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Kiwior Scores As Liverpool Kick Out Arsenal Of FA Cup, Manchester City Cruise Past Huddersfield—-An own goal by Jakub Kiwior and a thumping late strike by Luis Diaz sealed a 2-0 victory for Liverpool at Arsenal in the weekend’s headline FA Cup third round tie.

The result meant the hosts’ dismal form extended into the New Year on Sunday.

Arsenal wasted a sackful of chances in the first half and were made to pay as Liverpool captain Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick glanced off the head of Kiwior in the 80th minute.

Diaz then made sure of eight-time winners Liverpool’s place in the fourth round draw as he lashed home in stoppage time.

Earlier on Sunday holders Manchester City romped to a 5-0 victory over second-tier Huddersfield Town with Phil Foden scoring twice and Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne returning to action after a four-month injury layoff.

Arsenal have now lost three games in a row in all competitions and the wayward finishing that has seen them drop down to fourth in the Premier League was evident again as they squandered a flurry of first-half chances.

“The performance was there and the amount of chances too.

“We just have to win the game, but we lost it and we are not capitalising.

“To win games we need to capitalise,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told reporters.

Reiss Nelson latched on to a punt forward by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale in the fourth minute but could only shoot into the side netting.

Captain Martin Odegaard then rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive after a mistake by Joe Gomez.

Kai Havertz could not capitalise on two good chances as Arsenal failed to punish a lacklustre Liverpool side who were without a host of players including Mohamed Salah who is on international duty and an ill Virgil van Dijk.

Arsenal continued to make chances in the second half with Bukayo Saka volleying clumsily over from Declan Rice’s cross.

Liverpool then woke up with Ramsdale saving from Diaz and Diogo Jota heading against the crossbar before the unfortunate Kiwior inadvertently glanced in Alexander-Arnold’s inswinging delivery from a free-kick.

Colombian winger Diaz then sent the 7,000 visiting fans wild as he slammed an unstoppable shot past Ramsdale.

“Everything was better in the second half.

“I’m really happy and proud we could win this game.
“Arsenal could have won it without a doubt.

“We finished it off and it spoke for the character of the boys,” Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp told reporters.

A strong Manchester City side suffered a setback when they lost defender Manuel Akanji to injury early on and Huddersfield were proving stubborn opponents.

This was until Foden fired them ahead and Julian Alvarez poked home a second before the interval.

De Bruyne entered the fray in the 57th minute and Manchester added their third a minute later.

This was after Norwegian winger Oscar Bobb tried to pick out the Belgian at the far post, only to see his deflected cross loop into the net to make it 3-0.

Foden added his second with a precise shot and De Bruyne teed up fellow substitute Jeremy Doku to complete the rout.

“We are incredibly delighted to have him back, because Kevin helps to win games.

“It is so important to have him back after a long injury,” coach Pep Guardiola told reporters.

Elsewhere Premier League sides struggled.

Luton Town played out a scoreless draw at home against third-tier Bolton Wanderers while Nottingham Forest will also need a replay after a 2-2 draw at the City Ground against third-tier Blackpool.

West Ham United were held to a 1-1 draw at home to second-tier Bristol City.

Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds United had no such problems as striker Patrick Bamford netted a brilliant volley in a 3-0 hammering of Peterborough United.

Also, West Bromwich Albion cruised to a 4-1 win at home to Aldershot Town. 

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Adesanya Opens Up On His UFC Loss, Says Pereira’s ‘Juju’ Is Real

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Adesanya Opens Up On His UFC Loss, Says Pereira’s ‘Juju’ Is Real—-Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya has suggested that his rival Alex Pereira’s spiritual influence, or “juju,” is a legitimate factor in their fights.

During a recent appearance on the “JRE MMA Show” hosted by Joe Rogan, the former middleweight champion backed claims made by ex-light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka about Pereira’s connection to shamanic practices.

“You know what Jiri said about the whole juju thing? That’s real. That’s real,” Adesanya affirmed, referencing Prochazka’s previous statements accusing Pereira of using spiritual forces in his fighting.

Adesanya highlighted the eerie similarities between his UFC losses to Pereira and their previous matchups in Glory kickboxing, suggesting a pattern linked to these spiritual forces.

“When I fought him in Miami, the guy beat me in the biggest arena, Madison Square Garden, just like he did the last time in Brazil,” Adesanya recounted.

Reflecting on the moments leading up to his losses, Adesanya noted how he often seemed to be in control before Pereira staged a late comeback. “I was beating him, had him hurt at the end of the first round… and then he gets me in the last round,” Adesanya explained.

He attributed these turnarounds to more than just physical ability, suggesting a deeper spiritual element. “It’s his spirit, his ancestors, or his people praying for him… There’s something about him—he knows how to recover well,” Adesanya added.

While acknowledging his own spiritual practices, such as relying on his parents’ prayers and fasting, Adesanya hinted that Pereira’s spiritual backing may give him an advantage.

For his part, Pereira has shrugged off the supernatural claims, asserting that belief in spirits is personal and that everyone possesses them. He expressed contentment with how his spiritual connections have supported his career.

With this latest development, the fierce rivalry between Adesanya and Pereira has taken on a mystical dimension, raising the question of whose spiritual strength will ultimately prevail in their future battles.

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BREAKING: Bruno Fernandes Sent Off As Manchester United Held Porto In a 6-Goal Thriller

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BREAKING: Bruno Fernandes Sent Off As Manchester United Held Porto In a 6-Goal Thriller—-Bruno Fernandes the talking point again in the UEFA Europa League as he’s sent off for Manchester United after been previously sent off in the Premier League last weekend against Tottenham where they were thrashed at Old Trafford by the London Club.

Bruno had his red card appealed and is available to feature for Man United next games but again received another red card for a brutal high foot foul against Porto defender as he was booked for second time in the game to get sent off.

Manchester United were 2 goals up early this night through Marcus Rashford 7th minute opener and Ramus Hojlund scores his first goal of the season after returning from injury but Porto fights back to earn a first half draw and goes ahead in the 50th minute through Samu Omorodion.

Harry Maguire rescued a dramatic draw for 10-man Manchester United after they had surrendered a two-goal lead – and had Bruno Fernandes sent off – at Porto in the Europa League.

The injury-time effort could prove priceless for under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag, whose side were moments away from their fourth loss in 10 games to start the season.

Instead, substitute Maguire rose highest to meet Christian Eriksen’s corner and headed superbly into the bottom corner in the first of five added minutes.

It was a thrilling conclusion to a chaotic encounter at Estadio do Dragao.

Porto could have added to their lead with the away side, even down to 10 men, forced to throw players forward, but failed to make them count and were punished by Maguire’s late header.

Despite salvaging something from the game, United have won only three of their first 10 matches of the season and, for the fourth European away game in a row, they failed to win despite having scored three goals.

 

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