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Everton beat Burnley to keep their Europa League hopes alive.

The Toffees, who move to within one point of seventh-placed Wolves, started brightly and led when Richarlison's 25-yard shot deflected in off Ben Mee. Seamus Coleman headed in a second goal after Tom Heaton parried Lucas Digne's swerving shot. Burnley struggled in front of goal, but should probably have had a second-half penalty when Michael Keane shoved substitute Matej Vydra. Sean Dyche's side have already secured their Premier League place for next season and looked far short of their battling best. Everton's top-seven bid will come to an end if Wolves beat Fulham on Saturday. Everton continue decent form The Toffees have found a good run of results in the closing stages of the season, with a fifth win in seven games. Boss Marco Silva said his side have "finished the season in the right way" and that "we have to put our targets high" for next year. But this season is not over yet. They can qualify for Europe, but it remains a long shot. They need to finish seventh, which means they cannot afford Wolves to win either of their final games. And they also need Manchester City to beat Watford in the FA Cup final to ensure the seventh-placed team get a Europa League place. Everton blew Burnley away with a quick start at Goodison Park. They had five shots in the opening 10 minutes and 12 efforts in the first half. Richarlison had an effort blocked and fired another over before his shot helped give them the lead. Gylfi Sigurdsson picked out the Brazilian and his long-range strike flew past Heaton - but it was registered as a Mee own goal as the shot took a deflection off the Burnley defender. Everton continued their push for goals and Digne's effort from outside the box was saved with Coleman stooping in to head in his 20th Premier League goal. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had several chances for Everton but failed to test Heaton. The Toffees lost Richarlison to a not-too-serious-looking injury early in the second half. Their chances dried up after the break - until a wonderful Ademola Lookman shot from outside the box late on which clipped the top of the crossbar. BBC Sport's European qualification explainer "The players have been doing well," said Silva. "The last 10 games we have had eight clean sheets and have been playing offensive football. The players have been enjoying what they are doing and we have achieved three points again. "We were always in control. We deserved those two goals in that moment. I didn't really like the second half. We were in control but gave some chances to them. We could do better."

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2019-05-04 02:00:00

Dean Hoyle to step down as Huddersfield chairman and will sell club to Phil Hodgkinson

Dean Hoyle is to stand down as Huddersfield chairman after 10 years in the post and is set to sell the club to lifelong Terriers fan Phil Hodgkinson. Sunday's game against Manchester United will be 52-year-old Hoyle's final home fixture in charge of the club. During his tenure, he guided Huddersfield from League One to the Premier League - the club's most successful period in 40 years. "My heart doesn't want me to sell the club," said Hoyle. "I believe the Manchester United game will probably be the most emotional day of my life. "However, my head is telling me that, after 10 years of total dedication and my recent ill health, I need to do what is right for myself, my family and Huddersfield Town and that is pass the reins to a new chairman who can take our club to a new chapter in its history." Hoyle, who suffered with pancreatitis earlier this year, will retain a minority stake in the club - who have been relegated from the Premier League - but a commercial agreement is in place to sell the club to Hodgkinson, who will take a 75% controlling ownership. Hodgkinson, the CEO and founder of the PURE Business Group, will step down from his role as an owner and director at National League North side Southport. "Huddersfield Town is in my blood and has always been one of my greatest passions," he said. "I'm so excited to have the opportunity to take this club forward. "My number one priority is to give every support I can to Jan Siewert in order to make us as good as we can be on the pitch. Our aim is to get back to winning football matches and to put smiles back on the faces of our supporters after a tough season."

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2019-05-04 02:00:00

Gonzalo Higuain: On-loan Chelsea striker intends to be at Stamford Bridge next season

Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain says it is his "intention" to be at Stamford Bridge next season. The Argentina international, 31, joined the Blues on loan until the end of the season from Italian giants Juventus in January. Last week, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said Higuain - who has scored three goals in eight Premier League appearances - needs "time to improve". "I want to do as well as I can so I can be here for next season," Higuain said. "I came here and I wanted to stay. It's a good city, you live well and you can be relaxed but also enjoy yourself - so my intention is to stay here." 'If Eden wants another experience it's very difficult to keep him' - Sarri on Hazard future Higuain scored twice on his home debut against Huddersfield in February, but has not netted since the Blues' 2-1 win over Fulham in March. Chelsea have the option to buy him for 36m euros (

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2019-04-09 02:00:00

Eden Hazard scored one of the goals of the Premier League season as Chelsea beat West Ham

Eden Hazard scored one of the goals of the Premier League season as Chelsea beat West Ham to climb above Tottenham and Arsenal into third spot in the race for a Champions League place. Hazard, who has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, evaded five players during a stunning run, before the Belgium forward calmly beat keeper Lukasz Fabianski. He added a late second goal to cap a magnificent individual performance in an entertaining game at Stamford Bridge. Gonzalo Higuain hit a post, while Hazard was denied a penalty after what looked like a foul by Marko Arnautovic, with Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini going closest for West Ham with a shot which was beaten away by Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea, who can still qualify for next season's Champions League by winning the Europa League, are three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal - who have a game in hand - after a third successive league win. The Hammers remain 11th after a third defeat in four league games.

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2019-04-09 02:00:00

Virgil van Dijk votes for rival Raheem Sterling as PFA player of the year

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has voted for Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling as his PFA player of the year, and said title rivals City had several candidates for his vote. Van Dijk has been a key part of a Liverpool side boasting the division's best defensive record this season. Meanwhile, 24-year-old ex-Reds forward Sterling has scored 15 times for City. "I did what I thought and I thought he deserves it," said Van Dijk, with players unable to vote for team-mates. "He's had a fantastic season. I could have voted for Bernardo Silva as well, and another couple of players from City. "But I am just being honest. I think he has improved a lot as a player. We will see if he wins it." Liverpool currently sit two points above Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, having played one game more, as Jurgen Klopp's side aim for the club's first league title since 1990. "I think all of the teams of the league would love to be in our position right now. We are in a great situation," added Dutch international Van Dijk, who joined the Anfield club for

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2019-04-09 02:00:00

Eden Hazard: Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea must respect decision if forward wants to leave

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said he must "respect Eden Hazard's decision" if the forward wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Reports on Monday suggested Real Madrid are eager to secure a

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2019-04-09 02:00:00

Everton boss Marco Silva said his side's improved form is down to confidence following their impressive victory over Arsenal at Goodison Park.

Phil Jagielka, who was called into the starting XI as a replacement for Michael Keane shortly before kick-off, poked home the only goal of the game following Dominic Calvert-Lewin's header from Lucas Digne's early long throw. "I'm really, really happy. We deserved the three points," Silva told BBC Sport. "The chances we created, we should score more goals. It is a fantastic win and one more clean sheet. That's the spirit I like - the desire to win every challenge. "[Earlier in the season] we lost some confidence, we had a break and after we worked really well. It's the same team with more confidence." Arsenal were poor in the first half and, while they did improve in the second, they never seriously tested Jordan Pickford in the Toffees goal. Everton, meanwhile, had plenty of chances to double their lead in the second half as Bernard, Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson all spurned chances. Victory for Everton means they leapfrog Watford into ninth while Arsenal remain in fourth.

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2019-01-01 02:00:00

EFL Awards: Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki named Championship Player of the Season

Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki took the top honour of Championship Player of the Season at the EFL Awards. The Finland international claimed the award ahead of Sheffield United's Billy Sharp and Birmingham City's Che Adams. Pukki, 29, has scored 26 goals and provided nine assists to help the Canaries to the brink of promotion. Luton Town striker James Collins won the League One Player of the Season award while Tranmere Rovers' James Norwood took the honour in League Two. It was an evening of double celebration for Norwich as full-back Max Aarons was named Young Player of the Season. Aarons, 19, has scored three times in 35 Championship appearances in his first season at senior level and was nominated alongside Derby County's Harry Wilson and Luton's James Justin. While Sheffield United striker Sharp just have missed out on the top gong, he was recognised with the Moment of the Season award at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. Sharp, 33, became the leading goalscorer in the EFL this century in January when he surpassed Rickie Lambert with his 220th career strike. The former Doncaster and Nottingham Forest player has stretched that tally to 227 goals since as the Blades sit second in the Championship, a point ahead of third-placed Leeds United with six games to play. "This is absolutely fantastic, it's a really proud moment," he said. "Personal accolades are brilliant, and it's great to receive this - I'll reflect on tonight as a proud one. "Of course, my focus now is firmly on putting a P for promotion beside our name come the end of the season." Sharp was also named in the EFL Team of the Season, made up of players from across all three divisions and managed by his Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder. Goal of the Year went to Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves for his stunning strike against Derby County in April 2018.

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2019-01-01 02:00:00

Manchester City: Pep Guardiola says quadruple will be almost impossible

It will be "almost impossible" for Manchester City to win the quadruple this season, Pep Guardiola has said. His City side beat Brighton 1-0 on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final. They have already won the Carabao Cup, are in the Champions League quarter-finals and are currently second in the Premier League as they attempt to become the first English club to win all four trophies in one campaign. "Surviving is a miracle. It's nice to be there," the City manager said. "Nobody has done it [won the quadruple], so why can we do it? It is almost impossible to achieve everything - that is the truth." City were below their best against Brighton, but Gabriel Jesus' early goal saw them reach the FA Cup final for the first time during Guardiola's reign.

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2019-01-01 02:00:00

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says racism can be tackled with education not stadium bans

Chelsea "have a problem" with racist and anti-Semitic fan behaviour but believe education rather than bans will better help tackle the problem, says chairman Bruce Buck. Raheem Sterling was allegedly racially abused by Chelsea fans in December and Blues fans were accused of anti-Semitic chanting during a Europa League game. "We've changed our approach," Buck told BBC Radio 4's Beyond Today podcast. "We believe with certain activity the best way to deal with it is education." Listen to full interview with Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck He added: "We believe if someone does something wrong and we ban them from the stadium for three years, they are not going to change their behaviour. "They will become more racist or more anti-Semitic. "Historically over the last 10 or 15 years, since Mr Abramovich [Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich] owned the football club, if there has been racist behaviour or anti-Semitic behaviour, we have dealt with it with a stadium ban. "But as part of this project, talking about it over the last two years, we have changed our approach." Buck said the education programme is only available following some offences and the offender must admit the transgression before continuing. "Our approach on all of those is to write to the alleged offender and ask them to comment," Buck said. "Once we get the comments back, we consider it and take all of the factors into consideration and decide whether it is appropriate to resolve it through education."

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2019-04-05 02:00:00
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