Categories
football Slides Sports News

TOTTENHAM 2-0 MANCITY: SON, LO CELSO COMBINE TO SEND SPURS TOP OF THE TABLE.

Son Heung-min struck his league-leading ninth goal as Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City 2-0 to go top of the Premier League.

The South Korean put Spurs ahead in the fifth minute, racing on to Tanguy Ndombele’s lofted pass to fire beneath Ederson.

Aymeric Laporte thought he had levelled for City on 27 minutes but referee Mike Dean overturned the Frenchman’s goal after a review for handball by Gabriel Jesus in the build-up.

City pushed for an equaliser after half-time but Spurs doubled their advantage in the 65th minute through substitute Giovani Lo Celso.

Put through by Harry Kane, the Argentinian fired under the onrushing Ederson just 35 seconds after coming on.

A fourth successive victory sends Jose Mourinho’s side two points above Chelsea, whom they face next. Man City are 10th with 12 points.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

GUARDIOLA SIGNS TWO-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH MANCHESTER CITY.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract with the Premier League club.

“Manchester City are pleased to announce that Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal with the club,” City said in a statement. “The contract, which now runs to the summer of 2023, sees Guardiola’s commitment to City extended to seven years from his arrival in 2016.”


“Pep’s current five-year stay is already the longest commitment he has made to a football club since becoming a manager in 2008 – and this extension will see him overtake Joe Mercer and put him second on the Club’s list of longest-serving post-war managers.”

Ever since I arrived at Manchester City I have been made to feel so welcome in the club and in the city itself,” Guardiola said. “Since then we have achieved a great deal together, scored goals, won games and trophies, and we are all very proud of that success.”

The news will extinguish any hope that Barcelona had held of tempting the Catalan back to Camp Nou. Presidential candidate Victor Font had brought it up as a possibility he’d look in to, even though Guardiola himself has always played down the possibility of him returning to the club.

Born in Santpedor, Guardiola spent eleven years as a first-team player at Camp Nou before spending time in Italy, Qatar and Mexico.

As a coach, Guardiola built one of the greatest teams of all time at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, winning three consecutive La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, three Spanish Super Cups, two Champions Leagues, two European Super Cups and two Club World Cups.

Guardiola then spent a year in New York on sabbatical before a three-season stint in Germany with Bayern Munich. He joined Manchester City in 2016 and has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, three League Cups and two Community Shields at the Etihad Stadium.

Categories
football Sports News

MARCUS RASHFORD LAUNCHES BOOK CLUB TO HELP EVERY CHILD HAVE ESCAPISM.

Footballer Marcus Rashford is launching a book club so that all children can experience the escapism of reading.

The Manchester United star is teaming up with Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) to promote reading and literacy among children from all socio-economic backgrounds.

Rashford said he wishes he had the chance to read more as a child but his family had to prioritise food over books when it came to budgeting.

MCB said there will be a particular focus on getting books into the hands of children from vulnerable and under-privileged backgrounds.

The first title of the partnership, YOU ARE A CHAMPION: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice And Be The BEST You Can Be – an illustrated non-fiction title aimed at young people aged 11-16 – will be published in May 2021.

Each chapter will begin with a story from Rashford’s own life and will cover topics such as the value of education, positive mentality, understanding culture, and female role models.

It will be co-created with Carl Anka, a journalist for sports media group The Athletic, and Katie Warriner, a performance psychologist.

Two fiction titles for readers aged seven and up will follow later in 2021 and 2022.

Next year will also see the launch of the Marcus Rashford Book Club, a reader recommends programme publishing front list titles from MCB’s successful list.

Rashford said: “I only started reading at 17, and it completely changed my outlook and mentality.

“I just wish I was offered the opportunity to really engage with reading more as a child, but books were never a thing we could budget for as a family when we needed to put food on the table.

“There were times where the escapism of reading could have really helped me. I want this escapism for all children. Not just those that can afford it.

“We know there are over 380,000 children across the UK today that have never owned a book, children that are in vulnerable environments. That has to change.

“My books are, and always will be, for every child, even if I have to deliver them myself. We will reach them.”

Rashford said acceptance and acknowledgment are a key focus of the project, adding: “Let our children read that they are not alone and enable them to dream.

“Equip them for obstacles and adversities they might face.

“Allow them to relate to characters by making sure people of all race, religion and gender are depicted correctly and representative of modern society.

“No matter where you grow up, talent should be recognised and championed.

“Under the Marcus Rashford Book Club young writers, illustrators and creatives will be seen and they will be offered a platform to shine.”

Rashford, 23, has drawn widespread praise for highlighting the issue of child food poverty and his campaign resulted in the Government back-tracking to announce free meals would be provided to disadvantaged children over the Christmas holidays.

The England footballer was also recently awarded an MBE after forcing a Government U-turn on free school meal vouchers.

Categories
football Sports News

FORMER ENGLAND, LIVERPOOL GOALKEEPER, CLEMENCE DIES AT 72.

Former England, Liverpool and Tottenham goalkeeper Ray Clemence has died aged 72, it was announced on Sunday.

Clemence, who played 61 times for England, began his professional career with Scunthorpe United before joining Liverpool, where he made over 450 appearances in 14 years at Anfield.

“We’re deeply saddened by the passing of one of the greatest-ever goalkeepers, Ray Clemence,” Liverpool said in a statement.

“The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Ray’s family and many friends.”

He was part of the dominant Liverpool side of the 1970s, winning three European Cups, five English top-flight league titles and two UEFA Cups.

Clemence’s last appearance for Liverpool came in their 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the 1981 European Cup final after which he joined Spurs and added another UEFA Cup and FA Cup to his trophy cabinet.

Clemence became the first goalkeeper to captain England since Frank Swift when he took the armband in a friendly against Brazil in 1981.

“We are deeply saddened to report the passing of legendary former goalkeeper Ray Clemence,” Spurs said in a statement.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to Ray’s family and many friends throughout the game at this sad time.”

After his retirement as a player, Clemence held coaching positions with England and Spurs.

Spurs also posted a message from Clemence’s family: “After fighting so hard, for such a long time, he’s now at peace and in no more pain.

“The family would like to say a huge thank you for the love and support he’s received over the years. He was loved so much by us all and will never be forgotten.”

Categories
football Slides Sports News

PREMIER LEAGUE TO SCRAP PAY PER VIEW PLANS.

The Premier League will scrap its controversial pay-per-view scheme imminently, chief executive Richard Masters confirmed to a government committee recently.

Fans, who are currently prevented from attending stadiums because of the COVID-19 pandemic, have been asked to pay out 14.95 pounds ($19.80) to watch games not already selected for broadcast by Premier League rights holders Sky Sports and BT Sport.

It provoked a backlash from fans who already have to pay subscriptions for sports channels, and Masters said the Premier League would be changing direction.

“We needed to come up with a different commercial solution,” Masters told MPs. “We took the decision to move to pay-per-view, now we’re reviewing that decision.

“We have listened to feedback and we will be changing direction and moving away from it and taking another step that will see us through lockdown, the Christmas period and into January, but I cannot say what it is.”

The Football Supporters’ Association had urged the Premier League to reconsider the pricing and some fans opted to donate to a charity as part of a protest against the scheme.

Masters also said he does not expect the reintroduction of five substitutes for the “foreseeable future”.

Clubs were allowed to increase the number of substitutes to five per match in the 2019-20 campaign when the league restarted in June, after a three-month hiatus due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The teams reverted to three substitutes this season but Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola have both said the decision is partly responsible for a spate of muscle injuries across the top flight.

“We have had two votes on it at club level and both have been relatively supportive of three subs,” Masters said.

“That has created some frustration, alongside discussions of fixture scheduling, which is related to the pandemic.

“There is a real issue and I don’t see it changing in the foreseeable future.”

Categories
football Slides Sports News

ARSENAL 0-3 ASTONVILLA: WATKINS BRACE SINKS GUNNERS AT THE EMIRATES AS VILLA MOVE UP TO SIXTH.

Ollie Watkins scored two goals as Aston Villa maintained their 100 per cent away record with a 3-0 success at Arsenal.

The visitors started brightly and John McGinn had a first-minute strike ruled out by referee Martin Atkinson following a review.

But Villa went ahead on 25 minutes. Bukayo Saka tried to clear Matt Targett’s cross and, under pressure from Trezeguet, steered the ball into his own net at the back post.

And they got a deserved second on 72 minutes with a close-range header by Watkins from Ross Barkley’s superb delivery.

Watkins made the points safe only three minutes later, this time providing a crisp first-time finish following a driving run by Jack Grealish.

Villa’s win, their third on the road this campaign without conceding a goal, moves them up to sixth spot on 15 points, three clear of Arsenal in 11th.

Categories
football Sports News

LEICESTER 1-0 WOLVES: VARDY PENALTY EARN FOXES MAXIMUM POINTS.

Jamie Vardy scored one of two first-half penalties as Leicester City went top of the Premier League with a 1-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Referee Anthony Taylor awarded the first spot kick after using the Referee Review Area following a handball by Max Kilman, with Vardy converting from 12 yards.

The striker missed the chance to extend their lead six minutes before the break, Rui Patricio saving his penalty after Rayan Ait-Nouri fouled James Justin.

Wolves rallied in the second half, with Pedro Neto firing powerfully at Kasper Schmeichel before the Leicester goalkeeper produced a fantastic save to deny Ruben Neves.

Harvey Barnes then had an effort deflected over for Brendan Rodgers’ team, who held on to go top with 18 points. Liverpool can overtake them if they win at Manchester City.

Wolves drop to eighth, with 13 points from eight matches.

Categories
football Sports News

WESTHAM 1-0 FULHAM: TOMAS SOUCEK STOPPAGE TIME GOAL WINS IT FOR THE HAMMERS.

A stoppage-time strike from Tomas Soucek and a dramatic late penalty miss by Ademola Lookman helped West Ham United edge a 1-0 win over Fulham at London Stadium.

In an entertaining first half, West Ham came closest to scoring when Sebastien Haller’s seventh-minute header hit the bar.

The hosts were again denied by the woodwork when Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick clipped the crossbar five minutes after half-time.

A minute into time added on, Soucek converted Said Benrahma’s pass to break the deadlock.

But Lookman had the chance to level from the spot with the last kick of the match following a foul by Benrahma on Tom Cairney.

Lookman’s scuffed attempt at a chip was comfortably held by Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham go 11th with 11 points, while Fulham remain 17th on four points.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

EVERTON 1-3 MANUTD: BRUNO FERNANDES HELP UNITED GRAB RECORD WIN AT GOODISON PARK.

Bruno Fernandes struck twice as Manchester United came from behind to beat Everton 3-1 and earn a club record-equalling seventh successive Premier League away win.

Bernard gave Everton a 19th-minute lead with a smart low finish. But Man Utd levelled six minutes later when Fernandes headed in from Luke Shaw’s cross.

Lucas Digne hit a post before Fernandes put United in front on 32 minutes with a cross that eluded Marcus Rashford but went in off the far post.

Everton pushed hard for an equaliser but Harry Maguire denied Dominic Calvert-Lewin before Abdoulaye Doucoure shot over.

Man Utd substitute Edinson Cavani sealed victory on the counter in stoppage time with his first Premier League goal, sweeping home after Fernandes’ pass.

A third straight defeat leaves Everton fifth, three points ahead of United in 13th.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

EZE INSPIRES PALACE TO 4-1 VICTORY AGAINST LEEDS.

Eberechi Eze scored a superb free-kick and created another goal as Crystal Palace beat Leeds United 4-1 in an open match at Selhurst Park.

Scott Dann headed in Eze’s corner to put the hosts in front on 12 minutes.

Palace doubled their lead 10 minutes later with Eze’s first Premier League goal, a curling free-kick.

Patrick Bamford, who had an earlier effort overturned by the VAR for offside, pulled a goal back in the 27th minute, volleying in Mateusz Klich’s pass.

Palace restored their two-goal lead three minutes before half-time when Patrick van Aanholt’s cross was deflected in by Helder Costa.

Jordan Ayew converted Wilfried Zaha’s cross to secure the win on 70 minutes.

Palace move up to sixth with 13 points, while back-to-back defeats drop Leeds to 14th on 10 points.