ARSENAL fans were left fuming after they were denied a late winner against Liverpool.

The Gunners have been unhappy about several refereeing decisions this season, particularly the red cards to Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard against Brighton and Manchester City respectively.

3

3

Advertisement

3

But against Liverpool they had a different gripe as they felt they were denied a legitimate goal.

The incident happened in the 90th minute as Jakub Kiwior leapt highest to head a ball forward towards Kai Havertz.

The striker also got the better of his man as he flicked the ball on before lobbing goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

But referee Anthony Taylor judged the German to have fouled Ibrahima Konate, possibly because his arms was raised.

The ball ended up in the back of the net courtesy of Gabriel Jesus after Havertz and Trent Alexander-Arnold tussled for the ball on the goal line.

However Taylor had already blown his whistle which meant the incident could not be reviewed by VAR.

Fans were outraged by the decision to award a free-kick, claiming it was never a foul by Havertz.

One fan reacted saying: “That is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen in football. Genuinely corrupt.”

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Another added: “Worst decision of the season.”

A third wrote: “Disgrace of a decision that’s the worst decision I’ve ever seen.”

Ralph Vacchiano

NFL Reporter

It’s not quite halfway through the season yet, but the NFL’s playoff picture is beginning to take shape.

At least that’s true at the top of the standings where the Chiefs, Texans, Lions, Steelers, Bills and even the surprising Commanders seem well on their way to a postseason berth. Everyone else is just jockeying for position right now before what could be a wild playoff scramble in the second half.

Here’s a look at the NFL playoff picture, including which teams have the best postseason probability, following Week 8:

NFC

1. Detroit Lions (6-1)

There just isn’t a better or more complete team in the NFL right now than the Lions. And they are clicking on all cylinders after routing the Tennessee Titans. No team has a better 1-2 punch at running back than David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Jared Goff has been near flawless at quarterback. They’ve averaged 43 points in their last four games. They will be tough to beat, and they know it.

Playoff probability: 94%

2. Washington Commanders (6-2)

If anyone doesn’t believe in Jayden Daniels now, nothing will convince them. He pulled a win out of a sure defeat on Sunday with a final-play, 52-yard Hail Mary to Noah Brown. He also badly outplayed Caleb Williams, who was picked one spot ahead of him in the draft, completing 21 of 38 passes for 326 yards and a touchdown and running eight times for 52 yards. He’s for real, and so, apparently, are the Commanders. They’ve got all the ingredients to stay in the race.

Playoff probability: 71%

3. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)

They’ve flipped the division by now beating the Bucs twice in the last four weeks — albeit barely each time. Kirk Cousins certainly has Tampa’s number since he threw for 785 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception in those two games. Now if he and the offense can do that in some of their other games, they’ll really have something going.

Playoff probability: 77%

4. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)

It was a good sign that their offense finally kicked into gear in their 28-27 win in Miami, with QB Kyler Murray having his best game (307 yards, 2 TDs) and the offense putting up its most points since Week 2. They’re lucky they’re in a division where no one is on track yet. They’ve won 3 of 4, but haven’t looked impressive doing it. And their defense is still a big problem.

Playoff probability: 32%

5. Green Bay Packers (6-2)

Yes, Malik Willis led the Packers to a win over the Jaguars in relief, but they know their long-term fortunes depend on the status of QB Jordan Love. He suffered a groin injury early on Sunday and played about as long as he could, completing 14 of 22 passes for 196 yards and an interception. But he was pulled in the third quarter and Green Bay now will wait to see how long he’s out.

Playoff probability: 68%

6. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

They’ve lost two in a row since their 5-0 start, which is alarming since the last time they started 5-0 (in 2016) they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. In fairness to them, the past two weeks have been tough. They barely lost to the Lions (31-29) and then lost in L.A. just as the Rams got back receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. The schedule is about to get a lot easier.

Playoff probability: 83%

7. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)

After an erratic start to their season, they’ve started to finally look right in the past two weeks. Their defense has started to play better under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. And new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has leaned on their strong ground game. Even quarterback Jalen Hurts looks like his old self. He and Saquon Barkley are proving to be the dynamic duo everyone expected. They are right on the heels of the upstart Commanders after two straight post-bye wins.

Playoff probability: 77%

On the outside looking in: The Chicago Bears (4-3) got a bad beat, falling in Washington on a Jayden Daniels Hail Mary. They’ve got a good enough defense to compete, as long as rookie QB Caleb Williams plays better than he did on Sunday (10 of 24, 131 yards). … The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) are on fire offensively, even in their loss to Atlanta on Sunday. But they’ve lost Chris Godwin for the season and Mike Evans for a month, and without their top two WRs it could be a struggle. …  It’s a testament to Kyle Shanahan and their defense that despite all their injuries the San Francisco 49ers (4-4) are still tied for first in the NFC West. But they’ll need RB Christian McCaffrey back soon, especially with Brandon Aiyuk out for the year. … The Seattle Seahawks (4-4) looked terrible against the Bills and are now headed in the wrong direction, having lost 4 of their last 5.  … The Los Angeles Rams (3-4) could be lurking as a dangerous team now that they’ve gotten injured receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back in their lineup. … The Dallas Cowboys (3-4), meanwhile, don’t look dangerous at all. The only good thing about their team is the Dak Prescott–CeeDee Lamb connection, and that might not be good enough.

Josh Jacobs on rising up after Jordan Love goes down vs. Jaguars

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)

They don’t look like the juggernaut they used to be, they could use a No. 1 receiver and something still looks off with Travis Kelce. But they’re undefeated and have a top 10 defense and offense, so doubt them at your own risk. They’ve still got Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, and that’s really more than enough to make them the Super Bowl favorites until someone knocks them off.

Playoff probability: 99%

2. Houston Texans (6-2)

The Texans got some much-needed separation in the AFC South by outstating the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. They don’t make things easy on themselves, though. They are such a well-balanced offense, backed by a strong defense, but their red zone struggles nearly cost them. Still, C.J. Stroud is as good as he was as a rookie and the Texans have won four of five.

Playoff probability: 97%

3. Buffalo Bills (6-2)

They are what they have been for several years now — a terrific team capable of blowing out anyone thanks in large part to an MVP-caliber quarterback in Josh Allen. They seem to have put a bad three-game road trip behind them (blown out in Baltimore, narrow loss at Houston, narrow win in New York against the Jets). They’ve also opened up space in the AFC East. But all eyes are on their huge test at home against the Chiefs in three weeks.

Playoff probability: 96%

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

Give Mike Tomlin credit. His controversial decision to start QB Russell Wilson and bench Justin Fields sure gave their offense a jolt last week. And they’ve got a great chance of continuing their momentum on Monday night at home against the New York Giants. They’ve won two straight now, but it’s clear their fate depends on how well this quarterback move works out.

Playoff probability: 85%

5. Denver Broncos (5-3)

Nobody’s done a better coaching job in the NFL this season than Sean Payton, who somehow got the Broncos to win five of six after an 0-2 start. They’re doing it with one of the NFL’s best defenses. But don’t look now: Rookie QB Bo Nix just had the best game of his career (28 of 37, 284 yards, 3 touchdowns). He’s also thrown only one interception in his last six starts. The competition goes way up the next two games, though.

Playoff probability: 63%

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)

The disappointing loss in Cleveland on Sunday slowed what had been the NFL’s most impressive roll — five straight victories after their 0-2 start. It might be just a temporary setback, though. For some reason, the Ravens only handed the ball to Derrick Henry 11 times in this game (73 yards). The last five games should have proved to them that when he gets going, so do they.

Playoff probability: 87%

7. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)

The Chargers got themselves into temporary playoff position with a win over the decimated New Orleans Saints. But they’re not going to stay there long if they can’t get their offense going. Despite having Justin Herbert at quarterback, they’ve somehow averaged just 16.8 points over the last five games and have only topped 23 twice. That won’t do in an offensive league.

Playoff probability: 68%

Teams on the outside looking in: The Indianapolis Colts (4-4) slipped out of the top 7 when they just missed taking down the Houston Texans on Sunday. They won’t catch the Texans in the AFC South and they won’t stay in the playoff race without some offensive improvements. QB Anthony Richardson is struggling and their offense has averaged just 285.3 yards over the last three games. … The Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) have offensive issues too. After getting blown out by the Eagles on Sunday, they’ve averaged just 269 yards and 18 points the last three weeks — embarrassing for a team with QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase. But clearly, they’re capable of more, which makes them dangerous.

Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Bills QB Josh Allen

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Lando Norris says he “knew what to expect” after being on the receiving end of “not very clean driving” by Max Verstappen in Formula 1’s Mexican Grand Prix.

One week after the pair fought hard in Austin, a duel for which Norris was penalised for overtaking his title rival off track, Verstappen and Norris again battled in the early stages of the Mexico City race.

Norris attacked Verstappen for second place around the outside of the Turn 4 left-hander, which would yield him the inside for the following switchback.

As at Austin, Norris was pushed off by Verstappen, but because this time the McLaren driver was ahead at the apex it was Verstappen who was penalised. Using the same racing guidelines that had dominated the conversation over the past week, the stewards handed Verstappen a 10-second penalty.

Verstappen then attempted to retaliate at Turn 8 and went off while repassing Norris, sending both cars wide and forcing Norris to take evasive action. The stewards handed the Dutchman another 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Norris was vocal on the team radio about what he felt was “dangerous driving” by Verstappen and said afterwards he wasn’t surprised by his title rival’s moves.

“I knew what to expect. I didn’t want to expect such a thing because I respect Max a lot as a driver, but I was ready to expect something like this,” he said. “This is not very clean driving, in my opinion, but I avoided it, and it was a good race.

“The first few laps, a lot of it was just trying to stay in the race and avoid any crashes.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

McLaren CEO Zak Brown congratulated the stewards for taking action after the British team had been vocal about Verstappen’s racing style for a while.

“Probably not enough,” he commented about Verstappen’s penalties to Sky Sports F1. “I mean, it’s getting a bit ridiculous. I applaud the FIA stewards, enough’s enough. Let’s just have some good clean racing moving forward.

Asked if he was satisfied with the FIA’s response, he replied: “I think the stewards are on it. That’s clear by the penalties that they assessed. So, I don’t think we need to do anything, just let the stewards do their job. They did a good job this weekend.”

Shaun Wane says his England team “need to be better” despite opening their two-Test series against Samoa with a 34-18 victory – saying their display “would not have troubled Australia”.

The hosts dominated the early stages in Wigan and opened up a 16-0 lead but were pegged back at various stages of the contest by a new-look Samoa side containing eight debutants.

While England were exceptional at times, they conceded two interception tries and Wane was also unhappy both about their completion rate of 82% and by penalties creeping in to hand their opponents a route back into the contest.

And Wane, now in his fourth year as England head coach, suggested that his team will need to cut out unforced errors to compete with world champions Australia in the future.

“All we talk about in camp is our standards and how we want to play. We want to play an attractive brand of rugby and defend tough and we went away from that,” he said.

“That performance would not have troubled Australia. We need to be better, if I am honest. We know what we need to fix as staff and players. It sounds weird saying that after a win and I don’t mean it in a disrespectful way to Samoa. They will say the same thing.”

While all the talk pre-match was of whether England could avenge their World Cup semi-final defeat by Samoa two years ago, Wane insisted that it was rarely mentioned in the build-up.

However, having wrapped up a 3-0 series win over Tonga 12 months ago, he is now equally keen ensure his side maintain their momentum next Saturday at Headingley (14:30 GMT), where a crowd of around 20,000 is expected.

CHELSEA are set to be hit with a record-breaking fine after making Premier League history.

Enzo Maresca‘s side secured a 2-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday courtesy of goals from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer.

2

2

Advertisement

However, it was the Blues’ lack of discipline which has landed them in hot water.

According to Daily Mail reporter Kieran Gill, the club’s six yellow cards against the Magpies has seen them become the first side to receive six yellow cards in three games in a season.

Chelsea saw Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku all booked during the Stamford Bridge clash.

The Prem fines clubs that do this in one match £25,000, with the penalty increasing for repeat offenders. Six teams suffered this fate last season.

Chelsea were first caught foul of the six-card threshold against Bournemouth, when they picked up eight yellow cards and were fined £25,000.

The second occasion saw them fined £50,000 as they registered six yellows against Nottingham Forest at the start of October.

And today’s six cautions have landed them a fine of £75,000, taking their total for the season up to a staggering £150,000.

Fofana and Marc Cucurella have been given the most cards of any player in the league this season, with six and five apiece.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Meanwhile, the 36 yellow cards they have picked up puts them seven ahead of the next worst teams, Southampton and Wolves, who have 29 each.

Despite their excessive yellow card count, Chelsea are yet to see a player shown a red this season, with Arsenal leading that list with three.

Speaking about his side’s seeming lack of discipline after the Forest draw earlier this month, Maresca said: “I like the team the way they are fighting for each other and becoming a team.

“I like the spirit of our team.”

They are currently on course to break their own unwanted record of 105 yellow cards set under Mauricio Pochettino last season.

On the game today, Maresca said: “I am very happy with the performance today because in some moments on the ball, we were unbelievable.

“There were some good combinations and the way we prepared the game was exactly there.

“Off the ball, they fought together and showed they deserved to win. This is important.”

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has criticised RB driver Liam Lawson’s attitude after the pair came to blows in Formula 1’s Mexican Grand Prix.

Perez and Lawson, the driver who is aiming to take his Red Bull seat, clashed in Turn 4 when the former attempted to overtake the New Zealander on lap 19.

Perez claimed the left-hand corner by being ahead of the apex and pushed Lawson off, but the 22-year-old kept his foot in and remained alongside for the Turn 5 switchback, with his front-left corner taking a bite out of Perez’s floor edge and sidepod.

The downforce loss from the floor damage further derailed Perez’s home race, with the Mexican having started from the rear due to a botched qualifying session, compounded by a five-second penalty for being outside of his grid slot at the start.

To add insult to injury, Lawson later breezed past him on the straight while giving him the finger, and Perez was incensed by the Kiwi’s attitude in their battles, with Lawson having previously drawn the ire of Fernando Alonso in Austin.

“I had the manoeuvre into Turn 4 and then he was outside the track and just came straight like if there was no car,” Perez said.

“I think he could have avoided the incident but he just went back. Luckily I saw him and I opened the room otherwise it would have been a massive crash. There was no need. We damaged both of our races. It was a little bit too much.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Advertisement

“He’s not getting any penalties as well. He did the same with Fernando, with Franco [Colapinto] in the end. There are no penalties, so none of this is his fault as well.”

When asked how his relationship with Lawson is, he snapped back: ‘I don’t have any relationship with him. I think the way he has come to Formula 1, I don’t think he has the right attitude for it. He needs to be a bit more humble.

“When a two-time world champion was saying things last weekend, he completely ignored him. It’s like when you come to Formula 1, you’re obviously very hungry and so on, but you have to be respectful as well, off track and on track.

“I don’t think he’s showing the right attitude. I think he’s a great driver and I hope for him that he can step back and learn from it.

“In his first two grands prix he has had many incidents. I think there will be a point where it can cost him too much, like it did this weekend.

“I just think that he has to have the right attitude to say: ‘Look, probably I’m overdoing it a little bit, I will step back and start again’. Because if you don’t learn from your mistakes, Formula 1 is a brutal world and he might not continue.”

When Perez was asked if he felt Lawson was racing him harder because of the Red Bull seat that is at stake, he responded: “Well, he nearly crashed with Fernando last weekend, he nearly crashed with Franco. I think he’s just racing everyone out of control at the moment.”