Premier League
Bullet point previews of Premier League matches
Match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures from Sept. 16-18 (all times GMT):
Friday, Sept. 16
Aston Villa v Southampton (1900)
* Southampton have won 16 of their 40 Premier League matches against Villa (L15 D9).
* In their last meeting in the league, Villa defeated Southampton 4-0 at home.
* Villa are winless in the league this season after winning their first game, while Southampton have won twice in six games.
Nottingham Forest v Fulham (1900)
* This will be the first Premier League meeting between Forest and Fulham.
* The teams last met in the second-tier Championship, where Forest won 1-0 at Fulham in April this year.
* Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic (six goals) is second behind Erling Haaland (10) in the Premier League’s list of top scorers this season.
Saturday, Sept. 17
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City (1130)
* City have won 10 of their 16 Premier League matches against Wolves (L4 D2).
* City won 5-1 at Wolves in their last league meeting in May this year.
* Wolves last defeated City in the league in December 2019, winning 3-2 at home.
Newcastle United v Bournemouth (1400)
* Newcastle have won four of their eight Premier League games against Bournemouth (L2 D2).
* Newcastle won 4-1 away to Bournemouth in their last league meeting in July 2020.
* Bournemouth last defeated Newcastle in the league in November 2017, winning 1-0 at St James’ Park.
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City (1630)
* Spurs have won four out of their last five league meetings with Leicester (L1)
* Four or more goals have been scored in the last three league meetings between the two sides.
* Bottom club Leicester have lost their last five league games.
Sunday, Sept. 18
Brentford v Arsenal (1100)
* Leaders Arsenal were handed their first defeat of the season by Manchester United in their last game, while Brentford are on a three-match unbeaten streak (W1 D2).
* Brentford won this fixture 2-0 last season, in what was the pair’s first Premier League encounter.
* Arsenal have won both London derbies they have played this season.
Everton v West Ham United (1315)
* West Ham are targeting a third consecutive win at Goodison Park, a feat they have never accomplished before.
* West Ham have won three of their last four league meetings with Everton (L1).
* Everton are winless in the Premier League so far, having drawn four and lost two of their opening six games.
Chelsea v Liverpool, Manchester United v Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace have been postponed ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Monday.
-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
- OBITUARY3 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
- IMMEMORIAL2 days ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football