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DANNY INGS CLOSING IN ON VARDY FOR GOLDEN BOOT

The race for the Golden Boot is intensifying following the resumption of the 2019/20 season as the Premier League’s sharpest shooters battle it out.

After scoring twice in Southampton’s 3-1 victory at Watford, Danny Ings is now within a goal of Jamie Vardy, who currently leads the way on 19.

Ings has scored three times in his last three appearances, his form in sharp contrast to that of Vardy, who has only netted twice since 21 December.

Should he see off the challenge of the Leicester City striker and the other contenders, Ings would become the first Saints player to claim the Golden Boot.

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GRIEZMANN SLAMMED AS IAGO ASPAS LATE FREE KICK DASHES BARCELONA TITLE HOPE.

Real Madrid are now the overwhelming favourites to win the 2019-20 La Liga title after Barcelona dropped points away at Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Luis Suarez scored twice for Barça, but Iago Aspas’s late free-kick earned a point for Celta.

Suarez opened the scoring in the 20th minute courtesy of a wonderful Lionel Messi assist before Fyodor Smolov equalised early in the second half.

Suarez then doubled his – and Barcelona’s – tally in the 67th minute.

However, Aspas had the final say when his free-kick found a way past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen is not getting the blame for Celta’s second goal, though.

Instead, Antoine Griezmann has been slammed by fans on social media for turning his back at the end of the wall.

As Aspas struck the ball with his left foot, Griezmann jumped and turned his back. The ball subsequently found a way into the bottom corner of the net.

Had Griezmann been braver, Barcelona may well have ended the game with their one-goal advantage intact.

Real Madrid can now move three points clear of their eternal rivals when they face Espanyol on Sunday.

“Our feelings are bad because of what happened today. We lost points, but the league is not over yet,” Suarez told reporters after the match.

“We hope that Real Madrid will drop points, both of us still have difficult games.

“I feel angry and upset about the draw.”

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I’M COMING HOME: ARJEN ROBBEN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT U-TURN

Dutch winger Arjen Robben is preparing to come out of retirement at his formative club Groningen, he announced on Saturday.

After leaving Groningen in 2002, Robben won league titles with PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea and Real Madrid before a hugely successful decade with Bayern Munich.

He retired from Bayern a year ago at the age of 35, having helped the club to eight Bundesliga titles as well as the 2013 Champions League.

The 2010 World Cup finalist said he was fully motivated to return but that he had to get fit first.

“I want to make my comeback at FC Groningen. At this time I’m not sure it will happen,” Robben said in a video on the Groningen website.

“What I am sure of is that my motivation will be at 100 percent. I’m going to go for it and I will be at the first training session for the new season.

“Because my dream is to play in an FC Groningen jersey, we’re not there yet, but you can always dream.

“I was 12 when I joined the Groningen youth academy, and made my debut for them at 16 against PSV,” said Robben, who explained that a banner he saw at Groningen’s stadium had resonated strongly with him.

“‘Arjen follow your heart’, it said, so after a wonderful adventure of 18 years, I’m coming home.”

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GOING TO LONDON: TIMO WERNER BREAKS LEIPZIG RECORD BEFORE CHELSEA MOVE.

Timo Werner has become RB Leipzig’s all-time leading goalscorer in his final appearance for the Bundesliga club before his move to Chelsea.

Earlier this month, Frank Lampard’s side completed a £53 million deal with RB Leipzig to sign Werner this summer.

Meanwhile, RB Leipzig’s Bundesliga season finished on Saturday and the club secured a third-placed finish with a 2-1 victory over Augsburg. Werner scored twice in that match in doing so he overtook Daniel Frahn to become RB Leipzig’s top scorer in the club’s history with 95 goals.

Werner also equalled another Bundesliga record with his double as his record of 17 goals scored away from home this term is the same as Jupp Heynckes managed in the 1973-74 season.

Werner finished the Bundesliga campaign with 28 goals – which is the highest total from any German player since Mario Gomez, who also scored 28 times in the 2010-11 campaign.

Only Robert Lewandowski scored more in the Bundesliga this season as the Poland international ended the campaign with 34 goals for Bayern Munich. RB Leipzig’s season is not over as they remain in the Champions League, but it has already been announced that Werner will join Chelsea before the competition gets back under way

Speaking after Chelsea completed their move for Werner, Lampard said: ‘I have certainly followed him for a while just as a talented player before I took this job.

He will strengthen us, he is a huge talent who had a fantastic season. ‘I had good conversations with Timo personally. He understands our project and what we want to do as a club. ‘We’re pleased he’s decided to come to us and look forward to him joining next season.

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AHEAD LIVERPOOL CRYSTAL PALACE CLASH: RECORDS GIVE THE EAGLES ADVANTAGE

As Jurgen Klopp’s Reds welcome Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace, Liverpool may be one win delayed from their title crown.

As the premier league champions for the 2019/2020 season is only a question of when rather than who, Liverpool are faced by a team with the best form at the moment. The stats would amaze you, read below.

Liverpool have won five successive league games against the Eagles and scored 11 goals in the process.

Palace are the only team to have beaten a Jurgen Klopp-managed Liverpool side more than once at Anfield.

Crystal Palace’s three most recent league wins over the Reds have all been at Anfield – in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Liverpool will be crowned Premier League champions if they beat Crystal Palace and Manchester City fail to win at Chelsea on Thursday.

The Reds have won only two of their past seven matches in all competitions (D1, L4).
They have dropped five points in their last three league games, more than they did in their previous 38 fixtures.

The Reds have won their last 22 league games at Anfield, the best ever winning home run in English top-flight history.

Liverpool are unbeaten in 55 home league matches (W45, D10) since a 2-1 defeat by Palace in April 2017.

Only five of the Reds’ league-high 13 clean sheets have come at Anfield.

Their record of 27 wins, two draws and one defeat is the best by any club after 30 matches in the history of the top five European leagues.

Palace are the Premier League’s in-form team with four straight wins, just one shy of their club record.

Fabinho could feature in his 50th Premier League appearance. The Brazilian has been on the winning side in 23 of his 24 Premier League games at Anfield.

Roy Hodgson’s side have lost seven of their 10 games against the clubs above them in the table (W1, D2).

Palace have equalled their top-flight club record of four successive clean sheets, previously set in 1970, with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita not conceding a goal in 362 league minutes.

They have six points more after 30 matches of a Premier League season than they have ever had before.

They have scored a league-low nine first-half goals, with two of those coming at Bournemouth last Saturday.

The Eagles are unbeaten in all nine games in which top scorer Jordan Ayew scored this season (W7, D2).

Sadio Mané has scored 8 goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace.

With the records pointing at Palace as a scary side to Title bound Liverpool, the crowning ceremony may be one game delayed.

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MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN LEAVES EVERTON FOR NICE.

Everton announced on Tuesday that the France midfielder had completed a move to Ligue 1 side Nice.

No terms of the deal were announced.

Schneiderlin, 30, made 88 appearances across four seasons for the Toffees since a £20 million transfer from Manchester United in 2017.

Prior to joining United in 2015, Schneiderlin spent seven seasons at Southampton, playing with Saints in League One, the Championship and the Premier League.

The native of Obernai returns to Ligue 1 for the first time since 2008 when he was a member of Strasbourg.

Internationally, Schneiderlin has been capped 14 times by Les Bleus.

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WILLIAN AND PEDRO SIGN NEW CONTRACTS

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will have two of his senior attackers available for the Premier League run-in after Willian and Pedro agreed to short-term extensions on their current deals until the end of the season.

Both players were due to leave the club on 30 June after the expiration of their previous deals, but have opted to stay at Stamford Bridge until the climax of the Premier League season, which has been extended into the summer.

Willian, 31, has been one of the key senior players for Chelsea this season, starting 22 league matches for Lampard, but had been unable to agree terms on an extended contract beyond this summer, with the Brazilian allegedly keen for a longer deal than was on the table.

World Cup winner Pedro has only started eight league matches, and had already negotiated a move to Roma when his contract with Chelsea expires. However, that transfer will happen after the domestic seasons in England and Italy finish.

Willian has been a mainstay in Chelsea’s squad since making a big money move from Anzhi in 2013, winning the Premier League twice, the FA Cup, and also the Europa League in 2019.

Pedro has won all those accolades also, but win just the one Premier League title.

Even before the summer transfer window opens, the Blues have been busy in the transfer market and have already completed the signings of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax and Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, as Lampard adds yet more talented youth to his squad.

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JUVENTUS AGREE HUGE FEE FOR BARCELONA MIDFIELDER

Juventus have agreed a huge £72.5million fee with Barcelona to sign midfielder Arthur when the summer transfer window opens, according to reports.

Arthur arrived at the Nou Camp from Gremio in his native Brazil for £28m, and has gone on to make 70 appearances for the club across two seasons.

Despite the mammoth fee being agreed between the two sides, as reported by Sky Sports, it is understood the 23-year-old is desperate to stay and fight for his place in the midfield at Barcelona.

The Spanish club, though, are cash-strapped and understood to be keen to take the fee offered by Juve in the summer.

It has been written that Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri wants to build his team around the Brazilian next season, while the Italians have also offered him a huge wage increase.

If he accepts the move to Turin, Arthur will be on £4.5m a year and will line up in the midfield behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo.

For now, it is understood that Arthur will line up for Barcelona on Tuesday night in their huge clash against Athletic Bilbao.

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MIKE DEAN’S BEARD STEALS THE SHOW AT MERSEYSIDE DERBY DRAW

Liverpool travelled to Merseyside rivals Everton on Sunday evening as they restarted their Premier League campaign, knowing they are just two wins from a first league title in 30 years.

The reds were forced to a barren draw and had their league title glory extended by a possible three matches.

However, there was a major highlight outside the normal as the cameras panned across the abundance of stars preparing for the derby, it was Mike Dean who caught the eye.

The referee has a reputation for stealing the limelight, and it’s fair to say he’s done it again.

Dean had a well grown beard that completely changed his look from the bald headed and well shaved Mike we used to know.

Perhaps, many things have changed about match officials too during the lockdown.

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ARTETA DEFENDS HIS HIGH TEMPERED TEAM IN LOSS TO BRIGHTON

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta leapt to his players’ defence after Brighton striker Neal Maupay accused them of arrogance following a bad-tempered clash at the Amex Stadium.

The French striker emerged as the Seagulls’ match-winner, scoring a stoppage time winner to ease their relegation fears after Lewis Dunk equalised Nicolas Pepe’s sumptuous opener.

But the clash – and Maupay in particular – was submerged in controversy after Gunners keeper Bernd Leno was taken off on a stretcher with a serious knee ligament injury following a contentious mid-air collision with the Brighton striker.

Leno was clearly furious with Maupay – who revealed he apologised to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta at half-time – as he was carried off, angrily gesturing towards the Brighton star.

During the game Matteo Guendouzi was caught throwing an arm at Maupay which could leave the Arsenal midfielder facing retrospective action from the FA before the pair angrily clashed again during a mass confrontation between both sets of players after the final whistle.

The ugly scenes could leave both clubs in breach of the Premier League’s Covid-19 safety protocols that prohibit mass gatherings, like the one at full-time.

Maupay said: ‘I think the Arsenal players need to learn humility sometimes

They have been talking a lot in the first half and in the second half when they were 1-0 up – they got what they deserved.

‘I don’t think it (Leno’s reaction) was justified. At half time I went to apologise to Mikel Arteta I never meant to injure their keeper.

‘I just jumped to get the ball and when he landed he tweaked his knee. I apologise to the team and him as well. I never meant to hurt him.’

But in response to Maupay’s comments, Gunners boss Arteta said: ‘He can say whether he wants but I know my players and one aspect they don’t lack is humility.’

Nevertheless, Leno is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines amid fears he will miss the rest of the season, if not longer, with knee ligament damage.

But Arteta admonished Maupay of any fault, saying: ‘I believe no player has the intention to hurt anybody and I believe exactly the same in this case.

‘It was unfortunate. Yes, Bernd’s injury doesn’t look good, we have to assess it but things can happen on a football pitch. He was in a lot of pain.’