Premier League

MANCHESTER CITY have been dealt a blow to their title hopes after star striker Erling Haaland suffered an injury. The Norwegian forward went off at half-time of the clash against Aston Villa with a thigh injury.
Erling Haaland is now a doubt for the clash against ArsenalCredit: Getty

Speaking on the injury after the game, City boss Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports: “I don’t know, he had a big knock and didn’t feel too comfortable. The physio didn’t want to take the risk.
“If he’s not ready we [will] play another one. Hopefully he is ready like everyone but we will see.”
Haaland has scored an incredible 25 goals in the Premier League this season.
However, in the game against Unai Emery’s Villans, Haaland turned provider as he used his stunning acceleration to latch onto a loose ball before finding Ilkay Gundogan at the far post.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
With the reigning champs three goals to the good, Guardiola opted to bring off the 22-year-old in response to the affliction.
And it comes at a bad time for City, with a crucial clash against league leaders Arsenal in midweek.
Arsenal dropped points once again this weekend after Ivan Toney scored a controversial late equaliser.
Refereeing body PGMOL cited “human error” as the reason Toney’s late equaliser was not ruled out at the time.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
With City winning against Villa today, the gap between the two title chasers is now down to just three points, though Arsenal have a game in hand.
It means losing Haaland will dent the cutting-edge City have with him on the pitch.
The clash with Villa is the club’s first game since they were charged with over 100 breaches of financial rules.
If the charges are proven, then City could face relegation or even expulsion from the Premier League. More

FORMER Arsenal star Paul Merson has labelled the Gunners’ upcoming title clash against Manchester City “make or break.”Mikel Arteta’s men dropped points for the second straight game as they were held to a controversial 1-1 draw by Brentford.
Arsenal face a ‘make or break’ title clash with Man City, says Paul MersonCredit: Reuters
The ex-Gunner is tipping City for victory after Arsenal dropped points againCredit: PA
Arsenal felt the Bees’ equaliser should not have stood after VAR failed to draw up lines for a potential offside from goalscorer Ivan Toney.
But thoughts have already turned to Wednesday’s highly-anticipated battle with defending champs Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s men moved within three points of Arsenal after beating Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday.
And although they have played a game more, City can move level with the Gunners should they win at the Etihad.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
Merson now believes Arsenal’s season will be defined by the game, with a reverse fixture still to come in April.
The ex-Gunner reckons his former side will have to play out of their skin to achieve a result.
And Merson is tipping Guardiola to beat his old assistant Arteta to set up a mouth-watering title battle for the remainder of the season.
Merson told Sky: ‘It’s a hard game coming up now. A big game Wednesday night. 
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
Merson reckons Arsenal were lucky not to lose to BrentfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“If you want to win Premier League titles, any league title, it’s how you bounce back.
“It’s all about timing. At the start of the season you probably think, ‘Brentford at home, not the worst’ but they’re bang in form and played like a good football team, a clever football team. 
“When they go 1-0 up you’d expect them to hold on and they didn’t.
“It’s a massive football match on Wednesday. I think it’s make or break. If Man City go and win the game, I don’t see Arsenal coming back from that.
“After today’s (Saturday’s) performance, I don’t see them beating Man City on Wednesday. I’d be quite shocked. They were so open at the back. Played 2v2 at the back. 
“If Brentford had picked the right pass at times they’d have got in and won that game.
“Toney misses a real good chance where he hits the bar and Man City have a better quality of player to pick that right pass. Come Wednesday night I’d be quite shocked if Arsenal went and won that game.” More

SO by 10pm on Wednesday night, Manchester City could be top of the table.And how much blood would that boil at Premier League HQ as well as with fans up and down the country?
Rodri heads Man City in frontCredit: Getty
The Spaniard celebrates his City openerCredit: Reuters
Pep Guardiola has been looking for a way to spark what has been an unconvincing, spluttering title defence into life for much of the campaign.
Well Prem chiefs may well have done it for him – by slapping the reigning champions with 115 charges of financial wrong-doing last Monday morning.
If anyone at the Etihad wasn’t up for a push for the treble this time last week, they certainly are now.
Last time Aston Villa were here, on the final day of last season, the home side produced a stunning fightback to claim a fourth title in five years.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
How big will this win – and the events of the last week – prove to be when the trophy is handed out again at the end of May?
If City can win the crunch clash at the Emirates later this week then it could prove to be the pivotal week of the whole season.
And how awkward would that trophy presentation be in just over three months time?
Time will tell of course – but Guardiola’s men looked much more like their old selves in an electric first half which saw them race into a three goal lead.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
Ilkay Gundogan makes it 2-0 from close rangeCredit: AFP
Gundogan wheels off in celebrationCredit: PA
There was no doubt before kick-off that the City fans were up for it again – the atmosphere at the Etihad was noticeably livelier than in recent weeks.
The only question was whether Guardiola’s players were feeling the same way – and you kind of knew what the answer would be.
And if you didn’t – it took the champions less than five minutes to spell it out.
Riyad Mahrez swung over a corner from the left and Rodri escaped his marker to find space at the front post.
His thumping header was too hot for Emi Martinez to handle and the home side had the start they wanted.
Villa have been no pushovers in recent weeks, particularly on their travels where they have won the last three.
But Unai Emery’s men were no match for City in this kind of mood.
Rodri’s clever ball sent Ilkay Gundogan racing clear but the skipper’s effort was turned around the post by the Argentine World Cup winner.
Man City were comfortable winners
Riyad Mahrez converts from the penalty spotCredit: Getty
Mahrez is congratulated by Erling HaalandCredit: Reuters
A square ball from the German would have given Erling Haaland an open net.
Gundogan did get the ball in the net soon afterwards but the Prem’s top goalscorer was penalised – perhaps slightly harshly – for a collision with Martinez in the build up.
The chances kept coming though as a Kevin De Bruyne corner was floated to Jack Grealish at the back post and his brilliant volley was touched wide by the arm of Callum Chambers.
A Mahrez corner was deflected into the path of Haaland by Ramsey but the Norwegian poked his effort over the bar from six yards.
Grealish saw another effort saved by Martinez after a superb run and pass from De Bruyne – who seemed to have a point to prove after being left out at Tottenham last week.
Kyle Walker presented Villa with a rare opportunity as his stray pass landed at the feet of Leon Bailey – but Ruben Dias made a superb tackle to deny him.
And that proved to be a key moment as shortly afterwards City doubled their lead.
Chambers panicked under pressure from Haaland as the pair chased a De Bruyne pass and his header left Martinez in no man’s land.
Ollie Watkins pulls one back for VillaCredit: Alamy
The Norwegian had gone too wide to go for goal himself so intelligently squared for Gundogan to tap in at the back post.
And in first half stoppage time, the game was effectively over as a contest.
Ramsey tangled with Grealish as the former Villa captain got away from him in the box. It was soft but referee Rob Jones said penalty.
Most people expected Haaland to take the penalty but instead it was Mahrez – stroking it past the World Cup’s penalty saving expert to make it three.
Both Haaland and Dias were withdrawn at the break – presumably with one eye on the huge clash at the Emirates on Wednesday.
In the middle of January, the gap between City and the leaders was eight points – yet that could have vanished by Wednesday night.
City still had some work to do here though before thoughts could turn to the Emirates
Man City had a very attacking 3-2-4-1 formation
How Villa lined up against Man City
Bernardo Silva carelessly lost possession in the middle of the park and Doulgas Luiz – once on City’s books – played Ollie Watkins through.
The former Brentford forward loves playing against City and finished calmly past Ederson to score against them for a sixth time – and give his team a glimmer of hope.
City had a chance to wrap it up as a sweeping move ended with Grealish crossing for sub Julian Alvarez but sub Ezri Konsa got back to block his header.
Read More on The Sun
Sub Phil Coutinho looped a shot which was acrobatically pushed over by Ederson and fellow sub Jhon Duran clattered the bar with a stunning turn and volley.
Had one of those gone in it could have been an interesting finish – but it’s safe to say City are back. More

HOLLYWOOD A-lister Will Ferrell has revealed he is NOT a Chelsea fan.Ferrell, 55, explained he had taken the trip across the pond for a recruitment trip for Major League Soccer Franchise Los Angeles FC, where he is a co-owner.

Will Ferrell is in attendance at the Etihad this afternoonCredit: Getty
He appeared on Sky SportsCredit: Getty
And revealed he was in fact NOT a Chelsea fanCredit: Getty
Just one day after he was spotted having a pint with Wrexham fans, Ferrell swapped the pub for an appearance on Sky Sports.
Fans loved his cameo ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Aston Villa, with the Anchorman star striking up a remarkable bromance with Roy Keane.
But he then dropped a huge bombshell as he revealed he was in fact NOT a Chelsea fan.
Asked whether he watches a lot of football, Ferrell said: “I watch a fair amount.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
“I have to say I don’t really have a side over here, I just enjoy following all the storylines and it’s obviously a very good league.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say there’s some really good teams and players here.”
His comments come despite him previously being seen in a Chelsea shirt.
In 2017 he also met the Blues squad, which included the likes of Eden Hazard, N’Golo Kante and Pedro.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
Ferrell was very pleased when his LAFC side won the MLS Cup last year.
Now-retired superstar Gareth Bale came off of the bench to head home a late equaliser to send the game into a penalty shootout, with LAFC then holding their nerve to come out on top against Philadelphia Union. More

GARY NEVILLE blasted Manchester United for “stupid and slow” play against Leeds.After a largely frustrating game, Marcus Rashford finally broke the deadlock on 80 minutes before Alejandro Garnacho wrapped up a 2-0 win five minutes later.
Gary Neville blasted Manchester United before they finally clicked into gear against LeedsCredit: PA
Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock with ten minutes to playCredit: Reuters
But for much of the afternoon Erik ten Hag’s side were far from their fluent best.
United struggled to break down Leeds, and Old Trafford legend Neville wasn’t happy with the slow pace of play.
He penned a brutal tweet just after half-time as his former side laboured through the match.
Neville wrote: “Stop playing stupid and slow passes across the back!
Read More On Man Utd
“Same as Wednesday first half!”
The Red Devils were poor in the first-half against Leeds in the week but came back from two goals down to salvage a draw.
Ten Hag’s side weren’t in top gear again on Sunday, but did go one better to pick up all three points.
And in the end Neville was all smiles as United finally got themselves over the line.
Most read in Football
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
After the goals went in, Neville wrote: “Get in!”
Rashford’s strike was his 13th goal in his last 15 games.
The in form forward planted a header past Ilan Meslier from a delicious Luke Shaw cross.
And Garnacho made it two as he raced clear of Maximilian Wober to fire past the Leeds keeper.
The game was marred as United and Leeds released a joint statement after the match condemning chants in relation to historic tragedies. More