BEB Weekeend Sports: Gist!

Liverpool’s 44-game unbeaten league run ended by Watford


Liverpool's hopes of remaining unbeaten for an entire Premier League season were ended in sensational style by a rampant Watford at Vicarage Road.

Ismaila Sarr scored twice while captain Troy Deeney added a third in a sparkling second-half display from the hosts as Liverpool's run of victories was brought to a shuddering halt.

The Reds had won their past 18 Premier League games and another at Vicarage Road would have made history as the longest winning run in the English top flight.

But they never got going against a Watford side who were superb from start to finish.

The Hornets had more chances in the first half and only a superb save from Alisson, to deny Troy Deeney, prevented them from leading at the break.

However, Watford deservedly took the lead when Abdoulaye Doucoure squeezed a cross in from the left and the impressive Sarr was there to stab in.

Liverpool had fallen behind against ‪West Ham‬ last week but still managed to grind out a win.

However, there was a feeling that this time was different, with the Reds sloppy in possession and lacking bite in attack.

It was no surprise that Watford doubled their advantage. Sarr was put through on goal by Will Hughes and the winger calmly lifted the ball over Alisson and into the net.

Captain Deeney then completed a famous victory, curling into the back of the net from the edge of the area.

This is not a result that is going to halt Liverpool's title charge with the Reds 22 points clear at the top but it was nevertheless an unexpected and memorable result for Watford.

Lazio top Serie A for the first time since 2010


Lazio went top of the Serie A table for the first time in almost a decade thanks to victory over Bologna.

They took advantage of the fact previous leaders Juventus' game against third-placed Inter Milan on Sunday was postponed because of coronavirus.

Luis Alberto gave Lazio the lead from just outside the box from Ciro Immobile's pass and then set up Joaquin Correa's deflected strike.

Bologna had two goals disallowed by the video assistant referee.

Stefano Denswil's effort was ruled out for handball, with Takehiro Tomiyasu penalised for offside.

Lazio last topped the Serie A table after 10 games in 2010-11. The last time they were top in the second half of a season was when they won the league in 1999-2000, which was only their second Italian title.

Simone Inzaghi's side are two points above Juve - having played a game more - and could go five points clear next Saturday at Atalanta, with Juventus not playing Bologna until Sunday.

The last time anyone other than Juventus won the Italian title was 2010-11 when AC Milan finished top.

Wilder accepts Fury rematch


Deontay Wilder will fight Britain's WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury for a third time this summer, according to promoter Bob Arum.

The pair drew their first fight in 2018 and last weekend Fury stopped Wilder in the seventh round to win the title.

The American had 30 days to call a rematch and Arum, Fury's US promoter, says he has been "formally notified" by Wilder's team that they are doing so.

Arum told Ringside Reporter the bout will be "before the Olympics - July".

On Thursday, Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said talks for a heavyweight unification fight between his fighter and Fury were under way.

But with the rematch clause triggered, Briton Joshua, who holds three belts, is now expected to fight Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in a mandatory IBF bout in London in June.

And Arum said he could "guarantee Pulev will knock out Joshua like Fury knocked out Wilder".
"I will look at a Pulev/Fury fight to unify the belts at the end of the year," he added.

Nadal wins 3rd Mexican Open


World number two Rafael Nadal has won his third Mexican Open title after cruising past Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-2 in the final.

Top seed Nadal did not lose a set all tournament and powered past Fritz at Acapulco to win his 85th singles title, and his first of the season.
"I couldn't be happier, I played great from beginning to end," Nadal said. 
"Acapulco was the first big title that I won in my career, so to be able to stay here after 15 years is amazing."
The Spaniard's first two Mexican titles were on clay in 2005 and 2013, but he completed his hat-trick on hard court.

World number 35 Fritz was facing Nadal for the first time, despite playing in his fifth ATP Tour final, and the 22-year-old American said his opponent is one of the "best ever".
"He's one of the best players to ever play the game and he showed me why that is tonight," Fritz said.


from Bola Esho's Blog

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