Tag: English Premier League

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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.

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PREMIER LEAGUE NAMED TOP EUROPEAN LEAGUE ONLINE IN CHINA

The Premier League has been named the No 1 online European league in China for the third successive year.

The Red Card 2021 report, which ranks European football leagues, clubs and players for their digital performance in China, awarded the top ranking once more to the Premier League after it led in every single category of the Red Card 2021 performance metrics.

The League also won the Red Card platform award for the most-viewed football account on Douyin, a video-led social-media platform similar to TikTok.

The Premier League’s total engagement of more than 43million on Douyin was found to be 50 per cent more than the next-highest league, LaLiga.

On Weibo, the Premier League led the way, with engagement 80 per cent higher than the second-placed LaLiga. It remains the most-followed foreign football league on Toutiao.

“Football fans in China have shown their loyal and passionate support for Premier League clubs for many years, so we are proud to have won the Red Card award again,” said Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive.

“Our innovative digital coverage has continued to evolve and prove popular with fans in China, at a time when the importance of digital content in people’s lives has been emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will continue to provide new ways for fans in the country to engage with the Premier League as we look at developing our digital presence in China.”

The Red Card 2021 report is published by digital sports agency Mailman and uses eight performance indicators, including followers and engagement across different Chinese platforms, to determine the level of influence.

Beyond digital, the Premier League has for a number of years worked with the Chinese FA and Chinese Super League (CSL) to develop football at all levels in the country.

The League is a strategic partner of the CSL, having provided support for youth, coaching and refereeing development as well as knowledge-sharing and expertise through workshops and study visits.

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BURKE STRIKE EARNS SHEFFIELD SHOCKING VICTORY AT MANCHESTER UNITED.

Oliver Burke earned bottom club Sheffield United a surprise 2-1 win at Manchester United, as the hosts missed out on returning to the top of the table.

The Scot’s 74th-minute strike deflected in off Axel Tuanzebe to hand the Blades only their second victory of the campaign, and their first away from home.

Man Utd started brightly, with Marcus Rashford firing wide, before Sheff Utd’s Billy Sharp forced a fine save from David De Gea.

Kean Bryan then put Sheff Utd in front on 23 minutes, as he headed in his first Premier League goal from John Fleck’s corner.

Harry Maguire equalised for Man Utd on 64 minutes, heading in Alex Telles’s corner.

But Sheff Utd restored their lead 10 minutes later when Burke’s first PL goal went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Defeat leaves Man Utd in second on 40 points, one behind Manchester City, who have a match in hand.

Sheff Utd remain bottom, but they now move within 10 points of safety.

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MANCITY THRASH WESTBROM 5-0 TO GO TOP OF THE TABLE.

Manchester City swept aside West Bromwich Albion 5-0 in impressive style to become a record ninth different overnight leader of the Premier League this season.

Phil Foden had a shot tipped on to the post by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone before Ilkay Gundogan scored for the third successive match to put them ahead.

Joao Cancelo doubled the lead with a curling strike before Gundogan scored his second of the match.

Riyad Mahrez made it four on the stroke of half-time with a fierce shot from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

The Algerian turned provider early in the second half as he played the ball across the six-yard box for Raheem Sterling to tap home the fifth.

City have 41 points, one ahead of Manchester United, who play on Wednesday, while West Brom stay 19th on 11 points, six adrift of 17th-placed Brighton.

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HARRISON STARS AS LEEDS UNITED BEAT NEWCASTLE 2-1.

Jack Harrison scored his fourth goal of the season to give Leeds United a 2-1 win at Newcastle United and end a two-match losing run.

The winger struck with a fierce shot from the left of the area to restore Leeds’ advantage four minutes after Newcastle had got back into the contest.

Rodrigo had fired Leeds into an early lead, after a quick break involving Patrick Bamford and Raphinha, who also hit the post.

Newcastle improved after the break and Miguel Almiron equalised from Callum Wilson’s flick.

After Harrison’s goal, Jamal Lewis and Jamaal Lascelles both hit the bar before Jonjo Shelvey was denied a second Newcastle equaliser by a brilliant Illan Meslier save.

Leeds stay 12th on 26 points, while Newcastle remain 16th on 19 points as their winless league run stretches to nine matches.

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POGBA’S SUPER STRIKE DOWNS FULHAM AS UNITED RETAIN TOP SPOT.

An equaliser by Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba’s brilliant winner sent Manchester United back to the top of the table as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1.

Fulham went ahead on five minutes at Craven Cottage, when Ademola Lookman met Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s ball over the top and dispatched a crisp finish into the far corner.

United levelled after 21 minutes when Bruno Fernandes, who had struck a post moments earlier, whipped over a cross that Alphonse Areola fumbled into the path of Cavani, who stabbed home.

Fulham started the second half as positively as they had the first but Lookman shot tamely at David De Gea.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side edged ahead on 65 minutes when Pogba picked up the ball on the edge of the area and turned to hit an unstoppable curling drive beyond Areola’s reach.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired over Fulham’s best chance to claim a point nine minutes from time.

United return to the top on 40 points, two clear of Manchester City, who have a match in hand.

Fulham remain 18th with 12 points.

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SILVA, GUNDOGAN SCORE IN CITY’S 2-0 WIN OVER VILLA.

Bernardo Silva’s superb strike and a last-minute Ilkay Gundogan penalty earned Manchester City a 2-0 win over a battling Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side enjoyed much of the possession, but were frustrated by a well-drilled Villa defence.

Phil Foden twice went close in the first half, heading at Emiliano Martinez, before pouncing on a wonderful Kevin De Bruyne through-ball, only to be denied by Matty Cash’s block.

After the break, Bertrand Traore showed sublime control from a long throw by Martinez and slipped past De Bruyne, but his final shot lacked power on 52 minutes.

City responded, with Joao Cancelo clipping the woodwork two minutes later.

Silva broke the deadlock with 11 minutes remaining, controlling Rodrigo’s pass before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot.

Gundogan wrapped up the points from the spot after Cash had handled.

City’s sixth straight Premier League win sends them second, on 38 points, above Leicester City on goal difference and two points below Manchester United, with a match in hand on both.

Villa, whose head coach Dean Smith was sent off shortly after Silva’s goal, lie 11th with 26 points.

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PREMIER LEAGUE TO TRIAL CONCUSSION SUBSTITUTION.

The Premier League could begin trialling the use of concussion substitutes as soon as next week.

Clubs have voted in favour of conducting the trial in England’s top flight.

Each team will be allowed up to two extra substitutions per game if concussion is suspected in a player.

The issue of concussion and head injuries has been brought into focus by the number of ex-players living out their later years battling dementia.

Clubs’ attitudes towards head injuries have also been called into question, none more so than when David Luiz stayed on for Arsenal after a clash of heads that fractured the skull of Wolves striker Raul Jimenez in November.

Arsenal say they followed all the proper protocols at the time.

The trial could begin as early as the middle of next week if it is okayed by the game’s lawmakers, IFAB.

A Premier League statement read, “The trial will be confirmed when the implementation of the reporting processes, including private medical information, has been resolved with IFAB and FIFA.

“With player welfare the Premier League’s priority, the protocols will allow a maximum of two concussion substitutes to be used per team, with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number.

“The additional concussion substitutions may be made regardless of the number of substitutions a team have made already.

“The trial is a result of the IFAB’s consultation with stakeholders and recommendations from their concussion expert group to allow additional substitutions for players with actual or suspected concussion.”

Meanwhile, all Premier League games through to the end of February will be televised.

Fans are no nearer a return to English stadia, with COVID-19 numbers out of control.

The split between rights holders will be revealed in due course.

The Premier League said, “The Premier League and its clubs are committed to an accessible solution for fans.

“These plans have been made with the cooperation of our broadcast partners, working with us to deliver these additional matches while stadiums are missing the supporters who are such an integral part of the game.”

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LEICESTER GO TOP OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE AFTER BEATING CHELSEA 2-0.

First-half goals by Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison powered Leicester City to the top of the Premier League in Brendan Rodgers’ first career win against Chelsea.

Ndidi fired the Foxes ahead from the edge of the penalty area on six minutes following a well-worked corner.

Jamie Vardy’s scooped effort was then kept out on 34 minutes thanks to a touch from Blues goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

On 38 minutes, Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Jonny Evans fouled Christian Pulisic, but a VAR review showed the offence had taken place just outside the area.

Mason Mount fired the resulting free-kick over the crossbar and seconds later, a defensive mix-up at the other end allowed Maddison to make it 2-0.

James Justin sent a free header wide and Youri Tielemans had a shot well saved by Mendy on 57 minutes as the dominant hosts threatened a third.

They closed out an assured 2-0 win after Timo Werner’s late effort that was disallowed for offside.

With 19 matches played, Leicester are top with 38 points, one ahead of Manchester United, who have played a match fewer and face Fulham on Wednesday.

Chelsea lie eighth on 29 points.

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ANTONIO HELPS WESTHAM EDGE WESTBROM AS LONDONERS EXTEND WIN RUN.

Michail Antonio’s second-half strike claimed three points for West Ham United as they stretched their unbeaten run to five.

Manuel Lanzini twice went close for the hosts in the first half, while Aaron Cresswell and Said Benrahma linked up well on the Hammers’ left.

When Benrahma swung over a deep cross in first-half stoppage time, Vladimir Coufal squared it back for Jarrod Bowen to chest into the net.

Six minutes after the break, the Baggies were level when Matheus Pereira slammed a low, angled shot beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

Eight minutes later Dara O’Shea did brilliantly to head a close-range Lanzini effort off the line, before Declan Rice twice went close.

On 66 minutes, Cresswell’s delivery was nodded back across goal by substitute Andriy Yarmolenko, and Antonio hooked in the winner.

There was still time for West Brom substitute Darnell Furlong to shoot just wide in the final minute.

After their third successive league victory West Ham climb to seventh, with 32 points, their highest tally at the halfway point of a Premier League season.

West Brom remain 19th on 11 points.