The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Van Dijk admits ‘messy’  situation at struggling  Liverpool

    Van Dijk admits ‘messy’  situation at struggling  Liverpool

    Virgil van Dijk said Liverpool’s players are letting manager Arne Slot down after the Premier League champions’ collapse continued with a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

    Liverpool have lost six of their last seven league games to slide into the bottom half of the table, putting Slot under pressure after the club’s record spend of nearly £450 million ($590 million) in the transfer market.

    “We are definitely letting him (Slot) down but we’ve let ourselves down as well,” said Van Dijk. “You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

    “As the champions we can’t be in the situation we are in right now. What are we going to do about it? We’re going to try to turn it around and that’s the mentality everyone should have.”

    None of Liverpool’s big money summer signings have yet to make a positive impact.

    Read Also: Superb Forest embarrass Liverpool at Anfield

    Alexander Isak, who cost a British transfer record £125 million, is still to score a league goal for the Reds and looked a shadow of the player he was at Newcastle during an ineffectual 68 minutes against Forest.

    But many of last season’s title winners have also suffered a slump in form with Van Dijk’s centre-back partner Ibrahima Konate also replaced early by Slot after another poor performance.

    “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better,” added Van Dijk.

    “We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it and happy and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

    “You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes because this club has gone through much adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it.”

    Liverpool’s form in the Champions League has been much better with three wins from four games.

    The return to European competition could offer some relief for Slot’s men when PSV Eindhoven visit Anfield in Liverpool’s next outing on Wednesday.

  • Eze nets historic hat-trick as Arsenal secure 6point gap

    Eze nets historic hat-trick as Arsenal secure 6point gap

    Eberechi Eze delivered a sensational performance in his Premier League North London Derby debut, scoring a stunning hat-trick to lead Arsenal to a commanding 4–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

    Eze’s treble makes him the first Arsenal player since 1978 to score a hat-trick against Spurs. He also becomes the first Englishman to score in his first league North London Derby for Arsenal since Ian Wright and Kevin Campbell in 1991.

    Arsenal began brightly and took the lead in the 36th minute when Leandro Trossard latched onto a clever lob from Mikel Merino before his low strike deflected off a Spurs defender and rolled into the net.

    Eze doubled the advantage five minutes later, receiving a pass from Declan Rice, weaving through two challenges, and firing a shot that beat the goalkeeper despite a strong hand.

    Just one minute into the second half, Eze struck again—this time meeting a pass from Jurrien Timber and finishing with a clinical low effort to make it 3–0.

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    Tottenham momentarily fought back in the 55th minute as Richarlison scored with a superb long-range lob over David Raya following a midfield turnover by Martin Zubimendi.

    But Arsenal restored their three-goal cushion in the 76th minute when Trossard broke forward from a long ball and found Eze, who danced past his marker and curled a precise finish into the far corner to complete his hat-trick.

    The win sends Arsenal six points clear of second-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table.

    Speaking after the game, Eze said, “That was the prayer today. God gave it to me and that is faith, man. All my family is here and that makes it even more special for me.

    It is special. Words can’t explain this one today.”

  • Superb Forest embarrass Liverpool at Anfield

    Superb Forest embarrass Liverpool at Anfield

    Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

    Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.

    Read Also: W’Cup 2026: Toro hails NFF, stakeholders for Super Eagles’   playoff spot

    Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.

    Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.

  • Palace go fourth to ruin Edwards’ Wolves homecoming

    Palace go fourth to ruin Edwards’ Wolves homecoming

    Crystal Palace powered into the Premier League’s top four as they condemned new Wolves boss Rob Edwards to defeat in his first game in charge.

    Daniel Munoz and Yeremy Pino struck in the second half to move the Eagles up to fourth with a deserved victory at Molineux.

    Oliver Glasner’s side were a class above the hosts with bottom club Wolves’ survival chances looking bleaker by the game, despite Edwards’ arrival from Middlesbrough this month.

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    Their former player replaced Vitor Pereira, but his side remain winless in the top flight after a poor start, with their last league victory back in April.

    In failing to win any of the first 12 games – their first time since the 1983-84 campaign – Wolves also edged closer to Sheffield United’s record of 17 for the longest winless start to a Premier League season.

  • Barnes scores twice as Newcastle beat Man City

    Barnes scores twice as Newcastle beat Man City

    Harvey Barnes fired Newcastle United to a memorable victory against Manchester City in a rip-roaring Premier League contest.

    Barnes, who also opened the scoring, prodded home from inside the box to secure all three points at a raucous St James’ Park.

    Ruben Dias earlier equalised for the visitors when his effort took a deflection off Fabian Schar after Newcastle failed to clear their lines from a corner.

    Read Also: Super Eagles: NFF  Scrap U.S. friendlies to prioritize World Cup Play-Offs

    But Newcastle showed their own powers of recovery to retake the lead a few minutes later.

    Jacob Murphy swung the ball into the box and, although Bruno Guimaraes’ header cannoned off the bar, Barnes was in the right place to hook the ball into the net.

  • Bournemouth come from two down to hold West Ham

    Bournemouth come from two down to hold West Ham

    Substitute Enes Unal struck a late equaliser as Bournemouth came back from two goals down to earn a thrilling 2-2 draw with West Ham in the Premier League.

    West Ham led 2-0 at half-time, courtesy of a double from Callum Wilson against his old club, but Marcus Tavernier reduced the deficit in the 69th minute before Unal rescued a point a minute after coming off the bench.

    Unal could have then won the game for the hosts in the closing stages but the Turkish forward was denied by a brilliant save from West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola.

    Read Also: W’Cup 2026: Toro hails NFF, stakeholders for Super Eagles’   playoff spot

    Wilson fired the visitors ahead at a rain-soaked Vitality Stadium after just 12 minutes with a superb goal – chesting down a long ball from Areola before drilling a low 25-yard drive past a wrong-footed Djordje Petrovic.

    The 33-year-old forward added a second 13 minutes later after Jarrod Bowen flicked on a ball into the box towards Jean-Clair Todibo, who headed it down for Wilson to produce a sublime finish on the turn into the top corner.

  • Chelsea ease past Burnley to go second in table

    Chelsea ease past Burnley to go second in table

    Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez delivered a comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley to lift Chelsea to second in the Premier League.

    The opener came when Neto met Jamie Gittens’ cross at the far post, while Fernandez sealed victory with a late run into the box after a counter-attack involving Neto and substitute Marc Guiu.

    The Blues rarely moved out of second gear during the 90 minutes and were able to rest unused substitute Moises Caicedo, with matches against Barcelona and Arsenal to come.

    Read Also: Super Eagles: NFF  Scrap U.S. friendlies to prioritize World Cup Play-Offs

    However, resting players looked a gamble early on as Burnley started brightly, with Jaidon Anthony having two early shots blocked and Loum Tchaouna forcing a save from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with a strike from the edge of the box.

    Chelsea started slowly and tested Burnley keeper Martin Dubvravka with a tame long-range effort from Trevoh Chalobah.

  • Chukwueze provides assist in Fulham’s defeat of Sunderland

    Chukwueze provides assist in Fulham’s defeat of Sunderland

    Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze came off the bench to decisive effect on Saturday, providing a late assist that handed Fulham a 1–0 victory over Sunderland in their Premier League clash at Craven Cottage, Bold Sports reports.

    Introduced in the 64th minute, Chukwueze wasted little time in influencing the contest. The Nigerian delivered a pin-point cross that Raul Jiménez converted, securing Fulham’s fourth league win of the campaign.

    Read Also: W’Cup 2026: NFF begs Tinubu, Nigerians over  Super Eagles’ setback

    Despite playing just over 25 minutes, the winger was one of the game’s standout performers, creating the most chances (3) and completing the most dribbles (1) on the pitch.

    The assist was his second goal contribution of the season, adding to the one he registered in early October during Fulham’s 3–1 defeat to Bournemouth.

  • Olise nets brace as Bayern thrash Freiburg

    Olise nets brace as Bayern thrash Freiburg

    Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.

    The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.

    Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.

    Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.

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    Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for a first time.

    England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.

    Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.

  • EPL: Newcastle rock Man City with Barnes’ double

    EPL: Newcastle rock Man City with Barnes’ double

    Newcastle dented Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes on Saturday, with Harvey Barnes’ brace securing a controversial 2-1 victory at St James’ Park.

    City fell behind to Barnes’ second-half opener before Ruben Dias pulled them level. But almost immediately after the equaliser, Barnes struck again—this time finishing a move that survived a long VAR check for a possible offside involving Bruno Guimaraes.

    Pep Guardiola had more to complain about, notably a first-half penalty appeal when Phil Foden appeared to be clipped in the box. The referee waved it away, much to the frustration of the City bench.

    The defeat, City’s fourth in the league this season, leaves the champions in third place and four points behind leaders Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday. Guardiola had insisted earlier in the week that it was too soon to talk about the title race, but missing the chance to close the gap will sting.

    City entered the international break on a high after a convincing 3-0 win over struggling champions Liverpool, their seventh victory in eight matches across competitions.

    But that momentum evaporated on Tyneside, where a sloppy performance and an unusually quiet outing from Erling Haaland cost them. The Norwegian was kept scoreless for just the third time in 21 matches for club and country this season.

    Read Also: EPL: Chelsea ease past Burnley to go second in table

    Haaland was hoping to score his 100th league goal in his 109th appearance since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

    But he wasted several chances and Newcastle took advantage to beat City for just the second time in their last 36 league meetings.

    Eddie Howe’s first win over City in 19 top-flight attempts eased the pain of Newcastle’s successive league defeats at West Ham and Brentford before the international break.

    City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma nearly gifted Newcastle the lead inside 30 seconds with a woeful pass that was intercepted by Barnes, but the winger wasted the chance as he shot straight at the Italian from 10 yards.

    Haaland was guilty of an equally bad miss moments later, scuffing his attempt to chip over Nick Pope after the Newcastle keeper reacted to Jeremy Doku’s pass by rashly racing out of his area.

    Newcastle were denied the opener by Donnarumma, who superbly kept out Nick Woltemade’s header from Tino Livramento’s cross.

    Foden blazed wide from a good position inside the area before appealing in vain for a penalty after Fabian Schar left him writhing in pain with a crunching tackle in the same incident.

    Foden and City’s coaching staff were furious with the decision, their frustration mounting when Jacob Murphy avoided conceding a spot-kick after blocking Doku’s shot with his arm.

    Donnarumma won another duel with Woltemade as he repelled the German’s strike after he burst through on goal.

    In a half of poor finishing, Barnes was guilty of the worst moment when he contrived to shoot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.

    Even Haaland was off the mark, flicking Nico O’Reilly’s cross straight at Pope from five yards.

    Remarkably, the unmarked Foden produced a worse miss, dragging wide from Rayan Cherki’s pass just before half-time.

    City finally cracked as Barnes made amends for his earlier misses with a fine finish in the 64th minute, lashing a low drive past Donnarumma from the edge of the area after Guimaraes’ run and pass prised open the defence.

    Guardiola’s men trailed for just four minutes.

    Bernardo Silva’s shot was blocked towards Dias and the Portugal defender’s powerful strike from 12 yards deflected in off Schar.

    But Dias’s first league goal since he scored at Newcastle four years ago sparked an immediate response from Howe’s side.

    When Woltemade steered his header across the box, Guimaraes’ effort crashed against the bar, and the rebound fell kindly for Barnes to volley into the net.

    A lengthy VAR review for a possible offside against Guimaraes initially looked like it might rescue City, but the decision ultimately went Newcastle’s way, sparking jubilant celebrations among the home crowd.