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Wolves get closer to Top four

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said “it hurts deeply” after a 1-0 defeat at Wolves kept them in the Premier League relegation zone.

Raul Jimenez scored almost a carbon copy of his opener in Saturday’s win at West Ham to claim his 15th league goal of the season and bolster Wolves’ Champions League qualification hopes.

Bournemouth, who failed to produce a shot on target, remain without a point away from home in 2020 and stay behind 17th-placed West Ham on goal difference.

“We are well aware of where we are and the challenges we face in forgetting that position,” said Howe.

“One result will change everything for us at this moment and that is what we have to try and commit to.”

Adama Traore was recalled by Wolves after coming off the bench to play a part in both goals at West Ham and the Spanish winger again crossed for Mexico striker Jimenez to head home.

It was the 10th time they have combined for a league goal this season – more than any other pair in the top flight.

That was enough to keep Wolves level with fifth-placed Manchester United – 3-0 winners over Sheffield United on Wednesday – and move to within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea, who host Manchester City on Thursday.

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Lazio Title hopes Dashed

Atalanta came from 2-0 down to beat Lazio and give Juventus a huge boost in the Serie A title race.

Juve are four points clear at the top after Lazio’s club-record 21-game unbeaten league run came to an end.

Lazio looked in control after Marten de Roon’s own goal and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s 20-yard shot after 11 minutes.

But Robin Gosens’ header and Ruslan Malinovskyi’s long-range effort got Atalanta level before Jose Luis Palomino’s headed winner.

Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio had not lost a league game since 25 September when they were beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan.

Champions League quarter-finalists Atalanta, who are fourth in the table, are the top scorers in Serie A with 77 goals.

Juventus will win a ninth title in a row if they win 10 of their final 11 games.

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football

Inter falter in title race

Romelu Lukaku scored his 25th goal of the season as Inter Milan drew with Sassuolo in a six-goal thriller.

Francesco Caputo slotted mid-table Sassuolo ahead, and Lukaku equalised with a penalty.

Alexis Sanchez set up Cristiano Biraghi to give Inter the lead but then substitute Ashley Young conceded a penalty which Domenico Berardi scored.

Borja Valero and Sassuolo’s Giangiacomo Magnani scored late tap-ins before Inter had Milan Skriniar sent off.

Inter’s Roberto Gagliardini hit the crossbar from close range and former Manchester United and Everton striker Lukaku also had a goal disallowed for offside in an entertaining match.

Six former Premier League players featured for Antonio Conte’s Inter during the game. Their slim title hopes are probably now over, sitting eight points behind leaders Juventus in third.

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Norwich still fighting relegation

Daniel Farke says his side “won’t give up” despite it “not being realistic” for Norwich to escape relegation after suffering a third straight Premier League defeat at home to Everton.

The Canaries remain rooted to the bottom of the table, six points adrift of safety, but they retain hope as the three sides above them – West Ham, Bournemouth and Aston Villa – all failed to win on Tuesday and Wednesday

“I can’t accuse the lads at all today,” said German boss Farke. “I can just praise the workload, the togetherness.

“In terms of attitude, we showed organisation and I can just give compliments. We don’t give up, for sure. We have seven games and have a chance.

“It’s not realistic for us to win the FA Cup or stay in the league. When you wear this yellow shirt, you have responsibility and big pride. As long as there is a chance, we won’t give up.”

Toffees defender Michael Keane scored the winning goal in the second half, leaping highest at the near post to flick home Lucas Digne’s corner at an empty Carrow Road.

The Canaries could have broken the deadlock in the first half but Onel Hernandez’s deflected shot bobbled off the foot of the post.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin forced Canaries goalkeeper Tim Krul into a couple of saves, with victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side lifting them up to 10th in the table.

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Liverpool Demolish Crystal palace

Liverpool moved to within touching distance of their first title in 30 years as Crystal Palace were brutally dismissed behiand closed doors at Anfield.

Manchester City must now win at Chelsea on Thursday to further delay the inevitability of Liverpool’s coronation as Premier League champions.

After the goalless Merseyside derby at Everton on Sunday, they shook off the cobwebs in their first home game since the campaign was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic to beat Palace with almost embarrassing ease.

Anfield may have been home to only around 300 people but Liverpool played with familiar intensity, although Palace’s cause was hardly helped by the early loss of Wilfried Zaha to injury.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was on target with a superb free-kick after 22 minutes and Mohamed Salah effectively settled the contest with a cool finish from Fabinho’s brilliant pass just before the break.

And Fabinho produced something even more special in the 54th minute when he drilled a magnificent rising right-foot finish past Wayne Hennessey from more than 30 yards.

Salah turned provider after 69 minutes with a slide-rule pass to Sadio Mane, who finished with precision as Liverpool’s superiority was stamped all over this game.

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Thiago wants liverpool move

According to reports, Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara wants to join Liverpool after refusing to sign a new contract at the Allianz Arena.

The Bundesliga giants were hoping the Spain international will put pen to paper on a new deal last month, but he has changed his mind and they believe he wants to leave, with Liverpool said to be his preferred choice following talks with his teammates.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp wants to add a few quality additions to his ranks ahead of next season’s title defence, and Thiago will definitely be a great signing for Liverpool.

With Naby Keita struggling for consistency, the Anfield outfit have been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, but they will have to part with £50 million to have a chance of landing the Portuguese.

Thiago won’t cost as much as that from the look of things, and he brings more to the table given that he is an all-rounder midfielder.

The former Barcelona star is arguably the best in his position in the German top-flight, and landing such a player will no doubt improve Liverpool’s midfield.

The 29-year-old brings loads of creativity to the table and that will come handy in this Liverpool side.

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Rapinoe pulls out of tournament

United States winger Megan Rapinoe is one of three internationals to have withdrawn from the NWSL Challenge Cup amid coronavirus fears.

Forward Christen Press and midfielder Tobin Heath will not play because of “uncertainty” caused by the virus.

Orlando Pride are also not playing after six of their players tested positive for Covid-19.

“Megan let us know that she has decided not to play,” said Bill Predmore, chief executive of Rapinoe’s team OL Reign.

“Like all NWSL players, she was given the option to participate … but we understand and respect her decision.”

The tournament, being played in empty stadiums, starts on Saturday in Utah and will last for one month.

It will make the NWSL the first team-sport league to resume competition in the United States.

“It is deeply painful not to be able to play the game I love, and to watch the broader effects of the global pandemic on our league, sports and our world,” Press said in a statement.

“Regrettably, given the uncertainty created by COVID-19, I must elect not to participate in this tournament.”

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David Luiz signs contract extension with Arsenal

Arsenal defender David Luiz has agreed a new one-year contract with the club.

Defenders Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares will also join the Gunners permanently at the end of their loan deals, from Flamengo and Southampton respectively.

Meanwhile, midfielder Dani Ceballos has extended his loan deal from Real Madrid until the end of this season.

“I am really happy that we will have these players in our squad for the future,” said the Premier League club’s technical director Edu.

“They have been part of the long-term technical plan [manager] Mikel [Arteta] and I have developed. They bring the right balance to our squad.”

Brazil centre-back Luiz, 33, joined the club from Chelsea last year but was sent off during Arsenal’s return to Premier League action, a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, last week.

“David is a really important player for us. He has played most of our matches this season and has been important for the team,” added Edu.

“His passing, his communication with the team on and off the pitch – he helps everyone.”

Spanish centre-back Mari, 26, and Portugal right-back Soares, 28, will complete their moves when the transfer window opens next month.

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Tottenham keep pressure on the top four

Tottenham picked up their first victory in eight games to leave West Ham with a battle to stay in the Premier League.

Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek inadvertently converted into his own net following Giovani lo Celso’s corner and Harry Kane broke clear to stroke in his 18th goal of the season.

With seven games remaining, the loss leaves the Hammers outside the relegation zone but only on goal difference with Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich – who lie in the bottom three – all now having a game in hand over David Moyes’ side.

The hosts punished toothless West Ham, who threatened little but saw Jarrod Bowen strike a post as they pushed in vain for an equaliser before Kane struck.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho will be delighted with a victory that takes them just six points off the Champions League places and with Kane’s goal, which was taken with his usual aplomb after he was put clear. It was also a sign of his increasing assurance in only his second match since a hamstring injury on 1 January.

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Barcelona go top of La liga

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 23: Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with team mates during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on June 23, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Ivan Rakitic scored the only goal as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao to move back to the top of La Liga.

The substitute latched onto Lionel Messi’s pass before slotting home with 19 minutes to go.

It was a 15th La Liga assist of the season for Messi, who remains on 699 career goals despite going close himself on two separate occasions in the closing stages.

Real Madrid can go back to the top if they beat Mallorca on Wednesday.

Barcelona were far from their best but did enough to grind out this victory. With Real Madrid having a better head-to-head record, Barca need their rivals to slip up even if they win every remaining game.

Mid-table Athletic had beaten the Catalans twice this season – on the opening day of La Liga and in the Copa del Rey quarter-final – but failed to test goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen once.

Messi, who turns 33 on Wednesday, was hoping his 700th career goal would come – and he was close when he cut in and curled wide, before again missing the target from Ansu Fati’s pass.

But he still helped Barca win the game when he fed Rakitic, who scored his first goal of the season. Messi’s 15 assists in La Liga this season have helped Barca pick up 15 points.