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Tag: Epl

  • English Premier League records profit for the 2016/2017 season

    The English Premier League clubs posted record profits last season, according to figures released by Deloitte.

    According to analysis of the clubs’ accounts for the 2016/17 season by Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, the Premier League made a collective pre-tax profit of £0.5billion, almost three times the previous record of £0.2billion in 2013/14.

    The clubs also generated a record operating profit – total revenues minus wages and other business costs, apart from transfer fees – of £1billion, double the figure for the previous season.

    The figures are a reflection of strong broadcast revenues and Financial Fair Play rules keeping wage inflation under control.

    Wages did rise across the league by nine per cent to a new record of £2.5billion, but overall revenue rose 25 per cent.

    This means clubs spent only 23p of every additional £1 earned on wages – a degree of restraint that enabled all 20 clubs to make operating profits and 18 of 20 to record pre-tax profits.

    Overall, the earnings-to-wages ratio, a key indicator of a company’s financial viability, fell from 63 per cent to 55 per cent, the lowest for nearly 20 years.

    In a statement, Dan Jones, the head of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said the increase in revenue was a result of last season being the first of the current three-year domestic deal with BT and Sky, which is worth more than £5.1billion.

    Jones said the increase in wages was “nowhere near the level of revenue growth” and this “reflects both the extent of [the Premier League’s] financial advantage over other leagues and the impact of domestic and European cost control measures”.

    Deloitte also noted that the clubs have made collective pre-tax profits in three of the last four years – a trend it believes will continue.

    The figures do not include transfer costs, which for accounting purposes are spread over the length of a player’s contract.

    The price of talent continues to rise but Deloitte believes Premier League clubs can afford it and are likely to spend heavily again.

    Sports Business Group senior consultant Tim Bridge said: “We have already seen some clubs utilising their significant revenue increases, with a record £1.9billion spent on transfers in the 2017/18 season.

    “We may again see similar levels of spending in the coming season, with the World Cup providing the perfect shop window for talent, but expenditure remains well within the means of clubs.”

    Sky Sports

  • Breaking: Manchester City win EPL as West Brom shock United

    Manchester City have been crowned winners of the 2017-2018 English Premier League following a shocking defeat rivals Manchester United suffered in the hands of West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

    Jay Rodriguez scored a second-half winner to beat a woeful Manchester United and hand a third Premier League title to Manchester City.

    United had prevented City from winning the title last weekend with a stirring comeback, but an unlikely defeat to the Baggies inadvertently secured a third Premier League title for their cross-city rivals.

    Pep Guardiola’s men now hold an unassailable 16-point lead at the top of the table, meaning that with just five games to play nobody can catch the side which has led the league uninterruptedl since the fifth round of fixtures.

    With 33 games played City have won an impressive 28, with three draws and just two defeats.

    The champions have scored 93 times and conceded on 25 occasions.

    Now the title is in the bag, the club’s next challenge will be beating the record for most points in a single season.

    Chelsea currently hold that milestone, having picked up 95 points under Mourinho in 2004-5; in order to surpass the Special One, Pep and his team must take at least nine points from the 15 still up for grabs.

    United, meanwhile, face a stiff test to hold on to the second place they have occupied for almost the entire campaign.

    Liverpool are just one point behind the Red Devils with 70 points, albeit having played one more game, while Tottenham lie three points further back on 67.

     

  • League leader Man City edge closer to EPL title

    Manchester City drew an emphatic line under a difficult week by moving to within one win of the Premier League title with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham.

    Gabriel Jesus’ opener and an Ilkay Gundogan penalty moved Pep Guardiola’s men to the brink of the title in a majestic opening 25 minutes at Wembley.

    But having withstood Spurs’ second-half rally, Raheem Sterling’s 22nd goal of the season secured the victory which means City can clinch the title at home to Swansea next Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

    Player ratings

    Tottenham: Lloris (5), Trippier (6), Vertonghen (7), Sanchez (6), Davies (5), Dier (5), Dembele (6), Lamela (5), Alli (5), Eriksen (7), Kane (5).

    Subs: Son (5), Sissoko (5), Moura (6).

    Man City: Ederson (8), Walker (7), Kompany (8), Laporte (6), Delph (6), Gundogan (8), D Silva (7), Sterling (8), De Bruyne (7), Sane (7), Jesus (8).

    Subs: B Silva (6), Otamendi (6), Toure (n/a).

    Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling.

    City arrived at Wembley licking their wounds having been dumped out of the Champions League four days after Manchester United dramatically denied them the title.

    But there was no sign of self-pity from the champions-elect as they quickly settled into their groove, Leroy Sane rattling the post with a sliced fourth-minute volley.

    Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne and Gundogan all had shots on goal before Vincent Kompany’s simple pass exploited Spurs’ high backline, releasing Jesus who clinically finished past the on-rushing Hugo Lloris on 22 minutes.

    Things went from bad to worse for Spurs and their captain as Lloris’ reckless lunge on Sterling – which appeared outside of the area – handed City a penalty which Gundogan coolly slotted home.

    Team news

    Tottenham made four changes as Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies, Eric Dier and Erik Lamela were recalled. There was also a spot on the bench for 19-year-old Kazaiah Sterling. Vincent Kompany, Ilkay Gundogan and Fabian Delph returned as Manchester City made three changes.

    Ben Davies’ horrific 27th-minute tackle on Kompany typified Spurs’ frustrations but there was salvation before the break for the hosts as Aymeric Laporte’s clearance fired into the City goal off Eriksen.

    That goal buoyed Spurs after the break but they were unable to convert their new-found vigour into goals, with City continuing to create the clearer chances.

    Jesus and Sterling spurned gilt-edged chances to score City’s third but Sterling finally restored their two-goal lead on 72 minutes, converting a rebound from close range after Lloris failed to parry a Jesus shot away from danger.

    All Spurs could muster by way of a response was a stoppage-time drive from Lucas Moura as the hosts were left to come to terms with their first league defeat since December 16.

    Opta stats

    • Manchester City have won 14 away games in the Premier League this season – the only side to have won more in a single campaign is Chelsea in 2004/05 (15).
    • Spurs were unbeaten in 14 games in the Premier League before tonight’s defeat (W11 D3); indeed, the last team to beat them were Pep Guardiola’s side back in December (4-1 at the Etihad).
    • City have recorded a Premier League double over Spurs for the first time since the 2014/15 campaign (under Manuel Pellegrini).
    • Prior to this evening, Spurs hadn’t lost a Premier League home game by a margin of two or more goals since August 2014 (0-3 v Liverpool).
    • Raheem Sterling scored his 22nd goal of the season for Manchester City, which is now at least twice as many as he’s registered in any of his previous seasons in all competitions (11 in 2014/15 and 2015/16).
    • Tottenham conceded a goal from the penalty spot in the Premier League for the first time in 59 games, last conceding against West Ham in November 2016.

    Sky Sports

  • Premier League clubs vote against VAR for 2018-19 season

    English Premier League clubs have voted not to use the video assistant referee (VAR) system for next season.

    The clubs agreed that advanced testing on the use of the video technology will continue to the end of 2018-19.

    Premier League officials want the system to be implemented for FA Cup and League Cup matches again next term.

    There were some notable high-profile problems with the new technology when it was used for matches in this season’s FA Cup.

    In Manchester United’s victory at Huddersfield in the last 16 of the FA Cup, for example, on-screen lines used to adjudicate on an offside decision were curved and distorted.

    Clubs also want improvement to communication inside the stadium and for TV viewers.

    The decision not to bring in the system next season was made at a Premier League shareholders meeting in London on Friday, when all 20 member clubs voted.

    A statement said the clubs “recognised and are grateful for the substantial developments made” by referees chief Mike Riley and his team.

    The International Football Association Board (Ifab) is expected to approve VAR when it meets in Zurich, in time for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

    Ifab technical director and former Premier League referee David Elleray said 40 countries were using, trialling or interested in VAR technology.

    Germany and Italy introduced VAR across their top leagues this season.

    In the Bundesliga, technical problems led to 47% of players wanting to abolish the system, according to a survey published in Kicker magazine in January.

    BBC

  • Alan Pardew leaves West Brom after four months as manager

    Alan Pardew leaves West Brom after four months as manager

    West Bromwich Albion have parted company with manager Alan Pardew after eight successive league defeats.

    The 56-year-old was appointed on 29 November after the Baggies sacked Tony Pulis following a run of 10 Premier League games without a victory.

    A 2-1 home defeat by Burnley on Saturday left bottom club Albion 10 points from safety with six games left.

    Coach Darren Moore has taken over the first-team and is likely to stay in charge for the rest of the season.

    Pardew has become the 10th permanent manager in the Premier League to leave his post this season, which is a joint record along with the 2013-14 campaign.

    The Baggies’ statement read: “West Bromwich Albion and Alan Pardew have agreed to mutually part company following discussions between both parties.

    “Assistant head coach John Carver will also be leaving.

    “The club would like to thank Alan and John for their efforts and wish them well in their future endeavours.”

    Pardew, a former team-mate of West Brom technical director Nick Hammond, was the club’s sixth manager since 2011.

    West Brom won just once in 18 league games under him, taking only eight points from a possible 54.

    They are in their eighth successive Premier League season but have taken only 20 points from their 32 matches this campaign.

    Pardew’s previous job in the Premier League was with Crystal Palace, who sacked him in December 2016 with the club 17th in the table.

    BBC

  • EPL: Arsenal beat Watford to end league winning drought

    Arsenal ended a run of three successive Premier League defeats as they secured a fine victory over Watford.

    Shkodran Mustafi headed in Mesut Ozil’s left-wing free-kick to give the Gunners an eighth-minute lead, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang collected Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s pass to add a second.

    Watford had a chance to pull one back but Troy Deeney’s penalty was saved by Petr Cech, who secured the 200th Premier League clean sheet of his career.

    Mkhitaryan sealed Arsenal’s victory, their first league win since beating Everton 5-1 on 3 February, with a shot from inside the penalty area following Aubameyang’s pass.

    The result leaves the Gunners sixth, 10 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the final Champions League spot.

    However, Arsenal could still qualify for next season’s Champions League if they win the Europa League, and that competition affected Arsene Wenger’s team selection on Sunday.

    With Arsenal holding a 2-0 lead against AC Milan and playing the second leg of their last-16 leg tie at home on Thursday, Wenger took a risk by making six changes.

    Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny were rested, with Jack Wilshere only on the bench, but the gamble paid off for Arsenal.

    BBC

  • Swansea moves out of bottom three after thrashing West Ham

    Swansea moved out of the relegation zone as they comfortably dispatched a dismal West Ham side to seal a seventh consecutive home win.

    Ki Sung-yueng shot low into the corner from Andre Ayew’s pass to open the scoring inside 10 minutes, before Mike van der Hoorn nodded in the South Korean’s corner amid slack marking.

    Between those two first-half goals, Winston Reid was put in a neck brace and taken off on a stretcher after suffering a bad injury in a goalmouth scramble.

    He received treatment for 10 minutes after appearing to be knocked unconscious, and was taken to hospital for a scan.

    After the break, West Ham crumbled further. Andy King tapped in the rebound from an Adrian save that denied Andre Ayew’s header from another corner, before Cheikhou Kouyate tripped Ayew in the box.

    Andre’s brother Jordan Ayew coolly slotted the spot-kick into the corner to round off a vital win that was only slightly dampened by Michail Antonio’s late consolation, the substitute winger finishing from Aaron Cresswell’s delivery.

    Carlos Carvalhal’s impressive work continues. His team are now up to 13th in the table – climbing above the Hammers on goal difference – having been bottom when he took over in late December.

    West Ham drop to 14th, with both sides still only three points clear of the bottom three.

     

    BBC

  • Match Build-up : Chelsea v West Brom

    TEAM NEWS

    Chelsea are without midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, who is suspended after his red card at Watford.

    Wing-back Marcos Alonso is likely to return after missing that game, but Andreas Christensen could again be sidelined with a hamstring strain.

    West Brom’s Jonny Evans should start in defence after shaking off a back issue.

    Left-back Kieran Gibbs and midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak could also return from hamstring injuries.

    Manager’s Comment:

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: “We have to try to stop this bad run and get three points against West Brom.

    “It won’t be easy, the confidence is not high but we have to trust in our work and football.

    “I am not thinking for only one moment the possibility of going away from this club. My commitment and the players are totally for this club.”

    West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew: “We are obviously under pressure because we are bottom of the league.

    “I think you are going to see a lot of fight on the pitch in terms of two teams desperate to get points and turn a little bit of a corner for Chelsea and us to get a result that might be the boost that we need.

    “I know Chelsea very well. I have watched them from afar. They have difficult periods but they do come through them and I have great respect for the manager and I think he will come through it – no problem.”

     

    Head-to-head

    Chelsea have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League games against West Brom (W6, D3).

    Albion are winless in 13 top-flight away matches at Stamford Bridge since a 3-1 victory in September 1978 (D2, L11). Cyrille Regis scored that day for the visitors.

    West Brom’s last win at Chelsea was a 1-0 League Cup victory in 1983.

     

    Chelsea

    Chelsea could lose back-to-back Premier League home games for the first time since November 2011.

    They have lost consecutive league games by three or more goals for the first time since October 1995.

    The Blues have lost six league games this season, one more than they did in the whole of the 2016-17 title-winning campaign.

    Antonio Conte could lose three consecutive league games for the first time since November 2009, when he was in charge of Atlanta.

    Cesc Fabregas is one goal shy of 50 in the Premier League.

    However, Fabregas has failed to score against West Brom in 10 Premier League appearances.

     

    West Bromwich Albion:

    West Brom have collected one win from their past 24 Premier League games (D11, L12).

    Their record of three league wins this season is the worst in England’s top four tiers.

    They have 20 fewer points than at this stage last season.

    The Baggies have also lost 18 points from winning positions this season, more than any other side.

    Albion’s only league win on their travels this season came in their first away game – 1-0 at Burnley in August.

    Alan Pardew could become the first manager in Premier League history to win at Stamford Bridge with three different clubs.

     

    BBC

  • Newcastle beat Man Utd to win first home league game since October

    Newcastle won a Premier League home game for the first time since October with a surprise victory over second-placed Manchester United.

    Matt Ritchie scored the only goal in the second half as the Magpies climbed out of the relegation zone and left the visitors 16 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

    The Red Devils missed a string of chances to take something from a ground at which manager Jose Mourinho is yet to win a league match.

    But debutant Martin Dubravka was excellent in the Newcastle goal, denying Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick.

    And the hosts could have had a first-half penalty when Chris Smalling tripped Dwight Gayle.

    Defeat for Manchester United raises the prospect of Manchester City being crowned champions when the teams meet at Etihad Stadium on 7 April.

    Should both teams win all of their league matches prior to that, City would only need to draw with their fierce rivals to secure the title that day.

    Mourinho said after the game that Newcastle had fought “like animals” – and the hosts certainly produced a fierce and committed performance.

    The Magpies made more sprints (553 to their opponents’ 490), ran further (115km to 105km), and in DeAndre Yedlin and Ritchie had the game’s fastest and most industrious players.

    Manager Rafael Benitez may be hoping recent signing Islam Slimani, who missed this game, can add more to an attack that only managed three shots on target, but Ritchie was clinical when it mattered.

    Smalling was penalised for a dive that allowed the impressive Jonjo Shelvey to send in a free-kick. The equally eye-catching Florian Lejeune headed it down, and Ritchie collected Gayle’s flick to shoot past David de Gea.

    That ended a run of 43 shots without a Premier League goal for Ritchie – and gave Newcastle their first home win in the league since 21 October.

    Prior to the match they were just one point better off than in their 2015-16 relegation season, but this win moved them up to 13th – and only three points behind 10th-placed Bournemouth.

     

    BBC

  • EPL standings after Manchester City beat West Ham to remain unbeaten

    Manchester City produced another late show to equal the top flight record of 13 successive wins in a season with a 2-1 win over West Ham on Super Sunday.

    EPL standings after Manchester City beat West Ham to remain unbeaten
    EPL Standings

    Pep Guardiola’s men are eight points ahead of Manchester United in the title race, with the pair set to meet on Super Sunday next weekend while West Ham remain in the relegation zone after their worst start to a Premier League season.