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The race for next season’s Champions League

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We're all set for an interesting last few days of the Premier League season The race for Champions League qualification is heading for a dramatic conclusion, with five Premier League sides vying for three remaining spots on the final day of the season.  Author - Jack L Still work to do for Newcastle but Arsenal have qualified despite a difficult run Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe admitted, "I had the feeling it would go right to the end," after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. That result guaranteed Arsenal's place in next season’s Champions League alongside title-winners Liverpool. Arteta's side would have been hoping for more at the start of the season but qualifying again is still a reasonable achievement. The loss left Newcastle locked in a tense battle, level on 66 points with Chelsea and Aston Villa. READ MORE: Arsenal 1 - 1 Newcastle United   Who else is involved? Just behind them are Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, both on 65 po...

Sliding Doors Moments: What if Shearer signed for Manchester United in 1996?

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The first sliding doors moment we are going to explore involves Manchester United and Alan Shearer. Author - Liam C In the summer of 1996, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a huge effort to sign England striker Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers.  Shearer was the most prolific goal scorer in English football at the time, having just won the Premier League Golden Boot in both 1995 and 1996.  Ultimately, Shearer chose to join his boyhood club, Newcastle United, for a then-record fee of £15 million. However, an alternative scenario in which Shearer decided to sign for Manchester United could have dramatically affected both the club and the footballing landscape in the Premier League. The Old Trafford club decided to sign a certain unheard-of Norwegian at the time. He didn't do too badly... So, what if Shearer moved to Manchester United in 1996? In this alternate reality, Manchester United sign Shearer and he joins a team fresh off winning the Premier League and...

Injuries and mistakes cost Manchester United again

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Newcastle United 4 - 1 Manchester United  It was another dreadful Sunday afternoon for Ruben Amorim's side as mistakes and another injury cost them against Newcastle. Author - Olivia T Stadium - St James' Park The Manchester United boss dropped first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana after his two mistakes against Lyon in Thursday's 2-2 Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw. His replacement Altay Bayındır was guilty of a serious error to seal an easy home win. The Turkey international clipped a ball straight to Joelinton who headed into the path of Bruno Guimaraes to make it 4-1 in the 77th minute. The game was, ultimately, probably over before that Bayindir mistake as Newcastle looked comfortable once Harvey Barnes had made it 3-1.  The visitors also lost Joshua Zirkzee to a suspected hamstring injury, dropped below Everton on goal difference to 14th in the table. They are now three points off fourth-bottom West Ham United. This was their 10th defeat in 21 Premier Le...

Newcastle reach Champions League despite Everton defeat

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Newcastle United 0 - 1 Everton Newcastle United booked their place in next season’s Champions League despite slipping to defeat against an impressive Everton  Author | Sarah W Stadium | St James’ Park Eddie Howe’s side began the final day of the Premier League campaign in fourth, within reach of a return to Europe’s top table. But a nervy, disjointed display left them vulnerable, and Everton took full advantage. Revitalised under David Moyes, the visitors were the more organised side throughout and took a deserved lead when Carlos Alcaraz headed home midway through the second half. Tension gripped the home crowd as their side laboured, but relief swept around the ground when word spread that Manchester United were leading Aston Villa at Old Trafford . Confirmation of that result was met with jubilation, with Newcastle ultimately securing fifth place on goal difference, enough to clinch a Champions League berth thanks to the Premier League’s expanded allocation. It marks a fitti...

Villa boost hopes of Champions League return

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Aston Villa 4 - 1 Newcastle United Aston Villa delivered a scintillating display at Villa Park to sweep aside Newcastle United and underline their intent in the race for a top-five finish and Champions League football. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Villa Park Ollie Watkins gave Villa the perfect start, drawing level with Gabriel Agbonlahor as the club’s joint-highest Premier League goalscorer. His strike after just 33 seconds took a cruel deflection off Fabian Schär and left Nick Pope stranded. Newcastle responded in the 18th minute, with Schär making amends by heading home Harvey Barnes’ deep, curling cross. The ball crept through the legs of Emiliano MartĂ­nez to restore parity. But Villa refused to relent. Just after the hour mark, Watkins turned provider, sliding in Ian Maatsen who showed composure beyond his years to lift the ball delicately over the keeper and restore the lead. The hosts found another gear. Jacob Ramsey’s low ball across the box ricocheted in off Dan Burn ...

The most dramatic races to the Premier League title

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We all love a dramatic end to the season Let's explore some of the best and most iconic title races in the history of English football. Will the 2024 race for the title match any of those listed below? Leicester City, Tottenham and Arsenal in 2016 An odd one to choose perhaps, but this was a fascinating title race. It was a two-horse race for a period, but Spurs finished third. Leicester won the title that season thanks to the form of former Non-League player Jamie Vardy. Many described it as the greatest-ever sporting achievement.  Following this title win, Leicester players struggled to match what they achieved during that season. They were even relegated in 2023. They quickly recovered to win the Championship in 2024, once again being inspired by Vardy. Liverpool and Arsenal 1989 Throwback to 1989 when Arsenal managed to clinch their 9th league title at Anfield in the most dramatic night in club history pic.twitter.com/YSqyids0H9 — Throwback Arsenal (@ThrowbackAFC) August 22,...

Manchester United: 23/24 Season Review

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Let's explore Manchester United's 2023/2024 season. It was a campaign full of drama. There was a lot of controversy throughout, but it finished with glory as they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.  After being eliminated from the EFL Cup in the fourth round by the previous season's finalists, Newcastle United, they also experienced their worst performance in the Champions League group stage. They then finished in 8th position, their lowest ever place in the Premier League era.  We will now experience some of those key reports and stories from the season. The season started with a 1-0 win over Wolves. In this match, Raphael Varane secured the decisive goal with just 14 minutes remaining, propelling Manchester United to a somewhat lucky victory. It wasn't a great performance though and perhaps a sign of things to come. A few weeks later, they lost 3 - 1 at home to Brighton. After this match, we spoke to Liam, a United Season Ticket holder. He said: ...

EFL Cup: Chelsea progress on penalties to beat Newcastle

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 Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle United (Chelsea win 4-2 on penalties) Kieran Trippier had a nightmarish experience at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea secured a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals through a penalty shootout. Despite Callum Wilson's 16th-minute goal appearing to propel Newcastle into the last four, substitute Mykhailo Mudryk seized on the veteran defender's mistake deep into stoppage time, leading to the match heading to penalties. Trippier, who has recently struggled with a dip in form, widened Newcastle's second penalty, and with keeper Djordje Petrovic saving Matt Ritchie's spot-kick, Chelsea transitioned from the brink of defeat to the joy of reaching the semi-finals. It was a harsh outcome for Trippier, a key figure under manager Eddie Howe, whose moment of indecision on a header provided Chelsea with the lifeline Mudryk capitalized on. Chelsea's Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Christopher Nkunku, and Mudryk all scored in the shootout, while only Callum Wils...

Villa eventually seal win over Southampton

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Southampton 0 - 3 Aston Villa Aston Villa took a significant step towards securing back-to-back seasons in the Champions League with a 3-0 victory over already-relegated Southampton, despite Marco Asensio missing two second-half penalties. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - St. Mary's Stadium Unai Emery’s side were made to work for their win at St Mary’s, with all three goals coming after the break and all three scored by substitutes. It marked a piece of Premier League history, as Villa became the first team to have three different substitutes score in a single match. Ollie Watkins, introduced midway through the second half for Marcus Rashford, broke the deadlock when he latched onto a sublime pass from Youri Tielemans and fired in a first-time finish that struck the underside of the crossbar on its way in. Just minutes earlier, Watkins had won Villa’s first penalty after being brought down by Jan Bednarek’s clumsy challenge, only for Aaron Ramsdale to deny Asensio from the spo...

Premier League: Ferguson shines for Brighton

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Brighton & Hove Albion 3 - 1 Newcastle United Evan Ferguson scored a hat-trick against Newcastle to show off his extraordinary potential and has potentially set the stage for another memorable Premier League season for Brighton. After overachieving last season, both teams discovered their European groups this week, and Albion appears to be much better positioned than the Magpies to contend for a Champions League spot this time around. More Premier League news and stories can be found here:  Premier League news and stories: 2023/2024  What happened in the match? Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and Lewis Dunk all had a chance to score before Ferguson's hat-trick made him the first non-English player to score 10 Premier League goals before his 19th birthday.  After Nick Pope mishandled Billy Gilmour's long-range attempt, the Republic of Ireland striker Ferguson pounced from close range. The 18-year-old scored a stunning strike from 25 yards out to make it 2-0 before add...

Premier League: It was a dramatic Sunday

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 There were 20 goals on a dramatic Sunday of Premier League football.  Let's explore what happened and examine what the impact might be come the end of the season. AFC Bournemouth 4 - 1 Leeds United Bournemouth earned a superb 4-1 win to deepen Leeds' relegation worries. A quick-fire Jefferson Lerma played a key part in lifting his side further away from relegation danger and leaving the visitors a point clear of the drop zone. Fulham 1 - 2 Manchester City Manchester City beat Fulham to return to the top of the Premier League for the first time since February as Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season in all competitions. Fulham did themselves proud on the day but didn't offer enough in an attacking sense to worry the title favourites too much. Can City go and win The Treble? Click here to see all the news and stories from East Manchester.  Manchester United 1 - 0 Aston Villa Bruno Fernandes scored his 100th career league goal to boost Manchester United's ...

Premier League: Potentially a pivotal night in Newcastle

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 Newcastle United 1 - 1 Everton How important could this point prove to be for Everton? How costly could these two dropped points be in Newcastle's quest for European qualification?  Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a late penalty to secure a crucial point for Everton in their battle to avoid relegation and draw against Newcastle, who are still vying for a spot in Europe. Alexander Isak scored in the 15th minute for the hosts after receiving a pass from Harvey Barnes, cutting inside Jarrad Branthwaite, and calmly finishing past Jordan Pickford. Dan Burn thought he had scored a goal, but it was disallowed for offside. Isak also had a shot cleared off the line.  Later in the game, Paul Dummett was penalised for wrestling Ashley Young to the ground by having his arm around Young's neck. This gave the visitors a chance to score a late goal. Can Newcastle United qualify for Europe? More news from the Geordie Nation on European Super Football. Referee Tony Harrington had not gi...

Game of the season at St. James' Park?

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Newcastle United 4 - 3 Nottingham Forest Alexander Isak netted his 50th Premier League goal as Newcastle United produced a blistering first-half display to overcome Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - St. James' Park Forest took an early lead when Callum Hudson-Odoi capitalised on a defensive slip, but Newcastle responded in devastating fashion, scoring four times in an electrifying 11-minute spell to take a commanding 4-1 lead into the break. Teenager Lewis Miley and Jacob Murphy struck in quick succession to turn the game on its head, before Isak bagged a rapid-fire brace to pile more misery on the visitors. His second – his 19th of the season – saw him reach the 50-goal milestone in just 76 Premier League appearances, a feat achieved quicker by only six players in the competition’s history. Forest did show some fight after the break, with Nikola Milenkovic pouncing on a defensive lapse to pull one back. Then, in the 90th minute, substitute...

Premier League: Arsenal maintain title challenge

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 Newcastle United 0 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal clawed Manchester City's lead at the Premier League summit back to one point after they came out on top against Newcastle United. Mikel Arteta's side responded superbly to the pressure exerted by Manchester City's victory over Leeds United to prevail in an action-packed, edgy encounter littered with chances on Tyneside. Newcastle started at lightning pace and Jacob Murphy hit the post and had a penalty award overturned by VAR. Arsenal showed their strength and it was captain Martin Odegaard who followed up his double against Chelsea in midweek by drilling his 15th Premier League goal of the season past Newcastle keeper Nick Pope. Premier League news (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) What followed was a magnificent game full of opportunities, Pope saved crucially from Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Odegaard before half-time. Martinelli also struck the bar after the break. Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale also produced vital stops ...

Liverpool knocked out of Champions League

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Liverpool 0 - 1 PSG (Finished 1-1 on aggregate) PSG won 4-1 on penalties Liverpool’s hopes of European glory were beaten dramatically as Paris Saint-Germain edged them out on penalties at Anfield, ending their Champions League campaign. Author - William G Stadium - Anfield PSG, needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Paris, showed their growing maturity under Luis Enrique, knocking out a Liverpool side widely seen as strong contenders for the title. Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©’s early strike set the tone for the comeback, with Liverpool struggling to break down a disciplined PSG, who remained a constant threat on the counter. Over the two legs, PSG were fully deserving of their victory , with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma proving the hero in the shootout. The Italian made crucial saves from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones before DĂ©sirĂ© DouĂ© buried the decisive penalty, sparking jubilant celebrations among the visiting fans. Liverpool had begun with intent, looking to build on t...

Liverpool maintain perfect Champions League record

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Girona 0 - 1 Liverpool Liverpool are on the brink of securing their place in the Champions League last 16 after Mohamed Salah's penalty sealed a win against Girona. Author - William G from GMCR Football Liverpool maintain perfect Champions League record in 24/25 More reaction here - https://t.co/SoSZpMS13p https://t.co/95Hp43Tq62 — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) December 12, 2024 The decisive moment in the match came in the second half when Donny van de Beek, formerly of Manchester United and Everton , clipped Luis DĂ­az's heel in the box, handing Liverpool a spot-kick. Salah made no mistake, coolly converting from 12 yards and wrong-footing Girona's goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, to notch his 46th Champions League goal. At the other end, Alisson Becker, back in the Liverpool team, pulled off several excellent saves to preserve the Reds' unbeaten run in this season's competition. With this victory, Liverpool maintain their perfect record and top th...

Chelsea edge past United to boost Champions League hopes

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Chelsea 1 - 0 Manchester United Chelsea have strengthened their chances of securing a Champions League place next season after Marc Cucurella’s second-half header clinched a hard-fought victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Author - Lauren W Stadium - Stamford Bridge The Spanish full-back met Reece James’s superb delivery from the right to nod in what proved to be the winner, lifting Chelsea into fourth in the Premier League with just one round of fixtures remaining. They went into the match knowing that victory was crucial to keep control of their own European fate. They are now level on points with Aston Villa but edge ahead on goal difference, and sit one point clear of sixth-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Despite a looming Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday , United manager RĂşben Amorim fielded a strong side in west London. His decision nearly paid off when Harry Maguire volleyed home midway through the first half, only for the goa...

The best January transfers

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Is this all about desperation or a good chance to sign a bargain? This article will explore some of the best signings from the the January Transfer Window. Is it a good time to sign players or not? Author - Liam C Seamus Coleman There will be players on this list with a higher profile but very few that work out at better value for money than Coleman. Everton signed him from the Irish side Sligo Rovers in 2009. He has eclipsed 350 first-team appearances for the Merseysiders and has captained the team in recent times. The player has been an excellent servant for the Blues and has shown there is no shortage of talent across the top flight in Ireland. Patrice Evra In December 2005, French sources revealed that Manchester United was interested in signing Evra. Despite rumours that Monaco had reached a transfer agreement with Internazionale. On the 3rd of January 2006, Evra revealed he preferred to move to England to join Manchester United. He finally moved to Old Trafford a few days lat...

Defeat for Ipswich confirms their relegation

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Newcastle United 3 - 0 Ipswich Town Ipswich Town’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed after Newcastle United boosted their push for Champions League qualification with a comfortable victory.  Author - Marcus Stadium - St James' Park Ipswich needed to beat Newcastle and rely on West Ham losing at Brighton to delay their drop into the Championship. Those slim hopes were badly damaged late in the first half when Ben Johnson was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Bruno GuimarĂŁes had a close-range effort ruled out midway through the half for a foul on goalkeeper Alex Palmer, but Alexander Isak finally broke Ipswich’s resistance deep into first-half stoppage time, converting a penalty after referee Michael Salisbury consulted the pitchside monitor. Newcastle dominated the second half. Dan Burn, who scored in last month's Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool, headed in a second goal from Kieran Trippier’s looping cross ten minutes after the restart. READ MO...