LEICESTER CITY 3-1 CRYSTAL PALACE: FOXES GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Ahmed Musa, Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs were all on target as Claudio Ranieri's men put an end to their wait for a Premier League victory on Saturday afternoon

     Goals from Ahmed Musa, Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs saw Leicester City record a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium on Saturday as the reigning champions' three-game winless streak in the Premier League came to an end.

     Leicester were beaten 3-0 by Chelsea last week, having previously failed to beat Southampton (0-0) and Manchester United (4-1), but they returned to winning ways following a sublime strike from Musa in the closing stages of the first half and a clinical finish from Okazaki after the break.

     Fuchs added gloss late on with a wonderful, long-range effort before Yohan Cabaye netted an 85th-minute consolation.

Claudio Ranieri opted to make two changes to the team that beat Copenhagen 1-0 in midweek in the Champions League, dropping Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy in favour of Musa and Okazaki and the Italian's decision paid off.

     Leicester made a positive start and could have gone ahead when Okazaki nearly made the most on an error from Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda after just 90 seconds, but the attacker’s chipped effort after the Frenchman’s poor attempted clearance went just wide of the target.

The visitors looked to hurt Leicester down the flanks as they tried to pick out striker Christian Benteke with high crosses and that tactic nearly paid off in the 12th minute. Martin Kelly sent in a superb cross from the left and Benteke beat his marker to the ball, only to see his header hit the crossbar.

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     Riyad Mahrez caused the Palace defence all kinds of problems down the right and the Algeria international seemed destined to open the scoring when he unleashed a shot after cutting inside that was heading towards the top corner, only for Okazaki to inadvertently divert the ball over Mandanda’s goal with his head.

It proved brief respite for Palace as Leicester took the lead in the 42nd minute through Musa. The Nigeria international started the move himself, playing in Slimani as he cut inside from the left, and, after getting the ball back in somewhat fortunate fashion, made no mistake to fire a powerful shot past the helpless Mandanda from just outside the area.

     Ranieri's men doubled their lead in the 63th minute when Okazaki added his name to the scoresheet, drilling a loose ball into the net after Damien Delaney failed to adequately clear Danny Drinkwater's cross from the left after a quick break.

Palace refused to give up, though, and Wilfried Zaha was denied by Kasper Schmeichel shortly after, with the Denmark international again showing his class when Cabaye showed up in a dangerous position with 20 minutes left on the clock.

     The visitors were made to pay for their profligacy in the 80th minute when Fuchs found the net with a superb long-range strike to seal the three points for Leicester.

Cabaye pulled one back late on with a calm finish after being set up by Zaha, but it was too little, too late for Palace.

Reported from: goal.com

Manchester United and Liverpool draw 0-0 at Anfield

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     It was a stop-start game from beginning to end; opportunities coming at a premium as Jose Mourinho’s men were happy to put men behind the ball. However, David de Gea made two crucial second-half saves to deny firstly Emre Can’s low shot, then Philippe Coutinho’s 30-yard effort that was destined for the top corner.

Photo credit: Daily Mail

     Zlatan Ibrahimovic came closest for the visitors when he headed wide at the back post from Paul Pogba’s cross. The Swede will have expected to put the ball on target.
     It was the first domestic draw between the sides in five years and their first scoreless meeting since September 2005.
The outcome looked a distinct possibility from the outset as fouls broke up the play, with few moments of note in a dull first half under the Anfield floodlights.

Photo credit: Daily Mail

However, Liverpool dominated the second half but could not find the back of the net. It was a match that didn't seem to light up the expectations of the people. 

2018 World Cup: Nigeria, Egypt and Tunisia record victories

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Nigeria began their group campaign in Africa's 2018 World Cup qualifiers with a 2-1 victory away to Zambia on Sunday in pool B.

They lead the way in the pool, after Algeria were held to a 1-1 draw by Cameroon in the same group.

Elsewhere, Egypt defeated Congo 2-1 in Brazzaville in Group E and in Group A, Tunisia had a 2-0 win over Guinea.

Nigeria's goals came in the first half from two of the English Premier League's rising stars.

Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi put the Super Eagles ahead in the 32nd minute.

Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho added a second 10 minutes later to put Gernot Rohr's side 2-0 up.

In a fast-paced match in Ndola, with chances at both ends, Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi almost gave his side a 3-0 lead in the second half, only to see his long-range volley tipped over the bar by Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

Zambia pushed for a reply and were rewarded in the 71st minute when Collins Mbesuma grabbed one back.

Despite much pressure from the home team, Nigeria held on to record an away win to go top of Group B - one of the toughest in World Cup qualifying.

The other two teams in Group B, Algeria, featuring Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, and Cameroon played out a 1-1 draw.

Algeria's El Arabi Soudani put the home side in front in Blida, but Cameroon's Benjamin Moukandjo equalised before half-time.

Cameroon coach Hugo Broos was thrilled with his side's performance.

"It's a very good result for us - because we played [away] against one of the best teams in Africa," the Belgian said.

"The next game is in Cameroon against Zambia, so if we win that game we'll have a very good start."

Also on Sunday, Egypt went top of Group E with a 2-1 victory away to Congo Brazzaville,following Ghana's 0-0 draw at home to Ugandaon Friday.

The hosts started brightly when France-based Ferebory Dore headed in the opening goal for Congo Brazzaville in the 24th minute.

A strong Egypt side fought back with Roma star Mohamed Salah equalising four minutes before the break to make it 1-1.

On 58 minutes, Salah turned goal-maker, setting up Al Ahly's Abdallah El-Said who scored to make it 2-1 to Egypt.

Tunisia were 2-0 winners over Guinea in Group A in Monastir later on Sunday.

Second half goals from Aymen Abdennour and Ahmed Akaichi gave the North Africans a victory which puts them second in Group A, behind the Democratic Republic of Congo who beat Libya 4-0 on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, there were opening group wins for Ivory Coast and Senegal.

Only the five group winners will qualify for Russia 2018.

Townsend replaces Sterling on the England squad

Photo credit: sky sports news

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has replaced Raheem Sterling in the England squad after the Manchester City forward withdrew due to an unspecified injury, the Football Association announced on Monday.

Townsend, 25, was last called up for England’s pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Turkey and Australia. He has won 11 caps and scored three goals.

Sterling has been in impressive form for City under new manager Pep Guardiola, although he produced a subdued display in their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Townsend has been recalled to the England squad

England host Malta in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Saturday in their first match since Gareth Southgate succeeded Sam Allardyce as manager on a caretaker basis. They then travel to Slovenia next week.

England’s players are due to convene at their St George’s Park training centre in Burton, central England on Tuesday.

Revised England squad

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino/ITA, on loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Stoke City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, capt), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Houghton crowned Man of Steel

Hull hooker Danny Houghton has beaten his club captain Gareth Ellis to the prestigious 2016 Steve Prescott Super League Man of Steel award.

The 28-year-old Houghton, who provided the defining moment of Hull's historic Challenge Cup triumph at Wembley in August with a last-minute try-saving tackle, received almost twice as many votes as Ellis in a poll of Super League players.

Castleford's record-breaking winger Denny Solomona came third in the poll.

For the first time, the results of the poll have been made public and reveal that Houghton voted for Warrington captain Chris Hill while Ellis' first choice was Wolves hooker Daryl Clark. Players are not allowed to vote for club-mates.

Photo credit: skysportsnews

Houghton, who is the first Hull player to win an award that was first presented in 1977, received the trophy at a gala dinner in Manchester, where his club boss Lee Radford was named coach of the year after guiding the Black Whites to Wembley glory and to within 80 minutes of the Grand Final and Hull were named Super League club of the year.

Nigeria internationals nominated for Golden Boy award

The Golden Boy award is for a young player in Europe considered to be the best among his peers in a calendar year.

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Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho have been shortlisted for the 2016 edition of the Golden Boy award.

Iheanacho who recently became the first Nigerian to score in the Manchester derby made the list having scored 10 goals in the 2015/2016 season and has three so far in the ongoing 2016/17 season.

Iwobi got into the Arsenal first team last season, scoring two goals and has become a regular for the Gunners this season.

The Golden Boy Award is meant for the best player under the age of 21 who play in a European nation’s top division.

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford also made the cut.

The 18-year-old talent has enjoyed a stellar 2016 since making his Manchester United debut in February, including becoming an England international.

Tottenham also have a representative in England international Dele Alli. The 20-year-old scored 11 goals last season as Spurs finished third in the Premier League.

The award, founded in 2003, relates to performances across a particular calendar year, with the winner decided by a panel of 30 journalists.

Here is the full list if the nominees for the Golden Boy Awards 2016

Dele Alli (Tottenham)
Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)
Leon Bailey (Genk)
Riechedly Bazoer (Ajax)
Gabriel Boschilia (Monaco)
Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen)
Carlos Fernandez (Sevilla)
Andreas Christensen (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)
Ante Coric (Dinamo Zagreb)
Amadou Diawara (Napoli)
Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Danilo Barbosa (Benfica)
Moussa Dembele (Celtic)
Ousmane Dembele (Dortmund)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
Breel Embolo (Schalke)
Gabriel Barbosa (Inter Milan)
Aleksandr Golovin (CSKA Moscow)
Goncalo Guedes (Benfica)
Demarai Gray (Leicester)
Marko Grujic (Liverpool)
Alen Halilovic (Hamburg)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City)
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal)
Viktor Kovalenko (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid)
Emanuel Mammana (Lyon)
Nathan (Vitesse)
Olivier Ntcham (Genoa)
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)
Jairo Riedewald (Ajax)
Ruben Neves (Porto)
Tonny Sanabria (Real Betis)
Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht)
Almamy Toure (Monaco)

ATLETICO MADRID 1 - 0 BAYERN MÜNCHEN: Match Report

And it is a loss for Bayern München

Atletico Madrid took a major step towards the last 16 of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over German champions Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon.

The draw for the group stage brought together two heavyweights of European football and they did not disappoint in a pulsating contest.

Atletico ended Bayern's dreams of a sixth European Cup title at the semi-final stage of last season's competition and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco's first-half strike set the Spanish side on course for a repeat of their victory on home soil in April.

Bayern had reeled off 11 successive wins in all competitions since that aggregate defeat but they could not force an equaliser as Atletico saw the game out despite Antoine Griezmann's late penalty miss.

Fernando Torres had an early sight of goal after dispossessing Javi Martinez but the Bayern defender recovered well to prevent the Spaniard from getting a shot away.

Thomas Muller tested Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak with a well-struck volley from Thiago's lofted ball into the box, while at the other end Carrasco's fierce drive was kept out low down by Manuel Neuer.

Torres passed up a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when, unmarked, he somehow headed against a post after Koke's corner was inadvertently flicked on by Robert Lewandowski to the back post.

Lewandowski headed straight at Oblak from Philipp Lahm's cross and Torres could only hit the side-netting from an acute angle as the sides continued to trade chances in an end-to-end first half.

The deadlock was finally broken 10 minutes from the break when Carrasco became just the second player this season to breach Bayern's defence.

Photocredit: goal.com

The Belgium international was allowed to run into space by a clever Griezmann pass and he reached the edge of the box before firing a left-footed strike across Neuer and in off his left-hand post.

Franck Ribery dragged a good chance wide as Bayern sought an immediate response while Muller headed off target from a corner just after the break.

The hosts rarely threatened in the early stages of the second period but midway through the half Carrasco tested Neuer with a curling 25-yard effort.

Bayern were doing most of the running without posing much of a threat and they were almost caught on the break when Griezmann looped a header onto the roof of the net from Torres' ball in.

The visitors upped the pace as full-time loomed, with Lewandowski heading wide and Arjen Robben sending a shot just wide after a one-two with Arturo Vidal.

Griezmann was presented with the perfect opportunity to wrap up the win from the penalty spot six minutes from time after Vidal's rash challenge on Luis but his spot-kick hit the bar with Neuer rooted to the spot.

The France international's miss mattered little in the end as Atletico comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to make it two wins from two in Group D.