..::Football IV::..

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Giles: Jurgen Klopp is a one-trick pony, it's all or nothing with him

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder John Giles has labelled Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a one-trick pony, claiming the German has no plan B when things go against his Reds team.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager has introduced his gegenpressing philosophy at Anfield, leading his team top of the scoring charts, though his defence has suffered as a result.And while Giles believes Klopp can lead Liverpool to the Premier League title, he remains caution in regards to the manager's all-out approach to the game.

"I said a few times this season that I thought he was a one-trick pony and that there will be games like Bournemouth when everything goes wrong," Giles wrote in his weekly Independent colomn."There will be many days when everything goes right and my feeling remains that there could be enough of them to win a title for Liverpool.

"But I have to say, if I was in that Liverpool squad now, I would be maddened by the way he wants to play because I see no balance, nothing to lean on when the wheels come off and they concede soft goals."

Giles referred back to Liverpool's recent defeat at Bournemouth to substantiate his argument, a fixture in which the Reds lost 4-3 despite leading 3-1 with 10 minutes to play.

"With Klopp, it’s all about the front foot, all about forward momentum and if anything interrupts the process, he wants nothing else from his players than for them to push on and try for another goal. There is no alternative. It’s an all-or-nothing approach.

"That’s why his two full-backs were far away from the play at the wrong end of the pitch for a couple of Bournemouth’s goals. That’s why he brought Adam Lalana into the game at 3-1 when other managers might have considered a steadying presence.

"Not Klopp. He wants none of that. It’s go, go, go all the time and while it produces some breath-taking football and can completely overwhelm other teams, it carries at its heart an obvious weakness. In the Bournemouth game, there were opportunities for Klopp’s team to ease back and take full control of the game with the lead they had.

"On two occasions, they had a two-goal lead and with that established, had won a position where a balanced team would take a moment to take stock, tighten everything up and see out the game. That usually happens in midfield when someone gets his foot on the ball and sets the pace of the game.

"There is no alternative," Giles reaffirmed. "It’s an all-or-nothing approach. I’m sure the players think it’s fantastic and I’m not being facetious about that."

 

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'He's a great coach, football needs him' - Vertonghen praises Mourinho ahead of Old Trafford meeting

Jose Mourinho divides opinion at times, but Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen believes the game needs characters like the Manchester United manager.

The Portuguese manager has dominated headlines during his three spells in the Premier League, with his comments towards match referees and managerial counterparts attracting particular attention.But Vertonghen, whose Spurs side visit United on Sunday, says football would be a poorer sport without Mourinho.

"He is a great coach first of all, and he has done great things with different teams," the Belgian said."He has shown he is a very good coach and a colourful character – but football needs that.

"He is a good manager and he says things in the media. Does that wind me up? Not really. It's part of the job and he plays it the way he wants to."Would I want to play for him? He's not my manager so I'm not going to talk about this."

 

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Mustafi makes promise to Arsenal fans: I'll give you everything on the pitch

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has praised the club’s supporters and says that he wants to repay their love for the club by "giving everything" on the pitch.

The 24-year-old is currently unbeaten since joining the Gunners from Valencia this summer, having formed a solid partnership alongside stand-in skipper Laurent Koscielny in the centre of defence.

Mustafi considers it a small part of his job to give back to the supporters by putting everything into his performances on the pitch.

"You have to respect the fans a lot," the German told Goal. "They're not earning the money we are earning and pay to come into the stadium, sometimes away trips, plus transport."It shows you how much they love this club and you have to give them respect for that.

"What I can give them back is trying to give them everything back on the pitch. As long as I work for the club that they love, I'm just going to give everything, so I'm happy with myself and make people happy."
Supporters tend to warm to hard-working players who show passion in their performances and Mustafi has yet to be involved in a defeat for his new club since signing for them in August.

Humble and down to earth, the Germany international admits that he continuously reminds himself of his "special" position and gets "angry" at thinking that he could have done more in a game.

"Even if you play bad, as long as you know that you gave everything and the people see that, it makes a huge difference," he explained."I try to give the people what they want back because they're not asking that much. There's nothing worse than playing a game thinking: 'We lost but I could have done more.'

"This is something that makes me so angry that I started a few years ago to think 'this is your opportunity, you have to give everything because you only have 10-12 years and then it's finished'.

"'Enjoy these years doing what you love to do.' When you go into a routine every day, driving to training, going home, doing interviews, it becomes something normal but you have to remind yourself that it's not - it's something special."

 

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Reus '100 per cent different' after injury comeback

Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus says that he feels "100 per cent different" after making a stunning comeback from injury.

Reus missed the first three months of the season due to an adductor injury but returned with a bang in Dortmund's record-breaking 8-4 win against Legia Warsaw in the Champions League.

The Germany international has had a hand in nine goals in just four games this term, including a late equaliser at the Santiago Bernabeu to snatch top spot in their group from Real Madrid.

Having sat on the sidelines since the DFB-Pokal final last season, missing Euro 2016 and a chunk of this season, Reus says that a period of reflection and change has benefitted him.

"I had lots of time to think about what I can change," he told Bild. "Gaining more muscles is a part of that. I feel 100 per cent different now."

 

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Ibrahimovic 'super happy' for rejuvenated Mkhitaryan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Henrikh Mkhitaryan is poised to make his mark on Manchester United after playing a starring role in Thursday's 2-0 win at Zorya.

Armenia playmaker Mkhitaryan scored his first goal since leaving Borussia Dortmund for Old Trafford in the Europa League success, which secured Jose Mourinho's side a place in the knockout rounds.

After a shaky start to life at United - including being hooked at half-time on his first start, a Manchester derby defeat - Mkhitaryan has blossomed in recent games.He offered a glimpse of his true quality in sub-zero Ukrainian conditions, charging from the centre circle before nutmegging Rafael Forster and finishing smartly.

Ibrahimovic rounded off the win with a late breakaway goal - his 13th of the campaign - but the Swedish icon was quick to put the limelight on Mkhitaryan.

"The first goal was magnificent," Ibrahimovic told MUTV. "Henrikh had speed and control all the way, and the timing to put it through the defender's legs… it was beautiful.

"He killed the game off by scoring the goal and did a great job tonight. "I'm very happy for him because he's a quality player and I hope he continues; I know he will. I'm super happy for him."

He added of the testing conditions at Stadion Chornomorets: "It was not an easy game. The pitch wasn't the best and it was very cold, but it's not an excuse. "We still did our job and worked very hard; we made a few simple mistakes, but worked very hard. In the end, we got the win that we needed."

 

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Ronaldo reveals €203 million in assets to silence tax evasion claims

Cristiano Ronaldo's agency Gestifute has published further proof of what it claims is confirmation the Real Madrid superstar has paid all due taxes.

The Portuguese has been the subject of allegations made in several European media outlets that he avoided paying taxes through structures set up by Gestifute, the company founded by his agent, Jorge Mendes.

Those claims are part of the so-called 'Football Leaks', which will see 12 European newspapers publish the findings of what is described as "the largest leak in the history of sport" over the next three weeks.

Gestifute issued a swift denial of the allegations last week, insisting that Ronaldo is "fully compliant with tax obligations", and they threatened legal action against any party who insinuated an offence on the part of either the Portugal captain or his agent's company.

After the Spanish state secretary of the treasury, Jose Enrique Fernandez de Moya, was quoted as saying that the body would take "inspections we consider appropriate" on Saturday, Gestifute released a further statement, in which they insisted that Ronaldo has always operated within tax rules.

Late on Thursday, Gestifute released another statement, attached to which was documentation that appeared to be official confirmation that on 30 March 2016, Ronaldo had declared assets and rights abroad to the total of more than €203 million.

"Cristiano Ronaldo communicated to the Spanish Tax Agency on 30 March all the information about his assets, as can be shown in the attached documentation," the statement read.

"This procedure is known as presentation of the model 720, and offers to the Spanish Tax Agency all the data regarding the assets of the player."This document confirms that Finance has knowledge of all assets and revenues of Cristiano Ronaldo. The player will not make further statements on the subject.

"As reported in recent days, the player is aware of his tax obligations from the beginning of his professional career in any of the countries in which he has resided, and is not and has never been involved in any problem with the tax authorities of any country.

"This communication, which was not required by law, constitutes irrefutable proof that Cristiano Ronaldo and his representatives are in good faith and cooperate with the authorities in a spirit of transparency and compliance with legality."

 

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Giggs tells Rashford how to end his goal drought

Marcus Rashford needs to get back to basics in order to end his Manchester United goal drought, according to Ryan Giggs.

The United forward has failed to score for club or country since his strike against Leicester City back in September.Old Trafford legend Giggs, who left his role as assistant manager in the close-season, thinks Rashford, 19, could have missed out on some stages of his development due to his rapid rise to the first team and had advice on how the England international can return to form.

"There is one problem with being an early developer in football and that is you miss out on some of the basics that are standard for young players who progress more slowly from youth team sides, to the reserves - as it was in those days - and then gradually into the first team," Giggs wrote in The Telegraph.

"We are all keen to see academy lads make it through the ranks now, and rightly so, but we also have to understand the problems they might face even once they make it.

"To put it simply you miss out on some of the basics that complete your education as a young player. First team training is all geared towards the next game, and they come thick and fast.

"You are into a flow of playing and then recovery and then preparation. What you miss out on is honing those basics that you do in training with your peer group: crossing, finishing, adapting to different positions and what might be asked of you.
"As things stand he has not scored since the Leicester City game on Sept 24 and, like any goalscorer that will be playing on his mind. But lean periods like this are common for many young players."

Giggs continued: "I hope Marcus Rashford isn't going to suffer from that now. He is an excellent young player who fully deserved his breakthrough for United in February in that Europa League tie against Midtjylland last season.

"Of course, the night itself at Old Trafford he just took that chance himself but what he had done before [in training and for the Under-21 team] meant there was no hesitation about putting him in the first team when Anthony Martial was injured.
"That was a great example of a young player seizing his opportunity and then breaking into the England squad for Euro 2016 too, but there is no harm 10 months later to going back to the basics and making sure you feel right.

"Like all good teenage players, Marcus has time on his side."Giggs thinks Rashford needs to work on his game and embrace any chance he gets to play out wide before he eventually becomes United's first-choice number nine.

He added: "Marcus will be a centre-forward one day and that is his strongest position but it is natural that at his age he is asked to fit in around more established players - it was no different for me. "He will know that he needs to spend time adjusting his game to playing wide.

"That might mean asking one of his team-mates from the development squad to play as a defender against him after training while he tries to get crosses in, and also learning the defensive positions that he has to take up.

 

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'My players are intelligent and good people' - Zidane on Ronaldo's taxes

Zinedine Zidane insisted his players are intelligent and good people in response to speculation over Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo's tax affairs.Gestifute, the company that represents Ronaldo, published further proof of what it claims is confirmation the player has paid all due taxes late on Thursday.

They provided documentation that appeared to be official confirmation that on 30 March 2016, the Portugal international had declared assets and rights abroad to the total of more than €203million.

The disclosure came after allegations made in several European media outlets that he avoided paying taxes through structures set up by Gestifute, an organisation founded by Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes – accusations which have been firmly denied by the company.

Those claims are part of the so-called 'Football Leaks', which will see 12 European newspapers publish the findings of what is described as "the largest leak in the history of sport", with Pepe and Fabio Coentrao among the others to be named.Zidane, though, does not think players have set out to commit wrongdoing and hopes for a swift resolution to the story.

"Before being players they are people and my players are very intelligent people," Zidane said at his media conference ahead of Madrid's LaLiga match against Deportivo La Coruna."I think they know what happens, where their money gets spent and invested. The players are professionals, good people.

"People can come out sometimes and publish certain things and then there are speculation and rumours. "These things affect us and I just hope it is sorted out quickly so we can focus just on football and winning games."

 

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Ibrahimovic wants United to be ruthless

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has urged Manchester United to be more ruthless and kill games off when they get the chance.Jose Mourinho's men appeared to be on their way to a 1-0 win over Everton last week, only for Leighton Baines to net an 89th-minute penalty and frustrate United.

United previously threw away a winning position against Arsenal in similar fashion and Ibrahimovic stressed they cannot afford to keep allowing points to slip away if they are to battle for top honours.

"We create many chances and sometimes you can win 1-0," the Swede told reporters."But I think we have learned now that we have to score more than one goal to make sure we get the three points.

"You need to close [the game] at 1-0, which you can do. You don't need to win 4-0 every week, but that has not happened yet. Hopefully we can start killing teams off with a second goal. We want to kill every game we play.

"As long as you create the chances, you will eventually score. I think we are performing very well. The team has got a good balance, we have had some unlucky games and some games where we made simple mistakes to concede a goal, but most of our games have been good.

"So, if we can just get a couple of wins in a row, it would give us even more confidence. We are not playing badly."

 

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Scholes: Man Utd should fear no one in Europa League

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has tipped his old club to go on and win the Europa League following their qualification for the knockout stages of the competition.

United secured their passage to the next round after beating Zorya Luhansk 2-0 on Thursday evening thanks to goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

And Scholes believes Jose Mourinho's side should fear no one in the next stage."I wouldn’t be worried by any of those teams to be honest with you." said Scholes on BT's post-match coverage.

"I think United have got a really good squad, they’re starting to play some really good football and rightly so they’re favourites to win this competition, I can see them going all the way."There isn’t one team in there that worries me."

The former England international did however have time to question how successfully United would be able to balance their European efforts with their faltering league form.

"I still think with the squad that Manchester United have got, whatever team they put out I think they’ll be capable of beating anybody" he said "The big importance is on where they are in the league. I’m expecting them to be really challenging for that third and fourth spot.

"Will their focus then go off this competition? I don’t know because you have to say they have found it difficult going from a Thursday to Sunday."Their record in the first five group games going from Thursday playing on Sunday hasn’t been great."

 

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Luis Enrique: I don't dare predict if Messi will renew

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique claims he does not dare to predict if Lionel Messi will sign a new contract.

Goal reported on Friday that the Catalan club are set to tempt the forward with a fresh contract offer that could see him spend the rest of his career at Camp Nou.Messi's father, Jorge, has flown to Barcelona to take part in discussions as he looks to broker a deal that will make the 29-year-old the world's best-paid player.

Luis Enrique says any confirmation of an agreement would be a cause for celebration but was reluctant to speculate on whether the talks will be successful.
"It's good news, of course," he told a media conference ahead of Barca's LaLiga game with Osasuna on Saturday.

"I'm quite relaxed about his dad being here. The day that Messi's renewal is announced will be a day to celebrate. At the moment, I don't dare predict if he will renew or not."

Messi's contract is due to expire in 2018 and rumours of a potential transfer elsewhere in Europe have refused to die down in recent months, with Manchester United and Manchester City among the clubs tentatively linked with a bid.

Barca are expected to announce a new contract for Luis Suarez in the coming weeks, having already tied down Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano and Neymar.

 

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Mourinho: Rooney should be scoring more

Jose Mourinho has warned captain Wayne Rooney and Manchester United's other goal-shy forwards that they must start doing more to lift the burden on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Rooney has scored just three goals in 20 matches across all competitions this season and failed to add to his tally in Thursday's Europa League contest against Zorya, which United won 2-0.United have just 19 Premier League goals this season, with Ibrahimovic scoring eight of those, fewer than any other team in the top seven.

Red Devils manager Mourinho wants a better return from Rooney, who needs just one more goal to equal Bobby Charlton's all-time goalscoring record at United, but says the onus is not just on the England skipper."As an attacking player, normally Rooney scores more goals," Mourinho told reporters.

"He has scored a couple, I think, at Fenerbahce and one in the Premier League. We expect more goals from him, yes."But we expect more goals from everyone in the team.

"Maybe Zlatan is the one, but as the main striker it is normal that he has scored more goals."But we expect more goals from all the other attacking players."

Rooney has often been used in a deeper role for England, but Mourinho maintains he will not be following suit at Old Trafford."With me, he is an attacking player," he added.

"In the national team, they can do with him what they want to do. In the national team he is their player, he is not my player, and they can do what they want. If they want to play him right-back, they can play him right-back. It's not my problem.
"But in my team, he is an attacking player. He will play as a nine or a 10, or eventually coming from one of the sides."Meanwhile, UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Zorya in the wake of their defeat at the hands of United.

"Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the Europa League group stage match between Zorya Luhansk and Manchester United (0-2), played on 8 December in Ukraine," a UEFA statement read.

"Charges against Zorya Luhansk: Setting off of fireworks – Art. 16 (2) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) Throwing of objects - Art. 16 (2) DR Field invasion – Art. 16 (2) DR Stairways blocked – Art. 38 of UEFA Safety & Security Regulations."

 

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Mourinho still the 'Special One' for Pochettino

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says Jose Mourinho is still the 'Special One' despite a spluttering start to life in at Manchester United.

United have won only one of their last eight Premier League games - drawing six and losing the other 4-0 at Chelsea - leaving Mourinho's men 13 points off the summit, despite the Portuguese vowing to deliver the trophy this season when he was appointed.

Much of Mourinho's campaign has been spent bickering with "Einsteins" in the media, or the Football Association, who have handed the former Chelsea boss two touchline bans already this term.

But Pochettino expects a stern examination when he takes fifth-place Spurs to Old Trafford on Sunday, against a manager he says remains at the peak of his powers.
The Argentine told a news conference: "I like Mourinho and I have a good relationship with him.

"Many managers' behaviour is worse than his but because he is the 'Special One', there is more of a focus on him."The refs focus on him, the media focus on him. "Other managers are worse than him but they do not get the attention because they are not the 'Special One' like him.

"He's the 'Special One' and always will be the 'Special One'."He's one of the best. In some periods in football, you struggle a little bit. It's not easy to arrive at a new club and settle your ideas, your philosophy."For me he was and is one of the best managers in football history."

United's Europa League excursions give Spurs more time to prepare for the match, having played in the Champions League on Wednesday."It's true that we have one day more to prepare than them," said Pochettino."It's true that for us last season and the season before, it was tough to play Thursday and Sunday.

"I don't remember in my two and a half years here that we have had the advantage of one day. But, when you play against a team like Manchester United they have the strong squad, always they can rotate players.

"That is their decision and we know that it will be a very tough game for us and Manchester United are a great team. "I am sure that it will be a very competitive game."

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.12.10

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.12.10

Watford Vs Everton

Arsenal Vs Stoke

Burnley Vs Bournemouth

Hull City Vs Crystal Palace

Swansea Vs Sunderland

Leicester City Vs Manchester City

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LA Liga Fixtures 2016.12.10

LA Liga Fixtures 2016.12.10

Osasuna Vs Barcelona

Real Sociedad Vs Valencia

Las Palmas Vs Leganes

Real Madrid Vs Deportivo​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2016.12.10

Serie A Fixtures 2016.12.10

Crotone Vs Pescara

Sampdoria Vs Lazio​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2016.12.10

Bundesliga Fixtures 2016.12.10

Bayern Vs Wolfsburg

Cologne Vs Dortmund

Ingolstadt Vs Leipzig

Hamburg Vs Augsburg

Friedburg Vs Darmstadt

Hertha Berlin Vs Werder Bremen​

 

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Osasuna 0-3 Barcelona: Suarez & Messi fire champions back to winning ways

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi struck for Barcelona as they secured a vital 3-0 La Liga win at Osasuna on Saturday.

Luis Enrique's men entered the tie at El Sadar needing a win to end a streak of three successive draws that left them six points behind Real Madrid.After being frustrated in the first half, the visitors managed to break through after the break when Suarez opened the scoring with an easy finish.

Messi, making his 550th appearance for Barcelona, then added the second and third goals to ensure the Spanish champions halved the deficit at the top of the table.

Barca had only lost one of their last 10 meetings with Osasuna in the top flight but their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal threatened to see them concede more ground in the title race, as Suarez and Messi both spurned good chances in a first half in which the visitors dominated.

Oriol Riera and Sergio Leon came close to breaking the deadlock for Joaquin Caparros's side, who offered stern resistance despite having claimed only seven points all season, but Messi combined brilliantly with Jordi Alba to allow Suarez to score against the 22nd different team in La Liga just before the hour mark.

Alba was again the provider as Messi turned in the full-back's cross, and a superb solo run and finish from the 29-year-old - his 17th goal in nine league games against Osasuna - capped the victory in injury time.

The win takes the champions back to within three points of leaders Madrid, who play Deportivo La Coruna later on Saturday, while Osasuna could now find themselves eight points adrift of safety by the end of matchday 14.

Suarez should have put Barcelona ahead in the eighth minute as he ran onto Messi's delightful clipped pass over the defence, but he placed a shot beyond Nauzet's right-hand post.

The Uruguayan came closer four minutes later, firing a shot onto the base of the opposite upright after he held off Miguel Flano 12 yards out, before Samuel Umtiti headed over the crossbar from an Andres Iniesta free-kick.

Barca's pressure was relentless but Messi became the latest to fluff his lines, with Nauzet sticking out a foot to deny the Argentine after Suarez set him free in the middle of the box, and the goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to tip Messi's chipped effort over the crossbar 10 minutes later.

Osasuna had barely managed a touch in Barca's half but they did fashion a glorious chance to take the lead before the break - Riera failing to connect with Miguel de las Cuevas' low cut-back as he slid in at the far post.

Sergio Leon had left Gerard Pique for dead with a sublime piece of skill in the first half, and he was inches away from humbling Marc-Andre ter Stegen early in the second when his brilliant chip from 30 yards came back off the crossbar with the Barca goalkeeper beaten.

Osasuna had shipped 29 goals in their opening 13 matches but were dealing comfortably with Barca's pressure - until a moment of brilliance from Messi carved them apart.

The Argentine feinted to shoot from 20 yards before sliding a superb pass through the defence and into the feet of Alba on the left of the area, and his square ball to Suarez - who was just onside - gave the striker a simple tap-in from six yards.

Osasuna looked deflated by the goal and any hopes of a result were dashed 18 minutes from time. Substitute Denis Suarez sent the untracked Alba clear down the left, and his low cross was steered into the far corner by Messi from close range.

Ter Stegen denied Sergio Leon with a good stop but Barca's victory was given some gloss in injury time, as Messi danced his way into the penalty area, dummied a shot to put Nauzet on the turf before lofting the ball beyond the goalkeeper and three covering defenders and into the corner of the net.

 

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Watford 3-2 Everton: Wonderful Okaka guides Hornets to home win

Stefano Okaka scored twice as Watford came from behind and held on to consign Everton to a sixth successive winless Premier League away match with a 3-2 triumph at Vicarage Road.

Romelu Lukaku put Everton ahead after just 17 minutes with his first top-flight goal since October 30, but Okaka helped secure an impressive turnaround with Walter Mazzarri's team benefiting from their opponents' lacklustre defending.

Belgium international Lukaku tucked home from a pass by Gareth Barry - the midfielder moving joint-second with Frank Lampard in the all-time Premier League appearance list with his 609th outing - but Okaka restored parity before half-time when he brilliantly flicked Nordin Amrabat's cross home with his trailing leg.

The Italian evaded Ashley Williams to take the chance, and Sebastian Prodl made the most of similarly slack marking by Seamus Coleman to head Jose Holebas' free-kick beyond Maarten Stekelenburg before the hour mark.

Another dead-ball delivery from Holebas enabled Watford to extend their advantage five minutes later, Okaka getting away from Barry to complete his first Premier League double.

Everton, without a win on the road since September 12, pulled another back through Lukaku in the closing stages but were unable to fully recover and could end the weekend in the bottom half, while Watford, temporarily at least, rise to seventh.

Gerard Deulofeu did his best to make up for the absence of the injured Yannick Bolasie with some teasing deliveries from the right, but it was a more direct approach that resulted in Everton scoring the opening goal.

Barry's simple ball over the top caught Miguel Britos - picked ahead of Christian Kabasele - flat-footed and Lukaku took full advantage by slotting through the legs of the onrushing Heurelho Gomes.

Troy Deeney was unable to control a cutback from Amrabat as Watford responded positively to going behind and they were rewarded in the 36th minute.Leighton Baines was caught out of position by Amrabat, whose cross beyond the covering Ramiro Funes Mori was skilfully flicked past Stekelenburg by Okaka.

Deeney spurned a glorious chance before half-time, but Watford went ahead after 59 minutes when Prodl got away from Coleman to power a header from Holebas' free-kick into the back of the net.

Everton crumbled and, after Britos was denied by an excellent Stekelenburg save, fell two behind from another set-piece five minutes later, Barry losing Okaka as he darted to the near post and glanced Holebas' corner inside the opposite upright.

Koeman sent Ross Barkley, Aaron Lennon and Enner Valencia on in a string of attacking changes. It had the desired effect when Lennon collected the ball after Watford failed to clear a corner and picked out Lukaku, who nodded home in the 86th minute to set up a tense finale.

Everton may have felt they deserved a penalty when Britos climbed over Lukaku to head a cross from the left clear, but referee Anthony Taylor was unmoved and the Toffees will go into big matches against Arsenal and Liverpool next week without a win in five.

 

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Bayern Munich 5-0 Wolfsburg: Wolves helpless as hosts fire Bundesliga statement of intent

Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Douglas Costa netted either side of a Robert Lewandowski brace as Bayern Munich hammered Wolfsburg 5-0 on Saturday.

Carlo Ancelotti's side dominated against the hapless Wolves from start to finish as they capitalised on RB Leipzig's loss at Ingolstadt to go level at the top of the table.It took Robben just 18 minutes to open the scoring with a trademark curling strike, before Lewandowski netted an easy finish not four minutes later.

The Pole then showed excellent reflexes to divert Muller's wayward strike in, with the latter finally getting his first Bundesliga goal this season with 15 minutes remaining.Costa then put the gloss on the win with a thundering strike that left Diego Benaglio with no chance.

It was another miserable 90 minutes in Bavaria for Wolfsburg, who have never won at Bayern and strayed closer to the drop zone with Ingolstadt's success.

Good work from Muller and Lewandowski created the first opening for Juan Bernat, but Benaglio was quickly out to block the Spain international's strike.Although Benaglio saved again from Robben's low, curling effort, the Bayern winger opened the scoring after 18 minutes.

Trading passes with captain Philipp Lahm on the right of the area, Robben then cut inside onto his left foot and fired a trademark shot beyond Benaglio into the far corner.And four minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage.

Arturo Vidal's blast was deflected away from the target, but fell fortunately for Lewandowski, just yards out, to slot home his fourth goal in three games.

Bayern were back on the attack after the interval, with Benaglio saving from Franck Ribery at his near post, before Lewandowski grabbed his second.Thiago Alcantara pulled the ball back for Muller to shoot on the edge of the box, and, as with his earlier goal, Lewandowski pounced on a wayward drive to toe into the net.Mario Gomez lashed over at the other end, and Benaglio was then in action once again to parry Thiago's dipping effort.

With 14 minutes remaining, Muller finally got off the mark - the Germany international followed Lewandowski's example and turned Robben's dragged attempt past Benaglio, before celebrating wildly.

Manuel Neuer tipped Daniel Caligiuri's effort onto the post, but there was no way back for Wolfsburg as Bayern proved their class and added a fifth after Benaglio had kept Robben out.

With four minutes left, substitute Costa ran onto a loose ball to thunder a strike high past the helpless goalkeeper.