Salah fires Liverpool to pile pressure on Bilic
But the German still needed a dash of good fortune to avoid a nightmare start in east London.Lanzini’s deflected pass gave Andre Ayew an early sight of goal, but although the West Ham striker flicked his shot past Simon Mignolet, his luck was out as it cannoned back off the post.Liverpool made the most of their escape and opened the scoring with a lethal counter-attack in the 21st minute.When a West Ham corner was cleared to the edge of the Liverpool area, Mane showed he’d shaken off any rust from his injury lay-off as he surged away with a burst of pace.Suddenly, Bilic’s side were out-numbered at the back and Mane carried the ball into the Hammers area before slipping a pass to the unmarked Salah, who coolly slotted past Joe Hart for his fifth goal in his last four appearances.– Shell-shocked –If Liverpool’s opener was crafted with expert execution, their second three minutes later was a more fortuitous effort.When Salah sent over a low corner, West Ham captain Mark Noble inadvertently deflected it towards his own goal, forcing Hart to palm the ball out to Matip and the Cameroon defender gleefully stroked home from close-range.With West Ham looking completely lost, their fans rained down a torrent of abuse when Lanzini fired wildly over and it was no surprise to hear boos ring out loudly at half-time.Bilic sent on former Liverpool forward Andy Carroll after the interval and the switch briefly energised the hosts, who got one back in the 55th minute.When Ayew’s cross looped into the Liverpool area, Joe Gomez misjudged the ball’s flight, allowing Lanzini to deftly control before firing past Mignolet.But just 55 seconds later, Liverpool were back in control.Woeful West Ham defending left Oxlade-Chamberlain unmarked and, after his initial shot was saved, the England midfielder kept his composure to steer past Hart for his first league goal since his August move from Arsenal.When Lanzini blazed over from close range, West Ham fans began flooding to the exits.And Salah piled on the misery in the 76th minute, controlling a Mane pass and lashing home to leave Bilic on the brink.0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000Mohamed Salah scored twice for the Reds, who climbed to sixth in the Premier League table and to within one point of third. Photo/DMLONDON, United Kingdom, Nov 4 – Mohamed Salah’s brace left West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic in grave danger of the sack as Liverpool thrashed the Premier League strugglers 4-1 on Saturday.Salah put Liverpool ahead at the London Stadium and Joel Matip doubled the visitors’ lead before half-time to leave Bilic facing a toxic atmosphere. Manuel Lanzini reduced the deficit, but woeful West Ham capitulated and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got Liverpool’s third before Salah bagged his 12th goal of the season to seal the rout.Bilic and his players were jeered by furious West Ham fans and it would be little surprise if the Croatian was dismissed during the forthcoming international break.Even Bilic admitted his job was in jeopardy following last weekend’s draw against lowly Crystal Palace and his situation is even bleaker now.West Ham are just one point and one place above the relegation zone after their winless league run extended to four matches.In contrast to Bilic’s woes, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has silenced his critics for the moment thanks to the Reds’ third successive win in all competitions.Assailed by questions about his tactics and signings following last month’s thrashing at Tottenham Hotspur, Klopp has steered sixth-placed Liverpool to successive league wins for the first time since August.Klopp had received a pre-match boost when Senegal winger Sadio Mane was declared fit after returning ahead of schedule from a hamstring injury.
0Shares0000After winning the Champions League for Real Madrid, Gareth Bale is now focused on deciding whether his future lies with the Spanish giants © AFP / Paul ELLISMADRID, Spain, May 27 – Gareth Bale will hold talks with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as early as next week as he is eager to make a decision on his future at the club.Bale inspired Real to a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday by coming off the bench to score twice, the first a stunning bicycle kick that will go down as one of the tournament’s greatest ever goals. But the 28-year-old said after the match he will consider his options this summer because of a lack of playing time under coach Zinedine Zidane.Sources close to the player told AFP that Bale and his agent want to sit down with Perez as soon as the celebrations in Madrid are over and that Zidane’s selection decisions will be top of the agenda.Bale has not given up hope of mending his relationship with Zidane and his first choice is still to stay at Real, but only if he is offered firm assurances regarding a more prominent role next season.Zidane started Bale in only one of Real’s seven Champions League knock-out games and the pair were barely even on speaking terms during a particularly tense period in April.Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham have all been credited with an interest, although a return to north London is understood to be unlikely due to the expected finances involved.“I need to be playing week-in, week-out and that hasn’t happened this season for one reason or another,” Bale told BT Sport.“I have to sit down in the summer and discuss my future with my agent and take it from there.”Bale, whose contract expires in 2022, is likely to be listened to by Perez, with whom he enjoys a good relationship.But Zidane remains the president’s personal project and, after clinching a third consecutive European crown, his status has never been higher.Ultimately, it will be the Frenchman’s opinion that carries most weight.“It’s complicated but everyone looks at their own situation, I get it,” Zidane said. “I try to do what’s best for the team and every once in a while it’s true, that he deserved to play more.“Bale has made the difference. It’s normal to want more playing time, I understand.”Bale only discovered he had been left out of Zidane’s starting line-up against Liverpool an hour and a half before kick-off, despite believing his excellent form had earned him a place.Training sessions during the week and his inclusion in the strong side that played Villarreal the weekend before had both led him to think he would be given the nod in Kiev.Instead, he was the only outfield player that started against Villarreal not to start the final.Bale missed the warm-up with the rest of Real’s substitutes although suggestions this was due to his disappointment are wide of the mark.When not in the starting line-up, Bale has his own specific warm-up routine, which he often completes indoors.0Shares0000(Visited 2 times, 1 visits today)
By Don Thompson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SACRAMENTO – California would end its unique ban on importing or selling kangaroo-skin products under a bill the state Senate sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday. Schwarzenegger, who favors exotic-skin cowboy boots, has not taken a position on whether he will sign the bill. The governor owns snakeskin and alligator boots, but none made of kangaroo hide, said spokesman Aaron McLear. The federal government ended its 20-year ban on importing kangaroo hides in 1995, after the Australian government said threatened populations had recovered. The bill was approved on a final 27-7 Senate vote. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! The measure would continue California’s prohibition on products made from protected kangaroo species, but allow the use of leather from more plentiful species. Proponents said the Australian government strictly regulates the kangaroo trade, with stiff penalties for individual or corporate violators. California is the only state to ban all kangaroo products, with a penalty of up to six months in jail for selling the items. The state Supreme Court upheld the ban as legal in a July ruling. Kangaroo leather is lighter than other leathers and is most often used in law enforcement gear and high-performance soccer cleats, although soccer megastar David Beckham is among those who have switched to synthetic leather. “This is a great bill for those who think the best use for kangaroos is to make them into soccer shoes,” objected Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica. Animal rights groups allege that hunters still mistakenly shoot endangered species and that some of the animals are shot during night hunting parties or clubbed to death as babies. 
Valencia star Sofiane Feghouli 1 Inter Milan have joined Manchester United in the race to land Valencia contract rebel Sofiane Feghouli, according to reports in Italy.United are keen on the Algerian, whose deal at the Mestalla runs out in the summer, but face competition for his signature from Fenerbahce, who are said to be preparing a January bid.Valencia do not want to lose him for nothing and could choose to cash in on him when the window opens so he cannot walk away as a free agent.And now, according to Tuttosport, Inter Milan are ready to join the chase to sign him and may open the bidding in January.
Even as a fierce battle brews in Congress over Republican opposition to a $35 billion expansion of children’s health insurance, California’s heavily gerrymandered election districts mean Southland GOP lawmakers face little political risk over their stance. Every Southern California Republican voted against the bill last month, which would add as many as 3.1 million more children to health-insurance rolls nationwide, including about 203,320 in the Golden State. And furious Democrats, preparing for a Thursday vote to override President George W. Bush’s rejection of the measure, are mounting a campaign against GOP lawmakers who oppose the plan. But Southland Republicans have little to fear from the attack ads and phone campaigns, California political analysts said. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREGame Center: Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 10 a.m.“There is not a single Republican incumbent who will lose their seat because of that vote,” predicted Los Angeles GOP political consultant Allan Hoffenblum. “There might be some piling on, … (but) you’ve got to remember, these districts are so gerrymandered and so Republican.” In opposing the measure, many GOP lawmakers decried it as the beginning of socialized medicine and objected to allowing middle-class families to get government-funded health-insurance coverage when kids in families below the poverty level are still uninsured. And despite criticism from a coalition of unions and liberal groups running ads and issuing condemnations, nearly all have indicated they will back Bush’s veto and vote against the override attempt. “The last thing I would ever want to do is make the federal government responsible for the health care of all of America’s children,” said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach. “The real plan here is to set the stage for a movement of the next gigantic step in the direction of what should be called Hillarycare,” Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, said during the debate. Aides to both Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, and David Dreier, R-San Dimas, said the lawmakers support the children’s health insurance program, but want to maintain it for families on the margins of poverty. The Democratic expansion, they said, would pull wealthier children into government-run health care. “He wants to cover the children who most need the health care,” McKeon spokeswoman Lindsey Mask said. “We know there are still children who are in need, and we want to do everything that we possibly can to ensure that children have an opportunity to have access to quality health care,” Dreier said during the House floor debate. Democrats and children’s activists maintain their goal is to catch kids from families who are not poor enough to qualify from Medicaid but are too poor to obtain private health insurance. “We sort of see this as a good first step toward insuring all the children in the country,” said Ed Shelleby, spokesman for the Children’s Defense Fund. Southern California Republicans acknowledge there are thousands of uninsured children in their districts, but contend that they may not necessarily be eligible for government care. Rohrabacher, for example, maintained that most of the estimated 10,000 kids without insurance living in his congressional district are illegal immigrants. “We should not be taking care of the health care costs of illegal immigrants,” he said. “That money is coming right out of the pot that’s available for our citizens.” About 812,000 children are currently enrolled in California’s Healthy Families program and an additional 781,000 remain uninsured. Under the bill, California would have received about $1.4 million in federal funding. Lesley Cummings, executive director of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, said that money would have allowed the state to fund its current enrollment threshold, but not to grow. “The amount of money that has been provided in the past has been insufficient to fund the caseloads,” Cummings said. If Bush’s veto stands, she warned, “we would be looking at a major shortfall in California of a long-term nature. “Our policymakers would have to take a long, hard look at the program and make some very difficult decisions,” she said. Bob Mulholland, spokesman for the California Democratic Party, said he believes some Republican House members could suffer politically from their vote. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, agreed. “I wouldn’t want to be a member of Congress in a contested election and be on the wrong side of that issue,” he said. But, analysts noted, given that contested House seats in California are a rarity, lawmakers are probably safe. “The impact will be more psychological than practical,” said Jack Pitney, political science professor at Claremont-McKenna College. “There aren’t very many seats at play, and it’s probably not going to shift any seats from one column to another.” lisa.friedman@langnews.com (202) 662-8731160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREStriving toward a more perfect me: Doug McIntyre Times have changed – slowly. But role models are still hard to find, even in the liberal-leaning Episcopal Church, they say. Lewis and Hendrickson, who have been in a relationship since meeting at a religious retreat in 1997, hope to change that by appearing on this season’s popular reality show “The Amazing Race,” which begins tonight on CBS. “We’re happy to offer ourselves up to show people that Christians come in many different stripes,” said Lewis, a minister at St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach. “Some of us are progressive and inclusive.” The potential for a million-dollar cash prize, along with a globe-spanning adventure, didn’t hurt, either. “We are very serious about our relationship with God, and we are very serious about winning this race,” Hendrickson said. “We’re not afraid to have a good time, either. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun.” HERMOSA BEACH: Local minister and her partner aren’t worried about sharing their relationship with world. By Melissa Evans Staff Writer There weren’t any lesbian ministers when the Rev. Kate Lewis and the Rev. Pat Hendrickson were young. There weren’t even any women. 
The pair certainly stand out among this season’s lineup of two-person teams. Amid the cast of brothers and sisters, co-workers and heterosexual couples, Lewis and Hendrickson are the only lesbian team ever to compete. The fact that they are both ordained ministers adds to their allure. The teams travel nearly 50,000 miles by air, sea and land in a physically and mentally demanding race through several countries, including Ireland, Lithuania and Croatia. Eleven teams will compete this season to see who can master the geography, culture and climate of each country the fastest. Nearly 20,000 people apply each season for the show. The only requirements are that contestants be captivating, a little eccentric and “most of all engaging,” according to CBS. With a weekly average of about 10 million viewers, it is one of the most popular reality shows since “Survivor” hit the airwaves seven years ago. Lewis and Hendrickson have been hooked on reality TV since the beginning, when they used to skip out on evening community gatherings in seminary to watch the latest drama unfold on television. “It’s the sociology of it that’s so fascinating,” said Hendrickson, a minister at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Thousand Oaks. “You’re watching people who haven’t known each other before develop a relationship and compete on a show with so many twists and turns.” Lewis and Hendrickson have been sworn to secrecy about the details of their adventure – a CBS representative even had to listen in on a recent phone interview to ensure the results aren’t divulged. Until last week, Lewis had to lie to her congregation at St. Cross about where she was all summer, although the rector of St. Cross, the Rev. Paul Lawson, was in the loop. “Everybody’s really supportive,” he said. “We’re all looking forward to watching it.” The women had to come up with a fake story quick – something about a secret trip to investigate women’s issues in Third World countries – because the selection process moved a lot faster than either expected. They applied last spring at the suggestion of a friend, and just a few weeks later learned they had been picked. “It would have been nice to have some more time to get into shape,” Lewis said with a laugh. Lewis, 49, is mother to a grown son; Hendrickson, 65, is a mother of two sons and has three grandchildren. They are among the older competitors, and will be seen racing against people in their 20s and 30s. One of the youngest participants is also a South Bay resident: Hendekea Azene, a 23-year-old aerospace engineer from Torrance, who is teamed with her brother Azaria Azene, a facilities engineer in New Orleans. What the women lack in physical prowess, they make up for in mental toughness, they say. Both have certainly traveled a winding path through life. They were both married to men, then divorced. And they both came to the ministry and the recognition of their sexual orientation late in life. Lewis worked in the film industry as a script supervisor for 25 years before “I came into my own, finally, in midlife. I heard the call to ministry and I answered it,” she said. “I feel I was made for this in the first place.” Hendrickson wasn’t raised in a devoutly religious household, but came to religion on her own at a young age. After being diagnosed with breast cancer when her kids were grown, “I started to feel that call, that I was supposed to be giving my life to the church,” she said. “I fought it tooth and nail. I wasn’t sure what it would mean.” Several years after their divorces, the two women met at a religious retreat and developed a close bond. Neither had been in a relationship with a woman before, so the attraction they felt was strange at first, they said. Six months later, however, they moved in together. “Certain things told me I might (be a lesbian), but other things refuted that, like wanting children,” said Lewis, when asked whether she knew she was gay at a younger age. “I wanted that kind of family situation, and we didn’t have any other role models to look at.” They are now registered as domestic partners, and committed to each other at a blessing ceremony at St. Augustine Episcopal Church on Mother’s Day in 2004. Despite the controversy surrounding homosexuality in the Episcopal Church, neither Lewis nor Hendrickson felt uncomfortable “coming out” to their congregations. They know that some people disapprove, but it hasn’t affected their ministries, they say. “In person, to our face, people have been very positive,” Lewis said. “The work of the body of Christ continues on whether we have a lesbian minister or not. It’s rather incidental to what we do in the church.” The women say they realize the television network is probably exploiting their sexuality, combined with the role as ministers, to boost ratings. In fact, just doing the show, knowing that producers could cut and paste together video clips to portray the couple any way they choose, required a significant leap of faith. “This is really an exercise for us in practicing what we preach,” Hendrickson said. “We have no idea what to expect. We have to just let it go and leave it to God.” melissa.evans@dailybreeze.com 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!
THREE pupils from Little Angels School in Letterkenny are in Limerick today – ready to make their Special Olympics debuts.They are among 1,500 athletes will compete from all over Ireland over the next three days.Clodagh Harkin will compete in-ball roll and ball lift. Kyle Glackin and Kevin Coyle will compete in-‘knock em down with a stick’ & dribbling.“These events are part of the Motor Activity Programme and this is the 1st year for this programme to be included at the National games,” said Little Angels principal Angela Keane.“The school is very proud of these wonderful pupils and their achievement. They had a big send-off from all the pupils, teachers and staff at Little Angels School on Wednesday afternoon.” LITTLE ANGELS PUPILS ALL SET FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS was last modified: June 12th, 2014 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)
Why does Gareth Southgate wear a waistcoat?The England boss maintained his smart threads despite 30c heat in the group stage clash with Panama – and it seems his admirers back home aren’t fazed either.Marks and Spencer have reported a 35 percent rise in waistcoat sales.And the reason for Southgate’s immaculate appearance is reportedly down to his grandfather, Arthur Toll.The former Royal Marine was a waistcoat lover who always took great pride in how he dressed – and the same seems to be true for his grandson.Southgate revealed before the World Cup: “My family are incredibly patriotic, my grandad was a Marine.“I’ve always been brought up with England being a core part of what we stood for and my life.”But the look doesn’t come cheap, with the full ensemble weighing in at a meaty £264 – and the waistcoat itself is £65.England take on Sweden hoping to reach their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, live on talkSPORT.talkSPORT are with listeners all day and all night at this year’s 2018 FIFA World Cup™ with over 800 hours of World Cup content and all 64 games live across the talkSPORT network. Gareth Southgate’s side are certainly looking the part at the World Cup.And the dapper boss isn’t doing badly either, turning heads on the touchline and sparking a rise in waistcoat sales after rocking the look in Russia. Southgate’s look has inspired a rise in waistcoat sales Getty 1
GAA: The Donegal County board have won their appeal against the decision to ban TWO Donegal minor stars for EIGHT weeks following an incident in their Ulster MFC quarter-final win over Armagh. The flashpoint occurred at half-time in that clash with an Ulster official believed to be from Tyrone.Tensions became frayed when the official entered the Donegal changing room and ordered them to return to the field of play for the second-half. An incident then occurred which resulted in the TWO Donegal stars being hit with what Declan Bonner described at the time as ‘excessive bans.’The Donegal County board immediately appealed the decision handed down by the Ulster Council and also asked the media not to name the players involved.Thankfully, following a meeting tonight the decision has now been reversed to the relief of the two players involved and manager Declan Bonner.With this latest saga now behind them, Bonner and his young charges can concentrate on what they do best – winning football matches. The Donegal minors will face Derry in the Ulster MFC semi-final which will be played as a curtain raiser to the seniors who will also face Derry in Clones.Another double-header for Donegal GAA supporters to enjoy.Both sides reached the All-Ireland final last year and narrowly lost.However, both look well primed to retain Ulster and possibly go one better this year.For now both sides will focus on the challenge of Derry in what promises to be another cracking evening of football for both sides on June 27th in Clones. BREAKING NEWS: DONEGAL MINOR STARS HAVE TWO-MONTH BAN REVERSED was last modified: June 16th, 2015 by Mark ForkerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:banDeclan BonnerdonegalGAAHome-page SportMinorsnewsReversed
The funeral took place on Friday last of Stephen Harvey (38), who died unexpectedly in Letterkenny University Hospital on Wednesday after a short illness.Large crowds accompanied the remains back to Killybegs on Wednesday night and attended the wake in his brother’s home at Lisnaclaya throughout Thursday.And the town of Killybegs turned out to salute on Friday morning as the funeral cortège made its way to the Church of St Mary of the Visitation for the funeral Mass, celebrated by Fr Colm Ó Gallchóir PP. Stephen was highly thought of throughout the community for his ever-willing helpful attitude. One of the joys of his life was to lead parades in the town with a siren blaring and a flashing blue light on top of his car.His presence brought a smile to the faces of all on St Patrick’s Days, carnivals and other community events and on the frequent processions in honour of winning local teams.Rallying was a special love of Stephen’s and he was bitterly disappointed during his final illness that he could not be part of the back-up team for the Martin Howley Donegal Harvest Rally which took place in and around Killybegs. A copy of the Rally Programme was signed by many of the drivers and others involved and sent to Stephen, wishing him well and telling him to get better soon.It was through rallying and their joint love of horses that Stephen and Martin Howley formed a firm friendship which lasted throughout the years. Stephen was particularly hard hit by Martin’s death in October 2015. On the morning of the funeral, the cortège was accompanied by three Garda cars. As the remains passed through the town, businesses closed their doors and many people stood to show their respect.Organisers of the annual charity bike outing, “Sandra’s Run”, formed a guard of honour at Elmwood Terrace. At the Tara Hotel, staff provided a guard of honour and, at the entrance to St Mary’s church, a guard of honour was provided by colleagues and friends from Gallagher Bros., where Stephen worked for 16 years.Fr Colm told mourners: “The death of such a good, kind-hearted young man reminds us all how precious live is and how fragile. Stephen was a giver who had so much more to give, but it was not to be”, he said.Speaking at the end of Mass, Stephen’s sister, Diane, recalled that he had had many passions in his life, including horses, dogs, lorries, forklifts, rallying and, of course, his baby blue Corolla.“Stephen’s other big passion in life was his job in Gallagher’s factory, as a forklift driver. He was never as proud as when he won through to represent Ireland in an international forklift driving competition, sponsored by Northwest Forklifts. Ever since that time, Stephen had a sticker on the back of his forklift, ‘GO HARVEY GO’.” She added: “Stephen will be sadly missed by his family and all who loved him. Stephen is flying with the angels now. We will never forget him. Stephen would have been 39 tomorrow. Happy birthday, big brother. Sleep well.”Stephen Harvey is survived by his parents, Kieran and Kathleen, his brothers, Kieran and Derek, and sisters Deirdre, Evelyn and Diane.Killybegs mourns the loss of Stephen Harvey was last modified: October 18th, 2016 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)