Premier League

LUTON TOWN have confirmed club captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.Lockyer collapsed in the 59th minute of the match – which was later abandoned – and immediately received medical attention.
Tom Lockyer collapsed in terrifying scenesCredit: Reuters
Players and staff members were left distraught after the incidentCredit: Reuters
Luton have confirmed that Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrestCredit: PA
After being tended to by medics, the defender was stretchered off the pitch to a round of applause from distraught fans at the Vitality Stadium.
He was later transferred to hospital, where he remained in a stable condition.
An official statement from Luton read: “Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher.
“He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides.
Read More on Football
“Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoing further tests with his family at his bedside.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support, concern and loving messages for Locks.”
After Lockyer collapsed, Luton boss Rob Edwards immediately ran onto the pitch to urge concerned players to make way for the medical team.
Both teams were then sent back to the changing rooms while paramedics treated the 29-year-old.
Most read in Football
The match was abandoned shortly before 5pm.
Bournemouth and Luton players later re-emerged from the tunnel to applaud the travelling supporters.
Edwards appeared emotional while completing a lap of the pitch.
Prior to the medical emergency, Luton were holding Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw.
Elijah Adebayo stunned fans when he broke the deadlock within the opening three minutes.
But Dominic Solanke netted the equaliser after half time.
Rob Edwards was emotional while applauding fansCredit: Reuters More

LUTON have confirmed Tom Lockyer is responsive after being taken to hospital following his collapse on the pitch.The defender went down off the ball in the 59th minute against Bournemouth after suffering a cardiac arrest with the Premier League clash being abandoned.
Luton confirmed both sets of players were in no state to continueCredit: Getty
Tom Lockyer received treatment on the pitch after collapsing
Dominic Solanke, right, was one of the first players to attend to LockyerCredit: Getty
Luton have issued an update on Lockyer’s condition and explained that both sets of players were in no state of mind to continue playing.
A statement read: “We thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.
“We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.
“We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks’ name inside the stadium at such a difficult time.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
“Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family.
“Our thoughts are with him and them all.”
Soon after, the club tweeted: “Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher.”
The players were sent to the changing rooms as Lockyer received treatment on the pitch – after Luton boss Rob Edwards ran onto the pitch to tell players to make way for the medical team.
Most read in Football
The decision was made to abandon the match shortly before 5pm as both Luton and Bournemouth players felt unable to continue.
Prior to the medical emergency, Luton were holding Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw after Dominic Solanke had cancelled out Elijah Adebayo’s opener for visitors Luton in the 58th minute. More

COLE PALMER turned the game and maybe even Chelsea’s season in a sizzling seven-minute spell.The Blues’ were on course to continue after a drab first half in which they managed just one shot on target.
Cole Palmer was the star of the show as Chelsea returned to winning waysCredit: Getty
Palmer fired in Chelsea’s openerCredit: Reuters
Nicolas Jackson tapped into an empty net from close rangeCredit: AFP

But Palmer scored one and made another for Nicolas Jackson after the break to relieve the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino and his team.
Chelsea recorded back to back home league wins for the first time since October 2022.
Beating a dogged but limited Sheffield United, who arrived at Stamford Bridge bottom of the table, is hardly the stuff of dreams.
But to use Pochettino’s metaphor about housebuilding, perhaps this will turn out to be solid foundation.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
Chelsea were lucky only to hear a few boos as they walked off at half time.
Their only effort on goal had come from captain Conor Gallagher quite early on and visiting goalkeeper Wes Foderingham made only one more important intervention when he rushed out to deny Jackson.
The Chelsea striker also fired wide after a clash between Moises Caicedo and Anel Ahmedhodzic left the Blades captain clutching his face. As he fouled Caicedo he was caught by a flailing arm but no VAR check was announced.
If anything, the visitors had the better openings.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER

Cameron Archer had an early shot blocked and later saw another deflected away for a corner. Bogle sent one dangerous ball right across the six-yard box and James McAtee’s deflected centre almost fell perfectly.
Chelsea started the second half with more purpose and Auston Trusty made a vital block on Palmer.
And moments later they scored. Raheem Sterling burst forward and his low ball was turned in from six yards by Palmer, with the goal confirmed after a puzzling VAR check for offside.
Palmer turned provider soon afterwards.
He would probably have been on penalty duty after Ahmedhodzic hauled back Sterling in the messy build-up. Instead he crossed for Jackson to tap home from close range.
Foderingham made a good smothering stop from Jackson before Chelsea ‘keeper Djordje Petrovic, making his full debut in the absence of the injured Robert Sanchez, made his first save of the afternoon from Gustavo Hamer’s free kick.
Palmer should have had another assist in the 84th minute but substitute Armando Broja somehow contrived to miss an open goal when found three yards out by another fine cross.
Palmer still hadn’t finished, forcing Foderingham into a low save with a free kick. The Blades’ keeper also blocked Jackson’s follow-up but Chelsea had already done enough to stop the rot. More

FOOTBALL was left in shock this weekend as Luton’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth was abandoned after Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the pitch.The match was stopped in the 59th minute as medics tended to Lockyer, who collapsed off the ball.
Fans and players were concerned after watching the horrific scenes unfoldCredit: Reuters
Both teams were taken off the pitchCredit: Reuters
Paramedics were quick to treat LockyerCredit: Reuters
Luton boss Rob Edwards immediately ran onto the pitch to tell concerned players to make way for the medical team.
Players and staff members from both clubs were clearly in distress as the incident unfolded, with Luton ace Issa Kabore appearing to pray on the side of the pitch.
Both teams were then sent back to the changing rooms as medics attended to Lockyer.
The Luton captain was then carried off on a stretcher to a standing ovation from both sets of fans at the Vitality stadium.
Read More on Tom Lockyer
After a lengthy delay, the match was abandoned shorty before 5pm.
Luton have since confirmed that Lockyer suffered cardiac arrest – but he is now stable.
The club said: “Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher.
“He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides. Tom was transferred to hospital, where we can reassure supporters that he is stable and currently undergoing further tests with his family at his bedside.”
Most read in Football
The decision to abandon the match rather than restart it was because “players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue.”
An official statement from Luton read: “We don’t know the full extent of what happened and what the next steps are at this stage, but we thank Bournemouth and the medical staff on both sides for their immediate response, which was absolutely amazing.
“We are sorry to all supporters present that players from both sides were in no state of mind to continue with the game after seeing their much-loved team-mate and friend taken off like that, and staff could not carry on with managing the game in such circumstances having had to deal with the situation.
“We thank everyone for the wonderful applause and singing of Locks’ name inside the stadium at such a difficult time.
“Now is the time for all of our players, staff and supporters to come together as we always do and give our love and support to Tom and his family. Our thoughts are with him and them all.”
Luton have confirmed that Tom suffered a cardiac arrestCredit: PA
Luton boss Rob Edwards applauded fans after the match was abandonedCredit: Reuters
Luton and Bournemouth players also applauded the supportersCredit: PA
As fans began leaving the stadium, an emotional Edwards walked round the pitch to applaud them.
The football world immediately rallied round to show support for Lockyer, with England legend Gary Lineker tweeting: “Tom Lockyer has been stretchered off. Difficult to be sure if that’s good news but let’s hope so.”
John Terry wrote: “Praying for Tom Lockyer 💙.”
While Ashley Young commented: “Thoughts and Prayers with Tom Lockyer and his family.”
It is currently unclear whether the fixture will be replayed in full or carry on from the moment it was paused.
Prior to the medical emergency, Luton were holding Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw.
Elijah Adebayo stunned fans when he broke the deadlock within the opening three minutes.
But Dominic Solanke netted the equaliser after half time.
Abandoned matches in English football are generally replayed, but the Premier League has yet to announce any decision with the incident still so raw.
Under Rule L.39, the Premier League Board has the power to order a match in which 90 minutes has not been completed to be replayed in full or in part, or allow the result at the time of the abandonment to stand
PREVIOUS COLLAPSE
Lockyer previously collapsed during Luton’s Championship Play-Off final clash with Coventry in May.
He received medical attention just 12 minutes into the match and was later taken to hospital, where he underwent further tests.
The defender recently opened up about his terrifying ordeal, telling The Central Club podcast: “I’m back-pedalling, and as I’m back-pedalling my head went really light-headed like nothing I’ve ever had before.
“It’s like when you stand up real quick but worse and then my legs went like jelly almost instantly and I remember falling backwards and the next thing I know I woke up and there were paramedics all around me.
Read more on The Sun
“I remember waking up from a dream, I couldn’t tell you what it was about, but I remember having a dream.
“As soon as I came round I was like sweet again.”
The defender previously collapsed in a match against CoventryCredit: Sky Sports
The match was abandoned shortly before 5pm with the score at 1-1Credit: Getty More