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WESTHAM 1-3 MAN UNITED: RED DEVILS FIGHT BACK SPOILS HAMMERS FANS’ RETURN.

Manchester United came from behind for the fifth time in a row this season to beat West Ham United and deny the Hammers fans a perfect return to their stadium.

In front of home support for the first time since 29 February, West Ham started brightly and the pressure paid off on 38 minutes.

Three minutes after Pablo Fornals had struck a post, Tomas Soucek poked in Declan Rice’s flick.

The half-time introduction of Bruno Fernandes turned the match, as he passed to Paul Pogba who struck a superb equaliser on 65 minutes.

Three minutes later, Mason Greenwood rifled Man Utd ahead, before another half-time substitute, Marcus Rashford sealed a ninth successive away PL win.

Man Utd rise to fourth on 19 points, while West Ham drop to seventh on 17 points.

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BURNLEY 1-1 EVERTON: CALVERT-LEWIN EARNS EVERTON A DRAW AT TURF MOOR.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s league-leading 11th goal of the season earned Everton their first Premier League draw with Burnley.

Burnley had taken a third-minute lead when Ashley Westwood pounced on Allan’s error to feed Robbie Brady, who shot low for his first goal in a year.

The returning Nick Pope denied Calvert-Lewin from close range before keeping out Richarlison’s shot.

Shortly after Jordan Pickford had denied Chris Wood, Everton equalised in first-half stoppage time. Richarlison crossed for Calvert-Lewin to convert.

After the break, Pope tipped behind James Rodriguez’s curling shot while Wood’s header was kept out by Pickford at the other end.

Pope saved well with his feet from substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson in the closing stages as both teams had to settle for a point.

Everton are ninth on 17 points, while Burnley stay 19th on six points.

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VILLA-NEWCASTLE PREMIER LEAGUE TIE POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 OUTBREAK.

Newcastle United’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Friday has become the first English top-flight game to be postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak after a “significant increase” in COVID-19 cases at the club.

Newcastle’s Darsley Park training ground has been closed since Monday as a response to several players and staff members being forced to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19.

With manager Steve Bruce’s playing squad severely impacted by the outbreak, Newcastle informed the Premier League of their difficulties in honouring their commitment to play Friday’s game at Villa Park and the league has confirmed that they have now granted their request to postpone the game.

“Following a Premier League Board meeting today, Newcastle United’s fixture at Aston Villa, due to be played at 8 p.m. Friday 4 December, has been postponed,” a Premier League statement said.

“Newcastle lodged a request with the Premier League to rearrange the game following a significant increase in COVID-19 cases at the club which resulted in Public Health England North East (PHE) advising that their training facilities remain closed.

“The Premier League Board agreed, as a consequence, that the club are unable to train and adequately and safely prepare for their match on Friday.

“The decision has been taken in consultation with Newcastle United and Aston Villa, and following extensive consultation with PHE and Premier League medical advisors, with the health of players and staff the priority.

“Newcastle correctly notified PHE regarding a number of positive COVID-19 test results, which is standard practice under Government and Premier League guidelines.

“PHE convened a meeting with Newcastle and the Premier League yesterday to assess the situation and advised the club’s training ground should remain closed and no group training would be permitted between players until Friday at the earliest.

“All players and training ground staff will be re-tested this week and another meeting between the club, PHE and the Premier League will take place to assess the test results.

“The Premier League wishes those with COVID-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture against Aston Villa in due course.”

Premier League clubs test players and coaching staff at least twice a week in order to comply with COVID-19 protocols.

On Monday, the league confirmed that 10 positive results had been recorded from 1,381 players and staff in the most recent round of testing.

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UEFA ANNOUNCE NOMINEES FOR TEAM OF THE YEAR FEATURING 14 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS.

UEFA have announced the 50 nominees for their Team of the Year – including 14 players from the Premier League.

Fans will determine the final make-up of the side with nominees coming from 21 different clubs and 19 separate national teams.

The contenders have been selected ‘on the basis of their performances in UEFA competitions and domestic competitions within UEFA member associations from January to December 2020’.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the 17th successive year, and has featured in the last 13 Teams of the Year.

Great rival Lionel Messi has his 15th nomination and is eyeing a place in the final side for the 11th occasion.

Bayern Munich have the most representatives with 10 players after they won the Champions League earlier this year, while Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have eight each.

Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are the Reds stars on the shortlist.

They are joined by Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz from Chelsea, Harry Kane from Tottenham and Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United.

Nominees in full
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyon), Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid).

Defenders: David Alaba (Bayern Munich), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Angelino (RB Leipzig), Juan Bernat (Paris Saint-Germain), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Matthijs de Ligt ( Juventus ), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Hans Hateboer (Atalanta), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Sergio Ramos ( Real Madrid ), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).

Midfielders: Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich/Liverpool), Hossem Aouar (Olympique Lyon), Ever Banega (Sevilla/Al-Shabab), Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Papu Gomez (Atalanta), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen/Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig).

Forwards:Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Angel di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona ), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

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WESTHAM 2-1 ASTONVILLA: BOWEN STARS AS THE HAMMERS BEAT VILLA TO CLIMB TO FIFTH ON THE LOG.

Jarrod Bowen’s header helped West Ham move up to fifth with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, who missed a penalty and had a late goal ruled out for offiside.

The Hammers took the lead in the second minute, Angelo Ogbonna climbing highest from a Bowen corner to send a towering header into the net.

With 25 minutes gone Jack Grealish’s on-target shot took a slight deflection off Ogbonna’s boot and flew into the West Ham net to make the score 1-1.

A minute after half-time, a fluent passing move from the hosts ended with Bowen flicking in a deft header following a cross from Said Benrahma, who made an impact only 30 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute.

After Declan Rice fouled Trezeguet in the penalty area with 16 minutes remaining, Ollie Watkins crashed the resulting spot-kick against the crossbar.

Watkins did have the ball in the net in stoppage time but his effort was overturned for offside following a VAR review as West Ham claimed their third straight win.

West Ham climb to fifth on 17 points while Villa drop to 10th on 15 points.

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LEICESTER 1-2 FULHAM: FULHAM CLIMBS OUT OF BOTTOM THREE AFTER BEATING THE FOXES AT KING POWER.

Goals from Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro helped Fulham climb out of the bottom three with an impressive 2-1 victory at Leicester City.

The hosts almost opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Youri Tielemans and Wesley Fofana both hit the woodwork following a James Maddison free-kick.

But on 30 minutes, Fulham’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa made a fine run through midfield before sliding a perfect pass to Lookman, who finished with aplomb.

Eight minutes later Fulham doubled their lead after Christian Fuchs was adjudged to have fouled Bobby De Cordova-Reid following a referee review and Cavaleiro converted the penalty.

With four minutes to go, substitute Harvey Barnes produced a sweet finish after Jamie Vardy’s cushioned header and Kelechi Iheanacho’s shot was then deflected wide in stoppage time but Scott Parker’s men held on.

Fulham climb to 17th on seven points while Leicester stay fourth with 18 points, one point behind Chelsea in third.

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CHELSEA 0-0 TOTTENHAM: SPURS RETAIN TOP SPOT DESPITE STALEMATE AT THE BRIDGE.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur extended their lengthy unbeaten runs with a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.

Timo Werner looked to have opened the scoring on 11 minutes, but the striker was adjudged to have been offside upon receiving the pass from Mason Mount.

Four minutes later Serge Aurier tested Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy with a low shot from outside the penalty area.

In a tactical affair Mount almost broke the deadlock 10 minutes from time when forcing Hugo Lloris into action from range.

Olivier Giroud might have stolen all three points late on but he was unable to capitalise on a loose touch from Joe Rodon, making his first top-flight start, when his attempted lob was directed straight at Lloris.

Spurs’ ninth consecutive unbeaten match takes them top of the table on goal difference with 21 points from 10 matches.

An eighth league outing without defeat for Chelsea puts them two points back in third.

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ARSENAL 1-2 WOLVES: WOLVES MOVE TO SIXTH AFTER RARE WIN AT THE EMIRATES.

Two first-half goals were enough for Wolverhampton Wanderers to claim a rare victory at Arsenal.

There was a lengthy delay for treatment after David Luiz and Raul Jimenez clashed heads in the fifth minute, with the latter taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Fabio Silva.

Wolves were ahead after 27 minutes through Pedro Neto, who reacted quickest to a loose ball after Leander Dendoncker had headed against the crossbar.

That lead lasted three minutes as Gabriel rose highest to head Willian’s cross past Rui Patricio.

However, Wolves fought back and regained the advantage before half-time thanks to Daniel Podence’s piece of skill and smart finish.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang twice came close to drawing Arsenal level but his shot was blocked by Conor Coady and his header with eight minutes to play went wide.

The Gunners, who have lost their last three home league matches, are in 14th on 13 points.

Wolves’ third away win of the season, and their first at the Gunners since 1979, puts them in sixth with 17 points.

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SOTON 2-3 MAN UTD: CAVANI BRACE COMPLETES COME BACK WIN FOR RED DEVILS.

Substitute Edinson Cavani scored twice as Manchester United came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Southampton.

Ralf Hasenhuttl’s side led when Jan Bednarek scored after 23 minutes, nodding in James Ward-Prowse’s corner.

Alex McCarthy stood firm to deny first Mason Greenwood and then Bruno Fernandes on the follow-up before Ward-Prowse doubled the hosts’ lead.

The midfielder’s curling 33rd-minute free-kick evaded David De Gea, who collided with a post and was replaced at the interval by Dean Henderson.

But it was United’s other half-time substitute who made the greatest impact.

Cavani teed up Fernandes to score on the turn just before the hour.

The striker then dived to head United level on 74 minutes before snatching an eighth successive away league victory for his side with another header in added time.

The win moves Man Utd up to eighth, with 16 points from nine matches. Southampton are fifth on 17.

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KLOPP REAFFIRMS CASE FOR FIVE SUBSTITUTES.

Jurgen Klopp has reiterated the need for five substitutions in Premier League games after Liverpool’s draw at Brighton.


James Milner was forced off with a hamstring problem at the Amex Stadium, while Nathaniel Phillips also required treatment after a nasty-looking fall.

Brighton also lost two players with Neal Maupay and former Reds midfielder Adam Lallana succumbing to injury during Saturday’s lunchtime encounter.

Top flight clubs resisted proposals to extend the five substitutes option implemented during Project Restart, meaning only three changes can be made.

Klopp admits he does not know if or when another vote will be held and cited player welfare as the reason for his continuing reference to the subject.

He said: “If it was about me, I’d have never mentioned it. But it’s about the players.

“Whenever it happens, it will be good for the players. Brighton play one game a week and lost two players with muscle injuries.

“In this period, five subs is not for tactical changes. Today, we made an early sub at half-time, then a second sub, then you have to be brave to make a third sub.

“If you’re not brave, you have to wait until pretty much the 90th minute.

“If we had five subs today, I’d have taken off Andy Robertson, 100 per cent. We don’t have a lot of options at the moment so you can’t just bring them all through the season.

“It’s not the solution, but it’s a little help, that’s all.”

Liverpool were denied goals in either half at Brighton due to VAR deeming that both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were marginally offside for them.

The technology also awarded Brighton two penalties with Maupay missing first before Pascal Gross rectifying it by equalising in stoppage time.

On the decisions, Klopp added: “I was told Mo and Sadio were offside by a very small margin.

“I didn’t see it, I heard that, but it sounds like offside twice, even though it was close.

“The second penalty is a penalty because the referee whistled it. There was contact and if the referee thinks it’s enough, we can’t change that, obviously.”

Klopp also expects Milner, as well as longer-term absentees Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, to miss Liverpool’s upcoming two matches.

Tuesday’s clash of Ajax in the Champions League has taken on added importance with qualification for the knock-out stage still yet to be confirmed.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ visit to Anfield next weekend will also see a long-awaited return of supporters to the stadium for a first time since mid-March.