02/12/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 2, 2025

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Emery hails Villans turnaround at home ASTON VILLA boss Unai Emery praised his players for the way they have turned their season around after a 1-0 win at home to Wolves moved them into the top four of the Premier League. Boubacar Kamara’s stunning goal secured Villa a seventh win out of eight lLeague games. They look a different team to the start of the campaign, where a dreadful summer transfer window led to a lacklustre beginning as they failed to win any of their opening five games and scored just one goal. Emery’s men now look set to compete at the top end of the Premier League once again, though the Spaniard is remaining grounded. “The table is, of course, now better how we can see it,” Emery said. “We are going to be humble and realistic. We will focus on each match. We have Brighton away on Thursday. “I am very happy, we were excited and motivated to play here in our fortress. They competed fantastic and overall I am so happy. “How we are responding after our poor start, we are feeling strong and comfortable. The players are taking responsibility and working hard every day to have the opportunities we had to do. “Of course I was worried and I was responsible, I tried to share my worries with the players two months ago and we are remembering it every day. “The most important is how the players are taking respon sibility. We try to set our level high in everything. “The most important thing is how the players responded to my message, because if they were not responding in the way I wanted it would be impossible. They are getting the commit ment we need.” Wolves boss Rob Edwards says his side’s performance “was a step in the right direction”, even if the League table continues to make grim reading. Wanderers have lost 11 of their 13 games and look certain to drop to the Championship, but this was their best perform ance of the season. “I feel sick that we’ve lost, like the lads will do and everyone connected to the club, but we went about it in the best way possible to try and win,” he said. “I certainly hope it will give us belief. I thought at times we looked really, really good, and went right up against them. “So there was a lot to like about the performance.” – The Independent Hurzeler happy to avenge Forest humbling BRIGHTON boss Fabian Hurzeler was happy to erase bad memories from the City Ground after his side earned a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The Seagulls avenged the 7-0 defeat they suffered here back in February, with the victory helping them climb to fifth in the Premier League table. Sean Dyche’s halftime plans would have changed when Brighton broke the deadlock right before the interval with their 13th shot of the half as Maxim De Cuyper grabbed his second goal of the season. Brighton sealed all three points in the 88th minute through substitute Stefanos Tzimas’ first goal of the league campaign following a mistake from Morato. Hurzeler admitted they came to the City Ground to “clean the air” following their humbling loss last season. The German said: “We started the game good, we arrived here with some memories regarding last season but we came here to clean the air, not only ourselves but the fans and happy they can have a good weekend. “We suffered in certain moments in the second half. They brought some quality but we defended the box well. “How you stick together and suffer through this period was impressive and on top of that we created a lot of chances. “Overall it was a good performance. We know last season we weren’t at our highest level here, it was a bad moment for everyone in the club but the most important thing is how you react and come back. “It’s important to prepare the best next for Aston Villa which will be a big challenge.” Nottingham Forest boss Dyche admitted his side lost the game in the opening 20 minutes. He said: “After the first 20 minutes where we’ve been a long way off where we’ve been. We didn’t start right and then regripped the game and were strong and then to give away a soft goal was disappointing after weathering a storm. “Second half we gave a strong performance. Fatigue at the end of the half and we switched off.” – The Independent Ű BY JONATHAN VEAL

Amorim praises Devils’ intensity

Ű BY LORI EWING

“So I think in the end, we deserved the three points, and I’m really happy to give that to the fans.” Zirkzee, who started in place of the injured Matheus Cunha, scored his first League goal in almost a year and his fourth since joining United in 2024. Amorim underlined the striker’s overall contribution, not just the goal: “It is so important for a striker to score a goal. “He is not playing many minutes but the way he responds in the second half is really important. It’s more important than just the goal. “Again the small details — win one first ball for us to win the second ball. The con nection is so important for our game. The goal is really important for our team and for him.” – The Independent

This hard-fought triumph marked only United’s second away victory in their last 12 games, achieved at Selhurst Park, a notori ously tough venue where Palace had not lost in the League since February. Despite the hosts dominating the first half, Amorim, still under pressure after United’s stumbling start to the season, was pleased with his team’s heightened inten sity after the interval. Amorim elaborated on the turnaround, explaining: “We increased the rhythm in the second half. We took advantage of the opponent that we felt even in the first half, the last 15 minutes, (Palace) were tired. “But the main change was the intensity and the pace of our game, even quality when we connect, especially with Josh in the second half, was different.

MANCHESTER UNITED secured a crucial 2 1 comeback victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday, ending the hosts’ long unbeaten home run and providing a much-needed response after their disappointing loss to 10-man Everton. Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount struck in the second half, lifting United to seventh in the Premier League table. Manager Ruben Amorim praised his side’s fight, stating: “It’s important to win every game and again today was proof that if you play the same way but increase the way we fight for every ball and the small details, the certainty on the pass, the move ments, we work on that in a different pace, we can beat anyone.”

Relief for Slot Reds boss hails Isak’s ‘important’ first EPL club goal Ű BY ANDY SIMS

A RNE SLOT admitted Alexander Isak’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool was important for both him and the club. Sweden striker Isak had just one Carabao Cup goal to his name following his protracted £125 mil lion (RM725m) summer switch from Newcastle. But his well-taken strike against the Hammers, and Cody Gakpo’s stoppage-time goal, fired stutter ing champions Liverpool – on a run of nine defeats in 12 matches in all competitions – to a much-needed 2-0 victory. “It’s very important for us as a team that we went 1-0 up, but I think it was also important for him because I think it was his third or fourth chance of this game,” Reds head coach Slot said. “I don’t think there was much more than 10 min utes in him to go, so then to score just before you come off was important for us, but also for him.” Slot took drastic action in a bid to halt their alarm ing slide by dropping Mohamed Salah for Isak. It was a big call, and the first time the Egypt striker had been left out of a Premier League starting line-up since April 2024, also at West Ham in a 2-2 draw. That day Salah had a stand-up row with manager Jurgen Klopp on the touchline before going on as a late substitute. This time he did not get on at all, with Slot replac ing Isak with Hugo Ekitike shortly after his goal. “Mo has had an unbelievable career here at this club and will have a very good future at this club because he’s such a special player,” Slot added. “We have four games in 10 days with only 14 to 15 outfield players available for us. Then you have to decide once in a while to make a certain line-up and you try to pick the best line-up for every single game.” Liverpool were worthy winners, but they were helped by West Ham who, as they so often do, rolled out the claret and blue carpet to a team in need. There was also a ludicrous red card for Lucas Paqueta, when the Brazilian was booked for dissent by referee Darren England, went back for a second moan and was duly sent off. Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: “I think we started well in the game. We required better accu racy, crossing and shooting. But we were in the game. “How we conceded was disappointing. But we kept trying until the end, yeah.” The defeat came hours after it was announced West Ham great Billy Bonds had died. Nuno added: “We felt that we wanted to do another thing that can honour the memory of Billy Bonds, and it was not to be.” – The Independent

Cody Gakpo shoots to score Liverpool’s second goal during the English Premier League match against West Ham United at the London Stadium yesterday. – AFPPIC