Daniil Medvedev reaches Dubai quarterfinals, Marin Cilic also advances

LONDON: Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City will be a Premier League force again in the future after Erling Haaland sealed a 1-0 win at Tottenham on Wednesday.

Haaland’s clinical finish in the 12th minute bolstered City’s bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League as they moved into fourth place.

Battling to finish in the top four is a significant letdown for City after they won the last four Premier League titles to make it six in seven seasons for Guardiola.

Liverpool look almost certain to take the title this season, but City — beaten 2-0 by the Reds on Sunday — have been out of the race for months after a dismal period which has left them 20 points adrift of the leaders.

With City also out of the Champions League following their playoff loss to Real Madrid, Guardiola has only the FA Cup left as a path to silverware this season.

But in the longer-term, the Spaniard remains convinced City can be restored to their former glory despite a team aging in some positions and lacking Premier League experience in others.

The good and bad sides to City’s spluttering team were on full display in north London as they started brightly but wasted a series of chances to increase their lead before clinging on under heavy pressure after the interval.

“Never will be this season the old City,” Guardiola said. “Old City were too good, but we will be back.

“The game, it was open second half because we didn’t close the first. In this stadium always they have 20 to 25 minutes and second half we suffered.

“It’s happened many times this season that we give away an unbelievable amount of goals and up front there are many games, like Champions League at Sporting we should be 1-3 or 1-4 in the first half and we lost 4-1. Many times it happens and today fortunately it finished good.”

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou claimed overeagerness hurt his injury-hit team during a one-sided first half.

Postecoglou’s men have endured a season almost as troubled as City’s, leaving them in 13th place and chasing Europa League glory to end a 17-year trophy drought.

“First half we were just a little bit too eager to get forward with the ball. I thought we were really wasteful and when you are against City, it allows them to get into a rhythm,” Postecoglou said.

“They can pick you off at different times and we just didn’t handle that part of the game well. They scored and had a couple of good chances to get further ahead.

“I certainly felt second half we dominated the game and territory. We were pretty relentless. Much better with the ball and a lot calmer but just missing a goal and ultimately fell short.

“It’s disappointing to lose again and that’s the main feeling, but it did look more like us today.”

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool took another giant stride toward the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Newcastle to move 13 points clear at the top of the table on Wednesday.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were on target either side of half-time as the Reds further stretched their advantage after Arsenal were earlier held 0-0 at Nottingham Forest.
Unbeaten in 24 league games, Liverpool are cruising toward a record-equalling 20th English top flight title but just their second in 35 years.
Defeat leaves Newcastle down in sixth, three points adrift of the top four.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot had to make do with a seat in the stands after being handed a two-match touchline ban for his red card in a fiery Merseyside derby at Everton earlier this month.
With Slot’s assistant Sipke Hulshoff also banned, it was another member of his coaching staff — former Everton defender — Johnny Heitinga who patrolled the touchline.
Newcastle were dealt a huge blow before a ball was kicked as 21-goal top scorer Alexander Isak was ruled out due to a groin injury.
The Anfield crowd were in a mood to party after their side secured a statement 2-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday.
And they were given plenty of reason to remain in good voice.
It took the home side just 11 minutes to go in front when the lively Luis Diaz cut the ball back for Szoboszlai to roll in, although questions will be asked over Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope’s poor attempt to keep it out.
The sides will meet again in the League Cup final on March 16.
Despite a third defeat in four league games, there was some encouragement for the Magpies looking ahead to Wembley, especially if Isak is back fit.
The Swede’s stand-in Callum Wilson had a huge chance to equalize when he timed his run in behind Ibrahima Konate, only to slice his finish well wide.
Szoboszlai was inches away from a spectacular second when his curling effort from the edge of the area drifted just wide.
Once Liverpool did get the second just after the hour mark, there was never any doubt over the outcome.
Mohamed Salah’s eight-game scoring streak finally came to an end, but he did still have a telling contribution with his 22nd assist of the season.
The Egyptian sucked in three Newcastle defenders before dishing the ball out to Mac Allister who fired high into Pope’s top right-hand corner.
At the end of a draining run of five Premier League games in 15 days, Slot’s men were able to ease to another vital three points in the final 30 minutes.
Pope was spared a second embarrassment when he fumbled at a corner and Virgil van Dijk had a goal ruled out for a foul by Konate.
The Liverpool fans struck up multiple choruses of “we’re going to win the league” in the closing stages.
Even in the closing days of February, little doubt remains as who will be crowned champions in May, if not before then.