“You Can’t Drive a Honda Civic Like a Ferrari” – Brendan Rodgers
Celtic failed to trouble a Dundee side who sat joint bottom of the league before defeating the champions 2-0 today at Den’s Park. A header from Clark Robertson and an own-goal from Cameron Carter Vickers gave Steven Pressley’s side much needed relief following a torrid 4-0 loss away to Aberdeen before the international break. It marks the first domestic defeat for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season, but there is a growing discontent amongst the Parkhead club’s fanbase surrounding levels shown in performances. “We had enough of the ball, and were arriving into the areas often enough but failed show that bit of quality that allows you to get the goals that you need and that’s where we’ve suffered up until now.” Rodgers said post-match. “I need to find the solutions in order for us to get scoring goals again. “It’s been a struggle from the beginning of the season. However, we have to stay together and we have to find a way to get the results and the confidence in the team. We’ve lost a lot of speed and a lot of goals out of the team, but that doesn’t matter.” When asked if the headlines between the fans and the board were becoming a distraction, Rodgers was not keen to use this as an excuse: “It [fan protest] was right at the beginning of the game and we’ve still got a long, long way to go after that. It doesn’t stop you giving the ball away, it doesn’t stop you losing a goal on the counter attack, it doesn’t stop you getting blocked off on the pitch. “It’s been simmering really, all summer and into the beginning of the season. However, we can only focus on the pitch, and we can be better on the pitch – for sure. “I’m not going to tell the supporters what to do. they’re frustrated, of course, they are the heart of this club.” The Northern Irishman also faced questions around how much responsibility he accepted and admitted that there is pressure on him also: “When you’re at a club like Celtic, it’s [pressure] always on you. It was on me when I first came back, we got through that. It’ll be on us now when we are not at our best level, and we will get through this as well. “For the new guys coming in, it’s a real eye-opener to the pressures of being at a huge club and you never know that until you’re in and you go through the demands of what is required.” The Celtic manager was also questioned if this was the most worried he had ever been across both his spells in charge, and says it was clear in the summer that reinforcement was necessary: “I think the challenge from the summer now leading into here where we lost a lot of firepower and goals from the team. “There’s no way you go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and as you take off say I want you to drive like a Ferrari – its not going to happen. “It was clear in the summer but its really the past now. There’s nothing we can do about it. We had the opportunities to do what we needed to do, didn’t happen, so now it’s finding ways.” Rodgers made it clear his focus on Celtic is on ‘the now’, as his side prepare to host Sturm Graz in Europa League action, before travelling to league leaders Hearts a week today.
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United: Red Devils Seal First Anfield Victory Since 2016
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United Gakpo (78′) Mbeumo (2′) Maguire (84′) A towering Harry Maguire header ended United’s nine-year wait for an Anfield victory, inflicting Liverpool’s fourth straight defeat. United snatched the lead within two minutes. Referee Michael Oliver allowed play to continue despite Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister collapsing with a head injury after an accidental elbow from teammate Virgil van Dijk, leaving Mbeumo free to smash past Giorgi Mamardashvili. Cody Gakpo levelled proceedings 12 minutes from the final whistle. After a stramash in the penalty box, substitutes Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa linked, with the latter firing a low cross for Gakpo to finish. The equaliser galvanised Anfield; the home side looked set to take advantage of the momentum, but it was Amorim’s Reds who had the last laugh. United captain Bruno Fernandes lifted a brilliant volleyed pass to the back post in the 84th minute. Maguire rose to power across the stranded Mamardashvili. The monumental win lifts United two points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table. Arne Slot’s men are now four games without victory, sitting fourth in the table. The Anfield side travel to Frankfurt for a crucial Champions League tie on Wednesday, returning to league action on Saturday night against Brentford. United welcome Brighton to Old Trafford on Saturday night, looking to produce their third straight League win. Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Isak (Chiesa 72′) Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Ekitiké 62′) Salah (Frimpong 85′) Bradley (Wirtz 62′) Gakpo, Gravenberch (Jones 62′) Man Utd: Lammens, Dalot, De Ligt, Maguire, Mount (Šeško 61′) Fernandes (Mainoo 85′) Cunha, Amad (Dorgu 58′) Casemiro (Ugarte 58′) Mbeumo, Shaw (Yoro 85′)
Dundee Rock Rodgers’ Celtic as Cloud of Negativity Grows Above Glasgow Side
Dundee recorded a historic 2-0 victory against defending champions Celtic, after first half goals from Clark Robertson and a Cameron Carter-Vickers own-goal lifted Steven Pressley’s side further from the foot of the table. It is the first time Dundee have defeated the Glasgow side at home since 1988, before Pressley had even began his playing days. Pressure is starting to grow for his counterpart Brendan Rodgers, with the Celts lacking a convincing performance for most games this season so far, as the boos rang out from the away end when the Northern Irishman and his squad strutted back up the tunnel. There was an immediate stoppage of play for around four minutes when tennis balls were thrown onto the park by Celtic supporters, accompanied with chants and banners against the club’s board, as fan discontent over the way Celtic are being ran grows per game. Dundee created the best of chances in the opening quarter of an hour and would go ahead on the 18th minute from a set play. Cameron Congreve curled in a corner and centre-half Clark Robertson leaped highest to ned it home and give the hosts a shock lead. Celtic nearly had an immediate equaliser just two minutes later. Kieran Tierney found himself through on goal, but his effort whistled passed the wrong side of the post. Moments after the fourth official’s board went up to indicate how much added time was to be played, Congreve drove powerfully down the right hand flank. The Welshman turned Celtic’s Liam Scales inside out, before laying it off to Joe Westley. Westley’s effort deflected off of Cameron Carter-Vickers, and the hosts found themselves two goals to the good against the champions at half time. Dundee were a lot more comfortable sitting In and protecting their advantage for the second period. The majority of the the action took place in the Dark Blue’s half but Celtic were reduced to desperate crosses and attempts from distance. Referee Matthew MacDermid pointed to the spot to award the visitors a penalty kick on the 71st minute when it appeared that Reo Hatate’s volley was blocked by the hands of Paul Digby. VAR recommended an on field review, and the decision was overturned. Hatate then came the closest to pulling one back for Celtic with twelve minutes to play. Tierney’s zipped low ball into the box landed to the Japanese midfielder with room to strike. His goal bound rocket was blocked by Luke Graham, who was getting off from the ground still from Tierney’s cross prior. Celtic failed to break down a resolute Dundee defence, with their next best effort not coming until the first minute of added time. Michel Ange-Balikwisha showed great skill to create space, but his curling shot was tipped over by Jon McCracken to keep his clean sheet intact. The result means that Celtic travel to league leaders Hearts next Sunday after hosting Sturm Graz in Europa League action three days before, knowing that no matter the result, they will leave Tynecastle still behind the Jambos who are now five points clear of the reigning champions. As for Steven Pressley and his side, today’s result brings them up to 9th in the table as they face John McGlynn’s Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium, as well as a newfound sense of belief as they look to survive this season comfortably. DUNDEE: McCracken 7, Robertson 8, Astley 6, Wright 5 (Ingram 86’ 1), Digby 6, Samuels 5, Murray 5 (Hay 57’ 3), Westley 6 (Robertson 74’ 2), Congreve 9, Graham 7, Hamilton 5 CELTIC: Schmeichel 5, Scales 4, Nygren 5 (McCowan 64’ 6), Yang 3 (Forrest 46’4), Iheanacho 5, Carter-Vickers 5, Tounekti 5 (Balikwisha 64’ 4), Hatate 5 (Engels 82’ 2), McGregor 5, Ralston 2 (Kenny 46’ 3), Tierney 4
