The English Premier League Season (2024/25)

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Bournemouth substitute Enes Unal curled home a brilliant free-kick to deny West Ham victory in a dramatic Premier League meeting that had a twist in the tale.

West Ham thought they were about to enjoy a 10th victory in 11 Monday night league games when Lucas Paqueta converted an 87th-minute penalty.

But Bournemouth, who had been denied on five separate occasions by Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski in the second-half alone, refused to let their heads drop.

Given the opportunity to go for goal from 30 yards as the seconds ticked down, Unal found the top corner with a magnificent effort.

The home side surged forwards looking for a winner but despite their pressure, and a frenzied atmosphere in the Vitality Stadium, the winner - and a fourth successive Premier League win - would not come.

The point was enough for Andoni Iraola's men to climb above Aston Villa into the top six. West Ham remain in 14th, having avoided defeat for two league games in a row for only the third time this season.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Updated Points Table (16-12-2024)​

 

[FearlessRoar]

Southampton line up Ivan Juric to replace Russell Martin as head coach​

Southampton are closing on the appointment of Ivan Juric as Russell Martin’s successor. The former Roma manager, who was sacked by the Serie A club last month after 12 matches, was on the shortlist to replace Ralph Hasenhüttl at Saints two years ago and is expected to be given the job this time.

Southampton, bottom of the Premier League and fighting an immediate return to the Championship after one win in 16 matches, are searching for their fifth manager in just over two years.

Juric, who impressed across a three-year spell in charge of Torino, was pinpointed as a leading candidate by the Sport Republic ownership group, led by Dragan Solak, Henrik Kraft and Rasmus Ankersen. It is thought Saints were keen on avoiding paying compensation, making the out-of-work Juric an attractive option.

The former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand was also thought to be a candidate and Southampton are admirers of Carlos Corberán, who has a release clause of about £3m in his contract at West Brom.

It is unclear whether a deal to appoint Juric could be finalised in time for him to take charge at Fulham on Sunday. Simon Rusk, who was appointed Southampton Under-21s’ coach in the summer, is in interim charge.

Juric has taken charge of six Italian clubs but the Croat has never coached in England. The 49-year-old previously described himself as an avid fan of heavy metal, citing his love for Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer.

Southampton line up Ivan Juric to replace Russell Martin as head coach

Southampton are closing on the appointment of the former Roma and Torino Ivan Juric as Russell Martin’s successor

www.theguardian.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

EPL Fixtures (21-12-2024)​

 

[Amjid Javed]

Villa currently lead over man city 1-0

 

[FearlessRoar]

Half Time

 

[Amjid Javed]

2-0

This is officially the worst run of results in Man City's 14 year history.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Manchester City's crisis intensified as they slipped to another damaging defeat at Aston Villa

Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers goals meant Phil Foden's late reply for the visitors was little consolation.

Defending champions City have dropped to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool having played two games more, while Villa have moved above them into fifth.

It is now nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions for City, who are winless in their last eight away matches, as their season continues to spiral downwards.

Guardiola made six changes from the Manchester derby defeat last week but it made little difference during another laboured performance.

Villa, who had won just three of their previous 11 top-flight games, earned a much-needed victory, one which keeps their top-four hopes firmly alive.

They were rarely troubled, although Emi Martinez saved well from Foden in the first half, and Villa continually found ways past City's frail backline.

The tone was set inside the first minute as City needed Stefan Ortega, in for the injured Ederson, to twice bail them out.

He brilliantly turned Pau Torres' header on to the bar, the goalkeeper clawing the ball out from almost over the line, having already saved from Duran following Josko Gvardiol's mistake after just 15 seconds.

Worse was to come after 16 minutes when City were sliced open by Youri Tielemans' brilliant through-ball. He found Rogers to advance and unselfishly square for Duran to beat Ortega.

City were unable to respond until it was too late and Rogers, who spent two years at Etihad Stadium without making a senior City appearance, sealed victory for Villa with a fine low finish after 65 minutes, making Foden's injury-time strike meaningless.

BBC Sport

 

[FearlessRoar]

Nottingham Forest inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Brentford as they maintained their push for a European place

Goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga, as well as some resolute defending, helped Forest to their third consecutive victory.

The result also lifts Nuno Espirito Santo's side up to third in the table, a point above fourth-placed Arsenal, who travel to Crystal Palace later on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Having withstood some early pressure from the hosts, Forest opened the scoring towards the end of the first period when Neco Williams got down the left and his low cross was placed into the bottom left corner by Nigeria full-back Aina.

The visitors added to their tally shortly after the break when Elanga capitalised on a mistake from Keane Lewis-Potter and drove into the penalty area before dispatching his effort past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken into the bottom left corner.

It proved a frustrating afternoon for Brentford, who came into the contest with the best home record in the English top flight, having won seven and drawn one of their previous eight fixtures.

However, while the Bees enjoyed plenty of possession, they ultimately lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

Mikkel Damsgaard and Yoane Wissa were both unable to convert first-half opportunities to give Thomas Frank's side the lead and Kristoffer Ajer's close-range effort was superbly repelled by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels as the hosts looked for a way back into the match.

They drop down a spot to 12th in the table, having lost three games in seven days.

BBC Sport

 

[FearlessRoar]

Alexander Isak scored a hat-trick as Newcastle United thrashed Ipswich Town, who remain without a home league win this season

The visitors only needed 26 seconds to score after the hosts had kicked off.

Ipswich immediately sent the ball out for a throw-in, Fabian Schar played a long pass, Jacob Murphy ran down the right wing and his cross bounced off the heel of Sam Morsy with Isak firing the loose ball into the net.

The goal was originally ruled out for offside but following a lengthy check by the video assistant referee, it was given.

Murphy, who impressed throughout, added a second, shooting in off the underside of the crossbar after good work from Anthony Gordon.

Ipswich last won a home game in the top flight in April 2002 when they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 before being relegated.

Any hopes of a first success at Portman Road in this campaign ended in first-half injury time when Newcastle got a third goal.

Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric tried to play out from the back and knocked a pass to Jens Cajuste inside his own penalty area, but Bruno Guimaraes intercepted and Isak had the easy task of scoring his second.

His hat-trick came nine minutes into the second half, when he prodded home into the bottom corner after more good work from Murphy.

BBC Sport

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Arsenal put five past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to move to within three points of the Premier League leadership.

It took the Brazil striker's tally against the Eagles to five in a week, following hids Carabao Cup quarter-final hat-trick on Wednesday.

But there was a setback for the Gunners as Bukayo Saka limped off in the first half.

Jesus scored two in the first half before Kai Havertz made it three, with Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice adding further goals after the break.

Arsenal struck first in the sixth minute, Saka's cross was deflected into the path of Jesus and he fired past Dean Henderson at the near post.

The Eagles were level just five minutes later when Ismaila Sarr curled an excellent effort in the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Arsenal then went ahead again just three minutes later. A dangerous corner was not cleared and Thomas Partey teed up Jesus, who curled a shot into the top corner.

Jesus then almost registered his second hat-trick in a week when his header hit the post, but the ball bounced out and Havertz was on hand to tap in from close range for the Arsenal third.

Both sides had chances to score more in the first half, Jean-Philippe Mateta had a close range effort saved by Raya before Gabriel headed a Martin Odegaard corner against the bar.

Palace started the second half brightly but Arsenal kept them out before Martinelli diverted in substitute Rice's shot.

Rice himself then got on the scoresheet as he curled in an excellent strike for the Arsenal fifth.

Arsenal are now three points behind leaders Liverpool, although they have played two games more.

Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Arsenal put five past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to move to within three points of the Premier League leadership.

It took the Brazil striker's tally against the Eagles to five in a week, following hids Carabao Cup quarter-final hat-trick on Wednesday.

But there was a setback for the Gunners as Bukayo Saka limped off in the first half.

Jesus scored two in the first half before Kai Havertz made it three, with Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice adding further goals after the break.

Arsenal struck first in the sixth minute, Saka's cross was deflected into the path of Jesus and he fired past Dean Henderson at the near post.

The Eagles were level just five minutes later when Ismaila Sarr curled an excellent effort in the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Arsenal then went ahead again just three minutes later. A dangerous corner was not cleared and Thomas Partey teed up Jesus, who curled a shot into the top corner.

Jesus then almost registered his second hat-trick in a week when his header hit the post, but the ball bounced out and Havertz was on hand to tap in from close range for the Arsenal third.

Both sides had chances to score more in the first half, Jean-Philippe Mateta had a close range effort saved by Raya before Gabriel headed a Martin Odegaard corner against the bar.

Palace started the second half brightly but Arsenal kept them out before Martinelli diverted in substitute Rice's shot.

Rice himself then got on the scoresheet as he curled in an excellent strike for the Arsenal fifth.

Arsenal are now three points behind leaders Liverpool, although they have played two games more.

Source: BBC

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Latest Points Table (22-12-2024)