Ola Aina shines as Torino ease past Sampdoria

Ola Aina put in an impressive performance as Torino defeated Sampdoria 4-1 in Sunday’s Italian Serie A encounter.

The wing-back who has been a consistent fixture for the Bull, featuring in all but one of their league games since joining the side on loan in the summer from Chelsea, provided the assist for his side’s third goal.

Andrea Belotti got the curtain raiser 12 minutes into the game and then doubled the lead in the 46th minute from the penalty spot.

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In the 56th minute, Aina sent in a cross that was met by Iago Falque for the third goal of the game.

Fabio Quagliarella scored a consolation in the 65th minute before Armando Izzo sealed the victory 12 minutes before stoppage time.

The former Hull City defender along Cameroon international Nicolas Nkoulou featured for the entire duration of the game.

With the win, Torino are seventh in the log with 17 points from 11 games. They take on Parma in their next league outing on November 10.

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‘Arsenal now closer to Premier League’s best’ – Emery lauds Gunners after Liverpool draw

Unai Emery believes Arsenal have showed that they have closed the gap on the Premier League’s best sides with their 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

Alexandre Lacazette earned the Gunners a point at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, cancelling out James Milner’s second-half opener to extend the north London outfit’s unbeaten streak to 14 games.

Arsenal’s only previous encounter with current top-four opposition in the league was a pair of clashes against champions Manchester City and rivals Chelsea in August, losing both.

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Emery, who succeeded long-term Gunners manager Arsene Wenger in May, has not lost a game since the defeat against Maurizio Sarri’s Blues, and felt his side’s performance against Liverpool highlighted the progress they have made in recent months.

“The Premier League is the first competition for us. It gives us the big regularity for the season – 38 matches,” the 47-year-old told reporters in his post-match press conference.

“It’s very important when you play against City, Chelsea and Liverpool and if you win it’s better.

“But the other games are important also because three points are the same against Liverpool or Crystal Palace or next week against Wolves. Today is one test, how we are against a team like Liverpool.

“Maybe after Manchester City and Chelsea, today we are more near those teams, but we need this quality in every match. Every game is important.”

Emery was also keen to praise youngster Alex Iwobi for his contributions, highlighting the 22-year-old’s ability and encouraging his continued growth.

“[He] can impact hard in the match,” the coach added. “First he started on the right, then I thought he was better left. His impact in some moments in the match, like our goal, is important.

“His energy is important, so is his quality. He can improve. He can do better. He scored against Chelsea, I want him to be nearer the box, having chances to score more.

“He can. He is very young. He is improving. But also he has the ambition to do more.”

Arsenal are now fifth in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Liverpool.

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Chelsea v Crystal Palace Betting Tips: Latest odds, team news, preview and predictions

Chelsea will be looking to avoid a slip-up when they welcome bogey side Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge for Sunday’s Premier League clash.

The Blues have lost two of their last three matches against their London rivals, as well as two of the last three on home turf.

Latest Odds

However, they are unbeaten in 15 fixtures so far this campaign, and 1/4 (1.25) favourites with William Hill to exact revenge by coming out on top here.

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Roy Hodgson’s men have lost four and won none of their last five matches in all competitions, but are priced at a lengthy 9/1 (10.00) to upset their more illustrious opponents once again in this one.

Luka Milivojevic Crystal Palace 2018-19

None of the last 14 league encounter between this pair have resulted in draws, but you can get odds of 11/2 (6.50) on them cancelling each other out on this occasion.

Team News

Eden Hazard should be fit to return after missing the last three fixtures through injury, while Olivier Giroud and Ethan Ampadu both remain doubts.

Christian Benteke, Joel Ward and Scott Dann remain long-term absentees, although Wilfred Zaha is fit to play despite missing Wednesday’s League Cup defeat against Middlebrough with a shoulder injury.

Quick start

Despite their poor recent record against this opposition, Maurizio Sarri’s side will be confident of coming out on top given the two teams’ respective form,

Chelsea Crystal Palace graphic

While the hosts have won 12 and lost none of their 15 opening matches this season, the Eagles have picked up just five points from the last available 27 in the league.

Indeed, the Stamford Bridge crowd should not even have to wait too long to see their team take command given they have gone in ahead at the break in six of their last seven matches, while Palace have scored just four first-half goals in 13 matches all season.

Predictions

With this in mind, odds of 8/11 (1.73) look like solid value on Chelsea taking maximum points after leading at half-time.

Betting Banner - Best BetChelsea/Chelsea at HT/FT at 8/11 for a 3pt stake with William Hill

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LIVE: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

4′ Palace have come out with an attacking intent and are putting pressure on the home side in possession.

3′ Zaha and Meyer combine in the final third for the visitors, but the latter’s low cutback towards the near post is diverted behind for a corner by David Luiz.

1′ Meyer makes a neat turn in the final third and finds space to fire the ball across the face of goal. Chelsea clear as far as McArthur on the left. He sends a delivery to the back post where Alonso chests it back to Kepa.

1′ We’re underway at Stamford Bridge.

The players are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.

Chelsea have lost two of their last three Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (won one), as many as they had in their first 15 against them in the competition (won 11, drawn two, lost two).

Palace have also reverted back to their Premier League line-up after making changes for the EFL Cup. There is one change from their side that drew against Arsenal last week, with Meyer coming into the side to replace Ayew in the final third.

Chelsea have reverted back to their line-up from the side that defeated Burnley in the Premier League last time out. Maurizio Sarri made several changes during the week, but keeps the same team that crushed Burnley 4-0 at Turf Moor as Morata leads the line supported by Willian and Pedro in the absence of Hazard. The Belgian does return from his back injury, but only on the bench this afternoon.

SUBS: Alexander Sorloth, Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp, Vicente Guaita, Martin Kelly, Jason Puncheon, Jairo Riedewald.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Wayne Hennessey; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, Patrick van Aanholt; Cheikhou Kouyate, Luka Milivojevic, James McArthur; Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha, Max Meyer.

SUBS: Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Willy Caballero, Mateo Kovacic, Davide Zappacosta, Gary Cahill.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz, Marcos Alonso; N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ross Barkley; Pedro, Alvaro Morata, Willian.

Palace are struggling for form at the moment, having gone five matches without a win in all competitions. They were dumped out of the EFL Cup in midweek, suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough. The Eagles are winless in the Premier League since the 15th September, and although a draw against Arsenal last time out provided respite, there’s growing pressure near the relegation zone.

Chelsea remain unbeaten in therr Premier League campaign from their 10 matches thus far, although they have dropped six points from their three draws. Manchester City are on course to reclaim top spot with a commanding 3-1 lead over Southampton currently, but the Blues can keep pace with the reigning champions with a victory themselves this afternoon. They’ve won three games on the bounce in all competition, including a triumph over Derby County in the EFL Cup during the week.

Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

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‘Monaco lacked desire’ – Henry worried after latest Ligue 1 defeat

Thierry Henry delivered a worrying assessment of Monaco’s latest Ligue 1 defeat, saying his players “lacked desire” in their loss against Reims.

The principality club slipped to their seventh defeat in just 12 league games as Mathieu Cafaro’s first-half strike proved decisive for Reims.

Henry replaced Leonardo Jardim in the Monaco hotseat in October and the Arsenal and France legend is still waiting for his first win in charge of the struggling side.

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Monaco have picked up two draws and two defeats in Henry’s first four games in charge in all competitions.

And the Frenchman warned his players that the situation will become more “complicated” if they fail to improve their form soon.

“This defeat is more worrying than the previous ones because we did not know how to create in the game and we did not get an opportunity,” said Henry after the game.

“Reims practically won all of their duels and played as they should at home. On our side, the desire was not there. 

“We have the chance to end up at 11 against 10 while we are not in the game and we punish ourselves with this second yellow [for Pele, in the 71st minute].

“It is a difficult situation and there are still many things to be done. After, if a gap is growing with the teams above us, it will start to be more complicated. 

“The most important thing is to regain that confidence because the guys are not free. 

“With the injuries we have, we must find a way and the best tactical scheme. Me too, I’m learning, it’s only been two weeks since I’ve been there.”

Monaco have been down to 10 men in both of their defeats under Henry, with Samuel Grandsir and Pele receiving their marching orders against Strasbourg and Reims respectively.

Henry’s side take on Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday before they face a daunting task against Ligue 1 kings Paris Saint-Germain.

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