Sam Allardyce gone as England manager after 67 days - Southgate to take over for next four games

The Three Lions manager was removed from his post after showdown talks with FA chiefs at Wembley on Tuesday

 

Sam Allardyce has been removed as England manager by mutual consent with The FA.
Allardyce’s departure was confirmed after emergency talks at Wembley with FA bosses on Tuesday.
England under-21 boss Gareth Southgate has been asked to take over for the next four matches.
The former Sunderland boss leaves after just 67 days into his reign after a newspaper sting filmed him telling undercover reporters how to bend rules on third party ownership of players.
Allardyce and The FA confirmed Allardyce's exit in separate statements.
“Further to recent events, The FA and I have mutually agreed to part company," Allardyce said.

  Sam Allardyce leaving Wembley Stadium after the end to his England reign was decided

 Gareth Southgate has been confirmed to take over from Allardyce as interim boss

"It was a great honour for me to be appointed back in July and I am deeply disappointed at this outcome.
“This afternoon, I met with Greg Clarke and Martin Glenn and offered a sincere and wholehearted apology for my actions.
“Although it was made clear during the recorded conversations that any proposed arrangements would need The FA’s full approval, I recognise I made some comments which have caused embarrassment.
“As part of today’s meeting, I was asked to clarify what I said and the context in which the conversations took place. I have co-operated fully in this regard.
“I also regret my comments with regard to other individuals.”


The FA reiterated that Allardyce's actions were "inappropriate" for an England manager.
"He accepts he made a significant error of judgement and has apologised. However, due to the serious nature of his actions, The FA and Allardyce have mutually agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect," the statement read

"This is not a decision that was taken lightly but The FA's priority is to protect the wider interests of the game and maintain the highest standards of conduct in football.

"The manager of the England men's senior team is a position which must demonstrate strong leadership and show respect for the integrity of the game at all times.
"Gareth Southgate will take charge of the men's senior team for the next four matches against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain whilst The FA begins its search for the new England manager.
"The FA wishes Sam well in the future."


Allardyce's exit followed emergency talks with FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

He is set to leave his post after just one game and two months in charge of the two-year contract he signed at the end of July.
Southgate will take charge for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia at the beginning of next month.

The FA decided to act after Allardyce agreed a £400,000 bogus contract to do after dinner speaking but his remarks made to two undercover reporters posing as businessmen are far worse.
He mocked former England boss Roy Hodgson's speech impediment and questioned Gary Neville's role.

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GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Real Madrid (Schurrle)

 

Zinedine Zidane's men left it late to beat Sporting Lisbon last time out but face the toughest task of their group campaign in Germany

Madrid, for their part, narrowly missed out on setting a new Liga record at the weekend. Their 2-2 draw with Las Palmas at the Gran Canaria saw them fall short of becoming the first ever team to record 17 consecutive wins.
As it stands in Group F, Dortmund and Madrid will be confident of progressing at the expence of Sporting and Legia Warsaw, but this game and the reverse fixture at the Bernabeu should go a huge way to deciding who tops the group and gets a beneficial tie in the last 16.
So both teams are in fine form and this fixture has given us some classics in recent years.

We're promised plenty of goals at the Signal Iduna!

After leaving it desperately late to overcome Sporting in their first Champions League group stage game, Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid have an altogether tougher prospect with tonight’s trip to the Signal Iduna Park where they will face an in-form Borussia Dortmund side.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have been scoring for fun this month, with back-to-back 6-0 victories against Legia Warsaw in Champions League Gameweek 1 and SV Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga.
They followed that up with a 5-1 hammering of Wolfsburg and a 3-1 victory over SC Freiburg.


Starting XI: Navas, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Danilo, Kroos, Modric, James, Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema
Subs: Casilla, Pepe, Coentrao, Kovacic, Lucas Vazquez, Morata, Isco

Flashback!

Before Robert Lewandowski moved to Bayern Munich, the Pole was an icon at Borussia Dortmund.
Four seasons ago he scored four times as Jurgen Klopp’s side thrashed Madrid 4-1 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash.
Die Borussen went on to reach the final but lost to Bayern 2-1 at Wembley, and Lewandowski joined the Bavarian giants just over a year later.

Borussia Dortmund's line-up confirmed

Finally, we have Borussia Dortmund’s starting line-up for tonight’s match.
Starting XI: Burki, Piszczek, Sokratis, Ginter, Schmelzer, Castro, Weigl, Guerreiro, Dembele, Gotze, Aubameyang
Subs: Weidenfeller, Mor, Rode, Ramos, Schurrle, Pulisic, Passlack

                             Zidane has denied talk of a rift with Cristiano Ronaldo
 
“I understand the level of attention it received but it is what it is. I took the decision in the best (interests) of the player and that’s not going to change anything.
“We have spoken about it. I’m not dumb and he’s intelligent. We all have the same objectives, the two of us and the rest of the team.”

Zidane plays down talk of Ronaldo rift

Zinedine Zidane denied talk of a rift between him and Cristiano Ronaldo after substituting the Portuguese during Real Madrid’s draw with Las Palmas over the weekend.
Ronaldo was visibly annoyed at being withdrawn and didn’t make eye contact with his manager on his way back to the substitutes’ bench.
But at a press conference in Dortmund on Monday, Zidane said: “Everything is normal.”
The 44-year-old added: “Cristiano wasn’t the only one angry after the game but it’s over now and we are thinking about tomorrow’s game.

                         The Portuguese was all smiles in training on Monday


Dortmund continued to push and eventually levelled two minutes before half-time, when Castro’s free-kick was punched out by Keylor Navas and hit Raphael Varane, bouncing back into the goalkeeper’s net, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on hand to ensure it went over the line.
Varian made amends in the second half when he stabbed home from close range after Benzema’s shot bounced back off the woodwork, but Schurrle’s late blaster saw the scores levelled in the nick of time for the hosts.

Andre Schurrle’s late strike earned Borussia Dortmund a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid on a thrilling night in Germany.
Dortmund made all the early running, with electric passing moves cutting through Madrid’s defence, although their finishing was poor.
Keylor Navas made a good stop from Gonzalo Castro’s free-kick, while Ousmane Dembele twice fired over the bar.
Madrid broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, when Gareth Bale’s back-heel sat up nicely for Cristiano Ronaldo to dispatch with aplomb.

 

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Arsenal fans troll Cesc Fabregas after the Chelsea midfielder was subbed at 3-nil down

Happy days at the Emirates Stadium.

                                                 Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal fans v Cesc Fabregas

If the truth be told, the only reason Cesc Fabregas never returned to Arsenal after his time at Barcelona is because Arsene Wenger opted against signing the midfielder.

Cesc, in turn, joined Chelsea, and he’s since been targeted as a traitor by many Arsenal fans.

Indeed, in the run up to Saturday’s Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, Ian Wright used social media to wonder why Cesc still has a banner on the bridge outside the Gunners home ground.

Also see: Gooners love the official Arsenal Snapchat welcome to Cesc Fabregas

Cesc subbed for Marcos Alonso

On Saturday, Arsenal steamrollered Chelsea in the first half.

Alexis Sanchez opened after a terrible mistake from Gary Cahill, Theo Walcott made it 2-0, while Sanchez teed up Mesut Ozil for a third.

With Chelsea looking incredibly out of sorts, Antonoi Conte pulled off Fabregas for left-back Marcos Alonso in the 55th minute.

That substitution was enjoyed by many Arsenal fans on social media.

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Jose Mourinho explains his decision to drop Wayne Rooney from the Man United XI

Wayne Rooney finally dropped

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney was today dropped by his manager Jose Mourinho following a string of poor performances in different positions.

Having failed to shoehorn him into the first XI, Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop the 30-year-old captain of club and country was vindicated by half-time when the Reds were 4-0 up against Premier League champions Leicester City.

Manchester United eventually won 4-1 with Wayne Rooney entering the fray late on as a substitute.

Mourinho explains his decision

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Jose Mourinho told reporters why he decided to relegate Wayne Rooney to the bench.

Manchester United fans had been begging their manager on social media to drop the club’s second highest ever goalscorer and they finally got their wish today.

Jose Mourinho claims Rooney will remain his captain and suggested he was only dropped to take advantage of Leicester’s ageing defenders. Watch the video below.

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Full time: Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea (Alexis, Walcott, Ozil)

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea (Alexis 11)

Arsenal take the lead after a bad mistake from Gary Cahill. He dithered on the ball just inside his own half before shaping to pass it back to the keeper. As he did so Sanchez robbed him and ran clear before chipping the ball gently and sweetly over Courtois. That was a beautiful finish. Unlike the goal against Swansea, there was no suggestion of a foul there. Cahill just had a brainfade.

                  

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea (Walcott 14)

That was glorious football. Iwobi and Ozil played a one-two-three just outside the box before Iwobi an angled through pass to Bellerin, who ran off the lazy Hazard and into the box. He fizzed it first time across the area to give Walcott a simple finish from eight yards. That was clean, quick and incisive, though Hazard was negligent in letting Bellerin go.

                            Antonio Conte doesn’t look too impressed with how things are going so far

18 min Chelsea have only two problems: they look terrible with the ball, and even worse without it.

19 min Sanchez shuffles away from Ivanovic on the edge of the box before dragging a weak shot well wide of the far post.

21 min Chelsea’s first chance. Hazard combines neatly with Costa before releasing Willian on the right of the box. He has time to take a touch before driving a crisp low shot just wide of the far post.

22 min “It’s interesting the lack of hype around Iwobi... for my money, he is one of the most exciting young talents in years in England,” says Andrew Hurley. “A near perfect technique, stature and a rare awareness for someone of his age. Arsenal have a real gem here...”

I’ve only seen him in a few games but I agree. The big thing, as you say, is his awareness. That usually only comes with experience.

24 min Chelsea have stirred. Hazard, who is especially busy, had a 16-yard shot blocked by Koscielny after good play from Costa and Willian.

25 min Bellerin’s stinging low shot is deflected behind by the stretching Cahill. One corner begets another but nothing comes of it, not even for those who waited.

28 min Coquelin makes an excellent block tackle on the edge of the box as Kante tries to shoot. Arsenal break superbly and Ivanovic trips Iwobi in the D after a lovely one-two with Alexis. Ivanovic is booked.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea (Ozil 40)

Mesut Ozil settles the match before half-time. Ozil turned Kante exquisitely in his own half and loafed forward on a two-on-two break. He played it through to Sanchez on the right of the box, and he returned it with a chipped cross beyond the far post. Ozil watched it carefully onto his left foot, mishit his sidefoot volley completely - and saw it bounce over Courtois and in off the far post.

A terrific win for Arsenal, who overwhelmed an admittedly poor Chelsea with some lovely football in the first half. Mesut Ozil was wonderful, Alex Iwobi and Alexis were excellent too, and Mustafi and Koscielny looked solid at the back. It’s a very, very happy anniversary for Arsene Wenger – not just the result but the way it was achieved. Thanks for your company; goodnight.

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Middlesbrough 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Heung-Min Son’s goal-den spell continued as we ran out deserved 2-1 winners at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

 

The South Korean star buried two beauties at the Riverside to take his tally to four in the Premier League this term. He’s already toppled his three goals from last season.

 

The only mystery on Teesside was how Middlesbrough were still in the game after we dominated the first half and created numerous chances. Indeed, the shot count ended 19-6 in our favour.

 

Son opened his account by drifting in from the right and finishing low in a crowded box and then topped that effort with a sublime curler after it looked like he’d run out of room.

 

Further chances arrived for Christian Eriksen, Moussa Sissoko and most notably Dele Alli, but it stayed 2-0 at the break.

 

The pattern remained in the second half but a double substitution – Adama Traore and Jordan Rhodes coming on – inspired the home side.

 

Ben Gibson responded with a header as Boro pushed on but we remained in control and while it was a nervy ending, in truth there were few heart-stopping moments as we stretched our unbeaten run to six matches at the start of this Premier League campaign, claiming our third victory in six days in all competitions in the process.

Vertonghen broke out of defence, beat two players and found Alli, he played in Janssen, left angle, had to hit on the run and fired over.

Eriksen led the break, had options, went for shot, blocked.

Son inswinging corner heading for far corner until Valdes turned away.

Eriksen's free-kick to near post headed out for corner by Negredo.

Corner taken short and Boro clear this time.

51.45 - Boro pinned in again as Janssen presses, Valdes forced to kick long.

Alderweireld crossfield pass to Alli, inside to Janssen, shot blocked, corner.

54.17 - Another good corner delivery from Son, ball loose for a second but we're penalised.

54.58 - Son darted down the left, Barragan slid in, corner.

Alderweireld up to meet Son's corner, glanced header well wide.

Traore and Rhodes for Ramirez and Negredo. 

59.10 - Great pressure from Alli, Janssen and Son forced Chambers into clearance.

Break on, Traore central, had Rhodes in support but overhit pass and Lloris out to collect.

61.01 - Traore down the right, low cross cleared by Vertonghen.

Eriksen wide to Walker, back to Eriksen, central, teed up Alli, decent hit from 22 yards but always rising.

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Liverpool 5-1 Hull City

After a breathless finish to the county cricket championship the previous day, it was perhaps fitting that Liverpool virtually declared here at Anfield.

The Reds capitalised on a foolish red card for Ahmed Elmohamady when he handled Philippe Coutinho's goal bound shot, to destroy a Hull side that looked beaten as soon as they conceded a fine early goal by Adam Lallana.

It was the England man who was star of the show, with Lallana at the heart of everything good about Jurgen Klopp's team, and really, it could have been any scoreline.

The surprise was, Liverpool weren't six up by the interval after Elmohamady's mistake, but they were able to stroll through the game, despite conceding a second half goal to David Meyler from a corner.

Here, our reporter David Maddock looks at a comprehensive display from an impressive home team, who inflated their goal difference through further strikes from James Milner, twice from the spot, Sadio Mane and Coutinho.

1. The Reds are a team

Liverpool may not have the individual brilliance of a Suarez in their side, but they DO have the collective will of that team of two years ago which so very nearly won the title.

Jurgen Klopp has created a real spirit in this side, and you suspect it will take them a long way this season.

2. They are not just about that famous 'heavy metal' football though

This team has an almost razor-like quality to their passing in the midfield, pinging it around to dizzying effect, and it left Hull in a complete spin.

The Reds will bypass a lot better sides than this with their pass and move ability.

 

3. The Reds were helped by a red

The visitors were hardly helped by a rash decision from Ahmed Elmohamady to handle Philippe Coutinho's goal bound shot on the line, but the fact of the matter is, Liverpool should have been four up by then anyway, and after they scored so early there really was only going to be one result here.

4. Sturridge has food for thought

Sturridge came on and did well against a defeated team by that point, but he will have noticed the role that Roberto Firmino plays in this team.

Not only is his elusive movement and sublime passing so important, but he also becomes the first line of defence so effectively.

He presses with lightening intent, and it's no wonder Klopp likes him to lead the line

5. Normal service has resumed for Hull now

With the injuries they currently have, and the suspensions they will now face, Hull's already threadbare squad is pushed to snapping point, and the fear is that Mike Phelan's side will now sink without trace in the cut-throat battle to stay up.

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Bournemouth 1-0 Everton live score and goal updates from the Premier League clash

Everton lost in the league for the first time under Ronald Koeman as Junior Stanislas' superb shot gave Bournemouth a deserved victory.

Jack Wilshere hit the crossbar with a deflected shot before Stanislas' 25-yard drive flew into the top corner.

Harry Arter and Callum Wilson also went close as the Cherries won for the second time in the league this season.

Romelu Lukaku's early header was brilliantly saved by Artur Boruc but Everton rarely threatened.

Bournemouth have produced the perfect tonic to a disappointing week by cruising to victory against Everton today. A Junior Stanislas strike in the first half proved the difference between the teams, and the result marks the Cherries’ first ever victory over the Merseyside club. Arter and Surman were tireless in the midfield engine room, while out wide Stanislas and Ibe caused Everton problems throughout. Koeman's men were a shadow of the team that played Middlesbrough off the park last week, and will face a week of introspection as they lose their unbeaten record for this season.............

 The ball bounces up to Williams in the Bournemouth box, but he can't get his header on target. Smith gets caught by Williams' elbow and has a nasty cut across the eyes. There'll be a bit more stoppage time for this one.

Coleman beats his man but is incapable of picking out a team-mate with his cross. Eddie Howe is up and bellowing at his players, willing them towards the win.

CHANCE!!! Bolasie has done little of note throughout this match but produced a wonderful cross there to provide Valencia with a guilt edge chance. The ball is at an awkward height for the Ecuadorian, and he pokes the ball wide as Bournemouth edge close to three points. 

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Full time: Manchester United 4-1 Leicester City

Peep peep! An excellent day for Manchester United, who end their disgraceful run of two consecutive league defeats with an emphatic win. The absence of Wayne Rooney made for a faster first-half performance, even if a half-time scoreline of 4-0 was a big lie. Paul Pogba had a fine game; Juan Mata and Ander Herrera were good too. Leicester look like a team whose collective unconscious has placed every last egg in the basket marked ‘Champions League’. Thanks for your company and abuse; bye.

90+1 min There will be three minutes of added time. “Your support is effing shit,” chant the Leicester fans, who invented cheering.

89 min Paul Pogba is Sky’s Man of the Match, and quite right too. He has given extremely good YouTube, especially in a scintillating five-minute period in the first half.

  


































88 min Another United substitution: Ashley Young on, Juan Mata off after one of his better days at Old Trafford.

87 min “On the bright side, Rob, every time we’ve lost 4-1 this season before a Champions League game we’ve won said CL game 3-0,” says John Allen. “Claudio has a plan.”

85 min Ibrahimovic, loitering on the left side of the box, whips a curler too close to Zieler.

84 min Here’s Raymond Reardon. “Whatever meal has been served up by the combined recruiting of Ferguson, Moyes, LVG and Mourinho it is at least more palatable than the 12-year slow roast that Wenger has been trying to cook.”

83 min Wayne Rooney replaces Marcus Rashford, and will play out on the left of the front three.

     82 min The cocky, impressive Gray runs at Blind and wins Leicester a corner. It’s cleared to Drinkwater, whose shot deflects behind for another corner. That is recycled to Gray, who beats Blind on the right and hits a beautiful ball right across the face of goal. He has been superb since coming on at half-time.

81 min: BREAKING NEWS: WAYNE ROONEY IS TAKING HIS TRACKY TOP OFF

80 min I’m afraid we’re having a few technical problems. In the last few minutes you’ve missed another fine effort by Gray that was superbly tipped round by the leaping De Gea, and the introduction of Michael Carrick for Jesse Lingard.

76 min Valencia’s vicious rising cross just evades Ibrahimovic, who attempted a high kick at the far post.

74 min Simpson is booked for tripping Rashford, whose blistering pace ensured he beat Simpson to a loose ball.

72 min Manchester United get a left-wing corner - and don’t score! It’s cleared to Herrera, who welts over from 25 yards.

70 min Despite his goal Rashford hasn’t had his best game today. He has tried a bit too hard, and his decision-making has been unusually poor. Has the bubble burst?

      
 

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