03/02/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | FEB 3, 2026

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Glasner sidesteps striker talk after Forest draw

Three talking points from the Premier League weekend ARSENAL moved a step closer to end ing a 22-year wait to win the Premier League title after a dream weekend for the Gunners extended their lead to six points. A dominant 4-0 win over Leeds quelled talk of Mikel Arteta’s men wilt ing under the pressure of being title favourites, while Manchester City and Aston Villa dropped crucial points on Sunday. Behind the top three, the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League is hotting up as Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all secured important wins. Here’s a look at three talking points from the weekend’s action: Arsenal’s title to lose A first home defeat of the season against Manchester United the previous weekend sparked doubts about Arsenal’s ability to get over the line in the title race. For the past three seasons they have finished second, twice blowing signifi cant leads in the closing weeks of the season. But this looks set to be their year, aided by the faltering form of the chas ing pack. City remain a work in progress despite the huge sums spent to refresh Pep Guardiola’s side over the past year. Villa surpassed expectations just to keep pace with the top two into February, but are seven points back after losing 1-0 at home to 10-man Brentford. United roll back the years Manchester United looked to have blown the chance for a third consecu tive win since Michael Carrick took charge as Fulham struck twice in the final five minutes to come from 2-0 down at Old Trafford on Sunday. But there was one final twist in a frantic finale as Benjamin Sesko blasted into the top corner to spark wild scenes of celebration in front of the Stretford End. The drama was reminiscent of United’s glory days under Alex Ferguson when victory was often snatched from the jaws of defeat. Victory lifted United back above Chelsea and Liverpool into fourth place, with the top five likely to qualify for the Champions League. Ekitike-Wirtz connection clicks Newcastle suffered a tale of what could have been as Hugo Ekitike’s quick fire double for Liverpool ruined the Magpies’ fine first half display at Anfield on Sunday. Eddie Howe’s men deservedly led through Anthony Gordon’s strike until Ekitike displayed his deadly finishing and lightning speed to take his tally for the season to 15 goals. A long-time Newcastle target, Ekitike had been lined up as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak until Liverpool swooped to take the Frenchman from Eintracht Frankfurt. Ekitike’s first goal was brilliantly set up by Florian Wirtz who then scored himself. Wirtz had not scored in his first 22 appearances for the Reds after his move from Bayern Leverkusen, but has netted six times in 10 games since. AFP

Ű BY SUNNY BADWAL

the season. “We drew at Selhurst 1-1 play ing with Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, Daichi Kamada, JP Mateta, with Wharton. None of these players were available today.” Forest are now unbeaten in their last four and have moved six points above the bottom three. And with 10 men, Sean Dyche believes it is a point gained. He said: “It has to be a point earned, it’s not easy playing 10 vs 11 particularly in the Premier League, and well earned. “The only disappointing thing is if (Williams) doesn’t handball it, 11 vs 11 I fancy us to win it.” – The Independent

about the transfers today because I want to focus on the game, this group of players. “I know Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada and Evann Guessand will be training tomorrow and hope fully available for Brighton on Sunday. Palace are now without a win in their last nine but a draw with Forest means they are still nine points above the relegation zone. Glasner added: “I don’t want to blame anybody but the reason for this is our psychological situation over weeks and months now. “How I have seen us playing, especially in the first half, gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of

Morgan Gibbs-White put the hosts in front in the fifth minute and it looked like they would take a half-time lead until Neco Williams used his had to keep Jefferson Lerma’s strike from going in on the goal line. Williams was sent off and Ismaila Sarr coolly slotted in from the resulting penalty but Palace failed to take advantage of the extra man as the score remained 1-1. When asked about transfers, Glasner said his only focus was on the match. He said: “I don’t know. I just told you before in all the interviews, told the board. I don’t want to talk

CRYSTAL PALACE boss Oliver Glasner refused to get involved with transfer talk following his side’s 1-1 draw with 10-man Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Jean-Philippe Mateta was not in the Palace squad amid reports that he is on his way to AC Milan to be replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen moving from Wolves to Selhurst Park. Glasner had a thin squad going into the Forest match and named two goalkeepers on the bench as well as youngsters Kaden Rodney and Zach Marsh.

‘Fergie Time’ buzz is back Carrick admits winning late at Old Trafford is ‘the best feeling’ M ICHAEL CARRICK savoured “the best feeling” after watching Benjamin Sesko’s stoppage-time winner earn Manchester United a dramatic 3-2 vic turnaround in results. “The character we showed after a big setback, a huge setback, in the 90th minute, to do that coming off what we did last week off a setback (in the 3-2 win at Arsenal) is probably the most pleasing thing. To keep the belief, to keep the confidence. Ű BY IAN PARKER

Fulham boss Marco Silva was left furious by the VAR decision which led to United’s opening goal – a Casemiro header from Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick. Referee John Brooks initially pointed to the penalty spot after Cunha went down under Jorge Cuenca’s challenge. Replays showed Cuenca won the ball, but instead of overturning the decision completely, VAR indicated United should be given a free-kick on the touchline. The explanation was that Brooks had given the penalty for a pull which happened outside the box – but Silva felt the video assistant essentially re refereed the game. “The penalty was given – it was a bad, bad, bad decision from John Brooks,” Silva said. “The penalty was given for the tackle of Cuenca, that was clear, then after they found the pull three, four seconds before… “The ball went for a corner. The feedback we got on the touchline was that after the review John Brooks was going to go to the screen because in VAR’s opinion it was not a penalty and that after that comes a completely different decision, they give a free-kick for a pull. “It’s the first time this season that a penalty has been given for one incident and then a VAR decision comes from a completely different incident and gave a free-kick. It’s the first time we have seen that this season, last season, but maybe it comes more in the future.” – The Independent

tory over Fulham. United looked to have blown a comfortable 2 0 lead – given to them by Casemiro and Matheus Cunha – after Raul Jimenez scored an 85th minute penalty and Kevin curled in a fine strike in the first minute of time added on. But moments later Sesko struck as United made it three wins in a row under interim boss Carrick, climbing back into the Premier League’s top four. “It’s the best feeling I have to say,” Carrick said of winning the game in what he knew as ‘Fergie time’ when a player here. “Some of the best moments I’ve been part of here, you can dissect performances and there are plusses and not, and then you get a moment of elation and excitement like that. “For me there’s no better place than in front of the Stretford End like that. It ends up meaning more. People leave here with more than just, ‘United won today’ – it’s layers on top of that, the emotion and the feeling and it’s why we all love it so much.” United had needed the intervention from substitute Sesko after allowing Fulham back into it at the death, a sign that there is still so much for Carrick to work on with his players even as he has produced a d r ama t i c

“We can play better and that’s probably the most pleasing thing. The rest of the game, we can play better, we can do a lot of things better in certain moments but I can’t fault the players’ belief. It’s taken us through today and it’s a good feeling when it does.”

United’s Bryan Mbeumo (front) is tackled by Fulham’s Jorge Cuenca during Sunday’s Premier League match at Old Trafford. – AFPPIC

Emery labels VAR ‘not fair’

Ű BY JONATHAN VEAL

immediately took the lead as Ouattara scored on the break and then they held firm in the second half amid a Villa onslaught. Andrews, whose side are in seventh place and enjoying an impressive campaign, said: “To say the performance was pleasing would be an understatement. It’s just immense pride and what the players produced today, and the group as a whole produced. “I thought it was a defensive masterclass in the second half. We asked a lot of our midfield three. We felt there were a couple of gaps opening up… defensively the desire to stop the ball going in the back of net was immense.” – The Independent

ASTON VILLA boss Unai Emery says his side were unfairly denied a goal by VAR as their Premier League title hopes suffered a major blow in a 1-0 home defeat to 10-man Brentford. Tammy Abraham’s second-half strike was chalked off after VAR Paul Tierney ruled the ball had gone out of play 19 seconds earlier, when Villa had it near their own corner flag. The official made the decision, which the Premier League said was “factual”, after a check which took over three minutes, with Brentford going on to see out the victory despite playing for over 45 minutes with 10 men. Dango Ouattara scored the

“For VAR, it is difficult to analyse, and so tight as well. I think the problem is the VAR should not be asking in this situation. I accept it but it is not fair. “I can’t say anything more about it. It is football and of course Brentford played fantastic with one player less than us. We are frustrated, as well with the referee and VAR for his decision. But maybe sometimes we can win matches like that.” It was quite the win for Brentford, who played over 45 minutes with 10 men after Schade’s ill-advised kick on Cash. But Keith Andrews’ side

decisive goal in first-half stoppage time, just minutes after Kevin Schade had been sent off for kicking out at Matty Cash. “I think it is not fair,” Emery said. “If the assistant is watching it… there are a lot of actions and small circumstances which can change one goal. Of course, I accept it. But for me it is not fair. The referees are so, so demanding in trying to correct everything they are doing, or where they can improve. “For me it is not fair. My explanation is it is one action after a long time. If the assistant referee did not see it, we must continue playing.