Day: February 26, 2024

Wolves beat Sheffield in first back to back win

Wolverhampton Wanderers secured back-to-back Premier League (PL) victories in 2024 with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Sheffield United at Molineux, propelling them to eighth place in the league standings.

From the outset, the hosts displayed attacking intent, with Pedro Neto posing a constant threat in the final third. However, Sheffield United gradually found their footing in the first half and nearly took the lead through Rhian Brewster, who forced an impressive save from José Sá after an initial block by Craig Dawson. Brewster’s struggles in front of goal were evident when he missed a golden opportunity on the counter-attack, skewing his shot wide.

Despite the Blades’ opportunities, it was Wolves who broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. Pablo Sarabia rose to head home his third goal of the season from a delightful Rayan Aït-Nouri delivery, marking their sole shot on target in the half. Neto and Sarabia had further chances to extend their lead before halftime, but Gary O’Neil’s side went into the break with just a solitary goal advantage.

Sheffield United remained resolute in the second half, creating opportunities early on as James McAtee narrowly missed the target before providing a tempting cross for Brewster, who was denied by Sá. The tension mounted for Wolves supporters as Chris Wilder’s team piled on the pressure, but the hosts held firm to secure the win, extending their unbeaten home record against Sheffield United to nine PL matches.

Despite the defeat, Sheffield United can take heart from their spirited display, demonstrating resilience in their battle against relegation, although they remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Klopp’s kids beat Chelsea to lift major trophy

In the 118th minute, Virgil van Dijk soared to connect with a crucial header, clinching a 1-0 triumph for a spirited Liverpool squad over Chelsea in the EFL Cup final. This victory marked the first instance of Jürgen Klopp lifting the same trophy twice during his tenure with the Reds, adding to his impressive collection of seven individual accolades with the club.

Chelsea had entered the match with hopes of igniting Mauricio Pochettino’s era, while Liverpool sought to kick off a season laden with silverware in Klopp’s farewell campaign. Despite the weight of expectation, both sides began nervously. However, Liverpool quickly found their rhythm, with Luis Díaz’s looping header posing an early threat, saved brilliantly by Đorđe Petrović, before another opportunity was denied following a slip from Axel Disasi.

In the 20th minute, Caoimhín Kelleher showcased his prowess with a superb save to thwart Cole Palmer’s strike, only for Wataru Endō to block Nicolas Jackson’s follow-up attempt. Klopp’s frustration grew when Ryan Gravenberch was forced off after a challenge from Moisés Caicedo. Chelsea had their moments, notably when Raheem Sterling found the net, only to be ruled offside by the slimmest of margins.

Despite the deadlock, the game remained intense. Van Dijk appeared to break it with a header on the hour mark, only for the goal to be disallowed due to an offside position. Conor Gallagher had his chances for Chelsea, hitting the post and forcing Kelleher into action, but failed to convert. As the match headed into added time, Christopher Nkunku’s effort was gathered safely by Kelleher.

After 90 minutes of deadlock, the match seemed destined for penalties, with Petrović denying Jayden Danns and Harvey Elliott. However, Van Dijk, with his experience, rose to the occasion, securing Liverpool’s historic 10th EFL Cup triumph. The victory also condemned Chelsea to their sixth consecutive cup final defeat at Wembley, with three of those losses inflicted by Klopp’s side.