TheNewsGuru

Tag: Epl

  • EPL: Liverpool rally to beat Bournemouth

    EPL: Liverpool rally to beat Bournemouth

    Jurgen Klopp said he will “never compare” himself to former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly after his side beat Bournemouth to take another major step towards a first league title in 30 years.

    The victory was Liverpool’s 22nd successive Premier League win at Anfield, breaking the English top-flight record set by Shankly’s team in 1972.

    “We didn’t think about that number before the game, but after we can,” said Klopp. “It’s nice, it’s special, but today is a very good example that we have to fight.”

    The hosts fell behind in controversial circumstances, Callum Wilson slotting home Jefferson Lerma’s low cross after appearing to shove Joe Gomez in the build-up to the goal.

    Liverpool soon hit their stride, however, and Mohamed Salah – making his 100th league appearance for the club – restored parity with a low finish after Sadio Mane dispossessed Jack Simpson deep inside the Cherries’ half.

    Mane latched on to Virgil van Dijk’s perfectly weighted through-ball to complete the turnaround, but Liverpool needed a brilliant goal-line clearance from James Milner to prevent Ryan Fraser from hauling Bournemouth back on level terms in a nervy second half.

    “We’re not geniuses, but we can really fight and that’s all we have to do until the end of the season,” said Klopp, who confirmed captain Jordan Henderson – missing with a hamstring injury – is likely to resume full training on Sunday before the Champions League last-16 second leg at home to Atletico Madrid.

    “I think he will train tomorrow. If that looks good, I have to make a decision.”

    The win means Liverpool could be champions by the time they play Everton in the league on 16 March – if Manchester City lose their next three games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Burnley.

    Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth side remain in the relegation zone, level on points with Watford and West Ham but with a worse goal difference than their nearest rivals at the bottom.

    BBC

  • EPL: Watford hand Liverpool first defeat of season

    EPL: Watford hand Liverpool first defeat of season

    Liverpool’s hopes of remaining unbeaten for an entire Premier League season were ended in sensational style by a rampant Watford at Vicarage Road.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side were chasing a record-breaking 19th straight league win but were well below par and only registered one shot on target.

    Watford, who started the game with only Norwich below them in the table, created the better chances and finally took the lead their play deserved nine minutes into the second half when Ismaila Sarr poked home Abdoulaye Doucoure’s cross from the left.

    On the hour mark, Watford’s record-signing made it two when he raced clear and superbly dinked the ball over Alisson.

    The Senegal international then turned provider when he intercepted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s back pass and laid back for Troy Deeney to guide the ball into the net.

    It was the second time in a week that Liverpool have gone behind and had their invincible league season put under threat, but unlike against West Ham on Monday they could not turn it around.

    Victory for Watford sees them climb out of the bottom three on goal difference, going above Bournemouth, who had earlier drawn 2-2 with Chelsea.

  • Premier League to launch Hall of Fame

    The Premier League is launching a Hall of Fame, with the first inductees to be announced in March.

    Two players will be inducted initially alongside a shortlist of nominees for future inclusion, voted for by fans.

    The Hall of Fame will recognise players of “exceptional skill and talent” from home and abroad who have played in the top division since it began in 1992.

    A separate English Football Hall of Fame has existed since 2002 and is housed at the National Football Museum.

    Candidates for the new Premier League Hall of Fame must have retired and only a player’s Premier League career is considered.

    “A place in the Premier League Hall of Fame is reserved for the very best,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.

    “It will be an occasion for our fans around the world to look back over the years and help us celebrate some truly exceptional playing careers.”

    Each inductee will receive a personalised medallion, engraved with the year of their induction.

  • Liverpool come from behind to beat West Ham

    Liverpool come from behind to beat West Ham

    Liverpool survived a rare night of struggle in this stellar season to overcome West Ham United and close to within four wins of the Premier League title as keeper Lukasz Fabianski suffered an Anfield nightmare.

    Victory means Liverpool equal the English league record of 18 successive wins, set by Manchester City from August to December 2017, with Jurgen Klopp’s side last dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in October.

    The Hammers – whose fans staged protests against the club’s owners throughout – threatened to inflict Liverpool’s first league defeat this term when they led midway through the second half.

    Liverpool took an early lead when Fabianski failed to deal with a routine Georginio Wijnaldum header but David Moyes’ side showed great character to hit back through Issa Diop’s header, which should also have been kept out by Alisson.

    And when substitute Pablo Fornals swept West Ham into the lead nine minutes after the break Liverpool were faced with a fight to preserve their unbeaten 27-match league run.

    It had been a poor display by their sky-high standards but their luck was in as Fabianski was the culprit again, inexplicably allowing Mohamed Salah’s shot to squirm through his legs in the 68th minute.

    There was a sense of inevitability as Liverpool went for victory and so it proved as Sadio Mane turned in with nine minutes left after Trent Alexander-Arnold lofted the ball over Fabianski.

    It was cruel on West Ham and Moyes, with Liverpool keeper Alisson having to produce a crucial late block from substitute Jarrod Bowen.

    Liverpool have restored their 22-point lead at the top and the Hammers are left in the bottom three.

    BBC

  • EPL: Chelsea beat Tottenham to maintain top four

    EPL: Chelsea beat Tottenham to maintain top four

    Chelsea struck a significant blow in the fight for the top four places in the Premier League with a fully deserved victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

    In a confrontation billed as a battle between Frank Lampard and his old mentor Jose Mourinho, Spurs could have leapfrogged Chelsea with victory but were outplayed and are now adrift by four points.

    Lampard made four changes from the team that lost 2-0 at home to Manchester United on Monday and they paid rich dividends as they all made a contribution to only their second win in seven league games.

    Olivier Giroud, in for Michy Batshuayi with Tammy Abraham on the bench after injury, fired low past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris for Chelsea’s opener in the 15th minute after the recalled Ross Barkley hit the post.

    And all four of those brought into the team linked up for Chelsea’s second three minutes after the break as Giroud’s flick found Mason Mount, who played in Barkley. He produced a perfectly weighted pass to Marcos Alonso, who did not even break stride before a sweet finish past Lloris.

    Spurs’ day could have been even worse as Giovani lo Celso should have been sent off for a dreadful second-half challenge on Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta. The video assistant referee decided against punishment, although officials in Stockley Park later admitted a mistake had been made and he should have been sent off.

    Mourinho’s side gave themselves late hope when Erik Lamela’s shot deflected in off Antonio Rudiger but in reality Spurs deserved nothing and Chelsea were worthy winners.

    BBC

  • EPL: Son seals late victory for Mourinho

    EPL: Son seals late victory for Mourinho

    Son Heung-min’s stoppage time goal gave Tottenham a last-gasp victory in an entertaining game at Aston Villa as the visitors moved up to fifth in the Premier League table.

    The result means Jose Mourinho’s side have leapfrogged Sheffield United and are now a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who have a game in hand.

    Villa, who remain a point above the bottom three in 17th, made the stronger start and took the lead via Toby Alderweireld’s own goal – with the Spurs defender prodding Anwar El Ghazi’s cross past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

    The Belgian atoned for his error by equalising with a superb angled effort that flew into the top right corner of the Villa goal from 10 yards.

    Spurs, who always looked dangerous in attack, went in front when Steven Bergwijn won a penalty after being fouled by home defender Bjorn Engels.

    Son’s initial spot-kick was saved by Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina, but the South Korean forward followed up to score and become the first Asian player to reach 50 Premier League goals.

    The hosts responded after the break with Engels heading in from a Jack Grealish corner to level the scores.

    However, another Engels mistake allowed Son to race clear late on to place the ball past Reina as Villa’s miserable run against sides in the top half of the table continued.

  • Unstoppable! Liverpool open 25 points lead at the top

    Unstoppable! Liverpool open 25 points lead at the top

    Unstoppable Liverpool is certain to win the Premier League this season after 1-0 victory at Norwich City on Saturday.

    This may be Liverpool’s first top-flight title in 30 years.

    Sadio Mane came off the bench to score the winner with 12 minutes remaining, expertly taking down skipper Jordan Henderson’s raking pass and smashing in at the near post.

    It means Jurgen Klopp’s side need just five more wins from their remaining 12 games to guarantee their first Premier League title, having dropped just two points all campaign, BBC reports.

    Chances were at a premium in a blustery first half, but Liverpool ramp up the pressure in the second period – Canaries goalkeeper Tim Krul making a stunning double save to deny Mohamed Salah’s low shot and Naby Keita’s close-range follow-up.

    Having been pegged back for a long period, Norwich could have scored on the counter-attack as Alex Tettey’s strike from an angle caught Alisson by surprise at his near post but the effort rattled the foot of the upright.

    But Senegal international Mane – who missed the last two games through a hamstring injury – proved to be the difference having entered the action on the hour mark.

  • EPL: Resurgent Everton move seventh after Palace win

    EPL: Resurgent Everton move seventh after Palace win

    Everton stretched their unbeaten run to five games as a 3-1 victory over out-of-form Crystal Palace moved them up to seventh in the Premier League.

    The hosts dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead when Bernard volleyed in Theo Walcott’s superb cross.

    But Palace, without a win so far in 2020, fought back after the break and equalised when keeper Jordan Pickford allowed Christian Benteke’s low strike to go under his body.

    Everton then had to withstand a spell of pressure from the rejuvenated visitors but restored their lead when Richarlison ran through the Palace defence and slotted into the bottom corner.

    Pickford saved superbly from Benteke’s close-range header to protect the Toffees’ lead, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed victory when he prodded in after Richarlison’s header had hit the crossbar.

    The win leaves Everton just one point behind fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who have a game in hand.

    Crystal Palace remain six points above the relegation zone in 14th place, but all of those below Roy Hodgson’s side now have a game in hand.

  • I took a pay cut to join Man Utd – Ighalo

    I took a pay cut to join Man Utd – Ighalo

    Odion Ighalo has revealed that he took a pay cut to ensure his move to Manchester United happened.

    The Nigerian striker will play for the Red Devils until the end of the season, after agreeing a six-month loan.

    It is a dream come true for Ighalo, who supported United as a child growing up in Ajegunle, Lagos and he was not ready to allow money stand in the way.

    “(My agent) said you’re going to get a pay-cut to go to United. I said I don’t care. Make this deal happen. I want to go to United. I don’t care how much the pay-cut,” Ighalo told the club’s official website.

    The 30-year-old also promised to give his best for the Premier League side.

    “I’m happy to be a Man United player, I’m looking forward to the game and I promise to give my best from the first day I put on the jersey to the last day of my time here.

    “I promise to add my own path to make sure the season finishes well for United,” Ighalo added.

  • EPL: No quick fix for struggling Man Utd – Solskjaer

    EPL: No quick fix for struggling Man Utd – Solskjaer

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says there is no “quick fix” to improve his squad.

    Pressure is mounting on Solskjaer to make January signings after Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat by Burnley.

    It was a second straight Premier League loss and the players were jeered.

    “We’ve had one proper transfer window and we’re trying to do something now,” said Solskjaer, who took over – initially on an interim basis – in December 2018.

    During the summer transfer window, United spent over £130m on defenders, bringing in Harry Maguire from Leicester City and Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace, and also signed winger Daniel James from Swansea City.

    Solskjaer referenced the squad-building at Liverpool since Jurgen Klopp took charge in October 2015, with the Reds now 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League and the reigning European champions.

    “Jurgen Klopp spent four years building his team and they’re doing well now,” said the Norwegian.

    “It’s not going be a quick fix – eight or 10 players in the transfer window.

    “We can’t react to all the noise outside. There’ll be criticism – you’ve got to take it, you’ve got to be stronger mentally.

    “I am, the club is. The staff are very strong mentally and we’re sticking to what we believe in. I’ve got full faith.”