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Micky van de Ven scores as ten-man Tottenham go top with win over Luton -
Micky van de Ven scores as ten-man Tottenham go top with win over Luton -
Micky van de Ven’s first goal in English football fired 10-man Tottenham to the Premier League summit with a 1-0 win at Luton. Spurs entered this fixture following a controversial 2-1 victory over Liverpool last weekend, where Jurgen Klopp’s side were denied a legitimate goal due to a “significant human error” by VAR operator Darren England. It meant three points for Ange Postecoglou’s team at Kenilworth Road would send them to the summit for at least 24 hours, but they had to work hard for it after Yves Bissouma was sent off in first-half stoppage-time. Bissouma was booked twice in quick succession by referee John Brooks, the second for simulation, but Van de Ven’s close-range finish in the 52nd minute earned Tottenham a hard-fought win. This was the first meeting between the clubs since 1992 and the hostile atmosphere was a throwback to that era with even TNT pundits Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch booed ahead of kick-off. Spurs had put seven goals past the other newly-promoted teams this season and should have added to that tally inside 10 minutes. Richarlison was guilty of fluffing his lines twice, firing off target via his shin with the goal at his mercy from Dejan Kulusevski’s third-minute cross before Thomas Kaminski denied the Brazilian with his feet after James Maddison’s slick through ball 60 seconds later. Pedro Porro was next to squander an excellent opportunity when Son Heung-min played him through and he fired wide. The Tottenham captain also curled into the stand before Luton started to settle. Huge cheers greeted the Hatters’ first corner in the 25th minute, although top goalscorer Carlton Morris could only send his header off target following Alfie Doughty’s delivery. The visitors remained a threat and a driving run by Pape Sarr set up Kulusevski, but Kaminski produced an excellent fingertip save to parry the 18-yard curler wide. Luton had the ball in the net after 39 minutes but it was immediately ruled out and a VAR check showed Elijah Adebayo had shoved Cristian Romero. Doughty’s free-kick dropped for Adebayo, who after pushing Romero flicked over Guglielmo Vicario and onto the post where Lockyer headed in, only for it to be disallowed. The free-kick came from a Bissouma foul on Chiedozie Ogbene and referee Brooks booked the Tottenham midfielder for a professional foul. A second yellow card followed in first-half stoppage time for simulation when Bissouma went down under close proximity from Marvelous Nakamba, but there was no contact and Brooks correctly sent off the visiting player. Luton should have taken the lead two minutes after half-time when Ogbene held off Destiny Udogie and crossed in for Adebayo, but he could not steer his effort on target. The hosts were hit with a sucker-punch in the 52nd minute when Van de Ven opened his account for Tottenham. After a number of corners in quick succession, it proved third time lucky for Postecoglou’s side when Maddison collected Kulusevski’s short corner and brilliantly spun away from Doughty before he cut back for Van de Ven to slot home from six yards. It briefly silenced the partisan Kenilworth Road crowd but they were soon roaring their team on and Doughty dragged wide soon after the opener. Morris tested Vicario minutes later and, although Porro sent an effort just past the post for Tottenham in the 62nd minute, Luton started to build momentum. Jacob Brown headed over before substitute Cauley Woodrow had a weak shot saved. A deflected effort wide by Doughty was the final warning sign for Postecoglou, who introduced Emerson Royal and Oliver Skipp for Son and Maddison with 14 minutes left but Spurs held on to go top. Read More Pep Guardiola does not think Arsenal clash will have major bearing on title race Erling Haaland says Premier League goal record ‘something you can’t think of’ Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to bring City losing streak to an end On this day in 2010: Rebecca Adlington wins Commonwealth Games 800m gold Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou would eradicate VAR in its current form Brennan Johnson’s ‘safety and health’ a priority for Wales boss Rob Page
2023-10-07 21:51
David Beckham reveals why Inter Miami signed Lionel Messi
David Beckham reveals why Inter Miami signed Lionel Messi
David Beckham reveals the reasons for Inter Miami signing Lionel Messi and admits he's the kind of profile players he's always wanted to take to Florida.
2023-07-04 02:25
Bad weather delays start of men's tennis final in Rome
Bad weather delays start of men's tennis final in Rome
Rain and thunder on Sunday delayed the start of the men's final at the Italian Open with third seed Daniil Medvedev...
2023-05-21 23:21
Premier League summer spending exceeds £2bn for the first time
Premier League summer spending exceeds £2bn for the first time
The Premier League’s summer spending of £2.36billion demonstrates the “incredible pace of growth” in the league’s wealth, according to finance company Deloitte. The £2bn milestone was surpassed for the first time in advance of Friday’s deadline with moves such as Manchester City’s £53million capture of Wolves’ Matheus Nunes then driving the total to new heights. Calum Ross, assistant director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, told the PA news agency: “It took 14 summer transfer windows to exceed £1bn and it’s only taken seven more to surpass £2bn, so that just reflects the incredible pace of growth that we’re seeing.” Deloitte’s analysis showed the 2023 summer transfer window exceeded the previous record of £1.92bn, set only last summer, by almost £440m. Chelsea’s spending under Todd Boehly’s ownership group has continued with the £100m signing of midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton, £63m for forward Christopher Nkunku and Friday’s £40m capture of Cole Palmer from Manchester City. With Newcastle beating the Blues, Tottenham and Liverpool to a place in this season’s Champions League and Brighton – who pulled off a deadline-day coup with a loan deal for Barcelona star Ansu Fati – also challenging, there are as many as eight teams with realistic top-four ambitions. Arsenal signed West Ham captain Declan Rice for a similar fee to that for Caicedo and Manchester City spent £77m on Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, while Spurs’ £47.5m move for Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson was another standout move on deadline day. Ross said: “You’ve got that intensity of competition across the league. There are 10 clubs that have spent more than £100m so it’s not all those top clubs. “I think at the moment, more than half of the clubs have spent more than they did last season.” England’s top flight has spent almost as much as the other members of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues – LaLiga in Spain, Italy’s Serie A, the French Ligue 1 and Germany’s Bundesliga – combined this summer. But a new challenge has emerged with the Saudi Pro League attracting the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez to follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s January move to Al Nassr. I think almost half of the transfer fees received by Premier League clubs came from the Saudi Pro League Calum Ross of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group The fees and wages on offer in Saudi Arabia are eye-watering with Liverpool rejecting a £150m deadline-day bid from Al-Ittihad for attacking talisman Mohamed Salah. Ross said: “This is the first time since the summer window of 2016 that one of the big five leagues, LaLiga, doesn’t appear in the top five spenders globally. The Saudi Pro League’s replaced them, I think they’re the second highest at the moment with over 850million euros (£728m). “Also it’s another source of funding though – I think almost half of the transfer fees received by Premier League clubs came from the Saudi Pro League. So having that extra funding from Saudi Pro League clubs and other overseas markets is then providing them with additional funds to redistribute to their transfer targets.” The Saudi window remains open until next Thursday and while clubs could be reluctant to sell with no opportunity to replace departed talent, Ross said: “There is still a chance over the next week or so that we will see further outgoings. “Being able to operate in a financially sustainable manner, as well as complying with the relevant financial regulations, is a key part of their activity. “It’s balancing that need for financial sustainability and profitability with the desire for on-pitch success.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ireland boss Andy Farrell says ability to ‘roll with punches’ key for World Cup Mason Greenwood will begin to rebuild career with loan move to Getafe David Moyes enjoying West Ham topping Premier League after Luton win
2023-09-02 10:26
Rick Hummel, esteemed St Louis-based baseball writer, dead at 77
Rick Hummel, esteemed St Louis-based baseball writer, dead at 77
Rick Hummel, an esteemed writer who covered the St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball for five decades for the Post-Dispatch until his retirement last year, has died
2023-05-23 02:24
Jabeur bounces back at French Open, Ruud, Gauff and Russian teenager advance
Jabeur bounces back at French Open, Ruud, Gauff and Russian teenager advance
Ons Jabeur got a do-over on Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open and won this time
2023-05-30 22:23
New NFL Rule Allows Maxx Crosby to Take the Football From You Whenever He Wants
New NFL Rule Allows Maxx Crosby to Take the Football From You Whenever He Wants
VIDEO: Maxx Crosby's great strip of Craig Reynolds.
2023-10-31 10:47
With Aaron Donald still drawing attention, Rams look for more from pass rush
With Aaron Donald still drawing attention, Rams look for more from pass rush
Despite the presence of Aaron Donald, the Los Angeles Rams have struggled to generate a consistent pass rush through five games
2023-10-13 09:53
Haller fires Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga, just 1 round left
Haller fires Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga, just 1 round left
Sébastien Haller has fired Borussia Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga with one round remaining by scoring two goals in a 3-0 win at 10-man Augsburg
2023-05-22 01:59
Darwin Nunez provides a rescue act and a reminder when Liverpool needed it most
Darwin Nunez provides a rescue act and a reminder when Liverpool needed it most
Last August, it was Darwin Nunez who lost his head. A year on, as Liverpool’s captain and vice-captain led by the wrong sort of example and as they threatened to unravel at Newcastle, Nunez served as rescuer. A man down, a goal down, almost two adrift, a first loss in 14 league games beckoned for Liverpool. Enter Nunez, the £64m afterthought, the player sent off on his Anfield debut for headbutting Joachim Andersen. Now the fifth-choice forward, he clinched an improbable comeback; a swift brace turned a damaging setback into a seminal victory. Suddenly, the more costly of two meltdowns was Newcastle’s. They contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They can reflect on two moments to transform the mood at St James’ Park and the feel of their start to the season. The first, when Diogo Jota’s pass bounced off Sven Botman and Nunez drilled a shot past Nick Pope. The second, when Bruno Guimaraes lost the ball, Mohamed Salah provided a slide-rule pass and Nunez again turned executioner. His finishing can be erratic but twice it was unerring: this was what Liverpool paid what could become a club-record fee for. As it is, their record buy had long since departed: Virgil van Dijk, often the cool cat of defending, turned into a raging bull when he saw red. His choice of words to referee John Brooks and fourth official Craig Pawson may add to his sanction. And yet, on the day, it was Newcastle who were punished. The scale of the missed opportunity was huge: they finished the game facing Liverpool’s fourth- and fifth-choice centre-backs, with Jarell Quansah making a debut in the final stages. He was not the most significant substitute – that mantle rested with Nunez – but Liverpool won 2-0 with the rookie on the pitch. Indeed, they triumphed 2-0 in the time after Van Dijk’s dismissal. Newcastle twice almost doubled their lead, Alisson making a superb save to turn Miguel Almiron’s volley against the crossbar and then the Paraguayan striking the upright again after a mesmeric solo run. And yet they lost their impetus in the second half; Liverpool had mislaid their composure before the break and regained it as the game went on, leading to a credibility defying climax. The early excellence of Anthony Gordon became in vain, an Evertonian suffering his latest defeat to Liverpool. For Newcastle, Klopp’s side remain the final frontier: they have had flagship results against virtually everyone else but they have now suffered five home league defeats under Eddie Howe: three of them to Liverpool. This was the most illogical triumph of them all. It had shaped up as a chastening afternoon for the men promoted to replace the departed Jordan Henderson and James Milner. The new skipper Van Dijk was sent off, though only after his deputy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, could have been. Instead, his enduring presence on the pitch benefited Newcastle when his error allowed Gordon to open the scoring. The centre-back had one tackle to rue – or seethe about, given his reaction when he saw red; the right-back had a different kind of torment, failing his trial by Gordon. Alexander-Arnold could have been dismissed after six minutes: unfortunate to be cautioned, he was then fortunate to avoid a second yellow card. A blatant check on Gordon was a bookable offence, but he had already had his name taken. Gordon was a waspish irritant but he is an irregular scorer. Just the ninth goal of his senior career came with an unlikely provider. Salah was to add to his surfeit of assists for Liverpool. He inadvertently provided a goal for Newcastle, overhitting a pass to Alexander-Arnold. The right-back should still have controlled it: instead, it rolled away from him, into the path of Gordon, who slotted a shot past Alisson. Kissing the Newcastle badge may have gone down badly with both halves of Merseyside. He may yet prove popular on Tyneside, however. The agent provocateur proved he can play. This was the best performance of his brief Newcastle career and he supplied the pass to Alexander Isak when the striker was challenged by Van Dijk. The Dutchman argued he got the ball; referee Brooks thought he went through the striker first, rendering it a goalscoring opportunity. Exit – eventually, after his protests – Van Dijk, and Liverpool’s chances seemingly disappeared with him. Yet a second half offered a second chance. Liverpool were reconfigured in a 4-4-1 formation. Klopp’s changes made an impact. Howe may regret his own substitutions, particularly removing Gordon. Freed from his clutches, Alexander-Arnold got a hint of redemption with a pass in the move that led to Nunez’s equaliser. And, after a chaotic game, Nunez, the agent of chaos, may have been a strangely fitting match-winner. Read More Matty Cash brace sees Aston Villa win at Burnley Rodri strikes late on to send Man City top and break Sheffield United hearts Man City assistant Juanma Lillo did not enjoy stepping in for Pep Guardiola Matty Cash brace sees Aston Villa win at Burnley Rodri strikes late on to send Man City top and break Sheffield United hearts Man City assistant Juanma Lillo did not enjoy stepping in for Pep Guardiola
2023-08-28 02:54
Houston Astros fans bash Carlos Correa on Twitter ahead of ALDS
Houston Astros fans bash Carlos Correa on Twitter ahead of ALDS
Some Houston Astros fans bashed Carlos Correa ahead of his highly-anticipated playoff reunion in ALDS.
2023-10-05 08:55
Marc Cucurella explains how he has learned from early Chelsea struggles
Marc Cucurella explains how he has learned from early Chelsea struggles
Marc Cucurella insists he is learning from his early struggles at Chelsea.
2023-11-11 22:19