Hull hold Chelsea, Liverpool fail to beat Fulham in Premier League

London: Hull held free-scoring Chelsea 2-2 at Stamford Bridge to go third in the Premier League as Liverpool failed to find a way past struggling Fulham in a 0-0 draw on Saturday. capturengo.org

It was a familiar tale for Chelsea as the front three of Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer dazzled, but the Blues were undone by an inability to defend.
In five games against top-flight opposition since Xabi Alonso took charge, Chelsea have scored 16 times and conceded 12.

Hull were the last side in the Premier League to concede, but after three clean sheets they were finally breached when Rogers drilled in at the near post on seven minutes.

Mohamed Belloumi took advantage of Chelsea's slackness at the back to blast home on the volley after Jorrel Hato got caught under a cross to the back post.

The Algerian winger then put Hull in front with a deflected strike after Emi Martinez failed to deal with a corner.

Pedro drilled a Palmer cross into the top corner to bring Chelsea level just after the hour mark.

But the home side could not find a winner as Hull's honeymoon back in the Premier League goes on with only defending champions Arsenal and Manchester City above them in the table.

"We have to be happy," said Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic. "It's a huge result for us."

Liverpool remain unbeaten under Andoni Iraola but there were boos at Anfield after Fulham picked up their first point under Alvaro Arbeloa.

Former Liverpool defender Arbeloa was reportedly fighting for his job after losing his first three league matches since arriving in west London from Real Madrid.

Yet a Liverpool forward line featuring three £100 million ($135 million) players in Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak failed to click against the Cottagers' leaky defence.

"When you draw, especially at home, you can't be happy," said Iraola, who blamed fatigue after his side's Champions League exertions against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

"Today we lacked a bit of freshness and we did not do enough offensively to make the difference."

It was Fulham who had the better chances to take all three points as Gonzalo Garcia missed a glorious opportunity in the first half and Alisson Becker produced a brilliant save to deny Josh King the winner.

Liverpool climb to sixth but could find themselves already six points off the top should Arsenal win at Sunderland later on Saturday.

Aston Villa are rooted in the relegation zone after Nottingham Forest exacted revenge with a 2-1 win at Villa Park.

Villa beat their Midlands rivals in the Europa League semi-finals last season on their way to lifting a first trophy for 30 years.

Eyebrows were raised at the club record reported £45 million Forest paid Chelsea for Liam Delap after failing to make the grade at Stamford Bridge.

But Delap proved his worth with a long-range strike into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Alysson levelled with Villa's first league goal of the season, but Igor Jesus secured Oliver Glasner's first win as Forest boss.

Glasner's old club Crystal Palace's poor start to the campaign continued with a 3-2 home defeat to Ipswich.

The visitors were aided by Axel Disasi's first half red card as Zian Flemming's first goal for the Tractor Boys snatched all three points in stoppage time.

Brentford remain unbeaten thanks to Kevin Schade's double in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.

The Cherries, by contrast, are yet to win in the Premier League under Marco Rose despite leading in all four games.

Tottenham are aiming to kickstart their league season with a first goal and win at home to Everton later.

Manchester United host local rivals City in the pick of Sunday's action.

New York: Ben Shelton believes his newly acquired problem-solving skills can carry him to a maiden Grand Slam title when he faces Alexander Zverev in the final of the US Open on Sunday.

The big-serving 23-year-old powered into the first major championship final of his career on Friday after muscling his way past close friend Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final.

The eighth-seeded Shelton was in irresistible form as he stormed to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory in front of a raucous home crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was another impressive milestone on Shelton's journey through this year's tournament, which included an epic five-set victory in the quarter-finals over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Shelton, who blasted 20 aces in Friday's semi-final win, said his success at Flushing Meadows this year has been based on his ability to align brain with brawn.

"I think that problem-solving has been the name of the game here," said Shelton, who had never beaten Alcaraz in three previous meetings before his last-eight triumph over the Spanish star.

"It's been a lot of uphill battle, so I think that I'm fully ready for the challenge to problem-solve," Shelton said.

"I feel that I'm a different player. I feel like I have so many more tools. I feel like I know my identity, am comfortable in my own skin, and I know what it takes for me to be playing top-level tennis.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge, being able to problem-solve on Sunday. I know what I'm up against, and I'm also the most confident I've ever been in my game.

"For me, this whole tournament now at this point has been uncharted territory. I'm in positions I've never been in before. I've beaten guys that I have never beaten before. I'm just excited to put it all out on the line."

Shelton is now one win away from becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam title in 23 years. The last player to lift a major was Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.

He is adamant he will not be burdened by the weight of history in Sunday's final.

"I think that I handle these big situations in my career pretty well," Shelton said. "I feel that confidence and belief take over.

"The nerves are always there. It's something that you got to kind of lean into. The nerves are as much there in the first round for me as in the semi-finals, and I'm sure that the finals will be the same.

"It's something you've got to be able to overcome, but for me I'm having fun, you know? This is an enjoyable moment for me and knowing that I can leave it all out there on the court and push myself to the absolute limit is an exciting, exciting thought."

Birmingham, United Kingdom: England overcame a major wobble to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, sealing a 3-0 series sweep.

The home team, chasing just 130 to win, were in deep trouble when openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed in the first over, bowled by Mohammad Abbas.

Joe Root, England's record runscorer, edged his first ball, bowled by Razaullah, through the slips for four in a nervy start but settled and scored quickly to take the sting out of the situation.

The skipper was given a huge reprieve when he chopped onto the stumps off Mohammad Ali, only for the umpire to signal a no ball, leaving the bowler distraught.

Root, with Jordan Cox at the other end, had another let-off when he edged an Abbas delivery between first and second slip, with neither fielder moving.

But he reached his half-century off 57 balls with a cut for four and Cox matched him shortly afterwards.

England reached their target in the 25th over, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Cox 59 not out.

Root's men had appeared set for a quickfire win inside three days on Friday before debutant fast bowler Razaullah launched an audacious assault with the bat, clubbing nine sixes as he raced to 81 off 63 balls.

The 21-year-old number nine, who also took four wickets in England's first innings, put on 121 for the ninth wicket with fellow paceman Abbas (42) as England floundered.

Razaullah's heroics have changed the mood music but they came too little, too late for Pakistan, who have endured a miserable series, losing the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs.

The tourists sent seven players home after their crushing defeat in the second Test at Lord's and brought in seven replacements, with Razaullah among them.

They also sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul as their tour plunged into chaos.

Pakistan made four changes to their side for the third Test and they put up a fight despite being dismissed for a paltry 133 in their first innings.

The 3-0 whitewash is a huge tonic for England, who were in turmoil just weeks ago following a series loss to New Zealand and the exits of head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.

But tougher challenges lie ahead, starting with a Test series in South Africa in December and January, while a home Ashes looms next year.