PL live news and scores (2024)

News

• Hayes leaving Chelsea in May; set to take over USWNT
• Explaining Gordon's controversial winner against Arsenal
• Haaland suffers ankle injury in Bournemouth win

Features and analysis

• Why the USWNT are hiring Hayes
• Analysing Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
• The Liverpool superfan who has been to 1,000 consecutive games

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• Luton vs Liverpool build-up
• Premier League results and fixtures

Mauricio Pochettino says he is not thinking about revenge when his Chelsea side face Tottenham tomorrow.

Pochettino spent five and a half years as Tottenham boss before he was sacked in November 2019, reaching the Champions League final with them earlier that year.

Tomorrow’s game will be Pochettino’s first against Spurs since his exit, having not faced them during his 18 months in charge of PSG.

“I want to win, I want to beat them,” Pochettino said on playing Spurs. “When I play with my kids I want to beat them of course, or my dad or my brothers or my friends — I try to kill them.

“But I want to win because we are competitive. And then it is not a special thing. I don’t want to go there and think it is about revenge.

“You are asking me if I am going to be special if we score or if we beat them. It will be important if we win because Chelsea need a win because we need the points, not because of the game at Tottenham.”

On whether managing Chelsea would prevent him from coaching Spurs again, Pochettino added: “Why? Hopefully, I can stay here until I die! Twenty or 25 years, but you never know in football. It’s a club, for sure if I’m not working, maybe if they want me one day…Why not?”

Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure says he is unlikely to go to the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali in January.

Doucoure was born in France and represented them at youth level, before making his debut for Mali last March.

The 30-year-old played in both legs of their World Cup qualifying play-off against Tunisia but was unable to prevent them from suffering a 1-0 aggregate defeat. He has not featured for Mali since.

“At the moment, I don’t think I’m going to make the Africa Nations Cup,” Doucoure said. “I think I’m going to stay here in an Everton shirt. I don’t want to go.

“It’s not a big decision because I only went one time with Mali. I want to focus on my career and on the club. I have all the respect for my country but I’m going to stay here.”

Everton will likely lose fellow midfielder Idrissa Gueye to AFCON, with the 34-year-old a regular in the Senegal team.

Brighton and Hove Albion women held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw in their Women's Super League fixture this evening.

Brighton twice took the lead first in the through Elisabeth Terland in the 30th minute before being pegged back by a goal from Ella Toone the 78th minute.

The home side thought they had won the game when Guro Bergsvand scored in the 89th minute just for United to equalise deep into stoppage time through Rachel Williams.

The result leaves United in sixth place in the Women's Super League while Brighton are ninth.

Luis Diaz has spoken of his deepening anguish and pleaded with his father's kidnappers to sanction his release.

The statement read: "Today it is not the footballer speaking to you, today Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is speaking to you. Mane, my dad, is a tireless worker, the pillar of the family and he has been kidnapped.

"I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organizations to intervene for his freedom. Every second, every minute our anguish grows; My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and unable to find the words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we get him back home.

"I beg you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait as soon as possible. In the name of love and compassion, we ask that you reconsider your actions and allow us to get him back.

"I thank Colombians and the international community for their support, thank you for so many demonstrations of affection and solidarity in this very difficult time that many families in my country are experiencing."

Thomas Tuchel took on two opponents on Saturday: Borussia Dortmund on the pitch and Sky Germany’s reporters and pundits off it.

Before the game, the 50-year-old had listened in on pre-match analysis that focused on Bayern Munich’s problems —their build-up play — and Borussia’s strengths – their pressing – and he didn’t make any attempts to hide his irritation.

“I don’t want to disturb your experts talking about us,” he said sarcastically, keeping his answers curt.

Full story below

Luis Diaz scored a late equaliser for Liverpool during their 1-1 draw with Luton Town in his first game back since the kidnapping of his parents.

The 26-year-old winger came off the bench to rise above Issa Kabore at the back post and head the ball past Thomas Kaminski in the Luton goal to earn his side a late point, cancelling out Tahith Chong's opener.

While celebrating his goal, Diaz showed a shirt that read the message 'libertad para papa' which translates to 'freedom for Papa.'

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson said: "It (the goal) says a lot about his (Diaz's) character and inner strength. Not many people can imagine what he's going through. Even though we're close to him and supporting him, we feel his pain, but for him it's a different level.

"Football can sometimes bring joy to people in dark moments who are struggling. We are together with him for whatever he needs. He came to the game, scored a fantastic goal that was really important and we're with him 100 per cent."

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Steve Cooper plans to invite a young Nottingham Forest fan to the training ground to meet the players, after consoling him over a pre-match mishap.

Caiden Storry, 16, took to the City Ground pitch to perform The Last Post on a trumpet before the Premier League clash with Aston Villa and it prompted a touching moment when players from both sides rushed to console the teenager when nerves got the better of him during the finale.

He also got a hug from Cooper as he made his way off the pitch. The Forest head coach says the club will look to find a way to ensure Storry understands how much his efforts were valued.

“First of all I’m not sure of Caiden’s age but I’ve got a 15-year-old boy and I love it when he shows confidence to do things,” said Cooper.

“For a teenager who’s a fan to stand in the middle and do that is brilliant. He should be really proud and we are proud.

“It was great to see how the players responded because they have to perform and they know what it’s like.

“I managed to have a word with him and we will bring him to training ground to meet the players. He said ‘I am sorry about that’ and I said that everyone was really proud of him.

“The Villa boys were excellent as well and the City Ground was what it was (the stadium gave Storry a supportive round of applause).”

Orel Mangala added a second for Nottingham Forest shortly after half-time, with his shot palmed up by Emi Martinez before bouncing into the Aston Villa goal.

Mangala's goal followed Ola Aina's early opener and condemned Villa to just their third league defeat of the season.

It was also the first Premier League game Villa had failed to score in since their 3-0 loss at Liverpool on September 3.

Arsenal women manager Jonas Eidevall was full of praise for Chelsea manager Emma Hayes amid news that she will leave her role at the end of the 2023-24 season to take over the U.S. women's national team (USWNT).

The Athletic reported yesterday that Hayes will leave the Women’s Super League club at the end of the 2023-24 season to take over the USWNT.

Eidevall, who has gone toe to toe with Hayes over the years, said that the Chelsea manager should be very proud of the legacy she has created at the London club.

Speaking after Arsenal's late 2-1 victory over Manchester City earlier today, he said: “I don’t know the reason why she’s leaving but there’s no doubt that she will leave a legacy at Chelsea. I think it’s a legacy that all football managers would be very proud of leaving. She should be very proud of that.

"I think me and all other managers are going to try and make life in the Women's Super League as difficult and unpleasant for her as possible before she leaves! After that, she’s going to be one of the first ones after the season that I might pick up the phone and give her a call.

"I think she has some really interesting ideas about football and how to build a football team and so on, and when you’re not direct rivals, I would love to spend a little bit of time with her, listening to her experiences at Chelsea and so on."

Discussions between Hayes and the USWNT are advanced and if all goes according to plan, Hayes will become the highest-paid coach in world women’s football when she joins U.S. Soccer.

A late goal from Stina Blackstenius has given Arsenal a 2-1 victory against Manchester City in an early-season clash of two of the WSL's biggest clubs.

Steph Catley had given Arsenal a 1-0 lead in the first half before Chloe Kelly equalised in the 72nd minute.

An error from City goalkeeper Khiara Keating, though, allowed substitute Blackstenius to score what proved to be the winner.

The results means the teams now have identical records after five matches, each having three wins, one draw and one defeat. City remain second, behind Chelsea, with Arsenal moving up to fourth. Tottenham could leapfrog both sides if they beat Everton later today.

A low drive from Ola Aina gave Nottingham Forest an early lead at the City Ground and high-flying Aston Villa have been unable to break the hosts down as yet.

Arsenal have called on Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the organisation which oversees refereeing in England, to “urgently address the standard of officiating” in the Premier League following “unacceptable” errors during their 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday.

In a statement, Arsenal said they “wholeheartedly” support manager Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments in the wake of their loss at Newcastle. Arteta labelled the award of Anthony Gordon’s matchwinning goal “an absolute disgrace” after the VAR checked whether the ball had stayed in play, whether there was a foul by a Newcastle player and also whether there was an offside.

“Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening,” the club said on Sunday.

Read more below...

USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner has been relegated to the Nottingham Forest bench, as head coach Steve Cooper shuffles his pack against Aston Villa.

Greece international Odi Vlachodimos has been handed his debut at the City Ground, with Turner having paid the price for an error at Anfield last weekend.

Mohamed Salah netted Liverpool’s final goal in their 3-0 win after Turner had raced out of his box to clear and failed to connect with the ball, leaving the Egyptian with an empty net.

Turner had generally been reasonably solid since joining from Arsenal in the summer but Vlachodimos also arrived from Benfica with significant pedigree of his own, having established previously established himself as No 1 at Panathinaikos.

Cooper had offered words of support to Turner in his pre-match press conference, insisting the American’s contribution had included “far more positives than negatives”.

Vlachodimos’ inclusion is one of three changes, with Harry Toffolo and Taiwo Awoniyi also included in the starting XI.

Forest XI to face Villa: Vlachodimos; Aina, Niakhate, Murillo, Toffolo; Sangare, Dominguez, Mangala; Elanga, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White

Substitutes: Turner, Tavares, Williams, Kouyate, Santos, Yates, Aurier, Danilo, Boly

David Moyes says West Ham’s defending was not up to scratch in their 3-2 defeat against Brentford yesterday.

West Ham had a half-time lead at the Gtech Community Stadium after goals from Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen followed Neal Maupay’s opener for Brentford.

But the hosts came back in the second half, with an own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos and a header from Nathan Collins giving them the win.

“We did quite well at times in the first half although I felt we’d given up too much territory with ten or 15 minutes to go until half-time, which allowed Brentford to grow back into the game more than I’d have liked,” Moyes said.

“Because we had the two up front I thought, the moment we gave it to those two, we might have a better chance of scoring and we should have done. But the other part of that is we should have defended better.

“If you don’t concede any more then we win the game, but we did concede and I didn’t like the goals we let in.

“They came from second phase set-pieces. The first part of them we’d dealt with and defended them, and then we didn’t defend the second part.”

Vincent Kompany says his Burnley side played well against Crystal Palace yesterday despite their 2-0 home defeat but knows they must “improve fast”.

Burnley went behind midway through the first half after a Jeffrey Schlupp goal, with Tyrick Mitchell adding Palace’s second in the 94th minute.

The loss was Burnley’s sixth from their sixth home match of the season, and their fifth in a row in all competitions.

“First of all, I want to be respectful of the opponent and sometimes you win these type of games and sometimes you don’t,” Kompany said.

“The facts are we lost but played well. We created chances and looked like a team that has something to offer in this league.

“If we play more often like this, we will get rewards. It was decided on a mistake and then the second goal, if you put into context, we put people forward and tried to get a late goal.

“We know we have to improve fast and to get there we are going to face moments like these and turn them into our advantage.”

Burnley remain 19th in the Premier League, having won just one of their 11 games.

Newcastle United say they "strongly condemn" racist abuse sent to Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock in the wake of yesterday's 1-0 win over Arsenal.

Newcastle say the midfielders were targeted with racist abuse on social media and that they are supporting the pair. The club add they are working with "relevant authorities and social media platforms" to identify those responsible.

Anthony Gordon's second-half goal gave Newcastle a 1-0 victory against Arsenal.

Brentford full-back Aaron Hickey has been ruled out for the rest of the year after sustaining a “high-grade” hamstring injury.

Hickey was a surprise absentee from the Brentford squad for their 3-2 win over West Ham United on Saturday, having started all of their Premier League matches this season, apart from when he was suspended for their 3-0 victory against Burnley.

The 20-year-old usually plays at right-back but he has provided cover for left-back Rico Henry while he recovers from tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Newcastle United in September. The absence of Hickey and Henry meant Thomas Frank used central midfielder Vitaly Janelt at left-back against West Ham.

Speaking after the game, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank revealed Hickey is the latest name to be added to their lengthy injury list which also includes Keane Lewis-Potter, Kevin Schade, Mikkel Damsgaard and Josh Dasilva.

“(It is a) hamstring injury, unfortunately,” Frank said. “It happened on Thursday in training. He will be out for the rest of the year.”

This means Hickey will miss the busy festive period and Scotland’s final two qualifying matches against Georgia and Norway for next summer’s European Championship. Scotland are second in Group A behind Spain but have already secured their place at the tournament.

Jeremy Doku believes it is “easy” to play in this Manchester City team.

Doku was the player of the match during yesterday’s 6-1 victory against Bournemouth, with the 21-year-old contributing one goal and four assists.

“I’m very proud but in this team, it is so easy because there is a lot of movement,” Doku said.

“Everybody is top and when you play with top players it is easy to find the right pass, to find the right time to do something.

“I knew when I had to go, I found the right balance and I think that was the most important thing.

“I improve every day, in training sessions, in boxes. I can see between the first game I played against Fulham and now, it’s a massive improvement.”

Erik ten Hag has hit back at critics of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, saying he is "immensely important for us".

United picked up a vital three points away to Fulham at Craven Cottage, with Fernandes' late strike proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Fernandes has recently come under criticism, with some suggesting he should be stripped of the captaincy. Ten Hag, however, praised the Portugal international for his performance on Saturday.

He said to TNT Sport: "I don't understand it (the criticism). Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect, but he does very good things.

"He shows every time that he is an example as a captain. You saw today his work, his pressing, and he scored, so he's immensely important for us."

Ten Hag added in his post-match press conference: "From the moment I made him captain he did this (win games). Always when he is playing, he is giving energy and setting the example. And you see the way his pressing, the way his is counter pressing. The way he makes recovery runs. He is absolutely the example and he is taking responsibility all the time. On and off the pitch. He takes responsibility by scoring important goals but also in how he is always wanting the ball and always wanting to create. I'm happy with my captain.

The result moves United into sixth and four points off Aston Villa, who have a game in hand. Ten Hag is hopeful the result can be a turning point for his side.

"Yeah, but I think always from game to game (rather than think in chunks and around the international break)," he said. "In this week, we were definitely not happy with our standards. I think today, we improved in our standards but we have to bring it every game and everyone knows that.

"But you have to bring it and you bring every game, you have to bring that level and that starts with mentality, with the right attitude. You have to show that you are hungry. That there is passion and desire."