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Tag: acute angle

  • Liverpool late heart break in six-goal thriller; Man City break their slump as maestro returns – PL Wrap

    Liverpool late heart break in six-goal thriller; Man City break their slump as maestro returns – PL Wrap

    League leaders Liverpool played one of the game’s of the season at Newcastle, while Manchester City returned to winning ways as two of England’s biggest clubs locked horns in London in a massive mid-week slate of Premier League matches.

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    A 90th minute equaliser from Newcastle’s Fabian Schär ended Liverpool’s seven match winning streak in all competitions, as the Reds’ trip north ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

    Mohammed Salah continued his rich vein of form as the Egyptian scored twice in the second half to give Liverpool the lead, but goal keeper Caoimhín Kelleher had a moment to forget during a set piece in the dying minutes that pathed the way for Schär’s equaliser.

    The Irish shot stopper misjudged the ball, which was whipped in to the box by Bruno Guimarães from a free kick, and let it go over his head, thinking it would sail beyond the touch line, but the Magpies centre back slid in at the back post to squeeze his shot home from an incredibly tight angle.

    St James’ Park was sent into raptures by the celebrations but the drama was not over as fans ranged when the full-time whistle was blown after six minutes of stoppage time.

    Newcastle was seemingly on the break to create another attacking opportunity, but the game was drawn to a close with both sides have justifiable arguments for who let an additional two points slip, and who snatched a point.

    Obviously, the hosts levelled things up at the death, but Liverpool came from behind twice earlier in the night.

    Salah was voted player of the match for his performance that jumped him ahead of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in the golden boot standings with 13 goals so far this campaign, and he has scored nine times in his last seven Premier League outings.

    His 68th minute and 83rd minute goals were both assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold who came off the bench and picked out Salah at the near post for the first before finding the Egyptian in the centre of the box to give him a brace.

    Salah assisted Liverpool’s first goal of the game when he delivered a low cross to Curtis Jones who smashed it into the roof of the net in the 50th minute.

    Alexander Isak’s first half rocket from outside the box gave Newcastle the early advantage as the Magpies caused Arne Slot’s side headaches with their tenacious high press.

    With Alexander-Arnold resting on the bench, and the injured Ibrahima Konate also not on the park, Liverpool looked unusually vulnerable at the back early, an issue vividly illustrated as Jacob Murphy smashed a fierce shot off the far post from an acute angle.

    It was a warning Liverpool failed to heed as Isak opened the scoring in the 35th minute.

    Surging into Lewis Hall’s pass, Isak took a clever touch that wrong-footed Virgil van Dijk 20 yards from goal, opening space for a blistering strike that flashed into the roof of the net.

    Gordon should have doubled Newcastle’s lead after Joe Gomez’s miscued clearance, but the forward’s hesitant shot was straight at Kelleher.

    Liverpool were ragged and Slot threw his arms up in frustration after another Gomez mistake allowed Murphy to blast narrowly wide.

    Yet in the blink of an eye, Liverpool conjured an equaliser five minutes after half-time.

    Anonymous in the first half, Salah burst into life with a superbly measured cross towards Jones, whose run was perfectly timed to meet the Egyptian’s delivery with an emphatic close-range finish.

    Newcastle were back in front after 62 minutes as Isak’s deft pass sent Gordon galloping into the area and he cut back inside before planting a composed finished beyond Kelleher from 10 yards.

    But Liverpool’s resolve was unshaken, thanks in large part to the presence of the sublime Salah, as well as Slot’s decision to send on Alexander-Arnold.

    Dropping points for the first time since a 2-2 draw at Arsenal on October 27, Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table is down to seven points.

    After impressive 2-0 wins against Real Madrid and Manchester City last week, Slot’s men were hailed as champions elect in England and leading contenders for the Champions League.

    Failing to kill off spirited Newcastle won’t change that status, but Slot will have noted the flaws in his injury-hit defence ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park.

    DE BRUYNE MASTERCLASS GETS MAN CITY BACK TO WINNING WAYS

    Manchester City snapped a seven-game winless streak as Kevin De Bruyne played a starring role in a 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

    The Belgian created Bernardo Silva’s opening goal and then scored the second before Jeremy Doku rounded off a much-needed victory for the English champions.

    City’s barren run included six defeats to leave them 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool before kick-off.

    However, De Bruyne’s return to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly three months helped resume normal service at the Etihad Stadium.

    City move back into the top four and within nine points of Liverpool after their 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

    Pep Guardiola had to shoot down suggestions of a rift with De Bruyne on the eve of the game after bedding him back into action slowly with a series of substitute appearances.

    The 33-year-old showed what City have been missing as he rolled back the years and could well have had more than just one goal.

    Guardiola reacted to Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool by making four changes as Josko Gvardiol, Doku and Jack Grealish also came into the team.

    It took just eight minutes for City to make the breakthrough. Ilkay Gundogan’s cross was headed back towards goal by De Bruyne and Silva was in the right place to tap home from centimetres out.

    Guardiola claimed pre-match that Ederson remains his number one goalkeeper but the Brazilian was again benched in favour of Stefan Ortega.

    The German made a big save to deny Morgan Gibbs-White before Forest missed a glorious chance to put the Etihad crowd back on edge.

    Chris Wood’s fine goalscoring form has been the catalyst to a fabulous season so far for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

    But the New Zealander was wayward as he fired wide with just Ortega to beat. De Bruyne settled City nerves on 31 minutes when he collected Doku’s pass inside the area and coolly slotted into the top corner.

    Erling Haaland has now failed to find the net in his last three Premier League games.

    But the Norwegian did play a part in the third goal with the assist for Doku, who cut inside and fired into the far corner.

    De Bruyne saw a free-kick curl just wide and was then denied a second by his international team-mate Matz Sels.

    He was given a standing ovation when he departed 15 minutes from time. City spectacularly collapsed from 3-0 up to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League eight days ago.

    However, there was never any sense of a repeat as they controlled the closing stages to add a clean sheet to an all-round restorative night for Guardiola’s men.

    Defeat leaves Forest still in sixth but now four points off the top four.

    ARSENAL CLOSE GAP ON LIVERPOOL

    Arsenal worked their set-piece magic to beat Manchester United 2-0 on Wednesday, ending Ruben Amorim’s unbeaten start to life in the Old Trafford hotseat and closing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.

    United frustrated the home side and kept the crowd quiet at the Emirates in a cagey first half but Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock from a corner after the break and William Saliba repeated the feat.

    The win leaves Arsenal in third place in the Premier League, behind Chelsea on goal difference and seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who were held to a 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

    Amorim made six changes from the team that brushed Everton aside 4-0 at the weekend, dropping in-form Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford from his starting line-up.

    Gabriel was a significant absence from Arsenal’s defence, joining Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori on the injury list.

    Amorim travelled to London with two wins and a draw from three matches in all competitions, keenly aware that Arsenal would be his biggest test yet.

    The Gunners hogged possession in the opening moments and had the ball in the net in the fourth minute through Gabriel Martinelli, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

    Mikel Arteta’s men should have been ahead just minutes later when Thomas Partey skewed his header wide from a corner.

    Martinelli flashed just wide from another corner midway through the first half as Arsenal continued to look dangerous from set-pieces.

    United were content to bide their time when they had the ball but they looked blunt in attack.

    The visitors could have gone in ahead at half-time had Diogo Dalot not steered just wide with a right-footed shot in the 43rd minute.

    The two teams, both in goalscoring form, produced a combined five shots in the opening 45 minutes, with none on target.

    – Corner routine –

    The game picked up tempo at the start of the second half, with Diallo replacing Tyrell Malacia for United.

    Feeding off a more vocal crowd, a re-energised Arsenal put United under pressure, finally breaking the deadlock when Timber headed his first goal for the club from a Declan Rice corner.

    Amorim reacted quickly, bringing on forwards Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee and handing French teenage defender Leny Yoro his United debut.

    Diallo won a free-kick after fine work on the right in the 66th minute and Arsenal were grateful to goalkeeper David Raya, who pushed away a powerful Matthijs de Ligt header from Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick.

    Arsenal doubled their lead from a Bukayo Saka corner in the 73rd minute when Partey’s shot hit Saliba and beat Andre Onana.

    Arsenal have scored more goals from corners — 21 — than any other side in the Premier League since the start of last season.

    Onana got down well to save a Kai Havertz shot as Arsenal threatened to cut loose.

    United just about managed to keep them out but Amorim will know that he has a big job on his hands.

    BIG WINS FOR CHELSEA, EVERTON AND ASTON VILLA

    Second-place Chelsea put bottom of the table Southampton to the sword with a 5-1 rout at St Mary’s, while Everton geared up for the weekend’s Merseyside Derby with a 4-0 home thumping of Wolverhampton.

    Chelsea looked like they were going to have a battle on their hands when Joe Aribo equalised for the Saints in the 11th minute after Axel Disasi’s seventh minute opener, but it quickly turned into a romp.

    The Blues shared the goals around with five individual goal scorers as Disasi (7th minute), Christopher Nkunku (17th minute), Noni Madueke (34th minute), Cole Palmer (76th minute) and Jadon Sancho (87th minute) all got themselves on the score sheet.

    Chelsea now sit seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, level with Arsenal but they possess a superior goal difference which benefited from the trip to the south coast, and they have won their last three Premier League matches.

    Everton meanwhile picked up a much-needed win to give themselves some breathing distance from the relegation battle.

    Ashleigh Young became the fourth oldest goal scorer in Premier League history as the 39-year-old scored with a stunning free kick in the 10th minute to get the ball rolling for the Toffees.

    Orel Mangala (33rd minute) and Craig Dawson (49th minute and 72nd) also put the ball into the back of the net to move Everton into 15th place, five points clear of the drop zone.

    Wolves languish in 19th with just nine points from 14 games.

    Aston Villa kept themselves in touch with the top four with a 3-1 win at home to Brentford.

    They scored three times in the first half with Morgan Rogers (21st minute), Ollie Watkins (28th minute, penalty) and Matty Cash (34th minute) doing the damage.

    Villa are in seventh on 22 points, four points behind fourth placed Manchester City, after a five-match winless run before Wednesday night’s match.

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  • Underdogs cause massive upset against Belgium; France saved by own goal — Euro Wrap

    Underdogs cause massive upset against Belgium; France saved by own goal — Euro Wrap

    Slovakia caused the first upset at Euro 2024 as Ivan Schranz fired the underdogs to a 1-0 win against Belgium on Tuesday morning AEST.

    Francesco Calzona’s side are 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA’s world rankings, but they made a mockery of the supposed quality gap between the teams with a courageous performance in Frankfurt.

    “We played against a great opponent. We gave it our heart. We didn’t win it by being better, but by being happier,” Slovakia defender David Hancko said.

    “That makes the victory all the more gratifying. It’s amazing that we were able to do that.”

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    Slovakia coach Calzona, who also served as Napoli’s interim boss in the second half of last season, had admitted he would have been “delighted” with a draw.

    The Italian got more than he could have dreamed of as Schranz left Belgium reeling after ending his nine-game international goal drought.

    Romelu Lukaku missed a host of chances for Belgium and had two possible equalisers disallowed by VAR.

    Slovakia’s unexpected victory blew Group E wide open, just hours after Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 in Monday’s other match in that pool.

    It was a bitter loss for Belgium, who are already in danger of once again failing to fulfil their potential at a major tournament.

    Belgium’s golden generation has lost much of its lustre since they crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stage.

    The Red Devils fell at the quarter-finals in the last two editions of the European Championship, making a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup the highwater mark of a talented but underachieving team once hailed as a potential dynasty.

    Domenico Tedesco was appointed to replace Roberto Martinez in February 2023 and led Belgium on a 14-match unbeaten run heading into the Euros.

    “I knew that eventually we would lose a game. Unfortunately it was today,” Tedesco said.

    “The only thing that we didn’t do well was missing chances. We had plenty. It’s part of the game. Of course the players were disappointed.”

    Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz celebrates with teammates. Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFPSource: AFP

    Before what was billed as a last hurrah for Belgium’s veteran stars, Kevin De Bruyne had insisted they were ready to do “something good” in Germany.

    But instead they reverted to type with a spluttering display that puts them under intense pressure to beat Romania in their second group game on Saturday.

    Playing in a Belgian record 11th game at major tournaments, Lukaku should have bagged his 86th goal for his country in the second minute.

    Jeremy Doku turned adroitly on the halfway line and accelerated menacingly into the Slovakia penalty area, where his cross was poked toward Lukaku by De Bruyne.

    Lukaku looked certain to score but his close-range effort was straight at Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka.

    Lukaku threatened again moments later, only to let Doku’s pass run away from him.

    Slovakia punished Lukaku’s profligacy in the seventh minute. Doku’s wayward clearing pass allowed Robert Bozenik to cleverly backheel the ball to Juraj Kucka.

    Koen Casteels saved Kucka’s strike but could do nothing about the rebound as Schranz fired home from an acute angle.

    Lukaku endured a nightmare evening. He again took a woefully heavy touch to waste a good chance from Yannick Carrasco’s raking pass.

    Belgium’s angst increased in the 56th minute when Lukaku was denied by Dubravka’s near-post save.

    From the resulting corner, Amadou Onana looped a header over Dubravka and Lukaku slid in to score from a yard out, only for his celebrations to be curtailed as VAR ruled he was off-side.

    Belgium laid siege to the Slovakia goal but Dubravka saved well from Leandro Trossard and Lukaku volleyed into the side-netting before Johan Bakayoko’s shot was cleared off the line by Hancko.

    In a fitting coda to a day to forget for Belgium, Lukaku blasted home in the 86th minute but the goal was disallowed for handball by Lois Openda in the build-up.

    Romelu Lukaku of Belgium. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

    FRANCE NEED OWN GOAL TO EDGE AUSTRIA

    Maximilian Woeber’s own goal was enough to give France a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Tuesday as they edged Austria 1-0 in their opening game but Kylian Mbappe came off late on with a bloodied nose.

    Woeber diverted Mbappe’s cutback into his own net seven minutes before halftime in Duesseldorf to allow the French, one of the leading contenders to win the tournament, to come through a stiff test.

    Austria have been much-improved under Ralf Rangnick and their pressing game often made life uncomfortable for the 2022 World Cup runners-up, who saw Mbappe leave the field near the end after being hurt in a collision.

    He had earlier failed to convert a glorious chance that would have allowed France to win by a wider margin.

    While Les Bleus were not at their best, they will be relieved to have emerged victorious from the game after a build-up overshadowed by talk of politics rather than football.

    Mbappe and other French players had spent much of their time before the media in recent days answering questions about upcoming elections in the country which could see the far-right National Rally become the biggest party.

    Any slip-up here would have led to suggestions their minds had not been fully focused on the competition, as France aim to become European champions for the third time, and first since 2000.

    Instead, the result leaves Didier Deschamps’ team level on three points in Group D with the Netherlands, who defeated Poland 2-1 in Hamburg on Sunday.

    France and the Netherlands meet next in Leipzig on Friday, while Austria face Poland earlier the same day in Berlin.

    Austrian midfielder Romano Schmid. Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFPSource: AFP

    Austria had enjoyed some impressive results coming into the tournament on a seven-game unbeaten run and their team is on familiar ground during these Euros — their coach Rangnick is from Germany and eight of their starting line-up played in the German Bundesliga last season.

    The French, however, are arguably the most talented team at the tournament, led by their captain Mbappe.

    He endured a miserable time at his only previous Euros three years ago, failing to score and missing the decisive penalty in a shootout defeat by Switzerland in the last 16.

    The new Real Madrid signing will wonder how he did not score in this game, with his first big opportunity arriving inside eight minutes.

    Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez combined to release Mbappe, who cut in from the left as he loves to do and shaped to curl a shot into the far corner before instead aiming for the near post.

    However, Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz was able to make the save. The Austrians settled into the contest and passed up a wonderful chance of their own to go ahead on 36 minutes.

    Skipper Marcel Sabitzer touched down a Michael Gregoritsch cross from the left for Christoph Baumgartner, but he was foiled by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

    That proved crucial as France went ahead two minutes later.

    Ousmane Dembele gave the ball to Mbappe on the right, and he produced a stepover to get to the byline before his cutback was nodded into the far corner of his own net by the unfortunate Woeber.

    Mbappe was then thwarted by Pentz as he tried to go around the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time, but that was nothing compared to the chance he squandered 10 minutes after the restart.

    Adrien Rabiot sent Mbappe away, bounding in behind the Austrian defence, but he somehow put his shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

    That left the game in the balance, and Austria continued to push for a leveller, but without success.

    Their fans were less than impressed by what they perceived as time-wasting late on from Mbappe, who needed treatment after colliding with Kevin Danso in the box.

    He left the pitch with his shirt stained by blood, only to then come back on and sit down, earning himself a yellow card before being replaced by Olivier Giroud.

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  • Barca cop three red cards in all-time CL implosion; German giants secure epic 11-year first: Wrap

    Barca cop three red cards in all-time CL implosion; German giants secure epic 11-year first: Wrap

    Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Paris Saint-Germain battled back to beat 10-man Barcelona 4-1 and book a place in the Champions League semi-finals with a 6-4 aggregate triumph in Spain.

    Raphinha fired Barcelona ahead early on but Ronald Araujo’s 29th-minute red card turned the tide in PSG’s favour, despite the Spanish champions leading by two goals following a 3-2 quarter-final first-leg win.

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    Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha levelled the tie for PSG and the deadly Mbappe hit a brace to put them into the final four for the first time since 2021.

    Five-time winners Barcelona were dreaming of a first semi-final return since 2019 but Araujo’s red card for pulling down the relentless Bradley Barcola undermined their grip on the tie.

    The visitors started with determination and penned Barcelona back in their own territory, but it was the hosts who took the lead.

    Explosive 16-year-old starlet Lamine Yamal ripped past Nuno Mendes and crossed to the near post where Raphinha turned home despite pressure from Achraf Hakimi.

    It was the Brazilian winger’s third goal of the tie after his brace in Paris.

    Robert Lewandowski fired another chance over the top for Barcelona before Barcola tilted the tie in PSG’s favour.

    The winger was a nightmare for his French compatriot Jules Kounde to handle.

    Barcola teed up Mbappe but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied him well, before Araujo was sent off for bringing him down.

    The Uruguayan centre-back pulled Barcola back as he burst into the area, leaving Barca with 10 men.

    Dembele whizzed the resulting free-kick narrowly over, but soon found the net, as he did in the first leg.

    PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe scored twice against Barcelona. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP

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    The former Barcelona winger struck after 40 minutes from another Barcola cross, which raked across the area to the back post where Dembele was arriving to fire into the roof of the net.

    Barcelona sacrificed Yamal for defender Inigo Martinez after Araujo’s red card and it left them with few outlets in attack.

    With PSG controlling the game Barcelona soon paid the price for their inability to keep possession.

    Vitinha was given far too much space on the edge of the box and he drilled into the bottom corner to put PSG ahead on the night.

    Ilkay Gundogan hit the post at the other end for Barcelona before their coach Xavi was sent off for a show of dissent on the touchline.

    The Catalans were losing their heads and Joao Cancelo clumsily fouled Dembele to hand PSG a penalty.

    Mbappe, who had been kept quiet in the first leg, hammered it into the top corner for his 40th goal across all competitions.

    Another member of Barcelona’s backroom staff was dismissed after Gundogan had a penalty appeal waved away and it became clear the hosts had no response.

    Mbappe wrapped up the win in the 89th minute after a fine Ter Stegen double save, leaving Barcelona the victims of another bitterly disappointing night in Europe.

    Barcelona boss Xavi was sent off. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    DORTMUND DELIGHT AS GERMAN GIANTS END 11-YEAR CL WAIT

    Borussia Dortmund fought back to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 in their quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, securing a 5-4 aggregate victory and a first Champions League semi-final since 2013.

    Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, goals from Julian Brandt and Ian Maatsen had Dortmund 2-0 up at half-time.

    Visiting coach Diego Simeone made three changes at half-time including bringing on Angel Correa and his energy told immediately, Mats Hummels conceding a poor own goal before the Argentine netted to put Atletico back ahead in the tie.

    But those goals brought a sluggish Dortmund back to life, with Niclas Fuellkrug and Marcel Sabitzer each scoring in a three-minute period to send the Bundesliga club through.

    Former winners Dortmund, fifth in the German top flight and struggling to qualify for next season’s Champions League, will next face Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the final at Wembley on June 1.

    The home side should have been level in the tie after three minutes but Sabitzer took an extra touch with the goal beckoning, allowing Atletico to cover.

    Just moments later, Atletico had a major chance of their own, as Alvaro Morata raced through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but chipped the ball well wide of the post.

    Buoyed by an 80,000-strong home crowd trying to one-up last week’s atmosphere in the Spanish capital, Dortmund pushed and prodded, with Karim Adeyemi blasting straight at Jan Oblak.

    Dortmund broke through after 34 minutes, Brandt collecting a Hummels chip and shooting on the turn, the ball bouncing through Oblak’s hands.

    Dortmund celebrate after progressing to the semi finals for the first time since 2013. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)Source: AFP

    The home side were ahead in the tie just five minutes later, Maatsen threading in from an acute angle after he was given space to run in the Atletico box.

    With Simeone sensing his chances of qualifying for the semis for a fourth time as Atletico boss slipping away, he shuffled his deck at half-time, making three changes including hooking the ineffective Morata for Correa.

    Dortmund’s wobbles suddenly returned, letting the visitors back into the tie. Hummels turned Mario Hermoso’s header into his own net from an Atletico corner under little pressure and with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel waiting to save.

    Atletico smelt blood and could have levelled when Correa dragged the ball just wide.

    The World Cup winner made up for his miss on 64 minutes when he cut through a penalty area crowded with yellow shirts and smacked the ball in, sending Atletico in front on aggregate.

    The goal jolted Dortmund back into action and Edin Terzic’s men scored twice in three minutes to retake the overall lead.

    Fuellkrug headed in a Sabitzer cross and the Austrian midfielder then got a goal of his own, shooting through the Atletico defence and into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, grabbing Dortmund a famous victory.

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  • PL great slams ‘very harsh’ call against Gunners amid four red cards in fiery clashes: Wrap

    PL great slams ‘very harsh’ call against Gunners amid four red cards in fiery clashes: Wrap

    Arsenal staged a stunning fightback from two goals down as Leandro Trossard’s late equaliser rescued a dramatic 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Sunday (AEDT).

    Mikel Arteta’s team were 13 minutes away from their first Premier League defeat this season after Cole Palmer’s early penalty and Mykhailo Mudryk’s second-half goal put Chelsea in control.

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    But a miscued pass from Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez allowed Declan Rice to give Arsenal a lifeline and Trossard bundled home the leveller with six minutes left.

    Arsenal’s gritty comeback extended their unbeaten start to the league season to nine games, leaving them in second place behind leaders Manchester City on goal difference.

    It was another display of the character and spirit pulsing through Arsenal over the last 18 months, qualities that are underpinning their bid to finally win the club’s first title since 2004.

    For Chelsea, it was a hammer blow after they were on the brink of delivering the first significant statement victory of Mauricio Pochettino’s maiden season in charge.

    The Blues have failed to beat Arsenal on home turf since 2018 and they will never get a better chance to inflict defeat on their London rivals.

    Following a minute’s silence to mark the death of former Manchester United and England star Bobby Charlton earlier on Saturday, Chelsea had made a vibrant start in the torrential rain.

    The Blues took the lead in the 15th minute after William Saliba’s outstretched arm blocked Mudryk’s header.

    Chelsea’s penalty appeal initially looked set to be ignored, but referee Chris Kavanagh eventually awarded it after being advised by VAR to consult the pitchside monitor.

    However, English football great John Terry was left baffled as to why the handball was awarded.

    “Delighted we got the penalty but I don’t agree with the rules on this, very harsh on defenders,” Terry wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    “I would have been fuming if that was given against me back in the day. But happy now.”

    Saliba gave away a penalty against Chelsea for a handball. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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    Palmer calmly drilled the spot-kick past David Raya to claim his second goal since signing from Manchester City earlier this season.

    Rice led the Arsenal response as the midfielder fired narrowly wide of the far post from an acute angle.

    Palmer was inches away from scoring again with a low drive that fizzed wide from the edge of the area.

    Pochettino told Arteta not to go into coaching when the pair played together at Paris Saint-Germain, advice the Arsenal boss will be pleased he ignored.

    The pair, who this week described their relationship as “like brothers” shared a warm embrace before kick-off, but there was little love lost between their teams.

    Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was singled out for some crude challenges by Marc Cucurella, while three players were booked in a feisty half.

    Mykhailo Mudryk got on the scoresheet for Chelsea against Arsenal. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    Raya gifted Chelsea their second goal in the 48th minute when the Arsenal keeper failed to follow the flight of Mudryk’s miscued cross from the left flank as it drifted over his head into the far corner.

    Mudryk’s fortuitous strike was also a painful twist for Arsenal after he spurned them to sign for Chelsea last season.

    Raya has been preferred to Arsenal’s former first choice keeper Aaron Ramsdale in recent weeks, but has looked far from comfortable at times.

    Raya’s confidence was shaken by his latest mistake and he almost handed Chelsea another goal with a wayward pass that Palmer intercepted but was unable to convert from 12 yards.

    It was a crucial miss as Sanchez returned the favour in the 77th minute with a woeful pass that was seized on by Rice, who gratefully lofted his shot into the empty net from 25 yards.

    Suddenly, Chelsea looked riddled with nerves and Arteta’s side made them pay in the 84th minute.

    Saka curled a cross to the far post and Trossard got in front of Malo Gusto to slot home from close range.

    Eddie Nketiah should have capped Arsenal’s remarkable late surge, but the striker fired wide from a golden chance to steal all three points.

    Leandro Trossard scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Arsenal. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Manchester City beat Brighton 2-1 on Saturday to return to the Premier League summit and end Liverpool’s brief stay at the top after their victory in the Merseyside derby.

    Mohamed Salah scored twice as Jurgen Klopp’s men beat 10-man Everton 2-0 in the early kick-off at Anfield, extending their dominance over their struggling neighbours.

    But champions City put their recent wobble behind them as they saw off high-flying Brighton thanks to goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland.

    Arsenal can become the fourth team to top the table on Saturday if they beat Chelsea in the early evening kick-off.

    Liverpool had fortune on their side at home.

    Everton’s Ashley Young was sent off before halftime for two bookable offences, while Ibrahima Konate escaped a second booking in the second half with the game still goalless.

    Liverpool struggled to make their man advantage count, but finally achieved the breakthrough 15 minutes from time when Salah smashed home from the penalty spot after Michael Keane handled.

    Salah was then teed up by Darwin Nunez to make the points safe deep into stoppage time.

    Everton manager Sean Dyche was angry about the decision not to send Konate off. “I have no clue how he didn’t feel it was a bookable offence,” he said.

    “I like to think there are a lot of fair-minded people here today who are stunned that wasn’t a second yellow card.”

    Even Klopp said he could understand Everton’s frustration at a lack of consistency from referee Craig Pawson.

    Everton boss Sean Dyche was left baffled as to why the referee didn’t send Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate off in the Merseyside derby. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    But the three points mean the Reds have lost just one of their last 29 Merseyside derbies and remain unbeaten at Anfield in front of a crowd against Everton since 1999.

    City, who had lost their previous two league games, dominated the first half of their match at the Etihad against Brighton, taking the lead through Alvarez in the seventh minute.

    Jeremy Doku was the creator as he reached the byline and pulled back for Alvarez to tuck home his seventh of the season from 12 yards.

    Haaland ended his brief goal drought by doubling City’s lead 12 minutes later, driving home a fierce left-footed shot from just outside the area.

    But it was a different story after the break and Brighton pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute.

    Moments after Alvarez failed with an attempt to catch Jason Steele off his line, the ball was quickly sent upfield and, after Kaoru Mitoma’s attempted pass was blocked, Ansu Fati tucked home.

    City defender Manuel Akanji was sent off in the closing minutes but they held on to win despite late pressure.

    Newcastle, whose early-season struggles are now a distant memory, romped to a 4-0 win against sorry Crystal Palace, with goals from Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson.

    The win, their fourth in five Premier League matches, lifts Eddie Howe’s men to fifth in the Premier League.

    Elsewhere, Brentford beat Burnley 3-0 while Wolves came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Sasa Kalajdzic.

    Luton recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Nottingham Forest, while Manchester United overcame Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane.

    FULL EPL RESULTS

    Liverpool 2-0 Everton

    Brentford 3-0 Burnley

    Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves

    Nottingham Forest 2-2 Luton Town

    Manchester City 2-1 Brighton

    Newcastle 4-0 Crystal Palace

    Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal

    Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester United

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  • Arsenal fall apart in huge title blow; Forest manager blasts ‘terrible’ VAR call in Man Utd loss: EPL Wrap

    Arsenal fall apart in huge title blow; Forest manager blasts ‘terrible’ VAR call in Man Utd loss: EPL Wrap

    Arsenal blew a two-goal lead for the second game in a row as Bukayo Saka’s penalty miss proved crucial in the Premier League leaders’ damaging 2-2 draw against West Ham.

    Mikel Arteta’s side struck twice in the first 10 minutes at the London Stadium thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

    But just seven days after squandering a 2-0 advantage in their 2-2 draw at Liverpool, the Gunners again cracked under the pressure of the title race.

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    Arsenal suffered a setback in the title race. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Said Benrahma’s penalty reduced the deficit for West Ham before the interval and after Saka fired his spot-kick wide early in the second half, Jarrod Bowen volleyed in an equaliser for the struggling hosts.

    It was a hammer blow for Arsenal, who sit four points clear of second-placed Manchester City but have ceded the title race momentum to Pep Guardiola’s team.

    “It started extremely well again. We scored two beautiful goals. After that we made a big mistake to not play with purpose to score the third and fourth,” Arteta said.

    “We just thought we could play around them and keep the result. That gave them hope.” City had closed within three points of the Gunners after beating Leicester 3-1 and it is the champions who have the destiny of the title in their hands despite trailing Arsenal for much of the season.

    City, who have won their last 10 matches in all competitions, have a game in hand on Arsenal.

    With a home game against Arsenal looming on April 26, City know they will lift a fifth title in six seasons if they win their remaining eight matches.

    By the time Arsenal travel to the Emirates Stadium they will be seven points clear of City if they beat bottom-of-the-table Southampton.

    An Arsenal fan looks dejected. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Yet that gap would still look uncomfortably small to Arsenal fans fearing their team are in the process of wasting a golden opportunity to win a first title since 2004.

    While City are battle-tested in handling the tension of the title race, Arsenal’s young squad look to be suffering an ill-timed attack of nerves.

    “My worry is after 2-0 we made that huge mistake,” Arteta said.

    “We didn’t understand what the game required in that moment. We need that ruthless mindset to go and kill a team.”

    Arsenal needed just seven minutes to take the lead as Odegaard’s deft pass found Ben White, who delivered a low cross that Jesus slotted home at the far post.

    Jesus’s fourth goal in his last three games was followed by the Gunners’ second three minutes later as they ruthlessly punished West Ham’s woeful marking.

    Gabriel Martinelli’s pin-point cross found Odegaard in acres of space and the midfielder blasted a volley past Lukasz Fabianski from an acute angle six yards out.

    The turning point came in the 33rd minute when Arsenal, looking a little over-confident after such a swaggering start, needlessly conceded a penalty.

    Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates with teammate Danny Ings. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Thomas Partey surrendered possession to Declan Rice and when the West Ham midfielder picked out Lucas Paqueta’s run, Gabriel Magalhaes’ mistimed sliding tackle was correctly ruled a penalty despite Arsenal appeals for handball.

    Mohamed Salah had missed a penalty against Arsenal last weekend, but they were out of luck this time as Benrahma sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way from the spot.

    Saka should have eased Arsenal’s mounting anxiety when Antonio conceded a 50th minute penalty with an outstretched arm that blocked Martinelli’s flick.

    But instead Saka spiked the tension level even higher with a woeful spot-kick that completely missed hit the target, a costly blunder that recalled the England forward’s Euro 2020 final penalty shoot-out failure against Italy.

    Saka held his head in his hands and with Arsenal clearly rattled, David Moyes’ side snatched an equaliser in the 54th minute.

    Thilo Kehrer guided the ball into the Arsenal area and Bowen was just onside as his volley ricocheted off the turf and skidded past Ramsdale’s despairing dive.

    Michail Antonio nearly won it for West Ham in the closing stages, rising to head Benrahma’s cross against the bar.

    Ex-Villa boss Smith gets Leicester gig | 00:29

    MAN UTD’S BIG BOOST AS FOREST MANAGER BLASTS ‘TERRIBLE’ VAR CALL

    Meanwhile, injury-hit Manchester United beat relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 2-0 to strengthen their push for a top-four Premier League finish.

    Erik ten Hag’s men took full advantage of defeats for rivals Newcastle and Tottenham the previous day to climb to third in the table, courtesy of goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot.

    The teams had already met three times this season, including in a two-legged League Cup semi-final — with United winning on each occasion.

    Injured United central-defensive pairing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were replaced by Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, while Dalot came in for Tyrell Malacia.

    The visitors, also missing top-scorer Marcus Rashford, were forced into a late change when midfielder Marcel Sabitzer was injured in the warm-up and replaced by Christian Eriksen, making his first start since January following an ankle injury.

    Harry Maguire of Manchester United acknowledges the fans. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Forest, who had not won in their past nine games, made four changes. United were quickly out of the blocks and Jadon Sancho had a strike blocked in the opening moments.

    The visitors dominated possession but Steve Cooper’s Forest were a menace from set-pieces.

    Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas saved from Bruno Fernandes before a VAR check for a potential penalty at the other end after the ball hit Maguire’s arm from a corner.

    “Harry Maguire’s was a definitely penalty [for handball],” Nottingham manager Cooper said post-game.

    “Then a second yellow card and red. A terrible decision. How have VAR not picked up on that? Another call and apology from them then, which won’t help.”

    United took the lead in the 32nd minute when Antony poked home after Navas parried a powerful shot from Anthony Martial.

    Dalot almost gifted Forest an equaliser shortly before half-time after some sloppy play but Taiwo Awoniyi smashed the ball well over.

    Fernandes put a header wide from the centre of the box just before the break. United continued to dominate in the second half, with Fernandes and Eriksen pulling the strings.

    Portugal international Fernandes produced a stunning curling effort from the left of the box that was pushed on to the bar by Navas and Antony fired just wide.

    Martial missed a glorious chance to extend United’s lead when he headed wide with 20 minutes to go before Forest defender Felipe nodded over from close range.

    United finally got the reward their dominance deserved in the 76th minute when Dalot burst into the box to meet a pass by Antony to score his first Premier League goal.

    Betting shirt sponsors to be phased out | 00:35

    The win leaves United three points clear of fourth-placed Newcastle after 30 games, and six clear of Tottenham, in fifth.

    “Solid win,” Ten Hag told the BBC.

    “Really focused and concentrated from start to finish.”

    The United boss remarked on a “really solid performance from all on the pitch today”, singling out Maguire and Lindelof for praise.

    “Last week I had nine fit top defenders, now I have four,” he said.

    “We need all our players — we are still in three competitions. We need all the players to form a top team.”

    The Red Devils have surpassed last season’s Premier League points tally with eight matches still to play as they turn their attention to this week’s Europa League and FA Cup clashes.

    Forest remain in the bottom three and are in serious danger of returning to the Championship after just one season in the English top flight.

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  • ‘Absolutely embarrassing’: VAR controversy in Old Firm as Ange’s Celtic win thriller against Rangers

    ‘Absolutely embarrassing’: VAR controversy in Old Firm as Ange’s Celtic win thriller against Rangers

    Celtic moved within touching distance of the Scottish Premiership title as Kyogo Furuhashi’s double inspired a dramatic 3-2 win against Rangers in Saturday’s Old Firm derby.

    Furuhashi has been Celtic’s catalyst for much of the campaign and the Japan forward was the key again with his team’s opener in a frenetic clash at Parkhead.

    Rangers captain James Tavernier equalised with a superb free-kick before dismal defending from the visitors handed Celtic second half goals for Furuhashi and Jota.

    Kyogo Furuhashi starred in the win. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Tavernier’s second took him to 100 goals for Rangers, but Celtic survived an anxious finish to claim a third victory over their bitter rivals this season.

    Ange Postecoglou’s side sit 12 points clear of second placed Rangers with seven games left as they look to retain the title.

    They are on the verge of securing an 11th title in the last 12 seasons and could yet enjoy more success at Rangers’ expense, with a Scottish Cup semi-final date set for April 30.

    Celtic had won the most recent Old Firm showdown in the Scottish League Cup final in February and are now unbeaten in six successive league derbies.

    There were no Rangers fans allowed into Parkhead due to safety concerns, but the atmosphere generated by the 60,000 crowd was still at fever pitch by kick-off in the east end of Glasgow.

    Celtic thought they had made a dream start when Alastair Johnston’s lofted pass reached Furuhashi, who poked through the legs of Allan McGregor, only to see his celebrations curtailed by a correct offside call.

    Rangers were denied in more controversial circumstances when Alfredo Morelos stabbed in at the far post from a corner, with Kevin Clancy disallowing the goal for the Colombian’s contact with Johnston as the pair jostled for the ball.

    “It is absolutely embarrassing,” Kris Boyd said in commentary for Sky Sports.

    ‘See at the end of the day it is a contact sport as James says. Alistair Johnston has a grip of Alfredo Morelos, Morelos has a grip of him as well, then all of a sudden he just decides to fall forward because he is caught under the ball.

    “That should be a goal. It is embarrassing.”

    Alfredo Morelos of Rangers FC scores the team’s first goal which was later disallowed after a VAR review. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    That proved a crucial moment as Celtic broke the deadlock in the 26th minute. Matt O’Riley cut his pass back to the middle of the penalty area, where Furuhashi took a deft touch as he swivelled to plant a clinical finish past McGregor.

    Against the run of play, Rangers drew level on the stroke of half-time after O’Riley slid in to foul Malik Tillman.

    Tavernier made O’Riley pay as he curled a sublime 25-yard free-kick past Joe Hart via the underside of the crossbar, reducing Parkhead to stunned silence for the first time all afternoon.

    Hart plunged to his right to deny Morelos after sloppy Celtic defending presented a golden opportunity to the Rangers striker straight after the interval.

    Morelos was stopped by his own team-mate from the resulting corner when his goalbound shot was inadvertently blocked by Ryan Jack.

    But just as Rangers had seized the momentum, it was snatched away from them in the 62nd minute.

    Michael Beale’s team had only themselves to blame as Ben Davies miscued a clearance in his own six-yard box and tried to rescue the situation with a panicked header that bounced off Jota for Furuhashi to fire home from close-range.

    Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic held on for the win. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The frenzied Celtic celebrations on the pitch and in the stands underlined the significance of Furuhashi’s 28th goal in all competitions this season.

    If the second goal was a gift from Rangers, then Celtic’s third in the 73rd minute came thanks to more woeful defending.

    John Souttar’s weak backpass was well short of McGregor, allowing Jota to nip in and slot into the empty net from an acute angle.

    Rangers refused to surrender and Tavernier got one back in the 79th minute, arriving at the far post to meet Borna Barisic’s cross with a powerful header that gave Hart no chance.

    In a tense finale, Tavernier was inches away from rescuing Rangers with another header, but this time the defender’s effort flashed wide.

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