Looking for Soccer News?

Lautaro Martinez was not one of Inter's six goalscorers on Wednesday, but Antonio Conte is remaining relaxed about the striker's struggles.

The Nerazzurri enjoyed a comfortable evening as they thrashed bottom side Brescia 6-0 to move back to within eight points of Serie A leaders Juventus.

Ashley Young, Alexis Sanchez and Danilo D'Ambrosio all scored in the first half, with Roberto Gagliardini, Christian Eriksen and Antonio Candreva also on target after the break.

Conte left top scorer Romelu Lukaku on the bench for the first 68 minutes, and though Martinez was given a chance from the off, his failure to get on the scoresheet means he has just one goal across his past 10 appearances in all competitions.

Martinez, who has scored 12 times in Serie A this season and has been linked with a summer move to Barcelona, missed the target with two good chances and kicked the post in a clear sign of frustration when thwarted by goalkeeper Jesse Joronen on another occasion.

"We can't hold anything against him, especially in terms of his commitment," Conte told DAZN of a player rumoured to be of interest to Barcelona.

"He deserved a goal and the personal satisfaction that comes with it. I'm very calm, I've got a great group of guys, professionals who want the best for Inter.

"Because of that, we can have flaws or get things wrong during games, but I'm still able to remain calm because of the professionalism and generosity of this group.

"My only regret this year is that we paid a big price for our naivety."

With Martinez having another off-night, and Lukaku only appearing for the closing stages, it was Young and Sanchez who shone at San Siro.

The two combined for the opening goal, one of two assists for Sanchez, who also scored his first Inter goal since September from the penalty spot.

The 31-year-old Chilean still looks a long way from the player who impressed at Arsenal prior to joining Manchester United in 2018, but Conte is pleased with the path the Inter loanee is now on.

"We brought him here for his qualities," Conte added.

"Unfortunately, we lost him as an option for a long time. He's now starting to find his feet, even if he's still not the Sanchez I was such a big fan of in England.

"What I can say, however, is that he's on the right track, he put in a great performance today. Having all my forwards available makes me feel more relaxed."

Jose Mourinho believes Tanguy Ndombele can turn around his situation at Tottenham, highlighting Luka Modric's difficult start to life with Real Madrid.

Ndombele is a club-record signing following his £55million arrival from Lyon last year but the French midfielder has struggled in London, and he has reportedly told Mourinho he no longer wants to work with him.

The likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with Ndombele, who was an unused substitute in last week's 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham.

But Tottenham boss Mourinho has backed Ndombele, pointing to Modric's impact at Madrid. Following a tumultuous start in the Spanish capital after leaving Spurs in 2012, the Croatian has gone on to win the Ballon d'Or, four Champions League titles and La Liga.

"Nothing happens when the players have no talent. So when a player has no talent, nothing happens. When you are born with no potential, you die with no potential. When you have talent lots of things can change and lots of things can happen," Mourinho said ahead of Thursday's clash against Sheffield United.

"As you say I didn't know it, one year since he arrived, but maybe six months since I arrived. So for the first six months I'm not the guy to go through what happened in the first six months, which I think is very important when a player arrives from a different club, different country, football culture – I don't know what happened in this first six months, I know when I arrived that there were problems.

"Injuries, small injuries, physical condition and that broke that initial impact that when a player starts working with a manager, immediately broke that impact you can have with other players.

"Now it’s the situation where everyone has to adapt to it, I want everyone to adapt to it, the club wants everyone to adapt to it, which is the fact that we are a big club and we want to be a bigger club. 

"When you are a big club that wants to be bigger, you have lots of good players, you don't have fix or six, or 10 or 11, you have lots, and when you have that you have lots of options.

"You can face all the competitions, but then the players, fans, you the press, everyone must understand you can only start with 11, and in many other clubs it looks like it's normal to have great players on the bench. 

"You go to Manchester United, you go to Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and lots of top players on the bench, and that is normal.

"In Tottenham, what I feel is every time a top player is on the bench, that's a drama, and players have to understand that is not a drama, you have to understand it's not a drama and everyone has to understand I hope next season we have even more top players on the bench because it means we want to be bigger than we are now. 

"When a top player is on the bench, that doesn't mean there is a story behind it, it means we have lots of options. So the other day when I played [Moussa] Sissoko and [Giovani] Lo Celso in midfield, there is no drama that [Harry] Winks is not playing or Ndombele is not playing. There is no drama [Erik] Lamela isn't playing, that's life in a big club.

"So, no problem with Tanguy, he is in a big club, period. He's in a big club and he has to compete with the other guys. He's an option for me, he's a very good player, he probably will be playing tomorrow, the next match, there is no problems."

Asked if Ndombele can turn his situation around, Mourinho added: "Of course I believe – I started my answer, if there is no talent, there is nothing to do, with talent there is a lot to do. You don't have talent, you have no chance. You don't have talent, you have no chance. 

"Football is full of players with difficult starts. Luka Modric in Real Madrid, after six months he was elected the worst signing of Real Madrid history by the fans and press, a few months later he was champion, then European champion and then voted the best player in the world. When the talent is there, many things can happen with adaptation, but if the talent is there anything good can happen."

Quizzed on whether Ndombele has a problem with his mentality, Mourinho replied: "That's a question for him, not a question for me.

"I've known him six months and it's not for me to define the psychological profile of a player. One thing is feelings, another is the reality. I'm no genius to in six months get into someone's brain to describe 100 per cent how the person is feeling, you have to ask."

Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala has teamed up with Plug Sports management – an entertainment outfit that boasts of Nigeria’s musical sensation, David Adeleke (Davido).

Having reached an agreement with the renowned outfit which was announced on July 1, Plug Sports will help the four-time African Women’s Player of the Year handle her off-field interests.

With this pact, she becomes the second Nigerian footballer to be associated with the brand after Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru who is on-loan from AS Monaco.

“We are delighted to welcome four-time Female African player of the year, Forbes Africa 30 under 30 class of 2020, our First Lady, Asisat Lamina Oshoala to Plug Sports,” stated head of sports, Lanre Vigo in a statement made available to Goal.

“We look forward to taking Asisat’s career to the next level. We will be handling Asisat’s off the field interests. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to helping her reach her goals.

“The partnership was signed earlier in June last month. Thank you to our friends at Prokicks for sorting this out.

“She fits our model at Plug Sports, she is on her way to being one of the greatest athletes out of Africa, I see her conquering the world very soon.

“She’s done a lot of amazing things off the pitch through her Foundation. We look forward to working with her and helping her achieve her dreams.”

Aside from sports and entertainment, Plug Sports which houses Mayorkun and Peruzzi are also into publishing and licensing.

The FC Robo Queens product contributed 20 goals and one assist in 19 outings to help Lluis Cortes' side finish at the top before the league was called off owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

As a reward for her awe-inspiring performances, Oshoala was named in the Fans' Spanish Primera Iberdrola Team of the Season for the 2019-20 campaign alongside Sandra Panos, Mapi Leon, Marian Torrejon, Maria Mendez, Ona Batlle, Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas, Jenni Hermoso, Graham Hansen and Atletico Madrid's Lucy Santos.

The 25-year-old played a huge role in helping the Catalans clinch their first league title in five years without losing a match in 21 games last term.

Emmanuel Adebayor has penned a profound goodbye to Olimpia after agreeing with the club to terminate his contract.

The 36-year-old made a surprise move to the Paraguayan top flight to reunite with former Manchester City teammate Roque Santa Cruz.

However, he parted ways with the club just five months into his contract amid health fears inspired by the coronavirus pandemic.

Adebayor who had after previously played in England, Spain, France and Turkey throughout his career featured in four games across all competitions for the Asuncion based outfit with a goal.

His last game for Daniel Garnero’s men saw him sent off for a dangerous play against Defensa y Justicia in a Conmebol Libertadores fixture.

Following this recent development, the Togolese football great took to Instagram to say goodbye to Olimpia.

“Due to the pandemic; the club and I had to make some tough decisions,” Adebayor wrote on Instagram.

“We have come to a mutual agreement to terminate our contractual relationship. I would like to thank president Marco Trovato, the board of directors, coach Garnero, the coaching staff, the players, the fans, and the general public for the incredible welcome and the good times spent together.

“I will certainly hold on to my Yerba Mate and think of you people. I wish you all the best and pray the club and the city continues to prosper. Love you all.

Olimpia is Adebayor's 10th professional club since leaving his native Togo in 2001 to head to France, where he had spells at Metz and Monaco before joining Premier League outfit Arsenal.

His time with Manchester City involved loans to Real Madrid and Tottenham before heading to Tottenham Hotspurs permanently. 

He later featured for Crystal Palace, Istanbul BB and Kayserispor, with the forward scoring two goals in eight appearances during his brief stay with the latter.

On the international scene, he boasts of the most caps and goals for Togo, having featured 87 times while scoring 32 goals for his country. He featured in the Hawks’ World Cup appearance in 2006 as well as four Africa Cup of Nations outings.

Paraguay has more than 2,000 cases of Covid-19 with 17 deaths and more than 1,000 recoveries.

Ashanti Gold chief executive officer (CEO) Emmanuel Frimpong believes they are in good shape to represent Ghana in the 2020-21 Caf Confederation Cup.

The Miners received the nod to play in the competition on Tuesday following a Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council decision to truncate the 2019-20 domestic football season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Asante Kotoko, the most successful club in the history of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will represent the nation in the Caf Champions League. AshGold and Kotoko represented Ghana in this season's Confederation Cup and Champions League.

"We are 85 per cent ready for Africa," Frimpong told Kumasi FM.

"When the league was suspended, there was a rumour of AshantiGold and Asante Kotoko going for Africa hence we started preparing and putting everything in place.

"Our coach has been sending training schedules for the players at home. My players are very ready for anything.

"AshantiGold would have been at the top of the league but for the cancellation of the league."

Ordinarily, the winners of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) are awarded the slot for the Caf Champions League while victors of the FA Cup earn the Confederation Cup spot.

In 2017-18, Ghana was similarly unable to complete its football season, then due to a corruption scandal, and consequently decided against presenting any representatives for Caf competitions.

There were no Premier League or FA Cup competitions in 2018-19 as the nation was still picking itself up from the turbulent scandal.

However, following a decision to make a return to continental inter-club football after a one-year absence, Ghana organised novelty competitions to determine representatives for the 2019-20 African campaign.

Kotoko won the Ghana Tier One Special Competition, which replaced the Premier League, and participated in the Champions League where their adventure ended early as they were knocked out by Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in the first round.

Ashanti Gold, who won the Ghana Tier Two Special Competition - which replaced the FA Cup - played in the Confederation Cup. Like Kotoko, the Miners' journey ended in the first round following defeat to Moroccan fold RS Berkane.

Kotoko and AshGold held the third and fifth positions, respectively, on the standings.

Jermaine Seoposenwe has thanked the Spanish top-flight side Real Betis following the expiration of her six-month contract on June 30.

The South Africa international arrived at the Spanish Primera Iberdrola outfit in February and only played three games in all competitions, including the Women's Cup for Pier Luigi Cherubino's team.

She came on as a substitute in Betis' 2-0 win over Espanyol on February 15 and in a 2-0 triumph over Rayo Vallecano on March 1 five days after a 1-0 Cup loss to Logrono.

And following the league's suspension and subsequent cancellation in May, her side finished 12th with 20 points from 21 matches - the 26-year-old is grateful for the opportunity.

Before her journey to Spain, Seoposenwe enjoyed a fine albeit brief spell, scoring six times in eight games for Lithuanian champions Gintra Universitetas in a first professional move abroad. 

During her short spell at Gintra, she also made her first-ever outing in the Uefa Women's Champions League, featuring twice in the playoffs against Wexford Youths and Birkirkara last August.

On joining Betis, the striker, who previously starred for JVW FC in her home country, became the second South African woman to join a Spanish outfit after Ode Fulutudilu starred for Malaga in 2019.

On the international scene, she helped Banyana Banyana to a runners-up spot at the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations and was part of the squad in their maiden Women's World Cup in France in 2019.

Having left Betis this week, the Cape Town-born striker is expected to make known her next possible destination in the coming days.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admitted that he is yet to reach a decision on extending his Arsenal stay, but was happy to see Bukayo Saka sign his own deal. 

Aubameyang struck with two goals as the Gunners breezed past Norwich City 4-0 on Wednesday, a result that moves Mikel Arteta's charges up to seventh, six points shy of Manchester United in fifth; while deepening the Canaries' relegation woes at the foot of the Premier League table. 

The Gabon international is now level with Jamie Vardy on 19 goals as the league's top scorer in 2019-20 and also broke the Premier League record as the quickest Arsenal footballer to reach his half-century. 

But when asked whether he will be following Saka's lead and putting pen to paper on a fresh contract, Aubameyang was non-committal. 

"I’m really pleased that Bukayo signed da ting," the striker told BT Sport after the final whistle.

"And now we’ll see. We’re going to talk to the club and we’ll see what happens.

"First of all I'm really focused on the games and the end of the season so we'll see. 

"I'm really proud [of reaching 50 goals] but first of all I'm proud of the team. I thought we deserved the win because we did a great job. Everyone worked very well today so I’m really happy.

"I'm really happy today, my performance was good, I'm always happy to score goals and help the team to win games."

Aubameyang is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in June 2021, and his uncertain future has attracted attention from the the likes of Barcelona. 

Manager Mikel Arteta, however, paid tribute to his star forward and expressed his belief that he would continue to grace north London for a while yet. 

"He's the type of player that is always trying to be the best, to score goals to help the team," Arteta explained to BT Sport. 

"I'm really glad for him, not just for his goals but for his attitude too.

"How many goals can he score? Hopefully another hundred. He's a magician... He is willing to stay with us."

Belgian First Division A giants Genk have completed the signing of Cyriel Dessers from Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo.

The 25-year-old Nigeria senior national team invitee penned a four year deal with the Smurfs which will see him stay at the club until 2024.

Dessers joined the Heraclieden last summer from Utrecht on a three-year deal and enjoyed great success in his debut campaign with the side.

In 29 appearances across all competitions, he scored 18 goals and provided six assists which saw him emerge as joint-topscorer in the Dutch elite division, which was cancelled owing to the coronavirus outbreak.

His eye-catching performances generated a number of interests, however, Genk beat several European clubs to secure his signature in the summer.

Reacting to the move, Genk’s sporting director Dimitri de Conde said it will enable the player to take his career to the next level.

“Cyriel has developed excellently in the Netherlands as a footballer and as a real goalscorer,” he told the club website.

“He is Belgian, still young and ready to take the next step in his career. The fact that he was a supporter of our club as a child only makes it even better.”

For the Belgian-Nigerian, who had spells at OH Leuven, Lokeren, NAC Breda and FC Utrecht, joining the Smurfs is a dream come true.

“As a little boy you dream of great things. I dreamed of KRC Genk,” he tweeted.

He has been handed the no. 9 jersey and becomes the fifth African in Hannes Wolf’s squad after compatriots Paul Onuachu, Stephen Odey, Cote d’Ivoire’s Eboue Kouassi and Ghana’s Joseph Paintsil.

All eyes will be on him to help the Belgians qualify for Europe next term after finishing seventh in the First Division A after accruing 44 points in 29 outings.

Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, he pledged his international allegiance to the Super Eagles in December 2019.

He was called up by coach Gernot Rohr for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone which could not be held due to the pandemic which placed football-related activities on hold for months.

Barcelona head coach Quique Setien is “completely overwhelmed” with the task facing him at Camp Nou, claims former Blaugrana forward Christophe Dugarry.

Following a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, the Catalans need Real Madrid to drop points in at least two of their remaining six matches to stand any chance of retaining the Liga title.

While a run of three draws in four games is not up to the standard expected of the club, matters are reportedly coming to a head behind the scenes, with the squad rapidly losing faith in the former Real Betis coach, who only took charge in January and Barca having resolved to sack him if the club ends the season without the league or Champions League.

Dugarry simply believes that the 61-year-old finds himself in a role that he simply was not prepared for.

“This is a coach who is completely out of his depth,” the 1998 World Cup winner told RMC. “Setien is very nice, but he’s not at that level. He doesn’t know what changes to make.

“He replaced Sergio Busquets in the 85th minute with Ansu Fati and only put on Antoine Griezmann in the 90th minute. He doesn’t know how to make his team play. He’s completely overwhelmed.”

The Griezmann case was particularly controversial, with the player’s family taking to social media to hit out at the coach for making the former Atleti star warm up for much of the second half only to deploy him with seconds remaining.

“I’m sure that he’s got nothing against Griezmann, but it’s just that Setien is incompetent,” Dugarry explained.

“Griezmann was the victim this time, but it could have happened to another player. He doesn’t know how to bring new vibrancy when the team does not find a solution.”

Meanwhile, Dugarry can understand why the Frenchman has found himself on the bench in three of the last four matches.

“He’s lost confidence, his performances are not good,” the pundit explained. “It’s true that Lionel Messi could pass to him more, but honestly it doesn’t shock me.

“Griezmann loses balls, he plays it safe. If Griezmann just goes to see Messi, it won’t solve their problems.”

Barca travel to Villarreal on Sunday with both the coach and the attacker under pressure. 

Achraf Hakimi has revealed his admiration for Real Madrid defender Marcelo as a player he aspires to emulate in his career.

The Moroccan full-back is reportedly on the verge of leaving the Spanish giants after agreeing on a five-year deal with Inter Milan at the end of his Borussia Dortmund loan.

Hakimi has been at Real Madrid since 2006 at the tender age of eight, and he progressed through the club's youth ranks, playing for Los Blancos during their pre-season tour in 2016 and also featuring for the Real Madrid B-side.

He made his La Liga debut in October 2017 and two months later, he broke his league duck against Sevilla. 

While developing his game at the Madrid academy, Hakimi had his sights set on Marcelo, who has been at the club since 2007, because of his qualities on the pitch and sense of humour.

“It was a dream for me to play alongside him, like it was when I signed for Real Madrid. I signed when I was young; I didn't believe it when they called me,” Hakimi told BBC Sport.

“As a young player, I looked up to Marcelo because he plays in the same position as me.

“He laughs all the time too; when he plays, he enjoys it. I want to be like him.”

During his two-year loan spell at Dortmund, Hakimi showed his versatility in Lucien Favre’s team to play as a left-back, right-back or winger in certain situations.

He proved his attacking prowess by contributing 10 assists and five goals for the Black and Yellows who finished second in the just-concluded Bundesliga campaign.

The Moroccan full-back shone in the various roles he played this season, but he reveals the right-back is his favourite playing position.

“I think I like the right-back role - but I like to go on the attack all the time,” he added.

“I like to play as a winger too, and sometimes I feel as if I want to play as a striker. But I think right-back is good.”

Despite his restricted playing time in Zinedine Zidane's team, the two-time Caf Youth Player of the Year won two Champions League titles and one La Liga crown amongst others with Los Blancos.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is hopeful Dani Ceballos can be brought to the Emirates Stadium on a permanent basis after a series of impressive performances for the Gunners. 

Ceballos, 23, joined Arsenal from Real Madrid on loan at the start of the 2019-20 season. 

Injury problems have restricted his involvement, however, with a muscle tear suffered in November ruling him out of action for almost three months. 

The midfielder appears to have come back from the coronavirus interruption in better shape, starting all three of Arsenal's Premier League games to date since the end of lockdown. 

And while Arsenal did not include a purchase option in last summer's loan agreement with Madrid, Arteta would be happy to see his compatriot stay on beyond the current term. 

"Both clubs have been in communication. I really like Dani and what he brings to the team," he explained to reporters following Wednesday's 4-0 thrashing of Norwich City. 

"When I joined he wasn’t available because he had a difficult injury, but he’s understanding what we’re trying to do really, really nicely and he has big personality to play and take the ball in any area of the field and give us the continuity that we need as a team to control the games better, but as well without the ball.

"The running that he’s putting in, the tackles, every time with the interceptions, his desire to win that ball back and help the team, he’s improved so much and he looks a really good player at the moment."

Ceballos has also recently commented on his future, stating that he was more likely to stay in the Premier League or return to former employers Betis than try his luck again under Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

“The owner of my future next year is me. Next year I want to play and I will hardly be able to do it at Real Madrid," the midfielder explained to El Larguero. 

“Would I return with Zidane? I have to make the decision. He told me this year that the best thing was for me to leave and get experience.

“Everyone makes their decisions and they must be respected, I have nothing against him because he has always been very clear with me.

“Betis? It is an option. I do not close the door to play in any club. I do not rule out continuing in the Premier [League].”

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is not accepting special mention about his combination with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, preferring that the whole team be credited for their triumphant season.

The three have so far this season combined to score 40 of Liverpool’s 70 Premier League goals to claim the title with seven games remaining and break a 30-year wait for that crown.

Salah leads the Anfield outfit’s scoring with 17 goals as well as seven assists, the same number managed by Firmino who has eight goals.

Mane’s 15 strikes and nine assists complete the trio’s contribution but the Senegal international appears to downplay their partnership, saying the team comes first before any talk of their combination.

“I always say we are lucky boys. People are always talking about us three but I think this team is more than the front three,” Mane told the Liverpool website.

“I am lucky to play alongside these two great players [up front] and they make everything easier for me… I will keep trying to work harder and harder to get better and better for the next games.”

Mane has also anointed left-back Andy Robertson as the “best” in his position in the world.

“Andy is a great lad, first of all, and he is a great player. You can see his desire and how hungry he is in the game and he always wants to learn and always wants to improve,” said Mane.

“For me, he is the best left-back in the Premier League for sure and in the world. He is still young and can improve a lot and he’s just an incredible player, always going forward and he is defending properly… he is just a unique player.”

Having already won the league title, Liverpool next visit Manchester City on Thursday.

They arrive at the Etihad Stadium in high spirits of their triumphant season but Mane emphasised that they always have to be “ready for the next games.”

“It’s a special moment and a unique moment. It has been a long [time], waiting for the title and finally we got it and you can see how happy the players, the staff, the manager, [the people] around the club, all over the world the supporters are,” Mane said.

“It’s just an incredible moment and now we have to enjoy this moment and at the same time make sure we are ready for the next games.”

Super-sub Andriy Yarmolenko scored a last-gasp winner to give West Ham's Premier League survival hopes a huge boost in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Chelsea at the London Stadium.

Introduced in the 78th minute for Jarrod Bowen, who had earlier set up goals for Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio, Yarmolenko coolly slotted home at the end of a swift counter-attack to stun Chelsea.

The vital result lifts David Moyes' side three points above the relegation zone, while Chelsea – for whom Willian scored twice, including a stunning free-kick – missed the chance to climb to third.

It is the first time the Hammers, who won the reverse fixture 1-0, have done the league double over the Blues since the 2002-03 season, although they were somewhat ominously relegated in that campaign.

It had not shaped up to be a good night for the home side when Soucek was initially denied his first goal for the club, a lengthy VAR review finding the prone Antonio to be offside when the Czech forced home the loose ball from a corner.

The Hammers' woes were compounded when Issa Diop brought down Christian Pulisic in the area and Willian confidently converted the spot-kick. 

But West Ham fought back and Slavia Prague loanee Soucek climbed above Cesar Azpilicueta to nod in the leveller from Bowen's corner.

Moyes' men took the lead when Bowen tricked his way into space and drove a low cross into the heart of the area, with Antonio on hand to provide the finish.

However, they could not hold on at 2-1 and Willian's cultured free-kick hit the inside of Lukasz Fabianski's left-hand upright before nestling in the net.

Remarkably, that was not the end of matters and, with the visitors pushing for a winner, the decisive goal came at the other end as Yarmolenko collected Antonio's pass before slotting in.
 

What does it mean? Hammers revived, Chelsea stunned

Frank Lampard's side have looked in fine form since the return from the coronavirus-enforced break, winning all three matches to reach the FA Cup semi-final and close the gap to third-place Leicester. West Ham, meanwhile, had lost back-to-back games without scoring.

But the form book went out of the window here, much to the Hammers' credit.

Moyes silences critics

Moyes has come in for significant criticism amid West Ham's struggles, but his side produced a display of which he can be proud. Even after the setbacks of Soucek's disallowed goal and then Willian's glorious equaliser, they showed huge character to dig deep and get the points.

Willian's a wizard

By netting in this game, albeit in a losing effort, Willian became the first player to score a Premier League goal in every calendar month. While the first strike may not make many highlight reels, though it was a solid spot-kick, his second was a thing of beauty.

Key Opta Facts

- West Ham ended a 20-game losing run when conceding the first goal in Premier League fixtures, with this the first time they avoided defeat after conceding first in the competition since February 2019 – a 3-1 win over Fulham.

- Only West Ham (22) and Aston Villa (19) have dropped more points from leading positions in this season's Premier League than Chelsea (18).

- This was West Ham's sixth Premier League win over Chelsea after conceding the first goal; only against Southampton (seven) have the Hammers come from behind after conceding first to win more times in the competition, while only Arsenal (seven) have beaten Chelsea more after conceding first to them in the division.

- This was Chelsea's 10th Premier League defeat of the season; only in 2015-16, when they finished 10th, have they suffered more in a single campaign in the Roman Abramovich era (12).

What's next?

Chelsea can do West Ham a favour by beating Watford on Saturday, while on Sunday Moyes' men head to a Newcastle United outfit buoyed by a dominant win over struggling Bournemouth.

Manchester City have to cut out the mistakes if they are to have any chance of stopping Liverpool next season, according to midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

The new Premier League champions travel to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night, 23 points clear with seven matches still remaining.

While Liverpool have set an incredible pace that could yet see them break City’s record haul of 100 points they achieved two years ago, Pep Guardiola’s side have not matched their form of the last two title-winning seasons - losing eight matches already, more than the six of the last two campaigns combined.

“Liverpool had a great season, they hardly dropped points so it is so tough to maintain that level for such a long time,” Germany international Gundogan said.

“On the other side, we have to stop dropping points unnecessarily. Games that we have to win, we didn’t. I remember a game at Newcastle where we conceded a goal in the last minute and dropped two points there. We played a game at home to Wolves and lost the game.

“There are so many games where we made mistakes and were just unable to win these types of games.

“Still, we are second, it is not a bad season I would say. We know where we have to improve next season and if we are able to do that again we will be in the title race.”

Gundogan played for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund before his move to City and says he is lucky to have worked for two of the best managers in the world.

“Both are amazing managers, there is no doubt about that,” he added. “If you are a great manager you have to have a great personality. This is something they definitely have in common.

“When it comes to the game they both focus on different things. Pep is maybe more about positions, dominating the ball while Jurgen is maybe more like winning the ball and trying to score goals as quick as possible with high intensity.

“I just think they are great human beings and the football world should be grateful that we have these two personalities.”

City can still make it a memorable season with an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal later this month followed by the Champions League in August and Gundogan says there is no reason why they can’t target winning both.

“It is definitely exciting,” he said. “We still have two great competitions that we can win. We are playing to win it so that is our aim. It is not going to be easy but I think we have a chance to win both.

“Obviously, we have to improve still and play well because there is no room for mistakes, you have to be crucial. These games are crucial.”

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions Liverpool’s title win could mark the end of Manchester City’s era of dominance in the Premier League.

The Reds head to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday looking to underline their status as top dogs in England, one week after being crowned league champions for the first time since 1990.

The gap between the two sides is enormous, with Klopp’s team able to move 26 points clear of Pep Guardiola’s two-time champions with a victory.

Their supremacy in this campaign has been unquestionable, but Klopp laughed when it was put to him at his pre-match press conference that City, who will lose David Silva at the end of the season having waved goodbye to club captain Vincent Kompany last summer, could be coming to the end of a cycle under Guardiola.

“Did I hear that right, you think it could be the end of an era?” Klopp said.

“City did have to replace the likes of Kompany, and maybe they were a bit under pressure from different authorities so a big transfer was not possible, I don’t know?

“Now David Silva is going. You know how much I admire him. He never played in my team but I loved him since pretty much he started playing football. But if he can be replaced by somebody, then I have to say they have the perfect players for that; if it’s Bernardo Silva or [Phil] Foden, or Ilkay Gundogan can play that role as well.

“They don’t lose players, they replace them. A lot of world-class players are still there. If Aguero gets older, then Gabriel Jesus is there. They will not stop.

“I couldn’t be more positive about my team, but I cannot deny that they [City] are really good. That was always the case. We still wanted to beat them.

“I don’t see any end of an era, but what is an era? We won the title, and the next day people told me we were only a big team if we win it twice or three times or four times! Sorry! Can we at least speak for five minutes about winning it one time? That’s not too bad, we were fighting long enough.

“When the new season starts we will try to be in contention again, but no, I cannot see the end of anything for Man City!”

Liverpool head to the Etihad knowing that 15 points from their remaining seven league matches would see them set a new all-time top-flight record for a single season – eclipsing City’s ‘centurions’ from 2017-18.

It would also, wisdom suggests, strike a sizeable psychological blow heading into the next campaign, if the Reds could confirm their superiority.

Klopp, unsurprisingly, disagrees.

“I don’t think we have to make a statement,” he said. “What will change if we beat City tomorrow night, and what will change if City beat us? People will say a few things, but that’s really not important.

“We all have to be ready for next year, not only us, not only City. You can really see in the moment that [Manchester] United is coming up, people thought they had no chance but now we can see how good they are and how good they could be, and for sure they will not be worse next season. Chelsea as well.

“It’s not about City and us. It was for two seasons, pretty much, at the top of the table, but City have been there for four or five years and they have all the tools to be there again. 

“How can I say we are there, 100 per cent? We have to show that. It is difficult, for sure, and it will not get easier. 

“So this game on Thursday, it’s a very important game – but that’s because it’s the only game we play, and City see it the same way.”

Liverpool have welcomed James Milner back into training after a hamstring injury, but will be without defender Joel Matip for the rest of the season due to a foot issue.

Jurgen Klopp has explained how lessons from the world’s most famous rugby union side have helped him throughout his managerial career.

The Liverpool boss revealed that, early in his spell in charge of Mainz, he had been struck by a documentary about the New Zealand All Blacks, which laid bare the desire, mentality and sacrifices taken by players who pulled on the famous jersey.

At a press conference to preview his side’s trip to Manchester City, Klopp spoke of how he had used that at Mainz, even making his players listen to the famous ‘Haka’ to get them pumped up before games.

“I think it was my first pre-season,” he explained. “And in the summer break I saw this documentary. I was completely impressed by these big fellas and how they spoke. 

“At that time, the All Blacks were by far the best rugby team in the world, with a winning percentage of over 70 per cent. That’s so impressive. 

“These boys, they worked as butchers, as builders, all that stuff, and all these guys spoke about their past and what it meant to them to play for this team. 

“At Mainz, the last two minutes before the team bus arrived at the stadium for a game, we would always listen to the Haka, so that when the door opened it was pretty loud! It gave us just a little kick.

“They were the All Blacks, and at Mainz we made ourselves the All Reds! Nobody noticed that, because we were a small club, a small team. But for us it was big. That’s how it started for that team.

“I don’t know how much influence it had, but if you ask the players of that time, they really liked it. We were a team nobody is interested in, but we were really interested in ourselves!”

At Mainz, Klopp went on to earn promotion to the Bundesliga in 2004 – the first time in the club’s history they had reached the top flight.

Now, 16 years on, he is basking in the glory of guiding Liverpool to their first league title since 1990. 

But at Melwood on Wednesday afternoon, he promised the Reds would, like the All Blacks, refuse to rest on their laurels and would continue to hunt further success.

"I have learned that when you think you have reached the pinnacle you are already on the way down,” he said.

"We don't feel that. I don't feel satisfied. This is just another step, a big one, an unbelievably big one, but it's not the only thing I want to talk to the boys about when I meet them in 20 years' time.

"As long as you wear the shirt, less than 100 per cent is never allowed. That's not my phrase. I kept that for myself from the All Blacks documentary.

“And that's for each LFC player and for me. That's what we try to live.”

Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier has charged his teammates to grab maximum points against Sheffield United to boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s Uefa Champions League.

The North London club are eighth in the league standings after picking up four points in their first two games since the restart of the Premier League in June.

Following a 1-1 draw against Manchester United, they edged West Ham United 2-0 in their last outing which put them nine points adrift of the top-four.

Ahead of their trip to Sheffield, Aurier who has been a regular fixture in Jose Mourinho's team this campaign with 26 league appearances so far, advised his teammates to get ready for ‘a big test’ after both teams played out a 1-1 draw back in November.

The Ivory Coast international also revealed how the team bonded during the coronavirus lockdown without football action.

“We never stopped working during the isolation. We worked hard at home. We worked a lot,” Aurier told club website.

"The lockdown obviously stopped a lot, but we stayed together with things like Zoom and we would talk all the time. Like after training we would talk, seeing how everyone is doing and hearing each other’s news and that.

“We never lost that feeling of togetherness - for me, that was really good. Everyone was really happy to get back to training together and then you see that on the pitch as well. Everyone is fit and trying to give everything.

“We’ve now played two games. Against Manchester United, we had the possibility to win that, but we drew and then we managed to win the derby against West Ham.

“I think we are in a good way. I think Sheffield United is now a big test for us. If we want to finish in the top four, we need to win this game.

“They are very good team. When we played them at home in November, we drew, and I can remember that being a tough game. We just need to remain concentrated on our objective and on ourselves as a group. They are strong but we only look at ourselves.”

Since the restart of the Premier League, games have been played without fans in the stadium in an attempt to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Aurier believes Tottenham are lacking the motivation supporters give players during games which make home and away matches look more like the same.

“Before, with the fans, it pushed the players. When we have the fans, it is much easier for me... we play football for that, we play for the fans, we play for people to come to the stadium. That always give us a big motivation,” he continued.

“Every player loves that passion and intensity from the stands. Of course, we keep our motivation with or without the fans being there whenever we play but, of course, it is difficult. We know it is also difficult for the fans though as they can’t come to the stadium. We feel that.

“We are playing in an almost neutral environment now. For me, when we go and play away, it’s will be like playing at home and we need to keep that mentality. Without the fans, it is not the same.

"The best way to give energy to the fans though is to win these games. We know everyone is watching.

“The gaffer said it to us during the last game, and I think it’s right, that when we play, we need to understand that everyone is watching. There might not be anyone watching in the stadium, but they are all watching on the TV. So, we need to give our all for them and we need to feel how they feel at home.”

Mikel Arteta has warned Matteo Guendouzi his actions need to change if he is to work his way back into the Arsenal side.

The France Under-21 international midfielder clashed with compatriot Neal Maupay after a defeat to Brighton, with the manager making it clear he was not happy with the youngster’s attitude.

Guendouzi, who arrived at Arsenal last summer from Ligue 2 side Lorient, was subsequently dropped from the squad that won at Southampton and was once again a conspicuous absentee as the Gunners kept their European push going against Norwich on Wednesday with a comprehensive 4-0 home win. 

Speaking in the post-match interview, Arteta gave a concise reading of the present situation as he warned his charge over his conduct once more.

“It's the same reasons as last week,” he said when quizzed over the player’s absence. “Things have to change and nothing has changed.”

In contrast, Granit Xhaka is winning his place back in the squad after his career at the Emirates Stadium appeared doomed when he threw his jersey to the ground and was seen complaining about the support when he was replaced under previous coach Unai Emery.

He agreed terms to join Hertha Berlin but at the 11th hour remained at the club.

Under Arteta, he has discovered a new lease of life and netted the second against the Canaries after being set up by Aubameyang.

And the Spaniard recognised that the Switzerland international has gone full circle.

“He's a player whose commitment goes beyond anything normal. He leaves every drop of blood on that football pitch every day and he does the same in training,” he said. 

“For me, he's a great example to any other team-mate, the way he looks after himself and lives his profession. I'm really happy that we could convince him to stay, give him another opportunity, learn from the mistake that he made and as well appreciate the player and the person that we have at the club, and support them. 

“When someone has a difficult moment, we are right behind them. We can give them another chance.”

Arteta, therefore, seems willing to leave the door open for 21-year-old Guendouzi, who has played 34 matches in his debut top-flight campaign, including 24 in the Premier League.

Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho is closing in on a Premier League record currently held by Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud.

With question marks over his future at King Power Stadium, the ex-Manchester City man scored a goal for the Foxes in their 2-1 defeat to Everton in Wednesday’s English topflight encounter.

Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson handed Carlo Ancelotti’s men a two-goal lead at the Goodison Park to head into the half-time break with an immense advantage.

Nevertheless, Iheanacho pulled one back for Brendan Rodgers’ side in the 51st minute – five minutes after replacing Englishman Harvey Barnes. Everton’s Mason Holgate tried clearing the ball but it hits the Nigerian in the face and springs into the net.

The goal was his first league goal in 2020, and that brought him only next to France international Giroud who is the competition’s most productive substitute with 16 goals since the 23-year-old's EPL debut against Watford on August 30, 2015.

For Iheanacho, it was his eighth goal as a replacement and he needs eight more strikes to equal the World Cup winner’s mark.

Despite the loss, Leicester sit in third position in the log as they continue their chase for a place in next season’s Champions League, albeit they face a stiff competition from Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Following his inability to tie down a regular place in Pep Guardiola’s Citizens, Iheanacho was sold to the King Power Stadium outfit for a reported fee of £25 million fee on a five-year deal in 2017.

Five months after joining Rodgers’ team, he became the first player in English football to be awarded a goal by VAR after the referee had been incorrectly ruled offside for his second goal against Fleetwood Town.

Reports have it that the forward who boasts of four goals in 15 league games so far could be shipped out of the club at the end of the season owing to low productivity.

Even at this, he would be hoping to keep up with his newly found form when Leicester City welcome Wilfred Zaha and Jordan Ayew’s Crystal Palace before travelling to the Emirates Stadium for a date with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal on Tuesday.

An injury-time own goal from Francesco Vicari spared Milan's blushes as an action-packed Serie A encounter ended in a 2-2 draw at 10-man SPAL on Zlatan Ibrahimovic's return.

A close-range finish from Mattia Valoti and a stunning strike from Sergio Floccari gave SPAL a 2-0 lead before the break at the Paolo Mazza.

SPAL were down a man shortly before half-time, though, as Marco D'Alessandro was sent off late in the first half, but a sluggish Milan lacked a cutting edge in attack until Ibrahimovic came on as a substitute.

A composed finish from Rafael Leao pulled one back for Milan with 11 minutes to go before Vicari turned an Alexis Saelemaekers cross into his own net in added time.

SPAL moved ahead when Valoti turned the ball home via a deflection after a scramble in the six-yard box.

Milan lost Samu Castillejo to injury and were two down when Floccari struck a sweet 30-yard half-volley that left Gianluigi Donnarumma grasping at thin air.

Hakan Calhanoglu bundled home as Milan sought a way back into the game, only for VAR to deem Ante Rebic to be in an offside position.

The VAR was in action again before the break, upgrading D'Alessandro's yellow card to a red for a dangerous two-footed lunge on Theo Hernandez.

The introduction of Ibrahimovic in the 65th minute brought Milan renewed purpose and he headed over from a good position.

Leao pulled one back for Milan with a cool finish after a poor clearance by goalkeeper Karlo Letica.

Milan's push for an equaliser appeared as though it would be fruitless but SPAL's players then had their heads in their hands in the fourth minute of injury time when Saelemaekers' seemingly harmless delivery was miscued by Vicari.

What does it mean? Milan Europe hopes dented

Milan are two points behind sixth-placed Napoli, who travel to Atalanta on Thursday, as their hopes of qualifying for next season's Europa League suffered a blow.

SPAL remain seven points adrift of safety, and with nine matches of the season remaining the two points they dropped from a winning position here may prove costly.

Fabulous Floccari

At 38, the best days of SPAL's Floccari are well behind him but he provided a moment of breath-taking quality.

The journeyman forward showed brilliant technique as he caught Donnarumma off his line with a superb long-range goal. His side will need more moments like this if they are stay up.

Rebic rues misses

Rebic carried Milan's attacking threat for the majority of the game but the Croatia international was wasteful whenever he found himself in a good position.

He will have breathed a sigh of relief that his profligacy did not see the game end in defeat for the Rossoneri after the late drama.

Key Opta Facts: 

- Milan have drawn a Serie A match having trailed by two goals for the first time since April 2017 (versus Inter).
- It was the first time the Rossoneri have conceded two goals in the opening 30 minutes of a Serie A match since May 2017.
- Milan have found the net in 11 successive Serie A matches for the first time since October 2018.
- Sergio Floccari has found the net for the 15th successive calendar year, with his first strike in the current Serie A.
- Alessio Romagnoli played his 150th Serie A match for Milan.

What's next?

Milan head to the Italian capital to face second-placed Lazio on Saturday while SPAL are away to fellow strugglers Sampdoria on Sunday.