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MAN UTD MATCH CITY’S GOAL WINNING RECORD WITH 9-0 BATCHING OF SOUTHAMPTON.

Manchester United equalled the biggest winning margin in Premier League history as they triumphed 9-0 against a Southampton side who finished with nine men.

Southampton made a nightmare start at Old Trafford as 19-year-old Alexandre Jankewitz was sent off just 79 seconds into his full Premier League debut for a high challenge on Scott McTominay.

Man Utd took advantage with Aaron Wan-Bissaka tapping in Luke Shaw’s cross before Mason Greenwood teed up Marcus Rashford to double the lead 25 minutes in.

Jan Bednarek then scored an own goal and Edinson Cavani headed in from a second Shaw assist to make it 4-0 at half-time.

After the break Bruno Fernandes set up substitute Anthony Martial to score before McTominay netted a fierce drive from long range.

It got even worse for Southampton when Bednarek was sent off for a denial of a goalscoring opportunity and Fernandes converted the resultant penalty.

Martial then struck his second before Daniel James rounded off the scoring with the last kick of the match, converting Fernandes’s header across the box.

United tie their own 9-0 win over Ipswich Town in 1995 and Leicester City’s victory by the same scoreline at Southampton in 2019.

It means they are behind Man City on goal difference alone but have played two matches more. Southampton drop to 12th after a fourth consecutive loss.

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BILLY SHARP’S STRIKE HELP SHEFFIELD EDGE WESTBROM.

Billy Sharp was the hero as Sheffield United came from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion in a battle between the Premier League’s bottom two teams.

West Brom took a 41st-minute lead when Matt Phillips reacted quickest after Aaron Ramsdale had saved shots from both Callum Robinson and Mbaye Diagne.

Sheff Utd lost George Baldock to injury but they equalised 11 minutes after the break as Chris Basham set up Jayden Bogle to smash in.

The turnaround was completed on 73 minutes, with Sharp firing in from 10 yards after John Egan had knocked Basham’s cross back into his path.

Sheff Utd stay bottom and are 11 points from safety, but a third win in five matches lifts them just a point behind 19th-placed West Brom, who are winless in four matches.

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WOLVES BEAT 9-MAN ARSENAL 2-1 TO END WINLESS RUN.

Wolverhampton Wanderers ended their eight-match winless run as they beat an Arsenal team who had two players sent off.

Arsenal made a strong start with Bukayo Saka hitting a post and having a goal overturned for offside before they took a 32nd-minute lead.

Nicolas Pepe nutmegged two Wolves players before curling a beauty past Rui Patricio.

But the match turned in first-half stoppage time, when David Luiz brought down Willian Jose in the penalty area and was shown a straight red card for making no attempt to play the ball.

Ruben Neves converted the spot-kick and Wolves were quick to make their man advantage count.

Just three minutes into the second half, Joao Moutinho unleashed a long-range strike into the top corner to complete the turnaround with his first goal at Molineux.

Things got worse for Arsenal on 72 minutes as their goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, made a deliberate handball outside the box and was sent off for denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

The win leaves Wolves 14th, five points behind 10th-placed Arsenal, who were beaten for the first time in eight matches and missed the chance to go sixth.

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VAN DIJK TO MISS REST OF THE SEASON – KLOPP

Jürgen Klopp today clarified that Virgil van Dijk is unlikely to play again in 2020-21.

The Liverpool No.4 has been sidelined with a knee ligament injury, which required surgery, since mid-October and is undergoing a rehabilitation programme.

At Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Klopp was asked if Van Dijk will be included in the Reds’ updated Premier League squad list when it is submitted later this week.

“Whatever happens, I think we have space for Virgil on the Champions League list. I think he was on the Premier League list. Nobody told me I have to change something with that. If we have space in the Champions League list then Virgil will be on the list,” said the boss.

“In the moment, I don’t know where these things are coming from – nobody really, no doctor, nobody really told me there’s a chance for Virgil to play in this season again.

“I don’t want to say that’s absolutely impossible but it’s not likely. It’s not likely. We don’t have to discuss these things really.

“If we have space we would put them all on, even when all the medical people tell us there’s no chance. We put them on because we believe in miracles from time to time.

“But if there’s no place then we have to consider these kind of things and say, ‘The chance is not too big so we have to make the decision.’ But if they are on the list then it’s only because we hope for nearly a miracle. That’s it.”

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AVB OFFERS MARSEILLE RESIGNATION AFTER OLIVIER NTCHAM SIGNING


Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas has offered to resign as the club’s manager after the board went against his wishes and signed Olivier Ntcham.

In his press conference ahead of the Ligue 1 fixture against Lens tomorrow, Villas-Boas said: “I just want to leave Marseille.”
He feels that the signing did not fit the profile of what he was looking for and that the board went against his wishes by persisting with the transfer.

He said: “I have resigned because I don’t agree with the sporting policy of the club. I said no to the signing of Olivier Ntcham. He wasn’t on our list.

“Even for [the exit of] Nemanja Radonjic, I was told at the last moment. I don’t want anything from the club, I don’t want their money.

“I just want to leave. If the answer is no… Well, we’ll keep going.

“I love the club and I love Marseille, but you can’t touch my professionalism.

When I’m offered a guy who has nothing to do with the profile I’m looking for… No. I do not agree with the sporting policy.”

It’s been a difficult time of late for one of France’s most successful teams.

With one win in their last nine matches, they sit ninth in the table and recorded a dismal group stage in the Champions League, winning just once in their six games and finishing bottom.

Fans of the club stormed the training ground last week in protest and there were violent clashes with police officers during the events – defender Alvaro Gonzalez was also reportedly hit on the back with a projectile. It led to their match against Rennes the next day to be postponed.

If Villas-Boas is granted his wish and leaves the club, it could plunge Marseille into further trouble for the remainder of the season.

Dithering in mid-table is not what fans have come to expect of the club and cutting ties with the manager who secured them second spot in the league and a return to the Champions League may, in the long run, have further negative effects on the club.

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LIVERPOOL SEAL BEN DAVIES ON A LONG TERM SIGNING

Liverpool have completed the signing of Ben Davies from Preston North End on a long-term contract.

The 25-year-old centre-back has put pen to paper on a deal with the Reds on deadline day to tie up his transfer from the Championship club and bolster Jürgen Klopp’s defensive ranks.

Davies told Liverpoolfc.com during his first interview at Anfield: “I’m obviously delighted to be here.

“It’s a huge opportunity. Obviously it came as a bit of a surprise when it first came but once you start to get your head around it, the opportunity that is in front of me is incredible. I’d be silly to not make the most of it and learn off the players [at the club].

“I’ve never actually been to Anfield and I haven’t had a look around yet. I had a quick look out and had a look at the pitch and it looks like carpet, which obviously you’d expect.

“I haven’t actually walked out of the tunnel yet, so I’m looking forward to that. Just to be in this kind of atmosphere is brilliant.”

Davies graduated through the academy ranks at Preston and went on to represent them on 145 occasions, scoring two goals, following his senior debut in January 2013.

The Englishman, who will take the vacant No.28 shirt at Liverpool, claimed Preston’s 2019 Player of the Year award for his form.

“I want to come in and play games to start with, I want to get my foot in the door and make myself a Premier League player rather than obviously a Championship player. And then take it from there really,” he said.

“I know we’ve got some top players here and players I can certainly learn from. Once you get your foot in the door then you’re here as well. Hopefully I can take my chance and then move forward with it.

“I’m looking forward to coming in and playing in front of everyone and showing everyone what I can do. I’m sure a lot of fans and people don’t know [me], or haven’t even seen me play.

“It’s definitely an exciting time and I think they’ll quite enjoy watching me when I’m playing well.”

Davies graduated through the academy ranks at Preston and went on to represent them on 145 occasions, scoring two goals, following his senior debut in January 2013.

The Englishman, who will take the vacant No.28 shirt at Liverpool, claimed Preston’s 2019 Player of the Year award for his form.

“I want to come in and play games to start with, I want to get my foot in the door and make myself a Premier League player rather than obviously a Championship player. And then take it from there really,” he said.

“I know we’ve got some top players here and players I can certainly learn from. Once you get your foot in the door then you’re here as well. Hopefully I can take my chance and then move forward with it.

“I’m looking forward to coming in and playing in front of everyone and showing everyone what I can do. I’m sure a lot of fans and people don’t know [me], or haven’t even seen me play.

“It’s definitely an exciting time and I think they’ll quite enjoy watching me when I’m playing well.”

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LIVERPOOL COMPLETE LOAN DEAL FOR OZAN KABAK

Liverpool have completed the transfer of Ozan Kabak from Schalke 04 on loan until the end of the season, subject to international clearance.

The 20-year-old defender will spend the remainder of 2020-21 with the Reds after he put pen to paper on the deal on deadline day.

Kabak completed the formalities of the switch in Germany and will travel to Merseyside later this week.

The Turkey international arrives at Anfield after two years in the Bundesliga, where he represented VfB Stuttgart before joining Schalke in July 2019.

Prior to moving to Germany, Kabak came through the ranks at Galatasaray, where he gained Champions League experience with four appearances in the tournament in 2018-19.

On the international front, he has earned seven caps for Turkey to date.

He will wear No.19 for Liverpool.

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REAL MADRID’S TITLE HOPES SUFFER FURTHER BLOW WITH SHOCKING DEFEAT TO LEVANTE.

Real Madrid suffered a huge dent to their LaLiga title ambitions following a surprise 2-1 defeat by Levante.

The home side were reduced to 10 men after just nine minutes when defender Eder Militao was shown a straight red card.

Marco Asensio put Real 1-0 up just moments later, but Jose Luis Morales levelled for Levante before the interval, with Roger Marti netting the winner 12 minutes from time.

Real remain seven points behind city rivals Atletico Madrid who travel to Cadiz on Sunday with two games in hand.

With manager Zinedine Zidane sidelined after contracting coronavirus, David Bettoni took charge of a Real side bidding to win back-to-back victories.

But they faced an uphill task when Militao was given his marching orders after he brought down Sergio Leon.

A delightful pass from Toni Kroos sent Asensio away and his cool finish put the hosts into the lead four minutes after Militao’s dismissal.

But the visitors were undeterred by Real’s opener and, following a number of chances at both ends, Morales netted past Thibaut Courtois with 32 minutes played.

Marti then had the opportunity to put Levante into the lead but his penalty kick was saved by Courtois shortly after the hour mark.

However, Marti made amends when he converted Enis Bardhi’s pass with 78 minutes played to give Levante all three points.

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CALLUM WILSON LEADS NEWCASTLE’S SHOCKING VICTORY AT EVERTON.

Callum Wilson scored both goals, including his 50th in the Premier League, as Newcastle United won 2-0 at Everton to end a nine-match winless run in the league.

Everton carried the early threat, with Richarlison’s low shot being saved by Karl Darlow on 23 minutes.

But Newcastle grew into the match and went close when Wilson’s header from a corner was tipped onto the bar by Jordan Pickford.

The hosts spurned two chances at the end of the first half as James Rodriguez forced another save from Darlow and Richarlison shot over.

Instead, Wilson broke the deadlock for the visitors, scoring with a brilliant 73rd-minute header from Jonjo Shelvey’s corner.

The striker then struck again in stoppage time, finishing clinically from Jamal Lewis’s cross on the counter-attack.

Newcastle’s first league win since 12 December takes them to 22 points, but still in 16th place. Everton stay seventh on 33 points.

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ARS 0-0 MUN: HONOURS EVEN AT THE EMIRATES.

Arsenal extended their unbeaten Premier League run to seven matches in an exciting, but goalless, draw against Manchester United.

In an open contest at Emirates Stadium, Fred saw his 19th-minute shot denied by the fingertips of Bernd Leno at full stretch, before Bruno Fernandes curled narrowly wide as United enjoyed the better of the first-half chances.

Arsenal started the second half brightly, with substitute Willian and Nicolas Pepe both having shots blocked in quick succession.

Alexandre Lacazette powered a free-kick against the bar and Emile Smith Rowe forced David De Gea into a smart save with the follow-up.

Those opportunities came either side of Edinson Cavani spurning two good chances for United.

For the first, the Uruguayan sidefooted just wide with Leno stranded, while the second was a spectacular volley with just two minutes to play going the wrong side of a post.

United’s club-record 18th away league match unbeaten keeps them second, but they drop three points behind Manchester City.

Arsenal go above Chelsea into eighth with 31 points.