Football: Dominant Chelsea retain Women's Super League title

LONDON -- Chelsea secured a fourth consecutive Women's Super League title after a 3-0 win at Reading on Saturday held off Manchester United's fight to win the English top flight for the first time.

Sam Kerr scored twice, while Guro Reiten was also on target, to secure the victory the Blues needed and which relegated Reading in the process.

Victory completed a league and FA Cup double for Chelsea after they beat United 1-0 at Wembley earlier this month.

And they came close to a treble after missing out narrowly to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals.

But Chelsea's reign of domestic dominance has been seriously challenged this season as United, Arsenal and Manchester City pushed them in a four-way title race until the final weeks of the season.

The champions, though, showed their quality when it mattered most with a seven-game winning run to finish the league season.

Fittingly, it was Chelsea's two star performers this season in Kerr and Reiten who took centre stage to seal the title.

"We've played so many games, you have to go again every third or fourth day," said Reiten.

"But we keep doing it again and again, digging deep, finding that special moment to win games and, yeah, we're good!"

The two combined for the opening goal after just 18 minutes when Kerr headed in Retien's cross.

The Norwegian midfielder then slotted through the legs of goalkeeper Grace Moloney to make it 2-0 before half-time.

Kerr was crowned the football writers' women's player of the year this week and struck her 29th goal of the campaign in all competitions two minutes from time by tapping home at the second attempt.

United won 1-0 at Liverpool thanks to Lucia Garcia's goal but finished two points adrift of Emma Hayes' women.

The Red Devils women's side was only formed five years ago and they will play in the Champions League next season for the first time.

"I think we've maxed out on our potential in terms of running with Chelsea to the wire. It's nice that it's close but we know we've got some way to go," said United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

"I'm hungry for success. I want to go and win the Champions League now!"

Arsenal claimed the third and final place in next season's Champions League ahead of City on goal difference despite losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Man City go three points clear after four-goal De Bruyne masterclass

LONDON -- Kevin De Bruyne produced a four-goal masterclass as Manchester City thrashed Wolves 5-1 to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League, while Chelsea consolidated their top-four place and pushed Leeds deeper into relegation trouble on Wednesday.

City had seen second-placed Liverpool go level on points with them after a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Tuesday.

But De Bruyne's brilliant display ensured Pep Guardiola's side responded emphatically as a thrilling title race enters the final furlong.

After De Bruyne put City ahead in the seventh minute from Bernardo Silva's pass, the leaders were briefly rocked by Leander Dendoncker's equaliser four minutes later.

But De Bruyne extinguished Wolves' hopes of a shock win as he completed his hat-trick with two more lethal finishes in the 16th and 24th minutes.

He bagged his fourth goal from close range in the 60th minute and Raheem Sterling put the seal on the demolition with an 85th-minute tap-in.

The Belgium midfielder's heroics mean City need four points from their last two games to be guaranteed a fourth Premier League title in the last five seasons.

Guardiola lavished praise on De Bruyne, saying: "Unstoppable, brilliant, awesome, outstanding, perfect!

"He has the ability to create the special things. He has to score goals and this season is the most prolific he has had since we are together."

If City can win at West Ham on Sunday, they will climb six points clear of Liverpool before Jurgen Klopp's quadruple-chasing team next play in the league at Southampton on Tuesday.

City's second goal spree in four days after the 5-0 rout of Newcastle on Sunday also gives them an important seven-goal advantage over Liverpool in the goal difference column.

"If we win these games we will be champions. Now recover the players and the next final for us is against West Ham," Guardiola said.

Their latest win was even more impressive given City are without injured defenders Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker for the rest of the season, with Aymeric Laporte limping off in the second half at Molineux.

While Liverpool have maintained a blistering pace in pursuit of City since January, Guardiola's team have been up to the challenge.

After drawing with Liverpool on April 10, City have won five successive league games, scoring 22 times and conceding only twice.

- Clinical Chelsea -

Chelsea moved to the brink of qualifying for next season's Champions League with a 3-0 victory at struggling Leeds.

Thomas Tuchel's side won for the first time since Todd Boehly's consortium agreed a deal to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich last week.

Mason Mount opened the scoring in the early stages at Elland Road and Leeds suffered another blow when Daniel James was sent off.

Christian Pulisic bagged Chelsea's second goal after half-time and Romelu Lukaku wrapped up the Blues' first win in four games.

Third-placed Chelsea are now eight points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham and will be guaranteed a top-four finish if Antonio Conte's team fail to beat fourth-placed Arsenal on Thursday.

Arresting their worrying recent slump was the ideal preparation for Chelsea ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley.

"We accepted all the obstacles we'd have to face, a physical team and an emotional stadium. We were strong from the beginning and deserved to win," said Tuchel, who revealed Mateo Kovacic could miss the final with an ankle injury.

While Chelsea look to end the season on a high, Leeds are in grave danger of relegation.

Jesse Marsch's men sit third-bottom of the table, behind fourth-bottom Burnley on goal difference.

Burnley have three games left compared to only two for Leeds, who host Brighton and travel to Brentford in the matches that will decide if their two-season stay in the top flight is destined to end with a return to the Championship.

Everton moved two points clear of Leeds after a 0-0 draw at relegated Watford.

Frank Lampard's side have lost just once in their last six matches to climb out of the relegation zone.

They also have a game in hand on Leeds in the fight for survival.

Jamie Vardy scored twice and James Maddison also netted as Leicester beat relegated Norwich 3-0 at the King Power Stadium to end a run of seven games without a win.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Chelsea shrug off sanction uncertainty, Yarmolenko strikes on West Ham return

LONDON -- Chelsea shrugged off uncertainty over the club's future to beat Newcastle 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz's late goal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, while Ukrainian international Andriy Yarmolenko broke down in tears after scoring in West Ham's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.

The European champions are still reeling from the impact of the sanctions placed on billionaire owner Roman Abramovich by the UK government for alleged close links to Vladimir Putin as the Russian president wages war on Ukraine.

Chelsea have only been allowed to keep operating thanks to a special license that still imposes a series of restrictions such as a ban on selling tickets and merchandise.

There was little immediate sign of change once the action got underway in front of a full house at Stamford Bridge with all the tickets already sold prior to Thursday's announcement of sanctions.

Prior to the match both Chelsea's technical and performance advisor Petr Cech and manager Thomas Tuchel could offer no guarantees the Blues can even afford to fulfil their fixtures for the rest of the season unless the restrictions of the license are eased.

In contrast to matches in recent weeks there was no chanting of Abramovich's name by the Chelsea fans, although there was still a banner with his image hailing the "Roman Empire".

The chaos caused by questions over where Abramovich amassed his wealth have also seen renewed criticism of the decision to allow Newcastle to be taken over earlier this season by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

The Magpies have seen immediate results from their first transfer window under new ownership as they were unbeaten in nine league games to climb away from the relegation zone.

Newcastle will rightly feel aggrieved that Havertz should not have been on the pitch to score the winner as he caught Dan Burn with an elbow in the first half, but escaped with just a yellow card.

The German then produced the one moment of real quality from a scrappy game when he controlled Jorginho's ball over the top beautifully before prodding home the winner in the 89th minute.

Victory solidified Chelsea's position in third place as they remain well on course for the much-needed financial boost of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

- Emotional Yarmolenko -

West Ham also have ambitions of a top-four finish as they closed to within two points of fourth-placed Manchester United in emotional circumstances at the London Stadium.

Yarmolenko had been given time off following Russia's invasion of his homeland to help aid some of his family to safety.

Introduced as a second-half substitute, he fired home the opening goal 20 minutes from time and was overcome with emotion as he bent down on his knees in celebration.

Pablo Fornals quickly doubled the Hammers' lead before Jacob Ramsey pulled a late consolation goal back for Villa.

At the bottom of the table, Leeds and Watford secured big wins in their battle to beat the drop as Everton slipped even closer to the relegation zone.

Leeds secured their first win under new manager Jesse Marsch in dramatic fashion as Joe Gelhardt struck deep into stoppage time to beat bottom-of-the-table Norwich 2-1 at a relieved Elland Road.

Victory opened up a four-point gap for Leeds over Everton, who are now only out of the bottom three on goal difference.

Frank Lampard's men slipped to an eighth defeat in nine league games as Conor Coady's header earned Wolves a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.

Watford secured a much-needed win to keep alive their hopes of survival by beating Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's thanks to Cucho Hernandez's double.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Harder helps Chelsea past Juve, as Huitema and Moller hit hat-tricks

PARIS, France -- Pernille Harder scored the winning goal to help last season's losing finalists Chelsea to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Juventus in the second round of matches of the UEFA Women's Champions League on Wednesday.

Chelsea, who last week drew 3-3 with Wolfsburg, had opened the scoring through Scottish striker Erin Cuthbert just after the half-hour mark, only for Juve to draw level minutes later thanks to a perfectly-timed volley from Italy veteran Barbara Bonansea.

But Danish forward Harder, who moved from Wolfsburg to Chelsea for a world record fee in 2020, was first to react to a loose ball in the 69th minute, smashing home past Juve goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud Magnin.

Group A's other match saw German club Wolfsburg hammer Servette from neighboring Switzerland 5-0, the first of three such one-sided results in Wednesday's four games.

Tabea Wassmuth scored two goals, as Svenja Huth, Dominique Janssen and Joelle Smits all also hit the back of the net.

Canada's Jordyn Huitema hit the first hat-trick of the evening as Paris Saint-Germain hammered Kharkiv 5-0 in Group B.

The 20-year-old Canadian scored her three goals in the opening 17 minutes in an electric start in the French capital.

"It's incredible to be able to put these goals for the team. Just excited that the team has got an other win," the modest Huitema said.

Poland's Paulina Dudek and Lea Khelifi rounded out the scoring for the Parisians against the out-classed Ukrainians.

With seven goals scored and none conceded after two Group B games, PSG will head into their double-header with Real Madrid full of confidence.

"We are super excited to play on this incredible field and incredible stadium" against Real Madrid, Huitema admitted. 

"We have a huge fan base and we like their energy, we were missing the fans for a long time."

Madrid also went two from two, with Caroline Moller scoring a hat-trick of her own in the opening 37 minutes of a 5-0 victory over Iceland's Breidablik.

Olga Carmona and Lorena Navarro added two more in a comprehensive victory.

Reigning champions Barcelona travel to Denmark to take on HB Koge on Thursday, while Arsenal host German rivals Hoffenheim in Group C.

Group D action matches Bayern Munich against Sweden's Hacken, while Lyon entertain Benfica.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Man Utd stumble again as Chelsea top Premier League

LONDON -- Manchester United were held at home by Everton on Saturday after Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped to the subs bench as Chelsea scored two late goals against Southampton to top the Premier League table.

Elsewhere, Brighton drew 0-0 with Arsenal to end the Gunners' recent winning streak while Leeds earned their first league win of the season.

United's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford continues an unimpressive run of home results including a League Cup defeat by West Ham and last week's shock Premier League loss at the hands of Aston Villa.

Ronaldo has scored five times in six games in all competitions since rejoining the club in late August but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he did not regret resting the 36-year-old -- who scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Villarreal in midweek.

"You make decisions throughout the season, you've got to manage the players' workload," said the Norwegian manager. "The decision was, for me, the correct one today.

"We have started better than last season, but it is still not what we wanted."

Everton created plenty of chances in the opening period but fell behind shortly before half-time when surprise pick Anthony Martial curled home his first Premier League goal since February from a Bruno Fernandes pass.

Solskjaer called on Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho 12 minutes after half-time as he looked to put the game beyond Rafael Benitez's men but Everton ruthlessly exposed United's frailty on the counter-attack.

Demarai Gray won the ball back on the left and freed Abdoulaye Doucoure into acres of space in midfield. Doucoure played in Andros Townsend to fire home his fifth goal in nine appearances.

Townsend performed a Ronaldo-style "Siuuu" goal celebration and said it was done in tribute to the Portuguese superstar, whom he said was his "idol".

Everton thought they had won it late on but Yerry Mina's close-range finish from a Tom Davies pass was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

- Chelsea strike late -

Chelsea ended a miserable week on a high, with Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell striking late in a 3-1 win against Southampton, who are still without a league victory this season.

The three points lifted the Stamford Bridge club to the top of the Premier League on 16 points, two clear of Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Brighton.

Thomas Tuchel's side, tipped by many to win the Premier League in the early weeks of the season, were well beaten by Manchester City last week and lost to Juventus in the Champions League in midweek.

But they returned to winning ways in London on Saturday, helped by a second-half red card for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

Trevoh Chalobah nodded Chelsea into an early lead but Ward-Prowse levelled from the penalty spot just after the hour mark before he was sent off in the 77th minute for a dangerous tackle on Jorginho after a VAR check.

Werner provided the decisive moment, sliding in from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross before Chilwell volleyed in from close range on 89 minutes to secure the victory.

"After two defeats we had to be careful that we didn't start being too sad or too worried because there was a chance to be on 16 points," Tuchel told the BBC.

"It was important to have a better performance than the last two games, that we sharpened our mindset so that we are not afraid to lose. It was nice to play the way we did and get a deserved win."

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal were bottom of the Premier League table after three matches before three consecutive wins lifted them to the comfort of mid-table.

But they found it tough to break down high-flying Brighton in a soggy evening contest on England's south coast and Arteta admitted his team did not deserve to win.

Earlier, Leeds beat Watford 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike by Diego Llorente while Hwang Hee-chan struck twice as Wolves beat struggling Newcastle 2-1.

Norwich stopped the rot against Burnley after six straight league defeats but they remain rock bottom of the Premier League table with just a single point from seven games after a 0-0 draw.

Liverpool host Manchester City in the pick of Sunday's Premier League matches.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Chelsea's Lukaku more 'complete' after Inter spell

LONDON -- Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku said on Monday believes he is now a "complete" striker as the club's record signing settles back into life at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku rejoined Chelsea in a £98 million ($135 million) move from Inter Milan last week. 

The 28-year-old was unavailable for Chelsea's 3-0 win against Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener on Saturday.

But Lukaku could make his debut in Sunday's trip to Arsenal and the Belgium forward plans to show how much he has developed since the last time he played for the Blues.

Almost 10 years after arriving in west London as an unknown teenager, Lukaku returns as one of the world's top strikers.

"I just feel more complete; I've tried to master all the facets that a striker needs and I just want to keep improving on the small details all the time and keep improving on my strengths as well," Lukaku told Chelsea's website.

"I just want to try to help the team win and be available for the manager as well as for my team-mates.

"I want to make sure that they feel comfortable and they can lean on me in whatever situation we're in.

"The two years in Italy helped me master all the facets of the game for a striker and now I'm ready."

Lukaku fired 27 goals and laid on 11 assists last term as Inter stormed to the Serie A title.

He also boasts vast Premier League experience after stints with West Brom, Everton and Manchester United.

Chelsea struggled for goals at times last season, but Lukaku is confident he can fill any role required by boss Thomas Tuchel.

"The conversation was really clear from him, that he wants me to be a presence and a leader in the team," Lukaku said.

"If he wants me to be a focal point or if he wants me to attack the spaces in behind, I can do it.

"It's not like I'm a new player coming in and not quite knowing what to expect. I know the league, I've scored a fair amount of goals here but the past is the past and now we have to look forward.

"I'm a new version of that player from before. I've evolved and the team that I'm joining is a very strong team so now we just have to prove it on the pitch by challenging for the Premier League."

Lukaku also revealed he continues to lean on former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba for advice.

"Our relationship means the world to me. It's not like we talk once a month, I talk to the guy every few days!" Lukaku said.

"We have a group chat so we're constantly communicating and I've been on the phone with him a bit more in the past two weeks.

"I had a lot of questions to ask and he still knows a lot of people here so he really prepared me well with the last details."

Agence France-Presse 

Big wins for Liverpool, City; more woe for United, Chelsea

A fourth straight win for Liverpool. Another big victory for Manchester City. More disappointment for Manchester United and Chelsea.

Oh, and the usual dose of VAR controversy.


Just a typical afternoon in this season’s Premier League.

By beating Burnley 3-0 on Saturday, Liverpool achieved a club-record 13th straight league victory and stayed in first place on a maximum 12 points heading into the two-week break for internationals. No other team in England’s four professional leagues has won all its games since the start of the season.

City is hot on Liverpool’s heels in second place, already seemingly reprising the northwest clubs’ duel for the title last season.

It is now 14 goals this season for the defending champions after a 4-0 home win over Brighton that included a double from Sergio Aguero, who is the top scorer in the league with six goals.


City’s win was marred by a first-half injury to arguably the team’s best defender, Aymeric Laporte, which according to manager Pep Guardiola could keep the center back out for “a while.”

Meanwhile, pre-season predictions that this will be a transitional year for United and Chelsea under inexperienced coaches are proving to be true, with the two teams already seven points off Liverpool before September with just one win apiece so far.

Both squandered leads Saturday, United failing to build on Daniel James’ early goal — his third of the season following his offseason arrival from second-tier Swansea — and drawing 1-1 at Southampton.

Chelsea will be even more unhappy, surrendering a two-goal lead at home to promoted team Sheffield United and drawing 2-2.

Every weekend has featured some sort of contentious issues with VAR, which is being used for the first time in the Premier League this season, and the latest dispute was at Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa.


Villa thought it had scored an equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time through Henri Lansbury, only for the goal to be ruled out because teammate Jack Grealish was adjudged to have dived in the build-up. Villa’s players were furious and it looked a tight call, with the video assistant referee choosing not to overturn the on-field decision of the referee.

EASY FOR LIVERPOOL

A touch of fortune and a defensive error helped Liverpool ease to a 13th straight win.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross from the right glanced off the back of Burnley striker Chris Wood and span high and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Nick Pope into the far corner of the net in the 33rd.

Four minutes later, Burnley defender Ben Mee passed the ball straight to Roberto Firmino in midfield and the Brazil forward played in Sadio Mane, who slotted home his finish.

Firmino added the third in the 80th from a counter-attack.

LAPORTE BLOW

Man City’s third victory in four matches might have come at a huge cost with the right knee injury to Laporte.

The French defender, who was called up by his national team on Friday for just the second time, punched the ground as soon as he made contact with Adam Webster as the Brighton center back charged down the right wing. Laporte held his hands behind his head and shook his head as he was carried off.

“It doesn’t look good,” Guardiola said. “I’m waiting for the doctor to call me. He (Laporte) might be out for a while.”


Any lengthy absence for Laporte would be a major blow to City, which released long-serving captain Vincent Kompany in the offseason and has John Stones currently out injured. Fernandinho, a center midfielder, filled in as a center back off the bench against Brighton.

Kevin De Bruyne and substitute Bernardo Silva were the other scorers for City.

POGBA INJURY

The sight of Paul Pogba hobbling away from St. Mary’s stadium was a further blow to United after its poor display against Southampton.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Pogba “got a bad knock on his ankle” but expected the midfielder to still turn up for international duty with France next week.

James’ goal was canceled out by Jannik Vestergaard’s header in the 58th minute. Kevin Danso was handed a second yellow card for a crude, high challenge on Scott McTominay, reducing Southampton to 10 men in the 73rd, but United couldn’t capitalize.

ABRAHAM’S DOUBLE DOUBLE

Tammy Abraham has now scored two goals in consecutive games for Chelsea, cementing his place as the team’s first-choice striker

His first-half double — after his brace against Norwich last weekend — was not enough to see off Sheffield United, which reduced the deficit through Callum Robinson less than a minute after the restart before Kurt Zouma’s own-goal in the 87th minute.

OTHER RESULTS

Jamie Vardy scored twice in Leicester’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, West Ham beat Norwich 2-0 through goals by Sebastian Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko, while Watford collected its first point of the season by drawing 1-1 at Newcastle.

source: sports.inquirer.net

FIFA bans Chelsea from signing players through next season

Chelsea was banned Friday from signing players until after the 2019-20 season, the latest European power punished by FIFA for flouting rules protecting young talent from premature international moves.

FIFA punished the London club owned by Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich for violations of rules regarding the protection of minors that involve 29 players, Chelsea said. FIFA rules provide specific circumstances in which clubs may sign players under 18.

Like Barcelona in 2015 and Atletico Madrid throughout 2017, Chelsea was barred from signing new players for two transfer windows, covering this summer and January 2020. Chelsea already has announced plans to appeal the ban and a fine of 600,000 Swiss francs ($600,000).

The Football Association, which has oversight of transfers in England, was fined 510,000 Swiss francs ($510,000) by FIFA and given six months to “address the situation concerning the international transfer and first registration of minors in football,” FIFA said.

In some cases, players under the age of 18 spent time on trial at Chelsea but were not registered with the football authorities, people with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss specifics of the case.

Part of the FIFA case focused on players exceeding what is considered a reasonable amount of time to be considered a trialist and making return trips to Chelsea, one of the people said.

The punishment is the latest blow for Chelsea, which has dropped to sixth in the Premier League and was knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United on Monday. Abramovich, who has transformed the London club since his 2003 takeover, has been unable to travel to Britain since his visa expired at the end of last April.

International transfers involving players under 18 are prohibited unless their families had already moved to the new country for non-soccer reasons or they are close to the border of another nation. There is an exception for clubs within the European Union and European Economic Community that allows the transfer of 16- to 18-year-old players provided conditions are met on education and living conditions.

It was first reported three years ago that Burkina Faso attacker Bertrand Traore played for Chelsea’s under-18 team in 2011 while still 16. Traore made only 16 appearances for Chelsea’s first team before being sold to Lyon in 2017.

FIFA did not detail the specifics of the case against Chelsea, but it said the club also entered into agreements that “allowed it to influence other clubs in transfer-related matters.”

Chelsea said it was initially charged over 92 players but no breach was found by FIFA in relation to 63 of them.


“The club is extremely disappointed that FIFA has not accepted the club’s submissions in relation to the remaining 29 players,” Chelsea said in a statement. “Chelsea FC acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will shortly be submitting its appeal to FIFA.”

The FA is challenging its fine and said it already had “raised some concerns with FIFA regarding its disciplinary processes.”

“We will however continue to work with FIFA and Chelsea in a constructive manner to address the issues which are raised by this case,” the FA said in a statement.

Both the FA and Chelsea could ultimately challenge any FIFA appeal ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. When Real Madrid received a similar ban in 2016, the sanction was reduced to one transfer window by CAS. But Atletico Madrid failed to cut its punishment covering two transfer windows.

Chelsea already finalized one transfer knowing the FIFA verdict was pending. Christian Pulisic was signed for 64 million euros ($73 million) in January and the 20-year-old winger from Hershey, Pennsylvania, was immediately loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of this season. The German club didn’t have to pay a fee.

The transfer ban does not prevent Chelsea from selling players. Winger Eden Hazard, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, has indicated he could look for a transfer at the end of season but he is under contract at Stamford Bridge until the end of the 2019-20 season.

Although Chelsea has a strong academy, winning the FA Youth Cup for the last five years, players struggle to graduate to the first team. Chelsea currently has 42 players out on loan to other teams.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Klopp shies away from Liverpool title talk

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to countenance the suggestion his side might be Premier League title contenders following their impressive 2-1 victory at Chelsea.

Dejan Lovren’s close-range volley and Jordan Henderson’s sublime 25-yard curler earned Liverpool victory at Stamford Bridge on Friday, with Diego Costa replying for the home side.

Liverpool have also beaten Arsenal and defending champions Leicester City this season, but Klopp was no more willing to discuss their title chances than he had been after their 3-1 win here last October.

“I’m really not interested,” he told a reporter in the Stamford Bridge press conference room when asked about Liverpool’s title prospects.

“Someone asked me that when we won 3-1 last season against Chelsea. My answer was: ‘Are you crazy?’ I remember it.

“I learnt a little bit about the English (media). We have 10 points. That’s fantastic. I’m really happy after these difficult fixtures.

“We know we can play good football, we’re convinced about our quality. We just have to do it every week, or every three days.”

The only blot on Liverpool’s league record so far was their surprise 2-0 defeat at promoted Burnley, which was followed by a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.

Liverpool’s performance on Friday was notable for its intensity, with midfielders Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum and Henderson helping to prevent Chelsea gaining a foothold in the game.

Klopp was dismissive when it was put to him that his players might struggle to sustain such a rhythm and said their dominance of possession in the first half had actually helped them save energy.

“I’ve managed for 16 years and I get asked that all the time,” said the German, whose side visit second-tier Derby County in the League Cup on Tuesday.

“It’s not about intensity. It’s about finding a solution for the opponent. In the first half it was not that intense.

“We had the ball, so it’s about movement, playing football simply. We can come through the lines by running.

“The most intense football is if you make a mistake and have to run in the wrong direction, as we did for their goal. We have to improve, but we don’t run like crazy all the time.”

‘Feel the danger’

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte handed a second debut to Brazilian centre-back David Luiz, who returned to the club on transfer deadline day after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.

It was Conte’s first defeat as Chelsea manager and the first time he had seen one of his teams beaten at home in a league game since Juventus lost 2-1 to Sampdoria in January 2013.

The former Italy manager said both of Liverpool’s goals had been the result of defensive inattention from his players.

Philippe Coutinho was allowed to take a short free-kick before crossing for Lovren to put Liverpool in front in the 17th minute, while Henderson’s goal stemmed from a throw-in.

Chelsea slumped to a disappointing 10th-place finish last season and Conte warned his players they risk meeting a similar fate this term if they do not sharpen up.

“I don’t want to repeat a bad season like last year,” he said.

“I don’t want that. For this reason we must pay attention in every single moment of the game, in every minute.

“I’m the coach, so I must work more on this aspect. Now, it’s not enough. Because this is not the first time this has happened.

“We must feel the danger in every single moment of the game, if we want to win and think like a great team.

“Chelsea is a great team, but we must show this in every single game, to pay attention and be focused.”

Chelsea were without captain John Terry, who damaged ankle ligaments in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Swansea City.

Conte said he did not know if the centre-back would be fit for the mid-week League Cup tie at Leicester.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Leicester 2 points away from Premier League title

MANCHESTER, England — One chance gone for Leicester in its attempt to clinch a first English league title.

Over to you, Tottenham.

Needing three points to pull off the ultimate underdog success story in sports, Leicester only managed to pick up one from a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Leicester still has two games left — against Everton at home next weekend and Chelsea away on the final day — to collect the required two points. It might not even go that far, as second-place Spurs has to beat Chelsea on Monday to keep the title race alive.

“I’d like to watch the (Chelsea-Spurs) match,” said Claudio Ranieri, Leicester’s Italian manager, “but I’m on a flight back from Italy so I might not know the result until I land.”

Spurs can at least prepare for that game at Stamford Bridge knowing they are guaranteed a top-four place and therefore a spot in next season’s Champions League.

The same can’t be said for either of the Manchester clubs.

While United stayed in fifth place, Man City dropped to fourth by losing 4-2 at Southampton as manager Manuel Pellegrini’s risk in playing a weakened team backfired.

Key players like Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Vincent Kompany were among those rested ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid on Wednesday, and it showed in City’s loose display at St. Mary’s Stadium. Sadio Mane scored a hat trick for seventh-place Southampton, while Kelechi Iheanacho scored both of City’s goals.

In the tight race for the final two Champions League spots, Arsenal is third — three points ahead of City and seven points ahead of United which has a game in hand. West Ham is a point further back in sixth.

In the other game Sunday, Swansea guaranteed Premier League football for another season by beating Liverpool 3-1, with Andre Ayew scoring two of the goals.

Like City, Liverpool seemed preoccupied by a looming European game — Thursday’s second leg of its Europa League semifinal against Villarreal, which stands at 1-0 to the Spanish side — and fielded a depleted starting lineup.

Christian Benteke scored the only goal for Liverpool, which finished with 10 men following the 76th-minute red card to left back Brad Smith.

For Leicester, a seemingly impossible dream is one step closer and there’s now a good chance the team could seal the title in front of its own fans at the King Power Stadium next weekend against Everton, in the next-to-last round of fixtures.

Danny Drinkwater, Leicester’s box-to-box midfielder will miss that game after being sent off against United for collecting a second yellow card in the 86th minute.

United opened the scoring at Old Trafford through Anthony Martial’s powerful sidefoot volley in the eighth minute, by which time Leicester had barely got out of its own half.

Ranieri’s team of rejects, journeymen and unheralded foreign players has been confounding the doubters all season and they did so again here, digging deep and equalizing with their first genuine chance when Wes Morgan headed in from Drinkwater’s free kick in the 17th.

“I am very pleased with our performance after the goal,” Ranieri said. “We keep calm and score a goal. After that we get a lot of confidence and play better. After that, it was another match.”

United could also have finished with 10 men had the referee spotted Marouane Fellaini lashing out at Leicester defender Robert Huth, first with his forearm and then with his elbow, as they jostled at a set piece. Fellaini appeared to be reacting after his hair was pulled by Huth and United manager Louis van Gaal empathized with his player.

Mimicking the incident by appearing to grab a TV reporter’s hair off camera, Van Gaal said: “What is your reaction when I grab your hair? Your hair is shorter than Fellaini’s but when I do that, what are you doing then? It’s a reaction.”

Leicester’s vocal fans stayed behind after the final whistle, chanting “Tottenham Hotspur, we’re waiting for you,” and “Are you watching, Tottenham?”

The pressure now moves onto Spurs, who haven’t won away to Chelsea in the league since 1990.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Football: Lampard braced for season-end Chelsea exit – agent

 LONDON – Frank Lampard will definitely leave Chelsea at the end of the season, the England international’s agent confirmed Thursday, but he will not be tempted to see out his career in China.

The 34-year-old Lampard is into the final months of his contract with the European champions and a new deal has yet to be agreed.

“At the moment, Frank is only thinking of the present. As far as the future is concerned, the only thing that is certain is that his team will change at the end of the season,” agent Steve Kutner told www.Cittaceleste.it.

“Frank wants to play for a great team, fight for important goals and win other trophies.

“A player of his calibre should continue playing at the highest level. Serie A could be more than just a possibility,” added Kutner, who insisted that a move to China or Russia was not on the agenda.

Los Angeles Galaxy, Chinese Super League side Guizhou Renhe and Premier League strugglers QPR have all been recently linked with a move for Lampard.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Chelsea Clinton as Correspondent for NBC

NBC just announced that Chelsea Clinton has been hired as a the full time Special Correspondent for NBC Nightly News series "Making a Difference" that will focus on human interest stories from around the country and Rock Center with Brian Williams. Chelsea Clinton, is the 31-year-old daughter of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Chelsea Clinton is an intelligent woman so she's perfect for this job and i'm pretty sure she'll do her best. Hooray for Ms. Clinton!