Moyes beats Lampard in 'El Sackico'
Such was the abysmal form of both teams going in to the West Ham v Everton clash on Saturday that reports suggested the losing manger would lose their job, resulting in the match being subtly dubbed 'El Sackico'.
In the end, it was West Ham and David Moyes came out on top thanks to Jarrod Bowen's brace that leaves beleaguered Everton manager Frank Lampard staring down the barrel.
The Merseysiders remain off the bottom of table by goal difference only, with Everton fans again protesting against the club owners after the match.
“I really hope Everton stick with Frank,” said Moyes. “He is a top bloke from the times I've been with him, but I have to think about my position because me winning one game doesn't mean everything is fine.”
When asked whether he felt his job was on the line, Lampard said: “I can't comment. It's not my decision.”
Liverpool and Chelsea lack punch
Two supposed heavyweights headed out for battle on Saturday but there was a woeful lack of punches landed between Liverpool and Chelsea after 90 minutes.
It was a dismal games between two surprise strugglers this season, a match lacking in entertainment, quality and goals at a strangely subdued Anfield.
The result leaves both teams 10 points off a Champions League place, with eighth-placed Liverpool – two spots above Chelsea – having played a game less than the London club.
The ferocious pressing and intensity that have characterised the Jurgen Klopp years at Liverpool have disappeared of late and £45 million signing Cody Gakpo looks like he will need to time settle in.
Klopp though, is determined to turn around the club's fortunes. “My motivation is no problem,” said the German coach after his 1,000th game as a manager. “I have enough energy for another 10 years.”
Newcastle need goals boost
Newcastle United maintained their superb defensive record with a goalless draw at Crystal Palace – a result that extended their unbeaten run to a club-record 15 top-flight games,
Goalkeeper Nick Pope has now kept nine clean sheets in a row, while the Magpies boast the league's meanest defence having conceding just 11 goals in 20 games, losing just once all campaign.
But at the other end of the pitch, goals are also becoming harder to find. Against Palace, Joelinton, Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, and Sven Botman all missed chances – and Eddie Howe's side have now scored just once in four league games.
“As a manager, you always want more options,” said Howe when asked whether the club were looking to make a signing before the transfer window closes, having allowed striker Chris Wood to join Nottingham Forest on loan last week.
Haaland back on treble trail
The goals monster that is Erling Haaland was back to his ruthless best on Sunday as the Norwegian bagged another hat-trick for Manchester City in their win against Wolves.
Haaland's first came from towering header, the second from the penalty spot and his fourth Premier League treble was a simple tap-in after a horrendous error by Wolves keeper Jose Sa.
It means Haaland has 25 goals already this season, and it's not even February yet, and that tally would have made him the sole Golden Boot winner in each of the previous four campaigns.
“That's his quality. I'm so pleased for him again. He just keeps coming up with the goals,” said teammate John Stones. “We all need to chip and we are doing but when he scores three in a game it's difficult!”
Pressure pays off for Arsenal
League leaders Arsenal restored their five-point advantage over Manchester City thanks to Eddie Nketiah's last-gasp goal.
The game's intensity and quality harked back to to the Patrick Vieira v Roy Keane era of Arsenal against Manchester United as the match played out at a frenetic pace.
The Gunners had been piling on the pressure from the moment United's Lisandro Martinez had pulled the scored level at 2-2 but it looked like they would have to settle for a point.
But Arsenal once again flashed their title credentials and Nketiah's winner was fully deserved.
Victory also kept Mikel Arteta's men on course to match the Premier League record of 100 points after taking 50 from their first 19 games.
“That's really significant. It's something we can be proud of but we have to stay humble,” said Bukayo Saka, who scored with a superb second-half strike.
“It's only halfway through the season and things can change very quickly.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Ultra processed foods
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The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
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SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
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