Manchester City, the dominant force in English football for over a decade, finds itself once again under the Premier League's microscope. This time, however, the allegations are not about intricate financial dealings or sponsorship controversies, but something seemingly more mundane: breaches of kick-off timing regulations. Recent reports confirm that City has been hit with a substantial fine of £1.08 million for delaying kick-offs and re-starts on nine separate occasions during the 2024/25 season. While a million-pound fine might seem like a drop in the ocean for a club of City's financial might, these sanctions underscore a deeper tension within the Premier League – a battle between sporting integrity, commercial interests, and the relentless demands of a global broadcasting behemoth. This isn't merely a trivial matter of punctuality. It speaks to the meticulous choreography of modern football, where every second is accounted for, and every deviation from the schedule has...
On Boxing Day, the Premier League made a spectacular comeback with eight exciting games.
André Ayew's close-range goal in the seventh minute gave the Foxes an early lead after an unexpected start on Merseyside, but Ruud van Nistelrooy's team was unable to build on any momentum before the Reds gained control.
Dutch international Cody Gakpo curled his shot into the top corner to tie the score at one all after Mohamed Salah struck the bar in the last minutes immediately before extra time.
In the 49th minute, Alexis Mac Allister's cut-back (his second assist of the evening) put the England midfielder within the six-yard box, setting Slot's team up for an eighth straight Boxing Day victory. Curtis Jones then scored from close range with a skillful touch to give Liverpool the lead.
Less than eight minutes from the end, Salah's inch-perfect finish sealed all three points for the evening, allowing Liverpool to capitalize on Chelsea's mistakes earlier in the day.
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