CHELSEA BOSS XABI ALONSO'S VERDICT ON SECOND-HALF LEEDS UNITED.BLITZ AS 12-MINUTE PERIOD TURNS GAME

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso believes an increase in quality and tempo saw his side overcome Leeds United in the second half.

Alonso made 10 changes to his Chelsea side for the Carabao Cup and while Daniel Farke also made eight, it was his Leeds side who looked far more ready. They went 1-0 up through a Tarik Muharemovic header and doubled their lead through Brenden Aaronson early in the second half.

Four half-time changes saw Alonso introduce Reece James, Pedro Neto, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer with the latter scoring twice in two minutes. Chelsea eventually scored four in 12 and six across the second-half.

“For sure, I take responsibility for all of them,” Alonso said. “No, no player is to blame, it is the decisions that we took. For sure, in the first half things were not going the way we wanted.

“When you haven't had time, and when you don't have this time to work with them, it's difficult to compete at this level, so it's my responsibility. We had to take decisions at half-time, and we have seen another second half with more quality, more tempo, and we need to analyse.

“But happy that we are going through, happy with the reaction, but as well analytical about what we have done.”

Chelsea will have questions to ask about those on the fringes who couldn’t compete with a rotated Leeds side in the first half. Alonso shouldered the blame for introducing such out-of-favour stars against a ‘strong’ opponent in Leeds.

“I will have a deeper assessment about how I can help players that are not playing that much to have a better impact, to have a better feeling, and today it was difficult for them,” he added. “Maybe I made it too difficult because Leeds were a strong side.

“But overall you need to to react. You need to make decisions, and the impact was good from the players that came on.”

- Kyle Newbould

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LEEDS UNITED AND RANGERS CO-OWNER JED YORK JAILED IN THE US

York pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.
Credit: Columbiana County Sheriff's Office

Leeds United and Rangers co-owner Jed York has been jailed in the US, for a day.

York, also the owner of NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers, pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. He was sentenced to a day in jail for each count, which was served concurrently.

On Sunday 23 August he was initially arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution but that charge was amended to disorderly conduct, according to records confirmed by the NFL.

In America, a no-contest plea means a defendant accepts the conviction and punishment without an admission of guilt. He was also fined a total of £873.

San Francisco 49ers said in a statement: “As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time.”

An NFL statement read: “We are aware of the matter which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy.”

Leeds United have refused to comment. 

- itvX

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ROBERTO DE ZEBRI RAGES OVER 'NOT CALM' REFEREE AS TOTTENHAM BOSS QUESTIONS CRUTIAL VAR CALLS IN LEEDS DRAW

 

Getty Images Sport

Tottenham Hotspur missed a golden opportunity to pull away from the Premier League relegation zone after being held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United. Following a game defined by spectacular goals and controversial VAR interventions, head coach Roberto De Zerbi suggested the officiating was influenced by the high-stakes nature of the survival battle.

Tel goes from hero to villain

Tottenham appeared set to move four points clear of 18th-placed West Ham when Mathys Tel opened the scoring with a sublime 20-yard curling effort shortly after half-time. However, the young Frenchman's afternoon soured when a reckless attempted bicycle kick inside his own area caught Ethan Ampadu, leading to a penalty after a VAR review. Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted the spot-kick to earn Leeds a point, while Spurs were ultimately indebted to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for a stunning late save that prevented a total collapse.

Getty Images Sport

De Zerbi questions officials

De Zerbi was clearly irked by the officiating, specifically regarding a late penalty shout for James Maddison that was ignored despite a VAR check. Regarding the referee's performance, the Italian told BBC Match of the Day: "The VAR in West Ham-Arsenal was a foul, it was clear. Today, I did not see honestly. I didn't watch the Maddison penalty, maybe yes, maybe no. I heard my assistant but I don't want to come inside a polemic. The referee was not calm today. Maybe he felt the pressure of yesterday? He is human and it can happen, but no problem. He was good on the pitch. We prepare the next two games."

Focus on survival performance

The result leaves Tottenham just two points above the drop zone, failing to fully capitalise on West Ham's recent controversial loss against Arsenal. Discussing the performance and the relegation fight, De Zerbi said: "I think we have to consider the result but we have to consider the performance. We played a good game, we are making points, in the last four games we made eight points. Congratulations to Leeds, they played a great game, they have to play the last game at West Ham and we've no doubt that they will play the same way."

- Adhe Makayasa

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PREMIER LEAGUE EXPLAIN TOTTENHAM VS LEEDS UNITED DECISION AFTER VAR REVIEW

Tottenham were denied a late penalty against Leeds United by VAR on Monday night as the Whites salvaged a 1-1 draw

Tottenham had a late shout for a penalty against Leeds United turned down(Image: Alex Pantling, Getty Images)

The Premier League has clarified why Tottenham were denied a penalty in the dying moments of their match against Leeds United. Daniel Farke's side claimed a 1-1 draw in Monday evening's fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Late drama unfolded when James Maddison hit the deck following a challenge from Lukas Nmecha during stoppage time. Referee Jarred Gillett dismissed the appeals, though VAR conducted a review of the incident.

The on-field decision stood, with the Premier League explaining via their Match Centre X account: "The referee's call of no penalty to Tottenham Hotspur was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Nmecha played the ball."

During the VAR check, Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith observed the Leeds player's contact with the ball.

"VAR will certainly get involved here!" he remarked. "He certainly catches Maddison. Does he get a touch on the ball? He might get the slightest - which could save him!"

Following a cautious opening 45 minutes, Tottenham appeared to be in control when Mathys Tel broke the deadlock early in the second half, beating Karl Darlow. However, Tel then became central to Leeds' leveller.

The Spurs player attempted to clear in his own box but instead caught Ethan Ampadu. A VAR check resulted in a spot-kick for Leeds, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin converting emphatically past Antonin Kinsky.

When announcing the decision, referee Gillett said: "After review, Tottenham No.11 commits a foul on the Leeds attacker. The final decision is a penalty kick."

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored Leeds' equaliser against Tottenham.(Image: Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)

A whopping 13 minutes of added time handed both sides the opportunity to chase a vital victory. Spurs owed much to Kinsky, whose sharp reaction save denied Sean Longstaff, before Tottenham found themselves at the centre of a penalty appeal deep into stoppage time.

Maddison's appearance marked his first outing since recovering from a lengthy knee injury, and the midfielder could prove instrumental in the club's remaining two fixtures of the campaign.

Leeds are back in Premier League action on Sunday afternoon (3pm) when they host Brighton at Elland Road. They then finish their season with an away trip against West Ham, a game which could be crucial in deciding the race for survival.

Spurs return to action in just over a week's time when they head to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. They will then round off their season with a home fixture against Everton on Sunday, 24 May (4pm kick-off).

- Amie Wilson

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'EMBARRASSED' LEEDS UNITED BOSS FARKE MAKES SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY ODD 'YOUTH TEAM' CLAIM

Daniel Farke admitted he was ‘hurt’ and ‘embarrassed’ after Sheffield Wednesday’s Carabao Cup shock over his Leeds United side - and made an odd claim on the scale of the upset.

A hugely youthful Owls side took the lead at Hillsborough thanks to a Karl Darlow own goal and won out on penalties after Jayden Bogle’s equaliser proved to be the only breach of a remarkable Ethan Horvath performance between the sticks.

The Owls squad has been decimated to the extent that with changes made, of their outfield starting 10, skipper for the night Jamal Lowe was the only Wednesday player to have earned more than Gabriel Otegbayo’s haul of 18 professional appearances. Eight of the Owls players involved on the evening had played less than five senior matches.

Two made their debut, including 16-year-old Will Grainger, who played without a shirt sponsor as he is too young to be seen advertising a gambling company.

Senior figures were brought off the bench late to help take the tie to penalties and a 3-0 shootout win dumped the Premier League side out of the competition to leave Farke admittedly red-faced, though he sought to play down the inexperience of the home side.

"Some people will make headlines out of this but they are still professional football players, it's not like we played against a youth team,” claimed Farke.

PENALTY HERO: Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Ethan Horvath (centre) (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

“We rested a few players to the bench or not even in the squad and it's always a bit tricky when you have so many changes, especially for the team that tries to make the game. We have to take the criticism and we are self-critical because we should have have put four or five chances to bed.

“It's not just annoying, you feel a bit embarrassed as a Premier League side but we've been involved so many games like this, especially in the cup, and the lower-league team can win This was one of these days.”

Leeds plundered 25 shots on Wednesday’s goal across the course of the match and held 80 per cent possession. Of the 16 players used by the visitors, only four were not full internationals.

“We were the favourites and of course we wanted to go through to the next round, so the result hurts,” Farke continued. “I wouldn't say it was an unbelievable surprise because we are a newly-promoted side to the Premier League travelling to a Championship side, it's not like we have played the last 30 years in the Premier League. It wasn't going to be a walk in the park to have an away game at a Championship side.

“I think by all the statistics we were the better side but the only thing that matters is the goals and after 90 minutes they managed somehow to be equal on goals and they managed to be the better side in the penalty shoot-out. Congratulations to Sheffield Wednesday. They deserved to win the game.”

- Alex Miller

BUKAYO SAKA COULD MISS SIX GAMES AS EXTENT OF ARSENAL WINGER'S HAMSTRING INJURY 'REVEALED'

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is expected to miss up to four weeks with the hamstring injury he sustained in Saturday's 5-0 win over Leeds United, according to a report.

The 23-year-old got off the mark for the new season in the weekend's visit of the Whites, producing a brilliant finish into the top corner from a tight angle after Jurrien Timber had broken the deadlock.

However, Saka then pulled up early in the second half after sprinting with the ball, and he was seen holding the back of his thigh while in conversation with the physio.

The England international cast a sombre expression as he trudged off the field, and Mikel Arteta admitted at full time that the Hale End graduate asking to come off was not a good sign.

On a slightly more positive note, Arteta confirmed that Saka's latest issue was on the opposite leg to the one he sustained a severe hamstring tear last season, which sidelined him for three months.

Saka out for Liverpool clash as Martin Odegaard injury update revealed

According to BBC Sport, Saka's hamstring injury will keep him out of action for up to four weeks, meaning that the 23-year-old could miss as many as six matches for club and country.

Arsenal will have to cope without Saka for Sunday's trip to Premier League champions Liverpool - their final game before the international break - while he will also be unavailable for England's World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

Saka should also sit out the Gunners' home fixture with Nottingham Forest (September 13) and potentially the visit of Manchester City (September 21), as well as the trip to Newcastle United on September 28.

However, captain Martin Odegaard has not yet been ruled out of the clash with the Reds this weekend, despite picking up a shoulder problem in the first half of the victory over Daniel Farke's side.

The Norway international reportedly left the stadium with his arm in a sling, and his in-store signing event at The Armoury on Monday was postponed, but he is only a doubt for the trip to Merseyside at present.

How Arsenal can replace Saka after hamstring injury

Even before Saka made his way off the pitch on Saturday, his face told the story of a man who knew a spell on the sidelines was coming, although the issue is far less severe than the one he suffered in December 2024.

Saka's absence last season gave Ethan Nwaneri the chance to shine on the right-hand side of the attack, but the 18-year-old is now being trialled in a central role, so Noni Madueke is the number one candidate to step in for Saka.

The ex-Chelsea man has largely played off the left for Arsenal so far, but with Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard available on that side, Madueke can be expected to line up on the right for the next few weeks.

Saka's loss should also be Max Dowman's gain, as the 15-year-old - who became the second-youngest player to make a Premier League appearance on Saturday - will now be Arteta's second-choice right-winger behind Madueke.

Both Madueke and Dowman have shown flashes of their potential in their short time on the pitch this season, so while Saka's latest problem is a setback, it is by no means as devastating this time around thanks to Arsenal's strength in numbers.

- Ben Knapton

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