Scott Murray's Blog, page 10

Leicester City 0-2 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

Leicester had more of the ball, but couldn’t take their chances; the champions took theirs

2 min: The visitors patiently stroke it around awhile. Then suddenly Savinho explodes into life, dribbling down the inside-left channel and entering the box. It’s a fine run, but then he takes a heavy touch and it’s a goal kick.

Manchester City kick off. A clapper-fuelled atmosphere at the King Power.

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Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich: Premier League – as it happened

Arsenal moved into second spot despite an underwhelming display at the Emirates

22 sec: Ipswich are on the front foot immediately. Phillips wins the ball on the edge of the Arsenal box and feeds Davis down the left. Davis whistles a cross through the six-yard box. Any touch from Szmodics would have resulted in a stunning early goal, but he can’t connect. Arsenal breathe again.

Ipswich get the ball rolling. A good few-evening-pints-in atmosphere at the Emirates!

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Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Gabriel Jesus continued to torment Palace as Arsenal narrowed the gap at the top of the Premier League

2 min: Sarr pings a pass down the inside-right channel for Mateta, and things look promising for Palace. But then the whistle goes, because Hughes was judged to have fouled Lewis-Skelly in the build-up. A slightly soft free kick, but to be fair Palace don’t really complain.

Arsenal get into their pre-match huddle … then realise their captain and keeper aren’t in it. Odegaard and Raya eventually deign to turn up, the group hug is completed, and the visitors then kick off.

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The Football Daily Christmas Awards 2024

Give the one you love something special: a free subscription to Football Daily. The gift that never starts giving

Welcome to the third Football Daily Christmas Awards. This is the bit where, in our old guise, we would bang on about becoming so jaded that we’d lost count of how many years we’d been churning out this old tat. Hmm … So OK, here we are, refreshed and ready to go! Pour yourself a pint of wine, throw your boots up on the desk, decompress, de-depress, and enjoy!

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Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: Carabao Cup quarter-final – as it happened

Liverpool survived a spirited second-half Saints fightback to book their place in the semi-finals

3 min: Nyoni gets a few touches as he gamely attempts to get something going down the left. A nerve-settler for the young man on his first senior start, if nothing else.

1 min: A long ball pumped down the left flank. Quansah barges Archer to the ground near the corner flag. A very early chance for Southampton to test the makeshift Liverpool defence … but Manning inexplicably skies the free kick over everyone’s head and it’s an easy mop-up job for the visitors.

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Liverpool 2-2 Fulham, Arsenal 0-0 Everton: Premier League clockwatch – as it happened

Arne Slot’s ten men rescued a late point at Anfield, Arsenal were frustrated and Ipswich piled more pain on Gary O’Neil

Arsenal 0-0 Everton. A fast start for the hosts, with the sheer presence of Bukayo Saka causing the dithering Jordan Pickford angst. The keeper sorts himself out just in time. Then he claims a Declan Rice corner. “Greetings from Free State California,” writes Mary Waltz. “It’s pitch dark, pouring rain, the perfect surroundings for watching my Everton march into the Arsenal home ground. Not feeling especially optimistic but who knows … who am I kidding, it’s going to be ugly. Sigh.”

Liverpool 0-0 Fulham. Andy Robertson has taken an early knock on the knee, courtesy of Issa Diop, who goes into the book. Robertson’s up and about, but took a while to get back onto his feet. A concern for the hosts at Anfield.

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Arsenal 3-0 Monaco: Champions League – as it happened

Arsenal moved into third place in the table thanks to two goals from Bukayo Saka

3 min: Monaco are winning most of the early duels. Arsenal not quite up to speed yet. On the touchline, Mikel Arteta claps his hands by way of encouragement.

1 min: Ødegaard loses the ball within nanoseconds and Monaco go on the attack. Ben Seghir has a run at the Arsenal defence, but there’s no way through. A very early sign that Monaco aren’t here simply to make up the numbers.

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Leicester City 3-1 West Ham United: Premier League – as it happened

A perfect start for Ruud van Nistelrooy in his first match in charge of the Foxes

The goal stands! Vardy goes racing off to celebrate, belatedly, and the King Power roars! Not a bad start to the Van Nistelrooy era, huh?

3 min: … but VAR are checking it, because Mavropanos might have been playing Vardy onside. This is going to be very tight. In fact, the naked eye suggests this goal will stand. But we await the rulers.

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England 0-0 United States: international football friendly – as it happened

It wasn’t a classic, but an improved defensive performance from the Lionesses denied Emma Hayes’s Olympic champions at Wembley

2 min: Otherwise, it’s a uneventful start as both teams take turns to get a feel of the ball.

12 secs: Naz makes good down the right but her cross is too high for Russo in the middle. Naeher claims. What a start that could have been!

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Brighton 1-1 Southampton: Premier League – as it happened

Brighton climb to second, for one night at least, after a controversial draw with rock-bottom Saints

Russell Martin’s turn to talk to Sky. “It’s exciting for Joe Lumley … Alex McCarthy played through the pain barrier for us on Sunday, he’d had an injection … I love and admire that about him, because he didn’t have to do that, but he did … the reaction to the game has not been very good, he’s had a very stiff knee this week … so we have to make big decisions … we really trust Joe … it’s an amazing opportunity for him … we have certain principles we want to live by … energy and momentum is really important … when and where we flex and adapt … the feeling and temperature of the game.”

Fabian Hürzeler speaks to Sky Sports. “When you watch our games you see we play in some phases very good, but in some we struggle … the next step is to play consistently for 90 minutes in all phases of the game … today we have another opportunity to prove it … we are in the right direction … the place in the table is confirmation … but the League is so unpredictable … every day is special.”

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