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With one team scoring after just 18 seconds and another after 21 seconds, the Premier League made an explosive return Tuesday following the competition's short winter break. Arsenal left it much later for its goals in a win that kept the pressure on Liverpool at the top. Arsenal might be able to maintain a title push heading into the final months of the campaign, but can Aston Villa? Adebayo's first came after just 18 seconds and it was barely the quickest of the night, with Ben Brereton Diaz scoring after 21 seconds for Sheffield United in its 3-2 loss at Crystal Palace. Ollie Watkins grabbed a consolation for Villa, which will drop to fifth place if Tottenham beats Brentford on Wednesday.

Persons: Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo, Aston, Unai, Villa, Elijah Adebayo, Ben Brereton Diaz, JESUS, ARSENAL Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Matt Turner —, Jesus, Taiwo Awoniyi, Villa hadn't, Fabian Schar, Alex Moreno’s, Ollie Watkins, ___ Steve Douglas Organizations: Premier League, Arsenal, Liverpool, Arsenal's, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Champions League, Luton, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Everton, ARSENAL, Forest, Chelsea, VILLA, Newcastle, Villa, Tottenham, Brentford, Wednesday Locations: Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, Brazil, Oleksandr

☆ Man City held by Chelsea in eight-goal thriller, Liverpool go second
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Aston Villa beat Fulham 3-1 to match a 40-year-old club record of 13 straight home league wins. City opened the scored when Spanish defender Marc Cucurella pulled Haaland's shirt to concede a VAR-checked penalty which the Norwegian coolly converted in the 24th minute. Things were far more sedate at Anfield where Liverpool moved right into title contention thanks to another contribution from the talismanic Salah. "Crazy," Klopp said of the 31-year-old Salah, who has 10 goals in 12 league games this season. Victory lifted the Hammers to ninth in the table with 17 points from 12 games while Forest are 15th with 13 points.

Persons: Chelsea's Palmer, Salah, Chelsea slugged, Cole Palmer, Chelsea, Tottenham, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, West Ham, Tomas Soucek, Mauricio Pochettino's, Marc Cucurella, Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, Manuel Akanji, Nicolas Jackson, City, Armando Broja, Ruben Dias, Palmer, City's Rodri, Klopp, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Antonee Robinson, Unai Emery, Emery, Ham's Soucek, James Ward, Mahmoud Dahoud, Simon Adingra, Ben Osborn's, Adam Webster, Lori Ewing, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Liverpool, Brentford Villa, Fulham LIVERPOOL, Premier League, Manchester City, Chelsea, Stamford, City, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Arsenal, Burnley, Aston Villa, Fulham, West, Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove, Sheffield United, Tottenham, Anfield, Hammers, Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion, Brighton, Thomson Locations: England, Brighton, City, Spanish

☆ Sterling misses out on England selection again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling was again left out by England manager Gareth Southgate as he named his squad for the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. Sterling, who has earned 82 caps for his country and was once a key part of Southgate's forward line, has now missed five successive England squads. Despite Southgate saying the door remains open, time is clearly running out for Sterling to force his way back into the reckoning for the Euro 2024 finals. Manchester City's John Stones misses out because of injury while Chelsea's Reece James is also not included despite recently returning from a lengthy injury lay-off. "I'm super excited about the tournament, we're really gearing towards the next tournament and I think everybody in international football is always living from tournament to tournament.

Persons: Raheem Sterling, Gareth Southgate, Sterling, Southgate, Raheem, we've, Eddie Nketiah, Callum Wilson, Aston, Ollie Watkins, Manchester City's John Stones, Chelsea's Reece James, Reece James, that's, Sam Allardyce's, Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Levi Colwill, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, Fikayo, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander, Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Chelsea, Malta, Italy, Newcastle United, Manchester, Wembley, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester United, Milan, Manchester City, West Ham United, Bayern, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Thomson Locations: England, North Macedonia, France, Germany, Malta, Crystal, Everton, Chelsea, Manchester, Liverpool, Real Madrid, West, Bayern Munich

☆ Martinelli fires Arsenal to late win, Liverpool held at Brighton
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Arsenal moved level on points with neighbours Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the Premier League after beating champions Manchester City on Sunday as Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion. Mohammed Kudus scored an 89th-minute equaliser to earn West Ham a point against Newcastle United in a 2-2 draw and Aston Villa stayed fifth in the standings after drawing 1-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Arsenal came into the match having not beaten City in the league since 2015, a run of 15 games -- their longest winless streak against a single opponent in league history. Arsenal did not have a single shot on target in the opening period, but upped the tempo after the break. West Ham retained their grip on seventh place while Newcastle are eighth, a point behind.

Persons: Mohammed Kudus, Aston Villa, Declan Rice, Martinelli, Nathan Ake, Ederson, Mikel Arteta, Lewis Dunk, Mohamed Salah's, Simon Adingra, Alexis Mac Allister, Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Dunk, Juergen Klopp, Alexander Isak's quickfire, Tomas Soucek, West, Kudus, Ham, Defender Pau Torres, Villa, Hwang Hee, chan, Pedro Neto's, Torres, Ollie Watkins, Mario Lemina, Peter Hall, Ed Osmond Organizations: Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton & Hove Albion, West, Newcastle United, Aston, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Emirates, Spurs, Brighton, Seagulls, Sky Sports, London, Newcastle, Defender, Wolves, Thomson Locations: West Ham, BRIGHTON, Liverpool

☆ Champions City shocked by Wolves, Manchester United lose again
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MANCHESTER, England, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Champions Manchester City slipped to a shock first Premier League defeat of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, while Manchester United's campaign of woe continued with a loss to Crystal Palace. United slumped to their fourth loss of the Premier League season as an early Joachim Andersen strike gave Palace a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. With nine points and a minus four goal difference, this is 10th-placed Manchester United's worst-ever start to a Premier League season after seven games. CITY COME UNSTUCKUnited's rivals City had been having no such bad luck this term and made the trip to Wolverhampton having won all six of their opening league games. Newcastle United also continued their winning streak with a 2-0 victory over Burnley, while West Ham United beat Sheffield United 2-0 at London Stadium.

Persons: Joachim Andersen, Andersen, Sam Johnstone, Erik ten Hag, Ruben Dias, Pedro Neto's, Julian Alvarez, Jose Sa, Hwang Hee, Cunha, Pep Guardiola, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, Andoni Iraola's, Thomas Kaminski, Luton's, Villa, Ollie Watkins, Peter Hall, Clare Fallon Organizations: Manchester City, Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal, Arsenal, Bournemouth, Luton Town, Everton, Old, Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester, CITY, City, Wolverhampton, Wolves, Newcastle United, League, London, Luton, Aston Villa, City . Newcastle United, Burnley, West Ham United, Sheffield United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Thomson Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Manchester, Old Trafford, Saturday's

☆ Tottenham hold Arsenal, Liverpool go second, Newcastle hit eight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Chelsea's woes continued as they lost at home to Aston Villa and Sheffield United slumped to the bottom of the table as they suffered a humiliating 8-0 home thrashing by Newcastle United in which eight different Newcastle players scored. The first north London Premier League derby since 2014 not to feature Harry Kane produced an enthralling contest at The Emirates where the two unbeaten sides went toe-to-toe. Arsenal twice led, first through Cristian Romero's 26th-minute own goal, and again thanks to Bukayo Saka's penalty early in the second half. Mitoma then wrapped up the points as Brighton moved above Tottenham and Arsenal with 15 points. Newcastle ran riot at Sheffield United in the weekend's final action as they put eight past the hapless Blades -- their biggest win in the Premier League since they put eight past Sheffield Wednesday in 1999.

Persons: Arsenal Nunez, Tottenham Hotspur slugged, Harry Kane, Cristian Romero's, Bukayo, Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham, Son Heung, Postecoglou, Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta, West Ham, Mohamed Salah, Nayef Aguerd, Jarrod Bowen, Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister's, Diogo Jota, Klopp, Malo, Ollie Watkins, Mauricio Pochettino, Villa, Kaoru Mitoma, Dominic Solanke's, Billy Gilmour's, Milos Kerkez's, Neto, Roberto de Zerbi, Fati, Mitoma, Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon, Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham Chelsea, Newcastle, Sheffield, Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, West Ham United . Brighton, Hove Albion shrugged, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Newcastle United, London Premier League, The Emirates, Tottenham, Manchester City, West Ham, West, Chelsea, Villa, Brighton, Blades, Sheffield Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Stamford

☆ Cash double helps Villa to 3-1 win at Burnley
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BURNLEY, England, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Defender Matty Cash scored twice in the first half as Aston Villa won 3-1 at Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday to continue their winning run. Watkins and substitute Nicolo Zaniolo spurned late golden opportunities but Villa coasted to a second league win and provisionally climbed to sixth in the standings. Burnley's second straight loss left them down in 18th, though they have played only two games after last week's fixture at Luton Town was postponed due to stadium works at Kenilworth Road. Burnley travel to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup on Wednesday and Villa host Hibernian in the second leg of a Europa Conference League playoff tie on Thursday. Villa won the first leg 5-0.

Persons: Matty Cash, Cash, Ollie Watkins, Moussa Diaby's cutback, Hannes Delcroix, Vincent Kompany's Burnley, Lyle Foster outmuscled Pau Torres, Robin Olsen, Olsen, Villa, Watkins, Nicolo Zaniolo, Villa coasted, Aadi Nair, Ed Osmond Organizations: BURNLEY, Aston Villa, Burnley, Premier League, Villa, Newcastle United, Poland, Anderlecht, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, League, Wednesday, Hibernian, Europa Conference League, Thomson Locations: England, Belgian, Diaby, Bengaluru

☆ Villa hit back with big win over Everton
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BIRMINGHAM, England, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Aston Villa claimed their first three points of the Premier League season as John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran scored to secure an emphatic 4-0 home win over Everton on Sunday. "Last week was tough for us, full respect for Newcastle, they did a job on us," McGinn told Sky Sports. Villa opened the scoring through McGinn, who turned in Bailey's cutback in the 18th minute to put the hosts ahead at Villa Park. The Merseyside club lost another key attacker to injury as Alex Iwobi was taken off with what looked like a hamstring issue, before Bailey scored Villa's third. Everton host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and Villa travel to Scotland to face Hibernian in the first leg of a Europa Conference League playoff tie on Wednesday.

Persons: Aston, John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey, Jhon Duran, Unai, McGinn, we've, Villa, Bailey's, Jordan Pickford, Ollie Watkins, Dominic Calvert, Lewin, Emiliano Martinez, Lewis Dobbin, Idrissa Gueye, Alex Iwobi, Bailey, Michael Keane, Duran, Pickford, Ashley Young, Keane, Sean Dyche, Aadi Nair, Ed Osmond Organizations: Aston Villa, Premier League, Everton, Newcastle United, Newcastle, Sky Sports, Villa Park, Villa, Fulham, Merseyside, BBC, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hibernian, Europa Conference League, Thomson Locations: BIRMINGHAM, England, Bailey's cutback, Villa, Scotland, Bengaluru

☆ Firmino scores late goal to keep Liverpool's slim Champions League hopes alive
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Juergen Klopp's side are fifth with 66 points with one game remaining, but three points adrift of fourth-place Manchester United who have a game in hand. The home side dominated a frenzied final few minutes as chants of "Si Senor" rang out in the stadium. Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League appear all but over. Liverpool were missing Darwin Nunez due to a toe injury, while Aston Villa were without injured Philippe Coutinho. Gakpo pulled up his shirt to show the referee the mark, but after a VAR review, Mings was shown a yellow card.

☆ Liverpool top-four hopes hit despite late equaliser, Everton grab vital point
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Liverpool had won seven games in succession to make a late run for Champions League qualification but defeat by Villa would have guaranteed that Newcastle United and Manchester United finish in the top four. Liverpool's top-four hopes looked over with Manchester United winning at Bournemouth, but Brazilian Firmino, making his Anfield farewell after eight glorious seasons, struck an equaliser in the 89th minute after coming off the bench. Even the point leaves their chances wafer thin, though, as fourth-placed Manchester United and third-placed Newcastle United have 69 points with two games left while Liverpool have 66 with only one game remaining. Casemiro's superb acrobatic volley was enough for Manchester United to win 1-0 on the south coast and one more point from their last two games will guarantee them Champions League football. Newcastle can seal their return to Europe's elite competition after a two-decade absence if they take a point against relegation-threatened Leicester on Monday.

☆ Aston Villa go fifth in Premier League with 1-0 win over Fulham
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BIRMINGHAM, England, April 25 (Reuters) - Defender Tyrone Mings scored a brilliant header from a set piece as Aston Villa beat Fulham 1-0 at Villa Park on Tuesday to lift them to fifth in the Premier League table, a step closer to ensuring European football next season. Villa are on 54 points after 33 games, one ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and five behind fourth-placed Manchester United. Fulham, whose European dreams were derailed by a run of four defeats in March and April, are ninth on 45 points. Fulham suffered a blow when midfielder Willian was injured in the warm-up and was unable to play, with Manor Solomon taking his place. Fulham found their feet in the second half but once again their attack failed to fire and, despite enjoying more possession, they did little to threaten Emiliano Martinez in the Villa goal.

☆ Haaland at it again as Manchester City cut gap to Arsenal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland reached yet another milestone in his incredible debut season in the Premier League when his two goals helped his side to beat Leicester City 3-1 and move to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Saturday. With Arsenal in action at West Ham United on Sunday, Manchester City seized their chance to apply more pressure by dismantling 19th-placed Leicester before halftime. City now have 70 points from 30 games with Arsenal on 73. Villa have 50 points, with Tottenham on 53 and fourth-placed Manchester United and Newcastle United both on 56. Newcastle and Manchester United, who face Nottingham Forest on Sunday, have played fewer games than Villa and Tottenham.

☆ Man City cruise to win over Saints, Newcastle maintain top-four push
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

loadingLeaders Arsenal play Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday where the London side seek a first league win since 2012. Manchester United maintained their top-four pursuit while at the bottom there were vital victories for Bournemouth and West Ham United. Leicester City's plight worsened as the 2015-16 Premier League champions suffered a seventh defeat in eight league games as they lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth to stay 19th. Newcastle's fifth consecutive win moved them up to 56 points from 29 games -- the same as Manchester United who beat Everton 2-0 in Saturday's early kickoff. SON MILESTONETottenham's Son Heung-min scored his 100th Premier League goal with a sublime 10th-minute curler -- the first Asian player to reach that milestone.

☆ Watkins and McGinn earn Villa 2-0 win Chelsea
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 1(Reuters) - Goals from prolific striker Ollie Watkins and captain John McGinn earned Aston Villa all three points in a pulsating 2-0 Premier League mid-table win at Chelsea on Saturday. Watkins took his chance in the 18th minute after a mistake from retreating defender Marc Cucurella, who headed a long ball into his path and he calmly lobbed his shot over advancing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea, who enjoyed some 69% possession and 26 shots but as so often this season proved toothless in front of goal, came out guns blazing in the second half only to concede a corner from a Villa break. The ball came out to McGinn and he sent a searing shot from 20 metres past the diving Kepa and into the bottom corner in the 56th minute. Reporting by Clare Lovell, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Arsenal go five points clear, Leeds and West Ham boost survival hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Gabriel Martinelli's goal just after halftime sealed the points for Arsenal to crank up the pressure on second-placed Manchester City, who were playing struggling Bournemouth later on Saturday. "We deserved the result and we are so happy with the three points," Martinelli told Sky Sports. Arsenal, bidding for a first title since 2004, have 57 points from 24 games played while champions City are on 52 ahead of their 25th game at Bournemouth (1730GMT). RELEGATION BATTLEThe relegation battle is shaping up to be especially tense this season with clubs changing positions on a weekly basis. West Ham climbed to 16th place with 23 points from 24 games, two above Everton who are third from bottom.

☆ Defiant Man City see off Villa to close gap on Arsenal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANCHESTER, England, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Manchester City produced a defiant response to the Premier League's charge sheet as they comfortably beat Aston Villa 3-1 to close to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Sunday. Goals by Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez put the result beyond doubt by halftime as City got back on track following last weekend's loss at Tottenham Hotspur. Villa were left with mission impossible when Mahrez tucked away a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jacob Ramsey was adjudged to have tripped former Villa player Jack Grealish. Champions City have 48 points from 22 games to Arsenal's 51 from 21 and can go top if they win at Arsenal on Wednesday. "It was a bad result, but we have to learn and use it in the next matches."

☆ WRAPUP Soccer-Liverpool and Chelsea play out stalemate, Everton woes continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

All three sides are nine points off the top four, with Chelsea having played 20 games to Liverpool and Brentford's 19 apiece. Chelsea are now without a win in their last six league games on the road, their longest comparable run in the competition since September-December 2015. "We defended in the second half with passion and clear organisation, but we were too deep in these moments. Everton offered little in attack, with away supporters again calling for the club's board to resign throughout the clash. They have collected just 15 points from their 20 league this season -- their fewest points won after 20 games of any league campaign in their history.

☆ Liverpool and Chelsea play out stalemate, Everton woes continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

All three sides are nine points off the top four, with Chelsea having played 20 games to Liverpool and Brentford's 19 apiece. Liverpool have failed to win any of their last three league games, while it is the first time they have failed to score in consecutive matches in the competition since March 2021. Chelsea are now without a win in their last six league games on the road, their longest comparable run in the competition since September-December 2015. They have collected just 15 points from their 20 league this season -- their fewest points won after 20 games of any league campaign in their history. They have 39 points and are third on goal difference ahead of Manchester United, who play leaders Arsenal on Sunday.

☆ Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 to go sixth in league
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 26 (Reuters) - Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic to go sixth in the Premier League during a game littered with chances. Striker Salah tapped in the visitors' opener in the fifth minute after a sublime passing move from marauding wing-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. Goalscoring opportunities came aplenty for both teams as they peppered each other with high balls over the defences. The result left Aston Villa in 12th place on 18 points, while Liverpool are on 25 points, one behind old rivals Manchester United in fifth but a daunting 12 behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who were playing later on Monday. Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"I have a feeling that we lost two points, especially with the way we started the game and the chances we had," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. Newcastle have already drawn with Manchester City and Manchester United this season and their only loss was a stoppage-time defeat by Liverpool. Sunday's win at Tottenham sent the clearest message yet that they can challenge for a Champions League berth. Harry Kane pulled one back for third-placed Tottenham in the 54th minute with his 10th goal of the season but Newcastle comfortably held on for the points. "Real pride in the players today and great to be part of those scenes," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who took over last year with the club heading towards relegation, told reporters.

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