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Post by Webster on Dec 30, 2020 5:10:25 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Dec 30, 2020 19:38:04 GMT
(The Guardian) The Premier League has insisted that it retains full confidence in its Covid-19 protocols after Wednesday night’s game between Tottenham and Fulham became the second fixture to be called off in the space of three days, raising concerns that the season may have to be put on hold. As Tottenham responded to the latest postponement with anger behind the scenes, the league continued to play down the possibility of the season being curtailed despite mounting pressure. The growing scale of the problem was illustrated when the Premier League announced a record 18 positive results among players and staff from tests conducted last week. Five of those tests came at Manchester City, whose trip to Everton was called off on Monday. But despite the disruption continuing following a coronavirus outbreak at Fulham, the league remains determined to continue as normal. It is understood that the government is not currently considering a suspension, while the competition’s organisers feel that the risks of playing remain low despite the rising number of cases. The Premier League statement said: “With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its Covid-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled. The league wishes those with Covid-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture between Tottenham and Fulham in due course.” Spurs were left frustrated following the decision, which came less than three hours before kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The north Londoners were annoyed at what they deemed a lack of communication from Fulham, who asked the league for a postponement. José Mourinho, Tottenham’s manager, captured the irritation at the north London club with an Instagram post just after 2pm. Zooming in on a television playing Sky Sports News, Mourinho summed up his feelings by writing: “Match at 6pm … We still don’t know if we play. Best league in the world,” he wrote. Although the fixture had been in doubt after Fulham recorded a number of positive cases on Tuesday, the lack of information meant that Spurs had to prepare as normal, staffing and preparing their stadium for matchday at great cost. Fulham’s head coach, Scott Parker, missed their last match - the goalless draw with Southampton last Saturday - after a member of his household tested positive. Parker went into self-isolation for 10 days having tested negative and returned to training on Monday. The Premier League said: “Fulham lodged a request with the Premier League board to rearrange the fixture following a significant rise in positive Covid-19 cases, as well as a number of players showing symptoms today. The Premier League board has consulted its medical advisors and the decision to postpone the game has been taken as a precaution and with the health of players and staff as the priority. The group will now be retested immediately.” The situation led to Sam Allardyce, West Brom’s manager, called for the season to be suspended following his side’s 5-0 defeat to Leeds on Tuesday. Sheffield United’s game at Burnley on the same evening went ahead despite the Blades recording “a number of positive coronavirus tests”. Yet Allardyce’s view is not universal. One source told the Guardian that a two or four-week circuit breaker would be counterproductive, leading to more fixture congestion. Three games have already been called off this season, with Newcastle’s trip to Aston Villa on 4 December postponed following a rise in cases at United’s training ground. There is also mounting confusion over the process leading to fixture postponements. With Premier League rules stating a game cannot be postponed unless a team has fewer than 14 players available, one source questioned why Fulham’s request was granted. Carlo Ancelotti said that Everton, who face West Ham on Friday, have not received an explanation from the league about why their game against City was postponed. City were given the all-clear to re-open their training ground yesterday after test results showed no further cases in their squad. Pep Guardiola’s side are due to visit Chelsea on Sunday, while Fulham are scheduled to visit Burnley. Meanwhile the league will no longer have any fans in stadiums after the government announced that Liverpool will move from tier 2 to tier 3.
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 1, 2021 1:20:42 GMT
(BBC Sport) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his side's position in the table is "the last thing" he is thinking about after they drew at Newcastle to finish 2020 three points clear at the top of the Premier League. The Reds end the year where they started it but a second consecutive draw against a team in the bottom half means they are only three points clear of Manchester United, who have a game in hand. Mohamed Salah missed two key opportunities either side of half-time at St James' Park, while Newcastle's Fabian Schar denied Sadio Mane a tap-in with a timely clearance off the goalline in the 80th minute. Roberto Firmino also went close midway through the second period, failing to hit the target after Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow was stranded following a corner. And the Brazil forward then saw his 88th-minute header superbly denied by Darlow as the hosts held on to a well-earned point. "[Being top] is nice but it doesn't mean anything," Klopp said after the game. "We drew tonight and we are still top of the table so that just shows how difficult the season is for everybody. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 2, 2021 4:32:07 GMT
(BBC Sport) West Ham manager David Moyes said winning at Everton for the first time since he left the club was "special". Tomas Soucek's late goal gave West Ham a 1-0 Premier League victory at Goodison Park. "Always going back to your old clubs is special," said Moyes, who had lost on his previous four visits to Everton following his departure in 2013 after 11 years in charge. "I had a brilliant time here - great years - but I want to do it again at West Ham and that means going and winning at the other clubs." Aaron Cresswell's shot deflected off Everton defender Yerry Mina into the path of Soucek, who tapped home in the 85th minute of a largely uneventful game. Everton, who had won their previous four league games, missed out on climbing to second in the table. (BBC Sport) Manchester United moved level on points with Premier League leaders Liverpool as a Bruno Fernandes penalty saw off stubborn Aston Villa. Fernandes drilled his 11th league goal this season - and his fifth from the spot - into the bottom corner to punish Douglas Luiz's clip on Paul Pogba and hand United an eighth win in 10 games. Bertrand Traore's calm finish underneath David de Gea had deservedly drawn Villa level, cancelling out Anthony Martial's stooping first-half header for the hosts. But Fernandes' penalty extended United's hold over Villa - they have now won 32 and lost just one of the past 44 league meetings between the sides - and leaves Liverpool top only by virtue of goal difference. The spot-kick award angered Aston Villa boss Dean Smith who claimed Pogba "tripped himself" and that the video assistant referee should have asked on-pitch official Michael Oliver to review his decision. "I don't see why Michael couldn't have looked at it. That's what VAR is for isn't it?" Smith told BBC Sport. "I thought it was a penalty at the time, but I looked at it after the game and saw he tripped himself. I don't think it's a penalty. I think there's enough doubt there to send the referee over to the screen." Smith's side were perhaps unfortunate not to have left Old Trafford with at least a point from a thoroughly entertaining game but they also needed several fine saves from Emiliano Martinez to keep them in it. After Fernandes' spot-kick put United back in front, Martinez superbly tipped a stinging 25-yarder from the Portuguese on to the crossbar as well as denying Martial a second. Martinez's counterpart David de Gea was just as busy, with a late save from Matty Cash's long-range strike preserving the points, not long after Tyrone Mings had headed wide a glorious chance to level.
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 2, 2021 21:23:15 GMT
(The Guardian) José Mourinho has made his disappointment clear to three of his Tottenham players after they attended a party over the Christmas period in clear breach of strict tier 4 coronavirus regulations. A photograph that has circulated on social media shows Erik Lamela, Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilón – together with West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini – at the get-together. There are 15 adults in the shot, which is believed to have been taken on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. West Ham are deeply unhappy with Lanzini, who came on as a substitute in their 1-0 win at Everton on Friday. They say the midfielder has tested negative for Covid since the picture was taken. Lamela was not in the Spurs squad for their 3-0 win over Leeds on Saturday despite having featured as a substitute in the past two matches – his first involvement after a near two-month injury lay-off – while Mourinho left Reguilon as an unused substitute. Lo Celso is out with a hamstring injury. Mourinho had said he bought Reguilon a special Christmas dinner as he believed the Spaniard, who signed from Real Madrid in September, would be alone. “An amazing gift, an amazing gift,” he said. “Portuguese piglet, which is amazing for Portuguese and Spanish [people]. So I gave him this because I was told he was going to spend Christmas on his own. He was not alone as you could see and we, as a club, feel disappointed because we give the players all the education, all the conditions. We are not happy, it was a negative surprise for us.” Mourinho was asked whether he was angry and felt let down by the three players. “I prefer to say disappointed. We know what we are internally … we don’t need to open the door to you and let you know what is going on internally, what are going to be the consequences, how did we approach that negative surprise.” -Read more: www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/02/tottenham-condemn-three-players-for-christmas-party-covid-rules-breach
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 3, 2021 5:35:29 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 3, 2021 5:37:28 GMT
(BBC Sport) Fulham's Premier League match at Burnley on Sunday was postponed after more positive coronavirus cases at the London club. The game at Turf Moor was due to be played at 12:00 GMT. Fulham's previous league match against Tottenham on Wednesday was called off after a "significant number" of positive tests. Fulham are also looking into reports that striker Aleksandar Mitrovic allegedly broke coronavirus rules. Fulham players and staff were retested after the Spurs match was postponed. They were scheduled to train on Saturday morning but were told not to attend the session, according to The Athletic. A Premier League statement read: "Following Fulham's request to rearrange the Burnley fixture, the Premier League's board has taken into consideration further independent medical advice and decided to postpone the match due to the exceptional circumstances of the ongoing outbreak at the club. The league will rearrange Fulham's two postponed games as soon as possible." Those who have tested positive will now self-isolate. It is the fourth Premier League fixture to be postponed this season because of coronavirus cases. A Fulham statement read: "The welfare of our players, staff and their families continue to be of paramount importance."
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Post by Webster on Jan 4, 2021 3:58:27 GMT
(BBC Sport) Fine first-time finishes from James Maddison and Youri Tielemans helped Leicester beat Newcastle and move to within a point of the top of the Premier League. Maddison fired in Jamie Vardy's pull-back from just inside the penalty area to break Newcastle's resistance before Tielemans curled home from 20 yards after Marc Albrighton's pass. Andy Carroll's equally impressive volley reduced the deficit, his first goal since rejoining Newcastle in August 2019. Leicester moved back above Tottenham into third, although they have played a game more than Spurs, leaders Liverpool and second-placed Manchester United. Having drawn their past two games, Leicester were in danger of dropping off the pace in the title race, but they showed their class in patches at St James' Park and deserved three points. Apart from a tidy Vardy finish that was disallowed for offside, they were restricted to very little in the first half, although returning pair Maddison and Tielemans unlocked Newcastle after the break. Carroll stroked home to put some gloss on the scoreline for Newcastle - his first goal for the club since 2010 - but the hosts saw their winless league run extended to five games. (BBC Sport) Manchester City produced a ruthless attacking display to cruise past Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and increase the pressure on manager Frank Lampard. The visitors, who were without a number of first-team players following an outbreak of coronavirus at the club, stunned Chelsea with three goals in 16 first-half minutes. Ilkay Gundogan's crisp low finish broke the deadlock and Phil Foden doubled City's lead three minutes later, tucking a superb first-time strike beyond Edouard Mendy after fine work from Kevin de Bruyne. De Bruyne deservedly got his name on the scoresheet with a close-range finish after Raheem Sterling's curling strike had rebounded off the woodwork. Callum Hudson-Odoi scored in second-half stoppage time for Chelsea, firing Kai Havertz's cross beyond Premier League debutant Zack Steffen. The result lifted City up to fifth in the table, four points off Liverpool and Manchester United with a game in hand on both. Chelsea, who would have gone top had they beaten Everton on 12 December, drop to eighth.
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Post by Webster on Jan 13, 2021 1:35:19 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 14, 2021 5:42:31 GMT
(BBC Sport) Manchester City extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches in all competitions with a hard-fought win over struggling Brighton. Phil Foden grabbed the only goal just before half-time when he collected Kevin de Bruyne's pass, created space and fired into the bottom corner. The hosts had chances to extend the lead, Riyad Mahrez shooting just wide, Ilkay Gundogan seeing an effort saved by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and Bernardo Silva hitting the crossbar. Most culpably, Raheem Sterling sent an injury-time penalty over the bar after Sanchez had fouled De Bruyne. Alexis Mac Allister had perhaps the Seagulls' best chance to equalise but shot over the top. City's fourth straight win in the league moved them up to third. Brighton, meanwhile, have now not won in nine league matches and are just two points ahead of 18th-placed Fulham, who have two games in hand. (BBC Sport) Ivan Cavaleiro scored a late header to earn Premier League strugglers Fulham a hard-fought draw against Tottenham in their hastily rearranged London derby. The Portuguese forward's finish cancelled out Harry Kane's first-half diving header and came just minutes after Son Heung-min hit the post in search of Spurs' second. Cavaleiro sealed a remarkable turnaround for a side whose manager Scott Parker said it was "scandalous" to be given just two days' notice to face Jose Mourinho's men after Spurs' game at Aston Villa was postponed because of a Covid-19 outbreak in the Villa camp. Tottenham boss Mourinho had little sympathy for the visitors as the derby itself was a rearranged fixture, having been called off three hours before kick-off when originally scheduled on 30 December. For all the complications surrounding the fixture, the intensity from two sides at opposite ends of the table was high at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Fulham's fifth successive league draw a valuable point in their efforts to escape the relegation zone.
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Post by Webster on Jan 15, 2021 4:39:31 GMT
(BBC Sport) Arsenal's recent resurgence was checked by a stubborn Crystal Palace, who claimed a hard-fought point from a forgettable encounter at Emirates Stadium. Tagged as relegation candidates as little as three weeks ago, the Gunners came into the game off the back of four straight wins in all competitions, but were unable to find their way past the well-drilled and disciplined visitors. For a side in such good form, Arsenal were a disappointment going forward, their best effort at goal a shot on the turn from Alexandre Lacazette into the side-netting. Their only other clear-cut chance was an angled shot from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that Vicente Guaita palmed away. There was more goalmouth action at the other end, with James Tomkins heading an Eberechi Eze free-kick against the bar and Christian Benteke drawing a fine save from Bernd Leno with a nodded effort of his own. The point leaves Arsenal 11th on 24 points and Palace two points and a league place worse off, but comfortably clear of any relegation worries.
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Post by Webster on Jan 18, 2021 6:02:08 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 21, 2021 19:58:34 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Jan 22, 2021 21:40:56 GMT
(BBC Sport) Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League came to an end as Ashley Barnes fired in a late winner from the penalty spot to secure a famous victory for Burnley. Barnes was tripped in the box by goalkeeper Alisson with seven minutes remaining and converted the spot-kick as Burnley won at Anfield for the first time since 1974. Liverpool's last league loss on their own ground came nearly four years ago, against Crystal Palace in April 2017, and they are now six points behind leaders Manchester United at the midway point in the campaign. Divock Origi was given his first start of the season and should have scored when he ran free on goal after pouncing on Ben Mee's error but struck the crossbar. The hosts pushed to find the net in the second half but ran out of ideas, Nick Pope making a stunning save to deny Mohamed Salah and fellow substitute Roberto Firmino flicking an effort wide. Burnley's shock win lifts them up to 16th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
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Post by Webster on Jan 24, 2021 17:26:10 GMT
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