Author: David Great

Liverpool ended Newcastle United’s long unbeaten run in the Premier League through early goals by Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo that gave them a 2-0 victory at St James’ Park on Saturday. Juergen Klopp’s side caught Newcastle cold with a scintillating start, and the stunned hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute when goalkeeper Nick Pope was red-carded. Fourth-placed Newcastle’s only previous defeat in the league came against Liverpool at the end of August, but they were up against it after Nunez controlled a long pass by Trent Alexander Arnold to smash home in the 10th minute.…

Says unpatriotic politicians behind naira scarcity Urges CBN to set up modalities for swapping old naira notes for Nigerians The Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on Nigerians not to fall for what it described as the antics of the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as they are not fighting for the wellbeing of the people, insisting that the “opposing APC leaders are attacking President Muhammadu Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele because they are desperate to buy votes knowing that APC has failed.” Urging President Buhari to call Governor Nasir…

James Ward-Prowse trademark free kick earned basement club Southampton a precious three points at Chelsea in a scrappy 1-0 Premier League win on Saturday and piled more pressure on home coach Graham Potter. Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta brought down Stuart Armstrong just outside the area in the 45th minute and Ward-Prowse curled a free kick over the wall into the right-hand side of the net with goalkeeper Kepa left sprawling. Azpilicueta needed nearly 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch in the second half after he received a kick to the head in a goalmouth clash. Physios from both clubs…

Everton deservedly collected a monumental victory over fellow Premier League strugglers Leeds to climb out of the relegation zone and send their opponents into trouble. Seamus Coleman scored the winning goal in the second half owing to an error from goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who failed to cover his front post, allowing the skipper’s effort to arrow in. Victory was Everton’s second in three games under new manager Sean Dyche, lifting them up to 16th place, while Leeds drop to 19th and remain without a win under interim boss Michael Skubala. Everton offered the more potent threat in the first half…

Manchester City missed the opportunity to return to the top of the Premier League as Chris Wood’s late goal earned Nottingham Forest a point at the City Ground. Bernardo Silva’s rocket from 20 yards out opened the scoring after 41 minutes and the visitors missed chances in abundance to put the game to bed. Erling Haaland’s volleyed against the crossbar and ballooned the rebound over the top after Aymeric Laporte’s header was brilliantly saved by Forest keeper Keylor Navas. Morgan Gibbs-White’s fizzed cross was tapped in at the far post in the 84th minute for Wood’s first Forest goal. The…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has recovered an additional sum of N900,000,000 (Nine Hundred Million Naira) for the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. The sum was part of monies which some Deposit Money Banks fraudulently withheld since 2015, and refused to remit into the NHIS’ Treasury Single Account, TSA. The recovered funds were released to NHIS on February 8, 2023, two days shy of one year, when the Commission, on February 10, 2022, also released the sum of N1, 500,000,000.00 (One Billion Five Hundred Million Naira) recovered from the banks to the NHIS. EFCC returns recovered N1 billion…

Late goals from Gabriel Martinelli and an own goal from Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez fired Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League. The Gunners were a goal down in five minutes after Matty Cash found Ollie Watkins who skipped past William Saliba to fire past Aaron Ramsdale in goal. Arsenal hit back through Bukayo Saka after a lackluster header from Villa defender Tyrone Mings to draw the goal level but it was Villa who had the final word of the first half after Philippe Coutinho put Unai Emery’s side in the lead. Emery, a former Arsenal manager…

Liverpool are pushing to sign England midfielder Mason Mount amid a lack of progress in the 24-year-old’s contract talks with Chelsea. (Mail) David Beckham’s Inter Miami are in pole position to sign Argentina forward Lionel Messi should he decide to leave Paris St-Germain. (Mirror) But Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, says it is unlikely the frontman will play for former club Barcelona again. (ESPN) Aston Villa are interested in a summer move for Roma’s English striker Tammy Abraham, 25. (90min) Manchester City have renewed their interest in West Ham’s 24-year-old England midfielder Declan Rice. (90min) Atletico Madrid want £80m for Chelsea to make 23-year-old Portugal forward Joao Felix’s loan move a permanent deal this summer. (Standard – subscription required) Leeds…

Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu has been found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey after last week’s massive earthquake, the ex-Chelsea winger’s Turkish agent said. “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet told reporters in Hatay, where the athlete’s body was found. “Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found.” Christian Atsu had been scheduled to fly out of southern Turkey hours before the quake, but Hatayspor’s manager said on Friday the Ghanaian opted to stay with the club after scoring the game-winning goal in a Feb. 5 Super…

In reaction to the growing protests across Nigeria, over currency swap, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly ordered banks to accept old N500 and N1,000 notes from Nigerians with immediate effect. The apex bank clipped the maximum amount the banks can collect at N500,000, stressing that, old notes were no more legal tender. A CBN source said order that banks should accept the monies was necessary instead of going to the CBN office following difficulties encountered in getting access to the bank. “Go to your bank but fill the form before you go. Go with your reference code…