LONDON - Liverpool have the chance to cut Manchester City's Premier League lead, albeit briefly, to six points on Saturday as they continue their distant pursuit of the champions.

Despite his team winning their last four games, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp says Manchester City will not be peering anxiously in their rearview mirror.

LIVERPOOL - Liverpool beat a young Cardiff City side 3-1 in the FA Cup on Sunday at Anfield to advance to the fifth round, with second-half goals from Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino and Harvey Elliott.

While Jürgen Klopp named a strong Liverpool team, four academy graduates started for Cardiff with manager Steve Morison making several changes due to injuries and with one eye on the Championship relegation battle where they are 20th.

YAOUNDE — One of world football’s most exciting attacking duos will face off against each other in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final as Mohamed Salah leads Egypt against a Senegal side spearheaded by Sadio Mané.

THE FINAL IS SET #TeamSenegal #TeamEgypt

Liverpool have signed Colombia winger Luis Díaz from Porto on a long-term deal, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.

Financial details were not disclosed but the BBC reported the deal is expected to be worth $50.14 million, with a maximum of $16.72 million in add-ons.

Díaz, who has seven goals in 31 appearances for Colombia, becomes Liverpool's first signing of the January transfer window.

QUITO — Alisson said the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) had prevented his side from being "punished unfairly" after the Brazil goalkeeper had two red cards rescinded in Thursday's 1-1 draw with Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier.

Alisson was shown a red card after 25 minutes for a fierce tackle and another in stoppage time for felling Ayrton Preciado as he attempted to punch the ball, but on both occasions the referee consulted VAR and changed his mind.

"I think this was the first time this has happened in the history of football," the Liverpool keeper said.

These days, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Granit Xhaka does something reckless to cost Arsenal a match. For once, he did something rash and it didn’t cost Arsenal.

With some inspired defending and a bit of luck, Arsenal held on for a 0-0 draw with Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup on Thursday at Anfield. The tie felt more like a win after Xhaka was sent off in the 24th minute, forcing the Gunners to play a man down for more than an hour. 

Liverpool raced to a 2-0 lead after 26 minutes at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, only to watch Mateo Kovačić and Christian Pulisic bring Chelsea level before halftime in a match that finished 2-2 and gave Manchester City a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League.   

Such has been City's relentless pace that both Chelsea and Liverpool entered knowing that a draw was as good as a defeat, and the Reds had to navigate the match without Jürgen Klopp on the sideline because of COIVD-19. 

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool raised the spirits with a rip-roaring 2-2 draw in a pre-Christmas Premier League classic on Sunday after a weekend marred by COVID-19 related postponements.

A mistake by Liverpool keeper Alisson gifted Tottenham's Son Heung-min a 74th-minute equalizer the hosts fully deserved although the visitors were fuming about some contentious decisions.