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FULHAM host Bournemouth in a huge Premier League clash this afternoon.Both the Cherries and the Cottagers have picked up just one point from their last three games and sit 12th and 13th respectively.
Kick off time: 3pm
TV/stream: Not available in the UK due to 3pm blackout
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IT is the old one-two Manchester City fans have waited all season to see – and at last Erling Haaland put them out of their misery.Twice City’s striking Viking came up trumps with his first goals since breaking a bone in his foot in December, sending the champions back to the top for a time at least.
Erling Haaland dug Man City out of trouble against EvertonCredit: AP
Haaland scored his second by calmly finishing his one vs one against Jordan PickfordCredit: Reuters
City put the pressure back on Liverpool and ArsenalCredit: Reuters
Just as crucially, though, was the fact the second was teed up by Kevin De Bruyne, an even longer-term Etihad crock whose season has effectively only just started.
And with their dynamic duo back in the old routine for the Premier League run-in, City are starting to have an ominous look about them once again.
To be fair it took a long time before they did against Everton, though, for all they had the lion’s share of the ball right from the off.
Jeremy Doku’s lightning feet may have constantly taken him to the byline down the left, yet rarely did his delivery remotely come close to an end product.
In fact the only keeper remotely worked in the first half was actually Ederson – largely of City’s own making.
First Doku was guilty of dithering on the edge of his box and then Nathan Ake of trying to shepherd it back to the Brazilian.
Ben Godfrey slid in, got a toe to the ball, a foot to the keeper and left him needing treatment for a couple of minutes.
It was the first time in 18 months that Pep Guardiola’s men went through the first half without a shot on target.
And the way they toiled for much of the second, it seemed they could even go the entire match without troubling Pickford.
Cue De Bruyne, who had four months out after hamstring surgery before returning in January, who made his entrance from the bench ten minutes after the break.
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It seemed to send a shot of energy through the entire side, and when an Alvarez corner pinballed around, Haaland swivelled and thumped in a shot from beyond the far post.
You could almost hear the sighs of relief around the Etihad, and ten minutes from the end they had breathing space – thanks to KDB and their goal machine.
De Bruyne sent him scooting clear with a slide rule ball from within his own half, Jarrad Branthwaite ended up on his backside as he came to challenge, and Haaland buried the finish.
Game over, points in the bag, and City looking down on the rest again.
And every likelihood to end the season doing so as well.
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FORMER Premier League star Jason Puncheon has been appointed manager of AEZ Zakakiou.The 37-year-old takes charge of the struggling Cypriot minnows as they battle to avoid relegation.
Jason Puncheon has been appointed AEZ Zakakiou bossCredit: Alamy
AEZ Zakakiou currently sit 12th in the 14-team First Division.
They are just three points above the foot of the table and have conceded 54 goals in 23 games, making them the worst defence in the league.
It is Puncheon’s second job in management after quitting second tier side Peyia earlier this year.
The ex-midfielder has plenty of experience in Cypriot football after hanging up his boots in the Mediterranean sun.
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He spent a total of four seasons with Pafos and Anorthosis between 2019 and 2023.
It ended his incredible 20-year playing career that saw him begin at Wimbledon and move with the team as they became MK Dons.
He later went on to play for Southampton, Blackpool, QPR, Crystal Palace and Huddersfield in the Premier League.
Puncheon has legendary status at Selhurst Park, having played 169 times for the club.
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And with pressure growing on Roy Hodgson, some Palace fans joked he should be their new boss.
One said: “Punch is a manager? Get him in.”
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Another added: “Give him the job until the end of season.” More
GARY LINEKER has been forced to pull out of tonight’s Match of the Day.The England legend hosts the football highlights show every Saturday, but will not feature this evening.
Gary Lineker has been forced to pull out of tonight’s episode of Match of the DayCredit: BBC
Lineker revealed that he has a coldCredit: X @GaryLineker
Instead, Mark Chapman will step in to replace him.
Lineker took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday afternoon to break the news to fans, confirming he is under the weather.
In typical style, he did it with a joke.
Lineker wrote: “Some good news for some: I’ve been silenced….with a rotten cold that seems to be lasting forever.
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“Hate missing hosting @BBCMOTD but I’ll be watching.”
Fans were quick to wish the former striker well, with one person tweeting: “Get well soon Gary, we need you in strong voice!”
Another commented: “Get well soon Gary!”
While a Newcastle fan joked: “Get well soon Gary. And you’re doing the right thing. We don’t want Wor Al catching it 🖤🤍.”
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Lineker has presented Match of the Day for almost 25 years.
He is regularly joined on the show by the likes of Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Micah Richards.
Match of the Day and BBC Sport struck a new four-year agreement with the Premier League in December.
The TV programme will continue to show Premier League highlights until 2029.
Lineker is also set to agree a huge contract extension with the BBC.
The Leicester legend has recently been embroiled in some controversies with the BBC.
Last month he sparked a row and was slammed as “ignorant” after sharing a tweet calling to ban Israel from world football.
Lineker reposted a statement on X from a pro-Palestinian campaign calling for Israel to be ousted from global tournaments and games “until it ends its grave violations of international law”.
And last March he sparked an impartiality row after saying the Government rhetoric on immigration was similar to that of 1930s Germany. More
BURNLEY and Leeds United legend Ian Lawson has died aged 84.The Premier League club announced the sad news before today’s trip to Liverpool.
Burnley and Leeds legend Ian Lawson has diedCredit: Rex
The former forward burst on the scene with four goals on his debutCredit: Getty
The former forward was originally spotted by the Clarets playing for Pelton schoolboys in County Durham.
He moved to Turf Moor in 1954 and signed pro two years later on his 17th birthday.
Less than a year later he burst on to the scene in incredible fashion.
Lawson scored FOUR goals as Burnley thumped Chesterfield 7-0 in the FA Cup.
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He followed that up with a hat-trick a month later in another FA Cup romp, this time by 9-0, over New Brighton.
International honours soon arrived when he was capped by England at youth level.
Lawson made 30 appearances for Burnley and scored 15 goals before headed to Leeds in 1962 for a £20,000 fee.
He helped them to win the Second Division title in 1964 under Don Revie but departed south to join Crystal Palace 12 months later.
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Lawson then played for both Port Vale and Barnsley prior to hanging up his boots in 1968.
He is survived by his wife Maureen, daughter Sharon and son Michael.
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BARCELONA will join the race to sign Amadou Onana – but only if Everton drop their £51m asking price.Like the cash-strapped Toffees, Barcelona have their own financial issues and cannot afford to go beyond £34m as things stand.
Barcelona have joined the chase for Everton’s Amadou OnanaCredit: Getty
But the Spanish giants are monitoring the midfielder’s situation closely.
Everton will hope to generate an auction for Onana this summer.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all among the clubs to have him on their shortlist.
The 22-year-old Belgian international arrived at Goodison Park from Lille for £33.5m after snubbing West Ham in August 2022.
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He instantly became a key player under Frank Lampard.
And he remains an integral part of the Toffees team under Sean Dyche as they fight relegation.
Onana is under contract at Everton until 2027 after penning a five-year deal upon his arrival.
Man United boss Erik ten Hag is also still keen to revive interest in Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
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The Old Trafford club have been linked with a £120m double swoop for De Jong and Nou Camp team-mate Ronald Araujo.
If Barca received a big fee for one or both players, it would give them a better chance of competing for Onana without risking a breach of FFP rules.
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FORGOTTEN Tottenham star Troy Parrott has emerged as a shock target for some of the biggest clubs in the Netherlands.The 22-year-old forward is currently impressing in the Eredivisie while on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam.
Tottenham’s Troy Parrott has a number of Dutch clubs chasing his servicesCredit: Getty
Republic of Ireland international Parrott is under contract in North London until 2025.
However, The 42 publication claims that his seven goals and performances for Excelsior have caught the eye of Holland’s heavy-hitters.
And now both Ajax and PSV are “weighing up a move” for him at the end of the season.
They also state that Feyenoord, who are currently second in the Dutch top-flight, have expressed an interest.
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And AZ Alkmaar are also keen as well as his list of admirers continues to grow.
Parrott was forced to sit and wait to make his impact at Excelsior having undergone abdominal surgery earlier in the campaign.
But now he is flying and played the full 90 minutes in each of the club’s last four games.
Parrott has only appeared twice for Tottenham in the Premier League.
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He made his professional debut for them as a 17-year-old back in 2017 but has since found chances hard to come by.
He was firstly sent to Millwall for more experience before then having spells with both Ipswich Town and MK Dons.
Troy Parrott scores two wonderful goals for Republic of Ireland U21 vs Sweden U21
Parrott then spent last season on loan in the Championship at Preston, scoring three goals in 33 matches.
Now he is looking to fire Excelsior further up the table as they currently sit in 14th and six points clear of the relegation play-off place. More
LIVERPOOL have reportedly joined Tottenham in the race to sign Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo.The Reds could be set for a defensive reshuffle this summer following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
Liverpool are interested in signing Tosin AdarabioyoCredit: AFP
Virgil van Dijk recently admitted that does not know if he will stay at Anfield beyond the transfer window.
He said: “That’s a big question. I don’t know. The club will have a big job on their hands. To replace not only the manager but the whole staff, there are so many things that will change.
“I’m very curious which direction that will go in but when that will be announced we will see our situation. I can’t say much about it.
“Obviously it will be the end of Jurgen Klopp’s era. I am very glad that I am still part of it. That is why I don’t like to speak about it. I am still part of it.”
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Meanwhile, Joel Matip is in line to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires in June.
Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq are expected to make the 32-year-old an offer at the end of the season.
With the future of two key defenders now in doubt, Liverpool are set to seek reinforcements.
And according to the Evening Standard, Adarabioyo has emerged as a top target.
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Fulham want to tie the defender down to a new deal
The 26-year-old’s Fulham contract expires this summer, meaning he could become available as a free agent.
However, the Cottagers are attempting to tie him down to a new contract in a bid to ward off interest from rival clubs.
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool needs ‘a manager on his top game’ following his announcement he’s quitting in the summer
Both Tottenham and AC Milan have also expressed an interest in signing him.
SunSport revealed in December that Adarabioyo told Fulham that he will leave on a free transfer when his contract expires.
However, manager Marco Silva has not given up hope that he will have a change of heart before the season ends. More
