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      Champions League LIVE RESULTS: Aston Villa edge five-goal thriller in Leipzig, Liverpool beat Girona – latest reaction

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      TUESDAY’S Champions League action has concluded after some thrilling ties around Europe.Earlier, Liverpool continued their perfect record in the competition with a win in Girona, as Mohamed Salah’s penalty was the difference between the two sides. On Tuesday evening, fellow Premier League giants Aston Villa edged a five-goal thriller with RB Leipzig.Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham helped Real Madrid to a 3-2 win over Atalanta – and Bayern thrashed Shakhtar 5-1 despite going 1-0 down early doors.Live stream: discovery+/Amazon Prime VideoTV channel: TNT Sports/Amazon Prime VideoFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from Matchday Six with our live blog below…Still plenty to comeAnother huge card of Champions League action to come tomorrow night, too!Here’s what we’ve got to look forward to:5.45pmAtletico Madrid vs Slovan BratislavaLille vs Sturm Graz8pmMilan vs Red StarArsenal vs MonacoBenfica vs BolognaDortmund vs BarcelonaFeyenoord vs Sparta PragueJuventus vs Man CityStuttgart vs Young BoysCopy linkCopied’Love the competition’Jhon Duran says he’s enjoying the competition to be Villa’s number 9 with Ollie Watkins.And the forward – who turns 21 this week – insists there will be no celebrations with all eyes on scoring this Saturday.He told Amazon Prime Sport: “I am just happy to be here and love the competition with Ollie Watkins. When it is my turn hopefully I can step up and help the team.”We’re so happy to be where we are and we are almost through so we are delighted about that.”I am definitely not going out to celebrate my birthday [on Friday] because my aim is to score to celebrate on Saturday to celebrate.”Copy linkCopied50 upKylian Mbappe scored tonight’s opener for Real Madrid.But he was subbed with an injury in the first half as Madrid’s injury woes continue.It was the Frenchman’s 50th Champions League goal already!On the game, Jude Bellingham told TNT: “Really important for us to get the points tonight. We knew how difficult it would be. It was important we got over the line.”Copy linkCopiedVilla reportBy Graeme BryceAston Villa finally managed to grab the Red Bull by the horns as super sub Ross Barkley snatched a dramatic late win in Leipzig.Villa inspirational sub was only on the park for two minutes when he crashed home a shot which took a wicked deflection off Lukas Klostermann to leave Peter Gulacsi stranded.Villa rode their luck at times and led Leipzig twice – only to let them back in twice.But Barkley’s winner proved just too much for the home side to recover from as Villa stormed into the top eight of the Champions League.If Carlsberg did starts to a football match they would have hand-picked this one for Villa.Unai Emery’s men were in dreamland when skipper John McGinn fired them in front with just two minutes and 33 seconds on the clock.Copy linkCopiedReds reportBy Charlie WyettYou really have to spare a thought for Caoimhin Kelleher – he must be the only pi**ed off person under Arne Slot at Liverpool.Despite helping his team storm to the top of the table in both England and Europe over the last two months, winning 10 games and drawing two, the Irish keeper was booted out of the team the moment No.1 keeper Alisson was fit.Kelleher, who has made it known he wants to leave Merseyside, was forced to sit on the bench here in Catalonia and, predictably, watch Alisson prove why he is surely the best keeper in the world.On a night when Slot’s team under-performed, Alisson proved there was no rustiness in his game with five key saves. Slot’s surprisingly toothless attack was helped by VAR on the hour when it spotted that former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek had stood on the heel of Luiz Diaz.Mo Salah, who barely got a kick all night, delivered a textbook penalty meaning that of Liverpool’s last 23 goals, 20 of them have come in the second half.Copy linkCopiedProgressionBrendan Rodgers was disappointed with the lack of quality up the top end for Celtic as they stuttered to a 0-0 at Dinamo Zagreb.But he reckons the fact there is disappointment in the camp shows how far they’ve come in this competition – despite still not winning away from home.He said: “The positive is we’ve come away from the game defensively strong and didn’t concede. I thought we lacked quality in the final third. The pitch was a little bit tricky.”We had great energy, good commitment. In the Champions League, if you get a clean sheet and take a point away from home and you’re not very happy, that shows how the team has progressed.”Copy linkCopied’Small injury’Unai Emery confirms Jhon Duran replaced Ollie Watkins at half time as the Englishman had a small injury.More on that to come likely – but it proved inspired anyway with Duran doing what he does.Copy linkCopiedHow we standA look at the top of the Champions League table after the halfway point of matchday 6.Liverpool still rolling along clear in front.Aston Villa up to third now after that win tonight!Copy linkCopied’Could’ve been more’John McGinn hailed the Villa substitutes for coming on and making a difference in their big win in Leipzig.The Celtic fan says this one sets them up for games against Monaco and the Hoops.He told Amazon Prime Sport: “It was disappointing losing the offside goal. I think the two goals we conceded were disappointing from our point of view. I thought overall we were the better team and we could have scored more.”We dealt with their problems well and what we needed today was substitutes to come on and make a difference.”It is exciting. We had some disappointing results off the great start and it is great to be in the top three. We have that Monaco game and then a nice one against Celtic.”Copy linkCopiedAngry SlotArne Slot was furious with his Liverpool team even though they maintained their 100 per cent Champions League record.Mo Salah’s second half penalty means the Reds look certain to finish in the top eight and avoid a play-off round in February.But boss Slot, who welcomed back keeper Alisson from injury, tore into his team for not being “aggressive” enough and failing to take control of the game in Spain.The Dutchman said: “I’m really pleased with the first five games, but I’m far from pleased about this performance. Especially two things. “If you play against a team that has such a good idea about football and knows how to bring the ball out from the back like some of the teams we’ve played recently, like City or Real Madrid, you need to be so intense if you want to make it difficult for them.“But we were so easily outplayed and then this team can cause you a lot of problems. They showed this in their games, in all of the Champions League this season, except PSV Eindhoven. I almost feel sorry for them as they deserve so much more points than the three points they have.“The other part is every time we lost the ball, we were not aggressive enough so every time we lost the ball, they could go almost all the way to our goal and have a shot. We had hardly any control at all over the game. Maybe the second half was a bit better – I’m trying to be positive.”Copy linkCopiedFT – Club Brugge 2-1 SportingClub Brugge do cling on in stoppage time.Huge win for them as the post-Ruben Amorim era continues to stall for Sporting!Copy linkCopiedFull time from Graeme Bryce in LeipzigRB Leipzig were beaten by Villa’s very own RB …. Ross Barkley.Villa’s supersub came off the bench to grab a famous win – although his winner owed everything to a massive deflection.The midfielder won’t care about that however.Leipzig’s sponsors Red Bull might give you wings.But Villa’s RB gives you wins!Copy linkCopiedFULL TIMES!Still playing in Brugge where the second half kicked off late due to a first half injury.But we’re all done everywhere else.Girona 0-1 LiverpoolDinamo Zagreb 0-0 CelticAtalanta 2-3 Real MadridBayer Leverkusen 1-0 Inter MilanClub Brugge 2-1 Sporting Lisbon LATESTRB Salzburg 0-3 PSGShakhtar Donetsk 1-5 Bayern MunichRB Leipzig 2-3 Aston VillaBrest 1-0 PSV EindhovenCopy linkCopied90 – GOAL! Shakhtar 1-5 BAYERNIncredible solo goal from MICHAEL OLISE!He collects the ball 25 yards from goal and beats five defenders to get into the box and 1v1 with the keeper.He fakes a shot to sit the keeper down and cheekily rolls the ball into the back of an empty net. Potential for goal of the night, that. Beauty.Copy linkCopied84 – GOAL! CLUB BRUGGE 2-1 SportingHuge, huge goal in Belgium for the home side!CASPER NIELSEN is off the bench for the matter of a couple of minutes before he’s sent clean through down the right.He shows great pace to stay clear and finishes tremendously well beyond the keeper into the far corner.Copy linkCopied90 – GOAL! LEVERKUSEN 1-0 InterThe deadlock is finally broken in Germany!Mukiele attempts an overhead kick but instead plays it down the right of the area for a team-mate.The ball is flashed across goal and when the kick is missed from a few yards out, it lands at the feet of NORDI MUKIELE who smashes home from six yards out!Copy linkCopied87 – GOAL! Shakhtar 1-4 BAYERN JAMAL MUSIALA wraps it all up!He is down in the area looking for a penalty as Bayern play on. He hops to his feet on the penalty spot when the ball lands at his feet.He feigns to shoot and sits two defenders down before passing into the corner.Copy linkCopied85 – GOAL! Salzburg 0-3 PSGSplendid team goal and DESIRE DOUE has it.PSG work it superbly down the right and when Hakimi looks set to score from eight yards out, he opts to roll it across the six-yard box for Doue to smash into the top corner.Copy linkCopied85 – GOAL! Leipzig 2-3 ASTON VILLAA huge, huge goal for Villa and it’s ROSS BARKLEY who has it!But it ‘s with the help of an almighty deflection.Leipzig struggle to clear it on the edge of their own box and it’s cleared to Barkley 25 yards from goal. He takes a touch and slips as he hits it, it takes a wicked deflection to wrong-foot the keeper and arrows into the opposite corner.Villa won’t care one jot.Copy linkCopiedLatest scoresChampions League latest scores entering the final 20 minutes:Atalanta 2-3 Real MadridBayer Leverkusen 0-0 Inter MilanClub Brugge 1-1 Sporting LisbonRB Salzburg 0-2 PSGShakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Bayern MunichRB Leipzig 2-2 Aston VillaBrest 1-0 PSV EindhovenCopy linkCopiedSecond half view from Graeme Bryce in LeizpigOllie Watkins left the pitch at half-time clutching his thigh and was replaced at the break by Jhon Duran.And the Colombian kid rose to the occasion again as he swept home another stunner to put Villa ahead.He thought he had wrapped up all three points when he tapped home a Matty Cash centre – only for VAR to catch Cash offside.And amazingly Leipzig cashed in on the reprieve to stun Villa with another equaliser as Openda picked out Cristoph Baumgartner whose cushioned volley flew over Martinez to find the top corner of Villa’s net.A big finale is needed now from Villa.Copy linkCopied72 – GOAL! Salzburg 0-2 PSGAnd that looks like game over in Austria!Barcola involved again, sliding in Doue down the left. His cut-back is met by NUNO MENDES who carried on his run and he smashes into the top corner from seven yards.Huge win this!Copy linkCopied69 – GOAL! Shakhtar 1-3 BAYERNNo, no. This CANNOT be a penalty! Madrid’s luck is matched by Bayern’s here. Extremely harsh and maybe a bit of ‘big team’ tax there.Sacha Boey is shutting a shot down and slides in, hitting the turf first and almost as a trip on himself makes contact with a Bayern man.Penalty given but very harsh.MICHAEL OLISE strokes it home.Copy linkCopied65– GOAL! ATALANTA 2-3 Real MadridGame on again after a terrific ADEMOLA LOOKMAN strike!He’s picked out with a switch of play wide on the left.He works it inside onto his right foot away from Lucas and smashes low and hard at the near post, beyond Courtois with sheer power.Copy linkCopied62 – GOAL! LEIPZIG 2-2 Aston VillaStunning finish this and Leipzig – who thought they were 3-1 down a couple of minutes ago – are level!Jhon Duran gives the ball away midway inside Leipzig’s half and the hosts break, via a long ball for Openda.He gets in behind but has to slow up. He does so and waits for CHRISTOPH BAUMGARTNER who is at an angle and delicately volleys back across goal and into the far corner passed a despairing Martinez. Beauty.Copy linkCopied More

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      West Ham vs Wolves LIVE RESULT: Bowen’s superb winner eases pressure on Lopetegui while O’Neil’s future remains in doubt

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      WEST HAM have beaten Wolves 2-1 to ease pressure on Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui.Tomas Soucek’s looping header gave the Irons the lead in the 54th minute before Matt Doherty swept home an equaliser with 21 minutes left on the clock.Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen came to his side’s rescue with a superb finish to make it 2-1 and secure all three points for the hosts.Following the defeat, Gary O’Neil’s future as Wolves boss remains in huge doubt as his side sit second bottom of the Premier League with just nine points from 15 games.Ahead of the game, West Ham players showed their support for teammate Michail Antonio after the striker was involved in a road traffic accident on Saturday.Match result: West Ham 2-1 WolvesWest Ham team: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez, Soler; Kudus, Bowen, SummervilleWolves team: Johnstone; Semedo, Bueno, Toti; Doherty, Andre, Lemina, J.Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Cunha, Strand LarsenFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from the London Stadium with our live blog below… More

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      Tottenham vs Chelsea LIVE RESULT: Cole Palmer scores Panenka as Blues fight back from TWO GOALS down to secure epic win

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      COLE PALMER scored a Panenka as Chelsea fought back from TWO GOALS down to win in a thrilling London derby!Spurs had taken the lead after Marc Cucurella slipped over TWICE during the build-up to TWO Tottenham goals in a thrilling first half – immediately changing his boots in comical fashion.Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski took advantage of the errors by the defender but Jadon Sancho then fired a goal back for Chelsea before Palmer levelled from the penalty spot and Enzo Fernandez smashed in a half-volley.Thee was late drama as Son scored a late goal but the Blues held on for a vital three points that keeps them second in the league.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFollow ALL the action from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below…Merson on PalmerMerson continues to be impressed with Cole Palmer who he described as “the big boy” of Chelsea.The Arsenal legend said on Sky Sports: “First of all coming from Manchester to London is a big move in itself. “Cole Palmer has come into the team and he’s been outstanding. “When you first come into the team and you’re from Man City, a young kid and nobody really knows about him and he didn’t play loads, so you get a bit of a free hit.”The last six or seven months he’s the big boy. The name of the game is stop Cole Palmer and then you might be able to stop Chelsea. “You can’t do it and that shows how good he is.”Copy linkCopiedSancho knewJadaon Sancho now has two goals in two games for the Blues after a slow start to his career at Chelsea.And the winger said he “knew” his side would come back to win after he pulled one back in the first half.He told the BBC: “Going 2-0 down in the first half was not ideal but I knew we’d come back into the game when we got that first goal.”Going in at half-time, the gaffer was telling us we were in the game. I have so much belief in the players so I knew we’d come out firing.”They’re very aggressive and we knew we’d catch them if we broke the lines and beat the press. The gaffer told us to stay wide and create the one-on-ones.”I’ve been working on my shooting a bit more. The staff and the players have been telling me otherwise.”Credit: RexCopy linkCopiedJackson assistEagle-eyed Chelsea fans have spotted the moment Nicolas Jackson helped Enzo Fernandez avoid a yellow card.The midfielder wanted to rip his shirt off in celebration after putting the Blues in front but was stopped by the striker.Copy linkCopied’They haven’t got the best players’Arsenal legend Paul Merson was particularly scathing about Ange’s tactics and said they should’ve shut up shop a bit more having been 2-0 ahead.Merson said on Sky Sports: “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but I’m watching the game, Spurs are 2-0 up against Chelsea and it’s like they are playing against Kilmarnock or St Mirren and he’s the Celtic manager and got the best players.”They haven’t got the best players at Tottenham, so they have to change it. “You can’t go, you have a shot, we have a shot and we can destroy you like they have over the years.”You’ve got to be cute and say, ‘we’re 2-0 up here, let’s counterattack.'”Copy linkCopiedSpursyToday’s defeat will continue to make grim reading for Tottenham fans, but they may be used to this kind of defeat by now.In fact, the defeat to Chelsea was the ELEVENTH time in the Premier League era they’ve lost having been two goals ahead. That is FOUR more such defeats than any other side in the Prem.Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedPerfect PalmerCole Palmer also now owns the best penalty record of any player in the Prem – 100 per cent from all 12 of his pens, overtaking Yaya Toure (11).Copy linkCopiedUgly scenesIt wasn’t all rosy in Tottenham as there was a bit of misbehaviour from both sets of fans inside the stadium.First, Spurs fans could be seen continually throwing missiles at Chelsea players in the form of screwed up cardboard – they had been used for the tifo pre-game.Copy linkCopiedPalmer brillianceJust to put Cole Palmer’s ridiculous stats into perspective, only three players have reached 50 Premier League goal involvements for one club quicker than the Chelsea superstar.Palmer now has 50 involvements – 33 goals, 17 assists – in just 48 matches.He is beaten by Erling Haaland (a frankly ridiculous 39), Andy Cole while he was at Newcastle United (43) and Mo Salah for Liverpool (46).Credit: EPACopy linkCopiedHome timeThen, Chelsea fans could be seen being escorted out of the home end after celebrating the goals a bit too vigorously.Copy linkCopiedMore from SonThe South Korean added: “We’ve got to stick together in such difficult moments, it’s very important and it’s why we need big support. “The players are very young and they need support more than before and more than we had. “The fans were always supporting amazingly but I think it’s time the players also need to step up. “We need some big support and big cheering up.”Copy linkCopied’Very sloppy’Spurs captain Son Heung-min scored a late goal but it was not nearly enough in a match that Tottenham will feel they threw away.He told Sky Sports: “It’s very disappointing. I don’t know what to say at the moment. We did such a good game in the first half an hour. We conceded very sloppy goals. “It feels like we lost because of these small details. On such a big stage, you need to step up and score in these moments. I feel like I let the team down and I feel very sorry for the team.”We can’t concede goals like this. We can’t dive into this situation. I can stay here all day talking about the mistakes but I’d rather blame me with the chance and I’d rather take the blame. “I had a bit of a different thinking when I was running to the ball. I’m also human and I miss. I feel the pain because it’s such an important moment of the game. The team tried.”Copy linkCopiedChelsea ratingsNo surprises that Marc Cucurella got a poor score given his early troubles – although it could have been lower given his response.Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the rest of the Chelsea players after the 4-3 win.Copy linkCopiedMore from AngePostecoglu also appeared unimpressed by the decision not to send off Moises Caicedo – and spoke on yet more injuries.He said: “That’s what is happening in the game now, referees are leaving it to other powers that be to make decisions.”There were a couple that didn’t go our way but there’s nothing we can do about that. It’s out of our control.”Cristian Romero, Brennan Johnson and Van de Ven all went off seemingly nursing injuries.Ange added: “Obviously Romero was really disappointing. He felt something in his quad after 20 minutes and couldn’t continue.”Brennan [Johnson] wasn’t well and he tried to sort himself out at half time but he just wasn’t up to going out there.”Micky [van de Ven] was just a bit of tiredness. The plan today was always to try and give him 60 or 70 minutes.”Credit: RexCopy linkCopied’A painful one’Ange Postecoglu cut a rather more forlorn figure after that defeat with pressure continuing to mount given the recent poor run in form – bar that brilliant Man City win.He told the BBC: “It is a sore one, a painful one.”We started the game really well but as our season has been going, we lose [Cristian] Romero after 20 minutes and that disrupts us a bit and they score straight after.”We had moments to get our third and at half-time we were in a decent position. The second half is a ding dong, especially at the start, they scored but we had a big chance with Son, we didn’t take it and then they go 3-2 up.”I thought both penalties were poor decisions by us, we have to show more discipline. In the end the critical moments got us.”I think there were quality opportunities but I don’t think there was an abundance of them. I can’t remember the keepers making a load of top quality saves.”We more than matched a good side in that department and when there is quality out there you are going to have moments.”There were things we could have done better for sure.”Copy linkCopiedMore from MarescaOn the peerless Palmer, he said: “I know Cole from a long time ago and I always trust him in every aspect. He is a fantastic guy. “He is learning how to play games when he is marked man-to-man, [Yves] Bissouma was with him all the game.”He is learning, improving and scoring goals. That makes him happy and makes us happy.”Maresca also said the team want to keep high levels and claimed Chelsea are far away from teams like Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool: “The plan or the idea is to not let the players slow down. They can not drop because they know another player is waiting to come in.”On keeping pace with title rivals: “Arsenal, City and Liverpool probably don’t slide – like Cucurella did. To be serious, we are not ready, we are far from these teams but we focus on day-by-day and trying to improve the team.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopied’We deserved to win’Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was clearly delighted with the win – and could even joke around about Cucurella’s boot issue.He told Sky Sports: “For the fans and for us, I said in the week that we were working to make the fans happy, and today they can be happy.”On Cucurella, he added: “He said to me after the game that he was trying to bring emotion to the game.”No, being serious, to come this stadium against this team and be 2-0 down, but continue then with the same plan on and off the ball and then second half we changed things tactically. I think overall we deserved to win.”It’s more a question for Marc. They are mature enough to decide what boots they need for the game. The most important thing is that we were 2-0 but we continued the same way to create chances.”Copy linkCopiedIn the binMarc Cucurella endured a nightmare first 10 minutes at Tottenham, slipping over TWICE in the build up to two Chelsea goals – then immediately switching boots after the second goal.With Chelsea earning all three points, the Spanish left-back could have a laugh about it after the game…Copy linkCopiedBetter than Zola?Jamie Carragher made a bold claim after the game, stating Palmer has already done more than the Italian magician did in his iconic years in Blue.Carragher said: “He gets the penalties and he is involved in the Enzo Fernandez goal as well. People fear when he has the ball.”He hasn’t been playing for the best team. When you look at Chelsea over the years, you look at flair players you look at Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard. He has probably done more than Zola already in his 18 months at the club.”He is going to go down as one of the biggest players for Chelsea if he keeps doing what he is doing. He is a very special player, and that’s not just in the Premier League it is in Europe and world football as well.”Credit: instagram @premierleagueCopy linkCopied’We needed to win and we did’Cole Palmer had the coollest head in north London when he stepped up to score an outrageous Panenka penalty and seal the win.Palmer scored his second of the game to take his tally for the season to nine for the season – plus six assists.Speaking after the game, he told Sky Sports: “We knew it was going to be tough so to win is good.”When I stepped back and looked at the clock I thought it’s a bit frantic, the game is all over the place and I thought the keeper was ready to dive so I just chipped it. “I’m just trying to score and thankfully it went in.”Copy linkCopiedTough run for SpursAnge Postecoglou has his work cut out to boost the confidence in the camp for the busty festive fixtures.They have some difficult games coming up, hosting league leaders Liverpool to boot.Spurs need to find that inner-demon they unleashed against Man City if they are going to improve their league position.Copy linkCopiedBlues with chance to push leadersChelsea have a run of fixtures that, on paper, should allow them to pressure the sides around them.While Maresca continues to play down his side being in a title race, they could be the team Liverpool are looking over their shoulders at.It has been a while since they have had a happy Christmas at Stamford Bridge.Copy linkCopiedTottenham feeling The Blues in North LondonIt really is a rollercoaster of emotions if you are a Spurs fan.When they went two-nil up here, they were hoping to give another team a hiding like they did against Man City.Sadly they folded and allowed Chelsea to punish them.You could argue the turning point was Caicedo not getting sent off for his high challenge.Credit: EPACopy linkCopiedFT: Tottenham 3-4 ChelseaEveryone will be talking about title races for Chelsea now.Nobody would have predicted this when they were two goals down after ten minutes.Tottenham fans go home rueing their luck once again.Copy linkCopiedFT: Tottenham 3-4 ChelseaWhat a game that was.Tottenham will feel like they have dropped points today.After being two goals down, this is a fantastic result.Copy linkCopiedFT: Totteham 3-4 ChelseaThe referee brings the game to a close.It is a massive win for Enzo Maresca’s side.One thing Spurs guarantee you is entertainment.Copy linkCopied More

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      Fulham vs Arsenal LIVE RESULT: Saka has late goal ruled out for offside after Saliba scores from ANOTHER corner in draw

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      ARSENAL could only manage a 1-1 draw with Fulham after a late Bukayo Saka goal was ruled out for offside.Mikel Arteta’s set-piece specialists managed to find the net AGAIN from a corner, with William Saliba heading home an equaliser after Raul Gimenez fired the home side into the lead.The London rivals had to settle for a point each after Saka’s late header was correctly disallowed by VAR.Kick-off time: 2pm GMTLive stream: NOW TVTV channels: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from Craven Cottage with our live blog belowGunners too blunt in attackArsenal struggled to create clear-cut chances this afternoon.It really put an emphasis on them getting lucky at set-pieces.This will be something Arteta will need to consider with the January transfer window coming up, they may need reinforcements.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedFT: Fulham 1-1 ArsenalIt is a disappointing draw for The Gunners.They knew nothing but victory was acceptable.Despite not creating many chances, Fulham proved clinical with the limited ones they did have.Copy linkCopiedFT: Fulham 1-1 ArsenalThe referee brings the match to a close.Marco Silva’s side have got a well-earned draw in West London.Arteta’s side drop more points at Craven Cottage.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal90+4. Martinelli is having a talking to from the referee.He needs to be careful having already received a yellow card.Time is running out for The Gunners now.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal90+2. Rice has a free kick out wide once again.This time he looks to go for goal himself but it goes harmlessly wide.The pressure is all on Arsenal now to find that winning goal.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal 90. What a big moment in the title race that could be for Arsenal.Martinelli drifted offside before the ball was played to him.We are going to have five added minutes here.Copy linkCopiedGoal disallowed – OffsideCopy linkCopiedVAR review in progressCopy linkCopiedFulham 1-2 Arsenal88. What an important goal that could be.Martinelli swings it from one flank and picks out Saka on the back post.He stoops down to head it and beats Leno at his near post.Copy linkCopiedGoal – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal86. Saka is upended by Robinson out wide.Silly challenge by the Fulham player and he is shown a yellow card.Big chance for Rice to put a dangerous ball into the box here.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal84. Arsenal are trying to throw everyone forward now.It could leave them open to the counter from the hosts.The home faithful are trying to get behind their side.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal82. Martinelli is shown a yellow card for dissent.He threw the ball down when a throw-in was not given their way.The Gunners are starting to get a bit frustrated now.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal80. Merino is penalised for a foul on Pereira.He was lucky not to receive a yellow card there.The Fulham attacker seemed to be away.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal78. Arsenal are starting to press more and more.Fulham are coping well with the aerial balls but one attempted clearance runs to Rice outside the box.He gets a shot away but Leno watches it all the way.Odegaard is coming off for Nwaneri.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal76. Rice plays a sublime clipped pass over the defence.It is straight into the path of an unmarked Jesus but he seems to be on his heels and does not react quickly enough.Not that Leno is complaining as he gathers the ball.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal74. The Gunners cannot afford to drop any more points.Every match they are not winning in now turns into a cup final.They need to find another goal here in West London.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal72. Jesus and Merino come on for Arsenal.Havertz and Jorginho are the players to make way.Final throw of the dice from Mikel Arteta.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal70. What a big chance wasted by the visitors.As the cross is swung into the box, Partey has a free header in the middle of the goal.Unbelievably, he glances his effort wide of the target.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal68. Out of the two sides, you lean towards the visitors getting a winner in this one right now.That said, nobody would have predicted The Cottagers’ goal in the first half.Martinelli looks to cut in from the left but wins The Gunners another corner.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal66. Arsenal are doing well to smother the attempted Fulham attacks.They are cutting off any supply to the wide men. Iwobi has struggled to make an impact on this game.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal64. Silva will want to see more from his team here.Since the interval, they have been non-existent as an attacking threat.They are allowing wave after wave of Arsenal attack.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal62. Odegaard does well to hold the ball up before laying it off into the path of Havertz.He looks to shoot for the near post but drags it wide of the target.It is all Arsenal at Craven Cottage right now.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal60. Martinelli comes on for Trossard.Smith Rowe comes off for Pereira.Wilson comes on for Traore.Copy linkCopiedFulham 1-1 Arsenal58. Tete is penalised for a foul in a wide position against Trossard.It gives Arsenal another chance to send the defenders up.Odegaard swings it in but Havertz’s tame header drops wide of the target.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopied More

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      Tottenham vs Chelsea LIVE SCORE: Maresca’s Blues travel to Spurs for huge Premier League London derby – latest updates

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      CHELSEA may have quietly become Premier League title contenders – but bitter rivals Tottenham will be eager to derail their hopes later today. The Blues’ recent 5-1 drubbing on struggling Southampton saw them close the gap on leaders Liverpool.While Spurs dropped points for a second successive time after losing 1-0 to Bournemouth on Thursday night.Kick-off time: 4.30pm GMTLive stream: NOW TVTV channels: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFollow ALL the action from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below…Last 10 meetingsLook away now, Spurs fans.The last ten matches between the two clubs has made for pretty shocking reading for Tottenham supporters and great reading for the Blues.Chelsea have won SEVEN of the last 10 and lost only one.Those matches have also seen an aggregate score of 19-7 to the Blues…Chelsea 2 – 0 SpursSpurs 1 – 4 ChelseaSpurs 2 – 0 ChelseaChelsea 2 – 2 SpursChelsea 2 – 0 SpursSpurs 0 – 1 ChelseaChelsea 2 – 0 SpursSpurs 0 – 3 ChelseaChelsea 2 – 2 SpursSpurs 0 – 1 ChelseaCopy linkCopiedRainy day in the capitalBoth sides will have to brave the wind and rain today if they want to come out on top and away from the game with three points. Credit: ReutersCredit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedBoss focussed on task at handPostecoglou was asked whether he felt he had the support he requires from the club:”I don’t need support. I don’t worry about contracts, I don’t worry about support,” he said. “I just want to make sure that what I set out to do, I accomplish and that is to bring success to this football club. “I will work my backside off to make sure that happens. I am not going to be deterred in my ambitions or endeavour to do that and that’s what I’ll keep doing.”Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedMaresca looking to evolve teamAs things stands, Chelsea seem to be in a race for a top four position this season.Getting back into the Champions League will have been one of the main aims for the club right now.Victory in North London today would cement their place in the top four as we head towards a busy Christmas fixture schedule.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedTottenham subsMaddison on the bench. Austin, Spence, Dragusin, Reguilon, Gray, Bergvall, Maddison, Werner, LankshearCopy linkCopiedTottenham XIFull strength back four for Tottenham but Vicario still out for a lengthy period. Forster; Porro, Romero, Van De Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son.Copy linkCopiedChelsea subsJorgensen, Gusto, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, Madueke, NkunkuCopy linkCopiedChelsea XICaicedo looks like he’s at right-back for Chelsea. Sanchez, Caicedo, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella, Lavia, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho, JacksonCopy linkCopiedAnge frustrated by lack of consistencyAgainst Man City, Spurs put the defending champions to the sword in their own back garden.They are capable, on their day, of causing problems for any of the big teams in the Premier League.What frustrates the manager most is that they can go from these games to losing to teams in the bottom half of the table.If they want to achieve anything this season, that needs to be addressed.Credit: AlamyCopy linkCopiedWelcome to Tottenham vs ChelseaIt is a big crunch clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as two bitter rivals face each other in a London derby with Spurs welcoming Chelsea.Ange Postecoglou suffered the loss of Ben Davies with a hamstring problem in their recent defeat against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.Micky van de Ven is still out with a thigh problem, while Cristian Romero is still working his way back from a toe injury which may mean Archie Gray filling in alongside Radu Dragusin at the back for this game.Rodrigo Bentancur, Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison, Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert are also out of the first-team reckoning.Son Heung-min came on for a second-half cameo in midweek and is likely to immediately come back into the starting line-up.Chelsea’s primary selection concerns also come in defence as Wesley Fofana and Reece James are the only senior players missing for the visitors due to injury.Youngster Omari Kellyman is also absent, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is ill. Instead Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson could all come back in for a refreshed attacking setup at the expense of Madueke, Nkunku and Joao Felix.Levi Colwill and Robert Sanchez are also primed for a return in the Blues’ backline but Disasi’s performance in midweek should see him stay in the side replacing Fofana.Copy linkCopied More

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      Leicester vs Brighton LIVE SCORE: Foxes score two late goals in four minutes to complete INCREDIBLE comeback – updates

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      RUUD VAN NISTERLOOY is chasing a second successive win as Leicester boss TODAY – but Brighton are looking to bounce back from their midweek loss.The Seagulls had their wings clipped by Fulham who hand them a 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage.While Manchester United legend Van Nistelrooy led the Foxes to a 3-1 win against West Ham during their last outing.Kick-off time: 2pm GMTLive stream/TV: Not televised in the UKFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from the King Power with our live blog below… More

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      Ipswich vs Bournemouth LIVE SCORE: Premier League latest updates as Cherries look to build on dominant Spurs win

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      BOURNEMOUTH will be determined to build on their dominant Tottenham win TODAY against Premier League new boys Ipswich.Teenage sensation Dean Huijsen became the Cherries’ youngest-ever goal scorer and fired Bournemouth to a crucial win over Spurs in their last outing with a tidy back-post header.While the Tractor Boys sunk further into the relegation zone thanks to a strike from Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.Kick-off time: 2pm GMTLive stream/TV: Not televised in the UKFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from Portman Road with our live blog below… More

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      Brad Pauls vs Denzel Bentley LIVE RESULTS: Main event ON NOW after Lawrence Okolie’s brutal first-round KO – updates

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      WEMBLEY ARENA is currently being treated to a thrilling fight as British rivals Brad Pauls and Denzel Bentley are facing off RIGHT NOW with the middleweight title up for grabs!The Newquay Bomb knocked out Nathan Heaney in his last bout and wrote his name in the history books by becoming the first boxer from Cornwall to win a Lonsdale Belt since 1939.However, Pauls’s opponent Bentley is a man on a mission to reclaim the title that he lost to Heaney a little over a year ago.But before the main event, Lawrence Okolie marked his heavyweight debut with a win by brutally stopping Hussein Muhamed in the first round.Live stream: discovery+TV channel: TNT Sports 2CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFollow ALL the action from Wembley Arena with our live blog below…Pauls Bentley R8Bentley’s nickname is 2Sharp but he looks frustratingly blunt right now, circling around the ring and not offering enough to dismiss Pauls from applying pressure in a bout he was once leading. Pauls is sternly warned for rabbit punching in the clinch during another competitive round, punctuated by the champion unloading a six-punch combo in centre ring. Bentley is being beaten to the punch and in a fight where he’s battling vociferous support, he needs some urgency. Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R8Pauls needs to step on the accelerator and seize this lull from Bentley as long as it lasts because, well, you never quite know what to expect.Pauls has found a home for the jab and Bentley doesn’t look too convincing, almost a little gun shy to throw his bigger punches now.Linus Udofia, who lost a split decision over twelve rounds against Bentley three years ago, is one of Pauls’ closest friends and was very pleased with that last stanza. I make it 5-3 in favour of the champion by that token, maybe 4-4 through eight rounds. Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R7Into the second-half of this contest they go, punches in bunches is the cry from Pauls’ support team as the crowd surge in favour of a champion who needs some encouragement right about now. Why? He’s begun this round getting his head pinged back, repeatedly, for the first minute and Bentley is doing a better job of making him miss with wild forward forays failing to find its mark.Bentley threatens with a double uppercut, Pauls responds with more powerful advances and this is definitely a swing round. Bentley won the first-half, Pauls the second… 4-3 either way. Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R6Bentley content to box off the back foot in sequences and now Pauls is the aggressor, his support team urging him not to wait and punch whenever the distance between them closes. Three stiff jabs to finish the stanza for Denzel, but he’s not as active as before and Pauls can sense a momentum shift. It genuinely feels like the tide is starting to turn… 3-3 through 18 minutes from me. Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R5That was probably Pauls’ best round and by that assessment, it’s 3-1 to the challenger. Almost as if he can read my writing, he’s starting to find his mojo and being more active – punching with Bentley – inviting danger but by the same token having sustained success. When they’re boxing up close, that sorta scrappy style suits the champion far more than having Bentley piece him up at distance.Dare I say… 3-2? This is getting interesting. Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R4Bentley starts the fourth with a short left hand that lands flush, he’s starting to find his rhythm and Pauls needs to offset this with more of the counterpunching brilliance that saw Heaney unseat Bentley twelve months ago. Easier said than done when you don’t move as smoothly as the Stoke man did that night, but doubling up behind his jab would help – right on cue he does – then lands two more lefts.It’s a nip-and-tuck stanza, Battersea’s Bentley investing downstairs and the Wembley crowd throwing every punch with a defending champion 250 miles down south.Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R3Into the third they go, Bentley catches the champion clean with a disguised looping left and it’s a timely reminder Pauls can’t afford to just press forward at will – he’s got to pick his moments better.Both swing wildly and while it looks good on TV, nothing landed to unsettle either man as Bentley flicks out the jab and unloads one-twos. Even if they’re not all landing, he’s far more active and in a 12-round contest, this early tempo suits the challenger far more. Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R2Newquay Bomb chants aren’t too far away but neither is Bentley’s piercing jab or his right hand from a champion standing exactly where he wants him. An overhand right catches the challenger’s attention in the final half-minute but Pauls’ activity isn’t enough to deter this pressure now.Copy linkCopiedPauls Bentley R1They waste no time with their respective ringwalks, meaning business as both stride into position raring to go. We’ll soon see if Pauls has progressed even more after snatching British honours away from Nathan Heaney in July, against a two-time former champ finding form again and is the better boxer on paper.It’ll be interesting to see whether the atmosphere, in favour of the champion, influences the judges during their cagier rounds like this opening stanza – Bentley trying to close the distance against Pauls, who hasn’t fully got his legs under him yet and is wary of the jab.Pauls partially lands a whizzing right, both connect on crowd-pleasing shots to finish a competitive stanza but Bentley edges that for me. Copy linkCopiedWith that… main event time!Denzel Bentley making his ringwalk now… you ready? Copy linkCopiedNoakes: We knew Walsh wouldn’t quit!Refreshingly candid as ever in his post-fight interview, Sam Noakes concedes there aren’t going to be “any easy fights anymore” as he steps up towards world level in a deadly lightweight division.”Just gotta keep growing and hats off to him [Walsh], he’s got a very hard head as you saw! We knew the corner wouldn’t pull him out, fought until the last minute and deserved to see the final bell with some of the shots he was taking.”His head coach Al Smith: “We exercised patience in the corner, maturity, he could’ve gone for the finish with a bit more pressure but we’ve got a way to go … if there’s an opportunity for a big fight though, we’ll take it.”Copy linkCopiedNoakes eases to UD12 win!119-109, 120-108, 120-108: Sam Noakes bt. Ryan Walsh via UD, retains British, Commonwealth and WBO International lightweight titlesBoxed like a seasoned pro, didn’t get carried away and continued chipping away at a grizzled veteran who didn’t offer much by round three and the 27-year-old goes the 12-round distance a second time in eight months – never a bad thing! Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R12So they enter the final round, Walsh looks worse for wear and his nose tells the story of a one-sided beatdown – patient, methodical and perhaps even more damaging than the explosive knockout trio that preceded this. Noakes presses forward, connects on a few big shots but every time Ryan senses danger, he holds or finds a way to survive the onslaught.Admittedly an anticlimactic ending given how easily Noakes was in control but he didn’t lose a round nor leave third gear for large spells.Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R11More on that previous post… Noakes is #3 with the WBO, behind Keyshawn Davis (#1) and Raymond Muratalla (#2). Both above him have boxed in the last month and scored second-round stoppage wins over Gustavo Lemos and Jesus Perez Campos respectively.Sam continues to sting and probe a wily veteran firing far less back in response and now I’m really interested for this post-fight interview.Copy linkCopiedBerinchyk-Noakes next?Meanwhile, I’ve just seen an official fight poster with WBO world lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk vs. Sam Noakes on the Usyk-Fury 2 undercard, in some 14 days’ time, circulating on social media. Everyone’s ignored that and instead focusing on the fact that Ishmael Davis will step into the breach again… facing Serhii Bohachuk on December 21 in Riyadh, after former WBA light-middleweight world titlist Israil Madrimov withdrew with a bout of acute bronchitis.Wonder what we’ll hear in the post-fight interview… was that meant to be released? Could they reschedule for the Feb. 22 card, where Madrimov will box Vergil Ortiz on a stacked Saudi show next year?Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R9Dig deep is being consistently barked ringside but it’s falling on deaf ears now as Walsh is purely in survival mode now, little more than that. The ringside doctor’s taking a long look in the corner after watching the cumulative damage pile up… somehow they’re still going and the final quarter of this 12-rounder begins.Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R8Straight jab pierces through the guard lands flush for Noakes, taking his time and going up the gears as Walsh’s intermittent resistance continues. “Give him everything you’ve got,” is being repeatedly barked at a challenger who looks on his last legs now and cooked.Looked moments away from a stoppage sequence at the end of this round just now… but again the bell comes to his aid. Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R7Walsh winces as he eats a straight in the first minute of another one-sided round and well, if not for the referee’s intervention as they tie up, he could’ve easily been needing to climb off the canvas there.Noakes staying composed behind the jab, connects on a three-punch combination before more of the same – holding gives Walsh reprieve.Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R6You can’t help but feel a bit for Ryan Walsh’s corner, willing their man on as best they can though he can’t match that intensity against a younger, fresher boxer beating him to the punch and versatile enough to pepper him a myriad of different ways. Noakes narrowly misses with a haymaker in the final half-minute, then has the 38-year-old pinned against the corner frantically dodging flurries in the final seconds of another dominant round. How much longer can this persist? Into the second-half of this 12-round contest, we’ll soon find out. Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R5Intermittent punches thrown by a weary challenger but Noakes’ body punching is starting to take a toll, he can’t mask it much longer and that has only enthused the champion – use that method of attack further. These rounds are becoming gruelling for Ryan now. Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R4Into the fourth they go and Noakes is cranking up the uppercuts as Walsh wades further back… a disguised body shot hurt the grizzled veteran in the final half-minute and after absorbing two to the head, the bell sounds at just the right moment for him to recover.”Use your double jab” is the latest, a louder plea ringside but something tells me Walsh can’t exactly execute the way his support team would like… into the fifth they go. Copy linkCopiedNoakes vs Walsh R3Noakes meets air as he whizzes a few cuffing hooks in Walsh’s direction, but the intent is there for one man and the champion’s dictating pace in an ominous manner – almost as if he’s waiting for the right moment to strike. Stiff right hand lands flush, then a deft body punch and Walsh gets caught standing static in the pocket. This feels like a fight Noakes can finish whenever he wants to, truthfully. Uppercuts are flowing, he’s found his range and Walsh has a bloodied nose too, never a good sign against a power puncher.Copy linkCopiedNoakes Walsh R2Noakes tees off with a four-punch combo a minute into the round, just as I was about to say… Walsh needs to get his respect and quickly here, otherwise this will resemble target practice for the champion.”Go first and break him down Ryan,” is the cry ringside from one of the challenger’s team, but it’s easier to say and harder to do against someone with the punch power Noakes possesses. Heaney had an interesting anecdote I’ll share with you later, so stay tuned for that.Anyway, “get your jab popping,” is the latest instruction for Walsh but he’s increasingly on the defensive and gets his head pinged back to finish another solid stanza for a patient favourite right now. Copy linkCopiedNoakes Walsh R1Sam Noakes looks a million dollars as he soaks up the reception, older brother Sean proudly holding his British crown before fight #4 of the year for an active, ambitious hopeful looking to bridge that gap to world championship level in the not-too-distant future. Noakes paws out the right hand, then patiently picks punches downstairs against a twitchy opponent yet to really land anything of note through 90 seconds. Instead, it’s the champion applying pressure and a looping right hand causes damage to finish a good round worth of work. Copy linkCopiedCrotty cruises to debut winDylan Courtney did well to hear the final bell in truth, against a motivated debutant who chained attacks nicely… and left his opponent bloodied and bruised over four rounds. 40-36 the final score, no surprises there, a decent float bout with two bouts left.Unbeaten lightweight contender Sam Noakes faces a deceptively difficult challenge in Ryan Walsh, making his way to the ring now.Copy linkCopied More