Liverpool regains verve with 5-0 thrashing of Watford

Sport

Liverpool regains verve with 5-0 thrashing of Watford

2019-02-28 06:38 Last Updated At：06:50

Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk both scored twice as Liverpool brushed aside concerns about its recent struggles by thrashing Watford 5-0 Wednesday to stay top of the Premier League.

In a win built on brilliant performances by Liverpool's defenders, right back Trent Alexander-Arnold set up three goals — including the opening two for Mane — and left back Andrew Robertson the other two. Van Dijk, a center back, headed in the final two goals at Anfield.

Questions were starting to be asked about Liverpool's credentials after four draws in the team's last five matches in all competitions. But this performance signaled a return to the verve and inventiveness which Juergen Klopp's team needed to rediscover.

It was typified by Mane's — and Liverpool's — second goal of the night, a brilliant back-heel from 12 meters out which caught Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster by surprise.

The Senegal international had already, somewhat surprisingly, scored with a header having been given the job of central striker in the absence of the injured Roberto Firmino.

Firmino's replacement, Divock Origi, was posted on the left wing to accommodate Mane in his new role, and he added the third goal in the 66th minute that gave Liverpool breathing space.

Mane's double meant he has recorded his best Premier League scoring return of 14 goals, with 10 matches still to go. It was the fifth home league match in succession in which he has scored.

The result was exactly the boost Liverpool needed ahead of a short trip to Everton for the Merseyside derby on Sunday. The Reds maintained their one-point lead over Manchester City.

More AP English soccer: https://apnews.com/PremierLeague and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Lions beat playoff-bound Bears 19-16 on Bates' 42-yard field goal as time expires

CHICAGO (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions entered the season with their sights set on the Super Bowl. Finishing a frustrating year by beating their division winner was at least some consolation.

Goff led five scoring drives, Jake Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired and the Lions regrouped to beat the NFC North champion Chicago Bears 19-16 on Sunday after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“It feels good to kind of get back to who we are and see it in live-speed reality,” Goff said.

What doesn't feel good? Missing the playoffs.

“It’s frustrating,” coach Dan Campbell said. "So that’s what fuels you. We don’t want to be doing that again next year. That’s not where we want to be. We have got to get in.”

The Bears (11-6) stumbled into the playoffs with back-to-back losses, though they secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC with Washington beating Philadelphia. Chicago will host Green Bay in a wild-card game next week and would have home-field advantage in the divisional round if it beats the Packers.

“We’re going to use this frustration,” said Caleb Williams, who set the franchise’s single-season passing record. “We’re going to get on a roll here this week, starting this week and that’s the focus.”

Williams threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Bears wiped out a 16-0 deficit.

The Lions (9-8) started the final drive at their 37 after Chicago punted on fourth-and-5 at the 31. Bears coach Ben Johnson considered going for the first down but decided against it, figuring he had three timeouts and would probably get the ball back.

That didn't happen, and Detroit ended a disappointing season on a winning note when Bates nailed a 42-yarder. A 26-yard pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown helped set up the field goal and Detroit came out on top after losing three in a row.

Goff shook off his worst game of the season by throwing for 331 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The four-time Pro Bowler completed 27 of 42 passes after setting season highs with two interceptions and three fumbles and matched one by getting sacked five times last week at Minnesota.

St. Brown had 139 yards on 11 receptions. Gibbs ran for 80 yards and had a touchdown catch. Avonte Maddox intercepted Williams in the end zone in the third quarter.

“I still believe the nucleus of this team is right,” Campbell said. “I really do. But we are going to need to make a few changes. Not just talking about that. It will be collectively. We’re going to have to work through some things to get the best version of ourselves.”

Williams threw for 212 yards, giving him 3,942 this season to surpass Erik Kramer’s franchise mark of 3,838 in 1995. Chicago remains the only team without a 4,000-yard passer.

Colston Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Byard had his league-leading seventh interception.

“They fought their tails off, but came up short,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to play better going forward, we’ve got to coach better going forward as well and we’re turning the page, though. We got the No. 2 seed, we’ve got a home game next week and we’ve got a new season on the horizon. Our guys should be reinvigorated by that. I know I certainly am.”

The Bears hadn’t made the playoffs since 2020. But they won the division in Johnson’s first season after finishing last a year ago.

Chicago trailed 16-0 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Williams connected with Jahdae Walker for a 25-yard touchdown and broke Kramer’s record. A 2-point conversion run by Kyle Monangai cut it to 16-8.

After the Lions punted, Chicago went 88 yards for a touchdown, with Williams finding Colston Loveland in the end zone from the 1. A lunging Cole Kmet then hauled in the 2-point conversion pass in a crowd, tying it at 16 and whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

The Lions then had the ball at the Chicago 35 when Goff attempted to zip a pass to St. Brown. The Bears’ Jaquan Brisker tipped the ball and Byard picked it off at the 5.

Lions: WR Tom Kennedy (rib) was hurt returning a punt in the third quarter.

Bears: The Bears held out LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee/quad) after he was limited in practice during the week. ... LB Ty Summers (foot) left after he was injured on the opening kickoff. ... C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) left after he was hurt on the winning drive.

Lions: Start the offseason.

Bears: Host Green Bay in a wild-card game next weekend.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl