Month: February 2023

Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane all added to their impressive goal tallies at the weekend. 

Read on as we take a look at how the prolific trio compare. 

Golden Boot race

Haaland, 22, remains streets ahead of the competition in the Premier League scoring charts, despite his astronomical early rate for Manchester City slowing down somewhat. 

With 27 goals in 24 appearances, he is nine clear of Tottenham’s three-time Golden Boot winner Kane and only 11 players have ever scored more than him in a season in the 30 years since the English top flight was rebranded. 

Kane, 29, is one of those, with 29 in 2016-17 and 30 the following season. 

Alan Shearer achieved the feat three times with Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler, Kevin Phillips, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez and Mohamed Salah the other names on the list. 

Manchester United forward Rashford, 25, is four behind Kane this season, level with Brentford’s Ivan Toney in the league, but has scored six in his last five games and 10 in 10. 

All competitions

Rashford has also fleshed out his tally with goals in other competitions, with seven in the domestic cups and four in Europe taking him to a personal-best tally of 25 already this season. 

He was eventually credited with United’s second in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, which had initially been ruled a Sven Botman own goal, meaning he scored in every round as United won the trophy. 

The England star’s six goals in six games included a brace against Charlton, while he scored in the semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest before turning provider in the second. 

His strike in the first leg against Barcelona took him to four in the Europa League this season. 

It is worth noting that both his rivals have played at a higher level in the Champions League, with Haaland scoring five in five games —including doubles against Sevilla and FC Copenhagen — while Kane netted in Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Haaland has one League Cup goal to his name, with Kane scoring once in the FA Cup. 

Rashford has six assists in all competitions compared to four each for Haaland and Kane. Three of those have been in the Premier League, with two in that second leg against Forest and one against Everton in the FA Cup. 

Haaland’s have all come in league action but Kane, who led the league in that category two seasons ago while also winning the Golden Boot and added nine more last term, has only two in the top flight this time around plus two in the Champions League. 

Recent form

Since the domestic season resumed following the World Cup break, Rashford’s form has left his rivals in the shade. 

While United’s Carabao Cup run has led to more games for him than Haaland or Kane, his 17 goals in 19 outings leave him out on his own with a ratio of 0.89 goals per game. 

Haaland has scored 10 in 14 (0.71 per game), including a hat-trick against Wolves and a brace against Leeds, while Kane has seven in 12 (0.58), including a double against Crystal Palace. 

Those are both impressive figures in isolation but serve only to further illustrate Rashford’s flying form in comparison.

Giuseppe Marotta says Inter Milan have “never lacked trust” in Simone Inzaghi but the club must find “therapy” following a 1-0 Serie A defeat to Bologna on Sunday.

Riccardo Orsolini scored the only goal of the game to leave the second-placed Nerazzurri 18 points behind runaway leaders Napoli.

Striker Lautaro Martinez warned Inter will “get nowhere playing like this” after their six-game unbeaten run came to a halt.

Inter CEO Marotta has full faith in head coach Inzaghi, yet he wants more consistency.

He told Sky Sport Italia: “We are protagonists in the Champions League and in the Coppa Italia, but in what is the most important competition, the championship, there is discontinuity in results.

“We believe in Inzaghi, he is doing an excellent job and trust has never failed. Today it is difficult to win and be competitive, but one fact emerges: we are inconsistent, especially when the team faces teams clearly within reach.

“It is on this point that an analysis must be made and a therapy identified, it being understood that the club must support this activity.”

He added of Inzaghi: “Our obligation is to give satisfaction to the fans. Inzaghi is a good, young and well-prepared coach. We have never lacked trust in him.”

Marotta is unsure whether on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku will be at San Siro next season.

He said: “Talking about it now is premature. In June, he will return to Chelsea and then a new scenario will open up and we’ll see what to do.

“He wants to stay, surely knowing him we will see if it will be the case to be able to negotiate his return with us.”

Massimiliano Allegri accepts it will take time for Paul Pogba to get fully up to speed as the midfielder prepares to make his long-awaited second debut for Juventus.

The France international has yet to feature for Juve since rejoining the club last July following his Manchester United exit due to a succession of setbacks.

He sustained a knee injury in pre-season that required surgery, forcing him to miss the entire season to date and France’s World Cup campaign.

Pogba was on the substitutes’ bench for Juve’s shock 2-0 home loss to Monza in January, but Allegri opted against bringing him on and he has not featured in the squad since.

However, Allegri confirmed at his pre-match news conference on the eve of Tuesday’s Serie A match with city rivals Torino that the 29-year-old is finally ready to play.

“He’s feeling better and he’s been called up for tomorrow’s game,” Allegri said. “If necessary, we’ll play him. We know he won’t have much playing time, but he can play.

“I’ve talked to him like I have all the others. He understands it’s an important part of the season to get back playing. He must remain motivated to help us finish the season well.”

Pogba, who signed a four-year deal with Juventus, has not played a competitive game since his former club United’s 4-0 Premier League loss to Liverpool last April.

Allegri also confirmed Federico Chiesa, who has missed Juve’s past two matches, is in contention to play against Torino.

“He trained with the team yesterday,” Allegri said. “He can’t start from the beginning. Players who come back from a long period of inactivity must be managed. He’s fine, though.

“We have Pogba, who has not played for 315 days, and Chiesa, who missed 10 months. It’ll take a little patience. It’s normal – they’re humans. We need to help them grow.”

Juventus, who were docked 15 points last month following an investigation into the club’s past transfer dealings, have won their past three Serie A games without conceding.

The Bianconeri are now eighth, 12 points off the top four ahead of their midweek Derby della Mole showdown with Torino, who are one point and one place further back.

Juve are unbeaten in their past 17 derbies in all competitions, with 13 wins and four draws.

“The derby is always an important game for both teams, especially for us. We must continue this climb by increasing our points in the league,” Allegri said.

“This match has the value it must have. On the pitch, regardless of what happens outside, we have to get the points to stay in the top-four battle.”

Not since April 1995 have Torino won away at Juventus, losing 11 times and drawing five since then.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has officially been credited with his side’s second goal in Sunday’s 2-0 EFL Cup final win against Newcastle United.

The goal, which arrived six minutes after Casemiro had opened the scoring at Wembley, was announced at the time as a Sven Botman own goal.

Rashford’s shot took a deflection off Newcastle defender Botman and looped over goalkeeper Loris Karius.

However, both United and the competition organisers confirmed on Monday that Rashford was indeed the goalscorer.

That means the in-form England international finishes as the 2022-23 EFL Cup’s top scorer with six goals, having found the net in every round United played in.

He now has 25 goals in 38 games for United this season – only Kylian Mbappe (29) and Erling Haaland (33) have scored more among players from Europe’s top five leagues.

Rashford’s latest strike helped propel United to their first trophy under Erik ten Hag and their first of any sort since 2017 when they won the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.

Pep Guardiola believes “everyone is going to drop points” between now and the end of the season in the Premier League title race.

Manchester City appeared to take the initiative when they beat rivals Arsenal at Emirates Stadium recently, but then drew at Nottingham Forest to allow the Gunners to reclaim top spot, before both won again at the weekend.

With Manchester United also closing in from third place, it promises to be a close race, but Guardiola is not concerned by the various ups and downs.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of his team’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Bristol City, he sarcastically quipped: “After Nottingham we were not consistent, but now we are consistent because we won one game [against Bournemouth on Saturday].

“In our game we are playing it is good, the results could be better in terms of winning at Spurs [1-0 away defeat] and Nottingham, but it is football, sometimes that happens. Of course, it is not exceptional, it is okay, it is good. No complaints for the way we are playing and fighting.

“After the last game I said the mood is exceptional and the guys are doing everything, that is enough for me.

“We are closing right to the last 10 games of the season and that will define [it]. I have the feeling in the Premier League many things are going to happen, everyone is going to drop points, but we cannot drop any, we want to fight until the end.”

Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte were all absent from the 4-1 win at Bournemouth, though the Belgium midfielder was an unused substitute, and Guardiola updated to say: “[We] have training this afternoon. Kevin still has a little bit of illness but is much better.”

City’s trip to Bristol City on Tuesday will see them come up against a side who have not lost in 12 games (W6 D6) and sit 13th in the Championship.

“From my experience in this country when you go away from home in the FA Cup against a Championship side, always, always it is tough,” Guardiola said. “At home it would be a little bit different. Away, always it is tough in the FA Cup.

“That is why we are flying there tomorrow to do a good game and go through. It is a nice competition and we will do what we have to do.”

Robert Lewandowski is set to miss Barcelona’s Copa de Rey semi-final first leg at Real Madrid on Thursday due to a hamstring injury.

Barca on Monday revealed Lewandowski has sustained a strain of his left hamstring.

The league leaders stated that the prolific striker “is out and his recovery will determine his availability” three days before another Clasico showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Lewandowski’s injury is another blow for Xavi on the back of a shock 1-0 defeat at Almeria on Sunday.

That was only a second LaLiga defeat of the season for the Catalan giants, who are seven points clear of Madrid at the summit.

Barca also suffered the blow of being knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United last week, losing the second leg at Old Trafford 2-1 after Lewandowski had opened the scoring with his 25th goal of the season.

Xavi’s side face Los Blancos at Camp Nou in LaLiga on March 19 following clashes with Valencia and Athletic Bilbao. The second leg of their Copa semi-final takes place on April 5.

– Fulham are on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions
– Leeds have won just one of their last five
– Recommended bet: Fulham to win

Two Premier League teams with contrasting aspirations for the rest of the season, Fulham and Leeds, meet on Tuesday with a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup up for grabs.

Before a ball was kicked this term both would have been focusing on survival in the top flight but the Cottagers have risen up to contend for a shock European place while Leeds are in the relegation scrap.

They can forget about their league aims on Tuesday night, though, and try to sustain a cup run when they clash in the fifth round at Craven Cottage in what should be a tight tie, but it is one the home side can edge in normal time.

Team news

Fulham duo Tom Cairney and Neeskens Kebano remain out injured, while leading goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic has been struggling with a thigh problem recently and is facing a race against time to be fit.

Marco Silva is expected to rotate his line-up with the likes of Marek Rodak, Harry Wilson, Shane Duffy, Tosin Adarabioyo and Layvin Kurzawa all pushing for starts.

Leeds are also set to make changes as they prioritise their league campaign so fringe players like Joel Robles, Marc Roca, Sam Greenwood and Rasmus Kristensen are vying for contention to start, as are recent signing Georginio Rutter and youngster Darko Gyabi.

Rodrigo, Archie Gray, Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas remain on the injured list, while Luis Sinisterra and Pascal Struijk are major doubts for the visitors.

The stats

Fulham forward Manor Soloman, on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, has scored in each of his last three games, netting against Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Wolves.

The two sides have already met in the Premier League this season, Fulham winning an entertaining game at Elland Road 3-2 in October.

That win for the Cottagers was their first in five games against Leeds, with the Whites winning the previous four between the two sides, one of which was a League Cup tie on penalties.

Prediction

Considering Fulham have already beaten Leeds and their respective, contrasting, league positions this season, backing a home win in normal time seems logical.

Leeds did get the new manager bounce when Javi Gracia won his first game in charge at the weekend – a tense and much-needed 1-0 success at home against fellow strugglers Southampton – but they remain unpredictable and especially so with a new man in charge.

However, the visitors are likely to focus on staying up, with a long cup run lower down the priority list, so Fulham can capitalise.

Silva’s men, too, could be forgiven for putting more emphasis on their league campaign with a top-six finish possible, but their impressive recent form suggests this will be a home win, backed up by the fact the Cottagers have lost just one of their last seven at home – a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Back Fulham to win in full-time result at 21/20 with LiveScore Bet.

Wout Weghorst said Manchester United are “hungry for more” and are targeting a quadruple after lifting the EFL Cup.

The Red Devils beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley in Sunday’s final, and are still in with a chance of winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.

After the triumph in the capital, Weghorst was in determined mood to collect more trophies before his loan spell from Burnley ends.

“We win the first one now and still have three to go, so hungry for more,” he said. “It’s three left now. First one is in and first we have to stand still and enjoy it. But afterwards of course three to go. We have everything in our own hands so let’s go.”

The Dutch striker has scored just once in 10 appearances for United since his January arrival, but played a key role against Newcastle, providing the pass to Marcus Rashford, whose shot deflected in off Sven Botman to make it 2-0.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “For me not being here too long but for the club it’s a long time ago we won silverware. It’s good to have it back at the place where it belongs, to me. It’s an amazing club.”

Weghorst also admitted he “took a moment” at the final whistle, adding: “I can do really tough or I can do really cool, but for me this is a childhood dream; a childhood dream to play for this amazing club, to play a final and also be important in this final with the second goal.

“To give my all and then at the end if you win it you have to enjoy it because during the match you’re only focused on one thing and that’s winning it and that’s performing. After which you have to take a minute otherwise everything is passing by before you even notice and before you’ve enjoyed it.”

Emma Hayes hailed Sam Kerr as “the best in the business” after the striker marked her 100th Chelsea appearance with a goal in the Blues’ Women’s FA Cup fifth-round win over Arsenal.

Just four days after leading Australia to a triumph in the Cup of Nations tournament Down Under, the 29-year-old was named in the starting XI at Kingsmeadow and sealed the game with her side’s second following Sophie Ingle’s opener.

With that clinical finish — her 82nd for the Blues — Hayes was full of praise for her superstar forward.

The 46-year-old boss said: “Some players get off a plane on Thursday night and complain about being tired on Friday — not her.

“She comes in, does everything necessary and lifts the spirit of everyone in the building.

“She is the best in the business, and it’s not just 82 goals in 100 games, it is the mentality. The spirit shown in challenging circumstances which, as a team, we showed better today.”

It was another frustrating afternoon for the Gunners, who were left ruing a hatful of missed chances against the FA Cup holders. 

The North Londoners continued to lack a cutting edge without injured forward pair Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, with the likes of Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blacksteinus all going close.

Manager Jonas Eidevall said: “It is unusual to have so many more chances than Chelsea at Kingsmeadow. We created enough to win the game, but they are brutally efficient, and we aren’t.

“If you’re a pessimist, after today you can think negative thoughts, or you can say next game we will score five goals, because we were so good today. It doesn’t guarantee anything but I am an optimist.

“It’s easy to think, when you don’t score chances, to start over again, but you have to keep going.”

United and City safely through

Manchester United and Manchester City joined fellow WSL big-hitters Chelsea in the quarter-finals after convincing wins over Durham and Bristol City respectively.

The Red Devils avenged their shock Continental Cup group stage defeat to Championship Durham by winning 5-0 at Leigh Sports Village, with Alessia Russo and Nikita Parris among the scorers.

City were in similarly ruthless form as Khadija Shaw netted four goals in an 8-1 thrashing of the Robins to safely seal their place in the last eight.

Spot-kick drama

WSL pair Aston Villa and Reading endured more tense afternoons with both clubs needing penalties to see off West Ham and Tottenham respectively.

Carla Ward’s side recovered from Dagnu Brynjarsdottir’s stoppage-time equaliser to triumph 6-7 in the shootout, with Rachel Daly netting in normal time for the visitors.

The Royals were victors in another all-WSL affair, beating Tottenham 5-4 from the spot following a goalless draw.

Brighton ensured there were no cup upsets as the WSL strugglers secured a 5-0 win over second-tier side Coventry.

Championship pair reach last eight

The six WSL sides will be joined by two Championship outfits as Lewes and Birmingham continued their own impressive cup runs.

Ellie Mason was another player to hit four as Lewes dispatched fourth-tier Cardiff, helping the Rooks reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in their history.

Meanwhile, Birmingham were up against Championship rivals Charlton and Ashley Hodson’s 101st-minute strike proved decisive in a tight affair at the Oakwood.

Women’s FA Cup fifth round results in full

Manchester United 5-0 Durham

Brighton 5-0 Coventry

Lewes 6-1 Cardiff

Bristol City 1-8 Manchester City

Tottenham 0-0 Reading (4-5 on penalties)

Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal

Charlton 0-1 Birmingham

West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa (6-7 on penalties)

Besiktas fans threw thousands of toys onto the pitch during their home game against Antalyaspor for children who survived the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

The Turkish Super Lig game was halted after four minutes and 17 seconds on Sunday for the pitch to be cleared of donations for youngsters who survived the natural disaster.

Supporters made the gesture at that time of the match to mark the time the first quake struck at 4:17am on February 6.

Besiktas said in a statement: “To boost the morale of children affected by the recent earthquakes, Besiktas supporters organised a unique donation event called “This Toy is for You” to be held at Vodafone Park during Besiktas’ match against Antalyaspor.

“At exactly the 17th second of the 4th minute of the match, which corresponded to the time of the first earthquake, Besiktas supporters threw scarves, hats, and plush toys on to the pitch.

“The goods will be delivered to the children living in the earthquake-hit areas with Besiktas aid trucks.”

More than 50,000 people, including Hatayspor winger Christian Atsu and Yeni Malatyaspor goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, died following the earthquakes.