Manchester City 5-1 Wolves: Haaland scores four as rampant Citizens respond to Arsenal win

Erling Haaland s four-goal haul ensured Manchester City continued their Premier League title charge with a 5-1 triumph over Wolves, as Pep Guardiola s team responded to Arsenal s victory earlier on Saturday in style.

Arsenal moved four points clear at the league summit with their 3-0 win over Bournemouth but Haaland eased any City nerves with his dominant first-half hat-trick at Etihad Stadium.

That quickfire treble included two penalties before Haaland added to his tally after the interval – following Hwang Hee-chan s consolation strike – to move to a competition-leading 25 goals this term.

Haaland’s replacement Julian Alvarez added further gloss late on, as City, who have a game in hand on Arsenal, cut the gap to the Gunners to just one point. Wolves rema…

Prediction: Almeria vs Barcelona

Verdict: Barcelona (-1.5) AH

 Best odds:

Bookmaker: 

Looking to save their honour after a disappointing season in which the Blaugrana side lost their La Liga champions crown to Real Madrid, Barcelona aim for a win at Almeria that would cement the runners-up position. The game will be played at Power Horse Stadium where the already relegated local team faces another uphill battle.

Almeria

Almeria s return to the biggest stage of Spanish football was not long-lasting as the hosts are heading back to Segunda Division. Despite promoting in great style in 2022, the Saudi-owned club struggled to adapt to La Liga requirements by narrowly escaping relegation last term with a season finale draw result (3-3) at Espanyol.

Although the mood was high in Al…

Tottenham 2-1 Norwich City: Son to the rescue as Mourinho´s men fail to impress

Son Heung-min came to Tottenham s rescue in a 2-1 victory over bottom side Norwich City, as Jose Mourinho s men ended a four-game winless Premier League run on Wednesday.

This was no vintage performance from Spurs, who scored their first top-flight goal since December when Dele Alli turned Serge Aurier s cross into the net from close range seven minutes before half-time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The hosts rode their luck as Norwich passed up numerous opportunities to get back on level terms, before Canaries striker Teemu Pukki equalised from the penalty spot following Ryan Sessegnon s foul on Max Aarons.

A point was the most Spurs deserved but they were up against the side with the joint-worst defensive record in the division and Son s winner arrived 11 min…

Football rumours: Manchester United open to offers for Casemiro

What the papers say

Casemiro could be on the verge of leaving Old Trafford. The Sun, via talkSPORT, says Manchester United are willing to hear offers for the 31-year-old midfielder, with the Saudi Pro League said to be targeting a big money move for the Brazilian. Incoming minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be open to letting Casemiro leave in a bid to freshen up the squad.

Staying with United, the Daily Mail reports Juventus plan to offer Jadon Sancho an escape route from Old Trafford. According to the paper, the Italian giant recently reached out to United over a potential loan move for the 23-year-old winger, who has not appeared for the Red Devils since August. However, it is unlikely Juventus would be able to afford a transfer fee for a player United paid £73mill…

´My only thought is Everton´ – Lampard not focused on the emotion of Chelsea reunion

Frank Lampard is putting the emotion of a reunion with Chelsea to one side as he bids to keep Everton in the Premier League.

Everton dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season when Burnley defeated Wolves on Sunday, leaving the Toffees needing a win at Anfield in the Merseyside derby to move themselves out of the drop zone.

A resilient performance against Liverpool failed to produce a positive result, however, with a 2-0 defeat leaving Everton two points behind Burnley and five adrift of Leeds United, and both of those teams play on Saturday ahead of Sunday s meeting with Chelsea at Goodison Park.

Lampard was appointed by Everton in January, just over a year after he was dismissed by Chelsea. He will become the 10th former Chelsea boss to take c…

Paedophile former football coach Barry Bennell dies in prison

Former football coach and serial paedophile Barry Bennell has died in prison, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

The former Crewe Alexandra coach was serving a 34-year sentence after being convicted of a number of child sex offences.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “Prisoner Barry Bennell died at HMP Littlehey on September 16.

“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

Bennell, also known as Richard Jones, was jailed for 30 years in 2018 after being convicted of 52 child sexual offences against 12 boys.

He was ordered to serve an additional four years in 2020 after pleading guilty to other offences against two boys.

When he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court in 2018, R…

Prediction: Galatasaray vs PAOK

Best odds: 11/19

Bookmaker:

Both Galatasaray and PAOK will look to start their Europa League group stage with a victory when they meet at Adams Park on Wednesday for the first matchday of the 2024/25 campaign.

Galatasaray enter the competition after being knocked out in the Champions League play-off qualifying round, while PAOK secured their place in the Europa League with a dominant 6-0 aggregate win in the play-off round.

Galatasaray

After a dominant run in the Turkish Super Lig last season, where Galatasaray secured back-to-back titles and became the first Turkish team to surpass the 100-point mark with a final tally of 102, Okan Buruk s side is determined to extend their success into European competition this season.

Despite a rocky start to…

Napoli wanted to honour Maradona after Lazio rout caps statue unveiling – Insigne

Lorenzo Insigne said Napoli wanted to honour Diego Maradona following the Serie A leaders 4-0 rout of Lazio on Sunday.

Dries Mertens scored twice while Piotr Zielinski and Fabian Ruiz were also on target after Napoli unveiled a statue of club legend Maradona a year on from his death.

Napoli were wearing special-edition Maradona jerseys at home to Lazio, and they capped the occasion with a devastating performance against former boss Maurizio Sarri.

Afterwards, Napoli captain Insigne was asked about the pre-game ceremony at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium and he told DAZN: I asked to turn the television on and watch it all, but they told me to stay focused in the locker room instead, so I ll watch it later.

We wanted to remember Diego with a great performan…

5 key Sir Bobby Charlton games for England

Sir Bobby Charlton was the star of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning side.

The Manchester United great, who has died at the age of 86, scored 49 goals in 106 appearances for his country.

Here, the PA news agency looks at five of the key games in Charlton’s England career.

Scotland 0 England 4 – April 19, 1958

in 1958

Just over two months after the Munich air disaster, ’s Bobby Charlton made his debut, scoring the first of his 49 goals for his country.

— FIFA (@FIFAcom)

Just two months after surviving the Munich air disaster, the shaken 20-year-old was handed his England debut. The former England schoolboys international capped his bow with a goal at Hampden Park in a comprehensive Home Championship triumph and felt guilty to…

Micky Hazard hopes Tottenham fans show ‘class’ as Mauricio Pochettino returns

Micky Hazard will applaud former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino when he returns with Chelsea and hopes “class and dignity” will be shown by the club’s supporters.

Pochettino will come back to Spurs for the first time since his 2019 dismissal on Monday night, but could be greeted with boos due to a fanbase split over his decision to join bitter rivals Chelsea despite a memorable five years in N17.

The climax of Pochettino’s tenure was a remarkable run to the Champions League final, while he also masterminded two ultimately unsuccessful title challenges.

He delivered one of the greatest nights in the lives of fans