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  • ‘Very, very angry’: Arsenal coach fumes after title bid rocked; Man Utd rally amid late drama — EPL Wrap

    ‘Very, very angry’: Arsenal coach fumes after title bid rocked; Man Utd rally amid late drama — EPL Wrap

    Mikel Arteta has slammed Arsenal for being ‘nowhere near the levels’ required to win the Premier League following his side’s 1-0 loss to West Ham.

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    Meanwhile troubled Manchester United rallied from two goals down in a 2-2 draw at Everton.

    Jarrod Bowen’s strike just before half-time at the Emirates proved to be the difference as the Gunners dropped to their third defeat of the season with their 15-game unbeaten streak coming to an end.

    A red card to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 73rd minute did little to help Arsenal’s cause as they missed out on the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top to five points.

    And Arteta was left bitterly frustrated as Arsenal created next to nothing as they lost at home to the Hammers for the second successive season.

    Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: “Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well.

    “We didn’t hit the levels of today and I am very much responsible of that so I am very, very angry.” Arteta also refused to use the lack of attackers at his disposal as an excuse for his side’s toothless display up front.

    Mikel Merino, a central midfielder, was named up top for the Gunners with Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri on the flanks.

    In total, Arsenal took 20 shots, but just two of those landed on target. Yet Arteta bemoaned a lack of quality from his entire squad as the primary reason for the defeat.

    “I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included,” he remarked.

    “That was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.

    Arsenal’s Declan Rice is substituted by manager Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday February 22, 2025. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

    Match Stats “We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today and today, nowhere near.” The loss to West Ham now leaves the Gunners’ title hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.

    With Liverpool drawing to Everton and Aston Villa recently, Arsenal had the chance to keep the pressure on Arne Slot‘s men.

    But the loss to West Ham leaves the margin at eight points with 12 games remaining ahead of Liverpool’s clash away at Manchester City on Sunday.

    “I think you have to congratulate West Ham for the victory and the game that they played,” Arteta added.

    “But as well I think a lot from our side that we never got right and they didn’t allow us to get enough momentum, enough sequence of play with positive action that could deliver into situations of threat for them.” Arteta and his troops must now quickly switch focus to Wednesday’s trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest.

    He will also be without Lewis-Skelly as one of his defensive options. The teenager brought down Mohamed Kudus as the Ghanaian looked to break towards goal with no defensive cover nearby.

    It was initially given a yellow card, but following a VAR review, it was upgraded to a straight red.

    Wild Melbourne derby ends in draw | 01:49

    Lewis-Skelly’s sending off was his second in his last four league fixtures, with the other coming in a 1-0 win over Wolves.However, it was later overturned upon appeal.

    At Goodison Park, United were headed for a ninth defeat in their last 13 league games as goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure put Everton two up inside 33 minutes.

    Ruben Amorim’s team had not mustered a shot on target until Fernandes’ free-kick pulled a goal back 18 minutes from time before Manuel Ugarte’s equaliser salvaged a point.

    More late drama was to come as Everton were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage-time, only for referee Andy Madley to overturn his decision after a VAR review.

    “We just played one half and we managed to draw the game. We didn’t exist in the first half,” Amorim said after his 15th-placed side’s dismal run extended to just four wins in 15 league games.

    SPURS BACK ON TRACK

    Tottenham eased the pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou with a 4-1 win at third-bottom Ipswich.

    Brennan Johnson put Tottenham ahead in the 18th minute with a tap-in from Son Heung-min’s cutback.

    Johnson was on target again eight minutes later, netting with a clinical strike from another Son assist.

    Omari Hutchinson pulled one back for Ipswich in the 36th minute. But Djed Spence’s deflected 77th minute shot and Dejan Kulusevski’s 84th minute finish wrapped up Tottenham’s second successive victory.

    Wolves boosted their survival bid with a priceless 1-0 win at 10-man Bournemouth.

    Bournemouth had Illia Zabarnyi sent off late in the first half when his foul by Rayan Ait-Nouri was upgraded from a yellow to red card after VAR intervened.

    Nunez shocker leaves coach breathless | 00:25

    Wolves took advantage in the 36th minute as Nelson Semedo’s cross was missed by Dean Huijsen and Matheus Cunha steered his shot past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    Vitor Pereira’s team are now five points clear of the relegation zone as fifth-placed Bournemouth’s top four hopes suffered a setback.

    Joachim Andersen’s own goal put his former club Crystal Palace on course for a 2-0 win at Fulham.

    Daniel Munoz’s 66th minute blast wrapped up Palace’s latest success on the road. Southampton slipped closer to relegation after a 4-0 defeat against south-coast rivals Brighton at St Mary’s.

    Joao Pedro, Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood’s 82nd minute effort condemned bottom of the table Southampton to a 21st defeat in 26 league games this season.

    Southampton are 13 points from safety with 12 games left to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

    Chelsea travel to Aston Villa looking to bolster their top four push in Saturday’s late game.

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  • Disgraced football chief found guilty of sexual assault over World Cup kiss but launches appeal

    Disgraced football chief found guilty of sexual assault over World Cup kiss but launches appeal

    A Spanish court has found former football chief Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso and fined him, but acquitted him of the charge of coercion.

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    Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two-and-a-half years for Rubiales — one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion for having allegedly pressured the player to downplay the incident afterwards.

    Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto at Spain’s High Court found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault over the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,300), but spared him a prison sentence.

    Rubiales was also banned from going within a 200-metre radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a period of one year.

    Kissing a woman on the mouth “is not the normal way of greeting people with whom one has no sentimental relationship,” the judge wrote in his ruling, saying Rubiales had violated Hermoso’s “sexual freedom” without her consent.

    Rubiales’ lawyer Olga Tubau Martinez told AFP her client “has decided to appeal the ruling”.

    Video footage of the scandal that rocked Spanish football shows then-Spanish federation chief Rubiales clasping Hermoso’s head at the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney and kissing her on the lips before letting her go with two slaps on the back.

    The global outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport.

    Luis Rubiales (R) next to Jennifer Hermoso (L) after winning the Women’s World Cup.Source: AFP

    Hermoso, 34, said on the opening day of the trial on February 3 she felt “disrespected” after a non-consensual kiss that “should not happen in any social or work setting”.

    Her teammates described under oath how she cried and felt “overwhelmed” following the incident, while her brother Rafael Hermoso said she came under pressure to downplay the affair to protect the federation chief.

    But Rubiales, 47, told the court he was “totally sure” Hermoso consented to the kiss as she went up to receive her winner’s medal, which was broadcast live around the world, and denied putting pressure on her after the incident.

    “She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, she lifted me, and when I came down I asked her if I can give you a kiss, and she said ‘OK’. That’s what happened,” he said, describing it as “an act of affection”.

    Rubiales conceded he “made a mistake” in the incident on the podium, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied he had committed any offence.

    Former president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales outside court.Source: AFP

    Rubiales’ defence team had argued that video images of Hermoso celebrating and drinking champagne with her teammates in the changing room shortly after the incident prove the player was not upset by the kiss, she added.

    But prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil rejected this line of thought during her closing arguments in which she also said there was “no doubt” the kiss was “non-consensual”.

    “How long are we going to keep demanding heroic behaviour from the victim of a sexual assault? Wasn’t she entitled to celebrate such a sporting triumph?” she asked.

    The court acquitted the three other accused in the case, ex-women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, of the charge of coercion.

    Jennifer Hermoso arrives at the court of San Fernando de Henares.Source: AFP

    Equality Minister Ana Redondo welcomed the verdict, saying it demonstrated that “when there is no consent, there is aggression”.

    Rubiales’ stance on the stand contrasted with the defiance he displayed when the scandal broke.

    During an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, he played down the importance of the kiss and rebuffed calls for his resignation, railing against “false feminism”.

    Rubiales resigned in September that year after football’s global governing body FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault. He had been federation chief since 2018.

    Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the Spain national women’s team who now plays for Mexican club Tigres, was not called up to the squad immediately after the World Cup.

    New coach Montse Tome explained she wanted to protect the player and denied omitting her from the squad was a “punishment”.

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  • City crash out as star’s hat-trick makes horror season worse; French giants slam on TEN – CL Wrap

    City crash out as star’s hat-trick makes horror season worse; French giants slam on TEN – CL Wrap

    Manchester City have sensationally crashed out of the Champions League with Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid blowing away the four-time reigning English Premier League champions at the Bernabeu.

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    After Real scored in the 86th and 93rd minutes at the Etihad last week to take a 3-2 lead into the second leg, City boss Pep Guardiola declared his side had a “one per cent” chance of advancing to the Round of 16.

    He backtracked on that statement later in the week, but his decision to leave star goal scorer Erling Haaland on the bench, after he hobbled off the pitch during their 4-0 league win against Newcastle, showed that Guardiola probably did believe it.

    Then as Mbappe ran riot with a hat-trick and Real took the tie 6-3, Guardiola’s initial assessment looked like it may have been too generous.

    Real were clinical in booking a date with either fierce rivals Atletico Madrid or German outfit Bayer Leverkusen in the next phase, while for City with their Premier League campaign long gone, only the FA Cup remains in their quest for silverware this season.

    It took just four minutes for Real to essentially kill off any potential contest.

    It was the home side’s first attacking play of the match as Raul Asencio lobbed a long ball forward, City defender John Stones, who went off injured three minutes later, missed his header and Kylian Mbappe pounced out the back.

    The French superstar scored an ugly, scrappy goal off his shin to open Real’s account at the Etihad a week ago, but this was a much classier finish with City goalkeeper Ederson half coming out towards him, and Mbappe coolly lobbed the ball into the net.

    MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 19: Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League playoff second-leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on February 19, 2025. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    He added a second, and truly buried any hope of a City comeback, in the 33rd minute as Real’s electric front three proved too hot to handle.

    Vinicius Junior played a key hand in all three Real goals last week, and the Brazilian was instrumental again in this one, breaking through City’s defensive line and charging down the right wing before crossing into Mbappe.

    City defender Gvardiol was left humbled as he ended up on his backside after Mbappe stunningly cut inside of him, and finished at the near-post.

    Mbappe’s third came on the hour as he collected the ball on the edge of the box, cut past Phil Foden and buried into the far corner with his weaker left foot.

    It was the 26-year-old’s second hat-trick since joining Real from PSG last year.

    City at least got onto the scoresheet when Nico Gonzalez tapped into an empty net in the second minute of added time after Omar Marmoush’s superb free kick ricocheted off the crossbar.

    – Extra time thriller –

    PSV and Juventus are off to extra time with the Dutch side leading their home leg 2-1 to level things up at 3-3.

    Ismael Saibari’s second half goal levelled the aggregate scores for PSV.

    – PSG hammerBrest –

    Paris Saint-Germain can look forward to a showdown with either Liverpool or Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League after mercilessly crushing French rivals Brest 7-0 on Wednesday to win their play-off round tie 10-0 on aggregate.

    PSG were always overwhelming favourites to beat Brest and effectively killed off the tie with a 3-0 win in Brittany in the first leg last week.

    There were seven different goal-scorers in the return at the Parc des Princes, with Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Desire Doue, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Ramos and Senny Mayulu netting for the home side.

    It is PSG’s record winning margin in a European game and the first time they have scored seven in the Champions League since they trounced Celtic 7-1 in November 2017.

    PSG scored just three goals in their first five Champions League matches this season, but have found the net 21 times in five outings since then.

    Their dominant display here came despite Ousmane Dembele failing to add to the 18 goals he had netted in his previous 12 appearances for Luis Enrique’s side.

    It was an agonising way for Brest to end their first-ever European campaign, after they made it to the knockout stages following a historic third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.

    Being drawn against PSG was an anti-climax for Brest. They have not beaten the Parisians in 40 years and have now lost 19 of the last 20 meetings of the clubs.

    Brest did almost take the lead early on as a Mathias Pereira Lage shot was blocked in front of the line by Marquinhos, before PSG struck in the 20th minute.

    Barcola, on the left, controlled a Fabian Ruiz ball over the top before beating goalkeeper Gregoire Coudert at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.

    Kvaratskhelia made it 2-0 six minutes before the break, turning in his second goal for his new club after Barcola had flicked on a low Joao Neves cross.

    Neves smashed a shot against the crossbar in first-half stoppage time and Pierre Lees-Melou then hit the post for Brest early in the second half.

    However, a lovely strike from the edge of the area by Vitinha made it 3-0 just before the hour mark, and Ramos then produced a delightful piece of skill to tee up fellow substitute Doue for the fourth.

    Achraf Hakimi set up Mendes to tap in the fifth midway through the second half and Ramos made it six from close range on 76 minutes with his ninth goal of the campaign.

    Abdallah Sima had a goal for Brest disallowed for offside before Kvaratskhelia teed up 18-year-old Mayulu to round out the scoring on 86 minutes.

    PSG will find out the identity of their next opponents when the draw for the remainder of the competition is made on Friday.

    – Dortmund ease into last 16 after Sporting stalemate –

    Borussia Dortmund cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League after a goalless draw with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday sealed a 3-0 aggregate victory.

    Serhou Guirassy missed a second-half penalty but it mattered for nothing in the end as last season’s finalists were rarely troubled by Sporting and coasted through.

    Dortmund’s reward is a last 16 game against Aston Villa or Lille. It was always a tough ask for this young Sporting side ravaged by injury to overturn the damage done in last week’s first leg, when Guirassy, Pascal Gross and Karim Adeyemi all scored.

    Dortmund dominated much of the return leg on a freezing night in Germany, with Marcel Sabitzer coming closest to breaking the deadlock with a rasping drive from distance that Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva did well to palm around his post.

    After the break, Dortmund got the chance to put the tie to bed from the spot when Silva was adjudged to have brought down Adeyemi in the box after Nico Schlotterbeck’s long pass split the visitors’ defence.

    But Guirassy’s well-hit penalty was saved superbly by the Portuguese goalkeeper low to his right, denying the Guinean striker an 11th Champions League goal in 10 games this season.

    Gio Reyna came off the bench and almost made an immediate impact against the Portuguese league leaders, hitting the post, but this was a night when Dortmund created little and Sporting even less, with the visitors failing to register a single shot on target.

    Ultimately, Sporting lacked the ambition to turn around the tie, allowing Niko Kovac’s side to progress on the back of a relatively easy night’s work.

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  • Late chaos as Reds cop 98th-minute stunner, three including coach sent off in heated PL derby

    Late chaos as Reds cop 98th-minute stunner, three including coach sent off in heated PL derby

    James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool in a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

    Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski’s blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot’s men in front.

    Abdoulaye Doucoure, Curtis Jones and Slot were then sent off as tempers flared at the final whistle on a night Liverpool will come to regret if they do not go on to lift a record-equalling 20th English top flight title.

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    LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates after his equalising goal stands following a VAR review as Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool appears dejected during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Everton are set to move to a new 53,000 capacity stadium in Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock next season and gave their home since 1892 a night to remember against their local rivals.

    Liverpool’s quest for a quadruple came unstuck with a shock FA Cup exit to second-tier strugglers Plymouth on Sunday.

    Slot made 10 changes as he resorted to his strongest available side with Salah and Virgil van Dijk among those who had been afforded the weekend off.

    Everton’s own FA Cup exit to Bournemouth on Saturday had punctured some of their momentum since David Moyes’ return for a second spell in charge.

    The Toffees had won their previous three Premier League games to pull nine points clear of the relegation zone and got off to a flying start.

    Liverpool were caught napping on 11 minutes by a quick free-kick by Jarrad Branthwaite to free Beto, who beat Alisson Becker for his third goal in two league games.

    The visitors could have been swept away in the feverish atmosphere early on but the Reds immediate response was the making of champions.

    Alexis Mac Allister started and finished the move as the diminutive Argentine midfielder ghosted into the penalty area to head in Salah’s teasing cross.

    LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Referee Michael Oliver speaks to Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker of Liverpool at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
    Liverpool’s English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones is held back by stewards as he remonstrates with Everton players after the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on February 12, 2025. The match ended in a draw at 2-2. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) /Source: AFP
    LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: David Moyes, Manager of Everton, waves to the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Everton then suffered a huge blow as their creative hub Iliman Ndiaye limped off in tears after a long stoppage.

    The first half never recovered its flow amid a flurry of fouls and yellow cards as the Premier League fixture with the most red cards in history threatened to boil over once more.

    Everton started the better once more in the second period. Doucoure wasted a great chance to retake the lead when he headed wide when unmarked inside the area.

    The home crowd briefly erupted once more when Branthwaite fired home only for the celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag.

    Slot was growing visibly frustrated with his side’s lack of penetration going forward and turned to his bench for an impact with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jones and Darwin Nunez sent on to find a winner.

    The changes worked as Salah delivered what looked like a potential title-clinching moment.

    Jones and Nunez exchanged a one-two and when the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Branthwaite, it fell kindly for Salah to prod in his 27th goal of the season.

    Only a brilliant save by JOrdan Pickford crucially denied Salah a second late on.

    And Everton rallied when Liverpool failed to deal with a hopeful ball into the box and it fell to centre-back Tarkowski to fire into the top corner.

    A lengthy VAR check followed for offside and Everton fans had to be cleared off the pitch before the game could restart.

    When it did there was more fireworks as Doucoure and Jones were both shown a second yellow card for clashing after the Everton midfielder celebrated in front of the travelling Liverpool support.

    Slot was also shown red for his protests towards referee Michael Oliver.

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  • Full details of long-awaited football second tier as England-inspired name unveiled

    Full details of long-awaited football second tier as England-inspired name unveiled

    Football Australia’s new national second-tier competition will be called the Australian Championship and kick-off on October 10.

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    As previously announced, the inaugural Championship, which will conclude with a grand final on the weekend of December 6-7, will involve eight “foundation” clubs – APIA Leichhardt (NSW), Avondale (VIC), Marconi (NSW), Preston (VIC), South Melbourne (VIC), Sydney Olympic (NSW), Sydney United 58 (NSW) and Wollongong (NSW) – as well as eight “invitational” clubs from member federations.

    FA chief executive officer James Johnson said the Championship would “complement” the A-League, the Australia Cup and the NPL state competitions.

    “The Australian Championship is much more than a competition – it’s a national celebration of football uniting proud historic clubs, emerging talent, and inter-generational community connection,” Johnson said.

    “It reflects the core values of Australian football – authenticity, opportunity, and ambition.”

    The 16 teams will be split into four groups of four teams.

    Each team will play six group games, with the top two from each group to progress to the competition’s knockout stages.

    Football Australia will provide travel subsidies for clubs competing in the Championship in 2025.

    There will no promotion and relegation between the Championship and the A-League.

    The format and structure of the Championship will be reviewed after its first season.

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  • ’Really easy for people to stick the boot in’: Defiant Ange Postecoglou brushes off Spurs ‘pile-on’

    ’Really easy for people to stick the boot in’: Defiant Ange Postecoglou brushes off Spurs ‘pile-on’

    Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou defended his injury-hit squad after stinging criticism for their meek League Cup semi-final exit to Liverpool.

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    Fowler goals send City to final | 00:41

    Spurs were thrashed 4-0 at Anfield on Friday (AEDT), throwing away a 1-0 first leg advantage without even registering a single shot on target.

    Former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp claimed he had never seen a side “in my lifetime go down with less of a fight”.

    Defeat ramped up the pressure on Postecoglou, whose future is uncertain with Tottenham languishing in 14th in the Premier League.

    The Australian promised earlier in the campaign to maintain his record of winning a trophy in his second season at multiple clubs.

    However, Spurs have not lifted any silverware since 2008.

    Next up they face a tough trip to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round.

    “I get the pile-on at the moment, it’s really easy for people to stick their boots in and question the players but I don’t question,” said Postecoglou.

    “We were disappointed last night didn’t go the way we wanted and we didn’t perform at the levels – but that doesn’t define this group of players in my eyes.

    “We’ll go out there on Sunday and put out more of a performance that reflects where we’re at. I have a great deal of belief in these players and what they’re going through and how they’re dealing with it.”

    New footage emerges from Kerr arrest | 01:55

    Postecoglou’s mitigation for a dreadful run of results has been a lengthy injury list that has deprived him of a number of key players.

    Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke were among those to miss the defeat to Liverpool, while Richarlison hobbled off in the first half at Anfield.

    Postecoglou confirmed that none of those will return for the tie at Villa Park, but is hopeful the injury situation will improve for their next Premier League game against Manchester United in nine days’ time.

    “Every time I’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s usually been an oncoming train,” added Postecoglou.

    “We’re still hopeful we’ll get two or three back for the Manchester United game.

    “We’ve got two full weeks of training and we should get the majority of these players back with a bit of luck, providing we don’t lose anyone else.”

    Villa could unleash new signings Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio for their debuts on Sunday after securing loan moves from United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively in the final days of the transfer window.

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  • ‘Too good for us’: Ange’s damning Cup admission as ‘huge’ Villa clash looms crucial for Aussie’s future

    ‘Too good for us’: Ange’s damning Cup admission as ‘huge’ Villa clash looms crucial for Aussie’s future

    A deflated Ange Postecoglou has admitted Liverpool were “too good” for his Tottenham outfit in the Carabao Cup semi final, while concerns have been raised regarding his position as Spurs manager.

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    Tottenham came into the second leg clash at Anfield with a 1-0 lead on aggregate, but after goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk, Arne Slot’s men reigned supreme.

    Liverpool will now move onto the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United, while Tottenham’s hopes of winning silverware have taken a major hit.

    With pressure mounting on the Australian manager, Postecoglou cut a forlorn figure in his post-match press conference, explaining Spurs were unable to deliver his game plan.

    “Ultimately Liverpool fully deserved the victory tonight, they were the far better team,” Postecoglou said.

    “We just weren’t able to get a grip of any part of the game, defensively or with the ball, they were too good for us.”

    “We allowed them to get into the game, we weren’t aggressive as we needed to be.

    “I just think we didn’t start the game off in the right footing, we allowed them to get comfortable and when they did get comfortable it was hard to swing the game back.”

    Postecoglou also explained his desperately wanted his team to stay in the first to start the second half.

    Instead, Spurs gave away a 51st minute penalty before folding to close out the game with two more goals conceded.

    “No, look, obviously we didn’t have a great first half, we were very much in the game,” he said.

    “We knew in the sort of first 15 or 20 minutes we needed to be very solid in terms of our decision making, to give them a second goal was very disappointing.

    “But I still think we never really got to grips with any part of the game today and they were too good for us.”

    Tottenham Hotspur’s Greek-Australian Head Coach Ange Postecoglou reacts on the touchline during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP

    “We definitely needed to be brave with and without the ball.

    “It’s easier said then done at a place like this against a very good Liverpool team who are in a good run of form, and very settled.

    “But it’s what we needed to do, and we didn’t do it.”

    The Australian manager was then asked if he felt “lonely” on the touch line, replying: “No, that’s not an emotion I feel.

    “I’m disappointed we weren’t able to sort of give a better account of ourselves today and give ourselves a chance of getting into a final.

    “Yeah, very disappointed. We had a great opportunity and unfortunately we didn’t grab it.

    “There’s no choice, you have to. There’s plenty to play for us this year. We have a big game against Villa… and that’s where our focus goes.”

    As for that clash with Aston Villa, should Spurs lose it would see the North London outfit dumped out of two Cup competitions within three days.

    Ange denies Tel initially rejected Spurs | 01:11

    Tottenham face Villa in the fourth round of the FA Cup, while Postecoglou’s men finished in the top eight in the Europa League table phase, progressing straight through to the round of 16.

    Pressure has been mounting on Postecoglou, but his position as Tottenham manager looked to be solidified after playing a major role in the signing of Bayern prodigy Mathys Tel.

    However, failure to win silverware could be the final nail in the coffin for the former Celtic boss.

    Spurs will still have to face Villa without several key players, and former Premier League striker Nicky Summerbee questioned the player’s commitment.

    “The next game is huge, that will be three days and they could be out of two Cup competitions,” Summerbee said on BEIN Sports.

    “Looking at the injuries here, when are they coming back? We are looking at eight or nine of them, I would be looking at some of these players… he needs these players.

    “Get out there and play, this manager needs help… if you have a little bit of an injury I suggest you put your boots on and roll your sleeves up.”

    Magpies upset Gunners to reach Cup Final | 00:58

    “This time now is getting very difficult and very hard for the manager.

    “The crowd is going to put pressure on him, the fans are… going into the game at the weekend, you need somebody to stand up.

    “We saw in the two games before, the Brentford and Europa League game, some young players stood up.”

    Meanwhile, former PSG and Newcastle United defender Didier Domi was of the belief there’s issues in Tottenham’s football staff.

    “They really have to work with the performance department, you cannot have 10 injuries, there’s something there,” Dodi said.

    “You cannot have that many injuries… imagine Liverpool were playing without van Dijk, Robertson, Konate, Tsimikas and Gravenberch, how would they be?

    “You cannot, so first of all I think there’s a problem in the performance department… you cannot have 10 injuries like that and most of them are muscular.”

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  • Kerr ‘decent chance’ to make long-awaited Matildas return amid lingering legal saga

    Kerr ‘decent chance’ to make long-awaited Matildas return amid lingering legal saga

    Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni says there’s a “good chance” captain Sam Kerr could be available for two fixtures against Korea in April despite questions hanging over the superstar amid shock revelations in a London court.

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    As part of an early sighter against prospective opponents for the home AFC Asian Cup in 2026, the Matildas will play the Korea Republic in Sydney and Newcastle.

    Having said on Monday, as he announced Kerr would miss the SheBelieves Cup tournament in the US later in February, Sermanni said he believed the skipper, who is running strongly in her return from an ACL injury, could play in March.

    That timeline could allow Kerr, who is on trial in London having been charged with causing racially aggravated harassment to a police constable, to feature in the two internationals which Sermanni on Tuesday said could be on the cards.

    “Right now, I would say there’s a decent chance that she will be fit,” Sermanni said.

    “She’s feeling good, she’s feeling fit, she’s feeling healthy.

    “But then, by that stage, she’s not played for probably 15 months.

    “A lot of things will potentially depend on what her schedule is with Chelsea, how quickly or how slowly, rather, and safely, we need to bring her back.”

    FA boss James Johnson said the matches against Korea would be crucial in the lead-up to the Asian Cup.

    “We are delighted to secure Korea Republic for our first home international series of 2025. As we build towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, facing high-calibre opposition like Korea Republic is crucial in sharpening the team’s competitive edge,” he said.

    “With the tournament just over a year away, this series offers fans an exciting preview of the level of competition they can expect on home soil. We look forward to seeing our passionate supporters fill Allianz Stadium and McDonald Jones Stadium to back the CommBank Matildas.”

    The matches will be played on Friday, April 4 at Allianz Stadium and then on Monday, November 7 in Newcastle.

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  • ‘Stained one of the happiest days of my life’: Disgraced football boss faces jail over World Cup kiss

    ‘Stained one of the happiest days of my life’: Disgraced football boss faces jail over World Cup kiss

    Spain star Jenni Hermoso on Monday told the trial of disgraced ex-football chief Luis Rubiales that the forced kiss he gave her in 2023 “shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting”.

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    Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison against Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion after his kiss on Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup final sparked global outrage.

    Rubiales has called the kiss an innocuous “peck between friends celebrating” and denied any coercion.

    “I felt it was totally out of place and I then realised my boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting,” Hermoso told the court on the opening day of the trial.

    “A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so,” she added.

    The scandal that rocked Spanish football and wrecked Rubiales’ career came moments after Hermoso and her teammates had clinched World Cup glory by beating England in the final in Sydney.

    Premier League: Spurs win, City smashed | 02:45

    “As a woman I felt disrespected. It was a moment that stained one of the happiest days of my life,” Hermoso said.

    “For me it is very important to say that at no point did I seek that act, let alone expect it.”

    The trial at the National Court in San Fernando de Henares near Madrid is scheduled to run until February 19.

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  • Ange boost as Spurs hijack $42m deal; fallen star’s $600k-a-week lifeline as Utd exile complete

    Ange boost as Spurs hijack $42m deal; fallen star’s $600k-a-week lifeline as Utd exile complete

    Aston Villa signed Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season on Sunday to end the England international’s exile under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.

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    Once a hero for the United fans, Rashford has not featured for his boyhood club since December 12 and admitted earlier this season he was ready for a “new challenge”.

    The 27-year-old had been linked with a move to AC Milan and Barcelona, but the European giants were put off by his reported £300,000-a-week (A$600,000) wages.

    According to Sky Sports, Villa will pick up at least 75 percent of that pay packet for the coming months, rising to 90 percent depending on performance-related bonuses and have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for £40 million (A$40m).

    “I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision – I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager’s ambitions,” said Rashford in a Villa statement.

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    Relief for Ange but more work ahead | 01:09

    “I just want to play football and am excited to get started. I wish everyone at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season.”

    Villa moved to bolster their attacking options after selling Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr on Friday for a reported £64 million.

    Unai Emery’s men have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League and still have aspirations to qualify for that tournament again next season.

    Villa sit eighth in the Premier League, eight points above 13th-placed United. Rashford scored 138 goals in 426 appearances since coming through the ranks at Old Trafford and has lifted the Europa League, two FA Cups and two League Cups as a United player.

    However, his attitude and work ethic in training has been questioned by Amorim, since he took charge in November.

    After last weekend’s 1-0 win at Fulham, the Portuguese coach sensationally claimed he would rather put the club’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, in the squad than Rashford.

    “Our team should be so much better with Rashford, but he has to change,” Amorim said last week.

    “If he does change, we are more than welcome to put a talent like Rashford in, and we need it.

    “But in this moment I think it’s really clear that we have to set some standards. That’s all.” A temporary switch to Villa allows Rashford a fresh start to rehabilitate his tarnished reputation after his astonishing fall from grace.

    He was part of England’s World Cup squad just over two years ago and scored a career-best 30 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.

    But he netted just eight times last season and has seven in 24 appearances so far this campaign.

    ANGE HI-JACKS $40M TRANSFER

    Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have hijacked a deal Wolves had in place to sign 26-year-old centre back Kevin Danso, who joins initially on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season for 25 million euros (£21 million, A$42m).

    “It’s great to get Kevin in, we desperately needed a defender,” added Postecoglou.

    Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have hijacked a deal Wolves had in place to sign Kevin Danso.Source: Getty Images

    “Getting him is great because he’s a great fit for us. He’s had a strong career and he’s at an age now (26) where he wants to kick on and he has all the attributes we look for. We’re really pleased and it will be a lift for the whole group.”

    Danso is expected to be available for selection by the time Spurs play the second leg of their League Cup semi-final against Liverpool on Friday morning.

    Postecoglou’s first-choice centre-backs Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero have missed a large part of the season, while their backup Radu Dragusin is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.

    Spurs had reportedly held advanced talks with AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori but the England international opted to remain in Italy. It was the second high-profile snub Spurs had suffered in the window after Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel also opted to stay put despite the agreement of a A$100m transfer fee.

    Chelsea’s Axel Disasi is also reportedly on the verge of a move across London before Tuesday morning’s (AEDT) transfer deadline.

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