Tag: league

Liverpool extend Premier League lead after dramatic 4-2 win against Newcastle

Liverpool settled a 4-2 victory over Newcastle in a dramatic Premier League clash, taking them three points clear at the top of the table. However, the win was marred by controversy surrounding a late penalty decision. The Reds dominated the match at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice. But the highlight of the game came when referee Anthony Taylor awarded Liverpool a penalty after Diogo Jota was deemed to have been tripped by Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka. Mohamed Salah scored the controversial penalty for Liverpool – Getty image Despite replays suggesting minimal contact, VAR did not intervene, and Salah converted the penalty to seal the win. Before the controversial penalty, Liverpool had already taken the lead with Salah scoring from the spot early in the second half. However, Newcastle quickly equalized through Alexander Isak. Liverpool continued to press forward, eventually regaining the lead through a goal from Curtis Jones. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo thought he had secured the win for Liverpool, Newcastle’s Sven Botman scored from a corner to break the margin to 3-2. Salah’s successful penalty in the closing minutes sealed the win for Liverpool, who now lead the Premier League standings by three points.

Newcastle crash out of Champions League, after late Chukwueze goal

Samuel Chukwueze’s late goal clinched Milan’s 2-1 win against Newcastle, securing a third-place finish in Champions League group F. Christian Pulisic scored the opener for the visitors, while Chukwueze who came in as a substitute, completed Milan’s tally, to ensure the victory. However, the win was not enough to help the Italian giants progress in the tournament, as they dropped into the Europa, having finished third in their group, trailing Borussia Dortmund and PSG. Despite Rafael Leao’s return and a makeshift central defense with Theo Hernandez, Milan struggled in the test against inspired Newcastle side. Samuel Chukwueze’s late strike secures AC Milan’s Europa spot – Getty image Joelinton had earlier scored a ferocious strike for the host, to put them ahead. Milan responded in the second half, as Olivier Giroud intelligently set up Pulisic to tap in the equalizer. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s heroics, including a decisive save that hit the crossbar, kept Milan in contention.

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Liverpool leapfrog league leaders in frantic Mohamed Salah’s comeback goal, assist against Palace

Mohamed Salah notched his 200th goal for Liverpool, igniting a late comeback that secured a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace. The match saw Jean-Philippe Mateta give the hosts an unexpected lead from the penalty spot, following a lengthy VAR review. The video assistant referee had earlier overturned a penalty decision for Palace after a four-minute, 31-replay analysis. However, Liverpool’s task was made more manageable when Jordan Ayew received a second yellow card, reducing Palace to ten men. Mohamed Salah ensured a Liverpool victory against Crystal Palace in the away encounter – Getty image Seizing the opportunity, Salah scored a 76-minute leveler, providing his side the opportunity for a comeback. Just one minute into added time, he provided an assist for Harvey Elliott, who struck a superb goal, bringing the Reds to the top of the Premier League table with just one point. The comeback dealt a blow to Arsenal, who had anticipated traveling to Aston Villa with their top-flight lead intact. However, they are now faced with a tough challenge to beat Unai Emery’s men who are third in the Premier League table, and are yet to lose a single home game in their last 14 encounters. Furthermore, the Saturday’s victory marked a historic milestone for Salah, making him the third Liverpool player to reach the 200-goal mark for the club. Salah, who scored his debut goal in the Premier League against Watford in 2017, has become a prolific scorer for Jurgen Klopp, overtaking records and establishing himself among Liverpool’s greats.

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Arsenal extend Premier League lead with 2-1 win over Wolves

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal extended their Premier League top of the table lead with a 2-1 win against Wolves on Saturday. The Gunners showed their attacking prowess early in the game, scoring their first within six minutes. Bukayo Saka’s skill maneuvering past Wolves defense, saw him net his eighth goal of the season. The league leaders continued their onslaught, doubling their lead just 13 minutes into the match.

Arsenal continue EPL lead with 2-1 against Wolves – Getty image Oleksandr Zinchenko’s clever play set up captain Martin Odegaard, who calmly finished to put Arsenal in stronger control. The Gunners’ manager Arteta, had been vocal about the challenges posed by Wolves defensive style. However, Arsenal’s attacking display in the game proved mover decisive. Meanwhile, the match also saw Wolves’ goalkeeper, Jose Sa, pick an injury, leading to an unexpected opportunity for second goalkeeper Dan Bentley. Recall that Bentley was a former Arsenal player who was released 15 years ago.

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Arsenal beat Lens to pulp in 6-0 thriller to secure Champions League knockouts ticket

Arsenal celebrates 6-0 win against Lens – Getty image Arsenal secured a historic 100th Champions League victory with a resounding 6-0 win over Lens, securing their spot in the last 16. Mikel Arteta’s team earlier criticized for struggling to find their attacking rhythm, showed their prowess with a dominant performance.

Arsenal celebrates 6-0 win against Lens – Getty image The victory over Lens had six different goal scorers, including previously out-of-favour former Chelsea player Kai Havertz. Lens found themselves overwhelmed in the game, as Arsenal, in a first-half onslaught, buried them five goals down. Lens’ attempts to resist the onslaught failed, as Arsenal remained ruthless.

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Kai Havertz’s late winner fires Arsenal to top of Premier League table

Kai Havertz‘ late goal against Brentford, saw Arsenal climb top of the Premier League, surpassing both Manchester City and Liverpool. The Gunners’ £65 million summer signing from Chelsea, proved his worth with a dying minute header in the away encounter. Kai Havertz celebrates his last minute goal – Getty image The match which records Mikel Arteta’s 200th game in charge Arsenal, also marked Havertz second goal since joining the team. The match had seemed destined for a draw until the 89th minute when Bukayo Saka delivered a cross, setting the stage for Havertz’s header, for a 1-0 victory.

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Chelsea, Man City, among eight Premier League clubs who rejected ban on same-party loans

Eight Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester City, have blocked a proposed ban on same-party loans. The rejection now allows teams to sign players from related clubs on loan during the January transfer window. The proposed ban faced opposition from clubs that had affiliations or shared ownership structures. Newcastle, now owned by the Saudi-led consortium, was among the clubs against the ban, as their majority owners, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), also own several clubs in the Saudi Pro League.

Chelsea and Manchester City are among eight EPL clubs who rejected the same-party ban – Getty image The vote required at least 14 out of the 20 Premier League clubs to pass the motion, but it fell short with only 12 clubs in favor of the ban. The opposing clubs included Sheffield United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, and Burnley. The motion for the rule change emerged following the PIF’s acquisition of four Saudi teams during the summer, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and competitive balance.

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We have good local league players fit for Super Eagles

After several abroad-based call-ups, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa has called for the inclusion of star players in the local league. Speaking at the launch of the ‘Let’s Do It Again‘ campaign in Lagos, Musa urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to also prioritize homegrown talent in the country’s national team selections. He emphasized the importance of supporting local players to strengthen the foundation of the national team. Musa, who is a product of Nigeria’s youth development system, believes that while overseas-born players of Nigerian descent contribute quality to the team, adding home-based players is essential for long-term success.

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa – Getty image He urged the NFF to encourage coaches to scout for domestic talents, stating, “I started from the local league and grew to play overseas.” Expressing concern about players’ motivations to move abroad, Musa pointed at the need for Nigerian league clubs to meet their financial obligations to players. He noted the impact of timely payments on retaining talents, “If they get their salary regularly, they will not think of going outside because they have everything they need here.” Regarding criticism and pressure on the national team, Musa called for an all round support, urging fans and journalists to be more encouraging than overly critical. He revealed that the negativity affects players’ performance and even influences premature retirements. Meanwhile, the ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign aims to rally support for the Super Eagles in their quest to win the Cote d’Ivoire 2024 African Cup of Nations, which the Nigeria skipper believes is achievable, with the right support.

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Chelsea, Manchester City play out thrilling 4-4 draw in dramatic Premier League clash

Chelsea and Manchester City played out a sensational 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, a clash that will be remembered for its exhilarating drama. The match featured a rain of goals, and several stunning individual performances. Former Manchester City player Cole Palmer stole a potential win for City, driving home an injury-time penalty for Chelsea, to mark the Blues third equalizer of the night. The penalty canceled out Rodri’s deflected shot in the 87th minute of the Premier League game. Chelsea hosted City in a thrilling 4-4 draw Erling Haaland scored twice in the thrilling encounter. Manuel Akanji’s header also ensured he was on the score sheet. However, Chelsea, showed resilience, responding with goals from Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson, and Palmer’s late penalty. The game left both teams fans gasping for air, for its high intensity and attacking pressure. Recall Chelsea had come off a recent 4-1 win against Tottenham Las Monday, and fought hard for a point against City, which they successfully secured.

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Brace from Harry Kane secures Bayern Munich 16th consecutive Champions League knockout spot

Bayern Munich earned their place in the Champions League knockout stages for the 16th consecutive season with Harry Kane double. The visitors gave their best, but it was Bayern’s late-game strategy that sealed the match at 2-1. Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick found Harry Kane, whose header secured the lead with just 10 minutes before normal time. The initial offside flag was overturned after a VAR check was carried out. Kane struck again six minutes later, capitalizing on Tel’s assist, sealing tge victory for Bayern.

Kane was also the man of the match – Getty image Despite Galatasaray’s late response through Bakambu, Bayern’s lead was unshaken. The win, coupled with Manchester United’s 4-3 defeat at Copenhagen, saw Bayern to the top of the group, confirming their place in the last 16.

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