Evan Ferguson hit his first career hat-trick as Brighton and Hove Albion capped a memorable week by inflicting a third successive Premier League defeat on Newcastle United with a thumping 3-1 success at the Amex Stadium. Teenage striker Ferguson curled home a superb second from range to add to a simple first-half finish before completing his treble with the aid of a hefty deflection off Fabian Schar. The 18-year-old’s heroics came a day after Albion were drawn to face Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens in their maiden Europa League campaign. Success for the Seagulls, who also pulled off a transfer coup on Friday by signing Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona, was a third from four this season following last weekend’s loss to West Ham. Newcastle were only beaten five times in the top flight during the whole of last term but were unable to halt their recent slide on the back of setbacks against Manchester City and Liverpool, despite Callum Wilson’s late consolation. Striker Alexander Isak wasted two early opportunities before the Magpies were blown away to temper the excitement following their mouthwatering Champions League draw. Eddie Howe’s men were on Thursday pitted against AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Borussia Dortmund in European football’s premier competition, while Brighton’s maiden continental campaign will also include heavyweight opposition. Newcastle began brighter from an attacking perspective and Isak twice threatened during a shaky start from the Seagulls. The Sweden striker was denied inside 55 seconds by Jan Paul van Hecke’s last-ditch tackle following Bruno Guimaraes’ fine through ball before shinning wastefully wide after Pervis Estupinan’s poor clearance led to Sandro Tonali cutting the ball back from the right. Brighton, who paraded 20-year-old Spain forward Fati and fellow new signing Carlos Baleba ahead of kick-off, were dominating possession. Yet Roberto De Zerbi’s hosts again escaped in the 16th minute when Miguel Almiron’s low cross from the right deflected off Lewis Dunk and was turned behind by goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Newcastle were then punished for mistakes of their own 11 minutes later. Rushed clearances from keeper Nick Pope and midfielder Tonali led to the former spilling Billy Gilmour’s stinging effort and Ferguson was on hand to slot home the rebound. With his team still awaiting their first attempt on target, Howe brought on England striker Wilson as part of a triple substitution in the 58th minute. Isak’s pace remained a constant concern for the hosts but they soon secured breathing space courtesy of Ferguson’s magic. The Republic of Ireland international was afforded time and space deep inside Newcastle’s half and duly dispatched a fine curling effort into the bottom right corner from distance. Anthony Gordon wasted a golden opportunity to halve Newcastle’s deficit by sidefooting wide before Brighton put the result beyond doubt. Ferguson, who made his professional debut for Irish club Bohemians aged just 14, again took aim from outside the box, only this time his bending effort benefited from a significant flick of Schar to fly beyond the stranded Pope. The match-winner was withdrawn to a standing ovation nine minutes from time after making it 10 Premier League goal in just 12 starts. In spite of the scoreline, Newcastle’s sold-out following continued to vocally back their side. They were given scant reward on a punishing evening two minutes into added time when substitute Wilson burst forward and escaped Van Hecke to poke home. Read More Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk charged by FA after red card at Newcastle Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle’s dramatic defeat by Liverpool Jurgen Klopp calls 10-man Liverpool’s win at Newcastle ‘rare and super-special’ Erling Haaland on fire again for Man City and Tottenham continue fine start Marco Silva says it should be ‘impossible’ to allow controversial Man City goal Steve Cooper: Forest were spurred on at Chelsea by Old Trafford frustration

Manchester United have fought for success all year and David De Gea says they are ready for one more “special” battle against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge has been one of progress and, for the most part, positivity, with the side finishing third in the Premier League and sealing a Champions League return. The Dutchman is only the second manager in United’s history to win a major trophy in his first season and has the chance to add to February’s Carabao Cup triumph this weekend. Ten Hag’s Red Devils head to Wembley for the first all-Manchester FA Cup final, when they will attempt to add to their cabinet and stop rivals City’s attempts to win the treble. “We have to recover well and start to prepare for the game,” De Gea said. “Of course, we know it’s a big final, a special game. “We’ve been the whole year fighting to be in that position to win titles and we will try absolutely everything to try to win.” De Gea and his team-mates were all in at Carrington on Monday morning, with Sunday’s starters focused on recovery from the 2-1 comeback win against Fulham at a bouncing Old Trafford. Kenny Tete had put the visitors ahead in the Premier League season finale and Marco Silva’s men would have extended their lead had Golden Glove winner De Gea not stopped Aleksandar Mitrovic’s spot-kick. United kicked on after that, with Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes completing a victory that saw them beat Newcastle to third spot. “We concede the first goal from a corner and then I think five minutes after we concede a penalty,” De Gea, whose contract has yet to be extended beyond the summer, said. “I was very positive. I was feeling like ‘come on, you have to save this penalty, we have to finish properly the season at home, we have to win’. “Then I make the save, everyone was happy, enjoying and I helped the team to win the three points today. “The manager wants us to be focused every game, winning every game. Before the game he was shouting before ‘come on guys, we have to finish properly, winning mentality’. “So, yeah, we showed it again. 1-0 down, suffering a bit, but then we create chances and could have scored even more than two. “But, like I say, a big way to finish the season with a victory and (it) gives a bit of enjoyment to the fans.” The result saw United equal the club’s record of 27 home wins in all competitions in a single campaign, while also meaning they finished 17 points better off than last season. “100 per cent, for sure, the improvement is there,” De Gea told MUTV. “Of course we still have a gap to improve but, yeah, a massive improvement from last season. “Winning a cup, finish third – it’s never easy to finish in the Champions League places in England. “And then we have another final, a big final, so I think at the moment it is a great year.” As for Fulham, the defeat at Old Trafford was frustrating but this was a season to cherish having finished 10th on their return to the top-flight. Goalscoring right-back Tete said: “Unbelievable season, every single player. “If you saw how we fought all season for every single point. Not even one game was easy for us. “I am just proud of the boys. We said it as well to each other and this is something we have to build on. “We know now what our standard is, we know now what we can bring. I can’t wait for next season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Fans celebrate Luton’s fairytale promotion to Premier League at civic parade Roberto De Zerbi says Brighton must build stronger squad for European challenge ‘We will be back’ says Leicester chairman following relegation

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Kevin De Bruyne insists he is “way ahead” of schedule on his return from a hamstring injury that cut short his appearance in Manchester City’s Champions League final win. The 32-year-old scored 10 goals and provided 31 assists as City won the treble last season, adding the FA Cup and Champions League to a fifth Premier League crown in six years. De Bruyne revealed that he was carrying a hamstring injury for the last two months of the campaign and was forced off just 36 minutes into the 1-0 win over Inter Milan in June. His first action back was off the bench as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s Community Shield meeting with Arsenal – where he set up Cole Palmer for the opening goal but then missed the first penalty as the Gunners won a shoot-out 4-1. “I’m way ahead of schedule,” he said after the Wembley clash. “I was probably looking to be back around the game vs Seville (in the Super Cup on August 16). I just enjoyed my summer, worked on my injury. “I came back and the scan was good so I trained mostly alone in Japan. That went well, I’m happy. “You don’t know how the injury will be. Mostly in the past I’ve always been quite a quick healer. It’s the body.” City begin the defence of their league title with a trip to Sky Bet Championship winners Burnley on Friday night. De Bruyne, though, admits he does not know if he will be fit enough to start at Turf Moor. “I don’t know how I am physically,” added the Belgium international. I'm getting better and there's still around 70-80 games this year so I should be fine! Kevin De Bruyne “I’ve probably trained five or six times with the team. I’m not too worried about it. I played 45 minutes at a good level so I’m happy with that. “I’m getting better and there’s still around 70-80 games this year so I should be fine!” Pep Guardiola has yet to confirm who will take over as City’s new captain this season after Ilkay Gundogan departed for Barcelona. Kyle Walker – linked with a move to Bayern Munich this summer – led City out at Wembley, while De Bruyne took the armband when he replaced Mateo Kovacic on 64 minutes. Asked about the captaincy, De Bruyne replied: “Nothing yet. I don’t know. “If I get it, I get it. It’s not going to change anything I do for the club. This is my ninth year, I know the club inside out and people know whatever they ask of me, I’ll do. “I’m not too worried. I try to do the same as always. It’s an honour if I get it and if not, it doesn’t matter.”

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