The English Premier League Season (2024/25)

[The Bald Eagle]

 

[FearlessRoar]

Chelsea moved back into the Premier League top four as Marc Cucurella's second-half strike sealed a scrappy win against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge

It was the Spain left-back's fifth goal of the season - and second in successive league games after netting against Southampton.

Cucurella's crucial goal came on the hour mark, beating visiting keeper Mads Hermansen with a left-footed effort from 25 yards.

Chelsea had been frustrated until then, with Hermansen saving Cole Palmer's penalty midway through the first half following a trip on Jadon Sancho by Victor Kristiansen.

The miss ended Palmer's 100% record from the spot - having scored his previous 12 - and prolonged the playmaker's goalless run to nine matches in all competitions.

Leicester impressed during the first half and came close to opening the scoring in bizarre circumstances when Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyo headed against his own crossbar.

But that was as close as the Foxes came, with Enzo Maresca's men improving after the break and claim the winner to leapfrog Manchester City and take a two-point advantage over the reigning champions.

Defeat for Leicester left them second bottom in the table, behind 18th-placed Ipswich on goal difference and six points adrift of Wolves in 17th.

BBC Sport

 

[FearlessRoar]

Substitute Son Heung-min scored a late penalty as Tottenham came from two goals down to secure a draw against Bournemouth

Bournemouth were heading for a routine away win after getting the better of exchanges in a wide-open game.

Marcus Tavernier latched on to Milos Kerkez's inviting cross to set Bournemouth on their way before Evanilson's cheeky chip put the visitors firmly in control after half-time.

Spurs hit back in unorthodox circumstances when Pape Sarr's intended cross looped towards goals and left Kepa Arrizabalaga clutching at thin air.

Son, who came on at half-time, proved to be Tottenham's hero from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Kepa.

Both sides saw efforts hit the woodwork in the second period with Son's curling shot nicking the post and going wide, while Justin Kluivert's low-driven shot cannoned back into play.

The draw keeps Tottenham sitting 13th with Bournemouth climbing up one place to eighth and leaving them two points shy of sixth-placed Brighton.

BBC Sport

 

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[Cricket Warrior]

Updated Points Table (10-03-2025)​

 

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Today's Results (15-03-2025)​

 

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Everton 1-1 West Ham United - MATCH REPORT​

Jake O'Brien scored a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a Premier League draw for Everton against manager David Moyes' former club West Ham.

Moyes' reunion against the side he left in the summer and where he enjoyed distinguished success such as winning the 2023 Europa Conference League looked to be heading for disappointing until O'Brien struck.

With time running out, the Republic of Ireland defender converted from close range following Idrissa Gueye's excellent cutback into the six-yard box.

West Ham had offered more of a goal threat during the contest and Jordan Pickford made two stunning reaction saves to keep out Jarrad Branthwaite's inadvertent header which was flying towards his own net, before tipping over Jarrod Bowen's sweetly struck shot from 25 yards.

The visitors broke the deadlock on 67 minutes courtesy of Tomas Soucek's fine finish, taking a touch from Bowen's pass before curling a delightful finish into the far corner.

Everton have been rejuvenated under Moyes and none more so than O'Brien, who found opportunities under Sean Dyche limited but has made the right-back spot his own - the Irishman's thunderous effort from range was pushed away by Alphonse Areola.

The Toffees thought they had a chance to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time when referee Darren Bond pointed to the penalty spot for an apparent foul on Beto, but after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor he reversed his decision.

But Everton battled on and O'Brien had the final say to spark a cacophony of noise from the home supporters and extend his side's unbeaten run to nine games.

Source: BBC

 

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Ipswich Town 2-4 Nottingham Forest - MATCH REPORT​

Nottingham Forest underlined their top-four credentials with a comfortable Premier League win over relegation-threatened Ipswich at Portman Road.

The result moves Forest just a point behind second-placed Arsenal - who face Chelsea on Sunday - and ever closer to Champions League football next term.

On an afternoon when Nuno Espirito Santo celebrated his 50th top-flight match in charge of Forest, his side ruthlessly exposed Ipswich's defensive frailties in a devastating seven-minute period during the first half.

Nikola Milenkovic opened the scoring for the visitors with a rising shot from eight yards after home forward Liam Delap had inadvertently nodded the ball into the Serbia defender's path.

And just over two minutes later Forest doubled their lead, as the Tractor Boys imploded.

Elliot Anderson picked out Anthony Elanga down the right and the winger was allowed to run completely unchallenged from just inside the Ipswich half before dispatching a low effort into the far corner from 15 yards out.

Some shambolic home defending contributed to Elanga's second and Forest's third.

This time the 22-year-old Sweden winger nipped in between three home players and slipped the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer, after Milenkovic's long punt forward had drifted over its intended target Chris Wood.

While Jens Cajuste pulled a goal back for the hosts, with a superb curling effort after pirouetting away from Ryan Yates in midfield, Jota Silva re-established Forest's three-goal cushion after being played in by the influential Morgan Gibbs-White.

However, George Hirst's late goal at least allowed the home side to end the contest on a positive note.

Kieran McKenna's Ipswich remain 18th - and are the only club in the top four divisions of English football without a league win in 2025.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

Manchester City 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion - MATCH REPORT​

Manchester City stumbled again in the battle to secure a return to the Champions League as they were pegged back twice by fellow top-five challengers Brighton in an entertaining encounter at Etihad Stadium.

Erling Haaland became the first player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements in fewer than 100 games when he marked his 94th appearance in the competition with his 84th goal by sending Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way with his 11th-minute penalty.

In a game of superb goals, Pervis Estupinan levelled with a curling free-kick that bounced in off a post, although City keeper Stefan Ortega, in for injured first-choice Ederson, did not cover himself in glory as he initially moved to his right before changing direction and eventually watching the ball go in with a shocked look on his first.

Omar Marmoush levelled with a superb 20-yard strike into the bottom corner, only for City's brittle defence to let them down again three minutes after the restart as Abdukodir Khusanov diverted Jack Hinshelwood's effort into his own net.

In a frenzied finish, City manager Pep Guardiola grew increasingly irritated at referee Simon Hooper following challenges on Josko Gvardiol and Bernardo Silva, who had to be replaced 18 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Guardiola was most annoyed at winger Jeremy Doku getting booked for diving as he jumped up and landed on the ground as he sought to avoid a challenge from Jan Paul van Hecke.

"If he doesn't jump, he can break his leg," said the City boss.

"He goes onto the grass to make a tackle and Jeremy jumps so there is no contact.

"Jeremy is not a diving player. They should know it. But it is what it is. We didn't win or lose for that decision."

Nico Gonzalez hit a post as the hosts pressed but it was Brighton, who have never won an away game against City and were claiming their first point in the fixture since 1982, who should have claimed victory, only for Carlos Baleba to balloon a shot over the bar when he had arrived with a perfectly timed run to meet Joao Pedro's cross unmarked in a central position 12 yards out.

Source: BBC

 

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Southampton 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers - MATCH REPORT​

Jorgen Strand Larsen scored twice as Wolves moved nine points clear of the Premier League's bottom three with victory over beleaguered Southampton at St Mary's.

Seeking only their third top-flight win of the season, the home side started on the front foot but fell behind after Wolves' first attempt of the game – a Strand Larsen header which beat the dive of Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Chances were few and far between for the rest of the first half but Strand Larsen doubled the visitors' lead just after the break with a low drive into the bottom corner – a goal which prompted some Southampton fans to make for the exits.

Half-time substitute Paul Onuachu pulled a goal back for Saints after Tyler Dibling's shot came back off the post, but Wolves survived the final 15 minutes to claim an important three points.

Southampton become only the fourth side in English top-flight history to lose nine consecutive home games in the same season, after Birmingham in 1985-86, Wolves in 2011-12 and Watford in 2021-22.

They remain on nine points – two fewer than Derby's record Premier League low and 17 adrift of Vitor Pereira's Wolves, whose position in the table is far less precarious than it was this time last month.

Source: BBC

 

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AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford - MATCH REPORT​

Brentford came from a goal down to beat Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium and register a fifth successive Premier League away win.

The hosts went in front when a Milos Kerkez cross went in off the shoulder of Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt.

However, Bournemouth's lead lasted for only 13 minutes as Yoane Wissa headed in his 14th Premier League goal of the season from Bryan Mbeumo's corner.

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard swept home the visitors' winner when Bournemouth failed to clear a second-half long throw into their penalty area.

With Carabao Cup finalists Newcastle not in Premier League action and Manchester City drawing against Brighton earlier on Saturday, a Bournemouth win would have lifted them to sixth in the table.

However, their prospects of qualifying for Europe were dented as their winless Premier League run was extended to four matches.

Antoine Semenyo should have put the Cherries back in front shortly after half-time but, unmarked six yards out, he headed Justin Kluivert's cross against the bar.

After Norgaard's goal, Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken saved from David Brooks and Marcus Tavernier to preserve his side's lead.

Bournemouth stay ninth in the table, three points above 11th-placed Brentford, who remain on the fringes of the race for Europe.

Source: BBC

 

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Updated Points Table (15-03-2025)​

 

[hassan918]

Early Kickoff Results (16-03-2025)​

Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Fulham 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

 

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[Cricket Warrior]

Premier League to have two summer transfer windows due to Club World Cup

The Premier League has announced it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.

The window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.

This summer features the first expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which involves 32 teams and adopts the format of the regular World Cup of the past few years.

Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League teams in the tournament which takes place in the United States from Sunday, 15 June.

But the Premier League can only have 12 weeks of a summer window - hence the five-day break in order to run it until 1 September.

Fifa has allowed new players to be registered for the Club World Cup from 1-10 June, and again from 27 June-3 July for the knockout stage.

Club World Cup: Premier League confirms split transfer window for summer of 2025

The Premier League says it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.

www.bbc.com

 

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[Mas-LFC]

Liverpool needed this win. Hard fought. Slot needs to play Chiesa more. Again unused. Slot has his favourites, his dutch pals like gakpo he loves.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Tarkowski should have seen red, says referee body

James Tarkowski should have been sent off during Everton's defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday, the Premier League's refereeing body has acknowledged.

Tarkowski caught Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister just below the knee with his studs in the 11th minute of the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

The Everton centre-back was shown a yellow card and the video assistant referee (VAR) decided to take no further action after a 10-second review.

But BBC Sport has been told by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) the tackle met the threshold for serious foul play.

The view of PGMOL is that an on-field review should have been recommended to referee Sam Barrott and ultimately the original decision overturned.

Referee Barrott felt the challenge was reckless in real time and VAR Paul Tierney deemed that call not to be a clear and obvious error.

The PGMOL says it wants to operate in a transparent way by admitting mistakes, and felt this incident needed to be addressed immediately, rather than waiting for referees' chief Howard Webb's next 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' appearance, external.

Everton manager David Moyes admitted Tarkowksi was fortunate to stay on the pitch, and Tarkowski apologised to Mac Allister at full-time.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who will speak to the media on Thursday morning, said "even people who are not liking Liverpool a lot are saying how clear and obvious it was".

BBC

 

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FULL TIME SCORES (5 April 2025)​

 

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Updated Points Table (06-04-2025)​

 

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Southampton manager Juric leaves after relegation​

Southampton have reached an agreement with manager Ivan Juric to leave following relegation from the Premier League on Sunday.

Juric was appointed as Russell Martin's successor on an 18-month deal in December but has won just two of his 16 matches.

Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham consigned the rock-bottom Saints to the earliest relegation in Premier League history with eight games still to play.

The loss against Spurs was Southampton's 25th of the season in the league.

"Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation," Southampton said.

"Unfortunately, we haven't seen performances progress the way we had hoped, but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up.

"With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer."

Simon Rusk is expected to step in as interim manager with Adam Lallana acting as his assistant.

Southampton and Leeds were the last two clubs to have parted company with two permanent managers during the same campaign - both doing so in 2022-23.

Juric lasted just 107 days at St Mary's and oversaw only one victory in the Premier League - a 2-1 triumph at Ipswich.

His spell in charge is the ninth-shortest reign as a manager in Premier League history.

Rooted to the bottom of the standings on 10 points, Southampton require two further points to avoid beating Derby County's record-low tally of 11, achieved in 2007-08.

Juric arrived at Southampton having been sacked by Roma in November after only 12 games in charge of the Serie A club.

The 49-year-old has previously held roles in Italy with Torino, Hellas Verona, Genoa, Crotone and Mantova.

Ivan Juric: Southampton manager leaves after relegation

Southampton reach agreement with manager Ivan Juric to leave following relegation from the Premier League on Sunday.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Man charged with assault after Grealish incident in derby

A 20-year-old man has been charged with assault after Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish was allegedly slapped following Sunday's 0-0 draw with rivals Manchester United.

The Daily Mail reported that Grealish, 29, was confronted as he made his way off the pitch at Old Trafford following the goalless derby.

Greater Manchester Police announced in a statement on Monday that Alfie Holt of Haven Drive, Droylsden will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on 14 July.

"This charge relates to an incident which took place at Old Trafford Football Club yesterday," the police added.

United and City both declined to comment when approached by BBC Sport.

The match was also marred by derogatory chants about Phil Foden's mother from Manchester United fans, which City boss Pep Guardiola said showed "a lack of class".

Jack Grealish: Police charge man with assault after Manchester derby

A 20-year-old man is charged with assault after Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish was allegedly slapped following Sunday's 0-0 draw with rivals Manchester United.

www.bbc.com

 

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Updated Points Table (07-04-2025)​

 

[BouncerGuy]

Leicester's Monga becomes second youngest PL player in blank shirt

Leicester City debutant Jeremy Monga had to wear a blank shirt when he became the second-youngest player in Premier League history.

Monga came off the bench in the 74th minute of Leicester's 3-0 home defeat by Newcastle United on Monday.

At 15 years and 271 days old, Monga became the second-youngest player to play in the competition behind Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, who debuted at 15 years 181 days in September 2022.

But because Leicester's home kit is sponsored by BC.GAME, an online cryptocurrency gaming platform, the England Under-16 winger could not wear it.

A review in 2020 of the Gambling Act 2005 - which the Premier League is committed to follow - prohibits players under the age of 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors.

"You could see glimpses of his great qualities. He's a great winger and has speed," Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said of Monga.

"He's a fantastic talent, a great boy. He deserved these minutes and hopefully, more to come."

Monga will turn 16 on 10 July and will be able to sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 in 2026.

Monga has largely played for Leicester's Under-18s and Under-23s this season, while also making three appearances in the Football League Trophy.

He was an unused substitute in the Foxes' 2-1 FA Cup fourth round defeat by Manchester United in February.

The other youngest players to appear in the Premier League are Harvey Elliott who played for Fulham at 16 years and 30 days old, Matthew Briggs who played for Fulham at 16 years 68 days, Isaiah Brown who represented West Brom at 16 years 117 days, and Aaron Lennon who was 16 years 129 days when he played for Leeds.

An eighth-straight league defeat without scoring leaves Leicester 19th in the table and 15 points adrift of safety with seven games remaining.

BBC