Soccer

MATCHWEEK 23 of the Premier League is packed full of thrilling action.Liverpool face Ipswich Town in the standout 3pm match, while high-flying Nottingham Forest travel to the South Coast to take on Bournemouth.In the late kick-off, fans are treated to a blockbuster clash between top-four rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.Kick off times: 3pm/5.30pm GMTCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…From Graham Nickless at the Vitality StadiumBournemouth well deserved their half-time lead with home fans singing: “Champions League you’re having a laugh.” The nearest Forest came to equalising Kluivert’s explosive opebetveas when Yates forced a save out of Cherries goalkeeper Kepa with a 28-yard drive.Copy linkCopiedFrom Jordan Davies at MolineuxOne of the worst decisions I have ever seen in this job or watching football in general.It is a cynical yellow card from inside the Wolves half, and yet referee Michael Oliver has clearly deemed it to be one of either a) a denial of a goal scoring opportunity or b) serious violent conduct/foul play.It is neither, in my book. Absolutely ludicrous.Mikel Arteta has kept his cool so far. Just wait until full-time…Copy linkCopiedFrom Jack Rosser at St Mary’s Newcastle responded superbly to going a goal behind, but Eddie Howe will not be confident that this is over.Southampton showed at Nottingham Forest that even if a game looks dead they can cause trouble and they started to gain a bit of momentum at the end of that first half.Copy linkCopiedPlenty of talking pointsBournemouth lead through man-of-the-moment Justin Kluivert in the big battle with Nottingham Forest.It’s the Alexander Isak show once again as Newcastle lead Southampton.Liverpool are comfortable against Ipswich.Everton lead at the Amex from the spot.And Arsenal are being held by Wolves, with Myles Lewis-Skelly sent off just before the break. Some saying it’s the worst decision they’ve ever seen.Copy linkCopiedHALF TIME!An incredibly lively first 45 minutes in the Premier League:Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham ForestBrighton 0-1 EvertonLiverpool 3-0 IpswichSouthampton 1-2 Newcastle UnitedWolves 0-0 Arsenal 🔴Copy linkCopied45+4 – Liverpool 3-0 IpswichAlmost the best assist you’ll ever see.Trent Alexander-Arnold pings a sensational cross on the volley which just evades Diaz. If he’d got something on it we’d be talking about that pass for years.Copy linkCopied44 – GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 3-0 IpswichIt’s CODY GAKPO with the third for the leaders and they’re threatening to run riot!And this one is all too easy. Gravenberch with a peach of a pass into the box for Szoboszlai who has been instrumental in this 45 minutes.He helps the ball on towards goal but the keeper saves it, only parrying it to Gakpo following in who rolls it into an empty net.So clinical.Copy linkCopied43 – RED CARD – MYLES LEWIS-SKELLYMichael Oliver sends off the Arsenal youngster just before the break.Matt Doherty on the break was brought down by the teenager right in front of the referee, who shows him a straight red card.Tim Sherwood tells Soccer Saturday: “I can’t believe it, he’s 70 yards from goal. That’s never ever a red card!”Copy linkCopiedFrom Isabelle Barker at the AmexAR never show replays on the big screen for fans but in what seems like a technical cock up a clip of Joel Veltman’s handball offence has just been displayed for all the fans to see. The Brighton fans went ballistic, booing referee Tim Robinson while the livid players swarmed him too, with Bart Vebruggen booked for protesting. Robinson didn’t give the penalty initially as he felt it was a coming together of Veltman and Beto, but he was then called to the monitor and it didn’t take him long to change his mind.  Copy linkCopied42 – GOAL!! Brighton 0-1 EVERTONThe Toffees do lead from the spot and it’s ILIMAN NDIAYE!The keeper does go the right way but Ndiaye’s finish is into the corner of the net, giving him no chance on the stretch.The Amex still raging at that decision and boo throughout.Copy linkCopiedPENALTY GIVENBut Brighton are absolutely livid. And the supporters are furious and chanting ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’.This coming after the incident was shown on the big screen after the decision was awarded.Veltman was nudged by Beto but the referee deems it not enough to not award the penalty.Copy linkCopiedFrom Jack Rosser at St Mary’sIf Southampton’s opener was a surprise, their collapse has been entirely predictable.As has Alexander Isak’s involvement in it.The Swede saw his eight game scoring run ended by Bournemouth last week but it has not dented his confidence in the slightest.The penalty was a composed finished and the way he controlled Jacob Murphy’s excellent pass and finished with the next touch showed a striker who is operating purely on instinct.Copy linkCopiedVAR CHECKThis looks like being a penalty to Everton on the south coast.Veltman appears to have handballed it when retreating to challenge Beto. The referee is about to be sent to his monitor here.Copy linkCopiedFrom Graham Nickless at the Vitality StadiumJustin Kluivert stunned title outsiders Forest with a ninth minute solo goal that would have made birthday boy Nuno Espírito Santo choke on his cake. The Dutchman was allowed to run from deep inside his own half and, as three Forest defenders held off, he smacked home his 12th goal of the campaign from 25 yards. The Cherries were causing their usual chaos upfront with Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels forced to make saves from Ryan Christie and Antoine Semenyo.Copy linkCopied35 – GOAL!! LIVERPOOL 2-0 IpswichThe leaders double their lead through MO SALAH but how on earth has he scored from there!?Gakpo’s cross from the left almost finds Szoboszlai who jumps high but he can’t get high enough to meet it.But it falls to Salah behind him who kills the ball superbly and from a ridiculously tight angle he flashes a left-footed strike into the roof of the net.The keeper will be disappointed to concede that. Though maybe that’s a touch harsh. Stunning finish regardless!Copy linkCopied30 – GOAL!! Southampton 1-2 NEWCASTLEStunning goal from the Toon and ALEXANDER ISAK has another one!This one is all about Jacob Murphy. The winger collects a pass from Tonali just inside the Saints half and he works his way into the middle of the park.Murphy then zings a pass into the path of Isak on the edge of the box who takes a stunning first touch on his left foot before opening his body up to curl a finish with his right foot in off the right-hand side post.Thierry Henry-esque. Crackee.Copy linkCopied29 – Liverpool 1-0 IpswichLong delay at Anfield as the stretcher is called for Wes Burns.It looks a really bad one too in a coming together with Gakpo, though completely accidental.He looks in some pain and the four sides of Anfield clap him as he’s carried off.Copy linkCopiedFrom Jordan Davies at MolineuxArsenal have been on top and their two younglings in Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have been very impressive so far.That back four also looks just so much more solid with William Saliba dictating things. Kai Havertz needs to find his shooting boots soon if Arsenal are to go into half-time on top.Though he was just denied with a header by an incredible Jose Sa stop.Copy linkCopiedPremier League latest scoresLively opening quarter of today’s games.Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham ForestBrighton 0-0 EvertonLiverpool 1-0 IpswichSouthampton 1-1 Newcastle UnitedWolves 0-0 ArsenalCopy linkCopied26 – GOAL!! Southampton 1-1 NEWCASTLEIt’s him again – ALEXANDER ISAK with his 16th Premier League goal!No doubt it was a penalty and probably should’ve been given in real time.But Isak – who was fouled in the move for the penalty – dusts himself down with a stuttered penalty to sit and send Alex McCarthy the wrong way. Level on the south coast!Copy linkCopiedPENALTY NEWCASTLEThe referee is sent to the screen and takes an absolute age for some reason to award it.Prior to that, Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday said: “I’ll be astounded if he doesn’t give this.”But after taking a long while, he does eventually award it.Copy linkCopiedVAR CHECKAlexander Isak goes down in the box at St Mary’s and it looks like this could well be a Newcastle penalty.In fact, it absolutely should be.Copy linkCopied19 – Wolves 0-0 ArsenalFirst real chance for the visitors and they should be ahead. Trossard curls a decent ball in from the left and Havertz meets it with his head six yards out and puts it wide.Copy linkCopiedLively startThree goals in quick succession across the league then and plenty happening.That Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury is really bad news for Everton, especially having ended a long, long goal drought last weekend.Copy linkCopiedFrom Isabelle Barker at the Amex It is worrying signs for Everton with Dominic Calvert-Lewin limping off the pitch after pulling up with a hamstring injury off the ball just 16 minutes in. The Toffees striker was unable to continue after appearing to over extend his hamstring when landing. He made way for Beto and as things stand, Everton now have just one fit senior striker in their first team squad.Copy linkCopied More