Salah Scores as Liverpool Beats Tottenham 4-2 in Premier League

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine
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Salah Scores as Liverpool Beats Tottenham 4-2 in Premier League

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 5, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Carl Recine

Mohamed Salah quickly put last week's sideline spat with Jurgen Klopp behind him by scoring first in Liverpool's 4-2 win against Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.
The sight of Salah arguing with his departing manager late on in Liverpool's 2-2 draw at West Ham last week dominated debate in the following days.
But the Egyptian was back in the starting lineup and back on the score sheet to set his team on course for victory against Spurs at Anfield, The Associated Press reported.
Salah had already come close to scoring by the time he rose at the far post in the 16th minute to head in Cody Gakpo's cross from the left.
Tottenham had been given hope in its pursuit of Champions League qualification after fourth-place Aston Villa had a surprise 1-0 loss at Brighton. But Ange Postecoglou's team never looked capable of taking advantage of that result after being outclassed by Liverpool.
The home team went 2-0 up in the 45th after Salah's shot was saved by Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Andy Robertson converted from the rebound.
It was the least Liverpool deserved after dominating the chances in the first half and forcing Vicario into a host of desperate saves.
The title may be all but beyond Klopp's team, but Liverpool still looks intent on ending the season on a high for the German, who is stepping down as manager.
Gakpo scored Liverpool's third goal five minutes after the break when heading low at the far post following Harvey Elliott's curling left-foot cross.
Nine minutes later it was Elliott's turn to score with a moment of individual brilliance that brought the home fans to their feet and a beaming grin to Klopp's face.
Collecting the ball on the right, Elliott needed one touch to get away from Rodrigo Bentancur. Then, from around 20 yards (meters), he curled an unstoppable left-foot shot into the top corner and beyond the dive of Vicario.
Postecoglou sent on Richarlison in the hope of salvaging something and the Brazil international quickly made an impact by turning home Brennan Johnson's cross in the 72nd.
He then turned provider to tee up Son Heung-min to fire in from close range five minutes later.
Richarlison forced Alisson into a low save when racing through late on, which led to Joe Gomez producing a flying clearance to stop Johnson from converting the rebound.



Alexander Zverev Returns to Australian Open Quarterfinals, Faces Tommy Paul Next

Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning his Men's Singles round four match against Ugo Humbert of France at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning his Men's Singles round four match against Ugo Humbert of France at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)
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Alexander Zverev Returns to Australian Open Quarterfinals, Faces Tommy Paul Next

Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning his Men's Singles round four match against Ugo Humbert of France at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning his Men's Singles round four match against Ugo Humbert of France at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)

No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth time by beating No. 14 Ugo Humbert 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 with the help of 19 aces and a 43-23 advantage in total winners on Sunday night.

Next up for two-time major runner-up Zverev will be a matchup Tuesday against 12th-seeded American Tommy Paul, who ended Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s run of comebacks and reached his third Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory earlier.

Zverev did not have much of a chance to get ready before heading to Australia: He sat out the United Cup team competition because of an arm injury.

“A week ago, I was very unsure of my level. I was very unsure of my tennis,” the 27-year-old German said. “Couldn't really play a lot of sets in practice. Couldn't really prepare the way I wanted to.”

Paul needed less than 1 1/2 hours on Sunday to finish off a diminished opponent. The 66th-ranked Davidovich Fokina had won his last two matches despite dropping the first two sets in both.

“What he did is unreal the past couple matches. ... To do it twice in a row is amazing,” Paul said.

But Paul won nearly twice as many points as his Spanish rival, 85 to 43, and will be well-rested heading into the showdown with Zverev.

“This week, I did something a little different, where I haven’t practiced on the days in between my matches at all. Like, I haven’t even stepped on the court, just ’cause I started with a five-setter, and my body was a little tired. Every match has gotten a little shorter since then,” said Paul, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in North Carolina.

“I mean, my body feels great right now. Especially after the match today, it was a pretty short one,” Paul said. “It’s helpful (for) going deep into tournaments.”

His best showing at any Slam was getting to the semifinals at the Australian Open in 2023. He will try to repeat that by getting past Zverev, who lost in the finals of the 2020 US Open and the 2024 French Open.

A year ago, Zverev exited in the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the second time.

Paul was one of four American men to reach the fourth round in Australia this year. No. 21 Ben Shelton, qualifier Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen will try to join him in the quarterfinals when they play fourth-round matches on Monday.

Paul has won both matches he and Zverev have played against each other, but the most recent was in 2022.

“I've got to be at my best,” Zverev said. “I've got to play the way I did the first week — hopefully a little bit better.”