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Tag: Epl

  • Everton hold Liverpool to maintain top lead in EPL

    Everton hold Liverpool to maintain top lead in EPL

    Everton held defending champions, Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at home on Saturday to hold on to the top position in English Premier league after five games.

    The derby game lived up to expectation.

    Sadio Mane who just returned from 14-day spell of treating Coronavirus, put the Reds in front in just three minutes.

    Andrew Robertson fed the ball through to Sadio Mane, who picked up the pass inside the box and quickly sent it into the top left corner.

    Everton fought back and got an equaliser on 19th minute through Michael Keane, who jumped highest inside the box to meet the resulting corner from James Rodriguez. His well-placed header ended up in the top of the net, leaving the goalkeeper flapping in the wind.

    Liverpool restore their lead in the 72nd minute of the match through Mohamed Salah. He showed good composure inside the box to fire a first-time shot inside the left post.

    The home side equalised again on 81st minute through Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

    Lucas Digne showcased his great technique and produced a beautiful lofted cross into the box. Calvert-Lewin got onto the scoresheet by heading inside the left post.

    On added time, Everton’s Richarlison was shown a red card by the referee for chasing his opponent and bringing him down with a very nasty tackle.

    Liverpool looked to have snatched victory on added time when Jordan Henderson buried the ball in the back of the net, but VAR said it was no goal.

  • Why I buy Portuguese players – Wolves boss Nuno

    Why I buy Portuguese players – Wolves boss Nuno

    Wolves boss Nuno has explained why he has a heavily Portuguese-influenced squad.

    The manager insists at Wolves “there are no passports”.

    “Because they are good players,” he said of signing so many Portuguese.

    “We have to be aware that young players, regardless of nationality, when they come to a new country, have to be supported.

    “Youth always bring new things. But mixing talent with experience is what can make a team better.”

  • EPL: Tottenham agree terms with Vinicius

    EPL: Tottenham agree terms with Vinicius

    Tottenham have struck terms with Benfica for Carlos Vinicius.

    Spurs are desperate to land a forward to support Harry Kane before the transfer window closes on Monday.

    The Sun says Tottenham agreed a move with Benfica for their front man, with the 25-year-old arriving at Tottenham today.

    Initially it will mean a season-long loan for Vinicius at White Hart Lane.

    But it is understood there will be a clause in the contract to make the transfer permanent for around £41million next summer.

    Vinicius only signed for Benfica from Napoli for £15m a year ago but impressed in his debut season with the club.

    The Brazilian scored 24 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions.

  • EPL: Liverpool beat 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

    EPL: Liverpool beat 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

    Liverpool delivered a powerful statement of intent about their desire to retain the Premier League title with a comfortable dismissal of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on another nightmare day for keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    Jurgen Klopp’s champions were already in complete control even before Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen was correctly shown a red card on the stroke of half-time.

    Referee Paul Tierney initially opted for a yellow card but reviewed Christensen’s desperate challenge on Sadio Mane as he raced on to Jordan Henderson’s pass.

    Mane then punished Chelsea with two swift goals after the break to confirm Liverpool’s vast superiority, the second of which was the result of another calamity for Kepa.

    Mane headed in Roberto Firmino’s cross after 50 minutes then chased down Kepa, whose botched clearance gave the forward the simplest of finishes.

    Chelsea’s day of misery was complete when Jorginho, normally so reliable from the spot, saw his penalty saved by Alisson after Liverpool’s new £20m signing Thiago Alcantara, on as a half-time substitute, brought down Timo Werner.

    BBC

  • EPL: Mourinho slams ‘lazy’ Tottenham after slim defeat

    EPL: Mourinho slams ‘lazy’ Tottenham after slim defeat

    Jose Mourinho suffered his first ever defeat on Premier League opening weekend as Tottenham fell 1-0 to Everton in north London.

    Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored with a fine second-half header from Lucas Digne’s free-kick to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side all three points.

    James Rodriguez was impressive on debut for the Toffees, while fellow new signings Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure also started the match.

    Spurs were unable to breach Jordan Pickford’s goal despite managing five shots on target, and Mourinho was quick to criticise his players for being ‘lazy’ when speaking after the game.

    “What happened after the goal with them having more chances is a consequence of conceding the goal and not such good fitness condition from some players,” Mourinho told BBC Sport.

    “What happened before the goal was a good game. We had two incredible situations and two good saves from Jordan Pickford. We didn’t score. The game was open.

    “In the second half one goal made a difference in the result and what happened after the goal.

    “Against good teams like Everton if you let them play from the back they are comfortable with very good technical players. If you don’t press them you give them ammunition.

    “We were lazy in our pressing. That is a consequence of bad fitness, bad pre-season. Some players didn’t even have a pre-season. Some players had a wrong state of mind. I don’t want to speak about it — I’m not sure about it.

    “It was too easy for them to play from back to front.

    “Technically it was not so easy because some players didn’t have a pre-season for different reasons. We had two days with everybody. Two days before the game is not where you can work too much.

    “The goal shouldn’t be possible when you have six referees and VAR – to let a free-kick be taken five or six metres in front because it’s a huge difference.”

  • EPL: Gabriel scores on debut as Arsenal beat Fulham

    EPL: Gabriel scores on debut as Arsenal beat Fulham

    Debutants Gabriel and Willian impressed as Arsenal blew away promoted Fulham in the opening game of the Premier League season.

    Former Chelsea winger Willian had a hand in all three goals and Gabriel – a £23m signing from Lille – scored in his first game in English football.

    Arsenal were highly impressive, while Fulham caused themselves too many problems at the back.

    Both sides have played and won at Wembley – twice for the Gunners – in the 48 days since the last Premier League season finished.

    Alexandre Lacazette scored the opener from close range after Willian’s effort was saved.

    Centre-back Gabriel then scored from Willian’s corner with his shoulder. Willian, who also hit a post from a free-kick, picked out Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng with a perfect cross-field ball and the captain curled home Arsenal’s third.

    Fulham created few chances, with last season’s top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic coming on with only 27 minutes to go and forcing Bernd Leno into a save.

  • Klopp laments EPL’s return to 3 substitutes

    Klopp laments EPL’s return to 3 substitutes

    Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp on Friday expressed his disagreement with the Premier League’s decision to return to a system of allowing up to three substitutes in a match instead of five.

    The German said it was not based on facts, and the well-being of players was not taken into consideration.

    In May, football’s rule-making body IFAB changed the regulations governing the maximum number of substitutes.

    This was to help teams battling fixture congestion as they looked to complete the season after a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    IFAB left it to individual leagues to decide if they wanted to adopt the rule this season and Premier League clubs voted at their annual general meeting last month against continuing to allow the use of five substitutes in each game.

    “I thought from a common sense point of view it would be clear we will have 20 (players in the squad) and five (substitutes),” Klopp told reporters. “It’s not an advantage. I don’t like that. We deal with this thing around the wrong facts.

    “It’s about players’ welfare and the highest quality in games for all teams…

    “Look at the other countries, Bayern (Munich) have the best team and have an advantage with the five subs (in the Bundesliga), but they play the most games.

    “Now it is 18 (in the squad) and three (substitutes). So, you have to rotate more. You need numbers and fit players. That’s the job we have to do. We have to make the decisions.”

    Champions Liverpool host second tier title holders Leeds United in their first match of the new campaign on Saturday and Klopp expects Marcelo Bielsa’s side to thrive in the top flight.

    “It’s not the most expansive style where they will open up. They are well-drilled and the way they defend is exceptional — pretty much man-marking plus one,” Klopp said.

    “They will face challenges because… some different animals are around than in the Championship (second tier).

    “But they will do well in the Premier League. It suits them more than the Championship and now they can show their full potential.”

  • Several Chelsea players test positive for COVID-19

    Several Chelsea players test positive for COVID-19

    Several Chelsea players have not returned for pre-season training after testing positive for COVID-19, according to reports in British media.

    The reports did not name the players and Chelsea did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

    Players who test positive have to self-isolate for 10 days and return a negative coronavirus test before they can take part in training.

    Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United were among the other English Premier League (EPL) clubs to report positive COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, the Times said.

    Frank Lampard’s side, who finished fourth last season, kick off their campaign against Brighton on Sept 14.

  • Arsenal head of football leaves club

    Arsenal head of football leaves club

    Arsenal’s head of football, Raul Sanllehi, is leaving the club with Managing Director, Vinai Venkatesham, set to take over, the Premier League side announced on Saturday.

    Sanllehi, who was formerly FC Barcelona’s Director of Football, was initially appointed the club’s head of football relations before taking on the role of head of football in 2018, following a restructuring.

    “We have no doubt that Venkatesham is the right person to take the club forward.

    “He has shown outstanding leadership during the current crisis and is held in high regard internally and externally.

    “We know everyone will rally round him so we can move forward successfully,’’ Stan and Josh Kroenke said in a statement on behalf of owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

    Venkatesham, who has been at the club since 2010, said there was “much work to do” to ensure Arsenal were competitive again.

    “While this will not happen overnight, I believe we have many of the critical ingredients to do so.

    “There are many positives to build on across the club,’’ Venkatesham said.

    Arsenal sparked a social media backlash this month when the club announced plans to lay off 55 staff, less than a week after winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Europa League.

    “I’m proud and pleased with the contribution I’ve made at Arsenal over the past three years and I look forward to enjoying the club’s future success.

    “Arsenal is a true footballing institution,’’ Sanllehi said in the statement.

  • Departing Chelsea star passes Arsenal medical

    Departing Chelsea star passes Arsenal medical

    Departing Chelsea midfielder Willian has already undergone a medical at Arsenal.

    The Brazilian announced his departure from Chelsea on Sunday after seven years at the club ahead of his imminent move to the Gunners prior to the 2020-21 campaign – which begins on September 12.

    The London Evening Standard says the Brazilian forward had his medical with the north London side as his transfer nears completion.

    Willian is expected to sign a three-year contract with Mikel Arteta’s side – where he is set to earn around £100,000-a-week.

    Chelsea were hopeful of keeping 32-year-old Willian, but club director Marina Granovskaia was only prepared to offer him a two-year deal, which the Brazilian rejected.