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WEST BROMWICH ALBION SACK SLAVEN BILIC DESPITE MANCITY DRAW

Slaven Bilic has been sacked by West Bromwich Albion, despite Tuesday’s surprise 1-1 draw with Manchester City bringing them an unexpected point in the battle to avoid relegation.

West Brom are second from bottom in the Premier League after picking up only seven points from 13 games, their sole victory coming against Sheffield United late last month. They have also drawn four games and lost eight.

A statement from the club read: “West Bromwich Albion have today parted company with Head Coach Slaven Bilic.

“Assistant Coaches, Dean Racunica and Danilo Butorovic, and First Team Coach Julian Dicks have also left the club with immediate effect.

“Albion would like to thank Slaven and his coaching staff for their efforts in achieving promotion last season and wishes them all well in the future.

“The club will make no further comment at this time.”

Bilic, who was appointed West Brom boss in June 2019 and won promotion back to the Premier League last season, is the first top flight manager to lose his job this campaign.

Speaking after Tuesday’s credible draw at Manchester City, the 52-year-old did not appear to be a man under pressure.

“To be fair, I’m not bothered,” Bilic told reporters. “I’m doing my job. I’m enjoying it. I’m working hard for myself, for my staff, for the players, for the club, that’s all.

“Everything else is out of my control. I’m not really that bothered what’s happening behind the scenes. I don’t care.”

West Brom next host Aston Villa on Sunday.

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WOLVES 2-1 CHELSEA: NETO STOPPAGE TIME STRIKE EARN WOLVES DRAMATIC WIN.

Pedro Neto struck a stoppage-time winner as Wolverhampton Wanderers came from behind to complete a dramatic 2-1 victory against Chelsea.

During a goalless first half, Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud sent a header over from Ben Chilwell’s corner and Kurt Zouma rattled the crossbar with a thunderous header.

At the other end, Neto cracked a powerful volley towards the bottom corner that was beaten out by Edouard Mendy.

Four minutes after half-time, Giroud met Chilwell’s cross on the volley, and although Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio batted the ball away, it had already crossed the line.

Willy Boly volleyed wide but moments later Daniel Podence found a yard of space to beat Mendy with the help of a slight deflection off Reece James.

A decision to award Wolves a penalty for a challenge on Neto was overturned following a VAR check inside the final 10 minutes.

But in the fifth minute of added time, the hosts stormed forward on the break and Neto applied a fine finish.

Wolves move up to ninth place, with 20 points, while Chelsea stay fifth on 22 points

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GREALISH GETS £82K FINE, NINE-MONTH DRIVING BAN.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish has been banned from driving for nine months and fined £82,000 for two motor offences.

The offences relate to a car collision on March 29 and a further incident near Villa’s training ground on Oct. 18.

CCTV footage of the March incident showed Grealish’s car colliding with a wall after clipping parked cars.

The incident happened shortly after the UK had gone into lockdown in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic and Grealish apologised for his actions.

Grealish arrived at Birmingham magistrates on foot while another person driving his car grabbed the waiting media’s attention as he entered.

Grealish’s lawyer John Dye said the England international was “deeply ashamed.”

He added: “Not just because reputationally this is problematic for him but he is genuinely sorry.”

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AJAX STAR, PROMES RELEASED FROM JAIL AFTER ARREST FOR ALLEGED STABBING, REMAINS SUSPECT.

Ajax forward Quincy Promes was released from jail on Tuesday following his arrest in connection with his alleged involvement in a stabbing that took place in July, but remains a suspect.

Promes missed training with Ajax on Sunday following his arrest and is denying any involvement in the alleged incident.

Promes’ lawyer told Dutch news agency ANP: “Promes was not on site at the time of the incident. Promes is fully cooperating with the investigation.”

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported a stabbing happened in Abcoude, just south of Amsterdam, at a family reunion hosted by Promes on the premises of a company he owns. The report added the player got into a fight with one of his relatives there and stabbed him.

“It’s very worrisome but being accused of something doesn’t mean you did it,” Ajax had told FOX Sports Netherlands in a statement following his arrest. “It is therefore too premature to say anything about it from Ajax.”

Police did not confirm the identity of the suspect but said a 28-year-old from Amsterdam had been arrested in connection with the alleged incident. Police said the man stabbed, who was seriously injured in the incident, pressed charges last month.

Promes has scored seven goals in 47 international appearances for the Dutch national team, and scored Ajax’s second goal in their 4-0 win over PEC Zwolle on Saturday.

Ajax face Utrecht in the Dutch Cup on Wednesday with Promes in contention to make the squad.

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MANCITY 1-1 WESTBROM: THE HAWTHORNS HOLD CITIZENS TO DRAW AT THE ETIHAD .

Manchester City’s hopes of closing the gap on the Premier League pacesetters were frustrated as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to lowly West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

City took the lead on the half hour when Raheem Sterling did well to work his way to the byline and pull the ball back to Ilkay Gundogan who expertly side-footed home.

But West Brom drew level two minutes before the break when a shot on the turn from Semi Ajayi hit City defender Ruben Dias and deflected past wrong-footed goalkeeper Ederson.

The hosts camped in West Brom’s half throughout most of the second period but Slaven Bilic’s side showed tremendous determination and defensive solidity.

City had late chances though — Kevin De Bruyne went close with a free-kick that West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone did well to reach while Sergio Aguero blasted wide from a good position.

Johnstone did well again in stoppage time to keep out a close-range Gundogan header and denied another great opportunity for Sterling who headed straight at the keeper.

After 12 games Pep Guardiola’s City are in sixth place, five points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool who both have 25 points and face each other at Anfield on Wednesday.

West Brom are second-bottom on seven points.

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EX LIVERPOOL, FRANCE BOSS, GERARD HOULLIER DIES AT 73.

Former France and Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has died at the age of 73.

Houllier, who managed Liverpool from 1998 to 2004, won six major trophies as manager of the Anfield side, which included a League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup success in 2001.

The Frenchman managed his national side from 1992-93, but left after failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

Houllier had a long history of heart problems, dating back to when he was rushed to hospital at half time of a Premier League game between Liverpool and Leeds United in 2001.

After leaving Liverpool, he spent two seasons with Lyon, where he won two Ligue 1 titles. His final job was as manager of Aston Villa in the 2010-11 campaign.

A Liverpool statement read: “Liverpool FC is mourning the passing of former manager Gerard Houllier, aged 73.

“The Frenchman was in charge of the Reds for six seasons, leading his team to an historic and unforgettable treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in 2000-01 and returning the club to the Champions League.

“Houllier — who recovered from life-saving heart surgery during the 2001-02 campaign to return to the dugout — later guided Liverpool to a second League Cup triumph of his tenure in 2003 and departed the following year having overseen 307 matches and successfully re-established the club as a modern force.

“Everybody at the club is deeply saddened by the loss of Gerard and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

After a playing career in France’s lower leagues, Houllier began coaching in 1973, earning his first big job with Lens before taking over at Paris Saint-Germain.

Houllier’s former club Lens also tweeted: “It is with sadness that we learn about the passing of Gerard Houllier, the former Lens manager from 1982 to 1985, and former France boss.

“Our thoughts are with his family and his friends.”

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 under Houllier, wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely heartbroken to hear that my old boss, Gerard Houllier, has sadly passed away. A great manager and a genuinely caring man.”

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher also posted on Twitter: “Absolutely devastated by the news about Gerard Houllier, I was in touch with him only last month to arrange him coming to Liverpool.

“Loved that man to bits, he changed me as a person & as a player & got @LFC back winning trophies. RIP Boss.”

French champions PSG posted on social media: “It is with great sadness that PSG has learned about the death of our former manager Gerard Houllier.

“PSG sends its most sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

Villa paid tribute to their former boss while UEFA said that Houllier was an “influential and much-respected UEFA technical observer and coaching expert.”

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BORRUSIA DORTMUND SACK COACH LUCIEN FAVRE FOLLOWING 5-1 DEFEAT TO STUTTGART.

Borussia Dortmund have sacked coach Lucien Favre following a 5-1 home defeat to newly promoted Stuttgart, the club has confirmed.

Dortmund, title contenders ahead of the season, have lost their last three home games and trail league leaders Bayer Leverkusen by six points after 11 matches.

We are all grateful to Lucien Favre for his excellent work over the past two-and-a-half year, in which he and his team won two runner-up championships. As a professional and as a person, Lucien Favre is beyond any doubt,” Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said in a statement.

Edin Terzic, Otto Addo and Sebastian Geppert will take over until the end of the season amid a tight schedule which sees Dortmund face away trips to Werder Bremen on Tuesday, to Union Berlin on Friday, and then to 2. Bundesliga club Braunschweig in the German Cup on Dec. 22.

Terzic, a youth coach who has also worked as an assistant at West Ham and Besiktas, took charge of the Sunday afternoon training session.

“It is very difficult to take this step,” sporting director Michael Zorc said. “But we believe because of the negative developments lately that there is a need to act.”

After just one point from their last three games against Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, Dortmund have dropped to fifth in the Bundesliga and face a fight to return to the Champions League next season.

“It was a disaster. It was bad,” Favre said after the loss. “We weren’t good at winning the ball. We made too many big mistakes. It’s hard to explain. If you’re not good at winning the ball, and I mean the whole team, then you have a problem. Stuttgart played well, but we were very, very poor. You can’t get away with that.”

Despite players pushing to break through into the European elite such as Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham and United States international Gio Reyna, as well as established and experienced stars like Marco Reus, Mats Hummels and Axel Witsel, Dortmund have struggled this season.

Dortmund have scored only four of their 23 league goals in the first 45 minutes and have conceded first in their last four games, of which they only won one when Haaland scored four in one half at Hertha Berlin on Nov. 22.

Favre was appointed by Dortmund in the summer of 2018 following a turbulent season at the club which saw them qualify for the Champions League thanks to goal difference.

In his first year, Dortmund led the Bundesliga for large parts of the season, but ultimately lost out on the title following a home defeat to local rivals Schalke.

In the 2019-20 season, Favre’s Dortmund once again finished runners-up, having challenged until a 1-0 home defeat to Bayern in late May following the restart of the Bundesliga amid the coronavirus pandemic.

His three-year contract was due to run out at the end of the season.

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UCL DRAW: BARCA FACE PSG, CHAMPIONS BAYERN DRAW LAZIO IN ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES.

Barcelona were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the standout tie of the Champions League round of 16, which took place on Monday at 11 a.m. GMT

The clash means that, if fit, Neymar will return to Camp Nou. The last time these teams met in the competition produced one of the most memorable matches in Champions League history as Barca — inspired by Neymar — won the round-of-16 second-leg clash 6-1 to recover from a 4-0 first-leg defeat. Neymar left in the summer of 2017, and this will be his first return.

Cristiano Ronaldo will make a return to Portugal as Juventus were drawn with Porto — a side he has mixed memories of playing against in the competition.

In 2004, his Manchester United side were eliminated by Porto after a draw at Old Trafford, which sparked Jose Mourinho’s famous run down the Old Trafford touchline. However, five years later, Ronaldo scored a stunning goal that decided their quarterfinal clash, and he was awarded the Puskas Award for it.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will face Diego Simeone as his side were paired with Atletico Madrid in a repeat of the 2014 semifinal.

Holders Bayern Munich were drawn against Lazio, who were unbeaten in the group phase and qualified for the knockout stages for the first time in 20 years, while Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp returns to Germany to face RB Leipzig.

Manchester City were drawn against Borussia Monchengladbach, while Real Madrid will face Atalanta. Europa League winners Sevilla were paired against Borussia Dortmund. The two-legged ties will be played starting Feb. 16.

Full draw
Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Manchester City

Lazio vs. Bayern Munich

Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea

RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool

Porto vs. Juventus

Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Sevilla vs. Borussia Dortmund

Atalanta vs. Real Madrid

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LEICESTER 3-0 BRIGHTON: MADDISON BRACE FIRES FOXES TO THIRD ON THE TABLE.

James Maddison scored twice as Leicester City moved third in the Premier League table with a 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Jamie Vardy hit the post in the 26th minute, but within 60 seconds the striker laid a James Justin cross back to Maddison, who scored with a low, deflected shot.

Vardy doubled the lead in the 41st minute, converting another centre from Justin.

And three minutes later, Maddison curled in a brilliant third from Vardy’s pass after a flowing move.

Brighton’s best opportunities came early in the first half, as Kasper Schmeichel made saves from Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Danny Welbeck before Leicester took control.

Leicester are on 24 points, one behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, while Brighton stay 16th on 10 points, two above the bottom three.