INSIDER
Belgium spoils Canada's World Cup return with 1-0 win
Read full article: Belgium spoils Canada's World Cup return with 1-0 winThibaut Courtois saved an early penalty and Michy Batshuayi scored the lone goal to give Belgium a 1-0 win over Canada at the World Cup to spoil the North American team's return to the tournament after 36 years.
Arsenal wins derby; Man U, Leicester strengthen top-4 bids
Read full article: Arsenal wins derby; Man U, Leicester strengthen top-4 bidsEven after coming from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1, Arsenal is in 10th place and 10 points from the top four. The more significant results on Sunday in the Champions League chase were victories for Manchester United and Leicester, which both pulled further clear. Leicester remains a point behind United after routing Sheffield United 5-0. DERBY JOYAlexandre Lacazette captained Arsenal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the starting lineup following a breach of pre-match protocols. AdIHEANACHO HAT TRICKIt was a miserable start to life without Chris Wilder for last-place Sheffield United, although Leicester had to wait until six minutes before halftime to find a breakthrough.
Son's 100th goal in Spurs victory; Arsenal wins 3rd straight
Read full article: Son's 100th goal in Spurs victory; Arsenal wins 3rd straightAlexandre Lacazette scored twice in a 4-0 rout of West Bromwich Albion that took Arsenal up to 11th place. Tottenham is six points better off in third place after Son scored and got an assist in a 3-0 victory over Leeds. SON-KANE COMBOSon and Harry Kane equaled the Premier League record for most goal combinations in a season, leveling Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton’s tally of 13 from 1994-95. With all stadiums denied fans due to pandemic restrictions, the South Korean could only celebrate his 100th goal with teammates. “We could have scored more goals," Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said.
Man United revels in 6-2 win v Leeds, Vardy sinks Tottenham
Read full article: Man United revels in 6-2 win v Leeds, Vardy sinks TottenhamManchester United's Scott McTominay celebrates his side's second goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Leeds United at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday Dec. 20, 2020. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP)Manchester United waited 16 years to play old rivals Leeds in the English Premier League, and then made them look distinctly second-class. The easy win put United ahead of Tottenham, which swept United aside 6-1 in October but is now mired in problems of its own. HIT FOR SIXScott McTominay looked like one of the Premier League's top scorers as Man United swept into an early lead over Leeds. Up against the all-action style of Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer credited his team with beating Leeds at its own game.
Mourinho woe, Ancelotti joy: Everton opens with win at Spurs
Read full article: Mourinho woe, Ancelotti joy: Everton opens with win at Spurs“I didn’t like my team," the Tottenham manager said after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s second-half header gave Everton a 1-0 win in the Premier League on Sunday. For all that Everton was dynamic — with James Rodriguez and Allan controlling the midfield on their debuts — Tottenham was ineffective going forward. “The struggle started in the way we pressed — or the way we didn’t press," Mourinho said. But it was the perfect start for Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge midseason last year like Mourinho. “He defended well, attacked and ... he will run all day and looks to get in the box," Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said.
Leicester jeopardizes Champions League hopes with collapse
Read full article: Leicester jeopardizes Champions League hopes with collapseA 4-1 capitulation at relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Sunday summed up Leicester's form since the Premier League returned from its three-month coronavirus-enforced shutdown. I would say a big apology to the supporters because that was unacceptable for a Leicester team," Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said. Fifth could, however, clinch England's fourth and final Champions League place if second-place Manchester City's Champions League ban for next season is confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday. Arsenal and Tottenham, though, are realistically in a scrap for a Europa League place. Palaces run of five straight Premier League defeats is now manager Roy Hodgsons equal worst sequence in the competition.
Slow starts, few home comforts: Early themes in EPL restart
Read full article: Slow starts, few home comforts: Early themes in EPL restart(AP photo/Jon Super, Pool)The first full round of games of the Premier League restart has almost been completed, with just one team yet to play. Seven of the 11 games so far have had goalless first halves. Less than half of the teams have chosen to take up that opportunity in the Premier League. Across the 11 games, 10 of the 22 teams chose to make all five subs. According to the Premier Injuries website that tracks injuries sustained in Englands top division, there have been seven confirmed in-play injuries since the restart and only one James Milner (left hamstring) has been a muscular problem.