Premier League
Weekend’s Premier League talking points
Talking points from the Premier League weekend:
EVERTON SHOW FIGHT BUT FACE UNTHINKABLE DROP
Everton, stalwarts of the Premier League, face the real prospect of seeing their 68-year stay in the English top flight come to an end this season after a damaging weekend.
Burnley’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers coupled with Everton’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool in a feisty Merseyside derby on Sunday means Frank Lampard’s side are now in the bottom three.
They battled hard at Liverpool, and on another day could have got a result, but nothing is going right for them this term.
Everton have a game in hand on Burnley but their remaining fixtures include trips to Leicester City and Arsenal, as well as a home clash with Chelsea. Their Premier League fate is in their hands still but threat of relegation is now bigger than ever.
Manchester United benched the out-of-form Harry Maguire at Arsenal after a difficult personal week for the centre back due to a bomb threat at his home, but their defensive woes continued in London, providing another reminder of the rebuild needed.
The returning Raphael Varane failed to clear a cross that led to Nuno Tavares’s early opener, while fullbacks Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles struggled throughout the game, leaving Victor Lindelof as the best player in a poor back four.
A 3-1 defeat means United have shipped seven goals in their last two matches following a 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool, making it clear that incoming manager Erik ten Hag must build from the back to take the struggling team forward.
Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus was heavily linked with a move away from Manchester City in the British media this week, to reportedly make room for incoming Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
But the 25-year-old gave coach Pep Guardiola a timely reminder of what he can do as he plundered four goals to fire the champions to a 5-1 victory over Watford on Saturday.
Jesus scored his first Premier League hat-trick in his 155th appearance in the competition. He was the fifth Brazilian hat-trick scorer in the competition, after Afonso Alves, Robinho, Roberto Firmino and Lucas Moura, but the first of those to score four in a single match.
Such a clinical display of finishing may persuade City there is room for both Jesus and Haaland in the ranks for next season.
Newcastle United did not win a game until December but have now claimed 10 victories in their last 14 Premier League matches as manager Eddie Howe’s revolution at St James’ Park gathers pace.
Bottom of the league five months ago, Newcastle got an emphatic 3-0 victory over seemingly doomed Norwich City on Saturday which took them into the top half of the table and completed a remarkable turnaround.
They are playing with confidence, not least their new Brazilian recruit Bruno Guimaraes, who capped a fine performance with a goal.
It is true that they spent a lot of money in January to improve the squad but knitting together this team packed with potential is Howe, with his tactical acumen and man-management skills.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was a relieved man after Sunday’s 1-0 win over West Ham thanks to Christian Pulisic’s late strike, but things could have been very different if they had dropped points after Jorginho’s penalty miss from a feeble effort.
The Italian midfielder shot straight at the goalkeeper in the 87th minute from a staggered run-up and hop — similar to how Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes did when he missed the target from the spot in their defeat at Arsenal.
The technique has attracted its share of critics who prefer a straightforward approach but Tuchel said he would not call for change. “It’s his style, he’s right to stick to it. He’s upset but happy with Pulisic to finish it,” Tuchel said.
-Reuters
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY2 days ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football2 days ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON1 week ago
Super Falcons Land in Morocco, Eye Historic ‘La Decima’ Women’s AFCON Title
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Kwara United Clinch Historic First Title as President Federation Cup Final Goes to Penalties for the 18th time
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Rivers Angels Crowned 2025 Female Federation Cup Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Family issues statement on Peter Rufai
- IMMEMORIAL1 day ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football