Premier League

CHELSEA fans wanting to drive Mauricio Pochettino out of the club are wasting their time.The head coach will not quit despite some supporters calling for his head at Brentford on Saturday.Chelsea fans told Mauricio Pochettino to ‘f*** off’ during their 2-2 draw at BrentfordCredit: AlamyThere were chants of “f*** off Mauricio” during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw at Brentford which leaves them 11th in the Premier League.Chairman Todd Boehly also came in for stick because of frustration at results after the club spent £1 billion assembling a large squad of young, untried players.Former Tottenham boss Pochettino still has more than a year left on his contract and has no intention of walking away. He also retains the backing of the club.Chelsea season ticket holder Dan Silver said: “Mauricio has polarised opinion among the fans. The Spurs connection is always going to make it difficult for him.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“It’s another frustrating season and ambivalence would be the best word to describe the feelings towards him I think.“But we don’t have a divine right to win stuff. We are scoring more goals than last season and there is still the chance of another cup final and the possibility of European football next season.”Chelsea have seven days to regroup after a mixed week in which they lost the Carabao Cup final, got through to the FA Cup quarter finals and then had to come from behind to salvage a point against struggling Brentford.Keeper Djordje Petrovic said: “We feel the pain from this result because we want to win every game and it’s off the back of a tough week, following the defeat in the Carabao Cup final.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”After that game at Wembley, we needed to get back to winning ways and we found that extra motivation and energy against Leeds. We had a good result and we wanted to do that again against Brentford.“These are things we can learn from. The final was a good experience even though it wasn’t the end result we wanted. We are a young team and it was a good lesson for us, to improve on next time.Chelsea’s ‘billion pound bottle jobs’ MUST stick with Pochettino“We have big games coming up in both the Premier League and the FA Cup and there is still so much for us to achieve this season.”Chelsea face Newcastle in the Premier League next before they take on Leicester in the FA Cup quarter finals. More

CHELSEA are in the Premier League RELEGATION ZONE based on second-half goals scored this season.The Blues have endured a dismal campaign as they sit 11th in the table despite spending £1BILLION over the past 18 months.Chelsea have been dismal in the second half of Premier League games this seasonCredit: RexLiverpool scored late yet again on Saturday afternoonCredit: GettyThe Premier League table based on first-half goals scoredYet it could be even worse for Mauricio Pochettino’s side if they had started matches in the same manner they are finishing them.According to SoccerSTATS.com, only Burnley and Sheffield United have fewer points than Chelsea based on goals scored in the second halves of Premier League games.The 2021 Champions League winners, who led Brentford 1-0 at half-time on Saturday but went on to draw 2-2, would have just 24 points if first-half goals were discounted – 12 fewer than their actual tally.Yet despite impressing more in the opening 45 minutes of matches, they are still down in eighth on that metric too.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSurprisingly, the fastest starters are Aston Villa – who are top of the table with 47 points from first-half performances.Premier League leaders Liverpool are six points adrift of Unai Emery’s men before the break… but they come into their own in the second period.Jurgen Klopp’s men earned another dramatic late win on Saturday as Darwin Nunez’s 99th-minute goal handed them a 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest.And it is The Reds’ late shows that are proving the difference at this stage of the campaign.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSLiverpool are on 64 POINTS when accounting for second halves, 23 more than they would have picked up before the break.Arsenal are also more impressive as matches head into the later stages, while Tottenham climb from fifth to third thanks to goals after the break.’Chelsea are failures, Gary Neville was right’ Crystal Palace Youtuber Dee Kurnaz has his say on The Sun’s Tap InBy contrast, defending champions Manchester City drop from second to fourth from the first half to second half tables.And rivals Manchester United have suffered a similar fate in the second halves of games.Erik ten Hag’s men saw an impressive 10-year record come to an end on Sunday as they spurned a first-half lead to lose 3-1 to Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad.And the game typified the pattern of their performances this season as they are down in 12th when it comes to second-half displays.The Premier League table based on second-half goals scored More

BAILEY PEACOCK-FARRELL was taken to hospital yesterday after suffering a horror cut during a match.The Burnley goalkeeper, 27, has spent this season on loan at Danish side AGF.Bailey Peacock-Farrell shared a snap from his hospital bedCredit: INSTAGRAM / @bailey_pfThe goalkeeper, 27, suffered a brutal cutCredit: INSTAGRAM / @bailey_pfDuring a match with Odense, the Northern Ireland international endured brutal injuries to his head and nose.After the game, Peacock-Farrell shared a series of snaps to his Instagram account, including one from his hospital bed.In another, he showed off a gruesome cut on the top of his head.He captioned his post: “Some stitches, broken nose and a little less hair on top. Perks of being a GK.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Thanks for all the kind messages. Enjoy the swipe.”Peacock-Farrell subsequently received plenty of well-wishes on social media.One fan commented: “Owch. Get well soon Bailey. Really hope to see your back at Burnley. We need you massively.”While a second wrote: “Tough guy, hope you’re back on the field in no time.”Most read in FootballSheffield Wednesday ace Liam Palmer added: “Speedy recovery mate.”And fellow members of the goalkeeper’s union also wished him well, with West Brom stopper Alex Palmer writing: “Jesus! Recover well mate.”Footballers you didn’t know were related from Premier League icons to Lionel MessiWhile Blackburn’s Aynsley Pears added: “Rest up mate All the best.”Peacock-Farrell began his career at Leeds as a teenager, going on to make 41 appearances for the Whites.He subsequently moved to Burnley in 2019, making 24 appearances for the Clarets in total and helping them to last season’s Championship title.Following Vincent Kompany’s acquisition of James Trafford last summer, Peacock-Farrell moved to AGF on loan.Peacock-Farrell joined Danish side AGF on loan last summerCredit: Getty More

PAUL SCHOLES has given a brutal verdict on Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United under the new INEOS ownership.The Red Devils fell to a dismal 3-1 defeat against rivals Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.Paul Scholes gave a brutal verdict on Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester UnitedCredit: AlamyTen Hag’s side faced a dismal 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday afternoonCredit: RexSir Dave Brailsford, who is INEOS’ director of sport, watched on in the stands after Marcus Rashford’s first-half strike was cancelled out by two goals from Phil Foden and another from Erling Haaland.While the start of the game looked very promising for Ten Hag’s men, it was clear his squad had no depth or posed no threat to City with just one shot on target the whole match.After full-time United legend Scholes was not impressed and said the team was “nowhere near good enough to be competing”.He told Optus Sport: “What we’re seeing is a million miles away from a team that should be challenging for the league. READ MORE ON MAN UTD”Every single season it’s just so far away.””I think they [INEOS] have already made their mind up. I don’t think he will be there next season. No.”From the interviews we’ve heard with Sir Jim, I thought there was a little bit of negativity towards the club the last 10 or 11 years and especially the last two years. I don’t think he’s happy with what’s going on.“I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re looking for a new manager now. I’m not saying it’s the right decision.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe Dutch boss had a great start at the club and ended United’s trophy drought of six years with the Carabao Cup – but not much more has happened since.And Scholes who spent nearly two decades at Old Trafford said he feels “a little bit sorry” for Ten Hag.Man City 3 Man Utd 1: Brilliant Foden double completes comeback from Rashford thunderbolt to pile more misery on Ten HagHe continued: “With new owners anyway they always tend to change the manager and especially with the way they’re playing.”Where there are in the league and what it’s been like in the last couple of seasons, I just think they’ll make a change.”Scholes’ former England teammate Michael Owen also chipped in on his thoughts about Ten Hag’s future.Owen said: “I think they should make a change. Scholesy thinks they will make a change but doesn’t know if they should – I think they should.“It’s not all the manager’s fault but his signings have been pretty average. I still watch Manchester United and I have no idea what they want to do at all.“That has to come from the top, from the manager, having a certain way of playing, even if you have to go through a period of pain.“Manchester United have had a lot of pain, they can probably take a little bit more to have a direction but I don’t see what that direction is.”Michael Owen says United ‘should make a change’ with their managerCredit: PA More

FORMER Blackburn defender Martin Olsson was sent off after shockingly PUNCHING an opposition player in the face with a violent left hook.The ex-Norwich and Swansea left-back, 35, stormed into the middle of a brawl in a cup match in Sweden. Former Blackburn man Martin Olsson was sent off for a shocking punchCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe violent act occurred amid a melee between Malmo and Varbergs BoIS playersCredit: RedditVarbergs BoIS forward Yusuf Abdulazeez was dismissed for headbutting one of Olsson’s Malmo team-mates.The incident, which occurred in the 87th minute of a 1-1 draw, led to a host of players from both sides furiously squaring up to each other as tempers boiled over.And this ended with a horrific moment as Olsson left one of the Varbergs players in a heap on the floor with a sickening punch.Despite the chaotic situation proving difficult for the referee to handle, he did instantly spot the Swede’s violent act and sent him packing by showing another red card.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLReacting to Olsson’s astonishing act, one person said: “That’s crazy.”Another added: “Literal assault. Should be reported to the police.”A third replied: “That’s gotta be a solid suspension, feels like 4-5 games might be in order.”While a fourth responded: “First I thought you’re calling that little headbutt a boxing KO… but then out of nowhere, a full blown left hook!”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSOlsson played 197 games in the Premier League across spells with Blackburn, Norwich and Swansea, scoring five goals and assisting 13.He also helped Norwich return to the top flight when they beat Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final in 2015.Shock moment referee is PUNCHED by player after abandoning Scottish football match after three red cardsAfter three seasons with Swansea, he returned to his home country in 2020, signing for Helsingborg.He joined Hacken in 2021, before agreeing a deal with Malmo later in the year – where he has gone on to win two league titles and the Svenksa Cupen – Sweden’s biggest cup competition.He has also racked up 56 international caps, the last of which came in June of last year. More