Premier League

LIVERPOOL thrashed Nottingham Forest to move three points off league leaders Tottenham.It was a straightforward victory for the Reds with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah getting on the scoresheet.
The Liverpool players paid tribute to Luis Diaz after his parents were kidnappedCredit: EPA
But it was also an emotional afternoon at Anfield as the players paid tribute to team-mate Luis Diaz after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia.
Jurgen Klopp described hearing the news as one of the most difficult feelings he has had in his career.
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MARIO BALOTELLI found a hilarious way to decide who takes a penalty shot in his latest appearance.Balotelli currently plays for Turkish outfit Adana Demirspor who beat Konyaspor 3-0 on Saturday at the New Adana Stadium.
Adana Demirspor star Mario Balotelli found a creative way to settle a penalty
Balotelli played rock, paper, scissors with Demirspor team-mate M’Baye Niang
Balotelli lost and jokingly swiped Niang in the face as he walked away
The Manchester City cult hero came off the bench and scored Demirspor’s second just nine minutes before full-time.
However, the striker wanted to complete a brace in the third minute of stoppage time when the hosts won a spot-kick.
But the ex-Italy international’s team-mate M’Baye Niang also wanted to net his second after opening the scoring in the 54th minute.
This is a common theme in football with Chelsea stars Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling seen debating over a penalty against Arsenal only last week until Enzo Fernandez intervened in the former’s favour.
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However, Balotelli and Niang found a more creative and funny way to settle this.
The two forwards played rock, paper, scissors to decide on the taker, and it was the Watford flop who won.
The Italian hothead, though, proved to be a good sport as he jokingly swiped Niang’s face while walking away from the area.
And the ex-Senegal international didn’t let his team-mates down as he beat Konyaspor goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni to score his team’s last goal of the match.
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It’s usually the manager who decides who takes the penalties, but it seems like Demirspor boss Patrick Kluivert is happy with his players’ methods.
And Kluivert has a good reason to trust his players as the Turkish minnows have climbed up to third place in the Super Lig.
Demirspor have won six of their first 10 league matches and lost only twice along the way. More

TWO iconic Premier League stadiums could have looked very different if mega plans were given the green light by management.Both grounds are usually instantly recognisable with their famous walls and iconic gates.
The ‘Siamese’ stadium would’ve seen two bitter rivals ground-sharing
One stadium has been the sight of many memorable moments in English and European football.
The other ground was the first major football stadium build in England.
Both clubs are known for their “friendly” rivalry between the red and blue sides of the city – often dividing families and friends alike.
The venues in question are, of course, Anfield and Goodison Park – the home of Liverpool and Everton respectively.
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The Mersey Stadia-Connex group announced grand plans for a twin arena housing both clubs in a ‘Siamese stadium’ in 2010.
The plan would have involved two stadiums standing side by side in Stanley Park, and sharing one “central spine.”
Images released at the time revealed a two-sided, ten-level central hub with a 60,000 ground capacity for the Reds and 50,000 for the Blues.
Liverpool were in financial turmoil at the time, and it was said the stunt would save the clubs between £180million-£220m in production costs.
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Anfield is an iconic English stadium, and has witnessed many successful nights
Everton fans will bid farewell to Goodison Park next year
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The 10-story spine included a 300-bed hotel, hospitality facilities, 150 executive boxes and a huge underground car park.
Unsurprisingly, the consortium’s proposals were not picked up by either owners.
Liverpool went onto to acquire new ownership, when Fenway Sports Group bought the club from American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2010.
FSG are currently implementing a new £80m Anfield Road Stand expansion, that won’t be ready until next year.
The stand is expected to add around 7,000 seats, bumping up the stadium’s capacity to 61,000.
Meanwhile, Everton are due to bid farewell to Goodison Park next year.
The Blues are currently halfway through building a state-of-the-art ground on Bramley Dock.
The new stadium will cost up to £500m and hold 52,888 fans.
The new Anfield Road Stand expansion will increase the capacity by 7,000 seats
Everton are in the process of building their stunning new stadium on Bramley Dock More

EVER wondered what a former Premier League manager looks like after a makeover?Well, wonder no more because two of them have been unveiled with very different looks.
A League of Their Own showed off two ‘sexy managers’ who used to coach in the Premier LeagueCredit: instagram @romeshranga
Can you guess who this former Premier League boss is?Credit: instagram @romeshranga
A League of Their Own is a comedy panel show in which famous faces from the world of sport join host Romesh Ranganathan.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp is one of the regular captains, with ex-Lionesses star Jill Scott joining the show as the opposition skipper for the new series.
And ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards is also a constant on the programme.
But this week they were joined by two “sexy managers” who were not a part of the panel.
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Tottenham, Real Madrid and Wales legend Gareth Bale was one of the guests on the show.
And he was left in hysterics when the two former Premier League bosses appeared looking very different.
They were Iain Dowie and Ian Holloway.
Ex-Charlton and Hull boss Dowie, 58, swapped his shaved head for a top-knot wig.
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Ian Holloway, left, and Iain Dowie, right, looked very different in their new clothesCredit: instagram @romeshranga
Holloway strutted his stuff in a fedora, ripped jeans and a blazerCredit: instagram @romeshranga
Dowie coached Hull in the Premier LeagueCredit: Action Images – Reuters
He also showed off a partly-unbuttoned black shirt, blazer, trousers and smart shoes without any socks.
The look was then topped off with the addition of some sunglasses.
Meanwhile, former Leicester, Blackpool and Crystal Palace boss Holloway, 60, looked transformed in a low-cut white t-shirt, black blazer, ripped jeans and fedora hat.
Everyone on the panel and in the audience were left in stitches at the pair and it went viral on social media.
One fan replied: “There are no words to describe what my eyes have just seen….Dowie….WOW…”
While another added: “I can’t unsee this.”
And a third said: “Uncle Ian 😂.”
Holloway helped Blackpool reach the Premier League in 2010Credit: AFP More

LUIS DIAZ has not been included in Liverpool’s squad to face Nottingham Forest after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia.The Reds’ team was confirmed at 1pm on Sunday afternoon, with Colombian Diaz not among the starting XI or substitutes.
Luis Diaz, left, will play no part in Liverpool’s clash with Nottingham Forest on SundayCredit: Reuters
Diaz’s dad is still missing while his mum has been rescued
Cops and the army were deployed in a massive search for the star’s mum and dad after they were seized in La Guajira, Colombia on Saturday evening.
The 26-year-old’s parents were at a petrol station in their home town of Barrancas when they were approached by two armed men, according to W Radio.
A desperate search for Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda was launched by the director of police General William Salamanca.
Later it was reported Cilenis had been found safely and taken into police protection.
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Cops are still hunting for Diaz’s dad and have now offered a £40,000 reward – despite earlier reports in local media suggesting he had been rescued during a shootout.
Liverpool star Diaz has started eight of the Reds’ nine Premier League games so far this season – appearing as a substitute in the other.
He has contributed three goals and one assist in 11 matches in all competitions.
Speaking about the situation, manager Jurgen Klopp said: “We had to obviously make a late change because of the private situation involving Luis Diaz.
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“It’s a worrying situation for all of us and it was a pretty tough night. I have never had that before.
“It’s a new experience I never needed.”
Diaz was born and raised in the heartland of Colombia’s largest indigenous community.
His football skills impressed scouts, including Colombia legend Carlos Valderrama.
After scoring seven goals at the 2015 Copa Sudamericana de Pueblos Indigenas, Diaz’s career began to take off.
Atletico Junior sent him on loan to Barranquilla, where he was put on a special diet to gain 10kg.
Diaz crossed the Atlantic to join Porto in 2019, before moving to Liverpool in January 2022.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Tsimikas, Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Salah, Nunez, Jota.
Substitutes: Adrian, Kelleher, Gomez, Matip, Chambers, McConnell, Endo, Elliott, Gakpo. More