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ROMAN ABRAMOVICH HANDS STEWARDSHIP AND CARE OF CHELSEA TO CLUB’S TRUSTEES

Roman Abramovich has handed the “stewardship and care” of Chelsea to the club’s foundation trustees.

Abramovich will remain as Chelsea’s owner, but will not be involved in any decision making at the Stamford Bridge club.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich has taken the decision to protect Chelsea from continued links to the wider situation of Russia’s war with Ukraine, the PA news agency understands.

Chelsea’s senior leadership set-up will not change, it is understood, with chairman Bruce Buck now the west London club’s most senior figure.

“During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities,” read a statement from Abramovich.

“I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values.

“That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans.”

Abramovich’s step backwards will not have any bearing on any possible UK government sanctions, but was a decision understood to have been taken solely in Chelsea’s interests.

Labour MP Chris Bryant claimed in the House of Commons on Thursday that the UK government should seize Abramovich’s assets and remove the 55-year-old from Chelsea’s ownership.

Abramovich did not apply for a renewal of his UK work visa in 2018, leading to a period of time where he was rarely seen in London.

In October 2021, Abramovich visited Stamford Bridge for a Say No To Anti-Semitism event, in support of Chelsea’s long-running campaign against racism and hatred.

Abramovich then attended Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea in action in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United in November, and was on hand in Abu Dhabi when the Blues won the Club World Cup final on February 12.

Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and has help turn the Blues into one of Europe’s most successful club sides.

Chelsea have won 19 major titles since Abramovich took control of the west Londoners.

In a statement, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said it was “seeking urgent clarification” on the implications of Abramovich’s statement.

“The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust is deeply saddened and shocked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent loss of life,” the statement read.

“We note Mr Abramovich’s statement (26.2.22) and are seeking urgent clarification on what this statement means for the running of Chelsea FC.

“The CST board are ready to work with the trustees of The Chelsea Foundation in order to ensure the long-term interest of the club and supporters.

“We stand with the people of Ukraine.”

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WATFORD 1-4 CRYSTAL PALACE: ZAHA BRACE HELPS PALACE ENDS WINLESS RUN

Wilfired Zaha scored twice as Crystal Palace earned a first win in six Premier League matches with a 4-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.

Jean-Philippe Mateta put Palace ahead on 15 minutes when his left-footed shot deflected off Kiko Femenia and flew beyond goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Watford hit back with an equaliser three minutes later through Moussa Sissoko, who met Femenia’s corner to head in his first goal for the club.

Palace restored their lead in spectacular style on 42 minutes, when Connor Gallagher expertly controlled a cross from Tyrick Mitchell before blasting into the roof of the net.

Emmanuel Dennis spurned a great opportunity to equalise before Zaha struck twice in the final five minutes.

First, Zaha controlled a Jordan Ayew cross and fired in, before he went on a solo run and brilliantly found the bottom-right corner of the net.

Palace move up to 11th on 29 points, while Watford drop to 19th with 18 points, four adrift of safety.

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MEE’S GOAL GIVES BURNLEY VICTORY OVER SPURS

Ben Mee’s second-half header secured a 1-0 win for Burnley over Tottenham Hotspur to give their hopes of staying up a huge boost.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Spurs almost took the lead at the start of the second half, but Harry Kane’s header came back off the crossbar.

Spurs upped the pressure as Ben Davies fired an effort straight at Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope in the 64th minute.

But it was the Clarets who took the lead on 71 minutes as captain Mee rose highest to nod Josh Brownhill’s free-kick beyond Hugo Lloris.

Mee almost doubled his tally, twice getting shots away at another set-piece before Jay Rodriguez fired over from close range.

Successive victories mean Burnley rise to 18th position on 20 points, two behind 17th-placed Newcastle United with one match in hand.

Spurs are eighth on 39 points, seven adrift of Manchester United, in fourth, with a couple of matches in hand.

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LIVERPOOL HUMILIATE LEEDS IN 6-0 VICTORY, MAKES STATEMENT FOR TITLE CHASE

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane netted twice each as Liverpool beat Leeds United 6-0 to move within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Salah fired Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot on 15 minutes following a handball by Stuart Dallas.

The Egyptian turned provider on the half-hour mark, producing a pinpoint pass for centre-back Joel Matip, who sublimely lifted the ball over Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

On 35 minutes, Salah netted his second spot-kick of the match after Mane had been fouled by Luke Ayling.

Mane struck twice in the final 10 minutes, slotting in from Jordan Henderson’s centre before tapping in after Divock Origi’s saved effort had fallen into his path.

Virgil van Dijk, who has now equalled Lee Sharpe’s Premier League record of being unbeaten in all 59 of his home matches for one club, completed the scoring with a header from Andrew Robertson’s corner in stoppage time.

Liverpool are second on 60 points, three behind Manchester City, but now have a superior goal difference.

Leeds stay 15th on 23 points, only three points above the bottom three.

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WEGHORST OPENS GOAL ACCOUNT AS BURNLEY BEAT BRIGHTON TO CLIMB OFF THE BOTTOM

Wout Weghorst scored his first goal for Burnley and created another as Sean Dyche’s side earned an impressive 3-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion to move off the bottom of the table.

Connor Roberts came close to breaking the deadlock for Burnley on 10 minutes but, after spotting goalkeeper Robert Sanchez off his line, his effort came back off the crossbar.

January signing Weghorst opened his account for the club on 21 minutes, firing in superbly from the edge of the area.

The Dutchman then turned provider five minutes before the break, flicking on a long ball to Josh Brownhill, whose shot took two deflections before going in for his first Premier League goal in 63 appearances.

Aaron Lennon added a wonderful third on 69 minutes when he rifled a powerful shot into the top corner.

Their second win of the campaign takes Burnley up to 19th on 17 points, five from safety with two matches in hand.

Brighton lie ninth with 33 points.

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SALAH HITS RECORD GOAL AS DIAZ, MANE STAR IN WIN OVER NORWICH

Mohamed Salah scored his 150th goal for Liverpool and Luis Diaz struck his first for the club as the Reds came from behind to beat Norwich City 3-1 at Anfield.

Liverpool had the better of the first-half opportunities with Norwich’s Angus Gunn called upon to deny Sadio Mane and Konstantinos Tsimikas.

But Norwich shocked the hosts when they went ahead on 48 minutes through Milot Rashica’s deflected shot.

Liverpool rallied with two goals in four minutes. Mane equalised with an overhead kick from Tsimikas’s cushioned header on 64 minutes. Salah then collected a long pass from Alisson to finish with his right foot from outside the area.

Diaz opened his Liverpool account nine minutes from time to seal the Reds’ fifth successive league win which puts them six points behind Man City with a match in hand on the leaders.

Successive defeats send Norwich to the bottom of the table with 17 points.

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ASTON VILLA 0-1 WATFORD: DENNIS GIVES WATFORD FIRST LEAGUE WIN UNDER HODGSON

Emmanuel Dennis scored the only goal as Watford beat Aston Villa for their first win under Roy Hodgson to climb to within four points of Premier League safety.

The first opening of note fell to the Hornets striker, who forced a smart low save from Emiliano Martinez on 15 minutes.

In a first half of few chances, Danny Ings came closest to breaking the deadlock, hitting the outside of the post after being put through by Emiliano Buendia.

Moussa Sissoko found the side-netting on 56 minutes before Buendia tested Ben Foster at the other end as both teams pushed for an opening goal.

It was the visitors who struck with 12 minutes remaining. Dennis beat Ashley Young to Ismaila Sarr’s chipped pass to head the ball past Martinez for his ninth goal of the season.

Josh King missed a close-range chance to double Watford’s lead but they held on for a first win since November that lifts them to 18th, on 18 points, four adrift of Newcastle United.

Villa stay 12th with 27 points.

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SOUTHAMPTON PILE PRESSURE ON EVERTON WITH 2-0 WIN

Stuart Armstrong and Shane Long struck rare Premier League goals as Southampton overwhelmed Everton 2-0 on the south coast.

If Armstrong was ecstatic to end a drought running from April 4th, 2021, Long stepped off the bench to top that sense of relief with his first touch.

Republic of Ireland striker Long’s last Premier League effort for Saints came in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on February 22nd, 2020.

Just as Saints’ goalscorers are enjoying a top-flight resurgence, so too are Ralph Hasenhuttl’s collective. Southampton extended their recent fine run to just one defeat in 11 matches in all competitions with another impressive showing.

Southampton dominated in every area of the field as James Ward-Prowse and Oriol Romeu’s mix of industry and ingenuity buffeted Everton off their stride all afternoon, Kyle Walker-Peters bossed the left flank and Armando Broja was unfortunate to end the day without a goal.

Armstrong and Long cemented Saints in 10th spot and left Everton floundering in 16th.

Frank Lampard thought he had generated lift-off with the 3-0 home thumping of Leeds on February 12 in his third match at the Goodison Park helm.

But the ex-Chelsea boss will need no telling that this loss – and the curiously supine performance – leaves his side still flirting with a relegation battle.

Lampard can be forgiven for still developing his managerial approach, but the tactical confusion that at times bedevilled his Chelsea team reared its unwanted head on the south coast.

Saints’ fans taunted their Toffees counterparts with chants of “you’re going down” at the death, while the visiting supporters launched a blue smoke bomb onto the field in frustration.

Saints dominated from the off, stifling Everton with a far more aggressive midfield approach.

Allan was booked for a desperate scything challenge in a bid to assert some authority for the visitors, then conceded a dangerous free-kick on the edge of his own area.

Ward-Prowse duly hit the target with a trademark whipped strike, but Jordan Pickford was able to tip the ball around the post.

Tino Livramento was as stunned as the home crowd to see his flick rebuffed at point-blank range by Pickford next, from Ward-Prowse’s smart corner.

Broja cut back well in the area to lose the defence only to see his drive deflected wide.

Bednarek met Romeu’s teasing cross with a thumping header, but allied to Pickford’s save the centre-back was offside.

The opening of the half fell to Walker-Peters, who picked his spot and drilled goalwards. His rasping strike beat Pickford all ends up but skimmed the outside of the post.

Saints turned around by far the more frustrated at the stalemate then, while Lampard took no prisoners in hooking Allan for Andre Gomes.

Calvert-Lewin nodded home straight after the break as Everton started quickly, but the England forward was comfortably offside.

Saints kept their heads, however, and duly swept to a fully-merited lead.

Armstrong’s measured finish finally rewarded the hosts’ dominance, with the Scotland midfielder steadying from Adams’ pass before drilling home.

Southampton could easily have doubled their lead just moments later, but Adams’ flick from Ward-Prowse’s masterful ball nestled straight into Pickford’s gloves.

Mohamed Elyounoussi nodded another unplayable Ward-Prowse free-kick onto the crossbar with Pickford standing no chance, as Saints sought to sustain their control.

Saints’ dominance never wavered, and late replacement Long nodded home a match-sealing second with his first touch after replacing Broja.

Chelsea loanee Broja was caught with a wry smile on the bench, well aware how much of his hard work went into Long’s finish.

The Albania striker would not have fretted for long however, amid as potent a home performance St Mary’s has seen in some time.

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LATE HEADER FROM HARRY KANE SEALS DRAMATIC WIN FOR TOTTENHAM AT MANCITY

Harry Kane reminded Manchester City just what they missed out on as he scored two goals to earn Tottenham a dramatic 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.

The England captain was desperate to join the champions in the summer but City never came up with an offer that even got close to Spurs’ valuation, and how he made them pay as their 15-game unbeaten streak was ended.

After playing his part in Dejan Kulusevski’s opener, he put Spurs back in front following Ilkay Gundogan’s equaliser with a sublime finish before delivering late drama.

Riyad Mahrez’s stoppage-time penalty had looked like stealing City a point but Kane, who also had a goal ruled out by VAR, had other ideas, heading home an even later winner in the fifth minute of time added on.

Kane’s performance could easily tempt City back into the market for him in the summer, but Spurs will be hoping this result can reignite their Champions League hopes.

The result will also have been welcomed at Liverpool as they cut the gap to six points at the top and they have a game in hand as the Premier League title race hots up.

It was a win and performance that was at odds with what has happened at the north London club following three successive defeats.

While Antonio Conte had been fighting fires after appearing to question Spurs’ transfer policy in an Italian TV interview, City boss Pep Guardiola was complimentary about them in the build-up.

It is easy to see why as he has been stung by Spurs enough in recent seasons, as the north London team have had the knack of being able to exploit them with Son Heung-min running in behind.

And they needed just four minutes to execute that plan again as they took the lead.

Kane dropped deep and set Son racing through with a delightful pass and the South Korean unselfishly played in Kulusevski who converted into an empty net.

It was a classic Spurs goal against City, but the home response was typically strong.

Joao Cancelo drifted an effort just wide after cutting inside and then Gundogan rattled the post with an effort from just inside the area.

On an evening when Spurs needed their goalkeeper to be at his very best if they were to stand a chance, Hugo Lloris produced a costly error that allowed City to equalise just after the half-hour.

The Frenchman, who cost Spurs two goals in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves, spilled Raheem Sterling’s cross and Gundogan was on hand to convert into an empty net.

Spurs survived to half-time and were also able to snuff out City after the restart with some strong defending.

They continued to look dangerous on the break and Son tested Ederson from distance after being played in by Kane.

There was nothing Ederson could do about Kane’s brilliant goal that saw Spurs regain their lead just before the hour.

After Ryan Sessegnon picked up a loose ball, he fed Son and the South Korean took his time to pick out his mate Kane, who was arriving late in the box to produce a sublime finish into the top corner.

The 28-year-old was the man of the moment and should have made it 3-1 moments later after being played in again by Son, but Ederson produced a fine save with his feet.

Lloris went some way to redeeming himself soon after with a spectacular save, tipping Gundogan’s goalbound shot around the post.

Kane did have the ball in the net in the 73rd minute with another clinical finish, sparking mad scenes of celebration, but they were ruined by VAR as Kulusevski was offside in the build-up.

City had not really threatened a leveller but were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute when Cristian Romero handled at close range, with referee Anthony Taylor changing his decision after seeing the replay on the pitchside monitor.

But Kane was not done and there was one more twist in stoppage time.

Kulusevski got the ball out on the right, cut inside and delivered a perfect cross for Kane to power a header home.

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SUPER SUBS FRED AND ELANGA GIVE UNITED VICTORY IN 6 GOAL THRILLER AT LEEDS

Super subs Fred and Anthony Elanga came off the bench to fire Manchester United to a 4-2 win over Leeds United in a classic at Elland Road.

With torrential rain providing testing conditions, Cristiano Ronaldo was denied at close-range by a great stop from Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier before Man Utd went ahead through Harry Maguire’s header from a Luke Shaw corner on 34 minutes.

Bruno Fernandes doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with another headed goal from Jadon Sancho’s cross in first-half stoppage time.

The introduction of Leeds’ duo Joe Gelhardt and Raphinha at half-time turned the match on its head.

Rodrigo pulled a goal back with a 53rd-minute cross that looped beyond David De Gea inside the far post and Leeds were level at 2-2 within 60 seconds when Raphinha slid in to convert Daniel James’ delivery.

On an afternoon of impact substitutions, Fred and Elanga came on to settle the match in Man Utd’s favour.

Fred superbly fired in from Sancho’s 70th-minute pass before Elanga slotted home from Fernandes’s assist.

Back-to-back wins put fourth-placed Man Utd on 46 points, four points above West Ham United, in fifth. Leeds remain 15th on 23 points, five points off the relegation zone.