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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.

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Jose Mourinho backs Harry Kane

Tottenham forward Harry Kane has been labelled “Hero Kane” by boss Jose Mourinho after his return from injury.

The England captain made his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury on 1 January in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

Mourinho, whose side face West Ham on Tuesday, also says Spurs have no intention of selling the 26-year-old.

“If he gives me the same he gave me against United, I will be more than happy,” said Mourinho.

Kane failed to score in Friday’s draw, had one shot on target and managed 36 touches of the ball – only goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had fewer among the players to have played the entire game.

It led to criticism from former Arsenal player Paul Merson, who said the forward would not manage a high goal return under Mourinho because of his style of play.

Kane had scored seven in 11 games under Mourinho before Tottenham’s return to Premier League action after the coronavirus pandemic.

“Harry Kane played one game after six months. I know that if he scores two goals, the talk stops,” added Mourinho.

“The only thing that I know is that Harry Kane had an incredible effort, he played 90 minutes, 94 or 95, he was training again (on Monday) and (on Sunday), he’s ready to play (on Tuesday), he’s an amazing professional, he’s super-committed with the team.

“If I have to wait patiently to score two goals or three goals in one game and then everybody starts saying that Harry Kane is back, I wait.

“But for me it’s not Harry Kane, it’s ‘Hero Kane’ because a guy that had a big surgery, has a lockdown that stopped the perfect rehabilitation, because it did, so with all the difficulties, then come to normal training only for a couple of weeks… for me, Hero Kane.”

Mourinho says the striker, who has four years left on his current Spurs contract, harbours the same ambitions as the club and chairman Daniel Levy.

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Aguero out for sometime

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Burnley - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - June 22, 2020 Manchester City's Sergio Aguero reacts after sustaining an injury, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Rickett/Pool via REUTERS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

The knee injury suffered by Sergio Aguero in Monday’s 5-0 win over Burnley “does not look good”, says Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

The striker was forced off just before half-time after a challenge from Ben Mee that resulted in the penalty from which City scored their second goal.

Guardiola revealed the Argentine had been suffering from a knee problem for the past month.

“We’ll see tomorrow in a better way what he has,” said the City boss.

“He felt something in his knee. He has struggled in the last month, some pain in his knee, so we will see.”

Asked if he was worried about the 32-year-old’s prospects for the rest of the season, Guardiola replied: “I’m not a doctor, but it doesn’t look good.”

Aguero was replaced by Gabriel Jesus in Monday’s game, which City won easily, with Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez both scoring twice and David Silva netting the fifth.

They have now won both of their games since the restart of the Premier League, following last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Arsenal.

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Man city Thrash Burnley on Monday night football

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Burnley - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - June 22, 2020 Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their fifth goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Regan/Pool via REUTERS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez both scored twice as Manchester City thrashed Burnley to ensure Liverpool will have to wait a little longer to wrap up the Premier League title.

Three first-half goals saw City on their way to the most comfortable of wins at Etihad Stadium, with Foden’s superb long-range strike breaking the deadlock before Mahrez’s double just before the break.

The Algerian’s fine solo effort made it 2-0 before he added another from the spot after Ben Mee fouled Sergio Aguero, with the penalty being awarded by the video assistant referee.

It was all too easy for City against a Burnley side that did not name their full complement of substitutes for their first game since the Premier League restarted behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Foden played a starring role in the rout, starting the move that saw Bernardo Silva tee up David Silva to make it 4-0 soon after the break, and then adding a fifth himself after Gabriel Jesus helped on a David Silva cross.

By then the evening was a stroll for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are now 20 points behind the leaders with eight league games remaining.

If the defending champions had dropped points against the Clarets, a win for Liverpool against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday would have seen them officially take City’s crown.

Instead Jurgen Klopp’s side must beat the Eagles and then rely on City dropping points against Chelsea on Thursday if they are to clinch the title before they visit Etihad Stadium on 2 July.

Burnley issued a statement during the game condemning the actions of those responsible after a plane carrying a banner reading ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ was flown over the ground shortly after kick-off.

Both sets of players had taken a knee before the game started in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.