men after keeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off and with Hazard having to leave the pitch after treatment, they were temporarily left with nine players. Mourinho called Carneiro “impulsive and naive” and removed her from first-team duties. She has since left the west London club.
Stadium ban
And as if matters couldn’t get worse, Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium suspension with immediate effect and charged 55,000 euros over a misconduct charge.
The Portuguese admitted an Football Association charge relating to his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials during his side’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham on Oct. 24.
Inter return to the summit
Inter Milan beat AS Roma 1-0 to replace them at the top of Serie A thanks to a Gary Medel strike.
Roma’s Mohamed Salah and Edin Dzeko missed chances and the visitors’ miserable night continued when Miralem Pjanic handled after 73 minutes and was dismissed for a second yellow card.
The defeat ended Roma’s five-game winning streak while Inter who recorded their seventh clean sheet of the campaign.
Up and Down
With football a game of two halves there are always mixed fortunes on and off the pitch. So who’s on our ‘‘Up & Down” list this week? Let’s take a look.
UP – Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike against Las Palmas means he’s now third on the all time goal scorer’s list with 317. Gerd Muller is second on 365 with Jimmy Greaves top on 366.
UP – Luis Suárez scored against Getafe to notch up the 300th goal of his career. So far, with Barça, he has scored 36 goals and made 22 assists in 58 matches.
DOWN – The Italian Football Federation President, Carlo Tavecchio, already accused of racism, now he faces other accusations over alleged discriminatory remarks aimed at Jews and gays
ADVERTISEMENTRoad to Euro
West Germany, totally dominated the 1972 European championships and acheived a feat repeated by the unified Germans nine years later and the repeated only by Netherlands in 1988.
Winners West Germany recorded a hat-trick in the European Player of the Year poll, with Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Günter Netzer occupying the top three positions. Der Kaiser won by two points his first “Ballon d’Or’‘.
We might be wrong…
We’ve kicked and consulted our crystal ball to see who’ll make the headlines during the 4th Champions League matchday? Now it’s your turn to tell us what you think. Send us your predictions and comments at #TheCornerScores.
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Barcelona 1-0 BATE
Bayern Munich 2-3 Arsenal
Chelsea 1-1 Dynamo Kyiv