Erling Haaland added a strike from outside the area to his repertoire of goals since joining Manchester City in a 3-0 win at 10-man Wolverhampton in the Premier League Saturday. City had already taken the lead through Jack Grealish after 55 seconds at Molineux when Haaland picked up the ball 40 meters out, drove toward the penalty box and shot right-footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in the 16th minute. It was Haaland's 11th goal in seven league games since his offseason arrival from Borussia Dortmund – with the majority coming from right in front of goal. Wolverhampton's already-slim chances virtually ended when centre back Nathan Collins was shown a straight red card for a chest-high lunge on Grealish in the 33rd. Read: Erling Haaland Transfer: Five Interesting Facts About Manchester City's New Signing Phil Foden swept in a right-wing cross from Kevin De Bruyne, who provided a similar assist for Grealish's goal, in the 69th minute to round off a win that took City above Arsenal into first place – at least overnight. City have scored 23 goals in the first seven matches of its title defence – comfortably more than any other team – and Haaland has almost half of them.

The Premier League postponed its upcoming round of matches as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, adding to the cancellation of high-profile golf, cricket and horse racing events across a mourning Britain on Friday. England's top-flight soccer clubs held a meeting on Friday and said they wanted to “pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.” “This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her," Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said, “and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.” The English Football League — the three divisions below the Premier League — also called off their games scheduled for the weekend. The Women's Super League was due to start its season this weekend but has canceled its games, too. The British government said it was at the discretion of individual sporting organizations whether fixtures went ahead following the death of the queen on Thursday at the age of 96. British sport essentially shut down on Friday, but could be up and running in some cases on Saturday. The BMW PGA Championship, the flagship event on the European tour, was paused near the end of the first round Thursday following the announcement of the queen’s death — there were still 30 players out on the course — and there will be no play Friday. “We remain hopeful of restarting at some stage over the weekend,” the tour said Friday in a statement, adding that it would be aligning with the decisions made by other sporting events in Britain. The England and Wales Cricket Board has already announced that there would be no play on Friday in the third and deciding test between England and South Africa at the Oval. There was no immediate update on whether play would resume over the weekend. An extra day might be added to the test, which started Thursday, though that would require the touring South Africans extending their stay in England. Read: British sports hold day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II Other events called off included cycling’s Tour of Britain, which also canceled the final two stages of the race scheduled for the weekend, and the third day of horse racing’s St. Leger festival in Doncaster. The St. Leger, one of British racing's classics, will now take place on Sunday, organizers said Friday. Horse racing was the queen’s favorite sport. While Friday's matches in England's top rugby division were canceled, those scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will go ahead as planned. Soccer matches in the English Football League and in the Scottish lower league scheduled for Friday had already been postponed while matches scheduled to be played in Northern Ireland over the weekend were also canceled. The Premier League said further updates regarding its fixtures during the period of mourning, which has begun in Britain, will be provided “in due course.” Organizations are having to weigh up factors such as whether holding matches would use up police resources, the desire of broadcasters and the mood of the public. There is little room in the schedule of this World Cup-affected season to fit in postponed fixtures. The government said sporting organizations “might wish to consider canceling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral.

Manchester City clinched a sixth Premier League title in 11 seasons Sunday by scoring three times in five minutes to come from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in the finale to avoid being toppled by challenger Liverpool. City was trailing 2-0 to Villa until İlkay Gündoğan began the comeback in the 76th minute. Rodri equalised two minutes later and Gündoğan put City in front in the 81st. At one point even when City were losing, it was still set to defend the title as Liverpool were only drawing 1-1 to Wolverhampton. But Mohamed Salah then put the second-place side in front in the 84th minute, which would have taken Liverpool into first place had City not mounted their fightback at the Etihad Stadium. Andy Robertson then sealed Liverpool's 3-1 win. Had City conceded a late equaliser, Liverpool would have snatched the trophy away but Pep Guardiola's side held on for the win in a thrilling climax. Guardiola's defence of the trophy was secured on the final day in a more jittery way than expected when City briefly had a 14-point lead in January. City's fourth championship success in five seasons produced a first for Guardiola. It is the first time City have sealed the title in front of their fans who spilled onto the field in their thousands at the final whistle against Villa. Although it went down to the wire, this one came without any of the anguish of 10 years ago when City's first Premier League title was only clinched in the final minutes of the season. That success, which produced City's first championship crown in 44 years – with Roberto Mancini as manager – ushered in the era of dominance enjoyed by a club transformed by the influx of investment from Abu Dhabi. City are now enjoying the steady stream of titles they once had to watch crosstown rival United sweep up under Alex Ferguson. The rise of City has coincided with the retirement of the Scot – who won the Premier League 13 times from 1993 to 2013 – and the decline of Manchester United. READ: English Premier League 2021-2022: Scenarios for Championship, Top Four, and Relegation The teams entered the final round Sunday with City 32 points ahead of United and with Liverpool the greater threat to Guardiola's side. In the last five seasons, the only time City did not win the trophy was when Liverpool's 30-year title drought ended in 2020. But it will be another season ending with City unable to win the biggest prize in European football – the Champions League – while Liverpool will be contesting the final against Real Madrid on May 28. While Liverpool's net spending on transfers has been around $250 million in the last five years, City's has been more than $530 million. City's financial might was not enough to convince Tottenham to sell Harry Kane ahead of this season, leaving Guardiola to achieve this title without a recognisable striker. Yet, City were able to break the British transfer record to sign Jack Grealish for 100 million pounds ($139 million) even though the midfielder only started sparingly. City have already reinforced their attack for next season, with a deal clinched with Borussia Dortmund to sign Erling Haaland for 60 million euros ($63 million), adding one of Europe's most exciting young forwards into the squad.

The Premier League on Saturday disqualified Roman Abramovich from running Chelsea after the club owner was sanctioned by the British government over Russia's war on Ukraine. Also read: Chelsea feels effects of sanctions imposed on Abramovich The announcement that Abramovich had been disqualified from being a club director was made by the league's board. “The board’s decision does not impact on the club’s ability to train and play its fixtures, as set out under the terms of a licence issued by the Government which expires on 31 May 2022,” the league said. Also read: UK sanctions Russians, including Abramovich The Russian oligarch has owned Chelsea since 2003.

Manchester United will face arch-rival Manchester City in a crucial Premier League encounter on Saturday (November 6) at 6.30 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). This derby match is generating a lot of excitement, as both teams are determined to prove who the best in Manchester is. United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær is under pressure to deliver well in big matches, while Pep Guardiola's side will be looking to close the gap on league leader Chelsea. Let's take a look at the match preview of Man Utd vs. Man City.  Probable Team Lineups: Man Utd vs. Man City Manchester United have a number of injury concerns, notably on the backline that must be addressed. Otherwise, City's superb offensive line will frighten their defense. Read: Bangladesh Football team leaves Dhaka for Sri Lanka Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane will miss the match due to injuries, while Paul Pogba is suspended. Aside from that, all Man United players are available for selection.   Probable Starting XI (Manchester United): David de Gea (GK); Eric Bailly, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw; Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Bruno Fernandes; Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo Like the other side of Manchester, Pep Guardiola's team has a problem in defense. The team's first-choice right-back Kyle Walker is doubtful due to injury. Therefore, they must rearrange their ideal formation. On the other hand, Manchester City have enough talent in the team to replace him. The central defender Aymeric Laporte is suspended and will miss this match, while Ferran Torres is still recovering from an injury. Read: Neymar Jr. Philanthropy: Famous Brazilian Footballer's Inspiring Charitable Work Probable Starting XI (Manchester City): Ederson Moraes (GK); Rúben Dias, John Stones, João Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, İlkay Gündoğan; Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus Head-to-Head: Manchester United vs. Manchester City Both teams have faced each other 48 times in the Premier League, with Manchester United dominating the rivalry 24 to 15. United have scored 70 goals against the Citizens in the Premier League, while City have scored 61 goals against them. Man United have 18 clean sheets compared to Man City's ten clean sheets. Manchester City have won seven away (at Old Trafford) league matches (joint-most with Liverpool) against Manchester United. Both clubs have played each other in a total of 185 matches across all competitions. Manchester United have the most victories with 77. Manchester City have won 55 games, with the remaining 53 games ending in a draw. Wayne Rooney (11 goals), Jose Hayes (10 goals), Francis Lee (10 goals), Sergio Aguero (9), and Bobby Charlton (9) are the top five goal scorers in Manchester derby. Match Prediction: Man Utd vs. Man City  Manchester City will be favorites in this fixture despite not having won a Premier League match against Manchester United since April 2019. The Red Devils have a chance in this match if they play to their full potential. Read: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo: Who made the strongest start with the new clubs? Pep Guardiola has plenty of offensive options at his disposal. He can choose to go all-in against the home team. The best formation for Man City would be a 4-3-3 with Gabriel Jesus as the lone striker. On the other hand, Manchester United will be satisfied with a draw. An open play could be expected if Man City scored early in the game. They can use a 4-4-2 system or adapt to a 3-4-1-2 formation to strengthen the defense and midfield. United's key objective would be to contain the City's attacks and fight for at least a single point until the final whistle. Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Manchester United Verdict Based on the recent form and squad strength, Manchester City are the favourites in the Man Utd vs. Man City fixture. Manchester United haven't been consistent this season albeit winning some close moments thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's individual brilliance. Particularly, they have struggled against tougher opponents, indicating that this squad isn't strong enough to defeat big teams. Read: Ballon d'Or 2021: Meet the Nominees On the other side, the reigning Premier League champion Manchester City are one of the favourites in this season. The Citizens will surely put up a good fight against the Red Devils. Overall, this Manchester derby promises to be a thrilling match.

Following the news that Lionel Messi would be leaving Barcelona after 21 years, all of Europe's big teams contacted his representative to make inquiries about signing him. He ended up signing a three-year contract with PSG. On the other side, Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave Juventus for a new challenge after Messi's surprising move to Paris Saint-Germain. He was finally signed by Manchester United in the summer 2021 transfer deadline. Let's take a look at how Messi and Ronaldo have performed so far this season for their respective clubs.    Lionel Messi's Season up to this point for PSG Lionel Messi picked no. 30 as his PSG jersey number, the same number he wore for FC Barcelona when he made his senior debut in 2004. Messi made his PSG debut on August 29 against Reims in Ligue 1 after an almost three-week wait. He was brought on as a substitute in the second half. Leo made his home debut against Olympic Lyon On September 19, and on September 15, he made his UEFA Champions League debut against Club Brugge. Read AFC U-23 Asian Cup: Bangladesh suffer 0-6 defeat against Uzbekistan Messi had to wait a month for PSG to score his first goal. He scored his debut goal against Manchester City at Parc des Princes on September 28. Messi made his customary run into the opposition half, played a one-two with Kylian Mbappe, and then blasted a superb finish to the top left corner. Lionel Messi has appeared in eight matches and scored three goals as of October 31. Mauricio Pochettino is trying to adjust his formation to get the best out of Messi, who has yet to show his true potential with Paris Saint-Germain. Cristiano Ronaldo's performance in Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo has been given the iconic number 7 shirt to wear in his second stint at Manchester United. Ronaldo played his first game of the season against Newcastle United on September 11. He scored a brace in his debut match. Cristiano scored a late winner in a vital UEFA Champions League group stage match against Villarreal on September 29. Manchester United won the contest by 2-1. He also came out as a rescue for the Red Devils in their most recent Champions League match against Atalanta. His 83rd-minute header secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Atalanta. Read Who can replace coach Ronald Koeman at FC Barcelona? Cristiano Ronaldo has now more focus on scoring goals, that’s why he has become a penalty box forward over the last three seasons. Overall, he has scored 7 goals in 10 appearances for Manchester United thus far. Ronaldo is manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's main striker, and so far he has done a good job as no.9. Way Forward  The football world was shocked when Lionel Messi signed a contract with PSG in the last summer transfer window. However, his performance for Paris Saint-Germain hasn't been up to the mark so far. The diminutive Argentine has struggled to adjust to the new system, and experts think he will require more time to bond with his new teammates. Read Man United humiliated: Salah hat trick in 5-0 Liverpool rout On the other hand, the Portuguese superstar Ronaldo has enjoyed a good start with Manchester United. He has already had an impact on the team. The charismatic forward has aided Manchester United in securing a number of dramatic victories. In that perspective, Cristiano Ronaldo has gotten off to a better start with his new club than Lionel Messi.

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund completed a buyout of Premier League club Newcastle on Thursday, giving hope to fans dreaming of a first title in almost a century but concerning human rights activists that the kingdom had gained a foothold in the world's richest soccer league. Supporters descended on the club's St. James' Park stadium, some chanting "we are Saudis, we do what we want" and others singing "we've got our club back" amid the promise of long-desired investment. The 300-million-pound ($409 million) takeover had been pursued since 2017 but stalled and then collapsed last year over concerns about how much control the Saudi state would have in the running of Newcastle amid scrutiny over piracy of sports broadcasts and human rights violations in the kingdom. It led to a protracted legal fight that only ended this week when the Public Investment Fund offered assurances to the Premier League that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and in turn the state, would not have any say in the team. PIF has bought 80% of the club — which is in the relegation zone after seven matches — with the wealthy British-based Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners owning the rest. "The big change was the control issue," Staveley told The Associated Press. "We needed to demonstrate there was sufficient separation between PIF and the Saudi state, and that has been determined that there is." But while the crown prince will not have a place on Newcastle's board of directors, he remains chairman of the PIF. The fund's governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will be on the board at the northeast English club as non-executive chairman. "The crown prince is chairman of a lot of entities in Saudi," said Staveley, who will also be on the club's board. "PIF is very much an autonomous, commercially driven investment fund, and it does not operate as part of the wider state. So there is that separation." The Premier League's approval of the new owners and directors means 15 of its clubs are either owned or part-owned by overseas investors. "All parties have agreed the settlement is necessary to end the long uncertainty for fans over the club's ownership," the league said in a statement. "The Premier League has now received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club." The takeover ends the 14-year ownership by British retail tycoon Mike Ashley, who has been widely viewed as a figure of scorn in the one-club city. His ownership has been marked by chronic underinvestment in the playing squad, his use of Newcastle as a vehicle to promote his business interests, and of a general lack of ambition despite the club attracting regular home crowds of more than 50,000. Newcastle has not won a major trophy since the 1955 FA Cup and its last league title was in 1927. "Newcastle is like a magical, very beautiful, rough diamond," Staveley said in a telephone interview. "But it needs some nurturing and polishing. But it's a star." With no wins and only three points from seven games, the poor start to the season means the future of manager Steve Bruce will be assessed before the next game next week — at home to Tottenham on Oct. 17 — after the international break. The club will be seeking a transformation in the same manner enjoyed by Manchester City in 2008 after its takeover by another Middle Eastern entity — Abu Dhabi — that was also brokered by Staveley. A key impediment to the Newcastle takeover was the pirating of sports broadcasts from Qatari-owned beIN — including of Premier League games — by an entity the World Trade Organization said was facilitated by the Saudi state. The Saudis declared beIN illegal in 2017 as they launched a wider economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar alongside the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain over accusations Doha supports extremism. The tiny, super-rich nation of Qatar denied the charge and the boycott ended this year. The Premier League was among the sports organizations that protested against the pirating of its games by the renegade beOutQ operation. Saudi Arabia is expected to soon lift its ban on beIN, but Staveley said that wasn't what ended the impasse over the takeover. "The piracy — those issues had been resolved," Staveley said. "This debate was just about control for us." Newcastle was challenging the Premier League's decision not to approve the takeover at a Competition Appeals Tribunal whose latest hearing was last week. But there was a lingering ethical dimension to whether PIF was approved as owners. Amnesty International wrote to league chief executive Richard Masters last year to say the takeover could be exploited by Saudi Arabia to cover up "deeply immoral" breaches of international law, citing human rights violations and the role of the crown prince. Amnesty raised concerns with Masters about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul after U.S. intelligence services said they believe the slaying came at the crown prince's orders. The kingdom has denied that. "We can understand that this will be seen as a great day by many Newcastle United fans," Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said Thursday. "But it's also a very worrying day for anyone who cares about the ownership of English football clubs and whether these great clubs are being used to sportswash human rights abuse. "In our assessment, this deal was always more about sportswashing than it was about football, with Saudi Arabia's aggressive move into sport as a vehicle for image-management and PR plain for all to see." Responding to Amnesty's complaints, Staveley again tried to create a distinction between PIF and the Saudi leadership despite the funding being from the state fund. "We understand the concerns," Staveley said. "And that is why my partner is PIF."

Arsenal will take on Tottenham in a premier league encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (September 26). Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is yet to score in the Premier League this season. He was highly linked with Manchester City during the summer transfer window of 2021. It's unclear if this has had a significant influence on Kane's performance this season, but the Tottenham star hasn't been in his usual form. This match is crucial for both teams in their quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League 2021-2022 season. The match preview of Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021 is discussed in this article.  Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021: Probable Team Lineups There has been no news of injuries in the Arsenal campaign. All of the squad members are available for selection. Granit Xhaka is back in the squad after a three-game suspension. As a result, Arteta is free to pick his best starting lineup for this crucial matchup.    Probable Playing XI (Arsenal): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB), Ben White (CB), Gabriel Magalhaes (CB), Kieran Tierney (LB), Thomas Partey (CM), Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM), Martin Odegaard (CM), Bukayo Saka (RW), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST), Emile Smith Rowe (LW) Read: Lionel Messi is Leaving Barcelona Despite Wanting to Stay Tottenham will be without Steven Bergwijn and Ryan Sessegnon in this encounter against Arsenal. While Brazil's Lucas Moura will be available for selection. The captain of Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane is poised to make his 250th Premier League appearance. So, this might be a historic encounter for Harry Kane. Probable Playing XI (Tottenham): Hugo Lloris (GK), Emerson Royal (RB), Cristian Romero (CB), Eric Dier (CB), Sergio Reguilon (LB), Tanguy Ndombele (CM), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM), Dele Alli (CM), Lucas Moura (RW), Harry Kane (ST), Son Heung-min (LW)   Read: Messi breaks down, says he wasn’t ready to leave Barcelona Head-to-Head Contest: Arsenal vs. Tottenham The stakes are high for two managers and neither of the team can afford to lose the match. The pressure on them will increase if things do not go their way. Two teams have met a total of 203 times, with Arsenal dominating the record with 83 wins. On the other hand, Tottenham have won 66 games and drawn 54 others.  Both sides have played each other 58 times in the Premier League. Arsenal lead the head-to-head battle with 21 victories. Tottenham have won 14 league games and drawn 23 others. Arsenal's David O'Leary has made the most appearances (35) while Tottenham's Harry Kane has scored the most goals (11) in the north London derby. Read: Lionel Messi Contract: PSG Set to Sign Former Barcelona Forward Prediction: Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021 Arsenal are a slight favorite to win this Sunday's (September 26) league match against Tottenham. If Spurs perform to their best ability, they will have a good chance in this encounter. Mikel Arteta has a wide range of offensive alternatives available to him. He has the capability to go all-in against their most fierce rival. If such is not the case, he may opt to play it safe and try to win the game. Arsenal's best option with the present setup will be a 4-3-3 formation. On the other hand, Tottenham will try to play it safe at first, but they are capable of winning this fixture. Nuno Espirito Santo's team should play 4-3-3 to strengthen their offensive flank. Tottenham's primary objective would be to avoid losing the game and, if possible, to win it. It should be an exciting match to watch, starting on Sunday at 9.30 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Read Premier League 2021-2022: Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool win their respective matches Match Prediction: Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021 Arsenal 1 – 1 Tottenham Verdict There are no clear favorites in the Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021 contest. Because neither club has been in terrific form in the Premier League this season. Arsenal are presently in 13th place in the table, with 6 points from five games. On the other hand, Tottenham have secured seventh place, with 9 points from six games. Both sides have a youthful squad that includes some experienced players. Arsenal have won its last two Premier League games, while Tottenham have lost both of their previous two fixtures. In this perspective, Arsenal will be slightly ahead of Tottenham during the encounter. The Gunners will benefit from home advantage. On the other side, Spurs fans are hopeful that Harry Kane will regain his rhythm against the Gunners. This is shaping up to be a thrilling north London derby.  Read FC Barcelona: Four Potential Replacements for Ronald Koeman

The Premier League 2021-2022 season is heating up. There were some intense battles on matchday 5. The biggest shock in this weekend's fixtures was the reigning English Premier League champion Manchester City's 0-0 draw at home against Southampton. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United all came out victorious in their respective games. Chelsea have climbed to the top of the Premier League standings after a convincing victory against London rival Tottenham Hotspur. The under-pressure Arsenal team clinched their second victory of the season against Burnley. Let's take a look at the results from this week's Premier League matches. Results of the Matchday 5 in the Premier League 2021-2022 Season Winners Chelsea are the biggest winner in this week’s fixtures. Winning a London derby away from home is always special. Thomas Tuchel once again showed his brilliance as Chelsea manager by leading his team to a three-point victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea dominated Spurs for the entire game, eventually winning 3-0. Chelsea has now climbed to the top of the table with 13 points after this victory. Brighton's performance has been impressive since the beginning of the season. They have only lost once in five games. They overcame a tough Leicester City team 2-1 at home on Sunday (September 19). Read FIFA sets talks with soccer leaders on biennial World Cup On Sunday, Manchester United defeated West Ham United at the Olympic Stadium in London. West Ham grabbed an early lead, but Ronaldo equalized in the 35th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo has been in outstanding form since returning to Manchester United this season. Jesse Lingard clinched the victory for the Red Devils after a fantastic goal in the 89th minute. Manchester United have stayed in the top four thanks to this win. Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side thrashed Crystal Palace 3-0 at Anfield to earn three crucial points. Liverpool moved up to the second spot with this victory. Besides the matches mentioned above, Aston Villa's 3-0 win against Everton was crucial. Because they have climbed into the top ten in the points table. Arsenal won 1-0 against a weak Burnley team. This win gave Arsenal some breathing space after a dreadful start to the season. Mid-table club Watford also won a key away match against Norwich (3-1). Read Pele: First Brazilian football player to be dubbed as the greatest of all time Losers   Tottenham were the biggest loser in this week's fixtures. Their 3-0 loss against Chelsea will have a significant impact on their mindset. Spurs must find a way to make their team even more dynamic in order to remain competitive in the league. Another surprising outcome this week was Manchester City's 1-1 draw against Southampton. Southampton were well-organized throughout the game, which frustrated Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side has to be more consistent to defend the Premier League title. Everton's 3-0 loss to Aston Villa and Leicester City's 2-1 loss to Brighton were both disappointing. Everton did not expect to lose by such a large margin. Read Champions League 2021-2022: Results of the first round of the group stage West Ham United had a real chance to draw the game against Manchester United, but David De Gea saved Nobel's penalty in the final minute and secured a victory for Man Utd. From West Ham's perspective, it was a disappointing performance. Both Norwich City and Wolves lost their comparatively straightforward home matches. In order to avoid relegation, they needed to win these games. Newcastle United and Leeds United drew 1-1. Both sides should be pleased with their outcomes given their current strengths. Bottom Line   It's too early to predict who will win the Premier League 2021-2022. Because there are still 33 matchdays left in the season. However, Chelsea might be considered the Premier League's hot favorite this season based on their recent performances. Manchester City may struggle in the second half of the season because they rely heavily on their attacking midfielders and need a proper no.9 striker. Liverpool and Manchester United will battle it out for the Premier League title until the end. Overall, we can anticipate an exciting Premier League title race between these four teams. Read Lionel Messi’s Charity Work: Exemplary philanthropy of legendary Argentine Footballer

All the years of hurt, England fans sing about it. All that sense of entitlement, rival fans are irritated by it. After decades of embarrassment and moaning at tournaments, the English have a chance to finally back up the bravado — just listen to the team anthem, “Football’s Coming Home” — with a trophy. The nation that lays claim to being the inventor of soccer, but is more fittingly one of the sport’s great underachievers, is back in a final — against Italy in the European Championships. Read:Italy beats Spain on penalties, reaches Euro 2020 final The teams will meet Sunday night at Wembley Stadium in London where England will be going for its first major title since winning the 1966 World Cup on their home field. The Italians are unbeaten in 33 games. It’s been 55 agonizing years for England through 26 World Cups and European Championship tournaments, seven of which they didn’t even qualify for. Even less illustrious national teams like Denmark and Greece have won trophies since then. But England became all about falling short on a world stage it felt it should dominate. Beating Denmark on Wednesday broke through the semifinal obstacle at least in the Euros, prevailing 2-1 in extra time and avoiding the penalty shootouts that have proved to be the team’s nemesis through all those near-misses. “What a brilliant moment for us,” England coach Gareth Southgate said on the field with fans still singing into the night at Wembley. Let’s savior this.” No way were the England players missing out on the chance to lap up the acclaim of a crowd waiting for this healing moment, not only to reach a final again but to gather in such big numbers again as the pandemic-restricted capacity swelled to 66,000. “It’s too late,” Southgate quipped discussing any attempt to curtail the exuberance. “We all let ourselves down on the pitch.” The celebrations were a reflection of the bond the coach has forged between the national team and an English public that seemed disillusioned with the hubris and dreary performances before Southgate’s overhaul began in 2016. Read:Longtime tormentor Italy stands in way of Spain at Euro 2020 Leading England to a final is proving cathartic for the coach who as a player missed the decisive penalty in the Euro ’96 semifinal penalty shootout against Germany. It was that tournament that saw the introduction of the England “Three Lions” song talking of “30 years of hurt.” It’s never easy for England. Even when the path to the Euro 2020 semifinals seemed smooth — even the 2-0 win over archrival Germany — Southgate was prepared for difficulties against Denmark, especially after losing the 2018 World Cup semifinal to Croatia and being beaten in the 2019 Nations League last four by the Netherlands. “I knew it might be a tortuous path,” Southgate said. “In the end it’s a wonderful evening for our fans, for our public and for our country.” Southgate sees his role as more delivering for a nation, assuming leadership status beyond sport when he talked about unity during the divisive Brexit debate and now encourages the players to use their platforms to promote social causes and campaign against racism. Southgate is more than just an orator, though. Only 1966 Word Cup winner Alf Ramsey has been a more successful coach of England. The expensive imports at the start of the century — Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello — could get no further than quarterfinals. Instead, a manager whose only club job ended in 2009 with relegation from the Premier League with Middlesbrough has led England to a final. For all his popular support — “Southgate you’re the one,” fans sing — he resists pandering to fans’ demands of selecting players. National hero Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United striker who has won acclaim for challenging the government, didn’t even come off the bench for the biggest game of his career. He ignored calls to drop Raheem Sterling at the start of Euro 2020 and has been rewarded with three goals from the winger who also forced the own-goal that tied the game 1-all against Denmark. Southgate stayed calm as England held on, only making only substitution when five were available to him in the 90 minutes before extra time. Read:Euro2020 semi-finalists have been determined “The opposition were constantly changing tactics,” Southgate said. “Sometimes it is bolder to do nothing ... the risk is you don’t do anything, it goes against you but we were causing problems.” Problems in a way that England has not done for decades. “It’s one of the proudest moments in my life,” said captain Harry Kane, who netted the winner from a rebound after his penalty was saved. “But we haven’t won it yet, we’ve got one more to go.”