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  • Manchester City 1 – 1 Everton

    Manchester City 1 – 1 Everton

    Manchester City defender John Stones says a point against Everton is “difficult to take” after his side was held in a feisty Premier League contest at Etihad Stadium.

    The result leaves second-placed City seven points adrift of Arsenal, who extended their lead at the top of the table after beating Brighton on Saturday.

    “I don’t really know what to say. I feel like we’ve lost two points,” said Stones.

    “It’s difficult to take after the game. We showed great character to keep fighting and pushing. It was a bit of a scrappy game.”

    Erling Haaland, noticeably incensed after an early exchange with Everton’s Ben Godfrey that left the Norway striker requiring treatment, finished off a lovely Riyad Mahrez move to open the scoring in the 24th minute.

    However, during a tumultuous second half Demarai Gray scored a stunning equaliser after Rodri gave the ball away, making ground down the left and curling home a shot from just inside the area.

    City threw what they could at the visitors during 11 minutes of stoppage time, but Everton stifled their attempts to cap off the year with a win.

    Stones added: “We controlled the game for the majority of the time and had a lot of chances but couldn’t seem to get that goal.

    “I’m very pleased with how we played. The result doesn’t reflect that. When the game is so disrupted, a lot of time-wasting [happens]. We kept creating chances but it didn’t come off.

    “We conceded two shots all game but it’s overlooked because of that incredible goal.”

    A victory would have seen Pep Guardiola’s side close the gap on his former assistant Mikel Arteta’s relentless Arsenal. After the same number of games last season, City were top of the league and the Gunners were 12 points behind in sixth.

    This season, City are trying to win a third successive Premier League title but has dropped points on three more occasions than Arsenal, with the two sides still yet to face each other in the league.

    Having scored twice against Leeds on Wednesday to become the quickest player to 20 Premier League goals in a season, Haaland seemed to direct any further frustration at his four-week World Cup-enforced absence from football towards Godfrey.

    The defender, starting his first game since breaking a leg in Everton’s season opener, nudged Haaland in the early stages in an attempt to assert his authority, but seemed to only anger him – and the two engaged in a battle throughout the opening 45 minutes.

    Haaland gesticulated and waved at the crowd in an attempt to spur them on, celebrated his opener wildly in Godfrey’s direction, and was eventually forced to calm down after being booked for a rash challenge just before half-time.

    In a first half lacking clear opportunities, Haaland hit the side netting and Stones’ header struck a post as referee Andy Madley dished out five yellow cards.

    Lengthy delays prevented City from truly taking control of the game in the second half.

    A six-minute delay on account of the assistant referee’s radio being faulty, followed by another break as City forward Jack Grealish received treatment, sapped the energy that had been so high in the first period.

    Gray’s equaliser rekindled some fire in City but the game ebbed away from them as Everton defended resolutely.

    A searching pass from Mahrez could not find a way through to Haaland and a frantic melee in the box resulted in a stellar save from Pickford.

    City is without a win in two home games, having recorded 11 straight victories at the Etihad before conceding in the 98th minute and losing to Brentford last time out.

    Guardiola said: “I would say they had eight in the back. They made a fantastic goal and when that happens you say ‘congratulations’, but in general, we did really well.”

    Everton had shipped seven goals in their past three league matches and won only one of their past eight.

    An air of inevitability around how Everton’s season was shaping up had seemed to settle on supporters, the pressure was mounting on manager Frank Lampard, and a lack of progress on the pitch looked to be continuing in Manchester.

    But while Guardiola’s side looked somewhat deflated by the second-half stoppages, Everton seemed all too pleased for the game to become fragmented and to limit City’s usually expansive football.

    Gray’s magnificent goal almost came from nowhere, and every City attempt at a winner was blocked by a pink Everton shirt.

    Crucially, Seamus Coleman got in the way of Phil Foden’s late opportunity and Rodri completely mistimed a header from a corner in the final seconds.

    A point, at the home of the defending champions, is a valuable one for Everton and leaves them 16th in the table, two points above the relegation zone.

  • Fulham 2 – 1 Southampton

    Fulham 2 – 1 Southampton

    Southampton remained rooted to the foot of the table after a late winner by Fulham’s Joao Palhinha condemned the visitors to a fifth straight Premier League defeat.

    James Ward-Prowse’s superb second-half free-kick, which cancelled out his earlier own-goal, seemed set to secure his side a much-needed point.

    But a clever flick-on from Kenny Tete set up Palhinha’s 88th-minute header.

    Aleksandar Mitrovic missed an injury-time penalty and the chance to add gloss to the scoreline.

    Fulham are up to seventh on the back of their fourth win in seven games.

    The hosts paid tribute to one of their own before kick-off.

    Manager Marco Silva, one of his mostly fondly-remembered predecessors Roy Hodgson and George Cohen’s son Anthony laid wreathes around the centre circle in memory of the 1966 World Cup winner, who died at the age of 83 on 23 December.

    Cohen was born in Fulham and swept the Craven Cottage stands as part of the ground staff before embarking on a 459-game one-club career with the Whites. A minute’s applause ended with the home fans chanting the former full-back’s name.

    Once underway, Southampton had the clearest early chance when Che Adams darted behind the hosts’ high line, but goalkeeper Bernd Leno did well to repel his effort.

    Mohamed Elyounoussi skimmed a shot narrowly over the crossbar, but Fulham gradually asserted themselves in midfield, with Palhinha to the fore, and was rewarded on 32 minutes.

    Willian clipped a corner to the edge of the penalty area, which Andreas Pereira met with his instep. The volley was well-struck but seemed to be heading off target until Ward-Prowse’s instinctive attempt to block instead ensured it ended up in the back of the net.

    Pereira stabbed a shot wide after the break as Fulham started the second half brightly.

    But Ward-Prowse, who is second only to David Beckham in Premier League free-kick goals, gives Saints a threat that few other sides can offer at set-pieces.

    The 28-year-old captain whipped a superb swirling free-kick around the wall and beyond Leno’s dive to cancel out his own goal and level the contest.

    It seemed the scores would remain equal before the contest sprung back into life in the final few minutes.

    Tom Cairney and Willian almost combined to set up Pereira at one end before Southampton substitute Romain Perraud threatened at the other.

    The hosts went ahead again when another well-worked set-piece isolated Palhinha, who stands 6ft 3in tall, against a clutch of smaller defenders.

    Mitrovic, who has 10 goals in his previous 13 Premier League games, had a chance to add to his prolific season after a foul on Dan James. But his penalty, well saved by Gavin Bazunu, ended an uncharacteristically quiet afternoon for the Serbian striker.

    Southampton’s next game is against Nottingham Forest, one place above them in the table, at home on Wednesday.

    Manager Nathan Jones, who took over from sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl in November, said his players need to be sharper tactically and mentally to avoid their efforts being undermined by more bad defending.

    “We didn’t do the basics well on two occasions and that is what let us down,” he said. “They have to be ironed out on the training ground and in peoples’ heads.

    “The overall performance was good today – we negated a fluent team – but we have to be better in those moments. We are gifting teams goals, they don’t have to do much to score, and that has to change.”

  • Bournemouth 0 – 2 Crystal Palace

    Bournemouth 0 – 2 Crystal Palace

    Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil described Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace as “the worst I’ve seen” since he took over in late August.

    O’Neil, confirmed as head coach during the World Cup after impressing as caretaker, said: “That’s the first time since I’ve taken charge that we fell well below the standards that we’ve set, and the standards that we need.

    “I was really disappointed with nearly all aspects of the day. We looked so flat, and there were so many errors with the ball.”

    Opposite number Patrick Vieira felt a sense of “relief” as Palace recovered from back-to-back Premier League defeats to finish 2022 on a high.

    “People had doubts about us but I know my players well and how well they can play,” said the Frenchman.

    “It’s important to trust the players we have, when you have a young group of players, there will be some ups and downs.

    “Everybody needs to control their emotion and manage our expectations.”

    Palace had not registered a shot on target in their previous two games, but there was no subtlety about either goal, with both created by Michael Olise’s pinpoint delivery from corners.

    The opener came when Jordan Ayew was left virtually unmarked at the near post from Olise’s left-wing delivery, leaving him the easy task of planting a downward header across goal and into the net.

    The Eagles doubled their lead when Olise’s delivery from the opposite side was driven perfectly into the path of Eberechi Eze, who had space on the edge of the area to blast the ball past Mark Travers.

    With much of the game played in driving rain, Bournemouth struggled to find any fluency and created few clear-cut opportunities, although Dominic Solanke stung the palms of visiting goalkeeper Vicente Guaita after the break.

    Vieira described Boxing Day’s defeat at “one of the worst days” since he arrived as Palace manager.

    Forced into two changes after seeing two of his defenders sent off during the 3-0 home loss against Fulham, he resisted any temptation to make more alterations despite failing to score in five of their last six away games, and was rewarded with a no-nonsense display.

    Marc Guehi, back from a suspension of his own, marshalled the retooled Eagles defence well against the aerial threat of Kieffer Moore and the guile of Solanke.

    The defence and midfield were quick to pounce on second balls, while their front runners always posed a threat on the break.

    “Michael Olise is a young player, sometimes he will make mistakes and miss something, but I don’t have any doubt about putting him in the starting XI,” added Vieira.

    “Today he was disciplined, and he has grown as a player.”

    Even after Vieira had substituted both goalscorers in the 74th minute, a third Palace goal looked more likely than a reply from the hosts as the Eagles closed out their first league win outside London since April.

    New owner Bill Foley and minority owner Michael B Jordan were introduced to the Bournemouth crowd before the game, with a touch of Las Vegas glitz added to the pre-match atmosphere as half a dozen pitchside flamethrowers, more usually seen around the boundary in Twenty20 cricket, greeted the players’ arrival on to the pitch.

    When Foley travelled to Dorset in October to sign the takeover paperwork, he watched O’Neil’s side come from behind to beat Leicester 2-1, but a Hollywood-style comeback looked very unlikely after the second goal left Palace in full charge.

    And a year which featured the highs of promotion to the top flight, and the lows including a 9-0 thumping at Liverpool, concluded with something of a damp squib.

    The afternoon was summed up when substitute Siriki Dembele curled a tame late effort straight into the arms of Guaita, to be greeted with the home fans ironically chanting “We’ve had a shot”.

    Foley has already announced some bold plans for the Cherries’ future, but back in the present, a fresh injection of signings in January may be the top item in his in-tray.

    “There are no excuses, and I take full responsibility,” added O’Neil.

    “The Premier League is ruthless, if you’re going to perform like that and not do your job from set plays, it’s going to be a long afternoon.

    “We’ve achieved a decent points tally with the group of players we’ve got, but as with the other 19 teams in the league we’ll be looking to improve [the squad] in January.”

    source – BBC Sport

  • Wolves 0- 1 Manchester United

    Wolves 0- 1 Manchester United

    Marcus Rashford turned from villain to hero as he came off the bench to score the only goal against Wolves and move Manchester United into the Premier League top four.

    Manager Erik ten Hag left Rashford out of his starting line-up for “internal disciplinary” reasons.

    But after a disappointing opening period, in which Rashford’s replacement Alejandro Garnacho wasted the visitors’ best chance when his shot was saved by Jose Sa, the England man scored 14 minutes from time.

    Rashford picked the ball up outside the Wolves area, then, after exchanging passes with Bruno Fernandes, held off three defenders before driving home his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.

    It was the first time he had scored in three successive games for United since December 2019.

    The result ended Julen Lopetegui’s two-match winning start as Wolves manager and kept them in the relegation zone.

    However, they came so close to snatching a point in stoppage time when Raul Jimenez’s goal-bound header was turned away at point-blank range by David de Gea.

    The availability of loan signing Matheus Cunha for Wednesday’s West Midlands derby at Aston Villa cannot come soon enough for a side that struggles so badly to turn impressive approach play into goals.

    Lopetegui said: “The way they fought a big team like Man Utd, in the end, I thought we deserved more.”

    Ten Hag proved with his treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo that reputation would not get in the way of reinforcing team discipline.

    Evidently, Rashford’s indiscretion was not on a serious scale as he was named on the bench, but, given Garnacho, was stopped from playing during the club’s pre-season tour because of persistent lateness, Ten Hag would view his actions as confirmation the same rules apply to all players, no matter what their status.

    As it turned out, Garnacho produced a decent first-half display but, with United failing to make the most of limited opportunities, Rashford replaced the 18-year-old at half-time.

    Ten Hag has made it clear he wants striking reinforcements this month. In their absence, Rashford remains United’s most potent goal threat.

    The determination he showed to drive through so many defenders and score his latest effort indicates a hunger that was absent for much of last season.

    Rashford thought he had a second near the end but his close-range effort was ruled out for handball after Sa saved his initial shot.

    The win moved Manchester United into the top four at full-time, the first time they have been in the Champions League qualification places this season.

    Ten Hag said: “We made a good step today – the first time we are in the top four but it means nothing.

    “We have to win every game. We want to try and win something. It depends on hard work from everyone.”

    In his first league home game in charge of the Wolves, Lopetegui was a demonstrative presence on the edge of his technical area.

    If not quite as manic as Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, the former Sevilla boss was open with his feelings.

    That included demanding a yellow card for Casemiro when he blocked Ruben Neves off during the first half, then letting the fourth official know it should have been two as referee Rob Jones finally a yellow card to the Brazilian when he fouled Daniel Podence.

    Once he calms down from such injustices, Lopetegui will know – as he always has – the answer to Wolves’ problems comes through finding the net.

    Lopetegui said: “We have to improve. I believe in my players. But it is not about one or two players. It is a team task. If we have more chances, we may score more.”

    Diego Costa worked hard for little reward before the break and, until Jimenez was introduced once the Spaniard was replaced, there was no focal point for the Wolves midfield to play to.

    Neves almost pulled one of his wonder strikes out of his repertoire to put the hosts in front, but De Gea was equal to that, just as he was when Jimenez’s stoppage-time effort was heading into the net.

    source – BBC Sport

  • Liverpool 2 – 1 Leicester City

    Liverpool 2 – 1 Leicester City

    Wout Faes scored two own goals as Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester in their final Premier League game of 2022.

    The Foxes made the ideal start when they took the lead after just four minutes as poor defending by the hosts allowed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to race through on goal before firing past Alisson.

    Both sides had opportunities to score after that in an open and entertaining first half but Liverpool’s equaliser came in hugely fortuitous circumstances.

    With seven minutes to go the break, Faes stuck out a boot to try and divert Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross behind but instead the ball looped over goalkeeper Danny Ward and into the back of the net.

    It got worse for Faes and Leicester seconds before the break when the defender again managed to put the ball into the back of his own net, this time firing in after Darwin Nunez’s chipped shot had bounced back off the post.

    It was the tonic Liverpool needed and they really should have put the game out of Leicester’s reach in the second half, with Mohamed Salah putting a decent chance wide of the post with only Ward to beat while Nunez – not for the first time in recent games – failed to make the most of a couple of decent opportunities.

    In the end, Faes’ two own goals were enough to give Liverpool the victory that moves them to within two points of the top four.

    Defeat for Leicester, meanwhile, means they remain 13th and four points above the relegation zone.

    It was a night to forget for Faes but one that was also so uncharacteristic, with the Belgian defender has been a huge player for the Foxes since joining on transfer deadline day back in September.

    He has been a key factor in Leicester’s rise off the bottom of the table and away from the relegation zone but it felt like everything that could go wrong for him did so here.

    Faes arguably could have done better for the first goal. Had he left it, then goalkeeper Ward – who clearly shouted for him to do so – had a straightforward gather at his near post, but instead, Faes made the most awkward of connections to send the ball looping over the Wales international.

    The second goal, however, was just plain unfortunate as Faes’ momentum as he rushed to get back and clear off the line meant he could do little when the ball from Nunez’s shot bounced back off the post and into his path.

    Faes becomes just the fourth player to score two own goals in a single Premier League game, after Jamie Carragher (1999, Liverpool vs Manchester United), Michael Proctor (2003, Sunderland vs Charlton) and Jonathan Walters (2013, Stoke vs Chelsea).

    source – BBC

  • West Ham United 0 – 2 Brentford

    West Ham United 0 – 2 Brentford

    West Ham suffered their fifth consecutive Premier League defeat after being well beaten at home by Brentford.

    Ivan Toney put the visitors ahead with his 12th league goal of the season before Josh DaSilva doubled the lead.

    The Hammers were booed by a frustrated London Stadium crowd, with this defeat keeping them only one point above the relegation zone.

    The game also ended on a sour note for Brentford, as Toney was taken off on a stretcher with a knee injury.

    The victory sees the Bees rise to ninth in the Premier League.

    Not since a run between March and April 2017, under the management of Slaven Bilic, have West Ham lost five consecutive games in the league.

    Five-and-a-half years later, West Ham has enjoyed many highs under the management of David Moyes – however, this defeat puts the Scotsman’s role under serious question.

    It is not just the fact of another defeat, but the manner in which the goals were conceded.

    Both first-half goals came from West Ham failing to properly defend throw-ins, and both came after periods in the game when they had enjoyed good attacking spells.

    The opener arrived in the 18th minute, where a straightforward long throw by Mathias Jensen was flicked on by Mathias Jorgensen. Christian Norgaard hit his swivelling volley well, and after it was saved by Lukasz Fabianski, Toney reacted first to follow up and stab home.

    The second, shortly before half-time, was even worse from a West Ham perspective. Toney played a simple lobbed ball over the top of the sleeping home defence from a throw-in near the halfway line.

    Da Silva outmuscled and outpaced Aaron Cresswell to streak through and slot past Fabianski for his first goal since August.

    These teams will meet again in the FA Cup third round on 7 January. Whether Moyes remains in post for that fixture remains to be seen.

    In complete contrast to West Ham, Brentford has set a new club Premier League record of five consecutive games unbeaten. The Bees have not had a longer top-flight unbeaten run since they went six games without defeat between February and March 1939.

    Things could have been different had West Ham taken their chances – notably when Declan Rice struck the post early on and when Emerson Palmieri stung the gloves of David Raya with a near-post drive.

    However, Brentford saw out the second half in relative comfort. This result, combined with the 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Boxing Day, will leave Thomas Frank satisfied with how his side has returned to action following the World Cup.

    One question which remains however is what Brentford will do should a long-term injury rule out Toney.

    This is the stark reality they could face after the forward, tipped by many for a place in England’s 2022 World Cup squad, jarred his knee in the turf after an innocuous challenge for a late corner.

    Toney was left banging the turf, his face screwed up in clear pain, before being carried from the field on a stretcher.

    “Of course, it didn’t look great, but I’ve also been in this game long enough to know that you never know exactly what it is until it’s been assessed over the following days,” Frank said.

    “Hopefully it’s a minor injury, a minor thing, there’s a good chance for that, but of course it could be worse. We don’t know yet.”

    Even if the injury is not as bad as it first appears, Toney also faces being banned if FA charges of breaching betting rules are proven. He has until January 4 to respond regarding the 262 alleged breaches.

    On the field, Toney remains one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers. He scored his 12th league goal of the season here, the same as his 2021-22 total, and he ends the calendar year of 2022 with 20 Premier League goals – only Harry Kane, with 26, has scored more.

    Toney celebrated his strike by baiting the London Stadium crowd, crossing his arms in a symbol closely associated with the Hammers.

    It demonstrates Brentford’s dominance over West Ham in this fixture – they have won all three Premier League meetings.

    source – BBC

  • Ronaldo signs £175 million contract with Saudi side Al-Nassr

    Ronaldo signs £175 million contract with Saudi side Al-Nassr

    Former Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo has signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr on a sensational £175 million-a-year contract following his tumultuous exit from Manchester United in November.

    Ronaldo, 37, had been a free agent after leaving United in the wake of his damning and controversial interview with Piers Morgan.

    Ronaldo’s deal is understood to be for seven years, with the Portuguese superstar set to play before taking up an ambassadorial role and his payment will increase over time.

    His decision to move to Saudi Arabia effectively ends his career at the top level. It is thought Ronaldo had been hoping to secure a switch to a Champions League club but it never materialised.

    Part of his role as an ambassador will be to help Saudi Arabia’s joint bid with Egypt and Greece to host the 2030 World Cup, it has been claimed.

    He joins arch-rival Lionel Messi in taking up a promotional position with the gulf nation, which has faced criticism for its human rights record, as well as crackdowns on women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ people and those who speak out against the rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    Ronaldo had initially dismissed reports that he was set to sign for the Saudi outfit, with sources close to the player telling Sportsmail it was ‘nonsense’ that a deal had been signed.

    Al-Nassr is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having been crowned winners of the country’s top flight nine times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019.

    Ronaldo had admitted rumours of a €350m (£310m) offer for two seasons from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club in the summer were true – an offer he had declined.

    Ronaldo had previously been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Napoli after stunning United officials by telling the club he wanted out in the summer transfer window.

    Source – Dailymail

  • Brazilian Football legend Pele dies

    Brazilian Football legend Pele dies

    Brazilian football legend Pele, arguably the greatest player ever, has died at the age of 82.

    He is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career, including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country.

    The only player to win the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970, Pele was named Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.

    He had been suffering from kidney and prostate problems in recent years.

    Brazil Football Legend Pele

    Pele had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon in September 2021 at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, after the tumour was detected in routine tests. He was readmitted to the hospital in late November 2022.

    His daughter Kely Nascimento has kept fans updated on her father’s condition with regular social media updates from the hospital.

    On Thursday she posted a picture of what appeared to be Pele’s family’s hands on his body in the hospital and wrote: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”

    Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, became a global star when, aged 17, he helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, forcing his way into the starting line-up by the knockout stages.

    He scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Wales in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick against France in the semi-final and two in a 5-2 triumph over the hosts in the final.

    Pele had made his debut for club side Santos two years earlier at the age of 15, scoring in a 7-1 win over Corinthians de Santo Andre.

    It was the first of 643 goals he would score for the club in official competitions over 19 years, although Santos claims the total is more than 1,000 once exhibition matches – often against high-profile European opposition – are taken into account.

    At the 1962 World Cup, Pele, then 21, scored a brilliant individual goal in a 2-0 win over Mexico to open their campaign, but was injured in the next match and watched from the sidelines as his team defended their title.

    The final part of his trilogy of World Cup wins was his most iconic. After being fouled out of the 1966 tournament in England, he was the fulcrum of a thrilling attacking team that swept to the title in 1970, scoring the opening goal in a 4-1 win over Italy in the final.

  • Manchester United 3 – 0 Nottingham Forest

    Manchester United 3 – 0 Nottingham Forest

    Marcus Rashford scored one and created another as Manchester United overcame illness issues to beat Nottingham Forest and move to within a point of the top four.

    Rashford converted a superb opener after 19 minutes when he was picked out by Christian Eriksen in a pre-planned corner routine, allowing the striker to exploit Forest’s failure to track his run by sweeping a first-time shot past Wayne Hennessey.

    England forward turned provider three minutes later, cutting in from the left wing and rolling a pass to Antony Martial, whose low finish from the edge of the area found the net after Hennessey failed to hold.

    Forest’s keeper denied Antony, Martial and Rashford before substitute Fred profited from an excellent through ball from fellow Brazilian Casemiro to find the bottom corner three minutes from time.

    Forest never recovered from that first-half double blow, although they did have a goal ruled out by VAR just before the break.

    Steve Cooper’s men have not scored a league goal away from the City Ground since 20 August and remain the second bottom.

    For United, it completed a fourth successive victory in all competitions. It underlined the theory that the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo will not have a negative effect on the remainder of the season.

    There has been a lot of talk of strikers at United since Ronaldo’s contract was terminated last month.

    PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo was certainly on their radar before he agreed on a move to Liverpool, even if the likely transfer fee would have priced him out of a move to Old Trafford, given the significant spending last summer that manager Erik ten Hag demanded.

    Unless the situation changes, the best Ten Hag can hope for is a loan signing.

    However, on nights like this, it is not obvious that he actually needs reinforcements.

    Injuries have limited Martial’s involvement this season but the Frenchman now has five goals to his name and is effective in the number nine role, even if he prefers to attack from more comprehensive positions.

    And Ten Hag said that before the game, 25-year-old Rashford could score 20 league goals.

    Had to substitute Alejandro Garnacho picked out the England man with a cut-back deep into the second half, Rashford would have doubled his tally for the night, which, as it is, takes him into double figures for the season in all competitions.

    With Garnacho and Anthony Elanga making decent contributions off the bench, Ten Hag will need to look hard to find someone who is both good enough and within the club’s budget.

    VAR denies Forest a rare away goal
    At the start of the month, former World Cup final referee Howard Webb took over the running of elite officials in England.

    He has vowed to speed up the VAR process and try to iron out some of the issues still being experienced with it within the English game.

    Last week, Webb said incidents that involved multiple issues would always cause a problem and Forest was on the wrong end of one just before the break that took three minutes for Andy Madley and his colleagues at Stockley Park to solve.

    Ryan Yates appeared to have headed in at the far post. However, there was a potential handball which needed to be checked. Once those replays had been studied, it became apparent Willy Boly had actually diverted the ball home.

    As it turned out, Yates didn’t handle it. But Boly was offside and what would have been Forest’s first Premier League away goal since Brennan Johnson scored in a 1-1 draw at Everton was ruled out.

    source – BBC Sport

  • Chelsea 2 – 0 Bournemouth

    Chelsea 2 – 0 Bournemouth

    Chelsea boosted their top-four hopes as they resumed their Premier League season with a comfortable victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

    Having failed to score in three consecutive matches prior to the break for the World Cup it took Chelsea less than 16 minutes to get up and running with Kai Havertz sliding in an effort at the back post from Raheem Sterling’s low cross.

    With the hosts dominant, Mason Mount celebrated his 150th appearance for Chelsea in style, curling a superb effort into the bottom right corner of the Bournemouth net from the edge of the penalty area.

    It drew a nod of satisfaction from manager Graham Potter, who will have been delighted by the slick performance his side delivered, particularly during the first half.

    Christian Pulisic saw an effort ruled out after Havertz was judged to have fouled Adam Smith, while the German also spurned a second-half opportunity to extend Chelsea’s lead.

    The result sees Chelsea move up to eighth in the table, six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham with Bournemouth remaining in 14th.

    The only negative in Potter’s and Chelsea’s evening came with the earlier-than-planned withdrawal of Reece James, seven minutes into the second period, on his return from the knee injury that ruled him out of the England squad for Qatar.

    The 23-year-old lay on the turf with his hands on his head before receiving treatment and eventually walking off unaided.

    While the Cherries improved after the break, and substitute Ryan Christie forced home goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into a good save, they rarely looked capable of applying any late pressure to the hosts.

    Chelsea had come into the contest with question marks over their direction of travel under Potter after a damaging sequence of three consecutive top-flight defeats prior to the World Cup.

    However, they appeared galvanised and looked as though the opportunity to reset had worked in their favour.

    There was a notable fluency to their play, particularly via the combinations that Sterling, James, Mount and Italian playmaker Jorginho provided, while Havertz and Pulisic worked tirelessly up front to offer an outlet.

    And until he was forced off, everything that right-back James produced oozed class.

    His marauding runs down the right gave Chelsea an added dimension in attack, with only a good save from visiting goalkeeper Mark Travers denying him a goal just before the break.

    Dominic Solanke’s driving run and an early Philip Billing free-kick suggested Bournemouth felt capable of taking the game to Chelsea on their own patch.

    However, while Gary O’Neil will take positives from the way his team prevented the scoreline from going away from them further in the second period, he will be disappointed by their passive first 45 minutes.

    In that period they conceded their 33rd and 34th goals of the campaign, with 26 of those now coming away from home.

    Chelsea’s opener came from a series of straight passes down the right, with Havertz unchallenged as he opened the scoring, while Mount was given time and space to take aim as four Bournemouth players backed off.

    source – BBC Sport