Football

Bournemouth's record signing Evanilson finally broke his goal drought for the club, sparking a three-goal blitz that propelled the Cherries to a 3-1 victory over Southampton on Monday. The Brazilian international's 17th-minute strike ignited a dominant first-half performance from Bournemouth, with Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo adding to the tally before the break.Evanilson's goal was a welcome relief for the 40 million pounds striker, who had endured a difficult start to his Bournemouth career. He had missed a penalty in the Cherries' previous home game against Chelsea, but he made amends with a clinical finish on Monday."It is a goal we've been expecting of Evanilson," said Bournemouth assistant manager Tommy Elphick. "He is so intelligent and makes such cute runs. We haven't been finding him enough so I'm pleased for him."Ouattara doubled Bournemouth's lead just six minutes later, deflecting Lewis Cook's shot past Aaron Ramsdale. Semenyo then put the game beyond Southampton's reach with a fierce drive in the 39th minute.Southampton, who had dominated possession in the first half, pulled a goal back through Taylor Harwood-Bellis early in the second half. However, it was too little, too late for the Saints, who remain in the bottom three of the Premier League."I am so hurt by the first-half performance after the first goal. I didn't recognise our team," said Southampton manager Russell Martin. "There was no aggression or courage. They were looking around and in self-preservation mode on the pitch. I didn't like it one bit. They showed fight in the second half, but it was too late."Bournemouth's victory lifted them above Manchester United into 11th place in the Premier League standings. It was their second win of the campaign, while Southampton remain winless after six games.The gulf between the Championship and the Premier League continues to widen, with all three promoted sides struggling to make an impact in the top tier. Ipswich and Leicester have also failed to register a win in their opening six league matches.

Aston Villa's pursuit of a top-two finish in the Premier League suffered a setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw by newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Liam Delap's brace canceled out goals from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, leaving Unai Emery's side frustrated.Villa started brightly and took the lead through Rogers in the 15th minute, but Delap equalized for Ipswich just eight minutes later. Watkins restored Villa's advantage in the 32nd minute, but Delap struck again in the 72nd minute to earn Ipswich a deserved point.The result leaves Villa in fifth place, two points behind leaders Liverpool, while Ipswich remain in the relegation zone but have shown signs of improvement under Kieran McKenna.Villa dominated the first half, controlling possession and creating several chances. However, they were unable to maintain their momentum after the break, and Ipswich grew into the game.Delap, a 21-year-old striker signed from Manchester City in the summer, was a constant threat to the Villa defense. His pace and finishing ability caused problems throughout the match, and he deservedly earned his side a point.Villa will be disappointed not to have taken all three points, but they will have to quickly regroup for their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ipswich, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their performance and will hope to build on it in their upcoming matches.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, two of the Premier League's most storied clubs, will clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 29, in a highly anticipated match. Both teams have had mixed starts to the season, with United sitting in 11th place with 7 points and Tottenham in 10th with the same number of points.United's recent form has been inconsistent, with a 1-1 draw against FC Twente in the Europa League followed by a 2-1 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol. Tottenham, on the other hand, have shown more promise, winning their Europa League opener 3-0 against Qarabag FK.The match will be a test of both teams' attacking prowess. United have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, with only 6 goals in their first 5 Premier League matches. Tottenham, meanwhile, have been more prolific, scoring 9 goals in the same period.Key players to watch in this match include Cristiano Ronaldo for United and Harry Kane for Tottenham. Ronaldo has scored 3 goals in the Premier League this season, while Kane has netted 4. Both players will be looking to add to their tallies and lead their teams to victory.The match is expected to be a close and competitive affair, with both teams desperate for a win to improve their league standings. United will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw in the Europa League, while Tottenham will be aiming to continue their winning ways.

Cole Palmer etched his name into the annals of English Premier League history on Saturday, September 28, 2024, becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a match. His remarkable feat propelled Chelsea to a 4-2 victory over Brighton, further solidifying the London club's status as a title contender after investing heavily in the transfer market.Palmer, a product of Chelsea's youth academy, has emerged as a key figure for the Blues this season. His 22 league goals last season placed him second only to Manchester City's Erling Haaland, and he has already netted six times in just six games this campaign. His impressive form has also earned him a regular spot in the England squad, where he scored the team's lone goal in the 2-1 loss to Spain in the European Championship final in July.On Saturday, Palmer showcased his exceptional talent against Brighton. He opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a clinical finish, and added three more goals in quick succession before the half-time whistle. His goalscoring spree sent shockwaves through the Premier League, and left Brighton reeling.Despite Palmer's heroics, Chelsea's victory was not without its challenges. Manchester City, the reigning champions, dropped points for the second consecutive weekend after drawing 1-1 at Newcastle. Erling Haaland, who has been in prolific form this season, was kept scoreless for the first time in the league, leaving him on 10 goals.Arsenal took advantage of City's slip-up by beating Leicester 4-2 thanks to two stoppage-time strikes from Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz. The Gunners joined City on 14 points at the top of the table.Brentford became the first Premier League team to score inside the first minute in three straight games, but couldn't hold on after Bryan Mbeumo's opener and drew with West Ham 1-1. Everton gained its first win of the season by beating Crystal Palace 2-1, while Fulham won at Nottingham Forest 1-0, with Mexico striker Raul Jimenez scoring in a third straight game.

Manchester City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips has hailed Kevin De Bruyne as one of the greatest midfielders to ever grace the Premier League, describing him as having "Satan in his foot." De Bruyne played a pivotal role in City's Premier League triumph in the 2023-24 season, despite missing the first half of the campaign due to injury.Wright-Phillips praised De Bruyne's exceptional ability, saying, "He's the perfect player to have behind you. He's probably one of the greatest midfielders that have played in the Premier League." The Belgian international joined City in 2015 and has since become a key figure, scoring 100 goals and providing numerous assists, including 19 for Erling Haaland in the past two seasons.De Bruyne is also the quickest player to reach 100 Premier League assists, achieving the feat in just 237 matches. Wright-Phillips also spoke highly of Haaland, stating that the Norwegian striker is capable of breaking Lionel Messi's record of 91 goals in a season."We've seen what Haaland is capable of over the last two years," Wright-Phillips said. "He's nearly reached 100 goals within a season, so I don't see why he can't break the record." Haaland enjoyed a remarkable debut season with City, scoring 56 goals in all competitions and winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League treble.In the 2023-24 season, Haaland continued his prolific form, netting 27 goals in 31 Premier League appearances. His impressive performances helped City secure another league title and League Cup double. Wright-Phillips believes that Haaland's focus is not on breaking records but on scoring goals.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has launched a scathing attack on critics of the Premier League champions, accusing them of wanting the club "wiped from the face of the Earth" over alleged breaches of financial rules.City, who have dominated English football since Guardiola's arrival in 2016, face a hefty points deduction or even expulsion from the league if found guilty on some or all of the 115 charges relating to financial regulations. A long-awaited hearing into charges brought by the Premier League in February 2023 finally began at the start of the week.Guardiola has claimed previously that some of the club's rivals hope to see them found guilty and he appears in no doubt they would expect punishment to be severe. He brought up the matter unprompted ahead of Sunday's clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium while talking about the tendency of people to overly criticize isolated bad performances."During a season, you can say, 'Oh, it was a bad season'," said Guardiola. "But for performances some people say, 'Oh, it's a disgrace, it is a disaster, it's unacceptable'. No, during 90 minutes it's one bad afternoon when they were better.""But I would say - I'm sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not (only) to be relegated, to be disappeared off the face of the Earth, the world - that we have better afternoons than the opponents. That's why we win a lot."City face 80 breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018, plus a further 35 of failing to cooperate with a Premier League investigation. The club stand accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, including revenue from sponsors and salary details of managers and players.However, City have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.Guardiola's comments come amid a backdrop of intense scrutiny on City's finances. The club has been accused of using creative accounting to inflate its revenue and reduce its losses in order to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.If found guilty, City could face a range of punishments, including a points deduction, a fine, or even expulsion from the Premier League. The club could also be banned from European competition.The outcome of the hearing is likely to have a significant impact on the future of Manchester City. If found guilty, the club could face a lengthy ban from European competition and a significant points deduction in the Premier League. This could seriously damage the club's reputation and its ability to attract top players.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges the "advantage" his team will have when they face Arsenal on Sunday, given their extra day of rest. However, the champions are concerned about the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne ahead of the crucial clash.City played at home in their Champions League draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday, while Arsenal traveled to Italy for their goalless stalemate against Atalanta on Thursday. Guardiola believes the additional 24 hours of recovery could be crucial in the first meeting this season between the two clubs that have finished first and second for the last two seasons.City won both of those title races, leaving Arsenal still waiting for their first English crown since 2004. A victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would be a significant boost to City's hopes of an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title.However, City's recovery time advantage might be offset by the potential absence of De Bruyne, who limped off during the draw against Inter. Guardiola said the Belgian midfielder "feels a bit better today" and will be assessed in training on Saturday.Fueled by Erling Haaland's nine goals, City have established themselves as the team to beat once again this season. The champions, who boast a 100 percent record after four league games, sit two points ahead of Arsenal, who have won three and drawn one.Guardiola has a healthy respect for the threat posed by Arsenal, who took the title fight down to the final day last season. "They are a complete team, which is why they've been our biggest rivals in the last two seasons," he said.Although they finished above them, City failed to beat Arsenal last term, losing 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, drawing 0-0 in Manchester, and suffering a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Community Shield."It's always been a tight game in the last few years," Guardiola said. "Every season they are better and better. Both years have been close, but we have been so strong and we are still strong."City would move five points clear of Arsenal with a first victory over them since April 2023. However, Guardiola insists it is far too early in the season for the result to be regarded as significant."In this early stage of the season, nothing more than the mood over the next few games will be decided. In terms of the table, it's not really important," he said. "It'll be more important when we go to London in the second half of the season."

Manchester City and Arsenal, two English Premier League powerhouses, are set to clash once again on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, with the coveted title on the line. The Gunners, led by Mikel Arteta, will be determined to dethrone the reigning champions, who have triumphed over them in the past two seasons.Arsenal's defense has been a formidable force this season, conceding only one goal in five matches. However, they will face a stern test against Manchester City's attacking prowess. Former City forward Shaun Wright-Phillips believes that the team's ability to create individual moments of brilliance will be crucial in overcoming Arsenal's defensive resilience."City always play tactically, but they also have players like Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, and Kevin De Bruyne who can produce moments of magic," Wright-Phillips said. "It doesn't have to be a one-two or an interchange; it can be a shot from outside the box."Arsenal's challenge has been compounded by the absence of their captain, Martin Odegaard, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. The Gunners' attacking play has suffered in his absence, as evidenced by their recent goalless draw against Atalanta in the Champions League.Manchester City, on the other hand, also faced a goalless draw in their Champions League match against Inter Milan. However, they dominated the game, creating 22 shots with five on target. Wright-Phillips believes that City's experience and depth will give them an edge over Arsenal."They dealt with a similar situation against Inter Milan and they will be prepared," Wright-Phillips said. "I think they will be able to deal with the Arsenal counterattack and take their chances."The match promises to be a tactical battle, with both teams looking to exploit each other's weaknesses. Arsenal will need to find a way to break down City's defense without Odegaard, while City will need to be clinical in front of goal.

Arsenal's captain, Martin Odegaard, will be sidelined for an extended period due to an ankle injury sustained while on international duty with Norway. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating that Odegaard will be out "for a while."The injury occurred during Norway's Nations League match against Austria earlier this month. Odegaard twisted his ankle, prompting concerns about the severity of the damage. Subsequent scans revealed ligament damage, necessitating a significant recovery period.Arteta expressed his disappointment at losing Odegaard, who has been a key player for Arsenal since joining the club in 2021. "We're going to miss him," Arteta said. "It's a significant injury, so we're going to lose him for a while."The Arsenal manager declined to provide a specific timeframe for Odegaard's return, emphasizing that he is not a medical professional. However, he indicated that the injury is not expected to keep Odegaard out for months.Odegaard's absence is a blow to Arsenal's ambitions this season. The Gunners are currently second in the Premier League table, two points behind reigning champions Manchester City. They will face a tough test on Sunday when they visit the Etihad Stadium to take on Pep Guardiola's side.In Odegaard's absence, Arsenal will need to find a suitable replacement in midfield. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are likely to be the first-choice pairing, but Arteta may also consider using Emile Smith Rowe or Fabio Vieira in a more advanced role.The injury to Odegaard is a reminder of the physical demands of international football. Players are often called upon to play multiple matches in a short period, which can increase the risk of injuries. Clubs must carefully manage their players' workloads to minimize the chances of setbacks.