Premier League
Gerrard makes winning start as Villa sink Brighton

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard enjoyed a winning start to his reign as late goals from Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings sealed a 2-0 victory against Brighton on Saturday (Nov 20).
Gerrard was taking charge of his first Villa match after leaving Scottish champions Rangers during the international break to replace Dean Smith.
The former Liverpool star saw Watkins and Mings strike in the final six minutes to give Villa their first win in six Premier League games.
Smith was sacked after five successive league defeats, but Gerrard made an immediate impact as Villa climbed four points clear of the relegation zone.
Gerrard is the first Villa manager to win his maiden Premier League game in charge since John Gregory in 1998.
Swopping a Scottish title race for the tension of a relegation fight south of the border, Gerrard’s return to the Premier League was trumpeted as a stepping stone to eventually landing his dream job at Liverpool.
But Gerrard is adamant he is focused on turning Villa into a serious Premier League force capable of qualifying for Europe.
Gerrard’s three-and-a-half year spell at Rangers saw him rebuild the club and end Celtic’s nine-year reign as champions.
For now, he would settle for leading Villa away from the relegation zone in his first taste of Premier League management.
In his first match programme notes, Gerrard promised that “standards will be extremely high” as he made it clear avoiding relegation this term must be a springboard to more productive seasons in future.
One of his first noteworthy decisions was to ban tomato ketchup from Villa’s training ground canteen as he tries to improve his players’ fitness and they showed no signs of flagging against Brighton.
Gerrard immediately prowled the technical area barking orders to his players and Villa almost responded to the cajoling with an early goal.
Matt Targett’s cross picked out Matty Cash and his header forced a good save from Jason Steele.
Brighton enjoyed plenty of possession after that Villa near-miss, coming close to the opening goal through Leandro Trossard.
Marc Cucurella’s pass dropped to Trossard in the Villa area and his strike forced a fine save from Emiliano Martinez.
Chances were at a premium for Villa but England defender Mings saw a long-range drive deflect narrowly wide.
Mings went even closer early in the second half when his thumping header was tipped over by Steele.
Gerrard appealed in vain for a penalty when Solly March’s challenge sent Cash tumbling to the turf.
Brighton were holding on comfortably until the 83rd minute when Watkins took possession just inside the Brighton half, surging into the Albion area before curling his shot into the far corner.
Five minutes later, Mings intercepted Adam Webster’s attempted clearance from a corner and fired into the roof of the net to give the Gerrard era lift-off.
-AFP
Premier League
Maguire handed suspended prison sentence for 2020 brawl

England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Premier League
Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace

Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
-
WAFCON4 days agoBREAKING: CAF Postpones WAFCON 2026
-
World Cup11 hours agoIraq coach calls for delay to World Cup playoff amid travel shutdown
-
OBITUARY5 days agoNigerian Sports Journalism Mourns Oyeniyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu
-
MLS1 week agoTrump to Host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House
-
DIPLOMACY12 hours agoMorocco Backs Gulf Security, Condemns Iranian Attacks Against Brotherly Arab States
-
World Cup6 days ago‘I really don’t care’ if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump tells Politico
-
World Cup4 days agoIraq’s World Cup Playoff in Doubt as War Disrupts Travel and Visa Processing
-
FA Cup2 days agoEze thunderbolt guides Arsenal past Mansfield into FA Cup quarter-finals