Premier League
CHELSEA STAGE SUPERB FIGHTBACK TO EARN WEST BROM DRAW
Frank Lampard warned Chelsea to learn a “big lesson” from the mistakes they made before Tammy Abraham’s last-gasp strike rescued a thrilling 3-3 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (Sept 26).
Lampard’s expensively assembled side were torn apart in the first half at the Hawthorns as Callum Robinson’s brace and Kyle Bartley’s goal left Chelsea 3-0 down.
Chelsea captain Thiago Silva was guilty of an woeful blunder on his Premier League debut when the former Paris Saint-Germain defender gifted the ball to Robinson for his second goal.
But Mason Mount reduced the deficit soon after the break and Callum Hudson-Odoi got Chelsea’s second before Abraham equalised deep into stoppage-time.
It was a much-needed show of spirit from Chelsea after their defeat against Liverpool last weekend.
The prospect of a second successive loss had Lampard visibly fuming on the touchline in the first half, but Chelsea responded with a much-improved display.
While Lampard will be relieved by evidence of Chelsea’s attacking potency, there must be questions about their shambolic defence and he admitted they need to improve significantly.
“You can’t legislate for the mistakes that there were today. You can have as many meetings as you want but with those mistakes you give yourself a mountain to climb,” Lampard said.
“The question was how much character would we come out with second half. I always felt we could do it, but it is still two points lost.
“We lacked a bit of urgency in the team. It is a big lesson for us.”
‘PURE MISTAKES’
Despite dropping error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga after the goalkeeper’s costly mistakes against Brighton and Liverpool this season, Lampard learned that Chelsea’s problems run deeper than who is between the posts.
Lampard’s £200 million (S$350 million) close-season spending spree was supposed to turn Chelsea into title challengers, but on this evidence they are still way behind champions Liverpool.
“I’m not going to criticise every part of our game. There was nothing tactically you can analyse. There were just pure mistakes,” Lampard said.
“I expect to see an improvement in our performances. But in terms of team fitness, it won’t be until after the international break that I expect to see us up to our real level.”
Willy Caballero took over in goal, but he was hardly convincing and Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy, signed from Rennes earlier this week, looks certain to make his debut soon.
It took just four minutes for Albion to exploit Chelsea’s frailties.
Marcos Alonso is likely to lose his place at left-back when summer signing Ben Chilwell is fully fit and the Spaniard did his cause little good with a woeful header straight to Matheus Pereira.
Robinson was picked out by Pereira and he advanced to the edge of the Chelsea area before drilling a low shot through Reece James’ legs and past Caballero’s slow dive.
Silva made a horrendous mistake that led to Robinson’s second goal in the 25th minute.
Allowing Mateo Kovacic’s pass to slip under his foot inside his own half, Silva surrendered possession to Robinson with embarrassing ease and was left with a sheepish look on his face as the Albion striker made him pay with a clinical finish.
There was worse to come for Chelsea three minutes later when their sloppy defence failed to pick up Darnell Furlong at Pereira’s corner and his flick reached Bartley, who was played onside by James and slotted past Caballero from close-range.
Lampard changed the tone of the match when he sent on Cesar Azpilicueta and Hudson-Odoi at the interval.
If Lampard read the riot act to his flops at the break, he got an immediate response as Mount fired home from 20 yards in the 55th minute.
Chelsea were more dynamic now and Hudson-Odoi gave them hope when he played a neat one-two with Kai Havertz and slotted into the far corner after 70 minutes.
With full-time just seconds away, Abraham came to Chelsea’s rescue when the striker tapped in after Albion keeper Sam Johnstone turned Mount’s shot into his path.
-AFP
Mohamed Salah has confirmed he will leave Liverpool FC at the end of the season, bringing to a close one of the most successful and iconic eras in the club’s modern history.
The 33-year-old forward announced his decision in an emotional video shared on social media on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to the club, the city and its supporters.
“Unfortunately, the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell,” Salah said. “I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
“I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life,” he added. “Liverpool is not just a football club, it’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit.”
A Legendary Anfield Career
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, leaves as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.
During his time at Anfield, he helped Liverpool win the Premier League twice, the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, The FA Cup, two League Cups and the Community Shield.
He scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, making him Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, while also claiming the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions.
His 2024/25 season stands out as one of the finest individual campaigns in league history, with 29 goals and 18 assists, earning him the Player of the Season award alongside both the Golden Boot and Playmaker honours.
However, Salah’s final campaign has been marked by inconsistency and tension.
He endured a prolonged dip in form, struggling for goals and being left out of several key matches, including fixtures in the UEFA Champions League. His reduced influence on the pitch was compounded by a public disagreement with Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
After being benched for consecutive matches in December, Salah criticised the club, accusing it of “throwing me under the bus” and hinting at a breakdown in his relationship with the coach.
Although Slot later attempted to play down the incident, it highlighted a difficult period for a player who had long been central to Liverpool’s success.
Despite the struggles, Salah has shown flashes of his brilliance, including a stunning goal in Liverpool’s recent 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League, marking his 50th goal in Europe’s elite club competition.
Nicknamed the “Egyptian King,” Salah remains deeply adored by Liverpool supporters, with murals of his image and signature celebrations adorning streets around Anfield.
“Leaving is never easy,” Salah said in his farewell. “You gave me the best time of my life. I will always be one of you. This club will always be my home.
“Because of all of you, I will never walk alone.”
Salah’s departure will mark the end of an era at Liverpool—one defined by goals, trophies and a lasting bond between player and supporters.
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Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi underlined his growing importance to Nottingham Forest’s survival push, coming off the bench to score in a crucial 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
In a match loaded with relegation implications, Awoniyi’s late strike capped a disciplined and clinical performance from Forest, who secured their first league win under manager Vitor Pereira and climbed out of immediate danger.
Forest took the lead on the stroke of halftime through Igor Jesus, who headed home from a corner delivered by Neco Williams. Despite Tottenham’s bright start, they failed to convert early dominance into goals, with Richarlison missing their clearest opportunity.
The hosts tightened their grip on the contest in the second half when Morgan Gibbs-White doubled the advantage just after the hour mark, finishing calmly to punish Spurs’ defensive lapses.
Awoniyi then delivered the final blow in the 87th minute, tapping in from close range to seal a comprehensive win and ignite celebrations among the Forest faithful. The goal marked another timely contribution from the Nigerian striker, whose physical presence and composure have proven vital in the club’s fight against relegation.
The result lifts Nottingham Forest to 16th place with 32 points from 31 matches, two points clear of Tottenham, who drop to 17th and remain perilously close to the relegation zone.
For Awoniyi, the goal not only adds to his season tally but also reinforces his reputation as a decisive figure in high-pressure moments. Introduced late in the game, his impact highlighted Forest’s improved attacking depth and ability to finish off opponents—qualities that could prove decisive in the final stretch of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi scores their third goal REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Tottenham, meanwhile, saw their struggles continue despite recent signs of improvement. Even with Mathys Tel forcing a fine save from goalkeeper Matz Sels, they lacked cutting edge, failing to register a shot on target before conceding.
The defeat leaves Spurs just one point above 18th-placed West Ham United, who also slipped to a 2-0 loss against Aston Villa, deepening the tension at the bottom of the table.
While Forest manager Pereira cautioned that more work lies ahead, Awoniyi’s contribution offered a timely reminder that the club possesses the firepower needed to steer clear of relegation.
With the battle for survival intensifying, Forest will look to build on this momentum—and if Awoniyi continues to deliver at crucial moments, their chances of staying in the Premier League will receive a significant boost.
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Premier League
Manchester United tighten hold on third in the Premier League with win over Aston Villa
Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha buried a second‑half strike off a pinpoint through ball from Bruno Fernandes for a club-record 16th Premier League assist in a season to lift the hosts to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Casemiro and substitute Benjamin Sesko scored United’s other goals in a result that tightened United’s grip on third place in the standings on 54 points after 30 games, while fourth-placed Villa have 51 points.
United, who were playing their first game in 11 days, were keen for a victory after interim boss Michael Carrick’s seven-game unbeaten run ended in a 2-1 loss to 10-man Newcastle United on March 4.
With 22 points from a possible 27 under Carrick’s leadership, Sunday’s win will invariably lead to more questions about his chances of becoming United’s permanent manager.
“It was a slightly different game today going into it being so close in the league and making the small jump we could if we won, off the back of a defeat,” Carrick said. “It was a small test and we haven’t really had that.
“The boys dealt with it really well, had a really good week and applied themselves well. Everything is so so encouraging. We’ve got a lot to play for.”
The game looked headed for a draw before Cunha scored from the left side of the box in the 71st minute, with Fernandes recording his 100th assist for the club across all competitions.
With eight games left, Fernandes is also four shy of matching the Premier League record for assists in one season of 20 held by Thierry Henry (2002-03) and Kevin de Bruyne (2019-20).
“He’s had so many big moments, to score a goal, to make a pass,” Carrick said of Fernandes. “Training or games, he’s always there. Really good with the corner. The pass to Matheus was fantastic to cap off a good performance all around.”
Sesko put the game out of reach 10 minutes later with a blistering shot from the centre of the box.
Casemiro put United ahead in the 53rd minute with a glancing header from a Fernandes corner.
Ross Barkley levelled in the 64th with a shot from the middle of the area. After a lengthy VAR check to determine whether the ball glanced off an offside Amadou Onana, the goal stood.
A better second half salvaged a decent game after a dreary first 45 minutes plagued by errant passes and slipping players.
United did have some decent first-half chances including a header from Amad Diallo that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stretched backwards to keep out of the net. Diogo Dalot had a terrific chance inside the box that he launched over the bar.
Leny Yoro’s block spoiled one of Villa’s best chances and led to a long-range shot from Fernandes at the other end that he sent just wide of the post.
Villa have not won a league game since February 11, and an animated manager Unai Emery spent much of the afternoon stomping his feet and waving his arms in frustration.
“How we are progressing after we did fantastic months in October, November, December, the last two months we are struggling,” Emery said. “It’s Manchester United here at home, and they are now in good moment. And of course, they played a very intelligent match.
“I think we can get better. The result at the end was a bad result for us. We must accept it and try to analyse now to get better for the next challenge.”
-Reuters
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