Leicester outfox Reds

Leicester, December 29

Losses for Liverpool are about as rare as penalty misses by Mohamed Salah.

Both happened on Tuesday and, even at the halfway stage of the season, it could cost Jurgen Klopp’s team the Premier League title.

Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by a patched-up Leicester team and could find themselves nine points behind Manchester City heading into the new year, if the leaders win at Brentford on Wednesday.

It’s a cushion that might prove to be insurmountable given City are on a nine-match winning streak in the league and are looking unstoppable, scoring 17 goals in their last three victories.

Covid plays havoc

Eleven players across the Barcelona and Real Madrid squads were isolating today after contracting the coronavirus ahead of the resumption of the Spanish league this weekend.

Barcelona players Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti and Gavi have Covid, after Jordi Alba, Alejandro Balde, Clement Lenglet and Dani Alves were announced earlier this week as having tested positive.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be absent for the match against Manchester City on New Year’s Day after testing positive for a second time. — AP