English Premier League
Wolves 2 – 1 Aston Villa
![Wolves 2 - 1 Aston Villa](https://news365.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wolves-2-1-Aston-Villa.jpeg)
Wolves boosted their hopes of playing in Europe next season by beating Aston Villa to move up to seventh in the Premier League.
The hosts took the lead when Spain defender Jonny struck a crisp half-volley after Fabio Silva’s shot had been blocked by Lucas Digne.
Wolves doubled their advantage when Villa defender Ashley Young, who had come on as a substitute for Digne, inadvertently headed into his own net following Marcal’s left-wing cross.
England striker Ollie Watkins missed a couple of good chances for the visitors before converting a late penalty to give Villa hope.
However, Steven Gerrard’s side could not force an equaliser as the home side held on for the three points.
The victory takes Wolves above West Ham, and they are now five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal in the final Champions League spot – although the Gunners have three games in hand.
For Wolves, it was the third victory in seven games, even if in the end it was tighter than they might have liked.
They are now seventh and, if they stay there, will qualify for next season’s Europa Conference League – as long as Crystal Palace do not win the FA Cup (in which case the Eagles would play in Europe instead).
Wolves are trying to secure European football for the second time in four years after reaching the Europa League quarter-finals in 2019-20.
Despite being without midfielder Ruben Neves, who is out for a month with a knee injury, and suspended striker Raul Jimenez after his red card against Leeds, Bruno Lage’s side looked a threat every time they attacked against a surprisingly vulnerable Villa defence.
Wolves went ahead after only seven minutes when Villa’s John McGinn slipped and lost possession before team-mate Ezri Konsa also fell over. That enabled the hosts to counter, with Jonny scoring with a great strike.
It was his second goal in consecutive matches in only his sixth appearance of the season, after being out for 10 months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 36th minute in fortunate circumstances when Young, on in place of the injured Digne, slipped when trying to deal with Francisco Trincao’s cross and headed into his own net.
Wolves threw away a 2-0 lead against Leeds before losing 3-2 on 18 March, and their fans would have been fearing a repeat late on at Molineux.
Villa’s best chances in the first half came from long distances, with Philippe Coutinho narrowly firing a free-kick over and Leon Bailey having an excellent effort tipped over by goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Watkins, who scored for England in their 3-0 win over Ivory Coast on Tuesday, twice had chances to halve the deficit before Wolves substitute Hwang Hee-chan almost added another for the hosts within two minutes of coming on, but shot wide.
When Watkins was fouled by Sa, he converted the penalty for his eighth Premier League goal of the season to set up a frantic finale. Poland right-back Matty Cash had the chance to equalise in the 95th minute, but his volley was excellently saved by Sa.
Villa remains ninth in the Premier League despite their third successive defeat – the first time they have lost three in a row since the former England captain replaced the sacked Dean Smith in November.
source – BBC
English Premier League
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool: Reds Outclass United in Comprehensive Win
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Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool. Liverpool continued their flawless start to the season with a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, underlining their impressive form under new manager Arne Slot.
The game showcased Liverpool’s superiority, prompting renewed scrutiny on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who was granted a new contract after last season’s FA Cup triumph despite an underwhelming start this campaign.
Since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have maintained an unbeaten record with three straight Premier League wins, all without conceding a goal. This performance was their most commanding yet.
Liverpool took control with two quick goals just before halftime. Trent Alexander-Arnold had an early goal disallowed for offside before Luis Diaz capitalized on Casemiro’s mistakes. Diaz first headed home a cross from Mohamed Salah in the 35th minute and then netted again seven minutes later, finishing off a pass from Salah.
Salah added a third in the 56th minute, scoring his 12th goal in 15 appearances against United, converting a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai and beating United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
While United had some chances, primarily through Joshua Zirkzee, Liverpool rarely looked troubled and kept their opponents at bay.
Ten Hag, who survived a summer review partly due to the FA Cup win, needed a strong start but has instead seen his team struggle. After scraping a late win against Fulham and losing to Brighton, this heavy defeat to Liverpool exacerbates the pressure on him.
The United fans’ frustration was palpable, with jeers at halftime and full-time, and discontent with substitutions like Alejandro Garnacho’s replacement by Amad Diallo. Casemiro’s poor performance, which led to the first two Liverpool goals, saw him replaced by Toby Collyer at halftime.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, watching from the directors’ box, witnessed the harsh reality of United’s current predicament as Liverpool dismantled their side with ease.
Ten Hag’s challenges are compounded by injuries to key players like Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Rasmus Hojlund. Yet, these issues do not excuse the glaring quality deficiencies displayed by United.
Liverpool’s new era under Slot has begun smoothly, with previous wins over newly promoted Ipswich Town and Brentford. This match was seen as a significant test of Slot’s ability to manage Liverpool post-Klopp, and the emphatic win confirms that he is instilling a more controlled and effective approach.
Slot’s Liverpool, while still retaining their attacking prowess, demonstrated a new level of tactical control, rarely relinquishing their grip on the game once ahead. Goalkeeper Alisson made crucial saves to deny United, particularly from Zirkzee.
In contrast, this defeat highlights ongoing issues for Manchester United. Ten Hag’s future may hinge on his ability to quickly turn the tide, with the pressure intensifying from a demanding fan base and the looming prospect of speculation should results not improve.
Slot’s Liverpool performance was rounded off by enthusiastic celebrations from the away fans and a modest response from the new manager, signaling a promising start to his tenure and a strong connection with the supporters.
source – BBC
English Premier League
Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur. Newcastle United preserved their unbeaten start to the season with a dramatic 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at a vibrant St James’ Park.
The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute when Harvey Barnes controlled a difficult side-footed shot with finesse, following a pull-back from Lloyd Kelly down the left flank.
Tottenham equalized in the 56th minute. After Pedro Porro’s effort was deflected onto the crossbar, Brennan Johnson, making his debut after the break, saw his shot deflected into the net by Newcastle defender Dan Burn.
Spurs intensified their attack, with Nick Pope making a crucial save to deny James Maddison’s curled attempt and Johnson firing over the bar as they pressed for a second goal.
However, Newcastle seized the advantage with 12 minutes remaining. Joelinton orchestrated the play from midfield, releasing substitute Jacob Murphy, who delivered a low cross for Alexander Isak to score the decisive goal.
The match also marked a significant moment for Newcastle as Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali made his first Premier League appearance since serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting regulations. Tonali, who had previously played in the Carabao Cup against Nottingham Forest, received a warm standing ovation from the home fans when he came on as a substitute.
With the win, Newcastle climbed to fourth in the Premier League table with seven points from their opening nine matches. They could drop to fifth if Liverpool secures a win against Manchester United later on Sunday. Tottenham’s defeat saw them slip to 10th, ending their unbeaten run and leaving manager Ange Postecoglou to reflect on a missed opportunity.
Spurs dominated possession with two-thirds of the ball and had 20 shots compared to Newcastle’s nine, yet the Magpies capitalized on their limited opportunities, scoring twice from their three shots on target.
Newcastle almost took the lead early on, with Alexander Isak’s chip narrowly missing after a clever interception from Son Heung-min. Barnes, Emil Krafth, and Kelly all had chances before a temporary halt due to an injury to assistant referee Ian Hussin disrupted Newcastle’s rhythm.
Tottenham had their chances, including a header from Cristian Romero that was ruled offside and missed efforts from Wilson Odobert and Porro. Pape Sarr also tested Pope, but the visitors were unable to capitalize on their dominance.
Barnes’ goal seemed to be a turning point, but Tottenham’s second-half surge appeared to set them up for a win. Instead, they were struck by a late counter-attack as Murphy’s assist for Isak sealed the win for Newcastle.
Tonali, who has made only 14 appearances for Newcastle since his £55 million transfer from AC Milan last season, was warmly welcomed by fans. The Gallowgate End displayed numerous Italian flags and banners celebrating his return.
Despite frustrations in the transfer market, including failed bids for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Tonali’s return is a boost for Newcastle and manager Eddie Howe as they aim to build on their promising start to the season.
source – BBC
English Premier League
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
![Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace](https://news365.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chelsea-1-1-Crystal-Palace.jpeg)
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze delivered a sensational equalizer as Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The result comes as a boost for Palace, who had suffered consecutive defeats prior to this match.
Chelsea, fresh off a dominant 6-2 win over Wolves, started strong and looked set to continue their winning form. Cole Palmer came close early on, narrowly missing the target, while Dean Henderson made a stunning save to deny Noni Madueke. Nicolas Jackson eventually broke the deadlock, finishing off a rapid Chelsea counterattack by tapping in Palmer’s cross at the near post.
Palace had a narrow escape when Will Hughes, already on a booking, avoided a second yellow card for a foul on Palmer. Shortly after, Eze leveled the score with a brilliant strike, curling the ball past Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez.
Sanchez made an excellent save to deflect Daichi Kamada’s powerful shot, keeping Chelsea in the game. However, Jackson had a chance to secure the win for Chelsea in stoppage time, only for Henderson to thwart his effort with a crucial save.
The draw marked Crystal Palace’s first point of the season after two previous losses, while Chelsea now have four points from their opening three games.
Chelsea’s summer has been marked by significant changes, with over £200 million spent and 13 new players joining the squad, while 37 players have either been loaned out or sold. With the transfer window closing on Friday, the focus can now shift entirely to the pitch.
Jadon Sancho, Chelsea’s final summer signing, was introduced to fans before the game, though only one of the new arrivals, Pedro Neto, started against Palace. Despite their initial dominance, highlighted by Jackson’s first-half goal, Chelsea struggled to convert their chances, reminiscent of their issues from last season. Jackson had two late opportunities to clinch the victory but was thwarted first by the side-netting and then by Henderson.
Chelsea’s search for their first home win of the 2024-25 season continues. Despite the encouraging performance against Wolves, they couldn’t convert their dominance into a win.
Eze and Michael Olise were standout performers for Palace last season, with Olise’s form earning him a move to Bayern Munich. Eze, however, has continued to shine, and his superb goal against Chelsea underscored his importance to the team. Though Palace had few opportunities, Eze made the most of his, demonstrating once again why he is a game-changer for the Eagles.
The draw is a positive result for Palace, who have historically struggled against Chelsea, having lost their last 13 encounters with them. It provides a solid foundation for their season moving forward.
source – BBC
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