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    Lawrence Okolie secures brutal first-round stoppage win in first heavyweight fight after bulking on FOUR STONE

    LAWRENCE OKOLIE piled on the pounds to announce himself to the heavyweight division with a brutal first-round knockout.The former WBO cruiserweight champ cleaned out woeful Hussein Muhamed with a trademark right hand.Lawrence Okolie quickly dispatched Hussein MuhamedCredit: GettyOkolie made a blasting impression on MuhamedCredit: GettyThe Sauce reckons he’s more ‘explosive’ nowCredit: PASix months on from his dismal title defeat to Chris Billam-Smith down at the 14st 4lbs division, The Sauce beefed right up to light up Wembley arena at his curvy NEW 18st 8lbs stature.”I felt good,” he beamed. “That’s my second first-round KO in a row.”Now that I’ve been putting on the weight, enjoying training camp, I can be a lot more explosive.”It’s showing in the fights, as soon as I start hitting these guys, they start going. I’m ready for the best in the world at any weight.READ MORE TOP STORIES”I felt super robust, super strong. I think people might have thought, ‘he weighed 200lbs last year, why’s he 260lbs now’?”But I feel happier and natural and a lot more solid.“You know when I was making cruiserweight because of what I had to do to make that weight I felt tired.”But now, I just know every round I can go explosive, recover, explosive, recover. So it feels good.”Most read in BoxingHere’s how a smaller Okolie looked in losing to Chris Billam-SmithCredit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHussein arrived with a decent looking record but it was padded in Germany and he looked way out of his depth from the opening bell.The 2016 Team GB Olympian poked and probed with his long jabs, while Muhamed did very little.Reality TV star, 37, and former world champion offer to replace Tommy Fury after pulling out of Darren Till fight”Toward the end of the opener the visitor did decide to finally throw a shot and it was to be his undoing.Okolie telegraphed Muhamed’s first crack at a punch and landed his own giant right hand.Muhamed’s body folded down on itself left him in a heap.To his credit, the 18-1 plodder did climb back up to his feet and plead to be allowed to continue.But the referee rightly waved off the contest to let Okolie start calling out far more credible opponents.Muhamed was completely outclassedCredit: Getty More

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    Chelsea are bang in the title-race if they beat Tottenham… they’ll be praying Spurs fans are booing Postecoglou again

    IT could be a long afternoon for Tottenham against Chelsea on Sunday.We all saw how some Spurs fans booed Ange Postecoglou at the end of the Bournemouth game on Thursday, which shows what they are thinking.Chelsea will put themselves bang in the title picture if they beat TottenhamCredit: ReutersTottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was booed against BournemouthTottenham manager Postecoglou doesn’t have a settled teamCredit: GettyHarry Redknapp claims the Tottenham match may be crucial for ChelseaCredit: RexBut I just don’t know what his best team is or what we will get from them.Yes, Postecoglou has had a few injuries, especially at the back. He’s lost the two centre-halves Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, as well as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.Despite this they had that really great performance against Manchester City but either side of that they had Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Bournemouth . . . really poor performances.They’ve now had the injury to Ben Davies as well.Read More on FootballSpurs are not a settled team. Even when they’re all fit you are not sure who is going to play.It leaves them very short at the back and if they end up putting Archie Gray alongside Radu Dragusin, I wouldn’t fancy that much especially because the two full-backs love to attack and those two would be exposed.Archie is a fantastic young talent but playing centre-half against a Chelsea side in great form is a brave one.If I was Ange I would look to play a much more defensive-looking team.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSI wouldn’t be sitting here thinking, “Right, let’s go and attack them”. It’s not a day for him to be going gung-ho.He will have to make sure he puts in a really solid midfield and maybe forgoes his attacking instincts to get defensive stability in front of that pair at the back.Chelsea ratings vs SouthamptonThat could mean playing five across the midfield and Dominic Solanke on his own up top. Ange cannot afford to be open.The full-backs will have to be told they can’t just bomb forward willy-nilly but have to keep a solid base.You have to stay in the game and be patient. Maybe just take the opportunities when they come — if they get them.I know how much it matters to fans of both teams because this is a huge rivalry now. But if Tottenham fans put pressure on the players, that could play right into Chelsea’s hands.The Blues will have seen what happened on Thursday night and will try to dominate the early exchanges.Chelsea are definitely going there as favourites. They are full of confidence with a spring in their step. Yet at the start of the season they looked a bit of a mishmash and I really couldn’t see them doing anything.It can be a big problem when you have too many players who all think they should be playing. That can lead to a very difficult dressing room.But they seem to have sorted that out and things are going great. The manager is doing a good job and now people are suddenly saying, “Hang on, it’s not impossible”.When you see the team they put out to score five at Southampton in midweek, that shows everybody is buying into what they’re trying to do.Cole Palmer is the main man. He would be the X-factor for any team. But we’re seeing it with Enzo Fernandez as well now. He’s a World Cup winner and starting to show the form they bought him for.It’s the same with Moises Caicedo. Now he’s really showing what he is capable of and they are looking strong in midfield.But I also look at Nicolas Jackson. I have to be honest, when they bought him I thought, “He is just not good enough”.He was going to Bournemouth for £20million but that didn’t happen because he had an injury and I really thought the Cherries had saved themselves £20m.Now Jackson is looking a very useful player. Full credit to the manager because he has given him a bit of self belief and he’s delivering the goods.If Chelsea can continue this run, they will put themselves bang in the picture.D-DAY FOR GARY AND JULENIT will be a nervous night for both bosses at the London Stadium on Monday.For me, it’s a bit early to be thinking about pulling the trigger but West Ham and Wolves are sides that are struggling.Julen Lopetegui is under huge pressure at West HamCredit: GettyI know Gary O’Neil well and feel he’s done a great job, even though it’s been difficult with the injuries and the players he lost.He did a fantastic job at Bournemouth but now he needs a result or two at Wolves.I’ve watched a lot of their games and I feel they have been really unlucky in many of them, but the pressure is growing. The fans seemed to turn on him for the first time at Everton last week. It can get difficult when that happens — and the players sense it.What I do know is that Gary has so much to offer. He’s very good, bright as a button.I saw a lot of what he did at Bournemouth — that was fantastic — and then last year at Wanderers, but he definitely needs some luck to turn it around now.It feels a bit similar for Julen Lopetegui at the Hammers. A lot of it comes down to recruitment. I thought their signings looked good in the summer but German striker Niclas Fullkrug has barely played because he has been injured since he arrived — although he did score that late goal at Leicester.I reckon both managers would take a draw, keep their jobs and get a bit of time, because if anyone does lose the game they’re going to be under severe pressure.If Wolves can keep the crowd quiet and the fans start to get edgy and turn a bit, then it could be a tough night for the hosts.GUNNERS ARE SET TO WINTHERE have been a few people rushing to criticise Arsenal because they are scoring so many goals from set-pieces.Dimitar Berbatov said they were just a modern version of Stoke after the Manchester United game.Arsenal are right in the title mix againCredit: GettyWhat it comes down to is that they have people who want to attack the ball with a bit of movement.Their centre-halves, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, have got a bit of size but REALLY want to score.Rather than moaning about them, you have to put your best markers on their best attacking weapons.I see too many set-plays where forwards are put up against defenders — but forwards can’t defend and they get done. You have to make sure your centre-halves are on their ones.You want a good header of the ball at the near post, someone at the back post and sometimes you can have a spare man and just tell him to go wherever the ball goesAt West Ham I had Julian Dicks, a fantastic header of the ball. I would leave him free to start in the middle, attack the ball and nod it away.If I had to play against this Arsenal side I’d love to have Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin, who played for me at Portsmouth, as my two centre-backs.Sol was a powerhouse and if he was marking you, you were never going to get ahead of him to that ball. Sylvain was also a big, strong athlete.But with Arsenal you’ve got to be aware of everything because they can hurt you from all over the place.Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are fantastic players. Odegaard pulls all the strings while Bukayo is so dangerous. They are why I think Arsenal will battle Liverpool all the way.READ MORE SUN STORIESThey’re definitely not just a good set-piece team. They are a really good team who are great at set-pieces.And when that ball comes in, they’ve got people who want to score. Fulham will have to be at their very best when the Gunners visit. More

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    David Adeleye lands KO-of-the-year contender after just 80 SECONDS to blitz fellow Brit Solomon Dacres

    DAVID ADELEYE landed a KO of the year contender by destroying Solly Dacres with a sensational left hook after just 80 seconds.Two months on from a punishing stoppage loss to Fabio Wardley in Saudi Arabia, Adeleye was back in his West London home, obliterating the giant Brummie with the only serious shot of the opener.David Adeleye landed a KO of the year contender by destroying Solly DacresCredit: GettyFrom ringside it looked like a glancing blow that should not have brutalised 31-year-old Dacres so badly.But replays at the right angle showed 28-year-old Adeleye’s boulder-like first smashing into the top of Dacres’ skull.After bouncing back from his first loss in stunning fashion, Big D said: “I still have a lot to do.“I’m going back to the gym, I’ve got a big future ahead of me. I know where I can go, and I got to do the steps to go thereREAD MORE IN BOXING“I am a strong-minded individual,I went to the gym, Adam had me grafting, from the basics.“Kudos to Solomon, I hope he has a good support group behind him.”After a couple of testing jabs from both men probed the range, Adeleye missed with a wild left hook.But then he leapt in with a lead left hook reminiscent of a prime Mike Tyson and the defending English champion was floored.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe referee didn’t even begin a count, waving off the briefest of contests when Dacres was face planted into the Wembley arena canvas.Thankfully Dacres did recover and left the ring on his feet, with Adeleye strapping the new belt over his giant tattooed shoulder.The ruthless performance was Adeleye’s first with new trainer Adam Booth, the mastermind behind David Haye’s world title reigns at cruiserweight and heavyweight.And the Surrey coach was full of praise for Adeleye’s power and potential.He said: “He is an athlete, a phenomenal athlete that had really bad habits.“It all starts from the floor, we have done so much work with legs“I’ve worked with some of the biggest punchers and his jab and lead left is as hard as I’ve taken on the pads.”Adeleye celebrates with the English titleCredit: PA More

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    Reality TV star, 37, and former world champion offer to replace Tommy Fury after pulling out of Darren Till fight

    DARREN TILL has been flooded with offers to replace Tommy Fury after their Misfits fight collapsed. Fury was due to face Till at the £365million Co-Op Arena in Manchester and on DAZN PPV on January 18. Tommy Fury pulled out of fighting Darren TillCredit: AlamyBut the 2019 Love Islander posted a message on social media to reveal he was pulling out of the fight. He cited Till threatening to HEAD KICK him as the reason for withdrawing. Till’s team have insisted he will remain on the card with a new opponent being lined up. Several put their names forward, including Geordie Shore’s Aaron Chalmers, who was 5-2 in MMA and has had five boxing bouts. READ MORE IN BOXINGChalmers, 37, said: “Tommy Fury has absolutely s*** his pants to fight Darren Till. “Till’s put it on him and his dad at the press conference and they’ve f***ing s*** themselves saying he’s gonna head kick him. “Here it is, I was in negotiations to fight Darren Till in December until Tommy came along and he’s obviously went with the Tommy Fury fight. “Tommy has now s*** his pants, so I was game to fight Darren in December, January, February, so I will happily step in and take Tommy Fury’s place and fight Darren Till. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“He can happily throw head kicks at me because he’ll get one straight back. No danger whatsoever, so there you go. “I haven’t fought in over a year, I’ll happily step in against Darren Till boxing any time. Whether it be January, February, you let me know. Tommy Fury cancels boxing fight against UFC’s Darren Till just 19 days after it was announced “Because one thing I have got is b*****s and I certainly won’t be pulling out because someone says they’re going to throw a head kick.” Former super-middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders – who has not fought since defeat to Canelo Alvarez in 2021 – also called out Till. And Saunders, 35, told talkSPORT: “If there’s a chance to obviously, I could get in there, me and Darren Till.”It’s not really proper boxing, Darren is right really in a way, I’ve heard him say it.”So it wouldn’t be the real me, but listen, if he’s gonna lose out on a few quid and there’s someone out there that wants me to step in, then obviously my phone’s there for a conversation to be had.”Saunders formerly campaigned at the 168lb division of 12st but Till’s bout with Fury was scheduled for heavyweight. But Saunders said: “Listen the shape – it doesn’t really matter what shape.”I wouldn’t be considering getting down to no stupid weights or putting in any weight clauses so we’ve got to reach certain weights. I’m not really bothered.READ MORE SUN STORIES”If we got in the ring 15 stone (210lbs) I’m not bothered. It doesn’t really matter to me. “To me, it’s a field where if I’m good enough I should beat him.”Billy Joe Saunders has offered to fight Darren TillCredit: Getty Images – GettyAaron Chalmers has also called out TillCredit: PA More

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    Tyson Fury leaks new game plan for Usyk rematch after undergoing dramatic body transformation

    TYSON FURY insists he won’t make the mistake of trying to outbox Oleksandr Usyk in their crunch rematch.The Wythenshawe warrior’s dreams of becoming undisputed heavyweight champion were shattered in his May melee with the Ukrainian, which he lost via split decision.Tyson Fury renews his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia later this monthCredit: GETTYThe Gypsy King suffered a split decision defeat in their historic May meleeCredit: REUTERSThe Wythenshawe warrior insists he won’t try to outbox the slick southpaw againCredit: GETTYFury, 36, insists he only lost the historic Saudi showdown because he was “playing around” with the London 2012 gold medallist.And the Gypsy King has adopted a kill-or-be-killed mentality for his second straight Riyadh rumble with the slick southpaw.The former unified heavyweight champion said: “I’ve always been a bad man my whole life, and I’m still one today at nearly 40 years old, a few years off 40.”I’m going to go in there with destroy mode. Last time I went to box him, I was being cautious.READ MORE ON FURY VS USYK 2″Anybody can get caught as we have seen in a lot of these heavyweight fights.”But this time I’m not going for a points decision. I’m going to knock that motherf****r out.”Fury outrageously claimed Usyk was given the nod in their first fight because of his homeland being “at war” with Russia.And he’s adamant the judges won’t give him a fair shake if they go the distance again.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe said: “There’s no secret. I’m going in there to knock you out.”Because I don’t think I’m going to get a decision no matter what I do.Moment Tyson Fury tells Oleksandr Usyk ‘you look like a sexy beast’ as heavyweight boxer shows off new look”I don’t think I’m going to get a boxing decision.”So I’m going to have to take it out of the judges’ hands like I did in America that time [against Deontay Wilder].”And I’ve got to get him out of there. “Hand on heart, I have to get him out of there to see victory.”Fury looks to have beefed up considerably for the do-or-die desert dust-up.Tyson Fury looks to have out on a considerable amount of size for the rematchCredit: INSTAGRAM@KEVINLERENAAnd he’s seemingly on course to weigh more than the 18st 7lb he did for his first meeting with the former cruiserweight king.The dad-of-seven enters the potentially legacy-defining rematch as both a challenger and an underdog for the first time in five years.But he insists he does his best work when the whole world is counting him out.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe said: “For the first time in years, I’m going in there as a challenger, not a champion.”And I believe that I’m better as a challenger, always, because I’ve got that goal of achieving something and it’s giving me a fire underneath.” More

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    How Enzo Maresca’s obsession with chess has transformed Chelsea from ‘billion-pound bottle jobs’ to title contenders

    ENZO MARESCA has strategically transformed Chelsea into Premier League title contenders.Cole Palmer might have rolled his eyes at the idea, while Noni Madueke has played down the Blues’ chances, but a 5-1 win over Southampton midweek has got pundits talking.Deep thinker Enzo Maresca’s love of chess could be linked to how he sees footballCredit: GettyMaresca wrote about the similarities between chess and football while studying at the Italian coaching centreCredit: GettyMaresca has transformed the Blues into title contendersCredit: GettyThey sit in second place, seven points behind leaders Liverpool, and are poised to challenge should the Reds falter.Much of their success is down to deep thinker Maresca, 44, who arrived at the club in the summer.In February, Gary Neville called Chelsea the ‘billion-pound bottle jobs’ after they lost to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.But only ten months later, they are title contenders under the impressive guidance of Maresca.Read more football newsThe Italian came through the legendary Italian coaching centre, Coverciano.It was there his love of chess was revealed, where he compared the beautiful game to the ancient board game.That encouraged the tactician to write his thesis comparing the two and their similarities.His dissertation was fittingly called, ‘Football and Chess’.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“There are a lot of similarities,” Maresca revealed.“The most important is positional play and strategy. For a coach, it’s important to have the mentality of a chess player: develop a plan, study counter moves, choose the arrangement of the pieces.”Maresca’s philosopy’The arrangement of the pieces’ was evident in Maresca’s team selection at the St Mary’s.Enzo Maresca insists identity of Chelsea is starting to take shape Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku were drafted in, with a potentially overloaded Nicolas Jackson on the bench.With a large squad of talented stars at his disposal, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, and Jadon Sancho are all rotated.It’s not uncommon to see a totally different side selected for Premier League or Europa Conference League.Maresca is not stuck to one philosophy. Quite often, he will pick a team suited to the opposition his team’s play.As a strategist, he makes subtle tweaks every week.One example saw Moises Caicedo, reborn in central midfield this term, playing at right-back against Aston Villa.That allowed the Ecuadorian to invert into midfield, when Chelsea were in possession, with Enzo Fernandez supporting the attack in a CAM position, and gave Cole Palmer more space.If you’ve played 5D chess, a game that becomes increasingly complex through a series of alternate timelines, it’s comparable to how Maresca’s thought-process when Chelsea are in action.Maresca has helped Chelsea find their identity againCredit: GettyVersatility and rotation of star players has been key to Maresca’s successCredit: Alamyread more sport features’We’ve got our Chelsea back’For a few years, they hadn’t under the Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali regime.But at Southampton, the away support were fully behind their club singing, ‘We’ve got our Chelsea back.’There was also a youthful exuberance about the team that played the Saints.The average age of the team selected was 24 years and 162 days old.Incredibly, that was the oldest first eleven Maresca has picked in this campaign – and the 14th youngest used by any Premier League club.However, given the club’s transfer activity in recent windows, it was telling there were no Cobham graduates in the starting line-up.Only Levi Colwill, who was tracked by Bayern Munich in the summer, was the only academy starlet in the squad.Of course, given their players ages, should the squad develop how Maresca wants it to, they should come into their prime in the years to come and mount consistent title challenges.Although, they won’t admit that yet.Chelsea average more than two goals per game in the Premier LeagueNoni Madueke has played down Chelsea’s title hopesCredit: GettyWith many players 24 and under, Chelsea’s young squad look primed to challenge for years to comeCredit: Rex”We are up for it but whether we are in it or not is a different question,” Madueke said.”We are taking every game as it comes.”Goals, goals, goalsChelsea have found a new lease of life under Maresca, thanks to a different style of play being implemented.Goaded in the past for being ‘Cole Palmer FC’, they are far from that. There are attacking threats all over the pitch now.When Sancho netted against Southampton, he became the 15h different player to score for the West London giants.Another mad stat is that they have already scored seven more goals (31) than they did in their entire 2022-23 season.READ MORE SUN STORIESCole Palmer is no longer Chelsea’s only threat on the pitchNicolas Jackson is one of 15 different goal scorers for Chelsea this seasonCredit: GettyBetter still, if it’s entertainment and ska favourite Harry J All-Stars’ Liquidator you want, head down to Stamford Bridge, where the home side is averaging a club record 2.6 goals per match.You never know. Come May, you might just see them lifting the Premier League trophy too. More

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    Inside Goodison Park’s most memorable Merseyside derbies as Everton and Liverpool eye bragging rights in final clash

    IT’S a grand old ground to play at. And a grand old ­fixture to contest.And if you know your history you will be aware that today — after a 130-year stretch — Goodison Park ­stages its final Merseyside derby.Goodison Park will host its final Merseyside Derby on SaturdayCredit: GettyEverton won the fixture 2-0 last seasonCredit: PANext season, assuming Everton ­perform their annual escape from relegation, they will entertain Liverpool at a brand spanking new 53,000-seater home at Bramley-Moore Dock.Remarkably, these Scouse squabbles at Goodison are tied at 41 wins apiece in all competitions as we head into this lunchtime scrap.How Sean Dyche’s men would love to secure an overall aggregate victory by stunning the runaway Premier League leaders on their final visit to the famous old stadium.Once referred to as the ‘friendly derby’, with no strict segregation of rival supporters, these days the Mersey derby is anything but.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt has seen more red cards brandished than any other Premier League fixture — 23 since the current version of the top flight began in 1992.And with Everton the snarling underdogs for so long, Mersey derbies are especially spiky at the historic ground of the Toffees.Goodison Park is an antique gem — short on legroom, high on atmosphere, hemmed in by terraced houses and home to one of the last remaining classic stands to have been designed by the great football architect Archibald Leitch.When Everton are in severe need of a result — or any time that the ‘red lot’ crosses Stanley Park — the place becomes a roaring cauldron.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSSuch as Wednesday’s 4-0 drubbing of fellow strugglers Wolves which afforded Dyche’s men breathing space at the foot of the table.Theirs is the sort of old-school ground which probably earns its home team several points per season . . . and has therefore saved Everton from relegation more than once in recent years.Gary Neville tells Jamie Carragher to ‘f off’ after Liverpool legend performs incredible U-turn on ‘selfish’ SalahThat was rarely more apparent than in the penultimate derby at the venue, in April, when previous Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suffered his first Goodison defeat in his last clash with Everton.The Reds received a thorough ‘Dycheing’ as the Toffees bombarded their illustrious rivals, goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite earning a 2-0 victory.That result virtually guaranteed Everton’s Premier League survival.And — as every Evertonian is keen to point out — it ensured that the sainted Klopp would end up with fewer league titles than either ­Howard Kendall or Harry Catterick.It also ended the Reds’ longest unbeaten run at Everton’s home — dating back 12 matches to 2010 — during Roy Hodgson’s doomed Liverpool reign.Everton played at Anfield until 1892, having the previous year won the first of their nine league titles at what became the home of a rival club not then in existence.The Toffees upped sticks and left to build Goodison Park after a boardroom split with the club’s majority owner John ­Houlding.He found himself with a stadium but no team to play in it — and so in the summer of 1892 founded Liverpool FC.There have been plenty of cracking Goodison ­derbies since Everton won the first one 3-0 in 1894.But the greatest, and most significant, of the previous 119 meetings is beyond debate. It was a gloriously chaotic FA Cup fifth-round replay in February 1991 which ended in a 4-4 draw.Liverpool took the lead four times, with Everton equalising four times — twice through Graham Sharp and twice through Tony Cottee.Kenny Dalglish announced his Liverpool exit following a 4-4 draw in February 2021Credit: PAReds boss Kenny Dalglish quit two days later and his club’s 15-year reign as the undoubted powerhouse of English football ended with that resignation.Cottee arrived as a sub to level the tie late in normal tie and then again late in extra-time — nutmegging Bruce Grobbelaar, who had been guilty of some eccentric goalkeeping throughout the match.Ian Rush, one of Liverpool’s scorers that day, will recall more fondly the November 1982 derby.The Welshman netted four times in a 5-0 victory — aided and abetted by an extraordinarily bad high-line Everton offside trap.That was one of Kendall’s first derbies in charge.But his tenure brought about a golden age of Merseyside football in the mid-to-late 1980s when meetings between the city’s two clubs were often title deciders.Another happy memory for Liverpool was the ridiculous 44-yard free-kick winner scored deep into injury-time by their veteran Gary McAllister to secure a 3-2 victory in April 2001.Evertonians go misty-eyed about a 3-0 humping of their neighbours in September 2006, when Andy Johnson netted twice and Jamie Carragher — a boyhood Blue — endured a stinker for the Reds.One of the more recent classics was a hectic November 3-3 draw in 2013 when, under Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers, both clubs were at their most wide-open and watchable.This is the longest-running continuously-held major British derby — with both clubs having been permanent fixtures in the top flight since the year The Beatles released their first single, 1962.READ MORE SUN STORIESNext season, the derby is all set to have a new stage.Tomorrow, Goodison, with its authentic charm, will give Liverpool one final ear-bashing.Romelu Lukaku scored as Everton and Liverpool drew 3-3 in 2013Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Chelsea sign 15-year-old son of Arsenal cult hero with teenager playing at age groups well above his own

    CHELSEA have landed one of the country’s top 15-year-olds.And if he goes on to emulate his dad – a true cult hero for Arsenal – then luring him from Watford will have been worth it.Mathis Eboue joins Chelsea after a rapid rise at WatfordCredit: InstagramDad Emmanuel Eboue, bottom left, was with Arsenal for seven yearsCredit: GettyMathis Eboue, an attacking midfielder, shone for the Hornets all the way up to under-21 level.And his move across London is another example of how Chelsea are looking to recruit so many of the nation’s leading starlets for their academy.Eboue Junior has also played three times of England U-16s.In fact, he hit the only goal as the Lion cubs beat France to win the U16 Challenge Trophy in Spain two months ago.READ MORE ON CHELSEABut of course whatever he’s achieved at such a young age can’t compare with what his father did over a 15-year career.Emmanuel Eboue, now 41, earned 79 caps for Ivory Coast, mainly at right-back.But his peak fame came with Arsenal from 2004-2011.Legendary then-boss Arsene Wenger recruited the pacy ace from Belgians Bevern.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd although Eboue took two seasons to become something like a regular, his bubbly nature and bursting runs made him a talk of the terraces.However, at one stage he was booed by Gunners’ supporters.I was sacked as a factory worker, the next day I had trials at Arsenal – I was gobsmackedAnd just last month he recalled: “I got back home and I was crying. “But the same week some of the fans came to the club to say sorry to me about that. That was very nice. It meant a lot.”‘Eboue, don’t listen,’ they said. ‘You know we love you’.”He finally left Arsenal – accompanied by a runners-up medal in the Champions League and two in the League Cup – for four years at Galatasaray.Then came an ill-fated short spell with Sunderland.Eboue Senior was banned for a year in 2016 after refusing to pay an agent, leading to the “lowest time” of his playing days.But eight years on from that, he surely can’t help but be cheered by his son’s big step-up.The Premier League applied their rigorous process to protect players so young before Eboue Junior’s switch to Chelsea could go through.READ MORE SUN STORIESCompensation to Watford also had to be agreed.But on Friday night transfer guru Fabrizio Romano insisted all the paperwork had been done to make it a “completed deal”. More