Premier League
James double blasts Chelsea to comfortable win at Newcastle
Even without a recognised striker on the pitch Chelsea proved far too strong for Newcastle United as right back Reece James struck twice to fire the Premier League leaders to a 3-0 win at St James’ Park on Saturday (Oct 30).
The painfully unambitious hosts managed to hold out for 65 minutes before James smashed a left-footer past Karl Darlow before belting a right-foot shot into the same part of the net 12 minutes later to crush Newcastle’s hopes.
Jorginho’s converted penalty in the 81st minute emphasised the domination of Thomas Tuchel’s team who could not have asked for a better day with title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool both surprisingly dropping points.
For Newcastle, who finally managed a shot on target after 83 minutes, it was another game in which their shortcomings on the pitch were painfully apparent.
They have failed to win any of their first 10 league games this season – only the third time that has happened in the club’s history.
Chelsea lead the standings with 25 points, three ahead of Liverpool and five ahead of City.
Newcastle, for all the riches of their Saudi Arabian owners, are deep in relegation trouble in 19th place with four points and the January transfer window cannot come soon enough.
It was an ultimately emphatic win for Chelsea who were without a plethora of attacking options including forwards Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic.
But when you have a full back with a sweet strike such as James it hardly mattered.
“I think the first one was probably the better goal on my weaker foot – it was a good finish,” James, who also scored in the 7-0 rout of Norwich City last weekend, said.
“We knew coming here would be a tough game. We had to break them down and it took a lot of time.”
Chelsea’s main threat before James took centre stage was Hakim Ziyech. He had a superb finish disallowed after 28 minutes for offside, wasted a close-range opportunity soon afterwards and then saw a wickedly deflected shot cannon against the post early in the second half.
Newcastle’s sole attacking outlet was the ever-lively Allan Saint-Maximin who looked head and shoulders above any of his team mates as the hosts got deeper and deeper.
The breakthrough finally arrived when Callum Hudson-Odoi’s deep cross from the left arrived at the feet of James who took a touch before hammering a rising diagonal drive with his left foot that flew past Darlow.
Twelve minutes later substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot was blocked and the ball rebounded to James who instantly crashed a right-footer beyond Darlow.
When Darlow tripped Kai Havertz and Jorginho coolly dispatched the spot kick, the home crowds headed for the exits en masse while the visiting Chelsea fans celebrated heartily.
-Reuters
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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