Premier League
Ikorodu City, Bayelsa Utd Win Away at Rivers Utd, Katsina
The ongoing Nigeria Premier Professional League (NPFL) has continued to throw up interesting results following away results recorded by two struggling teams, Ikorodu City and Bayelsa United against their respective opponents.
It was Bayelsa United’s lone goal win against former Champions, Rivers United tutored by Finidi George that was the biggest result of the day and ensured the host lost two matches consecutively after the 0-3 bashing in Lagos last week against host, Ikorodu City.
Early in the seventh minute ensured that Rivers United remained in the second position with 21 points from 11 matches.
Elsewhere, resurgent Ikorodu City continued their impressive run after a bad start with a 2-1 win away at Katsina United. After conceding an early goal via Moses Effiong in the 22nd minute, the Oga Boys bounced with an equaliser from Emmanuel Solomon on the dot of half-time.
With the match looking like a draw, the away side scored the winner late in the match when Solomon stood tall and scored the second goal that gave his side two consecutive wins.
The result lifted the Ikorodu City side away from the relegation zone and now occupies 12th position with 14 points.
Former champions, Enyimba of Aba and Remo Stars of Ikenne played a goalless draw in Aba.
The result did not alter their respective positions on the log as Remo Stars still led the rest at 22 points and Enyimba is in third position with 19 points.
Resurgence Heartland FC maintained their current form with a lone-goal win at home scored by Christian Molokwu in the 8th minute against Sunshine Stars of Akure.
Coach Emmanuel Amuneke’s side is now out of relegation water as they occupied the ninth position on the log with 15 points.
Kwara United won away at Nasarawa by a lone goal scored by Emmanuel Ogbole in the final minute of the first half.
The Afonja Warriors had to endure with a man down in the final quarter of the match following second yellow by Victor Adeoye in the 71st minute.
In Minna, Niger Tornadoes compounded the woes of Akwa United with another defeat by a lone goal scored in the 48th minute by Papa Daniel.
The result, lifted the winning side into fourth position on the log at 17 points while former champions, Akwa United are now rooted at the bottom of the table with just nine points.
Defending champions, Enugu Rangers secured a goalless outing against the host, Plateau United.
Rangers failed to take advantage of the host’s one-man down all through the second half after John Amah received a straight red and the result leaves the Red Antelopes in the sixth position at 16 points while Plateau United are in eighth position with 15 points.
In Ibadan, Shooting Stars walloped visiting El-Kanemi by three goals to nil. Samuel Ayanrinde opened the score in the 27th minute and Abubakar Ibrahim Aliyu doubled the lead for the host 10 minutes later and Adams Mustapha got the third goal in the 61st minute.
The win pushed the Oluyole Warriors out of relegation and now occupies 10th position with 15 points while El Kanemi has dropped to 7th position at 16 points.
On Saturday, Bendel Insurance had lost at home to Kano Pillars just as Lobi Stars 3-1 against Abia Warriors
NPFL WEEK 11 RESULTS
Enyimba 0-0 Remo Stars
Shooting Stars 3-0 El Kanemi
Katsina Utd 1-2 Ikorodu City
Heartland 1-0 Sunshine
Nasarawa 0-1 Kwara Utd
Tornadoes 1-0 Akwa Utd
Plateau Utd 0-0 Rangers
Rivers Utd 0-1 Bayelsa
Insurance 0-1 Pillars
Lobi Stars 3-1 Abia Warriors
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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