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ANTOINE SEMENYO GOAL ENOUGH AS BOURNEMOUTH BOOST EUROPEAN PUSH WITH FULHAM WIN

Antoine Semenyo struck inside 53 seconds as Bournemouth reignited their quest for continental qualification with a 1-0 Premier League victory over fellow European hopefuls Fulham at the Vitality Stadium.

Forward Semenyo clinically pounced on an early error from Cottagers captain Antonee Robinson to claim his 10th goal of the season and earn the Cherries a first win in seven league games.

Evanilson went close to doubling the hosts’ lead when he struck the woodwork before Andoni Iraola’s men hung on to climb to eighth – above their opponents and Brighton on goal difference.

Ryan Sessegnon wasted the best of Fulham’s chances to equalise – heading straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga in the first half – before seemingly being substituted incorrectly during the second period.

Bournemouth began the evening having taken just two points from a possible 18 during a dramatic drop-off in form since going fifth with a 3-1 success at relegated rivals Southampton on February 15.

Defender Marcos Senesi replaced Illia Zabarnyi in the only change from the Cherries’ 2-2 draw at West Ham, while Cottagers boss Marco Silva stuck with the team which defeated champions-elect Liverpool 3-2.

Bournemouth raced ahead inside a minute.

Alex Scott led the counter attack following a loose pass from Timothy Castagne and, after Robinson’s mistake, Semenyo nipped in to cut inside Joachim Andersen and curl the ball into the bottom-left corner.

The hosts should have increased their advantage in the 16th minute when Evanilson rattled the crossbar from only four yards out after Scott headed Milos Kerkez’s cross from the left back across goal.

Fulham also looked dangerous going forward during an entertaining first half.

Rodrigo Muniz threatened three times in quick succession, including flashing across goal following defensive dithering from Bournemouth centre-backs Senesi and Dean Huijsen, before the unmarked Sessegnon tamely nodded into the arms of Kepa.

Senesi was shown a yellow card for a lunging challenge on Andersen, despite winning the ball, while Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno kept out a low shot from Scott in added time.

Bournemouth boss Iraola replaced Senesi with Zabarnyi for the second half and almost saw his side double their lead in the 55th minute when the legs of Leno denied Tyler Adams.

Fulham manager Silva then looked unhappy amid confusion as he made a triple substitution which took around two-and-a-half minutes to complete.

Tom Cairney, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez came on, with Sessegnon, who was withdrawn alongside Sander Berge and Muiz, appearing to be brought off incorrectly due to an admin error.

Bournemouth stopper Kepa clawed away an Alex Iwobi effort and comfortably saved from Sasa Lukic as the west London visitors pushed for a leveller.

At the other end, VAR deemed Leno got fingertips to the ball when Evanilson went down in the box seeking a penalty, 10 minutes from time.

The hosts comfortably held on during seven minutes of added time to claim an overdue victory – their first at home since thrashing Nottingham Forest 5-0 in January – and put their European push back on track.

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JAMIE REDKNAPP GIVEN 12-MONTH DRIVING BAN AFTER BEING CAUGHT SPEEDING

Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool footballer Jamie Redknapp has been banned from driving for 12 months after being caught speeding in his luxury SUV.

Redknapp, 51, admitted two counts of speeding in his Audi Q8 in June and November last year which took his licence over the points limit.

Bexley Magistrates’ Court heard the ex-England international was clocked doing 28mph in a 20mph zone in Wandsworth on June 26 last year, and on November 2 he was caught travelling at 58mph in a 50mph zone on the M4 near Reading.

Redknapp did not appear at the court hearing on Monday but had previously notified magistrates of a guilty plea.

This was his second “totting” offence, as he had a previous six-month disqualification in 2021, the court heard.

Before the two speeding counts last year, Redknapp already had 12 points on his licence.

Redknapp, of west London, was also ordered to pay costs of £608.

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VIRGIL VAN DIJK EXPECTS A BUSY LIVERPOOL SUMMER

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is expecting a big summer in the transfer market as the club look to build on their pending Premier League title triumph.

The 2-1 victory at home to West Ham, secured by the centre-back’s 89th-minute winner, leaves the Reds a maximum of six points away from lifting a record-equalling 20th championship.

Van Dijk’s own future is likely to be secured later this week with the announcement of a two-year contract to match the commitment Mohamed Salah made on Friday, but with main rivals Manchester City and Arsenal certain to strengthen, Liverpool cannot afford to stand still.

Forward Federico Chiesa was the only addition to head coach Arne Slot’s squad but he has not even had a bit-part role and greater reinforcements are needed in all three areas of the pitch.

“I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years,” said Van Dijk, who captained the team for the 100th time against West Ham.

“Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer. I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board to do the right job.

“I think we 100 per cent can improve. I think we shouldn’t forget the quality that the Premier League possesses, especially this season. It’s incredible how everyone can beat everyone.

“Brentford got a draw at Arsenal, Chelsea-Ipswich was a draw. We obviously lost against Fulham last week, so we can’t forget that either.

“This year, there is a training camp and there is time for the team to work on what the manager wants and I think that will then improve the team.

“I think a proper pre-season would definitely help the club in order to be even more consistent than we already have been.”
In terms of consistency there is no-one who is delivering more than Salah.

In line for a fourth Golden Boot in eight years, the Egypt international set a new record for a 38-game Premier League season with his assist for Luis Diaz’s opener his 45th involvement (27 goals, 18 assists).

The ending of his long-running contract saga provided a significant boost for the club, as will the conclusion of Van Dijk’s.

“You can’t put it in words how consistent he is,” added the Dutchman.

“Obviously his numbers but the work-rate he’s put in over those last eight years at the club is incredible and he can still show it for another few years.”

Van Dijk is set to become only the second Liverpool captain to lift the Premier League trophy and he is looking to add to that.

“Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool – that is just part of me,” he said.

“I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.

“We are two wins, six points away from glory. I know what it means to the club and I know what it will bring us if it happens. Most of the players don’t so when it happens it will be beautiful but we still have a job to do.”

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HARVEY BARNES SHINES IN NEWCASTLE 4-1 WIN AGAINST MAN UNITED

Harvey Barnes sent head coach Eddie Howe the best possible get-well message as Newcastle brushed aside Manchester United 4-1 to climb into fourth place in the Premier League table.

Barnes struck twice after the break at a packed St James’ Park after Alejandro Garnacho had cancelled out Sandro Tonali’s opener, with Bruno Guimaraes’ late strike completing a first league double over the men from Old Trafford since the 1930-31 season to put a smile on Howe’s face in his hospital bed.

Assistant Jason Tindall looked on as the Magpies claimed a fourth successive league win to leave themselves just a point behind third-placed Nottingham Forest with a game in hand.

For Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, who handed goalkeeper Altay Bayindir a league debut in place of the error-prone Andre Onana, there were flashes of positivity going forward, but a calamitous defensive frailty, the Turkey international included, proved fatal.

The hosts were first to threaten when, after Kieran Trippier had picked off Joshua Zirkzee’s crossfield pass and fed Jacob Murphy, the wide man whistled a skidding third-minute shot just wide of Bayindir’s far post.

Zirkzee forced Nick Pope into a fine reaction save after combining beautifully with Bruno Fernandes to work his way to the edge of the penalty area as the visitors responded. Still, Newcastle took a 24th-minute lead when Trippier slid the ball into Alexander Isak’s feet. He teed it up before clipping a pass into the run of Tonali, who volleyed sweetly past Bayindir.
Bayindir produced a stunning save to keep out Isak’s 34th-minute volley from a Tino Livramento cross as the pressure mounted, and his side was back in it within three minutes when Manuel Ugarte played in Diogo Dalot and he sped upfield before feeding Garnacho to shoot across Pope and in off the foot of the post.

Pope denied Garnacho a second at the end of another pacy break as the half-time whistle approached, but the teams went in level at the break.

Teenage Harry Amass blazed over after Dalot had gone down under Tonali’s covering challenge as the second half resumed at breakneck pace.

But it was the Magpies who regained the lead within seconds when Livramento skipped past Dalot and crossed for Murphy to stab the ball back across for Barnes to score.
Zirkzee’s afternoon came to an unfortunate conclusion 10 minutes into the second half when he appeared to damage a hamstring as he embarked on a mazy run from his half and had to be replaced by Rasmus Hojlund, with Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu coming on for Garnacho and Amass at the same time.

But Newcastle smelled blood and pinned the Red Devils back, deep inside their half, and they extended their lead with 64 minutes gone when Noussair Mazraoui slipped under pressure from Barnes, who raced in on goal before blasting the ball emphatically past Bayindir.

Bayindir’s afternoon took a further turn for the worse when his 77th-minute clearance was headed back by Joelinton to Guimaraes, who made no mistake with just the keeper to beat.

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CONFERENCE LEAGUE: TYRIQUE GEORGE’S FIRST GOAL FOR CHELSEA HELP BLUES TO CONVINCING WARSAW WIN.

Tyrique George scored his first Chelsea goal as Enzo Maresca’s side eased past Legia Warsaw to take a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final.

Next week’s return at Stamford Bridge should be little more than a formality and it would take an almighty collapse for Chelsea not to reach the last four from here, after three second-half goals helped purge the memory of another uninspiring first period.

The moment of the match came from academy graduate George, the 19-year-old winger reacting quickest inside the box after Reece James’ effort was saved, before substitute Noni Madueke doubled the lead minutes later.

Madueke hit his second 15 minutes from time, tapping in just seconds after Christopher Nkunku had had a penalty saved.

It took until the 34th minute for Chelsea to draw a significant save from Legia goalkeeper Kacper Tobiasz.

After Cole Palmer’s attempted effort from the edge of the box was well blocked, the ball broke for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who opened up his body and curled an effort towards the corner that was well tipped away at full-stretch by Tobiasz.

James summed up his side’s lack of attacking ideas when, struggling for options, he lashed badly high and wide from 30 yards, a snapshot of Chelsea’s first-half frustrations.

Dewsbury-Hall had a final chance to send Chelsea into half-time in the lead when he planted a free header wide with the last play of a half in which the visitors had enjoyed more than 70 per cent possession but mustered just two efforts on target.

Palmer, whose goal drought stretches back to January 14, was withdrawn at the break following another quiet display, and was replaced by Madueke for his second substitute appearance since returning from injury.

The second half started just as the first had ended, with Dewsbury-Hall heading over the crossbar unmarked from a good position.

A lesson in how to finish was not long in arriving. James, who had broken the deadlock with a long-range pearler in a similarly dreary encounter away to Copenhagen in the previous round, tried his luck again with a low drive from range.

Tobiasz got down to parry but pushed the ball into the path of George who was fastest to react and kept his cool to roll the ball back across the goalkeeper and into the corner.

The goal shocked Chelsea into life.

After 55 minutes it was 2-0, Tobiasz giving the ball away with a poor clearance and giving Jadon Sancho room to advance into. The winger skipped infield and picked out Madueke who had been left all alone inside the box and was unimpeded as he slotted home.
Nkunku’s penalty was then well saved by Tobiasz but it was a momentary reprieve, Madueke tapping in his second and Chelsea’s third under 30 seconds later from Sancho’s cross.

Legia might have travelled to London with a sliver of hope had Filip Jorgensen not produced a superb stop to deny winger Patryk Kun in the final minute.

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ANDRE ONANA IN SPOT LIGHT AS MAN UTD DENIED LYON VICTORY BY LAST-GASP EQUALISER

Under-fire Andre Onana was unable to stop Rayan Cherki scoring a last-gasp leveller having gifted Lyon an opener as the first leg of Manchester United’s make-or-break quarter-final ended 2-2.

A war of words on the eve of the fixture added extra spice to the biggest game of the underperforming Red Devils’ season as Nemanja Matic reacted furiously to Onana saying the Premier League team were “way better” than the French side.

Lyon’s former United midfielder retaliated by calling Onana as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history” and the Cameroon shot-stopper did little to stop such talk when allowing Thiago Almada’s first-half free-kick to creep past him.

Ruben Amorim’s men turned things around impressively and looked set to take a win back to Old Trafford after Leny Yoro’s reaction header in first-half stoppage time was followed by substitute Zirkzee heading home two minutes from time.

But more drama would follow as Cherki reacted quickest after Onana saved Georges Mikautadze’s fizzing strike in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time to spark wild celebrations inside the Groupama Stadium.

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TALL ORDER: SPURS LEFT WITH WORK TO DO AFTER EUROPA LEAGUE FIRST LEG HOME DRAW WITH FRANKFURT

Tottenham have work to do to reach the Europa League semi-finals after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their last-eight tie.

Ange Postecoglou watched Spurs go behind after six minutes through Hugo Ekitike’s fine long-range strike, but Pedro Porro pulled them level midway through the first half with a sumptuous back-heel finish.

The Premier League outfit upped the ante after the break with Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur hitting the woodwork, while Frankfurt’s back-up goalkeeper Kaua Santos produced crucial saves to deny Son Heung-min, James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to leave the tie finely-poised ahead of next Thursday’s second leg in Germany.

This was Tottenham’s first European quarter-final since 2019, but a torrid domestic campaign meant it was another two-legged tie built up as make-or-break for Postecoglou, who stated on Wednesday the “general sentiment” was that even winning this competition may not save his job.

Spurs’ bid to make the last four got off to the worst possible start when Frankfurt delighted their bouncing travelling fans with a sixth-minute goal.

After Maddison lost possession to Ellyes Skhiri, the visitors produced a slick counter-attack and Ekitike cut inside Porro before arrowing a 22-yard effort into the bottom corner for his 20th goal of the season.

The hosts had to survive two corners in quick succession shortly afterwards, but did begin to regroup with two dangerous crosses by Son and Dominic Solanke enough to get the home supporters briefly off their feet.

A goal was required to light the touchpaper for Tottenham and an unlikely source provided it in the 26th minute.

Son and Solanke initially combined before the latter found Maddison, who burst past Skhiri and cut back for Porro to brilliantly back-heel the leveller for only his third goal this term.

It sparked big celebrations from Spurs’ single-tier South Stand but another chance went begging when Son blazed over a quick free-kick.

Ekitike bookended the half with a weak effort straight at Guglielmo Vicario before a crucial Bergvall intervention denied him another chance immediately after the break.

Bergvall was the catalyst for a momentum shift as he superbly turned away from two opponents and sent a 55th-minute piledriver against the crossbar to spark a period of Spurs dominance.

It was followed by a flying save from Kaua to thwart Son’s curled effort before a Bentancur header from the resulting Porro corner went over via the crossbar.

A low effort by Maddison, which Kaua did well to block, concluded a spell of four chances in as many minutes that ultimately did not result in a second Tottenham goal.

Jean-Matteo Bahoya hooked over for Frankfurt not long after in a reminder of their threat before another Bentancur header was saved by Kaua.

Postecoglou rolled the dice late on with Son and Maddison withdrawn and a stoppage-time winner almost followed but Van de Ven’s close-range header from a Bentancur knock-down was impressively tipped over by Kaua.

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PSG’S THIRD GOAL NOT STOPPING VILLA’S SECOND LEG, COME-BACK TASK – EMERY

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says Paris St Germain’s late goal in their 3-1 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat does not affect his side’s chances of progressing.

Villa looked like returning home from the French capital with just a one-goal deficit after Morgan Rogers’ opener was eclipsed by superb goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

But Nuno Mendes’ added-time goal seems particularly important as Villa had contained Liverpool’s conquerers after France’s public enemy number one Emiliano Martinez made a string of important saves.

Emery says Villa’s outlook remains the same and the defeat is not the “worst” result.

“It’s not changing a lot,” the Spaniard said.

“At 2-1 we were thinking for the next match playing to win, at 3-1 it’s still the same.

“We need to win the next match, not just by one goal, two. I’m very proud of the players and how we are developing and doing with our increasing in our demands and playing against PSG.

“We competed fantastically and we were close to getting a good result. At the end with this goal it’s more or less the same.”

Villa will need to produce the most famous night since they won the European Cup in 1982 if their maiden Champions League journey is to continue.

But Emery still believes, adding: “I believe Villa Park is our home, hopefully we can be stronger, get the duels better than today and have our moment more than today.

“They’re still favourites, and they showed their qualities. The result is not the best or the worst. Still 90 minutes to play in the second leg and we’re ready in case we have to go to extra-time.

“We know it’s a team that’s built to win at very high level. We’re very happy to compete at this level, facing teams collectively, we’re not the best version of our team.

“Collectively and individually I’ll make sure we’re better. We’re here to compete and this is not changing.”

PSG showed why they are fancied to finally get their hands on the Champions League trophy for the first time.

“I think we changed our DNA trying to sign young players with a lot of quality,” boss Luis Enrique said.

“We have that resources. It is important to try and develop our idea. We are in that important mix with the enough energy to try to go for the next phase and try to make history in Paris.

“It is our goal to try and win all the trophies. It is an ambitious goal but it is motivating for us.

“I am very happy with the performance today and the whole year and I hope we can continue that way.”

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RICE’S STUNNING FREEKICK DOUBLE FIRES ARSENAL TO 3-0 WIN OVER REAL MADRID.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s two fantastic free kicks and a striker’s finish from Mikel Merino secured a 3-0 victory over shocked holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at The Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

The hosts had the better of the first half as Real began slowly, with Eduardo Camavinga almost conceding a calamitous own goal when he blocked Antonio Rudiger’s clearance before Thomas Partey shot straight at goalkeeper Thibault Courtois.

Real, bidding for a record-extending 16th title in the competition, grew into the contest and threatened on the break, though their few opportunities came from Arsenal errors and the visitors looked disjointed throughout the contest.

Courtois was by far the busier keeper and produced a stunning double save, the first from a powerful Rice header, on the stroke of halftime.

There was no stopping Rice’s opener, though, a fierce curling shot around the wall and beyond Courtois in the 58th minute for his first senior goal from a direct free kick.

“It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar. Originally I was going to cross it and then I’ve just have seen the wall with the goalkeeper’s position. I thought … just go for it,” Rice said.

Arsenal could have been 2-0 up shortly after but for more heroics from Courtois, who produced a diving stop from Gabriel Martinelli followed by another from makeshift striker Merino in between David Alaba’s goal-line block.

Rice’s second free kick was even better than the first, curled straight into the top corner in the 70th minute, to leave the 15-times European champions looking stunned.

Merino then coolly fired Myles Lewis-Skelly’s pull-back into the bottom corner 15 minutes from time, following a pass from substitute Leandro Trossard, to give Arsenal a sizeable lead to take to Madrid next week.

The winners of the tie will face either Aston Villa or Paris St Germain, who meet on Wednesday, in the semi-finals.

‘BRILLIANT GAME’

“We’ve had a brilliant game, we had a lot of motivation, that’s why we won,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We have a game next week in the Bernabeu, we have to demonstrate we can do that again next week.”

Real will have to try and overhaul Arsenal’s lead without Camavinga, who was shown a second yellow card in the closing seconds for kicking the ball away.

The visitors did have some half-chances, most notably through Kylian Mbappe who scuffed his shot at the end of a fast break with the score at 0-0 in the first half.

But Real were unconvincing in attack and have now conceded 11 goals in their last four games in all competitions, while Arsenal have not lost a European tie when scoring three goals in the first leg.

Unused substitute Lucas Vazquez conceded Real were nowhere near their best but nonetheless, given his side’s European pedigree, warned Arsenal his team were far from finished.

“The tie is complicated, but if there’s one team in the world that can turn it around, it’s us, in our stadium and with our fans,” he told Movistar Plus.

Real will hope to take heart from the 1975-76 European Cup when they lost 4-1 away to Derby County in the first leg of the second round but won the return 5-1 at home.

REUTERS

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NEWCASTLE BOOST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BID AS LEICESTER MOVE STEP CLOSER TO RELEGATION

Newcastle blew Leicester away with three first-half goals to inflict a miserable 3-0 defeat on the Foxes who moved a step closer to suffering relegation from the Premier League.

The Magpies flexed their muscles in front of Sky Bet Championship-bound Leicester in a ruthless start to boost their hopes of returning to the Champions League by moving level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.

Jacob Murphy set the tone for the evening when he tapped in with 113 seconds on the clock and he grabbed his brace when he knocked in the rebound after Fabian Schar struck the crossbar from inside his own half.

Many of the Leicester fans who decided to turn up seemingly headed early for the exit doors when Harvey Barnes haunted his old club with the third goal on his return to leave Leicester 15 points adrift of safety with seven games to go.

Leicester last scored in front of their own fans against Brighton on December 8 and drawing another blank meant they became the first side in Football League history to lose eight home league games in a row without scoring a goal.

The Foxes forced Nick Pope into action 10 seconds into the contest as Jamie Vardy blasted an effort on goal from a tight angle but the England international was alert enough to tip it round a post.

Leicester went behind to a goal inside two minutes for a second straight game.

The Magpies hardly had to break a sweat as former Leicester man Barnes easily unlocked the frail home defence with a pass in behind and Tino Livramento fizzed it across goal for Murphy, who was waiting to tap home at the far post.

Newcastle doubled their advantage nine minutes later in quite outstanding fashion.

Schar picked the ball up inside his own half and lifted his head to find Mads Hermansen way of his line. He decided to audaciously have a crack which bounced flush off the upright and fell kindly for Murphy to bury his second.

The hosts were trying to demonstrate their attacking ability, this time Bilal El Khannouss sprinting down the left and unleashing an effort which drew a second stop from Pope.

The visitors were in no mood to show mercy and they punished Leicester with a third in the 34th minute.

Joelinton had the freedom of the King Power Stadium as he forced a save from Hermansen but Leicester were unable to stop the follow-up again as Barnes tapped in the rebound.

Leicester were inches away from scoring their first home goal of this calendar year. Patson Daka’s strike had the beating of Pope only to see the ball bounce off one post, hit the other and roll to safety.
The Magpies seemed content with their first-half showing and took their foot off the gas but Schar again tried his luck which Hermansen saved – he was greeted with sarcastic cheers from the dejected home fans.

Leicester were trying to find that elusive first home goal, though, with Wout Faes coming close with a header which was glanced the wrong side of a post to sum up another bleak night for the Foxes.