Premier League

EVERTON’S second test match in their new stadium ended with an evacuation.The Toffees are ready to leave their historic Goodison Park ground – England’s first major football stadium – after 132 years.Everton’s second test match in their new stadium ended with an evacuationCredit: AFPEverton are ready to leave their historic Goodison Park groundCredit: AFPAnd the Merseysiders are moving in to their brand new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium in May.The Premier League outfit held their first test event at their 52,888-capacity ground last month.About 10,000 lucky fans won a ballot and got to watch Everton’s Under-18s take on Wigan’s reserves, who won the friendly match with a score of 2-1.The club decided to take advantage of the international break to host a second test match.Read More on FootballThis time a record 25,000 fans got to watch the Under-21s take on Bolton’s B team at the £800million venue on Sunday.Everton youngster Kingsford Boayke scored the only goal of the match before a planned evacuation was announced after 65 minutes.The clearance took place in order to ensure the club can obtain a safety license for their new stadiumEverton posted earlier this week: “An evacuation exercise will be performed at Everton’s new stadium as part of the test event schedule that will enable the Club to obtain a safety licence for the 52,888-capacity waterfront venue.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”The 25,000-plus supporters attending the stadium’s second test event – a friendly between the Blues’ Under-21s and Bolton Wanderers ‘B’ on Sunday 23 March – are to be asked to exit the stadium during the second half, before the full-time whistle.”The process will allow the emergency services and local authorities to monitor a large-scale evacuation from the Bramley-Moore Dock site and supporters attending the event are being asked to play their part in making the exercise a success.Everton’s £760million new stadium close to completion as incredible new video of ground is revealed “The planned evacuation will signal the end of the match and supporters will not be allowed to return to the stadium. “Attendees will be safely guided out of the stadium and will not be required to muster or congregate.”Instead, once out of the stadium, fans will be encouraged to leave as they would if they were leaving after a game.”The Club is working with transport authorities to ensure local services are timed to manage the flow of people away from Bramley-Moore Dock as they exit the stadium.”Everton Under-21s took on Bolton in their second test matchCredit: PAEverton are moving in to their brand new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium in MayCredit: EPA More

SEAN DYCHE is set to get his nose and teeth done after lifting the lid on his 25-year health issue.The former Premier League boss has been out of work since he was sacked by Everton in January.Sean Dyche is set to undergo surgery on his nose to fix a breathing problemCredit: GettyDyche, 53, has landed a new job on talkSPORT while he waits for a return to the dugout.And on his new show, Dyche revealed he is looking forward to going under the knife to get his new look.He explained: “I’m having a glow-up. I’m getting my gnashers done. I’ve got teeth like Animal, you know one of them muppets. “I promised my daughter, she’s been nagging me for years. I promised myself I’ll get my teeth done. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I’m getting my nose done but not for cosmetic reasons – I can’t breathe through half of it. I should have had it done 25 years ago.”We played at Gillingham for Millwall and Guy Ipoua did an overhead kick, I threw my head at it being the brave lion of a defender I was.”He overhead kicked me right on the nose and it smashed my shnozz. You know how it was in those days, get on with it. “They got a bit of metal and pushed it in. I haven’t been able to breathe properly for years.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKDyche also answered what many will be thinking, saying: “It’s not the reason for the voice.”When they go up my nose with the camera, they look at the voice box. I’ve had it checked about 50 times.”Sean Dyche SACKED by Everton just hours before FA Cup game as two club icons take charge and David Moyes in line for jobOn his managerial future, Dyche said: “I’m open to ideas at this stage. I’ve been in the game a long time. I’ve been in the Premier League for ten years.”As you know, the game is so fast now. I’ve had lots of offers from media – which I’m considering.”I’m happy to be doing a bit for talkSPORT and Jonny Owen, who is a friend of mine and very knowledgeable on football and life in general. So I’m looking forward to that.”You never know what will come around. Football is a strange business. It changes very quickly and the viewpoint changes quickly as well.”Dyche also broke his silence on his Everton sacking, admitting the change came “at the right time”. More

ROBBIE KEANE dished out a yellow card to his own teammate for a hilarious reason in a Tottenham legends match today.Spurs heroes turned out in their droves for Sunday’s 6-2 win against AC Milan in north London.Robbie Keane showed a yellow card to a teammate in hilarious scenesThe incident occurred as Keane netted a hat-trick for Spurs legends against AC MilanCredit: GettyAces including Dimitar Berbatov, Ledley King and Jermain Defoe turned out for Tottenham.While Milan boasted big names like Dida, Cafu and Andrea Pirlo.But it was the hosts who emerged victorious in a 6-2 thrashing.Keane, 44, delighted fans as he bagged a first half hat-trick for Spurs.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe remains a popular figure after scoring 107 goals in 254 outings while also winning the League Cup in 2008.However, the Irishman enjoyed an extra cheeky moment today as he dished out a booking to teammate Michael Dawson.With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, the centre-back attempted to launch a long through-ball for Defoe to run on to.But Dawson’s pass was shockingly wide of the target.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSIt sailed past Milan’s defensive line, as well as intended target Defoe.And Keane had a laugh at Dawson’s expense by grabbing the referee’s yellow card before showing his pal a joke booking.Moment Ange Postecoglou is confronted by fuming Tottenham fan and pulled away by own players after defeat at Fulham Michael Dawson saw the funny side of his joke bookingCredit: PAAndrea Pirlo rolled back the years with a glorious free-kickCredit: GettyIt marked a wonderful day out for Spurs fans and their former players.Keane struck first in the match with a close-range finish.Defoe doubled Tottenham’s lead moments later with a superb strike from the edge of the box.And Keane then grabbed his second goal in the 18th minute for 3-0.Midfielder Sandro made it four with a howitzer before Keane made it 5-0 before the break.Milan managed to pull two back in the second half through Christian Zazzardo and a beautiful Pirlo free-kick.But Spurs made it 6-2 thanks to a late hit from Michael Brown. More

FRESH off Thomas Tuchel’s bow against Albania, England have another first on Monday when they face minnows Latvia.The Baltic state have been competing as their own nation ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall and yet have never faced the Three Lions.Marian Pahars has warned England they face a tough test against LatviaCredit: AFPThe ace made his name in the Premier League with SouthamptonCredit: GettyBut that will change at Wembley when Italian boss Paolo Nicolato and his side take on superstars like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford.It is a daunting task and one that left Latvian legend Marian Pahars admitting: “It’s difficult to even describe them facing that kind of opponent . . . I’m quite happy just to be a spectator!”Latvia have always been up against it when facing Europe’s big beasts — including in Pahars’ heyday — but now more than ever.On Friday night, a 58th-minute Dario Sits goal gave them a 1-0 away win over Andorra to put them second behind England in World Cup qualifying Group K.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut their current Fifa world ranking is 140th, sandwiching them between Burundi and the Dominican Republic.Just seven European sides are ranked below them — Lithuania, Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar Liechtenstein and, officially the worst footballing nation on the planet, San Marino.Latvia have been as high as 45th and even qualified for Euro 2004.While an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney was ripping it up at that tournament in Portugal, Latvia were recording their greatest-ever result with a 0-0 against  Germany, even if they did fail to make it out of their group.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSTheir squad contained four  players who were either playing or had played in the Premier League.But  there is no one of their standard in Nicolato’s squad now.Emotional moment Myles Lewis-Skelly’s family spotted going wild in Wembley crowdPahars now works under Arsene Wenger at FifaCredit: GettyFormer Southampton forward Pahars was possibly the biggest success story of that contingent, having made 129 Premier League appearances for Saints between 1998-2005, scoring 42 goals.Igors Stepanovs could also lay claim to that title, having won the Double with Arsenal in 2002, even if he only played 17 times in England’s top flight.Pahars, 48, is now working for legendary Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as one of Fifa’s high- performance specialists, focusing on Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Lithuania.He said: “I don’t like comparisons between generations but we had characters in the team. Now it’s less, unfortunately.“We had bigger names than me in that team, guys who were winning European trophies, Stepanovs representing Arsenal at the time.“We had leaders in every line, in goal, defence, midfield and strikers.“We were very confident because we played in good clubs, in good leagues.“So we didn’t have any fear. We played against the same level of opponents in each game.It’s difficult to even describe them facing that kind of opponent . . . I’m quite happy just to be a spectator!Marian Pahars, on Latvia facing England“Whereas now, a lot of them are from the local league, they don’t have big international experience.“They don’t have confidence to compete on that level and it is why we don’t see the big players yet.”Captain Kristers Tobers, 24, who plays for Aberdeen, is probably Latvia’s most high-profile player — but he is out with a leg injury.Nicolato’s side have won just three of their last 21 games since November 2022, when they were playing in the Baltic Cup while England were at the World Cup.And two of those victories came against the Faroe Islands, with the other versus Armenia.Pahars added: “We understand who we play. We’re not stupid.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We know a good game would give us appreciation from the fans, a good fight, not conceding as long as possible, to be in the game.“That also can make England nervous a little bit, if they don’t score for a long time.” More