'Big Sam' pulls off another stunner at Anfield in EPL
West Bromwich Albion's manager Sam Allardyce shouts during an English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday Dec. 27, 2020. (Clive Brunskill/Pool via AP)A trip to Anfield has become the most daunting match in English soccer. Unless, that is, you are Sam Allardyce. Go back to April 2017 and it was Allardyce who led Crystal Palace to a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield. Indeed, Allardyce is unbeaten in each of his last four league games at Anfield.
Fans return to the EPL as Chelsea, Man U enjoy comeback wins
The fans — 2,000 from West Ham, 2,000 from Chelsea — had contrasting experiences on opposite sides of London. Chelsea’s players treated their select group of attending fans to a comeback of their own at Stamford Bridge. The match saw respective managers Frank Lampard, of Chelsea, and Marcelo Bielsa, of Leeds, meet for the first time in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Guardiola didn’t make a single substitution, at a time when he is pushing the Premier League to increase the number of replacements from three to five for player-welfare reasons. It’s now 11 goals in 11 games for the Everton striker after scoring the equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Burnley.
West Ham twice squanders lead, draws 2-2 at Newcastle in EPL
West Ham's Tomas Soucek, left, and Newcastle's Jamaal Lascelles challenge for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St. James' Park in Newcastle, England, Sunday, July 5, 2020. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)NEWCASTLE West Ham twice squandered a lead against Newcastle and had to settle for a 2-2 draw that moved the team four points clear of the Premier League's relegation zone on Sunday. With five games remaining, West Ham is inching closer to survival but could yet live to regret switching off to allow Jonjo Shelvey to score Newcastle's second equalizer in the 67th minute just 92 seconds after Tomas Soucek reclaimed the lead for the visitors. West Ham manager David Moyes threw his hands out in disgust after Shelvey dribbled his way through a gap in the defense and exchanged a one-two with Dwight Gayle before slotting home a low finish. West Ham is 16th in the 20-team league, four points above two teams in the relegation zone 18th-place Aston Villa and 19th-place Bournemouth.
Liverpool makes triumphant Anfield return as English champ
Liverpool's Sadio Mane, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, July 5, 2020. Liverpools players were back home at Anfield for the first time since winning a first English league title since 1990. Mane swept home a finish off the underside of the crossbar in the 71st for his 16th league goal of the season before Jones converted a shot from 10 meters out in the 89th after a nod-down from Mohamed Salah for his first Premier League goal. With second-place City losing 1-0 hours later at Southampton, Liverpool is on course to win the league by a record margin. BLADES BLUNTEDSheffield United's players resumed the Premier League with an outside shot at Champions League qualification.