English Premier League
Wolves 1 – 0 Chelsea
Wolves 1 – 0 Chelsea. Frank Lampard made a losing return to the Chelsea hot-seat as Wolverhampton Wanderers eased their Premier League relegation worries with a hard-earned victory.
Chelsea legend Lampard was predictably given a rapturous reception from the travelling fans at Molineux following his appointment as caretaker manager 27 months after being sacked from the role.
Yet Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer was unable to arrest the poor form that led to Graham Potter’s sacking, as mid-table Blues failed to score for the third successive game en route to an 11th league defeat of the season.
Wolves were on the front-foot throughout and deserved their win which came after a sweet finish by Matheus Nunes, the Portugal midfielder’s first goal for the club since joining from Sporting Lisbon last August.
Nunes, who cost a club record £38m, beat Kepa Arrizabalaga with a fierce attempt from a tight angle after an attempted headed clearance by Kalidou Koulibaly.
Joao Felix forced a save from Jose Sa but Chelsea were disappointing and remain 11th after just two wins in 11 league games.
Lampard made it clear he wants to give supporters a team they are proud of after his stop-gap appointment, a move that buys Chelsea’s hierarchy time to get the next permanent appointment right.
Unfortunately it was the same old story for the Blues as they failed to score for the 12th time in the Premier League this season.
Lampard brought Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher back into the starting line-up but, on another frustrating day, both players picked up yellow cards and failed to make an impact.
There was also a rare sighting off the bench of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, his first action since 26 February, as Chelsea continued their dismal run of just one league win on the road since mid-October.
Lampard is looking to use this short-term opportunity to repair his reputation after damaging sackings at Chelsea and Everton, and land a permanent job elsewhere in the Premier League for next season.
If he is to do that, much better will be required going forward – starting with Wednesday’s trip to Real Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Lampard was originally due to be at the Bernabeu as a television pundit but instead now finds himself plotting to bring down the champions of Europe after his surprise appointment.
Julen Lopetegui’s first Premier League match in charge of Wolves was a 2-1 win at Lampard’s Everton on 26 December.
And the former Real Madrid and Spain boss once again got the better of the former England midfielder as Wolves turned on the style to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Nunes will get the headlines for his excellent finish, but Wolves’ second win in eight games was built on solid foundations at the back as they restricted their opponents to just one attempt on target.
“The goal is good news for the team, we’re happy for Nunes because it’s three points, not only the goal but to have three points more means you have done very good work,” said Lopetegui.
“I prefer to highlight all the team. We are going to need them to achieve our aim at the end of the season.”
Wolves were well organised and could have won by a more handsome margin, former Chelsea forward Diego Costa denied from making it 2-0 by Kepa’s block.
Lopetegui’s team have been accused of being too slow getting the ball forward and not testing opposition goalkeepers enough this season.
But this was a much improved performance and these three points could go a long way to securing another season in the Premier League.
source – BBC
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United. Manchester United were left frustrated as they squandered several clear-cut chances in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating possession and creating a number of opportunities, Erik ten Hag’s side couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed.
Coming off an emphatic 7-0 EFL Cup win over Barnsley earlier in the week, United started positively. Alejandro Garnacho, who was given the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford, nearly opened the scoring early on, but Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson tipped his effort around the post.
United continued to apply pressure, with defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez both denied by Henderson’s quick reflexes. Garnacho later hit the crossbar, with the rebound falling to Bruno Fernandes, who saw his follow-up effort clip the top of the bar.
Crystal Palace began to find their rhythm as the first half progressed, and Eberechi Eze tested United goalkeeper Andre Onana with a shot straight at him when left unmarked in the box.
The second half was a more even contest, though United continued to push for a winner. Fernandes curled a shot wide, while Garnacho forced another save from Henderson. At the other end, Eddie Nketiah had a chance, but Onana’s sharp save kept the game level.
Palace had the best opportunity of the second half when Eze, once again unmarked, missed the target from 12 yards out. United’s goalkeeper, Onana, also made a critical save from Nketiah’s close-range effort to preserve the clean sheet.
The draw leaves Manchester United in 11th place, while Crystal Palace remains winless in 16th. Erik ten Hag will likely view this result as two points dropped rather than one gained, especially given United’s dominance in possession, with 66.8% – their highest away possession since April 2023.
Despite controlling much of the game, Manchester United’s familiar weaknesses resurfaced. They generated several scoring chances but lacked the clinical edge to finish them. The Red Devils currently rank second in the Premier League for expected goals (xG) with 9.53 across their first five matches, but they’ve only managed to find the net five times. This underperformance in front of goal is only rivaled by Southampton, who sit in 18th place.
One bright spot for United was the return of Danish striker Rasmus Højlund. The 21-year-old came off the bench in the second half, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury. Højlund’s return gives Ten Hag more options up front alongside Joshua Zirkzee, who was well-contained by the Palace defense throughout the match.
Crystal Palace, under manager Oliver Glasner, had a difficult start to the match, with United dominating the opening 30 minutes. Palace struggled to get out of their half and were reliant on Henderson’s goalkeeping heroics to keep the score level.
As the game progressed, Palace grew in confidence and created some decent chances, particularly through Eze. However, the Eagles will likely be disappointed not to have capitalized on their best opportunities, especially Eze’s two unmarked chances in both halves.
The point continues a positive run for Palace, with three consecutive league draws and recent progress in the EFL Cup. They are still adapting to life without key players like Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich, and Joachim Andersen, who moved to Fulham. However, with a solid defensive foundation and improvement in the attack, Palace will be hopeful of securing their first league win soon.
source – BBC
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Brentford. Dominic Solanke scored his first goal for Tottenham as they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Brentford in an exciting clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The win was a much-needed boost for Spurs after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
Brentford made a lightning start, going ahead just 23 seconds into the match when Bryan Mbeumo volleyed home from Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross. However, Spurs quickly responded, leveling the score just eight minutes later when Ethan Pinnock’s poor pass was intercepted by James Maddison. Though Maddison’s initial shot was saved, Solanke calmly finished the rebound, marking his first goal for Spurs following his £65 million summer transfer from Bournemouth.
Tottenham’s pressure paid off again before the half-hour mark when another Brentford mistake led to Brennan Johnson scoring with a clinical finish past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken. By that point, Spurs were in control, and they extended their lead late on when Maddison chipped in a delicate goal after a pass from Son Heung-min.
Brentford had opportunities to fight back, with Mbeumo nearly scoring again late in the first half after robbing Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario of the ball inside the six-yard box. However, Vicario made up for his error with a save, and Brentford struggled to regain momentum.
The second half saw Brentford try to push for an equalizer, but Spurs remained composed and solid at the back, even as Brentford pressed for a way back into the game. A controversial moment occurred when Vicario appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area, but the referee waved off Brentford’s protests, and VAR did not intervene, deeming the incident not to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Despite Brentford’s efforts, it was Tottenham who sealed the win through Maddison’s late goal, relieving the pressure after losses to Newcastle and Arsenal in recent weeks. The victory gave Spurs their second league win of the season and helped ease the anxiety that had been building among the home supporters.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank acknowledged his side’s struggles, saying, “We made too many mistakes in possession, and Tottenham punished us. We had our chances, but we need to be more careful with the ball in key moments.”
For the second consecutive week, Brentford lost after scoring in the opening minute, with the defeat leaving them with three losses from their last four games. Spurs, on the other hand, will take confidence from their spirited performance as they look to build on this win.
Solanke, speaking after the game, expressed his delight: “It’s always special to get your first goal, especially in front of the home fans. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.”
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou praised Solanke’s contribution, saying, “He’s been excellent for us in every game, and it’s great to see him get off the mark.”
With this win, Tottenham can now focus on climbing the Premier League table, while Brentford will need to address their defensive lapses if they hope to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
source – BBC
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town. Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his frustration after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy scored a dramatic injury-time equalizer, leaving the Saints without a win in their return to the Premier League. The match ended 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, as both sides continue their search for a first league victory this season.
Southampton, having lost their opening four top-flight games of the 2024-25 campaign, struck early thanks to 18-year-old Tyler Dibling. The young midfielder netted his first goal for the club just five minutes into the match after capitalizing on a defensive error by Ipswich’s Axel Tuanzebe. The Saints kept the pressure on, with 36-year-old Adam Lallana setting up Dibling, who coolly slotted the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Cameron Archer, who had missed a penalty in Southampton’s previous 3-0 loss to Manchester United, almost doubled the lead but was denied by the post. Archer, a £15 million summer signing from Aston Villa, had another chance to score, but his effort was well saved by Muric.
The missed opportunities would come back to haunt Southampton, as Ipswich’s Morsy equalized in the 95th minute. His long-range strike, deflected off Joe Aribo, left Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with no chance, securing a dramatic point for the visitors.
After the game, an irritated Russell Martin shared his disappointment: “I’m really angry and frustrated that we didn’t see the game out. We allowed them too much space in the final moments, and that cost us. We made fundamental errors that we don’t make in training, and that has to be down to the anxiety of the situation. It was our best performance, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.”
Both teams remain winless in the Premier League this season, but Ipswich will be the happier side, as they continue to defy expectations in their first top-flight campaign since 2001-02. The draw is Ipswich’s third in five matches, moving them up to 16th place in the table. Southampton, meanwhile, picked up their first point of the season, moving from 19th to 18th.
Ipswich’s last Premier League victory came in April 2002 when they beat Middlesbrough 1-0. Town boss Kieran McKenna had hoped to target this game as an opportunity for another win, especially against a side that, like Ipswich, earned promotion from the Championship in 2023-24.
The game started in Southampton’s favor when Lallana, showing his experience, assisted Dibling’s opener with a deft pass. Dibling controlled the ball well, creating space to fire past two Ipswich defenders and find the back of the net, marking his first senior goal.
Southampton almost doubled their lead midway through the first half, but Archer’s attempt hit the post after rounding Muric. Ipswich fought back, with Southampton’s Ramsdale forced into a series of saves to maintain the lead, denying efforts from Dara O’Shea, Leif Davis, and Omari Hutchinson.
As the game neared its conclusion, Southampton looked set for their first Premier League victory since March 2023, when they beat Leicester City 1-0. However, Ipswich’s late push resulted in Morsy’s equalizer, with the captain’s deflected strike salvaging a point for his side.
Reflecting on the match, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s resilience: “It was a fantastic way to finish the game. For the captain to step up and strike it well, in front of the away supporters, to get a point is a great thing for the group. Scoring late goals and never giving up has been a massive part of our success, and it’s good for this new group to experience that.”
McKenna added that Ipswich is “edging in the right direction” and emphasized the importance of continued improvement as the team adapts to Premier League competition.
With both sides yet to find a victory, the pressure will continue to build, especially for Southampton as they aim to break their winless streak in their Premier League return.
source – BBC
