Premier League

ROBERTO DE ZERBI and his Brighton side continue to take the Premier League by storm – and they top the table with an incredible stat.The 44-year-old was a relative unknown on these shores when the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk boss replaced Graham Potter 12 months ago.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton continue to impress everyoneCredit: Getty
Goalkeeper Jason Steele plays a key role in how the Italian wants to playCredit: Getty
Now the Italian is the name on everybody’s lips as his Seagulls continue to fly high.
His attacking and possession based football has already led Brighton into the Europa League.
And now supporters are beginning to believe that they can play their way into a top four finish this time around.
The stats since he took over make for impressive reading, with Brighton’s 624 shots and 244 efforts on target the most of any top-flight team over the past year.
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They are second when it comes to expected goals and also in possession, averaging 66 per cent, while the 76 goals they have scored is the third best out of the Premier League since last September.
However, one of the most interesting aspects of the “De Zerbi ball” he has implemented into the club is playing it out from the back.
And after the opening five games of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, his side are incredibly the only team to have taken ZERO long goal kicks.
Manchester United, who they beat 3-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, are surprisingly second with 20 with high-flying Tottenham just behind in third while Nottingham Forest top the list with 80 taken so far.
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The importance of playing it out from the back at Brighton was on full display against the Red Devils.
Goalie Jason Steele, who returned to the starting XI after fellow stopper Bart Verbruggen was preferred for the last two games, started the 30 PASS MOVE that led to Pascal Gross grabbing their second goal.
Meanwhile, their opponents are also looking to try and follow suit, which led to long-serving David De Gea being allowed to leave after his contract expired in June.
United manager Erik ten Hag moved to bring in Andre Onana from Inter Milan, a Cameroon international well-known for his footwork as well as shot-stopping abilities.
But despite them being second in this recently-released goal kick stat, things have still not fully-clicked for the Red Devils after three defeats out of five so far this term.
And supporters reacted to the news that they were only behind Brighton in taking the least amount of goal kicks in hilarious fashion.

One tweeted: “If De Gea was still our goalkeeper we would be last on that list.”
“Crazy how even with a new keeper our problems still haven’t changed,” said a fellow supporter.
While another claimed: “Onana will learn to not trust your defenders.”
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With regards to Steele and Onana going head-to-head last weekend, it was the Brighton ace that completed the most passes.
The 33-year-old found a team-mate on 48 occasions, while he had five incomplete passes, while Onana lost the ball 11 times but did complete 25 passes. More

MANCHESTER UNITED wonderkid Joe Hugill has agreed to sign a new contract at the club this week, according to reports.The 19-year-old impressed boss Erik ten Hag during the Red Devils’ pre-season tour and has received transfer interest from the EFL.
Joe Hugill is set to sign a new contract for Manchester UnitedCredit: Kenny Ramsay
According to the Daily Mail, the Dutchman has decided that Hugill’s development is better suited at Old Trafford rather than going out on a season-long loan.
The teen had received interest from a number of League One clubs who wanted the centre-back on loan.
Hugill joined from Sunderland in 2020. He started in the youth ranks of fierce rivals Newcastle.
Sunderland wanted him back on a loan at the start of the year but their interest was palmed off.
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After other EFL clubs enquired about his availability, United boss Ten Hag decided to take a further look at him during U21 training at Carrington.
The youngster shone in United’s pre-season and now the Dutchman wants to reward him with a new contract offer.
Hugill is now expected to formally “sign a new three-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of another season this week”.
He will continue to train with the first team while playing for the Red Devils U21s.
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Hugill already has three goals and an assist from four Premier League 2 matches this term and his development will be re-evaluated towards the end of the year.
The 6ft 2in hitman has already been compared to England captain Harry Kane.
The report also claims United could agree to loan him out in January to offer him more experience.
Meanwhile, United have signed goalkeeper Billy Hartley from Fleetwood Town and handed forward Gabriele Biancheri his first professional contract. More

BRENTFORD star Rico Henry could miss the rest of the season because of an ACL injury.He was hoping to break into the England squad ahead of the Euros next summer.
Rico Henry has suffered an ACL injuryCredit: EPA
He could now miss the remainder of the seasonCredit: Getty
In the previous Three Lions squad, just one left-back was chosen by Gareth Southgate as Henry narrowly missed out.
An opportunity opened up for the 26-year-old following an injury to Manchester United’s Luke Shaw and Chelsea’s poor form with Ben Chilwell in their side.
Henry went down after 39 minutes following a collision with Kieran Trippier as Brentford went on to lose 1-0 to Newcastle at the weekend.
He was then taken off on a stretcher in a huge blow for manager Thomas Frank.
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The average time it takes for a player to recover from an ACL injury is eight months, meaning he could miss the remainder of the campaign.
It is the second ligament issue Henry has suffered in his career and last time he was sidelined for just over a year.
Brentford’s head of medical Neil Greig said: “Rico will require surgery in the next week or so and, unfortunately, a prolonged period of recovery.
“Whilst this is disappointing, Rico has been through a similar experience in the past and is already focused on using this as an opportunity to become fitter and stronger than before.
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“We will support him fully throughout this process.”
Henry, who joined Brentford from Walsall in 2016, started all five of the Bees’ Premier League games this season and missed just one last term.
He was capped three times by England’s Under-20s. More

SIR ALEX FERGUSON would have joined Tottenham if it was not for his wife Cathy.The legendary Manchester United manager almost changed the course of history by joining a different club instead.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s wife Cathy stopped him joining Tottenham in 1984Credit: AFP – Getty
Two years before taking over at Old Trafford in 1986, Ferguson shook hands with then Spurs chairman Irving Scholar and co-owner Paul Bobroff at a meeting in Paris.
It had been agreed he would leave Aberdeen for White Hart Lane in 1984 before later changing his mind.
The reason for Fergie’s change of heart has now been revealed in a new book about Spurs, titled Still Dreaming.
In the book, it is explained that his wife Cathy did not want to move to London, thus paving the way for him to join United.
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Author Alex Fynn, a former director of Satchi & Satchi, had access to all the leading members of the Spurs hierarchy at the time.
The book states: “The directors, to a man, were enthusiastic endorsers of the choice (Ferguson). All aspects of the contract agreed.
“Unfortunately, Mrs Ferguson was not keen on a move to London and that was that.”
Ferguson would go on to be appointed United boss by then chairman Martin Edwards, who accepted Spurs nearly got him first.
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Edwards even believed that the club’s fans should be indebted to Cathy for her opposition to moving to London.
The book also details a conversation between Edwards and Scholar about Spurs’ approach for Sir Alex.
“Martin refused to believe him (Scholar),” it reads. “When, out of curiosity, he tackled Ferguson about the story, Ferguson averted his gaze and didn’t reply.
“Edwards subsequently told Scholar: ‘Now I believe you and know you were telling the truth’.”
Ferguson went on to spend 27 years in the dugout at Old Trafford, becoming one of English football’s greatest ever managers.
During his tenure, he won 38 major trophies, including 13 league titles and the Champions League twice.
Cathy did not want to move to London, stopping Ferguson from becoming Spurs bossCredit: AFP More

SPEEDWAY ace Alfie Bowtell is sick of being mistaken for Declan Rice as he chases racing glory!The Chelmsford-born star will bid for his first major track title in the National Development League Riders’ Championship at Workington on Sunday. 
Bowtell has been told he looks like Declan RiceCredit: lannonews
The speedway driver is bidding for National Development League Riders’ Championship at Workington on SundayCredit: lannonews
He was told he looks like the ringer of Declan Rice in IbizaCredit: Getty
But Bowtell, 26, is a dead-ringer and sounds like £105million England and Arsenal player Rice – and ironically is also a former Lakeside Hammer having ridden for the Essex club. 
Bowtell revealed: “I was in Ibiza about two months ago with my missus and little boy. I was on the plane and other passengers were singing ‘there’s only one Declan Rice’.
“But they seriously thought I was Declan. I was like why would I be on EasyJet. If I was Declan Rice I’d be on a private jet!
“I’ve had it a few times to be honest. But all during that holiday, it was crazy, I’d never had so many people come up to me and think I was him. He was actually in Ibiza at the same time to make things worse.
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“People were asking why Declan Rice was in their hotel. I could see and hear people looking at me and saying it!
“There he is worth £105million and I’m like the budget version of him on EasyJet!
“I think if my plumbing or speedway careers go wrong, I can definitely turn to doing lookalike appearances as him. Instead of working like mad this winter, I’ll just work as a Declan doppelgänger!”
Bowtell is an underrated British talent after excellent results this year for his clubs Birmingham and Mildenhall. 
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He has said he could pick up the gig as a Declan Rice impersonator full time
Bowtell also works as a plumber
He is determined for a good result in the riders’ title to prove his quality, adding: “I’d very much love to win the meeting, 100 per cent. It’s a big meeting for me personally. I’ll be doing my utmost to go into it totally ready. I like Workington, it’s a pretty cool track.
“I feel like I’ve done my bit so I feel I deserve a top league chance at some stage. I beat a lot of the top boys at times so I know I can do it. 
“I didn’t really do speedway properly for a few years. I didn’t have a van or anything.
“I had a tow bar on the back and put the bike on a trailer behind the Smart car!
“It wasn’t very legal, what I was towing was actually longer than the car. I would be going through a McDonald’s Drive-Thru with a bike behind the car on the trailer and a kit bag in the passenger seat.“I was a plumbing apprentice, I was earning not much money and what I did went on the rent. I just had to do speedway on a budget. 
“I’m a full-time plumber now in London, that’s how I earn my living. But as soon as I get a glimpse of what I’m capable of and scoring double figures, it helps my belief. 
“I am actually 100 per cent prepared and set-up ready that if I got a call-up for the Premiership, I would give up plumbing and concentrate on speedway.” More