Chelsea’s challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League faltered in a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday (Monday AEDT) as Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0 — with Ange Postecoglou giving a stinging assessment of one player.
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Tottenham kept their season alive by reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, but suffered the latest in a series of European hangovers at Craven Cottage.
Victory for Fulham propels Marco Silva’s men into the race for Champions League places as they climb to eighth, four points off the top four and three outside the top five.
A top-five finish will almost certainly secure a place in Europe’s top club competition next season thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competitions.
Spurs, though, have struggled to handle the burden of Thursday nights when it comes to their Premier League form.
Postecoglou’s side have won just three times in the 10 league matches that have followed a midweek Europa League fixture.
“It’s been a difficult campaign for sure,” said Spurs captain Son Heung-min. “But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games.”
Postecoglou was unimpressed with Mali international Yves Bissouma’s performance.
“I feel Biss sometimes lets the game drift by him, he needs to be more dominant,” Postecoglou said, per the BBC.
“Today, we needed more in that position. I had needed him to play because he hasn’t played a lot.
“At the same time, I need him to perform. It is safe to say maybe Biss and a few guys lack a bit of confidence but at this stage of the season we need people to perform.
Son Heung-Min and Ange Postecoglou look dejected after defeat at Fulham.Source: Getty Images
“A disappointing outcome obviously. A tight game, it was always going to be a tight game, there wasn’t really much in it,” Postecoglou added.
“I thought, especially in the second half, I thought we were growing to the game, I thought we had the better chances at 0-0 to get ahead and then we gave them a really soft goal and then the game just got away from us.
“So it’s another day where we’re disappointed to lose. I don’t think Fulham really created much, I think Vic [Guglielmo Vicario] had a save to make and we had a couple of big chances to go 1-0 up.
“But we’ve done that a fair bit this year, conceding a soft goal and when you do that, especially away from home, then it just gives the opposition a chance to grow into the game.”
Fulham had to wait until 78 minutes to take the lead when Rodrigo Muniz steered home from Andreas Pereira’s pass.
Ryan Sessegnon then curled in a brilliant second against his former club to secure victory late on.
Spurs remain down in 13th, now 10 points off the top half.
Ange Postecoglou speaks to Yves Bissouma (L) earlier this season.Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA POOR AGAINST GUNNERS
Mikel Merino scored the only goal of a disappointing contest at the Emirates as Arsenal pulled clear in second place and to within 12 points of runaway leaders Liverpool.
Chelsea badly missed the presence of the absent Cole Palmer due to injury as they meekly surrendered to a damaging defeat for their hopes of a top-four finish.
The Blues remain in fourth for now but have five sides from Manchester City in fifth to Aston Villa in ninth within four points of Enzo Maresca’s team.
Both managers are hoping to be stronger after the upcoming international break. Bukayo Saka is nearing a return for Arsenal, while Maresca is confident of having Palmer, Nico Jackson and Noni Madueke back when they are next in action at home to Tottenham on April 3.
“We did enough to deserve to win the game,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “Now we have the international break so let’s take a chance to breathe and bring some players back hopefully.”
Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s goal.Source: Getty Images
Arsenal have struggled badly for goals since the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury forced midfielder Merino into a makeshift centre-forward role.
The Spanish international proved the match winner from a corner as he looped a header from Martin Odegaard’s delivery inside the far post on 20 minutes.
Chelsea barely threatened but were nearly gifted a route back into the game when David Raya fumbled Marc Cucurella’s shot and the ball trickled wide.
At the other end, Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez made a brilliant stop to prevent Merino doubling Arsenal’s lead with the best effort of the second half.
But the game petered out with little goalmouth action as a limp performance will do little to quieten the critics of Maresca’s style of play among the Chelsea support.
“There was not a big difference in the two games between us,” said Maresca. “Given the injuries, we fought until the end.”
Manchester United are in action later on Sunday when Ruben Amorim’s team visit lowly Leicester.
In a media blitz, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has repeatedly claimed that the club would go “bust by Christmas” if he did not execute a controversial cost-cutting plan.
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United have made 450 staff redundant, 39% of the club’s workforce, so far this financial year as penny pinching methods including scrapping staff lunches and ending legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2 million-a-year ambassador deal have been implemented.
Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of British multinational conglomerate Ineos who bought a 28.94 per cent stake in the club from the Glazers a year ago for £1.25 billion with a commitment to inject a further £232 million, has total control over football operations and has copped flack for the redundancies in particular.
But in separate interviews with the BBC, UK Telegraph as well as with club great Gary Neville for Sky Sports and The Overlap podcast, Ratcliffe reiterated that United had “gone off the rails” and his measures were necessary to get the club back on track.
“In super simple terms the club has been spending more money than it has been earning for the last seven years, including this year,” he said.
“If you do that for a prolonged period of time it ends up in a very difficult place and, for Manchester United, that place ended at the end of this year. At the end of 2025, Manchester United would have run out of cash. There would be no cash at the end of this year. That is the first time we have ever said that in public, but that is the fact of the matter.
“It [United] goes bust at Christmas [without change]”.
“Do you want to run an organisation as the press would like you to run the organisation or run the organisation the way you think is the best?” Ratcliffe added.
“My mother would say: ‘You look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves.’
“[The club can say to staff] ‘We’ll give you free lunches, we’ll give you all these perks and we’ll pay for your first-class train fare. We’ll give you a free taxi for this, but we’re going to cut back here [elsewhere].’ It’s not coherent.
“I know I’m getting a tough time in the press for being brutal, unpleasant, all those sorts of things.
“People [think], ‘Well, you know the directors are doing this, in that case I can do that [in terms of spending]. That sort of thing, you can’t be half pregnant. You either get it sorted out or not.
“I mean it [United] goes bust at Christmas.
“To be clear, if we hadn’t implemented the cost-saving projects and [even] if we bought no players in the summer then it would have run out of cash at Christmas.
“However, we reduced the cost of running the club by about £125 million so that transforms the club. And £125 million is a lot.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 25: Manchester United co owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe with Sir Dave Brailsford (L) and Sir Alex Ferguson (R) before the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The dire financial state that Ratcliffe has outlined is the result of astronomical spending on a massively underperforming squad.
United have lost £410 million over the past seven years on the transfer market and are required to spend £100 million this summer in fees for players they already own.
Despite all that spending, the Red Devils sit 14th on the Premier League table and need to beat Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie on Friday morning Australian to keep their last remaining hope of winning silverware this season alive.
Such a lowly standing in the league prompted Ratcliffe to label some of the recent signings “not good enough” and “overpaid” but he defended manager Ruben Amorim, who is having a torrid time since replacing Erik ten Hag in November.
Ratcliffe stated that the squad the Portuguese boss is dealing with is a “fraction” of Liverpool or Manchester City’s.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” Ratcliffe said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
Utd coach full of praise for Fernandes | 00:48
Ratcliffe was also reluctant to point the finger at his co-owners.
The Glazers have been the bane of Manchester United fans throughout the club’s downward spiral, and Neville pointed out that United had “the best stadium in the country, the best training ground in the country, the best team in the country and were debt-free” roughly 20 years ago when the American family took charge.
But Ratcliffe insisted that past administrations were at fault for United’s current woes, rather than the Glazer’s.
“If you look at some of the other characters in English football that are owners, and you know them very well, they’re heavily involved in all the running of the club,” Ratcliffe said.
“They [The Glazers] gave management an awful lot of rope, too much rope, obviously. But the previous two teams of management have to take a lot of the blame for the decisions they made.
“They have to, I’m afraid. It’s not just the Glazer family. They’ve not been involved in a level of detail.”
Neville was angered by the Glazer’s stepping back from the intricacies of how the club was run, labelling their actions “negligence”.
“You’re involved in the level of detail and you’re having to correct their mistakes,” Neville said to Ratcliffe.
“If they’ve not overseen the club in the last ten years to the point where it’s run out of cash, that’s negligence.
“You know that better than anybody.”
Premier League wrap: Arsenal fall behind | 03:13
Ratcliffe avoided the debate going further and instead also took the chance to look to the future.
One of the biggest gripes among United fans for many years has been the state of Old Trafford.
As rivals have unveiled shiny new stadiums or redeveloped their traditional homes, ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ has remained much the same, a relic of a bygone era, fitting of the club’s downfall.
A roof leak at the famous Stretford End last year was a particularly embarrassing moment for the iconic venue, while rival fans love to chant ‘Old Trafford is falling down’ to taunt United supporters.
All the while ticket prices have risen and away fans have gained easy access to sit among season-ticket holders, causing clashes, at several Premier League and European fixtures this season.
But despite the cost-cutting measures, Ratcliffe revealed that a new-look Old Trafford is among his plans to make United the most profitable Premier League club within three years.
“It’s definitely deliverable but I think it needs to be set in context again,” Ratcliffe said.
“If you take the view that it’s the greatest football club in the world, then if it’s going to build a new stadium it should be a new stadium that’s befitting the greatest club in the world.
“And also a stadium that befits the greatest league in the world because the Premier League is the greatest league in the world.”
Ratcliffe wants to emulate Real Madrid’s Bernabeu which was renovated from 2019 to 2024.
The stadium in the Spanish capital can hold up to 83,000 fans and boasts a retractable playing surface to easily swap out the football pitch for stages to host concerts.
It also has a retractable roof to ensure matches are always played in sublime conditions, as the club spent more than US$1 billion on the project to make the venue look out of this world.
“At the moment, if you look at the Premier League, we’ve got some great stadiums, but we don’t have a Bernabeu, do we? And we don’t have the new Nou Camp. We don’t have that in the Premier League,” he said.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has blasted some of his troubled club’s stars as “not good enough” and “probably overpaid”.
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Ratcliffe has endured a dismal start to his reign at Old Trafford since taking charge of footballing operations in February last year.
The British billionaire named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration.
Sancho and Antony are currently on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis respectively after underachieving with United.
In reference to United still paying instalments of transfer fees on several out-of-form players, Ratcliffe, who shares ownership of United with the US-based Glazer family, told the BBC: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17 million to buy him in the summer.”
Asked if he was suggesting those players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe said: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
After United finished eighth in the Premier League last season and won the FA Cup, Ratcliffe and his United advisers opted to stick with boss Erik ten Hag despite their poor form for much of the campaign.
The Dutchman was subsequently sacked in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim after United endured another wretched run.
Premier League wrap: Arsenal fall behind | 03:13
INEOS chairman Ratcliffe has accepted the decision to keep Ten Hag was a mistake.
He applied the same verdict to his decision to hire Dan Ashworth as sporting director, a role he left in December after just five months.
“I agree the Erik ten Tag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors,” the 72-year-old said.
“I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologise for that.”
Despite United’s struggles since Amorim took charge, leaving them 14th in the Premier League, Ratcliffe insisted he would keep faith with the former Sporting Lisbon boss.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” he said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
Backing Amorim’s decision to allow England forward Marcus Rashford to join Aston Villa on loan, Ratcliffe said: “He wants a dressing room that is full of people who are totally committed to winning football matches.
“He won’t tolerate people who don’t have 100 percent of that attitude. The players have to be in the same box.”
Arteta departs after title race question | 00:34
Ratcliffe made his incendiary comments on United’s moribund team just 24 hours after thousands of fans took part in a protest against the club’s ownership ahead of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Angry chants were directed at the Glazers and Ratcliffe, whose controversial off-field decisions have included a mid-season ticket price hike, as well as 200 anticipated redundancies among staff after 250 jobs were cut last year.
Ratcliffe claimed the “unpleasant” cost-cutting measures were “necessary” because the club would “run out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things”.
Stressing his “only interest here is returning Manchester United back to greatness again”, Ratcliffe said Amorim would have money to spend in the close-season to improve his squad.
United haven’t won the Premier League since 2013, the last season of Alex Ferguson’s legendary spell as manager.
While they have a huge task to close the gap on champions-elect Liverpool in future, Ratcliffe insisted his aim of winning the league by 2028, the club’s 150th anniversary, was “not impossible”.
Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta was hospitalised by a “reckless” challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts during the Eagles’ 3-1 win in the FA Cup fifth round, while Bournemouth reached the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out victory against Wolves on Saturday.
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Roberts was sent off just eight minutes into the south London derby at Selhurst Park after catching Mateta’s head with his boot as he raced out of the penalty area to clear the ball.
Referee Michael Oliver only issued a red card after a VAR review of the challenge, with Roberts winning the ball before accidentally crashing his boot into Mateta’s head.
Mateta received lengthy treatment, including oxygen, on the pitch before being stretchered to an ambulance and transported to hospital.
“Thank you for all your kind messages. I’m doing well. I hope to be back very soon. And stronger than ever. Well done guys for a great job today,” Mateta posted on Instagram.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Mateta had suffered a serious injury to his ear but said the impact could have ended the Frenchman’s career.
“Just imagine if he hits his face straight, with his power, with the studs, it is the end of JP’s career,” said Glasner.
“I’m pretty sure he didn’t want to injure JP in this situation, but I also think that you have to decide when you make such an impact, you just can’t do it in this way.”
Mateta had scored eight goals in his previous nine games and has 15 in total for Palace this season.
Palace chairman Steve Parish described as the “most reckless challenge” he had ever seen.
“That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen and I think he needs to have a long hard look at himself, that lad, because he’s endangering a fellow professional, maybe his life, with a challenge like that,” Parish told the BBC.
The UK Telegraph reported that “the Palace forward was the target of chants of “let him die” from some of the 2,800 visiting supporters that could be clearly heard on television”.
BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce said on the broadcast, “Millwall fans are not endearing themselves to anyone with their chanting about Mateta. The football club could be revisited about that”.
Palace made use of the man advantage to book their place in the quarter-finals.
– Bournemouth drama –
Japhet Tanganga’s own goal put Palace ahead in the 33rd minute before Daniel Munoz prodded in the second seven minutes later.
Wes Harding pulled a goal back for the Lions 13 minutes into first-half stoppage time added on for Mateta’s treatment.
Palace were made to wait until 82 minutes to ensure progress when Eddie Nketiah’s looping header found the far corner.
Bournemouth advanced to the last eight for only the third time in their history with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Wolves after their 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Evanilson’s 30th-minute opener for Bournemouth was followed by VAR controversy as Milos Kerkez had a second ruled out for off-side after an eight-minute check when the new semi-automated version of the system broke down.
Matheus Cunha levelled for Wolves with a second-half rocket to force extra-time, but the Brazilian was sent off for violent conduct after repeatedly clashing with Kerkez just before the penalties.
After Matt Doherty missed when he had the chance to send Wolves through, Boubacar Traore hit the crossbar and Luis Sinisterra sealed the win for Andoni Iraola’s men.
Milutin Osmajic taunted Burnley fans after helping Preston into the quarter-finals for the first time since 1966 with a 3-0 win at Deepdale.
When the Championship sides played in the league two weeks ago, Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri accused Osmajic of racist abuse, allegations which the Preston striker denies.
The incident remains the subject of an FA investigation and Mejbri was left out of the squad for the rematch.
Burnley players declined to shake hands with Montenegro international Osmajic before their latest meeting.
Osmajic got Preston’s second goal late in the first half and celebrated by taunting Burnley fans with his hands cupped around his ears before being embraced by his teammates.
Robbie Brady had put the hosts in front in the 31st minute and Will Keane added a third midway through the second half as Preston ended Burnley’s 23-game unbeaten run.
Ange Postecoglou’s job is on the line, there’s no two ways about it — but his role in securing the signature of Mathys Tel proves to be a pivotal moment in his Tottenham tenure.
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The 19-year-old was desperate for game time after playing limited minutes for Bayern Munich this season and it was Spurs, alongside Manchester United and Chelsea vying for his signature.
Tottenham officials agreed a $120m AUD fee to sign Tel, but after chairman Daniel Levy flew to Munich to pitch his vision to the young gun, he baulked and declined the move.
That’s where Postecoglou stepped in.
The Australian picked up the phone and called Tel, offering his own view of the path forward and exactly where he saw the rising star fitting in his side.
Suddenly, Tel had a change of heart. Moving quickly, he travelled to London to initially sign on loan before he was convinced to insert a $90m AUD buy option in his contract, for a potential six-year deal.
His conversation with the former Celtic boss was a clear turning point, and that sequence of events sums up the situation Postecoglou finds himself precariously placed in.
“Remember on Friday, Spurs agreed a permanent deal with Bayern Munich but the player said he didn’t want the move and preferred a move to Arsenal, Aston Villa or Manchester United,” Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth said.
“They didn’t peruse the move. But Ange Postecoglou got on the phone, spoke to Tel personally and convinced him Spurs were the place to be.”
Multiple reports over Postecoglou’s future in north London have not been able to produce a consensus, with some putting the Australian on the brink, and others saying he’s safe for the foreseeable future.
Postecoglou himself admitted in January “I reckon there is probably a fair chunk that will say no” when asked if he will be Tottenham manager beyond the next three weeks.
However, Spurs’ Tel saga — specifically the way it ended — is suggestive of a slightly more secure future for Postecoglou than some have predicted.
Levy turned to Postecoglou in an attempt to try and finish the job he was unable to complete, while also allowing him to sign other players during his stint as manager.
Premier League legend Gary Neville said that Tel had made a good decision to join Spurs, with Postecoglou’s philosophy part of the reason.
“Tottenham are a huge draw, the stadium and the training ground – and the manager with his style of football. It’s a thrilling style that creates chances,” Sky Sports’ Neville said.
“I’m glad Tel is going there after flirting with a couple of other clubs. Tel will improve Spurs.
“They have a big couple of weeks coming up. Sometimes players like the idea of playing for a club but the important thing is to play football. That’s what Tottenham can provide him.
“They are an amazing football club with an amazing fanbase and they have some great games coming up that he can contribute in.”
Postecoglou being handed the keys to the Tel transfer, and personally speaking to the young gun in a bid to change his mind, hints at a manager who’s been backed by the club for its next phase — not one who is being sacked imminently.
Even so, managing under the rule of Levy comes with an ominous history that Postecoglou will hope his new signings can help him defy.
Sam Kerr’s criminal trial gets underway | 01:34
Levy has been in charge at Tottenham since ENIC’s takeover in 2001, winning one League Cup in 2008 during his tenure as the longest current serving chairman.
During his 24 years, he’s sacked and hired 16 managers.
Postecoglou is just the latest in a long line of mentors who have failed to deliver without the significant financial investment to compete with the Premier League’s heavyweights.
Yet he was still able to convince one of the world’s brightest talents to join him in North London, and the chairman was not.
But should Spurs’ struggles continue to close out the 2024/25 season, it will be Postecoglou who is thrown out the door — not Levy, who refuses to listen to fan’s criticisms.
Levy watched on as Postecoglou struggled to field a starting eleven in recent weeks, with injuries tallying almost every game.
Fans have protested openly against the club’s ownership in recent weeks, even staging a mass event at the Tottenham club shop to try and enact change.
However, Levy has previously said that he doesn’t listen to criticism from the club’s faithful, with former Premier League striker Chris Sutton questioning the chairman.
“Daniel Levy is such a powerful figure – he wants to win trophies, but that’s not his primary objective, he wants to make money and that’s why Tottenham fans are angry,” he said on BBC.
“But, does Daniel Levy listen to anybody? He’s a stubborn so and so, we can talk as much as we like about it but he’s such a powerful figure – what is going to change?
“You can have your banners up, you can sing Levy out – but is he really going to listen to that?”
While Levy has been the focal point of fans’ woes, former Manchester United scout Mick Brown explained prior to deadline day that Postecoglou’s position was shaping as a familiar story.
“It’s mapping out at Tottenham as it often has done over the years,” he said to Football Insider.
Mathys Tel (R) will join Spurs.Source: Getty Images
“The manager of the time needs players, it gets to a point where the chairman is accused of keeping his hands in his pockets, he starts getting pressure from the fans, and he sacks the manager.
“He’s sacked 15 managers during his time there. It’s ‘watch this space’ at Tottenham at the moment.
“They’ve been down this road before.
“Chairmen, particularly Daniel Levy, don’t like pressure from the fans so they react and make a decision. That’s not my opinion, it’s a fact, it’s history.”
However, Tottenham’s pair of signings could be seen as a renewed show of faith in Postecoglou.
Last month, the club was in freefall with losses in the league piling up each week, while Levy’s pursestrings remained largely tightened.
But a pressure-relieving 0-2 away win over Brentford on the weekend, followed by two key coups late in the transfer window have offered new hope for Postecoglou’s future at the club.
Alongside Tel, Lens centre back Kevin Danso has also joined the club in a timely boost for the Australian’s injury-ravaged side.
Even so it wasn’t all good news in the market for Postecoglou, he was desperate to sign a second centre back, with Chelsea’s Axel Disasi snubbing Spurs in favour of Aston Villa.
AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori also rejected the club’s approach, while Crystal Palace declined a $140m AUD bid for England representative Marc Guehi.
The Guehi move in particular highlighted the difference between Spurs and other heavyweights, refusing to up their offer to secure a player who has been a proven Premier League performer.
Spurs still sit in 14th in the Premier League, losing four-straight games before breaking that streak against Brentford.
It is therefore likely that results in a trio of cup competitions, the Europe League, Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, will be pivotal in Postecoglou surviving the 2024/25 season.
Kerr’s alleged racial harassment shown | 00:50
Spurs have a 1-0 lead after the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi finals, with the second clash with Liverpool scheduled for Friday morning.
The recent return of Micky van de Ven proves crucial for Spurs, but the likes of Christian Romero, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario, among others, still sidelined.
Postecoglou will be desperate for Tel and Danso to hit the ground running in the hopes of helping Tottenham delve deeper into their cup campaigns.
The equation is simple for Postecoglou — win silverware and he will likely keep his job.
But the fact that he is still here to hold onto that hope represents an uptick in fortunes for a manager who, just last month, was struggling to field an XI in what some where billing as a relegation fight.
The Premier League winter transfer window closes at 10am (AEDT) and a host of clubs are still scrambling to bolster their squads to close out this season.
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Catch all the latest transfer news below!
ANGE’S SPURS BACK IN TEL EQUATION
After initially rejecting a move to Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou’s club have reportedly made strides in their attempts to sign French young gun Mathys Tel.
According to ESPN, the 19-year-old travelled to London on deadline day after a breakthrough in negotiations.
Tel will reportedly join Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich, however it remains to be seen how his contract will be structured.
It looms unlikely there will be an option or an obligation for the North London club to buy the rising star once the load period ends.
Chelsea and Manchester United were also reportedly interested in Tel’s services after he was seeking a move away from the German giants due to a lack of game time.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had previously flown to Munich, but was unable to convince the winger to make a permanent move to London after a $100m AUD transfer fee was agreed between clubs.
However, he reportedly had a change of heart and remained open to a loan move after speaking with coach Postecoglou.
Spurs are also keen to add more defensive recruits before the window closes.
The BBC reported Crystal Palace rejected a $140m AUD million bid from Tottenham for captain Marc Guehi, who has just 18 months left to run of his contract at Selhurst Park.
Tottenham reportedly won’t make any further bids to sign the English centre back.
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, applauds the fans after defeating Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Brentford Community Stadium on February 02, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Palace previously turned down a host of bids in the summer, with the final offer tabled by Newcastle at the time sitting at $130m AUD.
Their resistance to let their captain go comes after injuries in their defensive ranks, with only three fit centre backs currently in their squad.
Chelsea’s Axel Disasi has been linked with a move across London, while Spurs also completed the signing of centre-back Kevin Danso from Lens on Sunday.
CITY MAKE MOVE FOR FOURTH SIGNING
Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Nico Gonzalez from Porto before Monday’s transfer deadline.
City’s midfield frailties without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is out for the season due to a serious knee injury, were exposed in a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s men find themselves in a battle just to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with the defending champions sitting fourth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
City could also use reinforcements for a blockbuster Champions League playoff round tie against holders Real Madrid later this month.
Former Barcelona midfielder Gonzalez, 23, will reportedly arrive for a fee of $100m AUD.
City have already splashed out more than $240m AUD million in January on Egypt forward Omar Marmoush and young defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
Premier League: Spurs win, City smashed | 02:45
WEST HAM SECURE NEW MARKSMAN
West Ham on Monday signed Brighton striker Evan Ferguson on loan until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old Ireland international will be reunited with Graham Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui as manager at the London Stadium last month.
Ferguson has made 13 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls this season, but most of those have been off the bench.
Brighton boss Fabian Huerzeler said the loan would give the highly rated Ferguson much-needed game time.
“Evan has had a frustrating 12 months with injuries and for him to get back to the level he’s capable of and to continue his development, he really needs to be playing regularly,” he said.
“This loan gives him that opportunity, and under a manager he knows well. We are looking forward to watching Evan’s progress over the next few months, and we wish him well.” Ferguson has made 80 appearances in all competitions for Brighton since his debut as a 16-year-old in the League Cup under Potter, scoring 17 goals.
He will boost West Ham’s attacking options in the absence of Michail Antonio and Niclas Fuellkrug, both of whom are injured.
“It feels good to be here. Seeing the stadium and being here today, I’ve got a very good feeling,” Ferguson told West Ham TV.
“I can see and know how big West Ham United is. It was a big opportunity for me to come here. I know the gaffer well and look forward to working under him again.” Potter said Ferguson had “plenty of quality attributes” that would help the team, currently 15th in the Premier League.
Manchester City have already spent north of $150m AUD on talent, and there’s one more player set to arrive to push that figure close to $300m AUD.
Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs are desperate to add depth to their injury-ravaged squad and Ruben Amorim’s United revolution is just getting started.
Read below for all the latest January transfer news!
TOTTENHAM
Done deals
Antonin Kinsky — Slavia Prague to Spurs ($31m AUD)
Yang Min-hyeok — Gangwon FC to Spurs ($7.9m AUD)
Rumoured deals
Tyler Dibling — Southampton to Spurs (more than $49m AUD)
Liam Delap — Ipswich Town to Spurs ($79m AUD)
Milan Skriniar — PSG to Spurs (N/A)
Thomas Kristensen — Udinese to Spurs (N/A)
Jack Grealish — Manchester City to Spurs (N/A)
Analysis: It’s been a horror campaign thus far for Spurs, and Ange Postecoglou desperately needs to reinforce his squad who currently sit in 15th after 22 games. Big name stars like Christian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur and Guglielmo Vicario have all been sidelined due to injury, forcing Tottenham to field a weakened side during a tough period for the Australian manager. Throw in a fresh injury to star striker Dominic Solanke, who is set for an extended sideline stint, and Spurs desperately need to recruit in January in both attack and defence. Yang Min-hyeok arrives at the club, but the young South Korean was signed previously, while Antonin Kinsky has hit the ground running since arrived from Slavia Prague, rounding out the club’s two done deals. Ipswich Town revelation Liam Delap is reportedly one target of Postecoglou, with the 21-year-old enjoying an impressive debut Premier League campaign. However, it’s unlikely Ipswich will be willing to part with their talisman in the midst of a relegation battle, but regardless Spurs could table and offer too good to refuse according to TeamTalk, which could be around $79m AUD. Elsewhere, Southampton star Tyler Dibling has also attracted interest from Tottenham, with Sky Sports reporting the 18-year-old is hot property and has many suitors. What complicates matters is the winger is sidelined for six weeks with an ankle injury, meaning a move in January might not make sense for potential clubs. RB Leipzig have reportedly offered $49m AUD to pry him away from the Premier League, but Southampton reportedly want a significantly higher offer before they consider letting him depart. Jack Grealish is another interesting figure who could be on the move, with Tottenham reportedly keeping tabs on the Manchester City attacker who is weighing up his future under Pep Guardiola according to Football London. In defence, two names have come up as potential targets, with Milan Skriniar and Thomas Kristensen on Postecoglou’s radar. According to TBR Football, Skriniar is also being targeted by Galatasaray, having been made available for transfer by the PSG board. Kristensen, meanwhile, has been impressive in the Serie A for Udinese this season, with the Daily Mail reporting Juventus are also in discussions to recruit the Danish defender.
Ange ‘on thin ice’ after 3-2 loss | 03:26
LIVERPOOL
Done deals
N/A
Rumoured deals
Martin Zubimendi — Real Sociedad to Liverpool (N/A)
Takefusa Kubo — Real Sociedad to Liverpool (N/A)
Analysis: Liverpool are sitting pretty atop the Premier League ladder, and Arne Slot has a big job on his hands to lift the trophy in his debut season. But beyond that, the Dutch manager’s transfer priority could be retaining the club’s big-name stars as the Merseyside outfit remain largely quiet in the January transfer window. Liverpool have been linked with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who is currently hot property and is Arsenal’s No.1 transfer target. He looks to be heading to North London, with a deal reportedly in place for the summer. Elsewhere, according to TeamTalk, Liverpool bosses have their own on another Soceidad star, with Takefusa Kubo the club’s top target as a successor to Mo Salah. The club are reportedly willing to allow three players to depart in a swap deal, with Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa named as those on the chopping block, with Kubo having an $118m AUD release clause in his deal. Salah’s future remains up in the air, with his current contract running out at the season’s end, and Saudi club Al Hilal circling the Egyptian star. Salah has once again been one of the Premier League’s best players, but Slot is facing the real possibility of losing the prodigious winger in June if they club can’t sort out his new deal. Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract also expire, with the latter having been linked with a move to Real Madrid to join fellow English gun Jude Bellingham.
ARSENAL
Done deals
N/A
Rumoured deals
Martin Zubimendi — Real Sociedad to Arsenal (N/A)
Matheus Cunha — Wolverhampton to Arsenal (N/A)
Evan Ferguson — Brighton to Arsenal (N/A)
Benjamin Sesko — RB Leipzig to Arsenal ($118m AUD)
Dusan Vlahovic — Juventus to Arsenal (N/A)
Analysis: It’s been widely reported Mikel Arteta has won the race to sign midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but he won’t serve as a quick fix for the Gunners. The Spaniard is set to land in North London in the summer, meaning Arsenal are still on the lookout for recruits. Arsenal are desperate for a striker, with Kai Havertz failing to fire up front this season and a sheer lack of goals being to blame for the club’s lacking form. Matheus Cunha has emerged as a potential target, with the Brazilian having put together a strong season for Wolves, scoring 10 goals and assisting four more so far. According to Sky Sports, Arsenal powerbrokers are reportedly considering a loan with an option to buy, with the club having already used both of their domestic loan slots. However, Wolves won’t let him go without a fight, with the club battling to stay in the Premier League, currently sitting in 17th place. Another striker option looms as Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, who according to The Sun, could be on the move to Arsenal on loan. The 20-year-old has been hit with a string if injuries in recent seasons, but he has a breakthrough year in 2022 with the Seagulls. RB Leipzig target man Benjamin Sesko has also been linked with a move to Arsenal, having already said “yes” to a move to the North London club if a deal can be struck between the two parties, according to The Daily Mirror. The 21-year-old reportedly made a handshake agreement with his club to make a move in the summer for $118m AUD, but Arsenal reportedly want to secure a deal early.
Elsewhere, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has also been linked with a move away from the Serie A, with PSG star Randal Kolo Muano set to join the Italian club on a loan deal. But overall, Arteta hinted the Gunners would be bringing in reinforcements after his side’s draw against Aston Villa, saying: “When you look at the performances, I don’t know how many teams are playing at this level in the league. But when you look at the bench, you would probably say we are very short.”
CHELSEA
Done deals
N/A
Rumoured deals
Alejandro Garnacho — Manchester United to Chelsea ($99m AUD)
Mamadou Sarr — Strasbourg to Chelsea ($23.5m AUD)
Dusan Vlahovic — Juventus to Chelsea ($118m AUD)
Jamie Gittens — Dortmund to Chelsea (N/A)
Liam Delap — Ipswich Town to Chelsea (N/A)
Analysis: Enzo Maresca is hopeful of adding some strike power to his outfit, with Chelsea pushing to compete with Liverpool for the Premier League title this season. In an interesting move, the London club are considering recruiting out-of-favour United winger Alejandro Garnacho, with his agent reportedly spotted at Stamford Bridge in recent days according to The Mirror. Manchester United officials reportedly want $99m AUD to make a deal happen, with the Red Devils hopeful of cashing in on the winger whose transfer fee would be pure profit under PSR rules. The rising star has also fallen out of favour under new boss Ruben Amorim, with Serie A club Napoli also interested in his services. Ipswich Town rising star Liam Delap was reportedly on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist, however no moves have been made to recruit him from the club fighting relegation. Elsewhere, Dusan Vlahovic shapes as Chelsea’s most likely striker recruit, with the club having already held talks with Juventus with Renota Veiga potentially departing the Premier League for the Serie A. Vlahovic has been valued at $118m AUD, with Veiga potentially included in the deal to reduce the fee according to ESPN. The Serbian’s current contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, scoring seven goals and assisting one more in his 17 appearances for Juventus this year. However, he’s also scored four times in five games in the Champions League. Mamadou Sarr will also reportedly join Chelsea for a fee of around $23.5m AUD, with the 19-year-old making his move in the summer according to the BBC. Elsewhere, Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens has also emerged as a potential candidate to make the move to London.
Blues snap winless run at home | 02:05
MANCHESTER CITY
Done deals
Vitor Reis — Palmeiras to Manchester City ($58m AUD)
Abdukodir Khusanov — Lens to Manchester City ($67m AUD)
Claudio Echeverri — River Plate to Manchester City ($30m AUD)
Rumoured deals
Omar Marmoush — Frankfurt to Manchester City ($125m AUD)
Douglas Luiz — Juventus to Manchester City (N/A)
Andrea Cambiaso — Juventus to Manchester City ($132m AUD)
Analysis: Pep Guardiola has taken action already in the January window, signing three players in Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Claudio Echeverri. Manchester City have endured their toughest period yet under the Spaniard, and in the hopes of surging back to the top of the Premier League, and winning a fifth straight title, Guardiola has hit the market and he’s showing no signs of slowing down with striker Erling Haaland also putting pen to paper on a contract extension. Khusanov and Reis’s arrivals are set to offset the loss of wing back Kyle Walker, whose loan deal to AC Milan is almost complete. According to ESPN, attacker Omar Marmoush is set to join Manchester City for a whopping $125m AUD. The 25-year-old reportedly was undergoing a medical exam on Tuesday ahead of his imminent signing. Marmoush has been impressive in the Bundesliga, with the Egyptian scoring four goals and assisting two more in six Europa League appearances this season. Douglas Luiz is also reportedly being eyed for a potential return to the City club, with a loan deal being considered for the midfielder who was sold to Aston Villa in 2019. According to Sky Sports, a move for Luiz being considered over a push to recruit Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes. Luiz is reportedly expected to depart Juventus, but it remains to be seen where he will land. Elsewhere, Andrea Cambiaso has been named as a potential target for City, with the club in the early stages of a move to recruit the 24-year-old full back. The Italian giants reportedly value the defender at around $132m AUD.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Done deals
N/A
Rumoured deals
Patrick Dorgu — Lecce to Manchester United ($66.5m AUD)
Victor Osimhen — Galatasaray to Manchester United ($125m AUD)
Miloš Kerkez — Bournemouth to Manchester United (N/A)
Nuno Mendes — PSG to Manchester United (N/A)
Bryan Mbeumo — Brentford to Manchester United (N/A)
Matheus Cuhna — Wolverhampton to Manchester United (N/A)
Analysis: Ruben Amorim is in his first transfer window as United’s manager, already making his stance on two of the club’s biggest stars clear. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are set to depart Manchester, and the Portuguese boss is on the lookout for replacements. Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu is shaping as a player set to land in Old Trafford, with United bosses reportedly holding talks with Lecce’s director of football according to The Guardian. The Serie A club are reportedly seeking around $66.5m AUD for the wing back/winger who could fit perfectly into Amorim’s unusual three at the back system. Dorgu could fill the hole left by Garnacho, but can only play on both sides of the field in defence if needed. Milos Kerkez and Nuno Mendes are also reportedly on Amorim’s list of flank defenders, with the United boss making that position a focal point in his January transfer window. Elsewhere, United have been linked with a pair of strikers, with Victor Osimhen the biggest name listed in their rumoured targets. The Nigerian marksman is currently on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray, and is parent club Napoli are reportedly willing to offload the striker for a cut price. Garnacho’s move looks to be the linchpin in any deal for Osimhen, with Napoli officials hoping United bosses lower their asking price for the rising winger, while their own valuation for Osimhen sits at $125m AUD according to Naples publication Il Matino. The Nigerian’s arrival could solve what has been a striker crisis in recent seasons at Old Trafford, with Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Kirzkee failing to lock down the position. Brenford’s Bryan Mbuemo has also reportedly been included in United’s striker shortlist alongside Wolves’ Matheus Cuhna.
Ryan move set to force Aussie shuffle | 05:36
THE REST
Done deals
Jaden Philogene — Aston Villa to Ipswich Town ($39m AUD)
Donyell Malen — Dortmund to Aston Villa ($39m AUD)
Emmanuel Agbadou — Stde de Reims to Wolverhampton ($32.7m AUD)
Julio Soler — Lanus to Bournemouth ($13m AUD)
Diego Gomez — Inter Miami to Brighton ($21.6m AUD)
Andres Garcia — Levante to Aston Villa ($11.8m AUD
Matai Akinmboni — DC United to Bournemouth ($2.9m AUD)
Romain Esse — Milwall to Crystal Palace (undisclosed)
Woyo Coulibaly — Parma to Leicester City ($3.7m AUD)
Welington — Sao Paulo to Southampton (undisclosed)
Joachim Kayi Sanda — Valenciennes to Southampton (undisclosed)
Biggest rumoured deals
Matheus Cuhna — Wolverhampton to Nottingham Forest
Jhon Duran — Aston Villa to West Ham
Analysis: Arguably the biggest move outside the big six has come from West Ham, who have reportedly bid a whopping $112m AUD to sign Villa striker Jhon Duran according to The Athletic. However, that bid is reportedly set to be rejected, having recently extended the contract of the Colombian international until 2030. It’s the second time West Ham have bidded for Duran’s services. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are flying high in third place on the ladder and are hoping to continue their run by making Wolves striker Matheus Cuhna their top target according to Daily Mail. Forest are reportedly preparing to make a competitive bid for the Brazilian, who has scored 10 goals so far this campaign. The City Ground club have also previously had a $43m AUD bid for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa turned down, before turning their attention elsewhere.
The reporter started the interview by saying “Ange, familiar story. What are your assessment of that performance please?”
The Australian queried the phrasing, responding by asking for clarification.
“A familiar story?” Postecoglou asked.
“Well in terms of defeat,” the reporter said.
“Yeah, okay. Great way to start an interview,” Postecoglou responded, clearly displeased.
The former Socceroos boss did answer the question, however.
“Yeah, look it was a tough result for us. Obviously in the first half we struggled to get control of the game. I made some changes in the team that probably weren’t helpful in the end,” he said.
“I had players struggling to come to terms with it, unable to capitalise on it. The second half the players put in the right response. Credit to them but we obviously fell short.”
It is the not the first time this season that Postecoglou has been annoyed by questioning from reporters after a loss.
When Spurs were battered 6-2 at home against league leaders Liverpool last month, Postecoglou was fed up with repeated question of his side’s injury issues, which have decimated their defence.
“I’m just going to stop answering these questions. If people can’t see the obvious, I’m not going to point it out,” Postecoglou said.
‘The obvious’ was on show again on Sunday with first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, and three of Postecoglou’s preferred back four in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, as well as club record signing Dominic Solanke, all sidelined.
Everton, who now sit 16th on the table, led 3-0 at half time with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye picking holes in Tottenham’s understrength defence to find the back of the net before an Archie Gray own goal rubbed further salt into Spurs’ wounds.
The score line only looked more flattering in the end as Dejan Kulusevski scored in the 77th minute and Richarlison added another against his former club in stoppage time.
Postecoglou: ‘Spurs need reinforcements’ | 01:11
Postecoglou did shed light on their injury situation post-match, reiterating earlier words that there is no quick fix to the predicament.
“We had 11 or 12 missing tonight and apart from, we’ve got to see how Rodri’s going through the protocols, apart from him, no-one else is really due to come back,” he said.
“We’ve got a European game on Thursday, we obviously can’t use Djed or Reguilon in that, so we’re in this situation.”
Tottenham fans turned their anger towards chair Daniel Levy after the final whistle as they are desperate for the club to make moves in the current January transfer window to provide Postecoglou with reinforcements.
Chants of “we want Levy out” rang out from the away end, but the manager was steering clear of that issue.
“I separate myself from that. This is not about me, but what is about me right now is I have the responsibility of the group of players I do have, to try and get us through this, and that’s what I’ve got to focus on,” Postecoglou said.
“For me to focus on anything else is abstaining myself from the responsibility I have. I’m just determined to get us out of this. The club’s doing its best to…more about helping the players than helping me because they’re the ones we’re asking some massive jobs of 18-year-olds.
“We had a 17-year-old out there trying to win games of football for us. And others who are just playing week on week, so, you know it’s more about getting the players help rather than me help.”
Nottingham Forest’s fairytale Premier League season took another big step on Tuesday when the former European champions secured a draw over league leaders Liverpool at home.
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Liverpool dominated the night at the City Ground but was still forced to come from behind to settle for a draw after New Zealand striker Chris Wood put Forest in front after eight minutes.
His strike came against the run of play and took his remarkable season tally to 13 goals in 21 games.
Forest still dreamt of clinching a miraculous win well into the second half, until Diogo Jota — who had been on the field for just 22 seconds — nodded home for Liverpool from a corner.
Jota continued to make an impact, and Liverpool kept Forest under siege, but the underdogs escaped with a point to delight the home crowd.
Liverpool remains six points clear of anyone on the Premier League table.
The result also keeps Forest in second-place after 21 games, one point ahead of Arsenal, and three ahead of Chelsea, who needed a 95th minute goal from Reece James to save a draw at home to Bournemouth.
Title rivals Manchester City, meanwhile, missed the major opportunity to close the gap by coughing up a 2-0 lead to Brentford, who stunned the champions late with 82nd and 92nd goals from Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard.
‘Calamitous’ Perth Glory own goal | 01:06
The biggest result of the night, however, belonged to Forest whose redemption in England’s top flight continues to gather steam.
Their fairytale run has been spearheaded by a career year from striker Wood, the 33-year-old Kiwi who has been among the Premier League’s most prolific goal scorers this season.
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson noted that the City Ground “erupted” when Wood scored against the run of play.
“Forest hadn’t been out of their half in the first eight minutes. I cannot believe they are 1-0 up. They had been ripped to shreds,” he noted.
Clinton Morrison, former Republic of Ireland striker, said on the BBC: “This is why Forest are good. You don’t see them for the first five minutes and then they hit.”
Forest’s remarkable run of six successive league wins prior to Liverpool’s visit had sparked claims they could emulate Leicester’s fairytale title triumph in 2016.
This impressive performance suggested that dream should not be completely discounted, even if Liverpool remain firm favourites.
Earlier this month, Forest marked the 50th anniversary of Brian Clough’s appointment, which triggered the club’s incredible rise from the second tier to English champions in 1978 and European Cup winners in 1979 and 1980.
– Inspired Sels –
Back then, Forest and Liverpool were England’s pre-eminent forces, jousting for domestic and continental silverware on a regular basis.
For the first time since 1979, Liverpool and Forest were meeting with both teams in the top three and the retro feel was palpable on the banks of the River Trent.
Forest fans, red and white scarves twirling in the raucous atmosphere, had barely finished a stirring pre-match rendition of Mull of Kintyre before their team delivered a statement of intent that could easily have come from the Clough era.
Forest have proved lethal on the counter-attack this season and they caught Liverpool with a punishing sucker-punch from their first attack in the eighth minute.
Anthony Elanga’s pin-point pass caught Virgil van Dijk flat-footed as Wood ran in behind the Liverpool defender.
Keeping his composure, Wood slotted a clinical finish under Alisson Becker. Slot’s men dominated possession after that but struggled to break down a resolute Forest defence well marshalled by Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic.
Milenkovic and Murillo had stopped Liverpool mustering a shot on target in the first half as Mohamed Salah was held in check.
Forest and Liverpool battled to a 1-1 draw.Source: AFP
Liverpool drew level after a rare slip from Nuno’s defence in the 66th minute. Kostas Tsimikas’s corner looped into penalty area and Jota, one of the smallest players on the pitch, was given space to glance his header past Sels from five yards.
It was an inspired substitution from Slot, who had sent on Jota and Tsimikas just 22 seconds earlier.
Jota almost struck again, weaving through the Forest defence before Sels made a fine save to deny the Portugal forward.
Sels produced an even better stop moments later, throwing himself in front of Jota’s powerful close-range strike.
In a frantic finale, Dominik Szoboszlai’s blast forced another good save from Sels, while Salah’s curler was tipped over by the inspired Forest keeper.
There was nearly a dramatic winner for Liverpool but Salah’s shot was cleared off the line by Ola Aina before Sels clawed Cody Gakpo’s shot to safety.
MAN CITY BLOW LATE LEAD AT BRENTFORD, CHELSEA HELD BY BOURNEMOUTH
Manchester City’s upturn came undone as Brentford hit back to draw 2-2 on Tuesday, while Chelsea were also held by the same scoreline at home by Bournemouth.
Phil Foden’s double had City on course for a fourth consecutive win after a run of just one victory in 13 games.
However, the English champions’ defending was not convincing all night and they were punished as Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard struck in the final 10 minutes to earn Brentford a point.
Foden’s return to the form that saw him crowned Premier League player of the year last season was the one positive for City.
But Pep Guardiola will reflect on a missed opportunity to make up ground on the top four.
A point leaves City still down in sixth.
Manchester City’s upturn came undone as Brentford hit back to draw 2-2 on Tuesday.Source: Getty Images
Erling Haaland and Savinho struck the woodwork for City either side of half-time.
However, Brentford were a constant threat on the counter-attack and only a brilliant last ditch tackle from Josko Gvardiol denied Wissa the opener for the home side.
Moments later, Foden produced a brilliant deft touch from Kevin De Bruyne’s inviting delivery to score for just the third time in the Premier League this season.
Brentford then saw a host of chances to level come and go before City punished them with a sucker punch.
Savinho’s powerful effort was parried by Mark Flekken into the path of Foden, who smashed in his fourth goal in five league games.
Brentford did finally get some reward for their attacking endeavour when Wissa slotted in from Mads Roerslev’s cross to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.
And they completed the comeback in stoppage time when Norgaard’s header had too much power for Stefan Ortega.
– Reece rescues Chelsea –
Chelsea’s miserable run extended to five league games without a win but they were grateful for captain Reece James’ stoppage-time equaliser salvaging a point for them against the Cherries.
Cole Palmer’s cool finish from Nicolas Jackson’s through ball had given Chelsea the perfect start.
But Bournemouth hit back despite losing both their strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal to long-term injuries.
Chelsea’s miserable run extended to five league games without a win but they were grateful for captain Reece James’ stoppage-time equaliser.Source: Getty Images
Justin Kluivert levelled from the penalty spot, before Antoine Semenyo’s blistering near-post effort put the visitors in front.
James has endured another injury-hit season but showed the quality he possesses by curling home a free-kick at the death.
West Ham boss Graham Potter enjoyed a winning home debut as Fulham were beaten 3-2 at the London Stadium.
The Hammers shrugged off an injury crisis in attacking areas to score twice in two first-half minutes.
Carlos Soler pounced on a wayward pass by Andreas Pereira to sweep in the opener before Tomas Soucek fired in from Aaron Wan Bissaka’s cross.
Alex Iwobi’s intended cross evaded everyone on its way in at the start of the second half to give Fulham hope.
Lucas Paqueta restored West Ham’s two-goal cushion to take Potter’s men above Manchester United and Tottenham into 12th.
Iwobi pulled another goal back for Fulham, but defeat leaves them still in ninth.
Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge was dealt another seismic blow as Joao Pedro’s penalty secured a 1-1 draw for Brighton on Saturday to leave the Gunners five points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
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Mikel Arteta’s attacking options were limited by illness and injury but 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri took his chance to shine with a composed finish to put the visitors in front.
However, Arsenal saw two vital points slip away when William Saliba was harshly punished for a clash of heads with Joao Pedro and the Brazilian slotted home the resulting spot-kick.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was insenced over the decision, claiming double standards after a hefty clash between Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski and Newcastle midfielder Anthony Gordon did not end in a penalty earlier in the day.
“It’s pathetic,” Wright said.
“He’s just tried to head the ball here — I don’t know what to believe anymore. C’mon man, it’s ridiculous.
“I can’t believe what I’ve just seen.”
Liverpool can now further extend their lead at the top and close in on a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title when they host struggling Manchester United on Sunday.
Already shorn of talisman Bukayo Saka for the next two months with a hamstring injury, Arsenal’s attacking options were further depleted by illness.
Kai Havertz failed to even make the matchday squad for the second consecutive game, while captain Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli were only fit enough for appearances as second-half substitutes.
Nwaneri was the beneficiary with a second consecutive start and showed why he is one of the Premier League’s rising stars with a clinical finish for the opening goal.
The teenager still had plenty to do as he raced onto Mikel Merino’s ball over the top but his pace took him beyond the Brighton defence before firing low into the far corner on 16 minutes.
Arsenal went on to control the remainder of the first half but lacked any penetration without their quartet of attacking stars to build on their lead.
Merino had the one big opportunity to double the Gunners’ advantage early in the second period when he skewed wide from Declan Rice’s free-kick.
Moments later the visitors were rocked by a controversial call that could have huge ramifications for the title race.
There was the slightest touch from Saliba’s head onto Joao Pedro’s but the Brighton forward went down clutching his face and got the reward of a spot-kick.
The Seagulls captain for the day, in the absence of Lewis Dunk, confidently stroked home the penalty to level.
Arteta responded immediately by summoning Odegaard from the bench, while Martinelli had replaced Nwaneri at the break.
However, it was Brighton who looked the most likely winners in the closing stages.
Yakuba Minteh wasted a great chance to end their now eight-game winless run when his shot across goal evaded both Yasin Ayari and Kaoru Mitoma and slid wide of the far post.
But a point is enough to edge Brighton back into 10th.
Spurs to target January transfer window | 01:10
HAALAND DOUBLES UP IN MAN CITY STROLL AS SPURS FUME
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City pummelled West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday while in-form Newcastle inflicted another painful defeat on Ange Postecoglou’s struggling Tottenham.
Chelsea’s recent woes continued with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, meaning they have taken just two points from four games over the festive period.
Defending champions City beat Leicester last week for just their second win in 14 games but they have now won successive matches for the first time since October and Pep Guardiola will hope they have turned the corner.
The home side took the lead in the 10th minute when West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal deflected City winger Savinho’s cross past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
City tightened their grip three minutes before the break when Haaland headed home at the back post from Savinho’s deep cross.
The Norwegian claimed his second 10 minutes after the interval, dinking the ball over Areola after a fine pass from Savinho, to take his league haul to 16 goals, one behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Phil Foden made it 4-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug grabbed a consolation for Julen Lopetegui’s men, who suffered a 5-0 mauling by Premier League leaders Liverpool last week.
Despite their shocking run of results, sixth-placed City are just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
But Guardiola said his team were still not back in the groove. “We have struggled with results recently but the last two victories are good and we did not lose for three,” he told the BBC.
“I would say a month and half (of poor form) compared with eight years is not bad.”
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City pummelled West Ham 4-1.Source: Getty Images
– ‘Angriest in career’ –
In the early kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Newcastle came from behind to clinch a fifth straight Premier League win and heap more misery on injury-hit Spurs.
The home side went ahead in the fourth minute through Dominic Solanke.
Newcastle levelled two minutes later when Antony Gordon arrowed an effort into the bottom corner but Postecoglou stood in disbelief on the touchline looking at referee Andrew Madley after Joelinton intercepted Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his hand in the build-up.
VAR deemed Joelinton’s arm to be in a natural position and the contact to be accidental, which provoked a furious reaction from Tottenham’s bench and they were up in arms midway through the first half when the already-booked Dan Burn avoided a second yellow card for handball by the centre circle.
In-form Alexander Isak scored what turned out to be the winner towards the end of the first period.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were breathing down Liverpool’s necks just two weeks ago but are now nine points behind the Reds, having played two games more.
The Italian, who has always insisted his team are not in the title race, made six changes for the match at Selhurst Park.
Chelsea took the lead when Jadon Sancho drove down the left and found Cole Palmer, who calmly finished in the corner.
The visitors enjoyed the bulk of possession but they could not capitalise and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled in the 82nd minute.
Aston Villa beat relegation-threatened Leicester 2-1 at home, with goals from Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey.
Brentford recorded their first league win on the road, smashing bottom side Southampton 5-0, and Bournemouth beat Everton 1-0.
