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Tag: Epl

  • EPL: Norwich relegated as Antonio scores four for Hammers

    EPL: Norwich relegated as Antonio scores four for Hammers

    Norwich City became the first club to be relegated from the Premier League this season as Michail Antonio scored all four goals to ease West Ham’s troubles near the bottom of the table.

    A seventh successive league defeat left Daniel Farke’s side anchored at the foot of the table, 13 points from safety with only three games to play.

    Having struggled to adapt since winning the Championship last season, Norwich’s third relegation in seven seasons was sealed by Antonio’s superb performance in front of goal.

    The forward volleyed the first from inside the six-yard area after Issa Diop’s flick from a corner before using his head to guide Mark Noble’s free-kick beyond Tim Krul.

    Hammers skipper Noble also provided the ball over the top for Antonio’s hat-trick. Krul saved his initial shot but it fell invitingly for the West Ham player to head over the line. His fourth was a tap-in from Ryan Fredericks’ pass.

    West Ham’s first Premier League away win under David Moyes lifts them six points above the relegation zone, with two of their remaining three matches at home to fellow strugglers Watford and Aston Villa.

    Norwich’s dreadful form since the Premier League resumed after being suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic meant it was a matter of when – not if – they would be relegated

    Their 24th league defeat came after an abject performance, the Canaries failing to score for a league-high 17th game this season.

    Argentine midfielder Emiliano Buendia tested Lukasz Fabianski while Teemu Pukki, who has not scored since netting his 11th league goal of the season on 22 January, headed a good chance wide.

    BBC

  • EPL: Mikel Arteta blasts Guendouzi

    EPL: Mikel Arteta blasts Guendouzi

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Matteo Guendouzi hasn’t done enough to warrant a recall after he was again left out for victory over Norwich City.

    The 21-year-old midfielder was left out of Arsenal’s 20-man squad for the third consecutive matchday on Wednesday, and had been forced to watch on from the sidelines as the north London side eased beyond Norwich.

    Arteta has fired another warning shot at Guendouzi, urging him to make the necessary changes to avoid continuing to be frozen out of the first-team set-up.

    When asked about his decision to leave the French international out entirely once more, Arteta replied: “It is the same reasons as last week.

    “Some things have to change and nothing has changed.”

  • EPL: Salah targets long stay, more titles at Liverpool

    EPL: Salah targets long stay, more titles at Liverpool

    Liverpool Forward Mohamed Salah says he wants to remain with the Premier League Champions for a long time, as the team has developed a perfect understanding.

    The Egypt international, who signed a new five-year deal in 2018, was the top scorer at the club this season with 17 Premier League goals, as they secured a 19th top-flight title with seven games to spare.

    “I’m very happy; I can’t describe my feelings after we won the league after 30 years. I can see people’s joy and this is so important for all of us,” Salah told BeIN Sport.

    “I enjoy the atmosphere here; I love this place and I hope to stay for a long time. The atmosphere here is different to any other place.

    “We have adapted well as a team and our understanding is perfect. If this continues, we can achieve more.

    “It’s difficult to maintain our current level but it’s not impossible,” he said.

    Salah hailed the impact of Club Captain Jordan Henderson and said he would pick the midfielder as the best player in the league this season.

    “Maybe I’ll choose Henderson because he’s the captain and he’s been here for about eight-nine years.

    “He had a difficult time in the beginning and he was heavily criticised.

    “He, as a captain, is loved by all of us and he tries to help all players and helps youth players to adapt,” he said.

    Liverpool visit second-placed Manchester City in the league on Thursday.

  • EPL: Martial learning from Ighalo at Man Utd – Solskjaer

    Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Anthony Martial is learning from Odion Ighalo as he continues his development as a central striker.

    The Frenchman has often been played out wide in the early years of his career, but has now become United’s No.9.

    The 31-year-old Ighalo has played as a striker in Nigeria, Norway, Italy, Spain, England and China, and Solskjaer says he has been putting his experience to good use.

    “Odion is a seasoned No.9,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

    “He’s played that position his whole career whereas Anthony has played more out on the wing.

    “Odion is helping on the training pitch, in terms of his movement, hold-up play and just being himself. Anthony’s learning off an experienced centre-forward.”

  • Klopp hoping to keep Liverpool’s EPL-winning squad intact

    Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said on Saturday his main focus now was to ensure the squad that delivered the Merseyside club’s first top flight title in three decades was intact.

    The German said his task was to see to it the squad was not broken up in the near future.

    Liverpool’s 30-year wait for their 19th English top flight title ended on Thursday after second-placed Manchester City were beaten by Chelsea.

    It gave Klopp’s side an unassailable 23-point lead with seven games left.

    Klopp, who took charge of Liverpool in 2015, has overseen a period of sustained dominance, delivering the UEFA Champions League last season and the league title this year.

    “I cannot promise we will dominate football now, nor do I know if it is time to talk about major upheavals,” he told German newspaper Bild. “But I know our goal is to keep the team together.”

    The 53-year-old Klopp believes Liverpool are not in the same boat as his former club Borussia Dortmund.

    The German side lost key players such as Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski in the seasons that followed their back-to-back title triumphs in the Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012.

    “The problem was that our (Borussia Dortmund) team was picked up by other clubs. That hasn’t happened here and now the team has been exceptionally consistent for two and a half years,” the German added.

    Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho is a transfer target for Liverpool, according to British media reports, but Klopp admitted he does not envisage his side making a move for the English winger.

    “The red jersey will look very good for Jadon. But I don’t think such a transfer will take place this summer. If he moved to Liverpool, I would be the most surprised of all,” he said.

  • How Chelsea beat Man City to hand title to Liverpool

    A superb solo goal by Christian Pulisic and a Willian penalty gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

    It was a result that handed Liverpool the Premier League title, their first league championship win in 30 years.

    Pulisic exploited a communication breakdown between Benjamin Mendy and Ilkay Guendogan after a City set piece, running from the halfway line before confidently slotting the ball past Ederson to open the scoring in the 36th minute.

    Kevin De Bruyne put City level with a brilliant dipping free kick 10 minutes into the second half, but Chelsea took the lead again through Willian’s 78th minute penalty after Fernandinho was sent off for handling the ball on the goal-line.

    The result leaves City on 63 points, 23 behind Liverpool, with only seven games left to play, giving the Reds their first title of the Premier League era.

    Chelsea remain fourth on 54 points, five ahead of Manchester United.

  • BREAKING: Liverpool FC Win English Premier League

    Liverpool is now English Premier League Champions, following Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.

    The Reds lead Manchester City with 26 points, with eight matches to go, making it the earliest team to win the Premier League title.

    This is their first league victory since 1990.

    Christian Pulisic gave the Blues the lead, with a solo effort in 35 minutes, with Kelvin De Bruyne equalizing with a stunning free-kick.

    Fernandinho got a red-card after handling the ball in the box, with Willian getting the second goal via a penalty, for Chelsea

  • Liverpool thrash Palace to move within two points of title

    Liverpool moved to within touching distance of their first title in 30 years as Crystal Palace were brutally dismissed behind closed doors at Anfield.

    Manchester City must now win at Chelsea on Thursday to further delay the inevitability of Liverpool’s coronation as Premier League champions.

    After the goalless Merseyside derby at Everton on Sunday, they shook off the cobwebs in their first home game since the campaign was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic to beat Palace with almost embarrassing ease.

    Anfield may have been home to only around 300 people but Liverpool played with familiar intensity, although Palace’s cause was hardly helped by the early loss of Wilfried Zaha to injury.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold was on target with a superb free-kick after 22 minutes and Mohamed Salah effectively settled the contest with a cool finish from Fabinho’s brilliant pass just before the break.

    And Fabinho produced something even more special in the 54th minute when he drilled a magnificent rising right-foot finish past Wayne Hennessey from more than 30 yards.

    Salah turned provider after 69 minutes with a slide-rule pass to Sadio Mane, who finished with precision as Liverpool’s superiority was stamped all over this game.

    BBC

  • EPL: Luiz signs new contract with Arsenal

    EPL: Luiz signs new contract with Arsenal

    David Luiz has signed a new contract with Arsenal.

    Luiz made a nightmare return against Manchester City last week, making the error for the Sky Blues’ first before fouling Riyad Mahrez inside the box and being sent off, before they scored the resulting penalty, ultimately costing Arsenal the game.

    The Brazil international joined the Gunners last summer from Chelsea for £8m, and has admittedly not enjoyed his best season in the Premier League.

    But the 33-year-old will still be part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for some time after his contract was surprisingly extended, says the Daily Star.

    An announcement could confirm the deal later today.

  • Transfer: Flamengo announce Mari sale to Arsenal

    Brazilian club Flamengo have announced they’ve sold Pablo Mari to Arsenal.

    Fla vice-president Marcos Braz has confirmed that Mari has been sold to Arsenal for a fee believed to be in the region of £14million, reports The Sun.

    Since joining from Flamengo in January, the 26-year-old has featured in just three games in all competitions, as he arrived at the club lacking match fitness.

    And his season has already been cut short after he suffered an ankle injury in the 3-0 defeat against Manchester City last week, leaving him out of action for up to five months.

    Mikel Arteta revealed after the loss to City that Mari’s signing remains a priority, despite his ankle knock.

    Asked whether the club will still press ahead with a move, he said: “Yes.

    “This cannot be affected just because a player gets injured doing his job and defending our club.”