Roma 3-1 Udinese: Stephan El Shaarawy scores twice

Liverpool's title dream is 'OVER', Mo Salah has been 'so far off it' and Reds must make decision over 'erratic' Darwin Nunez's future... Jamie Carragher's RUTHLESS verdict after derby defeat
Liverpool close in on Arne Slot as their next manager with talks developing quickly to take over from Jurgen Klopp - and deal for Dutchman could even be concluded by THIS WEEKEND
Liverpool's title chances were washed away on a blue tide of desire. The timing of this defeat by Everton could not have been worse, writes IAN LADYMAN
Xavi makes HUGE U-turn and 'will now STAY' as Barcelona manager, with club icon changing his mind despite previously insisting 'it was absolutely right decision' to step down this summer
Football agent Saif Rubie says it would have been a 'suicide mission' to threaten former Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia in row over £300,000 payment
Ruben Amorim held talks with West Ham on Monday - yet remains a 8/1 outsider with Sky Bet to be appointed manager of the Hammers
Jean-Philippe Mateta left £100m-rated Alexander Isak in the shade as he ran riot through heart of Newcastle, writes CRAIG HOPE as Crystal Palace all-but secure Premier League safety
Referees chief Howard Webb will hold peace talks with Nottingham Forest this week after furious statement blasting decisions and Stuart Attwell... with VAR audio set to be played at the meeting
Jude Bellingham's new girlfriend REVEALED: Model is 'completely smitten' with the footballer and 'has been staying at his Spanish pad'
Crestfallen Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp APOLOGISES after derby defeat and admits only 'a crisis' at Man City and Arsenal can save their title hopes... as captain Virgil van Dijk questions if his team-mates 'gave everything'
THE NOTEBOOK: Jack Dowling unites Goodison Park, Idrissa Gana Gueye suffocates Liverpool's creativity and Sean Dyche changes it up after 550 games
Jamie Carragher sends warning to Liverpool over Arne Slot after the Reds opened talks with Feyenoord and says he faces 'huge jump' moving from Eredivisie to the Premier League
Wayne Rooney SLAMS Liverpool's 'school-boy' defending for Jarrad Branthwaite's goal in Merseyside derby defeat, as Jurgen Klopp's men crumble in intensity of Goodison Park to all-but end title hopes
PLAYER RATINGS: Jarrad Branthwaite played like he has been at this level for a decade for Everton while Idrissa Gueye was everywhere... but which Liverpool star is given a 3.5/10?
Revealed: Why Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite's Merseyside derby goal against Liverpool might not have been allowed under new 'zero tolerance' rule set to come in next season
Brittle Man United had to drag themselves back yet AGAIN... Erik ten Hag keeps giving reasons for him not to be part of the club's future, writes CHRIS WHEELER
Bruno Fernandes admits Man United 'put ourselves in a position where it's tough to win games' but hails the team's character to come from behind again in 4-2 win over Sheffield United
PLAYER RATINGS: Bruno Fernandes stole the show for Man United and dug them out of a hole... but which two players only receive a 5/10 rating?
THE NOTEBOOK: Sheffield United's leaky defence breaks a record, Man United stand against spending cap as Ethan Wheatley makes his debut for Red Devils
Andre Onana GIFTS Sheffield United opening goal at Old Trafford, as goalkeeper's shocking pass allows Jayden Bogle to strike for bottom club
Erik ten Hag hits back at criticism of Man United's come-from-behind win over Sheffield United and insists his side were in 'total control'... after calling critics 'a disgrace' following FA Cup semi-final
Antoine Semenyo scores the only goal of the game to ramp up Bournemouth's chase for a top-half finish, while Stuart Atwell is embroiled in controversy again...
Rafael Nadal casts doubt on chances of playing at the French Open despite returning to action in Barcelona following another hip issue
Chelsea risk dressing room backlash if Mauricio Pochettino is sacked... with Blues squad supportive of their under-fire boss amid ongoing struggles

Edin Dzeko put Roma ahead on 12 minutes with his fifth goal of the season
All the home goals came in the first half, with Stephan El Shaarawy doubling up
Udinese got a consolation through Jens Stryger, after the hosts missed a penalty

Published: 13:57 EDT, 23 September 2017 | Updated: 16:35 EDT, 23 September 2017

e-mail

Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as Roma eased to a 3-1 win at home to Udinese on Saturday to keep up the pressure on Serie A pace setters Napoli and Juventus.

All the Roma goals came in the first half, with El Shaarawy doubling up after Edin Dzeko's opener.

Roma moved three points off Napoli and Juventus, who will be trying to maintain their perfect records later on Saturday against Spal and Torino respectively.

Roma beat Udinese, Edin Dzeko putting them ahead on 12 minutes with his fifth of the season

All the Roma goals came in the first half, with Stephan El Shaarawy doubling up after Dzeko

El Shaarawy tucked in his second just before half time as Roma went on to triumph 3-1

MATCH FACTS AND LEAGUE TABLE

Roma (4-3-3): Alisson; Florenzi (Bruno Peres 78), Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov (Moreno 75); Nainggolan, De Rossi, Strootman; Perotti, Dzeko (Defrel 70), El Shaarawy

Unused subs: Lobont, Skorupski, Juan Jesus, Pellegrini, Under, Gerson, Castan, Gonalons

Goals: Dzeko 12, El Shaarawy 30, 45

Udinese (4-4-2): Bizzarri; Stryger, Angella, Nuytinck, Samir; De Paul (Bajic 70), Behrami, Barak (Fofana 52), Jankto; Lasagna (Pezzella 46), Maxi Lopez

Unused subs: Matos, Ingelsson, Scuffet, Hallfredsson, Borsellini, Adnan, Bochniewicz, Ewandro, Balic

Goal: Stryger 90

Booking: Maxi Lopez 42

Dzeko seems determined to retain the Serie A top goalscorer award he won last year and he opened the scoring in the 12th minute.

Radja Nainggolan rode three challenges and managed to get the ball to Dzeko, who slotted into the bottom left corner for his fifth goal in three matches.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina forward turned provider on the half hour when he sent in a low cross for El Shaarawy to coolly flick into the roof of the net.

Udinese got a late consolation through Jens Stryger, after the home side missed a penalty

El Shaarawy doubled his tally on the stroke of halftime, taking advantage of confusion in the Udinese defense to finish off a counter attack he had started.

Udinese defender Jens Stryger appeared to have time to clear Diego Perotti's cross but he hesitated in front of goal and El Shaarawy snuck up behind him to fire it into the net.

Roma could have extended their lead right at the end but Perotti's penalty came off the left post after the Argentina defender had been tripped by Gabriele Angella. Udinese then got a late consolation through Stryger.