..::Football IV::..

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Newcastle United 2 Manchester City 1: Champions suffer shock loss to spoil Guardiola's landmark

Manchester City suffered a shock loss in defence of their Premier League title as Newcastle United came from behind to win 2-1 at St James' Park.

Matt Ritchie's penalty 10 minutes from time sealed one of the most surprising results of the season to leave Liverpool with the chance to move seven points clear with a victory over Leicester City on Wednesday.Sergio Aguero looked to have set a predictable tone for Pep Guardiola's 100th top-flight game at the helm, his goal after 24 seconds apparently teeing the Catalan up for a record 74th win from that century of outings.

But City failed to build on that fast start and the hosts levelled through Salomon Rondon with 24 minutes remaining.And when Fernandinho fouled Sean Longstaff in the box, Ritchie stepped up to drive his spot-kick underneath Ederson and strike what could be a pivotal blow in the title race.

With City having taken 46 points from the last 48 available against the Magpies, Rafael Benitez may well have hoped just to keep things tight early on.

Any such plans were shattered before he even had the chance to warm his seat.
David Silva stumbled into Raheem Sterling's cross, diverting the ball into Aguero's path for the striker to volley home his 15th goal in 13 top-flight outings against Newcastle.

Aguero was celebrating a second in the 18th minute, but referee Paul Tierney ruled that Kevin De Bruyne was a little too eager in executing a quickly taken free-kick and booked the Belgium midfielder.To their credit, the hosts held firm for the remainder of the first half, although Florian Lejeune had to be alert to block Silva's shot on the line.

Sterling came within a whisker of doubling the lead early in the second half but allowed Leroy Sane's cross to go through his legs, while Silva stung Martin Dubravka's palms.Then came the unexpected revival as Rondon, who had cut an isolated figure, sprung to life to lash home after City were caught napping by Isaac Hayden's header over the top.

Ritchie calmly converted from the spot and City could not muster a meaningful response, leaving Liverpool with a golden opportunity to put one hand on a maiden Premier League trophy triumph.

 

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Fulham 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 2: Mitrovic doubles up in comeback win after Ranieri tinkers


Aleksandar Mitrovic scored two brilliant headers as Fulham came from behind to earn a priceless 4-2 Premier League win at home to Brighton and Hove Albion, following key tactical changes from Claudio Ranieri.

Glenn Murray's double gave Brighton a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes as crosses from the Seagulls' right led to chances the striker gobbled up to reach 10 Premier League goals this season.But, after Ranieri switched to a back four then brought on Luciano Vietto at half-time, Calum Chambers and Mitrovic struck to draw the scores level.

Mitrovic put Fulham ahead after beating Lewis Dunk in the air and Vietto struck late to wrap up an amazing win, moving the Cottagers to within two points of third-bottom Cardiff City.
Fulham have conceded by far the most goals in the Premier League this season and it took Brighton fewer than three minutes to open the scoring with a remarkably simple strike.Right-back Martin Montoya was allowed to run unchallenged before delivering a fine cross Murray steered home after getting between defenders Denis Odoi and Maxime Le Marchand.

Murray was on target again in the 16th minute. Odoi's poor clearance allowed Davy Propper to hook the ball back into the danger zone for the veteran striker to pounce from close range.Either side of Propper rattling the crossbar Murray missed two chances to seal his hat-trick and surely kill the game.

But Chambers' stunning 20-yard volley gave Fulham a lifeline within two minutes of the restart and Mitrovic then hauled them level by showing the most desire to reach a deflected cross.

Jean Michael Seri hit the post but Sergio Rico had to make a brilliant save in the 72nd minute to deny Murray the match ball.And when Joe Bryan floated a superb cross into the box from the left wing, Mitrovic dominated aerially for a second time to beat Mat Ryan with an excellent downward header.

Brighton were suddenly on the ropes and Vietto's first Premier League goal sealed matters, with Tom Cairney striking the bar as a once-improbable win threatened to grow in size.

 

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AC Milan 2 Napoli 0: Piatek strikes twice to send Rossoneri through

Krzysztof Piatek marked his first AC Milan start by scoring both goals as AC Milan reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday.

New boy Piatek - signed by the Rossoneri from Genoa to replace the departed Gonzalo Higuain - quickly endeared himself to Milan fans, striking twice in the first half to become an instant hero with the San Siro faithful.The Poland international had made his debut off the bench in the 0-0 draw between the teams last Saturday, yet his finishing abilities made sure there was no repeat of that Serie A stalemate.

Both times he capitalised on space available through Napoli's right channel; his opener was tucked home with finesse when clean through but his second was all about power, a right-footed rocket fizzing past visiting goalkeeper Alex Meret.
The striker had already slashed an ambitious first-time volley wide before he opened his Milan account 10 minutes into the tie, Diego Laxalt's hopeful long punt putting his team-mate in the clear.

Piatek – who had scored four goals for Genoa in his maiden Coppa Italia appearance, against Lecce in August – kept his cool to convert, opening his body up to bend a right-footed effort beyond Meret.He doubled both his tally and Milan's lead 17 minutes later, only this time his attempt with the same foot came when he was going away from goal, Piatek cleverly keeping the ball away from Kalidou Koulibaly as he cut inside from Milan's left before unleashing a drive that flashed into the net.

Napoli, in contrast, struggled to create opportunities despite dominating possession. Lorenzo Insigne missed an excellent chance to equalise for the visitors soon after Piatek had broken the deadlock, carelessly sending a first-time effort straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Alessio Romagnoli's block denied Arkadiusz Milik tapping home a loose ball following a corner after the break, with Milan holding firm to keep a clean sheet and become the first team through to the last four.

 

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Guingamp 2 Monaco 2 (5-4 on penalties): Jardim's men suffer shoot-out heartbreak

Guingamp came from behind to draw 2-2 with 10-man Monaco before clinching a dramatic victory on penalties in Tuesday's Coupe de la Ligue semi-final, as Leonardo Jardim endured a disappointing return to the Principality club.

Monaco, who appointed Jardim for his second spell as coach after sacking Thierry Henry on Friday, raced into a 2-0 lead despite having loanee midfielder William Vainqueur sent off.Rony Lopes and Aleksandr Golovin found the net for the visitors but Guingamp improved dramatically in the second half and levelled through Alexandre Mendy and Marcus Thuram.

Marcus Coco held his nerve to score the winning penalty for Guingamp as Monaco's nightmare season continues, and Jardim must now pick his players up before they face Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Vainqueur was booked for a two-footed challenge on Thuram after 10 minutes but the referee consulted VAR before producing a red card and sending the former Roma playmaker off.

But eight minutes later Monaco were ahead when sloppy Guingamp defending allowed Gelson Martins to maraud into the box before squaring through a crowd of players to Lopes, who had time to control the ball, flick it up and acrobatically volley it over his shoulder into the bottom-left corner.The 10 men doubled their advantage when Lopes launched a fast break from his own half and Martins burst away before teeing up Golovin, who flashed a shot high into the net inside the near post.

The second half had barely begun when Mendy took advantage of a loose ball and slotted it low beyond Danijel Subasic from inside the box, and the equaliser followed 10 minutes later when the superb Thuram turned Martins and hooked a superb finish into the top-right corner from 20 yards.

Guingamp attacked for much of the remaining 35 minutes but Monaco held on for a shoot-out that saw substitute Sofiane Diop hit the crossbar, allowing Coco to step up for the winner and prompt scenes of jubilation around the Stade de Roudourou.

 

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Man Utd in discussions to sell Fellaini to Chinese club



Manchester United have confirmed to Goal that they are in discussions with a Chinese club over the potential sale of Marouane Fellaini.The Belgian midfielder, who has been a polarising figure during his five-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, has been the subject of links to Shandong Luneng Taishan this week and could be set to leave the Theatre of Dreams.

Fellaini was a regular in the matchday squad during Jose Mourinho’s tenure but has made only two substitute appearances in the eight matches of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign so far, with Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera solidifying their spots in the first XI.

Manchester United have confirmed to Goal that they are in discussions with a Chinese club over the potential sale of Marouane Fellaini.The Belgian midfielder, who has been a polarising figure during his five-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, has been the subject of links to Shandong Luneng Taishan this week and could be set to leave the Theatre of Dreams.

Fellaini was a regular in the matchday squad during Jose Mourinho’s tenure but has made only two substitute appearances in the eight matches of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign so far, with Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera solidifying their spots in the first XI.

Mourinho had initially feared that Fellaini may not remain at the club into the 2018-19 season after the midfielder ran his contract down to its final days, but United announced in late June that Fellaini had penned a new two-year deal.However, the 31-year-old now appears set to leave the club just seven months on, with the Chinese transfer window remaining open until February 28 ahead of the 2019 Chinese Super League getting underway.

As such, United will be permitted to sell beyond the end of the European transfer deadline of January 31, giving Fellaini’s suitors a four-week window to complete a deal for a man who has donned the United shirt 177 times and scored 22 goals.

 

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Suarez can help solve winger issue, says Emery


Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez will help to solve Arsenal's shortage of wingers, according to head coach Unai Emery, who said he also hopes to have Ainsley Maitland-Niles fit for his side's clash with Manchester City.

Suarez is set to join Arsenal on loan until the end of the season after falling out of favour under Ernesto Valverde at Barca but he did not manage to complete his move in time to feature in the Gunners' 2-1 Premier League win over Cardiff City on Tuesday.Also missing for Arsenal was Maitland-Niles, who picked up a knee injury and joined team-mates Hector Bellerin, Sokratis and Laurent Koscielny in the treatment room.

After seeing goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette help Arsenal to victory over the Bluebirds, Emery told reporters: "We need wingers.
"Suarez, who I know, has this quality."Asked whether the 25-year-old Spaniard would handle the physicality of the Premier League, Emery replied: "I don't know now."It's a challenge for him, and also [it is a challenge for him] to help us."

With just two days remaining before the close of the transfer window, Emery was coy on potential arrivals despite Arsenal being linked with Inter's Ivan Perisic.He said: "If a player can come here to help us, he will come. The last news, I don't know. My focus is on the match. Maybe tonight or tomorrow [Wednesday] I will speak."

Looking ahead to Sunday's trip to face Premier League champions City at the Etihad Stadium, and whether or not any of his injured players would be likely to return, Emery said: "I don't know now. We need to know tomorrow in training."I hope some players can be with us. Ainsley [Maitland-Niles], I hope."

Meanwhile, Emery's opposite number Neil Warnock expressed his disappointment with the display of Cardiff centre-back Bruno Ecuele Manga, who, after being fortunate not to concede a penalty in the first half, failed to learn his lesson and tripped Sead Kolasinac in the box.

Aubameyang opened the scoring from the resulting spot-kick and Arsenal rarely looked like dropping points from there."They should've had a penalty in the first half and I spoke to Bruno [at half-time], so for him to dive in like that again, I'm just really disappointed," said Warnock."The players have to think about their responsibility, it was just amateur."

 

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Fergie Time returns as Solskjaer is saved by Man Utd comeback


During his eight games in charge of Manchester United, it seemed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had brought back just about everything that had been missing since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson.But one element of the legendary Scot’s reign which hadn’t been necessary was a good old bout of Fergie Time.

Eight successive wins and not a single minute behind the eight ball had meant a late comeback had never been on the cards, but a dramatic 2-2 draw against Burnley on Tuesday was straight out of the Ferguson playbook.

When Chris Wood put Burnley two up it appeared that Solskjaer’s unbeaten run was over, but United conjured up the mental resilience to salvage a point.They were the better side in a fairly open first half but just couldn’t seem to trouble Tom Heaton no matter what they tried. While it was hardly the most thrilling of 45 minutes, they at least probed in a fashion rarely seen in the days of Jose Mourinho.

But just when they appeared to be stepping up the momentum at the start of the second half, Andreas Pereira’s moment of madness led them to fall behind for the first time under Solskjaer. The Brazilian tried to be too clever deep in his own half and succeeded only in losing the ball to Jack Cork, who fed Ashley Barnes for a high, stinging drive beyond David de Gea.

Solskjaer needed to make changes - and did. Jesse Lingard and Alexis Sanchez entered the fray in place of Pereira and the leaden-footed Romelu Lukaku.Yet United just couldn’t find a way through as Burnley dropped in tighter and killed any hope of Solskjaer’s favoured counter-attacking philosophy being the key to opening up the Clarets. Whenever United got the ball forward, there was a congested penalty area staring back at them.

They needed a spark. They needed the old United magic that would always ensure that visiting sides wouldn’t be safe until the final whistle was blown, being run into the ground and passed into submission just in time to save the day. The iron fist in the velvet glove.

It appeared that it wouldn’t arrive when Wood headed home at the far post from an Ashley Westwood cross, but that was simply going to make the comeback all the more dramatic.They got one goal back with three minutes remaining as Jesse Lingard was dragged back in the box by Jeff Hendrick and Paul Pogba lashed home from the spot.

And that teed up the fantastic finale, as Alexis Sanchez got on the end of Ashley Young’s cross, and after Tom Heaton had kept out the initial effort Victor Lindelof followed in with his first United goal to rescue a point in the 92nd minute.Such is the feeling around the Theatre of Dreams these days there was an element of disappointment at them not getting all three points, with the players sprinting back after the leveller in a bid to grab a third.

But Solskjaer will be delighted with the way his side battled back in the time honoured tradition of his former boss. Ole really is bringing the good old days back, it would seem.

 

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Guardiola admits it will be 'difficult' to deny Liverpool title after latest defeat


Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that the Premier League title is now in Liverpool's hands after his team fell to another painful defeat on Tuesday.

Despite taking the lead in the first minute against Newcastle United, Pep's men were left to rue three points lost as the Magpies came storming back.Salomon Rondon cancelled out Sergio Aguero's early opener just after the hour mark before Matt Ritchie sealed a 2-1 victory from the spot 10 minutes from time.

The reverse was City's fourth Premier League defeat this season, three of which have come in the last seven games in a run that has allowed Liverpool to cut loose at the top.

Jurgen Klopp's men can go seven points clear with a victory against Leicester City on Wednesday, and Pep recognises his men face an uphill task to retain their crown."It is difficult. We have a chance to do it but we need to win our games,” Guardiola explained to reporters.

“The advantage is not there but we need to continue. We have to do our games and know what we have to do.“You can lose. Football is competitive."We had a chance today to reduce the lead. Tomorrow is a game for our opponent. When you are behind you have to win games and we couldn't do that.

"I know the challenge is big, being in all competitions is what it is. If you want to go up as a club you have to accept that challenge. I prefer to be in that position."The former Barcelona and Bayern coach held back from criticising his beaten charges, however, instead preferring to highlight all they have achieved together in the past few seasons.

"I love these players," he added. "They gave me all the prestige I have in England. I will try to be here to help them. I know how they feel right now and I am beside them, close to them. It is an incredible group of players.

"Did we underestimate Newcastle? Never. We are in four competitions because we never underestimated one competition or team - never. We have done 100 points [in the league last season] because you never underestimate one team. If you don't you are not in the final of the Carabao Cup.

"Sometimes we don't play at the level we want to play, sometimes it happens."
City will be back in action at the weekend, with Arsenal travelling to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2019.01.30

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2019.01.30

Bournemouth Vs Chelsea

Southampton Vs Crystal Palace

Liverpool Vs Leicester City

Tottenham Vs Watford

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Copa Del Rey Fixtures 2019.01.30

Copa Del Rey Fixtures 2019.01.30

Real Betis Vs Espanyol

Barcelona Vs Sevilla
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Coppa Italia Fixtures 2019.01.30

Coppa Italia Fixtures 2019.01.30

Fiorentina Vs Roma

Atalanta Vs Juventus
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Barcelona 6 Sevilla 1 (6-3 agg): Coutinho at the double in Copa del Rey comeback

Philippe Coutinho scored twice as Barcelona produced a brilliant comeback in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final against Sevilla, a thumping 6-1 win sealing a last-four place.Sevilla, beaten in the final by Barca in two of the past three years, deservedly won the first leg at home 2-0 when Ernesto Valverde's decision to rest captain Lionel Messi backfired badly.

Messi was back in the team for Wednesday's return at Camp Nou and he inspired a dramatic comeback that saw Ivan Rakitic and Sergi Roberto add to Coutinho's well-taken brace before Luis Suarez and the Barca captain himself compounded Sevilla's misery.


Before Messi and Suarez made sure of Barca's progression, Guilherme Arana - after a VAR review for a penalty at the other end - had set up a grandstand finish, while Ever Banega having a first-half penalty saved by Jasper Cillessen proved a key moment in the second leg.Barcelona have won the Copa del Rey in each of the last four seasons and the LaLiga leaders are on track to make it five in a row after a stunning performance.

Coutinho's error contributed to Sevilla's second goal last week but he gave Barca a 13th-minute lead when Quincy Promes' challenge on Messi resulted in a penalty the Brazilian stroked home.

Barca were grateful to Cillessen for two big saves in close succession, as he magnificently pushed Andre Silva's flicked backheel on to the post, then dived to his left to keep out Banega's poor penalty after Gerard Pique bundled over Roque Mesa.The tie was all-square in the 31st minute when Arthur's sensational pass sent Rakitic clear for a delicately poked finish the former Sevilla midfielder refused to celebrate scoring.

Barca led 3-0 early in the second half, Coutinho stooping to head a driven Suarez cross through Juan Soriano's weak hands.The capitulation from Sevilla - thrashed 5-0 by Barca in last year's final - was seemingly completed 103 seconds later by Roberto's rifled first-time finish from a deflected Messi pass.

But after Coutinho had a penalty appeal for a handball against Daniel Carrico rejected, Sevilla went down the other end with Arana hammering a drive past Cillessen's grasping fingertips, although there was a VAR check before awarding the goal.

In a frantic finale Sevilla could not find the second strike they needed to progress on away goals and, with the visitors over-committed, Suarez finished off a rapid break before Messi atoned for a pair of remarkable misses with the clincher.

 

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Liverpool 1 Leicester City 1: Premier League leaders frustrated by Foxes

Liverpool missed the chance to open a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Leicester City on Wednesday.Jurgen Klopp's Reds appeared on course to capitalise on Manchester City's surprise loss at Newcastle United 24 hours earlier when Sadio Mane fired them ahead inside three minutes at Anfield.

But, just like their nearest challengers on Tuesday, a nervy Liverpool failed to hold onto their early advantage, though a point at least extends their advantage at the summit with 14 games remaining.


After James Maddison had inexplicably missed a free header from close range, Harry Maguire steered in a half-volley to make it 1-1 in first-half stoppage time.Snow fell prior to kick-off on Merseyside, but Liverpool quickly warmed to their task. Mane's low, right-footed drive slipped across the wet surface and beyond Kasper Schmeichel's dive to put the hosts ahead.

The early strike appeared set to signal an avalanche of goals for the Reds, Schmeichel turning aside a Roberto Firmino effort before an unmarked Mane carelessly headed the resulting corner well wide.

However, Leicester posed the greater threat as the opening half wore on, eventually equalising in added time through Maguire - only booked minutes before after clipping Mane as the forward looked to run onto a throughball - as Liverpool failed to reorganise in defence after a partially blocked shot was headed back into the penalty area by Ben Chilwell.

The visitors should have been level earlier, too, but Maddison nodded Marc Albrighton's inviting cross beyond the target, letting Alisson – who had turned over possession with a lazy clearing kick – off the hook.Liverpool's goalkeeper was called into action early in the second half by one of his team-mates - Firmino spared by his fellow Brazilian after poking Maguire's low cross towards his own net.

Shouts from the Kop for a penalty were dismissed by referee Martin Atkinson when Naby Keita fell under a challenge from Ricardo Pereira but Klopp's side were below par following such a fast start.

 

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Bournemouth 4 Chelsea 0: King, Brooks and Daniels leave Sarri with plenty to ponder

Josh King's brace inspired Bournemouth to a 4-0 victory as Maurizio Sarri's lacklustre Chelsea suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats.

Cup triumphs over Tottenham and Sheffield Wednesday suggested Sarri's withering assessment of the 2-0 loss to Arsenal had the desired effect, but a section of the away supporters turned on their Italian coach at the Vitality Stadium.Wales winger David Brooks created King's 47th-minute opener before coolly doubling Bournemouth's advantage, although he pulled up on a subsequent attack to cut a wonderful display short.

Prior to that substitution, some Chelsea fans sang "You don't know what you're doing" as Sarri withdrew Gonzalo Higuain after 65 minutes of his Premier League debut.

King's second and a stoppage-time Charlie Daniels goal means Chelsea drop below Arsenal into fifth on goal difference, while Bournemouth's win moves them up to 10th.Pedro was preferred to Willian on the right wing for Chelsea and his early cross, aimed for Higuain, was headed goalwards by Mateo Kovacic, with Artur Boruc brilliantly tipping on to the crossbar.

Brooks should have done better with a 34th-minute header showed his class soon afterwards, dispossessing Eden Hazard and driving forward to force Kepa Arrizabalaga into action.It was no surprise to see the excellent Brooks involved in the opening goal, controlling impeccably and laying the ball on a plate for King to crash home.

After N'Golo Kante wasted a chance to equalise, Brooks showed contrasting composure in the 63rd minute - collecting King's return pass and checking back inside David Luiz to crisply finish into the bottom corner.

Robbed of their standout performer, Bournemouth's liquid counter-attacks continued to flow and Junior Stanislas and King combined 16 minutes from time.
The Cherries continued to pour forward and Daniels diverted Jordon Ibe's free-kick past Kepa in stoppage time to complete an unforeseen humiliation.

 

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Tottenham 2 Watford 1: Returning Son and Llorente spark late turnaround

Son Heung-min and Fernando Llorente scored in the last 10 minutes to spare Tottenham's blushes, securing a 2-1 win over Watford on Wednesday.

Mauricio Pochettino's injury-hit side looked to be heading for a third successive home defeat in the Premier League after Craig Cathcart's first-half goal, but Son – back from Asian Cup duty – levelled late on and then Llorente made amends after wasting several presentable chances earlier in the match.

Straight back into the team after his period of absence, Son was the first to go close early on, but Watford grew into the contest and went ahead just before the break through Cathcart's scrappy goal.

The wastefulness of Llorente – starting in place of the injured Harry Kane – looked as though it was going to cost Spurs, but Son restored parity and then the Spanish striker completed the turnaround on a dramatic night at Wembley.Son looked sharp early on and almost opened the scoring in the ninth minute, his 25-yard strike agonisingly missing the top-left corner.

Hugo Lloris did not cover himself in glory in the 38th minute, however, as his positioning was way off at a corner and Cathcart bundled home to beat the stranded Frenchman.Llorente was guilty of an inexplicable miss at the start of the second half, seeing his initial close-range shot saved, before somehow kneeing the rebound over from about three yards.

Daryl Janmaat almost turned an Christian Eriksen free-kick into his own goal just past the hour, as Ben Foster made a crucial save, before Llorente then headed wide from close in as Toby Alderweireld chipped the ball back into the danger zone.

Tottenham's luck changed in the 80th minute, however, as Llorente nudged the ball on to Son in the area and the South Korean finished emphatically past Foster.Llorente then finally found his mark three minutes from the end, sending a looping header in from Danny Rose's cross.

 

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Atalanta 3 Juventus 0: Allegri sent off as holders knocked out

Juventus' hopes of a fifth successive domestic double were extinguished after they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Atalanta in a 3-0 quarter-final defeat that marked their first domestic loss of the season and saw Massimiliano Allegri sent off.

The Bianconeri went into Wednesday's tie in Bergamo on the back of an extremely unconvincing performance in a 2-1 Serie A win over Lazio that sent them 11 points clear at the top.And they were underwhelming again at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia as they were undone by an Atalanta side that is the most prolific in Serie A, having scored 47 goals.

Gian Piero Gasperini's men dominated from the outset and Timothy Castagne's 37th-minute strike and Duvan Zapata's 19th goal of the season proved enough to set up a semi-final with Fiorentina, with the frustration that fuelled Allegri's dismissal after the second goal increased late on when a defensive mix up allowed Zapata to double his tally as their dominance of the competition ended.

Atalanta will have been buoyed by their stirring comeback against Roma on Sunday and Alejandro Gomez forced Wojciech Szczesny to turn behind with a fine effort from outside the box.The hosts saw Josip Ilicic forced off through injury while Juve were dealt a significant blow when Giorgio Chiellini motioned to the bench that he could not continue.

It was his replacement, Joao Cancelo, one of the heroes of Juve's fightback at Lazio at the weekend, who was at fault for the opener. Cancelo was dispossessed by Castagne, who then surged towards the edge of the box and bent an effort beyond Szczesny and into the bottom-right corner.

And 125 seconds later Szczesny was beaten again in stunning fashion as the in-form Zapata turned and fired a fierce effort inside the Poland international's near-post, with a furious Allegri sent from the dugout in the aftermath after an exchange with the fourth official.

Juve improved after the interval and Daniele Rugani skimmed the woodwork with a header but they offered little thereafter and a terrible error by Mattia De Sciglio allowed Zapata to round Szczesny for his second as Allegri watched forlornly on from the stands.

 

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'If he wants to go, he has to' - Sarri tells Real Madrid target Hazard he can leave Chelsea


Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has told Eden Hazard he is free to leave for Real Madrid at the end of the season if he wants, amid intense transfer speculation.The European champions have been linked with the Belgian for months now, with the galactico shaped hole in their squad yet to be filled since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus last summer.

Hazard admitted back in October that it is his dream to one day play for Madrid and, while he pledged to remain at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season, his future beyond that remains uncertain.

The 28-year-old has played a vital role for Chelsea during the 2018-19 campaign so far, contributing 13 goals and 10 assists across 28 matches for the club.Speaking ahead of his team's next Premier League encounter against Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, Sarri addressed the Hazard rumours, stating that he should push through a move to the Santiago Bernabeu if he so desires.

"Eden is 28. If he wants to go, I think he has to go," said Sarri, who rested Hazard in Chelsea's FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday after his goal-scoring performance in the EFL Cup semi-final against Tottenham."Of course, I hope the opposite. I hope he wants to stay here with us and improve.He has the potential to be the best player in Europe at the moment. Sometimes he's happy with something less.

"It's my job to improve him and put him in a position to do his best. Sometimes I have to say something in the pressroom on that. It's normal. It's my job."But I was really very happy with the last performance."The Blues are currently sitting in fourth place in the English top flight, but they face a fight to hold on to that position with Arsenal and Manchester United both also aiming for the final Champions League spot.

Sarri's men have reached the Carabao Cup final and are still in contention to win both the FA Cup and Europa League, but they ultimately slipped out of contention for the Premier League title after an inconsistent winter period.

A lack of goals from the club's main strikers has been one of the team's principal issues, with Hazard shouldering most of the responsibility for goal-getting and at times being asked to play out of position as a false nine.

Hazard will be expected to start once again against Bournemouth, while new signing Gonzalo Higuain is in line to make his Premier League debut for Chelsea.

 

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Lyon open door to signing Chelsea outcast Giroud


Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted that he would be interested in bringing Olivier Giroud back to Ligue 1, but only in the summer.The France striker has struggled for appearances and goals this season, netting once for Chelsea in the Premier League having made just six starts.

The Blues completed the loan signing of Gonzalo Higuain last week, and the Argentine’s arrival is likely to further limit the World Cup winner's chances of regular first-team football at Stamford Bridge.

Giroud himself has said that the signing of Higuain would likely influence any decision over his future in England, and suggested that a return to France was an alternative he was considering.

And Aulas has now opened the door to a potential move to Lyon, but insists that it would have to be a deal done in the summer.He told Le Figaro: "I dreamed of bringing him in last summer and I even called Arsene Wenger to get his opinion, someone like Gerard Houllier knows him well too.

"We had discussions when I was in Moscow with the French national team during the World Cup. Things were not possible, on his side."Today we have an attack that is well stocked. If someone in the front left, then a deal could interest us, especially because he has a different profile compared to our players."

Should Giroud opt to call time on his Chelsea career, it would bring an end to a seven-year stay in the Premier League that began when he swapped Montpellier for Arsenal in 2012.He scored 105 goals in 253 games in all competitions for the Gunners before leaving for Stamford Bridge in January 2018.

A return to Ligue 1 would kindle memories of his last season in the French top-flight, when he led the line for Montpellier as they recorded a shock league title success in 2011-12."This summer, of course Giroud will interest me," reiterated Aulas. "It seems a little tight for this winter. We do not want to overload with attackers, especially as we have a real team.

"Aside from that, we will have to see what manager we have at that moment of the season, but I like this boy. He is a good guy."Chelsea are next in action on Wednesday night when they face Bournemouth as they aim to move three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal following their win over Cardiff City.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Nkunku's agent confirms Arsenal interest as midfielder nears PSG exit


Arsenal have contacted Paris Saint-Germain regarding a possible transfer for midfielder Christopher Nkunku, according to the player's agent.

The 21-year-old has emerged as a primary transfer target for the Gunners over the last week, as Arsenal boss Unai Emery aims to bolster his current squad.The Spaniard has stated that Arsenal are only exploring the possibility of loan deals this month, with the option to buy at the end of the season.

Nkunku has been touted as Aaron Ramsey's potential successor at Emirates Stadium, with the Welshman set to leave the club this summer.Nkunku's agent Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan confirmed the rumours of a possible departure for the midfielder and he revealed that Arsenal have already made contact with PSG to discuss a possible deal.

"I am here [in the studio] which is not a good sign," Fanfan told Canal +. "There is a real interest from Arsenal for Nkunku, but the discussions are quite complicated. There are restrictions from Arsenal’s side, they cannot do a transfer in the middle of the season.

"It is still being discussed with PSG, things could still happen in the next 48 hours, but as I said, the fact that I am here means that it does not look good.“His situation will be evaluated in June, then he will have just one year left on his contract, and his situation will need to be evaluated.

“He is a young boy, who needs to play, enjoy himself, and to sign up for a project for the long term, that is what he is looking for, and he was in that phase with Arsenal but it looks complicated. If we have to wait, then he is ready to do that, he will wait.”

Nkunku has featured in 15 matches for PSG across all competitions this term, contributing one goal and one assist.At the moment he is not guaranteed regular football under head coach Thomas Tuchel, with several top stars ahead of him in the pecking order at the Parc Des Princes.

The winter transfer window will close on Thursday, which means Arsenal do not have much time to push the deal over the line, especially given the fact they are also trying to wrap up the loan signing of Denis Suarez from Barcelona.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

No suitable offers for Arsenal-linked Perisic, says Inter director


Inter Milan's battle to keep Ivan Perisic is heating up with the club saying they are yet to receive any 'suitable offers' for the Arsenal-linked winger.The Croatian international has been rumoured to join Gunners during the transfer window, with speculation mounting since he handed in a transfer request on Saturday.Perisic was subsequently left out of the Inter squad a day later as the Nerazzurri went down 1-0 against Torino.

Inter director Piero Ausilio revealed the Serie A side are yet to be satisfied by any offer for the 29-year-old attacker, with reports Arsenal had a loan bid with an option to buy for €40 million rejected.

It's understood they are open to let Perisic leave but only on a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy."Perisic wants to go abroad, but there are no suitable offers," Ausilio said."If he does remain, I expect the same professionalism from him as always. We intend to get him back on track and it shouldn't be a problem. I don't think it'll take very long.

"I can say the Inter transfer market is closed. We had some fitness issues with Sime Vrsaljko and did well to immediately cover the gap with Cedric Soares [from Southampton]."Inter have had a difficult path over the last few years, having changed ownership three times, but we now have a solid and ambitious owner who with time and patience can achieve great things."

The Milan club have failed to score in either of their Serie A matches since the winter break finished, and currently sit third in the Serie A - 19 points behind leaders Juventus.However, they are still in with a chance of silverware in the Coppa Italia with a quarter-final tie to played at home against Lazio on Sunday.