Rice bags double as Arsenal fightback to beat Bournemouth

Declan Rice scored twice as Premier League leaders Arsenal came from behind to beat Bournemouth. Gunners centre-back Gabriel played a blind pass across his box to gift Evanilson the opening goal for the Cherries but he made up for that with the equaliser. Rice scored a second half brace but Arsenal had a nervy finish after Eli Junior Kroupi gave Bournemouth renewed hope with a fine strike from outside the area.

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Gray gives Tottenham narrow win at Crystal Palace

Teenager Archie Gray’s first senior goal ensured Tottenham bounced back from consecutive Premier League defeats with a narrow victory over Crystal Palace, as Thomas Frank’s side ended the year on a positive note at Selhurst Park. The 19-year-old Gray punished Palace’s failure to deal with a corner from close range three minutes before half-time, after Randal Kolo Muani and then Richarlison were able to win aerial duels following Pedro Porro’s delivery to the back post.

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Alexander Isak undergoes surgery on fractured ankle

Liverpool’s record signing, Alexander Isak, is facing several months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that included a fractured fibula. Isak sustained the injury as a result of a heavy challenge from Micky van de Ven while in the process of scoring in Liverpool’s 2-1 win against Tottenham he was helped off in considerable pain and MRI scans confirmed Liverpool’s initial fears of a serious problem.

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Hosts Morocco kick off Africa Cup of Nations with win over Comoros

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 hosts Morocco began their campaign to win a second continental title with a somewhat nervy win over Comoros in the tournament opener in rainy Rabat. The Atlas Lions spurned a glorious chance to take an 11th-minute lead but broke the deadlock in the second half through Brahim Diaz and an acrobatic finish from Ayoub El Kaabi.

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Liverpool cling on to win chaotic clash against nine-man Spurs

Liverpool scrambled to a 2-1 win at nine-man Tottenham, somehow surviving a chaotic finale which saw Richarlison pull one back and Cristian Romero shown a red for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate as Spurs chased a last-gasp leveller. It had looked routine for Liverpool, with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike goals putting them in control, following Xavi Simons’ first-half sending off for putting his studs into Virgil van Dijk’s calf.

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