Page 12 - English Premier League

EPL: Inspired by world champion badge, Man City really to beat Everton 3-1

Trailing 1-0 to Everton at halftime, Manchester City didn't much look like the newly crowned Club World Cup champion despite the new golden FIFA badge on the front of the players' shirts. But Pep Guardiola had a simple message to his players at the break. The manager (told us) at halftime to just keep believing, we haven't got this badge for no reason, City midfielder Phil Foden said. "In the second half, yeah, wow, I think we blew them away with the way we played. Foden started the comeback by equalizing in the 53rd minute, before Julian Alvarez's penalty and a late goal by Bernardo Silva secured a 3-1 win at Everton to put the defending champions back into the Premier League's top four. That's why we're the world champions. The best team in the world, Guardiola said with a smile in a post-game interview on Amazon Prime. Now I'm going to remind them every day. We have a standard to keep. The trip to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup was perhaps a bit of a distraction and allow

Despair then delight at Old Trafford; Utd beat Villa in 1st game after deal

Welcome to Manchester United, Jim Ratcliffe. In the space of 90 minutes, and in front of soon-to-be director Dave Brailsford, Old Trafford witnessed the best and worst of Erik ten Hag's team. Two days after confirmation that British billionaire Ratcliffe will buy a stake of up to 25% in the club, United trailed by two goals inside 26 minutes against Aston Villa and was booed by the home crowd on Tuesday. Ten Hag's players then produced a spectacular second-half comeback to win 3-2 and spark celebrations rarely seen at its famed stadium during a troubled season so far. We said Keep going. Believe it, in ourselves.' That is what I demand from the team," Ten Hag said afterward. "We said it before the game and during halftime, Keep believing and we will win this game.' Going into the game on the back of a run of four matches in all competitions without a win or a goal, United took to the field for the first time since Ratcliffe, one of Britain's richest people, secured an agreement wor

UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe acquires 25% stake in Manchester United

More than a year after it was put up for sale, Manchester United said Sunday that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe had agreed to buy a minority stake in the storied Premier League club. Ratcliffe, who owns petrochemicals giant INEOS and is one of Britain's richest people, has bought a stake of "up to 25 per cent" of the 20-time league champions and will invest USD 300 million in its Old Trafford stadium. As part of the deal, United said Ratcliffe would take responsibility for the club's soccer operations. Ratcliffe, who was born in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, had originally bid to buy American owners, the Glazers', majority share of around 69%. "As a local boy and a lifelong supporter of the club, I am very pleased that we have been able to agree a deal with the Manchester United Board that delegates us management responsibility of the football operations of the club," Ratcliffe said. "Whilst the commercial success of the club has ensured there have always been available fund

EPL have its first female referee, Rebecca Welch to officiate on Dec 23

Rebecca Welch will become the first female referee in the Premier League when she takes charge of the match between Fulham and Burnley on Dec. 23, the competition said Thursday. Welch has already worked as the fourth official in the Premier League, for the match between Fulham and Manchester United on Nov. 4, and she was the first woman to referee matches in the second-tier Championship and FA Cup. Welch has been a referee since 2010, initially balancing the role with her job in the National Health Service before becoming a full-time match official. Other countries have been using female referees for years. In Germany, Bibiana Steinhaus was the first woman to referee a Bundesliga game, in 2017. Steinhaus is married to Howard Webb, who is the current chief refereeing officer of the top refereeing body in England. French referee Stphanie Frappart became the first woman to take charge of a men's World Cup game when she handled Germany vs. Costa Rica in November last year, having ...

Everton gets biggest sporting sanction in EPL history for financial breach

Everton was handed the biggest sporting sanction in the Premier League's 31-year history on Friday for breaching the competition's financial rules, with the deduction of 10 points dropping the team into next-to-last place in the standings. The northwest club reported three-year losses totaling nearly 372 million pounds ($454 million) last season. The league's profit and financial sustainability rules allow clubs to lose a maximum of 105 million pounds ($128 million) over a three-year period or face sanctions. The league referred Everton to an independent commission in March because of the alleged breach of profitability and sustainability rules, following complaints from a slew of rival clubs. A five-day hearing was held last month and the commission has now published its verdict, which sees Everton fall from 14 points to four with immediate effect. That's the same number of points as last-place Burnley. Everton has a superior goal difference. The club, which is planning to move t

Man United manager Ten Hag under more pressure as international break looms

The pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag as his Manchester United reign descends deeper into crisis. The 4-3 loss against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday was yet another blow for the Dutch manager in a season that is unravelling by the week. He says he is waiting for one moment to turn the campaign around. It needs to come quickly. United now faces the humiliating prospect of being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stages; its defense of the League Cup has already ended and five losses in 11 Premier League games have silenced pre-season talk of a potential title challenge. In any ordinary season United would be expected to sweep its way past teams like Luton at a packed Old Trafford on Saturday. But this is clearly no ordinary season for the 20-time league champions. Last week the club denied a report it was exploring alternatives to Ten Hag after a troubled start to the campaign. A win against Luton would do little to quieten speculation about h

Fenway Sports Group sells minority stake in Liverpool FC to Dynasty Equity

Dynasty Equity's investment will be used to pay down bank debt incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic and capital expenses made to enhance Anfield and build the AXA Training Centre

Sancho's future depends on him: Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag

Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag has asserted that Jadon Sancho's future at the club "depends on him"ahead of their Sunday clash against Burnley. Sancho has been an outcast for the past two weeks following his fallout with Ten Hag. Sancho was left out of Manchester United's squad against Arsenal on September 3.After their 3-1 loss against the Gunners, Ten Hag was quizzed about the absence of Sancho to which he replied, "Jadon, on his performances in training we did not select him. You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game, he was not selected."Sancho took out his frustrations with a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he claimed that he was training well and that he has "been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair."Ahead of their match against Burnley on Sunday, Ten Hag was quizzed about Sancho's situation to which he replied as quoted from Sky Sports, "It depends on him. For the rest, we are ...

Ten Hag questioned about Man United player unrest and transfer dealings

Erik ten Hag's second season at Manchester United is not going to plan. Three defeats in the Premier League already have left his team a long way off the pace at the top of the standings, while United's return to the Champions League ended in a 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ahead of Saturday's trip to Burnley, Ten Hag has had to deal with reports of unrest among some players and on Friday faced questions about the influence of agent Kees Vos in terms of the club's transfer dealings. Vos is Ten Hag's agent, and his Sports Entertainment Group also represents Rasmus Hojlund, who was an $82 million signing from Atalanta in the offseason, and negotiated Sofyan Amrabat's deadline day loan move from Fiorentina. Reports this week claimed there were concerns from some United staff about Vos' involvement in deals, but Ten Hag dismissed suggestions that there could be a conflict of interest. For player decisions, transfers, it's always 50-50, we both have a veto the club, represen

Premier League: Manchester City star Jack Grealish nears return from injury

Jack Grealish is close to returning from injury and could be involved in Manchester City's game against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, Pep Guardiola said. The England international has been sidelined with a knee injury that has seen him miss City's last three games. But he is back in training and in contention to make the squad for the home game against Forest. Jack is coming back. He has trained well and maybe he will be ready for some minutes, City manager Guardiola said Friday. Mateo Kovacic is also nearing recovery from muscular injury, but Bernardo Silva is out after being withdrawn in the first half of City's Champions League win against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday. (Silva) has a little injury. It is nothing much. The clinical development is good but it could be one week, 10 days, two weeks that he will be out, Guardiola said. Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones are also out for City.

Premier League: Manchester United's Antony takes leave of absence from club

Manchester United winger Antony has been given a leave of absence in order to address allegations made against him of violence towards women. The 23-year-old player earlier this week was dropped from the Brazil squad after accusations of physical aggression on several occasions since January towards his former girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin, which are being investigated by police and which he denies. United have agreed with the player for him to stay away from the club in order to focus on defending himself. Antony has not been arrested or charged and says he will co-operate with police in order to prove his innocence. United, fresh from dealing with Mason Greenwood's exit from the club, said in a statement: "Manchester United acknowledges the allegations made against Antony. "Players who have not participated in international matches are due back in training on Monday. However, it has been agreed with Antony that he will delay his return until further notice in order to address the

Explained: Manchester United's Brazillian winger Antony's controversy

Antony's ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin alleged him of domestic violence which led to the player being dropped from Brazil's national squad

Manchester United stock sees biggest intra-day fall as Glazers put off sale

Manchester United shares plummeted after their US owners the Glazer family put off the sale of the club for which negotiations had begun in December 2022

Premier League: Rice, Jesus score in injury time; Arsenal beat Man Utd 3-1

Arsenal recovered from a scare as Alejandro Garnacho's goal was ruled out in the 89th minute and then scored two of their own through Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus in the injury time registering a 3-1

Premier League: Manchester Utd manager expects huge impact from Hojlund

Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag is expecting the young Rasmus Hojlund to make a "huge" impact as he closes on to making his first appearance in the Premier League for the Red Devils

Premier League: Erling Haaland dwarfs Shearer's record as City thump Fulham

The Norwegian talismanic striker Erling Haaland's hattrick against Fulham ensured Manchester City remained the only team to win their first four matches before the international break

Arsenal hosts Man United, Bonucci available for Union Berlin debut

A look at what's happening in European soccer on Sunday: ENGLAND Arsenal hosts Manchester United in a major test for teams looking to challenge Manchester City for the title. Both sides are hoping their first-choice striker will be fit to make a first start to the season, with Gabriel Jesus and United newcomer Rasmus Hojlund having recovered from injuries. Liverpool hosts Aston Villa in another marquee matchup after rebuffing late interest from Saudi Arabia for Mohamed Salah. Crystal Palace welcomes Wolverhampton. SPAIN Portugal players Joo Cancelo and Joo Flix are on Barcelona's squad for its visit to Osasuna after they joined the club just before the close of the summer transfer window on Friday. Iigo Martnez could also make his debut after the former Athletic Bilbao defender recovered from an injury that has kept him from playing since signing for Barcelona this summer. Atletico Madrid hosts a Sevilla side in a nosedive after losing its first four of games in all competitions

Morocco's Amrabat says he is at club of his dreams after joining Man Utd

Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat described Manchester United as the "club of my dreams" after completing a season-long loan move to the English team in the final hours of the last day of the transfer window. Amrabat moved on Friday from Italian club Fiorentina, which reportedly received a loan fee of 10 million euros (USD 10.8 million). United has the option to make the signing permanent for 20 million euros (USD 21.5 million). The 27-year-old Amrabat didn't feature in any of Fiorentina's four matches this season after demanding a transfer. He rose to global prominence thanks to a string of impressive performances at the World Cup in Qatar last year when as a shield in front of the defense he helped Morocco become the first team from Africa or the Arab world to reach the semifinals. Amrabat also played a key role as Fiorentina reached the finals of the Coppa Italia and Europa Conference League last season. "I've had to be patient for this moment," Amrabat said, "but I'm someone

EPL 2023-24: Liverpool sign Ryan Gravenberch for $43M from Bayern Munich

Liverpool completed the overhaul of its midfield by signing Netherlands international Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich in a deal worth 40 million euros (USD 43.1 million) on the final day of the summer transfer window. Gravenberch joins fellow midfielders Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo in joining Liverpool this summer while Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have left. The 21-year-old Gravenberch has signed a five-year deal just 12 months after joining Bayern from Ajax. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel was willing to let Gravenberch leave because he didn't fit into the system. "He's a box-to-box midfielder for me, an attacking player," Tuchel said on Friday before the signing was finalised. "The main problem for him is that we don't really have a No. 8 in our 4-2-3-1 system. And we're spoilt for choice up front, with really experienced players. "Ryan is a very nice, hard-working, committed player. He wasn't happy

Premier League: Manchester City signs Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton

Manchester City completed the signing of midfielder Matheus Nunes on Friday after agreeing to pay Wolverhampton a reported transfer fee of 53 million pounds ($67 million). The Portugal international had been refusing to train with Wolves in an effort to force a move to City, which had a lower bid rejected last week. He signed a five-year contract, City said. City manager Pep Guardiola was looking for help in the midfield. The injured Kevin De Bruyne could be out until the new year. City also lost Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona after his contract expired, and signed central midfielder Mateo Kovacic as a replacement. However, that's not a like-for-like replacement, with Kovacic operating in deeper areas than Gundogan, who often played as an attacking midfielder just off Erling Haaland. The 25-year-old Nunes typically plays further forward than Kovacic so would offer something different to Guardiola. Nunes is the fourth signing for City, following Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and wi