PREMIER LEAGUE – Page 73 – Football Flame

PREMIER LEAGUE

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Lucas Moura stars for Tottenham in comfortable win over Covid-hit Crystal Palace

Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 26, 2021 in London, England. Lucas Moura scored one and made two more as Tottenham piled on the Boxing Day misery for Crystal Palace with a 3-0 win.Palace had failed in their attempts to get the game called off after a coronavirus outbreak in their squad, with manager Patrick Vieira one of those affected by a positive test and absent in north London.And, after the Premier League ruled the game should go ahead, Moura made matters worse with a virtuoso display, setting up goals for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min either side of his own headed effort in the first half.Wilfried Zaha compounded his s...
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Bukayo Saka stars for in-form Arsenal in Boxing Day rout over Norwich

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Arsenal at Carrow Road on December 26, 2021 in Norwich, England. Bukayo Saka’s two goals helped ensure Arsenal will enter 2022 in the Premier League’s top four as his side cantered to a 5-0 victory over Norwich at Carrow Road. Dean Smith’s defeated side, however, remain rooted to the bottom of the table, having been unable to add to their two league victories this season.Saka opened the scoring with a left-footed effort in the sixth minute, and the dominance of Mikel Arteta’s side was better reflected on the stroke of half-time as Kieran Tierney added a second – Martin Ødegaard supplied the assists for both first-half goals.Midway through the second half, Saka ma...
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Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard to miss next two games after positive Covid test

Ashley Young of Aston Villa and Steven Gerrard, Manager of Aston Villa interact following the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on December 05, 2021 in Birmingham, England. Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard will miss the club’s next two Premier League games after testing positive for Covid-19.Gerrard will not be in the dugout for the Boxing Day clash at home to Chelsea or Tuesday’s trip to Leeds.The club said in a statement: “Aston Villa can confirm head coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.”Villa’s home game with Burnley last weekend was postponed due to an increased number of positive coronavirus tests among the...
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Nathan Ake progress at Man City brings January transfer problem

Manchester City's Nathan Ake during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at Etihad Stadium on September 15, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester City's first Carabao Cup defeat in five years robbed Nathan Ake of the chance of another midweek start, yet there is no denying the defender's improved presence at the Etihad.Having made it his ambition to become a first team regular, too often in his first year since a £40m move from Bournemouth the defender was nowhere to be seen. A Boxing Day appearance at left-back against Newcastle — a seventh of the campaign — in what Pep Guardiola described as the best performance of the season so far looked like a perfect launchpad, only for the 26-year-old to suffer an injury that would see him sidelined...
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Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers gears up for City challenge after agonising League Cup exit

Brendan Rogers, Manager of Leicester City talks with Jamie Vardy of Leicester City following the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Leicester City at St Mary's Stadium on December 01, 2021 in Southampton, England. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers believes his side will recover quickly from their agonising penalty shoot-out exit from the League Cup when they face Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.The Foxes twice conceded a two-goal lead in their midweek League Cup quarter-final against Liverpool — including an equaliser deep into added time — before losing on spot-kicks.Adding to the pain of defeat, Leicester defenders Caglar Soyuncu and Ricardo Pereira were forced off while star striker Jamie Vardy played the last 20 minutes with a tight hamstring.None of ...
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Mikel Arteta hints at January signing as Arsenal weigh up move for new striker

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal celebrate with the Heads Up Emirates FA Cup Trophy following their team's victory in the FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 01, 2020 in London, England. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that the club could dip into the transfer market for a new signing in January.The Gunners will be without several players next month when the African Cup of Nations comes around.Former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future also remains up in the air and footballflame.com.ng understands that Arsenal will be open to offers for the Gabon forward.Aubameyang will head to Cameroon for the tournament which further emphasises the club's need for a new striker, with Alexandre Lacazette and E...
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Michail Antonio determined to regain goalscoring touch

Michail Antonio of West Ham walks out onto the pitch during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea at London Stadium on December 04, 2021 in London, England. Michail Antonio is a possibility for West Ham’s clash with Southampton on Sunday.The striker’s hopes of answering his critics and rediscovering his goalscoring touch ahead of the busy holiday period were hamstrung last week with the announcement he had tested positive for COVID-19.Manager David Moyes confirmed Antonio tested positive last week, “so he’s getting closer now, but obviously not for tonight [Wednesday]” when West Ham took on neighbours Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.After the game, Moyes gave another update, suggesting Antonio was likely to play on Sunday because he was asym...
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Ralf Rangnick appoints Ewan Sharp as assistant at Man United

Ralf Rangnick, Manager of Manchester United looks on after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on December 05, 2021 in Manchester, England. Ralf Rangnick has made another addition to his backroom staff at Manchester United with the recruitment of Scotsman Ewan Sharp as assistant coach and analyst.Sharp was working alongside Rangnick at Lokomotiv Moscow before the German left to take up the role as interim manager at Old Trafford.Sharp joins Chris Armas, who was appointed assistant coach earlier this month, and the pair have previously worked together at New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC.Sharp came into the professional game through the US college system, spending two years as director of performance analysis at Northwestern University.Sport...
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Steven Gerrard: Villa player scared to leave car

Steven Gerrard, head coach of Aston Villa, talks to the press during a press conference at Bodymoor Heath training ground on December 22, 2021 in Birmingham, England. Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has said anxiety over Covid-19 is reaching such a level that one of his players was reluctant to get out of their car.An outbreak at Villa forced their match against Burnley last Saturday to be postponed at short notice, and Gerrard says it will be a "nightmare" if the club have to tackle two matches in two days with just 14 players available.Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson insists player welfare is not taken seriously in England, as clubs manage the usual congested festive programme alongside a resurgence in Covid cases, and Villa boss Gerrard said the situation is becoming almost imposs...
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Tottenham Hotspur may appeal against UEFA decision – Conte

Antonio Conte, head coach of Tottenham Hotspur during the Tottenham Hotspur press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on December 08, 2021 in Enfield, England. Tottenham boss Antonio Conte says the club’s lawyers are considering an appeal against UEFA’s decision to award Rennes a 3-0 win in their postponed Europa Conference League game.The governing body’s disciplinary panel ruled that Spurs forfeited the match after calling it off due to a worsening coronavirus outbreak and gave the French side the victory which saw Conte’s side exit the competition.Spurs had nine first-team players with the virus at the time and were told to shut down their training centre by health officials.They tried in vain to rearrange the game before the 31 December deadline but came up against stumblin...
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N’Golo Kante won’t face Brentford with Tuchel decision close to irresponsible

N'Golo Kante of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux on December 19, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will not risk playing N’Golo Kante against Brentford in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, insisting it was already “irresponsible” to play him for 90 minutes against Wolves.The Blues squad has been hit by a series of positive Covid-19 tests and they were able to name just four outfield players on the bench at Molineux on Sunday.Chelsea had a request to postpone the game rejected by the Premier League and, as a result, Tuchel was forced to rush players back from injury.One of those was Kante, who started and played the full 90 minutes during the draw with Wolves despite having last played on ...
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Tottenham and Liverpool share thrilling draw as Robertson sent off

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Joel Matip of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 19, 2021 in London, England. Liverpool lost ground in the Premier League title race in a pulsating draw at Tottenham that was packed with incident and saw Andrew Robertson sent off for the visitors.Manchester City's 4-0 victory at Newcastle earlier meant Liverpool could not top the league at Christmas for the first time in four years, with Jurgen Klopp's side now three points adrift.Harry Kane ended his Premier League goal drought when he found the bottom corner from Tanguy Ndombele's pass but Spurs wasted a number of opportunities to double their lead.Diogo Jota made the hosts pay on 35 minutes ...
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Covid-19-hit Chelsea held by Wolves

Christian Pulisic of Chelsea controls the ball away from Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux on December 19, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. Covid-19-hit Chelsea slipped further behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League title race as they were held to a goalless draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.The visitors had a request for the fixture to be postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak rejected on Sunday morning - with manager Thomas Tuchel saying they were "a bit angry" with the decision.Consequently, the Blues named just four outfield players on the bench at Molineux. The first XI was still strong enough to be competitive but they struggled to create as they were held to a second succes...
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Leaders Man City extend winning run to eight with convincing success at Newcastle

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City scores their sides third goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James Park on December 19, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Reigning champions Manchester City recorded their eighth successive Premier League victory as they swept aside struggling Newcastle United at St James' Park.The league leaders were gifted a fifth-minute opener as Newcastle defender Ciaran Clark failed to attack Joao Cancelo's hooked cross and Ruben Dias had a simple task to head City ahead.City doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Cancelo collected the ball 35 yards out, beat two Newcastle players and fired an unstoppable strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area.Riyad Mahrez scored his 50th Premier League goal ...
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Arsenal thrash injury-hit Leeds United

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road on December 18, 2021 in Leeds, England.  Arsenal consolidated their position in the Premier League's top four with a 4-1 rout of Leeds in the only Premier League match on Saturday to survive a wave of coronavirus postponements.Two goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka's deflected strike put the Gunners 3-0 up before half-time.Raphinha's penalty pulled a goal back, but Emile Smith Rowe rounded off a miserable week for Leeds after their 7-0 thrashing at Manchester City on Tuesday.Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa described his side's performance at the Etihad in midweek as the worst in his four years in charge and there was no sign of any improveme...
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Liverpool shrug off COVID-19 outbreak to beat Newcastle United

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool in action with Joelinton of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on December 16, 2021 in Liverpool, England.Liverpool shrugged off a coronavirus outbreak to keep their Premier League title challenge on track with a 3-1 win over Newcastle that was lit up by Trent Alexander-Arnold's wonder goal.The Reds lost Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho to positive cases of Covid before kick-off as a surge of infections across Britain threatens to bring the season to a temporary halt.Liverpool were further rocked when Jonjo Shelvey opened the scoring against his old club after just seven minutes.But Newcastle remained mired in the bottom three for a reason as goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah turned the gam...
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Leicester v Spurs off because of Covid

A detailed view of the Premier League Logo is seen on a Nike Flight Hi-Vis Match ball.Leicester City's home Premier League game with Tottenham on Thursday has been postponed because of Covid-19.The match, scheduled to kick off at 19:30 GMT, becomes the fourth top-flight game to be cancelled in the past week.The Premier League said it took the decision because of "an increase in positive Covid-19 cases within Leicester's squad" on Thursday.Leicester's training ground has been closed to help contain the outbreak."In light of the new information, Leicester applied [on Thursday] for the fixture to be called off due to an ongoing outbreak within the squad, which has resulted in more players and staff testing positive for Covid-19 today," read a Premier League statement."This has left the club w...
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Crystal Palace frustrated as Southampton hold on for a point

Will Smallbone of Southampton battles for possession with Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton at Selhurst Park on December 15, 2021 in London, England.Crystal Palace had to settle for a point as they drew 2–2 with Southampton at Selhurst Park. If Palace felt their impressive win over Everton on Sunday was going to kickstart a spell of good form, the visitors stopped — or at least halted — those plans thanks to two quickfire goals late in the first half.Wilfried Zaha’s second-minute goal set the Palace fans off in buoyant mood, but James Ward-Prowse inspired the visitors’ comeback with a trademark free-kick. Armando Broja then ensured Southampton went into the break ahead, driving a long-range effort past Jack Butland and in...
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Arsenal beat 10-man West Ham to replace them in top four

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. Arsenal overtook opponents West Ham and moved into fourth place in the Premier League with victory in an eventful match at Emirates Stadium.Gabriel Martinelli netted the opener early in the second half before substitute Emile Smith Rowe confirmed victory for the Gunners late on.Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette also had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in the second half.West Ham's Vladimir Coufal was sent off for a second booking in conceding the penalty as he was judged to have fouled Lacazette in the box.Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal s...
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Aston Villa beats Norwich to extend revival with Gerrard

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (centre) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game with team-mates Danny Ings and Jacob Ramsey as Norwich City players look dejected during the Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Picture date: Tuesday December 14, 2021.EPL— With four wins now in six games as manager, Steven Gerrard is transforming Aston Villa’s fortunes.The former Liverpool captain’s latest success was getting the better of the manager he replaced at Villa last month as Dean Smith’s new team, Norwich, was beaten 2-0 on Tuesday.Jacob Ramsey played a one-two with Ollie Watkins by the halfway line and ran at the defense before firing the ball past goalkeeper Tim Krul in the 34th minute at Carrow Road.The second came in the 87th when 18-year-old substitute Carney Chukwuemeka...
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