Gutierrez preparing to say goodbye in ´most important´ Newcastle match

Jonas Gutierrez says Saturday s encounter against West Ham is the most important match of his Newcastle United career in what could be his farewell appearance for the club.

Newcastle are not yet safe from relegation ahead of the Premier League contest at St James Park and defeat to Sam Allardyce s men coupled with a Hull City victory against Manchester United would consign John Carver s side to the drop.

Gutierrez was a part of the last Newcastle team to drop into the Championship in 2009 and the Argentine winger is keen to avoid a repeat of those painful memories.

It s the most important game I have to play in seven years,  Gutierrez told the Shields Gazette.

The good thing is that we play at home and it s in our hands. A few players here know what …

Roberto De Zerbi stressed the need for a winning mentality at Brighton

Roberto De Zerbi stressed the importance of changing the mood at Brighton after they beat Ajax 2-0 at the Amex Stadium to claim a first European victory.

It ended a run of five games without a win as the club have struggled with injuries during their debut Europa League campaign, though their European hopes were firmly revived here with a comprehensive triumph over the four-time European champions.

From the first minute Brighton outclassed a poor Ajax side, who just three days after sacking manager Maurice Steijn amidst the club’s worst-ever start to an Eredivisie season, barely mustered an attack.

Tonight’s match winners in Europe!

— Brighton Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC)

Joao Pedro tapped in on the rebound after Karou Mitoma’s shot had …

Erling Haaland shines as Man City condemn Man Utd to heavy derby day defeat

Erling Haaland’s double helped Manchester City secure derby day delight as lifeless rivals Manchester United were outclassed in an embarrassing home defeat.

The eyes of the footballing world were on Old Trafford as the neighbours met in the 191st Manchester derby and first since Pep Guardiola’s men matched their 1999 treble triumph.

Haaland scored a spot-kick and unmarked header before playing in Phil Foden to wrap up 3-0 victory, yet City’s dominance was far greater than the scoreline suggests.

The derby belongs to

— Premier League (@premierleague)

It was an abrupt end to an unconvincing three-match winning run in all competitions for Erik ten Hag’s United, who have now lost five of their 10 opening Premier League games.

Haal…

Olic confirms MLS contacts

Croatia forward Ivica Olic has moved to confirm reports linking him with a January move to Major League Soccer.

The 35-year-old has lost his place in the starting line-up at Hamburg and he is being heavily linked with a move away from the club.

Recent reports have suggested that Seattle Sounders and Orlando City are showing interest in his services, and Olic confirms that a winter switch to the MLS is a realistic possibility.

“With Seattle I have had contact for a while. Even now again in August,” Olic . “Also, there is contact with Orlando.

”In the winter, we make a decision (on the transfer). Anything could happen.”

Ivica Olic has spent last eight and a half years in German Bundesliga, having joined Hamburg from CSKA Moscow.

Chelsea 0-2 Aston Villa: Blues slip to first loss in five against stubborn visitors

Chelsea slipped to a first loss in five games as goals for Ollie Watkins and John McGinn helped Aston Villa seal a 2-0 win in the Premier League on Saturday.

Watkins stunned the hosts early on with a lobbed first-half finish before his captain fired home a magnificent long-range effort close to the hour mark.

Defeat saw Graham Potter s previously resurgent hosts stutter at Stamford Bridge, leaving them five points off the top seven and potential European qualification.

For Unai Emery s visitors though, the result lifts them above their opponents and keeps them in with an outside shout of a surprise continental berth.

Chelsea rode their luck when McGinn rattled the crossbar with a fine volley, but they were less fortunate in the 18th minute.

A mix-…

This Liverpool isn´t a team of chokers – Mane

Sadio Mane is convinced Liverpool will end their long wait for the title this season and is adamant they are not a team of chokers .

Liverpool have not won England s top-flight crown for 29 years, seeing bitter rivals Manchester United overtake them as the division s most successful club in the process.

The Reds went close to Premier League success for the first time since its 1992 inception in 2013-14, but a 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea ultimately proved crucial, as Manchester City capitalised on that result to go on and lift the trophy.

With 22 matches played this term, Liverpool are top of the table and have a four-point cushion ahead of defending champions City.

Jurgen Klopp s men have lost just once – at the Etihad Stadium on January 3 – and …

Brighton sign Estupinan from Villarreal as Cucurella replacement on five-year deal

Brighton and Hove Albion have completed the signing of defender Pervis Estupinan from LaLiga side Villarreal.

The Ecuador international arrives for an undisclosed fee reported to be worth £14million (€16.7m) and has put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Amex Stadium.

The 24-year-old will add plenty of experience to the Seagulls back line, having won the Europa League with Villarreal in 2021, while also featuring for Granada, Almeria, Real Mallorca and Osasuna in Spain.

Signing a new left-back had been a priority following the sale of Marc Cucurella to Chelsea, and head coach Graham Potter is thrilled by the arrival of Estupinan, who racked up 74 appearances during his two-year spell at El Madrigal.

He s here and he s Pervis.

— Brighto…

Malang Sarr leaves Chelsea for Monaco on loan with purchase option

Chelsea have allowed Malang Sarr to join Monaco on loan with an option to buy.

The 23-year-old centre-back will move to the Ligue 1 club for the 2022-23 season, with Monaco then able to make the arrangement permanent for a reported €15million (£12.7m).

Monaco s purchase option could become mandatory if certain conditions are met, according to widespread reports.

Sarr joined Chelsea on a free transfer in August 2020 but was soon sent out on loan to Porto, where he made 19 appearances across all competitions.

 !

 

— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN)

He returned to Stamford Bridge for the 2021-22 season and became a member of the first-team squad, playing 21 times on all fronts, though only eight of those were in the Premier Leagu…

Welbeck said it wasn´t a penalty – Henderson says VAR robbed Liverpool of victory

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was left seething after the Reds were penalised late on in a dramatic 1-1 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Diogo Jota s 60th-minute strike – his eighth goal in his past eight Liverpool appearances in all competitions – appeared to be sending the visitors three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

However, after VAR had intervened to disallow goals for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Liverpool were delivered a hammer blow by the technology in stoppage time.

Andy Robertson swung out a foot and clipped Danny Welbeck in the area, and though referee Stuart Attwell did not spot the infringement initially, he changed his mind after viewing the pitch-side monitor.

Neal Maupay became the first Premier League player …