European champions Real Madrid overcame Al-Hilal in an eight-goal thriller at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday night to seal a fifth title in nine years.
The game, played in the Moroccan capital, saw Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo feature in the final minutes for the Saudi Arabian side.
Asian champions Al-Hilal, who trailed by two goals before 18 minutes, did put up a monumental fight against their European counterparts but it was Real who clinched the victory with a 5-3 scoreline.
Al-Hilal goalscorers were Luciano Vietto (a brace) and Moussa Marega while Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde netted a brace each for Real Madrid, and Benzema scored a goal.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team successfully added to their four cups from 2014 to 2018, and their triumph meant European teams have won the past 10 editions of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the competition features reigning continental champions and champions of the host country. But FIFA has announced its intentions to change the format from June 2025 to feature 32 teams and be held every four years
Messi’s current deal expired at the end of the current season and nothing has been finalised on a new contract.
The Argentine is looking at some jaw-dropping offers from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer and could be on his way out of PSG.
The PSG President for this reason is said to have identified the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finalist as a potential replacement for the football king.
Salah has scored 17 goals and has provided seven assists in 31 games across competitions for the Red this season despite Jurgen Klopp’s side struggles.
The Egyptian forward, who moved to Anfield in 2017, has scored 173 goals in 285 games and provided 70 assists for the Reds, helping them win the Champions League and the Premier League
Manchester City have issued a statement in response to accusations from the Premier League of more than 100 alleged financial rule breaches dating back to the 2009/10 season.
City stand accused of failing to accurately report financial information in each season from 2009/10 util 2017/18, with various rules alleged to be broken in each.
There are additionally allegations of incorrect records of manager payments between 2009 and 2016, pre-dating Pep Guardiola’s arrival at the club, as well as financial fair play concerns between 2013/14 and 2018/19, and failing to act properly under investigation from 2018/19 until now.
The Premier League has submitted its evidence to an independent commission for a final ruling.
The statement from the club speaks of ‘surprise’ at the Premier League’s allegations, refutes failing to cooperate with and assist the investigation and expresses confidence that the evidence does not point to any financial wrongdoing.
“Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with,” the club have said in response.
“The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
Liverpool crashed to a fourth defeat in their last seven games in all competitions when Wolves fired three goals against the Reds in a Premier League encounter on Saturday evening, a miserable run featuring only one win.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are languishing in 10th place, 10 points adrift of the top four amid their worst season of Klopp’s seven-year reign.
It is the first time since 2012 that Liverpool have lost three successive away league games, while they have already conceded more league goals this season than they did in the entirety of last term.
Facing a struggling team who kicked off in the relegation zone, Liverpool immediately crumbled as Joel Matip deflected Hwang Hee-chan’s cross into his own net after five minutes.
Wolves debutant Craig Dawson doubled the lead after 12 minutes when the defender smashed in from 10 yards.
With Wolves fans taunting Klopp with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, Ruben Neves sealed the rout with a 71st-minute finish from Adama Traore’s cross.
Nigeria international, Kelechi Iheanacho, scored one and made two goals to help Leicester City to come from behind and win Aston Villa 4-2 on Saturday evening.
Villa went ahead after 10 minutes through Ollie Watkins, but James Maddison levelled two minutes later.
Unai Emery’s men regained the lead with a 32nd-minute own goal from Leicester debutant Harry Souttar.
But Leicester equalised again in the 41st minute through Iheanacho and Tete netted on his debut in first-half stoppage time before Dennis Praet wrapped up the points in the 79th minute.
The win moved Leicester to the 13th place on the log with 21 points.
With their hectic winter transfer window now closed, Chelsea’s focus is on striking an agreement to extend the contract of midfielder Mason Mount, 90min understands.
Co-owner Todd Boehly made it clear earlier this season tying both Mount and right-back Reece James down to long-term deals was among the club’s top priorities this season, but while the latter put pen to paper on a six-year contract back in September, Mount is yet to sign.
An agreement is yet to be reached with the 24-year-old, but sources have confirmed to 90min Chelsea are now focusing all their efforts on reaching a positive outcome in the coming months.
Chelsea are prepared to make Mount one of the highest-earning players in the squad as a reward for his emergence as a regular starter for both club and country.
Mount’s representatives are aware of interest from other clubs but Mount is understood to be keen to stay at Chelsea and re-establish himself as a key player as part of the Blues’ lofty plans for the coming seasons.
Among Chelsea’s plans is the signing of Mount’s best friend, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice. A former Blues academy player, Rice has attracted significant interest from Arsenal in recent weeks but Chelsea remain keen on a reunion – even after their £106m acquisition of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.
While tying down Mount to a long-term deal is not essential to Chelsea’s pursuit of Rice, sources close to the situation believe it would help in convincing the West Ham midfielder to join up with his friend at Stamford Bridge.
Thiago Silva is set to sign a new contract in the coming weeks while Chelsea remain in talks with the representatives of injured midfielder N’Golo Kante, whose deal expires at the end of the current season.
Decisions also have to be made on the players whose contracts expire in 2024. Mateo Kovacic, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic all join Mount in entering the final 18 months of their contracts
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for January 2023.
Rashford picked the prize up in September as well and has remained a crucial player for United ever since, racking up 18 goals and eight assists in 31 games across all competitions this season.
In January, Rashford netted three goals across four Premier League outings, earning himself the Player of the Month prize for the second time this season and the third time across his career.
He opened the month by netting in a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, before he famously completed a United comeback in the Manchester derby against Pep Guardiola’s City with an 82nd-minute winner to seal all three points.
After drawing a blank against Crystal Palace, Rashford rounded out January with a screamer of a strike in a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal which was also nominated for the month’s Best Goal award.
Rashford came out on top of a seven-man shortlist that also included Newcastle’s Dan Burn, Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson, City’s Riyad Mahrez, Brighton’s Solly March, Brentford’s David Raya and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
The Red Devils will also come up against Leeds United and Leicester City, before rounding out February with the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
Manchester United secured their place in only a second major final in six seasons on Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Goals from Anthony Martial and Fred decided the game, bumping up an already comfortable aggregate lead from the first leg to 5-0, setting up a clash with Newcastle at Wembley this month.
The hosts had mild penalty appeals when Alejandro Garnacho went down under pressure from Neco Williams and Willy Boly. But nearly half an hour had passed before either side had a clear sight of goal, with a powerful Casemiro header saved by Wayne Hennessey’s outstretched right foot.
Despite chasing an aggregate deficit, Forest had seen very little of the ball but probably should have taken the lead on a rare foray forward. A throw-in gave Brennan Johnson the chance to dribble his way through, but the pacey Welshman’s finish straight at Tom Heaton lacked conviction.
Antony’s cleanly hit strike from outside the box in the closing stages of the first half had Hennessey worried as he flew to his left, seeing the ball just rise over the crossbar.
Wout Weghorst then struck the post right before the interval after an otherwise quiet opening 45 minutes from the Dutchman, while Forest winger Emmanuel Dennis had his head in his hands when his goal-bound effort was inadvertently blocked by teammate Sam Surridge.
United had stronger penalty appeals not long into the second half when Weghorst nicked the ball in front of Forest defender Scott McKenna, whose attempt to clear then upended the forward. It was given the VAR treatment but the on-field decision surprisingly stood.
Tempers flared a little around the hour mark, with tackles flying and Alejandro Garnacho involved in an ongoing fracas with Johnson and Williams on Forest’s right flank. The young Argentine forced Hennessey into a good save at the near post in one of his final acts before Ten Hag made a flurry of changes, including the return of Jadon Sancho after more than three months out.
With United already starting to turn the screw, those changes triggered the second half goals. The first went to Martial, capitalising on a rebound after fellow sub Marcus Rashford had seen an attempt blocked following an initial run by the Frenchman.
Sancho was then involved in the second goal not long after, feeding Bruno Fernandes on the right. The United skipper’s exquisite outside-of-the-foot ball to the far post was then put back across the box by Rashford for Fred to score an easy tap-in.
Heaton still had to have his wits about him late on to preserve his clean sheet, throwing a big hand up to parry a powerful drive from Danilo as Forest searched for a very late consolation. With the goal gaping, Surridge skied his own attempt on the rebound.
Man Utd player ratings (4-2-3-1) GK: Tom Heaton – 6/10 – A deserved opportunity but hardly a busy night until a spectacular late save.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7/10 – Took up an interesting position relatively high up the pitch and often tucked inside that made it difficult for Dennis and made space for Antony.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – 7/10 – Commanded every situation.
CB: Raphael Varane – 7/10 – Always composed and in control.
LB: Luke Shaw – 6/10 – Back after illness and can be satisifed with this performance.
CM: Casemiro – 8/10 – Another fine example of the type of performance that has really driven the whole team’s resurgence this season.
CM: Fred – 7/10 – Has been thriving alongside his fellow countryman and could play an awful lot more now that Christian Eriksen is out for a few months.
RM: Antony – 6/10 – Inches away from a great goal and posed a threat early on.
AM: Bruno Fernandes (c) – 8/10 – Put in a star turn, especially after moving to the right in the seconc half. Went close to a goal of his own late on.
LM: Alejandro Garnacho – 7/10 – Becoming more and more at home in this team.
ST: Wout Weghorst – 6/10 – A quiet opening 45 minutes until hitting the post on the stroke of half-time. Probably deserved a penalty after the break.
Substitutes SUB: Marcus Rashford (62′ for Garnacho) – 7/10
SUB: Jadon Sancho (62′ for Antony) – 7/10
SUB: Anthony Martial (63′ for Weghorst) – 7/10
SUB: Victor Lindelof (80′ for Casemiro) – N/A
SUB: Harry Maguire (80′ for Varane) – N/A
Manager Erik ten Hag – 9/10 – Went with a strong side to avoid any slip-ups, but it was the substitutions and slight tweak in shape as Fernandes moved to the right that made the difference.
Nottingham Forest player ratings (4-2-3-1) GK: Wayne Hennessey – 6/10 – Made a handful of saves to keep it 0-0 for at least a while.
RB: Neco Williams – 7/10 – Had his hands full with Garnacho but ultimately outlasted his imprssive opponent, before switching to the other side.
CB: Scott McKenna – 5/10 – Arguably fortunate not to give away a penalty for a swinging leg that caught Weghorst.
CB: Willy Boly – 6/10 – Stood tall for long periods until the resistance finally broke.
LB: Renan Lodi – 5/10 – Barely touched the ball and had a tough night of defending.
CM: Remo Freuler (c) – 5/10 – Tough night against a very good United midfield.
CM: Orel Mangala – 5/10 – Similar story to Freuler, found it hard going.
RM: Brennan Johnson – 6/10 – Should have done with a great first half chance that he created himself, having already done the hard bit.
AM: Gustavo Scarpa – 6/10 – Had promising moments just as in the first leg.
LM: Emmanuel Dennis – 5/10 – Late replacement for the injured Jesse Lingard and initially struggled to get into the game. Had one decent chance blocked by his own teammate.
ST: Sam Surridge – 5/10 – With little of the ball, frustrations got the better of him when he cleaned out Raphael Varane to pick up a yellow card.
Substitutes SUB: Alex Mighten (64′ for Johnson) – 5/10
SUB: Danilo (64′ for Freuler) – 6/10
SUB: Serge Aurier (65′ for Lodi) – 5/10
SUB: Oliver Hammond (86′ for Scarpa) – N/A
SUB: Detlef Osong (86′ for Surridge) – N/A
Manager Steve Cooper – 7/10 – Set up his side well and they did admirably to hold out for as long as they did.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has backed Jadon Sancho to become an important player for the club once more following his long-awaited return to action on Wednesday night.
Sancho came off the bench to a rapturous reception at Old Trafford to contribute to United’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest to cement their place in the Carabao Cup final later this month.
The 22-year-old hadn’t featured since October before that, with initially illness and then concerns over fitness and also his mental wellbeing keeping him out of the team.
But Sancho showed even in flashes against Forest, playing an important role in the move that made the second goal for Fred, that he has the quality to make an impact.
“He already showed that [he can be a decisive player],” Ten Hag said afterwards.
“This season for instance, the game against Liverpool was a great goal. He scored against Leicester. He had some really good games, Spurs as well, so he already showed his great capabilities.”
Sancho is yet to consistently perform to those standards in a United shirt since his 2021 transfer from Borussia Dortmund, although he has faith from the boss and time remains on his side.
“He has really high standards,” Ten Hag continued. “He has great capabilities to contribute to our team and the team is improving, we are playing more in the opponent’s half and his capabilities are coming more to the fore. He can act on them more and have more touches on the ball and that gives him the best platform to perform.
“It is always important that players enjoy football because that gives energy and also the motivation to act and to perform.
“The reception from the fans to him was great and that will give him even more a push to continue in the way he is now acting. He has just started again, he is back in Carrington, and hopefully he can keep that and really contribute to the team because when he is in form, he is important to us.”
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard says his side are focused on their own progress and not the challenge of Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
Odegaard’s Gunners beat Manchester United in a thrilling Emirates encounter on Sunday, with Eddie Nketiah scoring twice including a dramatic winner to send Arsenal 11 points clear of United.
City remain Arsenal’s biggest challengers at the top of the table and the two sides are still to square off three times this season – firstly in Friday’s FA Cup meeting before league clashes in February and April.
City beat Wolves earlier on Sunday before Arsenal reinstated their five-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side by beating United. The two sides are the clear frontrunners for the title, though Norway international Odegaard insisted Arsenal are maintaining focus in north London first and foremost.
Asked about City’s presence, Odegaard said: “No, honestly, we don’t care about City or any other team. We expected them to win so that was not a big surprise and we just focused on our game, to come here and win and that’s what we did. The way we won this game gives us a special feeling that will help as well.”
Marcus Rashford had given United the lead with a strike from distance in the 17th minute but Nketiah converted Granit Xhaka’s equaliser before Bukayo Saka struck home brilliantly in the second half.
Lisandro Martinez brought United level with a header from a scrappy set piece, but Nketiah’s late winner ensured Arsenal maintained their lead in the Premier League heading into the FA Cup weekend
Frank Lampard is the next manager to have been chewed up and spit out by the poisoned chalice that is Everton Football Club.
Defeat to West Ham on Saturday proved to be the final straw, with the former midfielder receiving his marching orders at the start of this week. By doing so, Lampard has become the sixth boss to depart the blue side of the Mersey in as many years.
It was always going to be a challenge for a man that’s yet to prove himself as a head coach, and his tenure was laden with drab performances and even worse results.
Here are some of the worst defeats Lampard suffered as Everton boss.
Tottenham 5-0 Everton – 7 March, 2021/22
Everton were absolutely spanked in north London / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages
The Toffees had shown plenty of fight the week prior in a 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City, and Lampard’s stellar record against Tottenham as both a player and manager meant some supporters were optimistic that Everton could upset the odds in this Monday night clash.
The visitors, however, were nothing short of a dire and a Spurs side on the come-up under Antonio Conte took full advantage. Michael Keane set the tone when he booted one into his own net to give the hosts the lead before Jordan Pickford let a rather tame Son Heung-min effort squeeze underneath him.
Harry Kane tripled Spurs’ advantage before half-time and by the 55th minute, they were 5-0 ahead before taking pity on their woeful visitors.
Crystal Palace 4-0 Everton – 20 March, 2021/22
Everton’s FA Cup run ended abruptly / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages
We all remember Lampard’s primitive summary of Everton’s FA Cup defeat at Selhurst Park, right?
According to the already under-the-cosh Everton boss, the Toffees had been dismantled in the cup due to a bunch of weak goals.
“Allow a goal from a corner…allow another average goal…then a fluke goal…then another average goal. Take responsibility.”
This was a big chance for the Merseysiders to play in a Wembley semi-final and offer their fans a hint of joy amid a bleak campaign. But, they failed to show up in south London as they were thumped 4-0.
Burnley 3-2 Everton – 6 April, 2021/22
Maxwel Cornet struck a late winner for Burnley / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages
This was billed as a mammoth relegation six-pointer. Everton had won just once since their drubbing at Spurs and, alongside Burnley, were fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table.
A Richarlison brace from the penalty spot overturned an early deficit in the first-half as the visitors matched their physical hosts in testing conditions. Everton proceeded to enjoy much of the second-half after they were pegged back by Jay Rodriguez just before the hour, but a pair of errors from Pickford and Ben Godfrey allowed Maxwel Cornet to snatch a seemingly crucial winner five minutes from time.
This was the night that many realised Everton were not too big to go down. Relegation was a very real prospect.
AFC Bournemouth 3-0 Everton – 12 November, 2022/23
Everton’s supporters were kicking off on the south coast / Stu Forster/GettyImages
After eventually clinching survival, Lampard sought to turn things around at Goodison Park at the beginning of the 2022/23 season. However, the Toffees enjoyed a winless start to the new campaign before a goalless draw in the Merseyside derby on matchday 6 ignited a mini-resurgence.
However, the dark clouds were forming over Lampard’s tenure just before the World Cup as they suffered back-to-back humiliations on the south coast. Bournemouth beat Everton 4-1 in the Carabao Cup just days before they thrashed them 3-0 in the league.
The feeble visitors were bullied by an over-performing Cherries outfit at the Vitality Stadium and the travelling supporters made their feelings very clear at the final whistle as a despondent group of players walked over in appreciation of their support.
Pascal Gross’ dinked effort was the final nail in the coffin for Lampard / Jan Kruger/GettyImages
This felt like the point of no return.
There had been little to suggest that Lampard was the right man to lead Everton forward either side of the World Cup, but a well-earned point at the Etihad at least offered a glimmer of hope. Still, the Toffees were winless in six games when a dynamic Brighton side came to town and put four past them in a chastening home defeat.
Goodison Park is meant to be one of the toughest places to go and win in the Premier League, but the Seagulls made the challenge look worryingly simple. Everton inexcusably conceded three goals in six second-half minutes to put the game beyond them as a powerless Lampard watched on in the home dugout.
Despite Demarai Gray’s late consolation, this was a defeat that Lampard was never going to recover from.
West Ham United 2-0 Everton – 21 January, 2022/23
Lampard’s former club West Ham put the nail in his Everton coffin / Vince Mignott/MB Media/GettyImages
And yet Lampard managed to keep hold of his job for a few more pointless weeks.
He took the Toffees to London Stadium to face fellow strugglers West Ham, with pressure mounting too on Hammers boss David Moyes.
A first-half brace from Jarrod Bowen proved to be the difference. Fans unfurled flags at full-time protesting against the board. Only a handful of players came over to applaud their support.
Frank Lampard has been relieved of his managerial duties by Everton following a barren run of form.
The Toffees have failed to win any of their last 10 games in all competitions, slipping to 19th place in the Premier League table and being eliminated from both domestic cup competitions.
The nail in the coffin proved to be Saturday’s limp 2-0 loss at relegation rivals West Ham United, which leaves Everton off the foot of the table by virtue of goal difference only.
Lampard spent just shy of one year as the Toffees manager and could only muster a win percentage of 27.3% in that time.
Everton have yet to release an official statement but 90min understands they have informed Lampard of their decision.
A spectator has been charged with assaulting Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale following last weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, the Metropolitan Police said Tuesday.
Joseph Watts, 35, has been accused of assault by beating, going onto an area adjacent to the playing area and throwing a missile onto a football playing area at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following Premier League leaders Arsenal’s 2-0 win.
Following Sunday’s incident, England’s governing Football Association “strongly condemned” the incident, while Tottenham insisted “violence in any form has no place in football”.
Arsenal’s victory left them eight points clear at the top of the table.
The teenager, who has played three times for Colombia, is set to be Villa’s second January signing after the arrival of Real Betis defender Alex Moreno.
Manchester United fought back for a dramatic 2-1 win against Manchester City that left their arch-rivals fuming over a controversial VAR decision to allow Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser, while troubled Liverpool crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.
Fernandes’ goal was the turning point and City boss Pep Guardiola and his players were seething after the flag went up for offside when Rashford ran on to Casemiro’s pass.
“The first goal is a joke that it can be allowed,” City defender Manuel Akanji told BBC Sport.
“He runs for 30 metres, he’s chasing the ball. In the situation, I played him (Rashford) offside. I understand he doesn’t touch the ball, but for me it is clearly offside.”
A win for leaders Arsenal at north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday would put the Gunners eight points clear.
While City splutter, United are in fine form following their ninth successive victory in all competitions.
Asked if they are in the title race, boss Erik ten Hag said: “The fans may dream but we are not. We have improved, that is obvious. There is still a long way to go.”
From the AMEX – Solly March scored a double as Brighton embarrassed Liverpool to move up to seventh in the Premier League, further harming the injury-stricken visitors’ Champions League qualification hopes with a 3-0 victory.
Brighton dominated the Reds and made the breakthrough at the start of the second half when March touched Kauro Mitoma’s cross past Alisson.
The winger scored a stunning second minutes later to give Roberto De Zerbi’s side victory, with Jurgen Klopp’s visitors failing to conjure any moments of attacking quality.
Substitute Danny Welbeck came on to net a brilliant third, gathering March’s flick before powering his shot into the back of the net.
The home side started on the front foot and zipped passes around, with Trent Alexander-Arnold clearing March’s off-target shot just over the bar. A header from Alexis Mac Allister – making his first club start since the World Cup – from the subsequent corner was held by Allison.
Liverpool were penned in for the majority of the opening 25 minutes, only booting the ball into space for attackers Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo to chase. Their first proper sighter fell for Gakpo, whose fiercely-struck shot was charged down.
Brighton continued to recycle possession, constantly finding routes through the middle of Liverpool’s midfield before going wide to Mitoma and March.
It was March who appeared to win his side a penalty after going through and being brought down by Alisson, but the video assistant referee spotted his offside run in the build-up.
Liverpool’s midfield trio of Fabinho, Thiago and Jordan Henderson failed to exert any control on proceedings and Brighton got the lead they deserved when March tapped in.
The brilliant Mitoma again worked his way into the box and scuffed the ball across goal to March, who had the simple task of poking past Alisson for the game’s opener. It was his first strike at home in the league since 2020, but he didn’t have to wait much longer for his second.
The 28-year-old has hit his best run of Premier League form ever and his second strike took him to four goals in his last three top flight appearances. He was played through by emerging striker Evan Ferguson before arrowing a left-footed strike into the far corner.
A host of changes from the visitors did produce decent openings for Gakpo and Harvey Elliott, but the points were wrapped up with a third from home substitute Danny Welbeck. March flicked on a throw into Welbeck, who beat both Konate and Joe Gomez before firing in the third.
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Brighton are now up to seventh thanks to their fifth win in seven league games, while Liverpool slip to eighth.
Brighton player ratings GK: Robert Sanchez – 6/10 – On alert a few times to come out of his box and clean up, but not a busy day.
RB: Pascal Gross – 7/10 – Tucked infield pretty regularly and helped Brighton play through Liverpool’s lacking press.
CB: Lewis Dunk – 7/10 – Brought down Gakpo for a yellow card. Rarely had Liverpool attackers running in behind and used the ball well.
CB: Levi Colwill – 6/10 – Cool and calm when briefly put in tough spots in the first half.
LB: Pervis Estupinan – 7/10 – Bombed forward to provide Mitoma with more options in atack.
CM: Moises Caicedo – 7/10 – Constantly picked up loose possession and quickly asserted himself against Liverpool’s ageing midfield.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – 7/10 – Combative, played cheeky passes around the corner and in tight spaces. Straight back into the flow on his first start since the World Cup.
RW: Solly March – 9/10 – Has hit form in recent weeks but this was an all-time career best performance from March. He gambled to get into the middle for his first strike and produced a brilliant finish to seal the points. Assisted Welbeck later with a header.
AM: Adam Lallana – 7/10 – Liverpool’s centre backs couldn’t decide who should pick up Lallana and he made use of the space, playing passes around the box to keep Brighton’s attacks flowing.
LW: Kaoro Mitoma – 8/10 – Slowed down and sped up out wide, constantly keeping Alexander-Arnold guessing. Deserved the assist for March, even if it was slightly scuffed.
ST: Evan Ferguson – 7/10 – Provided a physical contest Liverpool’s defence struggled with. Good pass played in March for his second.
Substitutes Joel Veltman (66′ for Lallana) – 6/10 – A more conservative switch which paid off.
Danny Welbeck (66′ for Ferguson) – 8/10 – Added pace to Brighton’s counter attacks and sealed the win with a brilliant effort after collecting March’s header.
Jeremy Sarmiento (83′ for Mac Allister) – N/A
Tariq Lamptey (90′ for Mitoma) – N/A
Adam Webster (90′ for Dunk) – N/A
Manager Roberto De Zerbi – 8/10 – Got his set-up spot on, exposing Liverpool’s ageing players and targeting their weaknesses out wide.
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Liverpool player ratings (4-3-3) GK: Alisson – 5/10 – Almost conceded a penalty but saved by VAR intervention. A couple of saves but not at his intimidating best.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 3/10 – Cleared a shot going wide over the bar. Saw Mitoma run past him again and again and Liverpool were eventually made to pay for it.
CB: Joel Matip – 3/10 – Slid in hard on Mitoma for a booking. Sloppy pass led to March’s opener.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 4/10 – Slightly more composed than Matip but looked similarly at sea with Ferguson at times. Lost March for the third.
LB: Andy Robertson – 5/10 – Was high up the pitch when Matip gave the ball away, allowing March to exploit his absence. Probably the best of Liverpool’s defenders but hardly a standout performance.
CM: Jordan Henderson – 3/10 – Frustrated late tackle on Caicedo saw him booked. Off the pace.
CM: Fabinho – 2/10 – Couldn’t stop Brighton playing straight through Liverpool’s midfield and was positionally unaware throughout the contest.
CM: Thiago – 3/10 – Liverpool only started getting more of the ball late on, by which time is was a little late for Thiago to make an impact.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 4/10 – Had to chase long balls from the outset and didn’t get many scoring opportunities. Cut a frustrated figure.
ST: Cody Gakpo – 4/10 – First Premier League appearance and will hope for much improvement. Scarcely involved except for one blocked shot.
LW: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 3/10 – Only playing because of the injury crisis across Liverpool’s front three.
Substitutes Ben Doak (68′ for Oxlade-Chamberlain) – 6/10 – Showed some vigour but the result had already been sealed.
Naby Keita (68′ for Fabinho) – 5/10 – Struggled similarly to Fabinho.
Harvey Elliott (69′ for Henderson) – 5/10 – Dragged one good opening wide when well placed.
Joe Gomez (69′ for Matip) – 5/10 – Couldn’t help clean up Liverpool’s poor defending.
Manager Jurgen Klopp – 4/10 – Needed a more dynamic presence in midfield from the outset and saw his players overrun. Hands are tied a fair bit by injury but this defeat felt bleak.
And the west London club confirmed on Saturday night that a deal to sign Mudryk was close to completion.
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Chelsea said in a statement: “Chelsea are discussing terms with Shakhtar Donetsk for the transfer of Mykhaylo Mudryk.
“Should a deal be agreed between the two clubs then the Ukrainian international, who can operate as a winger or a forward, will discuss personal terms with the Blues ahead of a permanent transfer.”
Marcus Rashford scored the winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 in a thrilling match at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Both United goals came in the final 12 minutes as Erik ten Hag’s side moved to within one point of their local rivals in the Premier League table after inflicting a damaging blow to City’s hopes of retaining the title.
Pep Guardiola’s men looked to be heading to victory when Jack Grealish came off the bench to head the visitors into the lead.
But Bruno Fernandes’ controversial equaliser turned the game and four minutes later Rashford netted for the ninth consecutive match at Old Trafford.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his players are in a “really good emotional state” ahead of Sunday’s north London derby as they aim to avenge last season’s painful defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Arteta said there were a lot of things to learn from that game.
“We haven’t won there (at the new stadium), and that’s the challenge we have ahead of us,” he said. “We are in a different place. We have to show that playing the way we want to play.”
“Obviously the way we have performed and the results that we have got confidence-wise puts us in a good position,” he said.
“But then it’s something that you have to show in every single match, every opponent and especially every away game brings big challenges and this is no different. We have to prove that we are good enough to go there, play our way and win the match.”
Reports say a big-money deal for the 22-year-old is close.
“We cannot talk about any other players,” said Arteta. “There is some interest in things we’d like to do to improve the team, because we are a bit short in certain areas with the injuries we’ve (picked up).
“We are trying as a club. We are determined to try to improve the team in every window and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has urged his side to focus on their own game rather than read too much into Chelsea’s problems ahead of Sunday’s clash at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 by Fulham on Thursday in another all-London clash and now lead Palace by just three points in the Premier League table, having played one game more than the Eagles.
Chelsea are 10th, an unusually low position in recent seasons, with a dismal run of just one win from their past eight games in all competitions piling the pressure on manager Graham Potter.
“We are looking at the squad that they (Chelsea) have and we are looking at the quality of the players that they have, we are looking at the quality of the manager that they have.”
“We, again, have to perform well, and not think at all about the run of games they are having at the moment.
“We want to focus on ourselves. We want to improve regarding the last games that we played. We want to be more competitive, and more consistent in our performances, to allow ourselves to win games.”
FIFA on Friday announced it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina for “offensive behaviour” during their World Cup final triumph over France last month.
The South Americans downed holders France on penalties in Qatar after a dramatic 3-3 draw.
A Spanish court has opened an investigation into allegations former Brazil defender Dani Alves sexually assaulted a woman at a Barcelona nightclub last month.
A Barcelona court opened a probe “into an alleged crime of sexual assault as a result of a complaint filed by a woman against a football player,” the Superior Court of Catalonia said in a statement.
While the statement did not name Alves, informed sources confirmed to AFP the former Barcelona and Juventus player was the subject of the investigation.
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Catalan police said they had received a complaint on January 2 from a woman who said Alves had touched her inappropriately.
The alleged sexual assault took place at a popular Barcelona nightclub overnight December 30-31, according to Spanish media reports.
The player was accused of putting his hands down the woman’s pants, according to the reports.
Alves, 39, has confirmed he was at the night club at the time but has denied any wrongdoing, telling private Spanish television Antena 3 last week that he has “never seen” the woman before.
“I was there, at that place, with more people having fun. Everybody knows I love to dance. Having a good time but without invading the space of others,” he added.
Alves, who now plays for Mexican side Pumas UNAM, was in Barcelona on holiday following his participation at the World Cup with Brazil in Qatar.
He was the oldest player to represent Brazil at the men’s World Cup.
Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix has joined Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old will bolster the attacking options for manager Graham Potter, whose squad is currently hard-hit by injuries and languishing in 10th spot in the table.
Chelsea described the Portugal international as a “skilful and stylish attacker” who is best in a fluid forward role.
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“Chelsea is one of the great teams in the world and I hope to help the team reach their objectives, so I am very, very happy to be here and very excited to play at Stamford Bridge,” Felix said in a club statement.
Atletico said Felix had extended his contract with the Spanish club for one more season, until June 2027.
“From Atletico de Madrid we wish Joao Felix every success in this new professional stage,” the club said
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