Author: Opalim Lifted

Pedro Neto drilled in a 22-yard equaliser as Chelsea and Arsenal played out an entertaining draw at Stamford Bridge. The visitors opened the scoring when Gabriel Martinelli slammed the ball past Blues keeper Robert Sanchez at his near post after collecting a back-post cross from the returning Martin Odegaard. Chelsea’s leveller was deserved. Neto ran on to an Enzo Fernandez pass before cutting inside and striking a powerful low left-footed shot past David Raya’s dive. England winger Bukayo Saka limped off late on with an injury as both sides strived to create a winning chance. Arsenal came closest but Leandro…

Ipswich held on for a 2-1 win at Tottenham to celebrate their first win of the season – and their first in the Premier League in 22 years. The Tractor Boys have struggled to hold on to leads following their long-awaited return to England’s top flight this summer. But they finally did enough to clinch all three points – and move out of the bottom three at the expense of Crystal Palace – Sammie Szmodics steering an overhead kick beyond Guglielmo Vicario to give them the lead. Kieran McKenna’s side, wearing their pink third kit designed in collaboration with supporter…

Bruno Fernandes marked his 250th Manchester United, Man United appearance by playing a starring role as Ruud van Nistelrooy signed off his stint in interim charge with a 3-0 Premier League win over Leicester. Fernandes scored the opener and claimed a second – which went down as a Victor Kristiansen own goal – before setting up Alejandro Garnacho for an excellent third as United completed a third win in four games since Erik ten Hag was sacked. It provides a positive platform for new head coach Ruben Amorim to fly into England on Monday, although it will be a couple…

What the rest of the world sees as a sex tape scandal could in fact be the latest episode in the real-life drama over who will become Equatorial Guinea’s next president. Over the past fortnight, dozens of videos – estimates range from 150 to more than 400 – have been leaked of a senior civil servant having sex in his office and elsewhere with different women. They have flooded social media, shocking and titillating people in the small central African country and beyond. Many of the women filmed were wives and relatives of people close to the centre of power.…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to “stop the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Nigeria’s 36 governors from usurping the authority and responsibilities of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and heads of court through giving cars and houses to judges.” SERAP said, “Such practices are clearly antithetical to the constitutional principles of separation of powers, checks and balances and the rule of law, and may create the perception that the judiciary is subservient to the executive.” “SERAP also urged him to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and…

Liverpool took full advantage of Manchester City’s slip-up in the Premier League title race by beating Aston Villa to move five points clear in top spot. Just before the game at Anfield kicked off, the reigning champions were beaten 2-1 by Brighton. That meant leaders Liverpool knew victory would ensure they opened up a decent gap to City heading into the international break. Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the 20th minute, striding on to a loose ball after Mohamed Salah went down in a tangle with Leon Bailey following a brilliant counter-attack before firing beyond Emi Martinez. Nunez really…

Pep Guardiola fell to a fourth successive defeat for the first time in his managerial career as Brighton came from behind to beat his Manchester City side. It is the first time since 2006 that City have lost four in a row. The Premier League champions looked on course to end their disappointing sequence when Erling Haaland capped an impressive opening at Amex Stadium in the 23rd minute, scoring at the second attempt from Mateo Kovacic’s pass. Brighton, however, held their nerve, taking complete control after the break – and it was only their poor finishing that prevented them drawing…

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as the sole candidate for the role of director-general at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO said the former Nigerian finance minister agreed to a second term for the organisation’s top job. “Nominations for Director-General closed; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirmed as sole candidate,” the WTO said in a Saturday statement. “Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council, informed WTO members on 9 November that no further nominations for the position of Director-General had been received by the deadline of 8 November and that the incumbent Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is therefore the only candidate…

Matheus Cunha’s stunner inspired Wolves to a first Premier League win of the season in their showdown with relegation rivals Southampton. The forward struck from 25 yards to settle the nerves around Molineux and lift the hosts off the bottom of the table and above the Saints. He had earlier set up Pablo Sarabia’s opener, and victory, which moves Wolves to within a point of safety, eases the pressure on boss Gary O’Neil. The spotlight instead shines on Saints head coach Russell Martin after a ninth loss in 11 games, but Southampton will point to the decision to disallow Ryan…

Brighton have appointed German Daniel Niedzkowski as assistant head coach. The 47-year-old will leave his role as head of the German Football Association’s (DFB) coaches training programme to join Brighton in January, subject to being granted a work permit. Fabian Hurzeler, who took over as Brighton manager this summer, trained under Niedzkowski. “He will be an excellent addition to our coaching team,” Hurzeler said. “He is somebody I know very well from Germany and have been keen to bring him to the club.” Salah sparks Liverpool exit talk after Brighton win Technical director David Weir said: “He knows what it…