Category sport-news

In a heavyweight title fight between Chelsea and Arsenal, Mike Merino saved the team.

Moises Caicedo, a Chelsea midfielder, was sent off in the 38th minute at Stamford Bridge after being caught by a crude foul on Merino.

Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea in the 48th minute from Reece James’ corner despite Caicedo being sent off.

However, Arsenal escaped a bruising encounter between the title rivals with Merino’s close-range header from Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 59th minute.

Read more about Isak’s first Premier League goal as Liverpool sink West Ham HERE.

Arsenal are five points clear of Manchester City, who defeated Newcastle on Saturday, and are six points ahead of Chelsea, who are third.

The Gunners are still the favorites to win their first Premier League title since 2004, but Chelsea’s aggressive display suggested they might pose the greatest threat to the team’s title ambitions.

Chelsea have won their first seven games without losing in all competitions, while Arsenal have won all 17 of those games, winning 14 of those.

In a crucifying 2-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday, Alexander Isak finally scored his first Premier League goal for troubled Liverpool.

Since making a record-breaking £125 million ($165 million) move from Newcastle in September, Isak had not scored in his five top-flight appearances.

With just his second goal in 11 games for the Reds, the Sweden forward’s maiden goal came in a League Cup win over second-tier Southampton, ending that drought at the London Stadium.

In stoppage time, Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool’s second goal to earn their first win of the season overall.

“There is definitely a sense of relief because winning is crucial if you have lost so many times.” Reds manager Arne Slot praised how few chances were given and how many were created by us.

“It helps if you don’t go down by one point after five because you’re more receptive.” We engaged in the game that I had planned. Both our players and our supporters were profoundly affected by what I saw.

“This is a good first step for us,” he said. We won and the sheet was clean.

READ MORE: Foden Scores Late Winner In Man City’s 3-0 victory over Leeds.

After missing the pre-season due to his protracted transfer saga and injuries, Isak hit the league for the first time since scoring for Newcastle against Brighton in May, but injuries and a lack of match fitness prevented him from scoring.

In the midst of a disappointing campaign, Liverpool’s 26-year-old’s 10-game goal drought for the club and nation was a sigh of relief.

According to Slot, “I think it does feel significant.”

Liverpool’s third successive defeat by three goals or more following 3-0 defeats against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City in the Champions League came in midweek with a 4-1 humiliation against PSV Eindhoven.

Liverpool’s worst run since 1953-54 saw them lose nine of their previous 12 games, including six defeats in seven league games.

This sluggish victory helped Liverpool move up to eighth place as the pressure began to mount on Slot.

Slot insists that despite losing the support of his players, Mohamed Salah has struggled to get the best out of him since the season’s final months.

Salah has scored just five goals overall this year, but Slot responded by benching the Egypt forward for the third time this year.

Isak delivers &nbsp.

Billy Bonds, a legendary former team captain and manager, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79, was the subject of a minute’s worth of applause in West Ham’s emotional tribute.

West Ham’s energetic start would have impressed Bonds, but Liverpool eventually took control.

When Isak woefully crossed from the edge of the field in the opening minutes, he looked like he was on to another frustrating afternoon.

Alphonse Areola’s superb save, which kept out his close-range bicycle kick, then thwarted him.

Isak’s second league goal this season was only his second.

On the hour mark, Isak finally scored his long-awaited goal.

Gakpo brought Isak back after cutting the ball past Areola inside West Ham, and he then brought the celebration to his knees.

When Isak was substituted, Slot greeted him on the touchline with a handshake before the day was over.

When Lucas Paqueta was unnecessarily sent off in the 84th minute, West Ham’s frustration increased.

After Niclas Fullkrug’s foul on Dominik Szoboszlai, Paqueta argued with referee Darren England, who later issued a second yellow card, and he was then forced to accept a second yellow card after refusing to leave the official.

In the final moments, Gakpo swiveld to smash the ball past Areola from 12 yards after West Ham made a hash of clearing the area, before putting the outcome beyond question.

Before Mason Mount’s stunning winner as Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday, Joseph Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal in almost a year.

At Selhurst Park, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half penalty gave the hosts a lead, but Zirkzee and Mount scored the winning goal after the break for United.

Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal since he scored against Everton in December 2024, helping United recover from a poor start.

The widely denounced Dutch striker had started 24 league games without scoring, which made him think that his £36 million ($47.7 million) move from Bologna in 2024 was a bad one.

In his eight previous appearances dating back to April, Zirkzee, 24, had not scored.

Mount has struggled with injuries since joining United from Chelsea, and this was only his second goal this season.

United’s first victory at Old Trafford since October was a much-needed boost for Amorim after being defeated by Everton’s ten men on Monday at Old Trafford.

The challenge presented by United’s gritty fightback in icy south London was underscored by Palace’s first defeat at Selhurst Park since February 15.

After last season’s difficulties, Amorim had stated this week that there were “no excuses” for United’s sputtering start to the season.

READ MORE: Bayern Reclaims Arsenal’s Cup Success With a win over St Pauli.

He will be relieved to see United defend the FA Cup winners, who have become a thorn in the Premier League elite since Oliver Glasner took over.

After a long throw caused chaos in the Palace defense, Casemiro should have taken the lead inside the opening 60 seconds, but Dean Henderson parried his close-range effort.

United Revival

Mateta’s second-half culpability was equally apparent, with only Senne Lammens to beat in the United goal as the France striker held off Leny Yoro.

Before Yoro blocked Yeremy Pino’s goal-bound strike, Lammens was called into action to save Daichi Kamada’s low drive from the edge of the area.

When Palace took the lead in the 36th minute, United was already in trouble.

Mateta scored from the spot, but Yoro’s penalty was voided when he lunged crudely at him, who was then denied entry to the second-place goal due to his double kick.

Accidental double-touch penalties are now permitted if the first kick was successful as a result of a new rule being implemented this season.

Following the clarification, Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez received a penalty for kick-in two against Real Madrid last year.

Mateta confidently fired past Lammens once more after receiving a reprieve.

Zirkzee scored the 54th minute equalizer to make Amorim’s unlikely savior completely anonymous in the first half.

Zirkzee smashed a brilliant strike into Henderson’s far corner from a nearly impossible angle after grabbing Bruno Fernandes’ free kick.

Zirkzee unintentionally deflected the ball into Lammens’ net before scrambling it into safety, almost finding the back of the net at the other end moments later.

However, in the 63rd minute, Mount put United ahead with some momentum.

Fernandes headed a free-kick past Henderson from 20 yards past Henderson before firing a low drive past the Palace wall.

In a 3-1 comeback home victory over St Pauli on Saturday, Luis Diaz scored in stoppage time to help Bayern Munich recover from their Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday.

In the third minute of injury time, Diaz headed in a Harry Kane cross after being suspended for the defeat suffered by Bayern, which is Bayern’s first of any kind this season.

Bayern’s goal came four minutes after Nicolas Jackson had already scored to make it 2-0 for the second successive Bundesliga season without conceding any points.

Before half-time, Diaz had given Raphael Guerreiro the equalizer of the match, and after Andreas Hountondji had given Pauli a surprise lead six minutes in, Diaz had given Bayern.

Bayern will move into the top eight points after RB Leipzig’s goalless draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.

Manuel Neuer, a veteran Bayern goalkeeper, credited his team with “belief.”

After falling behind and having no luck in hitting the post three times, we kept going. The late goals were a relief, Neuer claimed.

Pauli took the lead early after a club-record eight straight Bundesliga defeats before arriving in Munich.

Read more about Chelsea’s “Deserve” To Be Considered Title Rivals – Arteta.

Hountondji outmuscled Kim Min-jae in midfield before scoring past Manuel Neuer at the near post after the visitors had forced Joshua Kimmich of Bayern into a mistake.

Before Diaz acrobatically created the leveller, Bayern youngsters Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof took turns hitting the post.

Kim chipped a long pass into Diaz’s box to make amends for his early error. The Colombian fell, but Guerreiro somehow managed to get the ball and fired in from close range.

With 10 minutes left, Kane hit the woodwork, but Diaz’s late strike, which lofted a ball goalwards for the former Liverpool forward, was crucial, before Chelsea loanee Jackson added a third with the match’s final kick.

In another area, Heidenheim scored twice in the 90th minute to win 2-1 away at Union Berlin and top the table.

Said El Mala, a star of Germany, gave Cologne a 1-1 draw away at Werder Bremen with a stoppage-time equalizer.

With a 3-0 victory at home against struggling Augsburg, who haven’t won since early October, Hoffenheim moved up to fourth place in the table.

With victory, Bayer Leverkusen will face Borussia Dortmund at home later that Saturday, and they will be able to match up with RB Leipzig in terms of points later.

With a 3-1 win over Alaves on Saturday, Daniel Olmo scored two goals to propel Barcelona into the top of La Liga.

After Pablo Ibanez gave Barca a surprise lead in the first minute through Lamine Yamal, a returning Raphinha goal, set up by the visiting team.

In the second match, Olmo scored the winner for Barca midway through the first half, before scoring late in the second period to clinch the victory at Camp Nou, which they had partially rebuilt.

Before Xabi Alonso’s side visit Girona on Sunday, Barca leads Real Madrid by two points.

Barca’s celebrations for its 126th anniversary were a little subdued, despite a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea in midweek.

Olmo told DAZN, “They caught us a little by surprise in the first minute, but the team came back well from that situation, keeping our idea of how to play,” they said. “We got the first, second, and finally we dominated,” Olmo said.

“To play here, to score, and to help the team win is a dream come true.”

Jules Kounde was benched after scoring his own goal at Stamford Bridge while Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong were unavailable.

After a lengthy layoff following knee surgery, Flick returned Brazilian winger Raphinha for the first time since August 2024. He also brought Marc Bernal back into midfield for his first Barca start.

In their first game back home last weekend, Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-0, but Alaves provided much more energetic opposition.

Ibanez fired home after Marc Casado couldn’t clear a corner, and Victor Parada turned the ball back in the direction of the goal, giving the visitors the lead right away.

When Raphinha found him with a low cross that Dani Olmo swung at and missed, Yamal stooped into the roof of the net.

Just before the hosts took the lead, Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia saved a superb save to deny Calebe.

Raphinha was involved in the goal, cutting the ball back for Olmo to strike inside the near post once more.

Read more about Chelsea’s “Deserve” To Be Considered Title Rivals – Arteta.

Yamal almost doubled Barca’s lead, but after rounding Antonio Sivera, he was unable to hit the upright.

Before half-time, Lucas Boye fired a narrowly wide shot just wide of the teenager, almost making him pay.

45, 000 fans crowded the three open stands, cheering ferociously for Barca playmaker Pedri Gonzalez who came off injured in the second half.

As Barca struggled to end the game, Yamal curled neemly wide of the top corner from the edge of the box and a Olmo effort flew past the post.

Boye almost got level when Alaves’ block, but Barca defender Pau Cubarsi made a crucial block to halt the Basque side.

In stoppage time, Olmo defeated Sivera after the effervescent Yamal had given him the third goal.

Jonny Otto, a defender for the Alaves, told DAZN, “We couldn’t keep our lead, but we had our chances.”

“Barca may end up asking for the final whistle,” says Barca.

After the Premier League title challengers blew a two-goal lead in a dramatic 3-2 victory over lowly Leeds on Saturday, Phil Foden saved Manchester City’s blushes with the final-gasp winner.

Following a second-half collapse at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola’s side was in danger of losing more ground in the title race.

Before the break, Foden and Josko Gvardiol gave City a lead, but third-bottom Leeds rallied with Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Four points clear of Arsenal, who travel to third-placed Chelsea on Sunday, thanks to Foden’s nerve-wracking victory, which put City in second place.

Following recent home defeats against Newcastle last weekend and Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, this was a much-needed victory.

Guardiola’s ten changes to Leverkusen against Leverkusen were ineffective, leading to the furious Spaniard who claimed his team “didn’t try” in the 2-0 defeat.

Read more about Chelsea’s “Deserve” To Be Considered Title Rivals – Arteta.

Foden, Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, and Gianluigi Donnarumma were just a few players who started for City against Leeds.

Under Guardiola, City had a second-worst campaign in five years and their worst.

However, they were only 59 seconds in before Foden fired a close-range strike past the bar after Matheus Nunes’ burst caused the Leeds defense to collapse.

City’s quick start left Leeds without a response, and Gvardiol’s tap-in from Nico O’Reilly’s header in the 25th minute appeared to have given them complete control.

After a VAR check, Leeds’ protests that Silva was offside and blocking keeper Lucas Perri’s view were ignored. The goal was allowed to stand.

After pouncing on Nunes’ woeful pass inside the City area in the 49th minute, Calvert-Lewin made an immediate impact by coming off the bench and reducing the deficit with a clinical finish.

In the 68th minute, Gvardiol fouled Calvert-Lewin, giving Leeds the shock equalizer.

Donnarumma saved Nmecha’s penalty, but the forward recovered and won.

Haaland was unusually quiet as he attempted his 100th top-flight goal, but Foden took advantage of the opportunity in stoppage-time by cleverly making room for an ice-cool finish as Guardiola sighed relief.

Daniel Farke’s job became more underwhelmed by Leeds’ sixth defeat in their previous seven games.

Igor Thiago’s double earned Brentford’s 3-1 win over Burnley in west London, contributing to their 11 league goals this season.

Axel Tuanzebe cut down Dango Ouattara in the 81st minute, and Thiago scored with the spot kick for his eighth goal in his last eight games.

Four minutes later, second-bottom Burnley won a penalty thanks to Michael Kayode’s foul on Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming’s equalizer.

In stoppage-time, Thiago scored with a fierce finish from Jordan Henderson’s cross and Ouattara’s rocket to put the result beyond doubt.

After coming back from two goals down to defeat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland moved up to fourth place.

After seven minutes, Amine Adli slotted home from the rebound after Evanilson’s shot hit the post.

Eight minutes later, Tyler Adams magically lofted a superb chip over Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs from inside the center circle to double Bournemouth’s lead.

Sunderland, who had been promoted from the Championship last year, refused to surrender, and Enzo Le Fee converted a penalty after Alex Scott fouled Reinildo Mandava.

With a composed finish from Granit Xhaka’s pass, Bertrand Traore equalized for Sunderland in the 46th minute.

In the 69th minute, Brian Brobbey headed in Le Fee’s cross to finish Sunderland’s stirring revival.

Tottenham host Fulham on Saturday, while Newcastle travel to Everton on Saturday.