Category: Football (Soccer)

Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert became the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties as he inspired a win at Wolves. The home goalkeeper José Sá, who gave away two of the spot-kicks, confronted angry supporters at half-time as the home side’s recent revival was brought to an abrupt halt.

It was a manic afternoon at Molineux which featured four goals in the opening 18 minutes, with Kluivert scoring twice from the spot either side of Milos Kerkez’s goal. Jørgen Strand Larsen had made it 1-1 and then 3-2 but the Dutchman’s third penalty of the game secured the win for the Cherries.

It was the moment Oliver Glasner had been praying for on an afternoon when nothing had seemed to go his way. With Crystal Palace staring down the barrel of another costly defeat courtesy of Marc Guéhi’s own goal against the club that had tried so hard to sign him in the summer, a late equaliser from Daniel Muñoz changed everything. Suddenly Glasner was off down the touchline, pumping his fists to the home supporters in pure delight and no doubt relief.

With seconds of injury time to play, Newcastle must have thought they had done enough to see off Palace despite not even mustering a shot on target. But it was Muñoz, who had earlier somehow contrived to miss a sitter when Palace were in total control during the first half, who came to Glasner’s rescue when he headed home Guéhi’s cross and lifted Palace out of the bottom three.

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.”

Liverpool bid to go 11 points clear of Manchester City by inflicting a fourth successive league defeat on champions

Friday 8pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Amex Stadium

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will take it one game at a time before Sunday's Premier League encounter with Liverpool. The champions have not won a match since beating Southampton 1-0 on 26 October, and have lost three straight Premier League games.

Guardiola said: 'We will be back, I know that ... I know the people say: "Why is Pep not in trouble, why is he not sacked?" I have this margin because of what we have done over the last eight years.' Despite his track record – City have won the past four Premier League titles – he said: 'I have to prove myself now.'

‘I have this margin’: Pep Guardiola feels protected from sack by past success

Fraser Forster steps up for Spurs, while the threat level is at its highest for Manchester City at Anfield

Fabian Hürzeler singled out Joël Veltman as one of the Premier League’s most underrated players as Brighton prepare to face the bottom side, Southampton, on Friday. “He knows what to do to win games,” Hürzeler said of the Netherlands defender, who has started all but one of Brighton’s league games so far. Veltman – who spent eight years at Ajax before moving to the Amex in 2020 for £900,000 – is 11 months older than his manager and his experience has proved invaluable to his side in the absence of the captain, Lewis Dunk, through injury. He is expected to return against Russell Martin’s side as Brighton attempt to record a fourth clean sheet of the league season, not to mention take the opportunity to move into second place in the table before the rest of the weekend’s fixtures. Ed Aarons

Brighton v Southampton, Friday 8pm (all times GMT)

Brentford v Leicester, Saturday 3pm

Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Saturday 3pm

Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Saturday 3pm