Author: v2406

Man Utd are set to have to do without Casemiro for the foreseeable future following his red card against Southampton on Sunday. The Brazil international is now primed to miss the club’s next four matches. And that’s a hammer blow for Erik ten Hag given just how reliant his team are on the 31-year-old, who has impressed ever since his summer arrival from Real Madrid. Man Utd have been rocked by another suspension for Casemiro (Image: GETTY) Man Utd had gone into Sunday’s match against Southampton looking to bounce back in the Premier League after a 7-0 mauling at the…

Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United forwards Antony and Jadon Sancho to follow Sir Alex Ferguson’s advice by taking more risks in their performances. Signed in back-to-back summer windows from Ajax and Borussia Dortmund respectively, Antony and Sancho cost United over £150million combined. However, while they have both shown glimpses of their unquestioned ability, neither man has shone consistently. Antony and his topsy-turvy displays have particularly come under the microscope this season, despite scoring hugely important goals against Arsenal and Barcelona for example. Sancho, meanwhile, recently returned from a three-month absence to attend to his physical and mental wellbeing. Speaking…

There is no time scale attached to Thiago Alcântara’s return from injury at Liverpool. But Jürgen Klopp only needs to wait one more game for a solution. Jürgen Klopp has a relatively healthy squad heading into the game against Real Madrid, but one of his most important players remain stuck on the sidelines. Thiago Alcântara is arguably Liverpool’s best midfielder, but the Spanish international hasn’t featured since the beginning of February. According to the ECHO, a date for his return is as yet uncertain. Klopp is trying to push on without his conductor in the middle of the park, but Liverpool…

As manager of the club that scored football’s most famous stoppage-time winner — the ‘Aguerooo’ goal — it is surprising to hear Pep Guardiola say Manchester City are no longer capable of such moments. Recently it is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal who have been scoring in the final moments of matches — one against Bournemouth in a 3-2 win, two against Aston Villa for 4-2 and one against Manchester United, 3-2. Unprompted, Guardiola pointed out that City cannot do that. His reason? They recently won two titles on the trot. ‘They have many years without winning the Premier League and that gives you a little bit extra to win…

Arsenal welcomed Gabriel Jesus back from injury yesterday as they dismantled Fulham to continue their Premier League title push. The Brazilian’s comeback is a huge boost for Arsenal as they enter the final 11 games of the season. Five points in from of Man City, things are very much in their own hands from now on. Of course, to have stayed so clear with Jesus being injured is testament to the quality Arsenal have displayed this year. But with Jesus now back involved, Mikel Arteta will be hoping it gives his squad a further boost. Essentially, it’s like getting a major new…

Enzo Fernandez showcased against Leicester City why Chelsea spent a British record transfer fee to sign him from Benfica in the January transfer window Kai Havertz and Enzo Fernandez celebrate Chelsea’s second goal against Leicester City (Image: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images) Enzo Fernandez surveyed the scene ahead of him having received the ball from Wesley Fofana. There were eight outfield players between the Argentine and the goal. There was no way through. Nor any easy way around. Only pure invention would unlock the door for Chelsea. The 22-year-old obliged – and in some style. Fernandez spotted the movement of Kai Havertz and scooped the…

Mykhaylo Mudryk could force Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke and Joao Felix out of the Chelsea starting XI on a regular basis if he continues to lineup in an inside left position. The Ukrainian looked more at home on the left-hand side during the 3-1 win over Leicester at the weekend and now could be set for an extended run in the team. Mudryk has failed to impress since his £88million move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January. The winger had been widely expected to join Arsenal following six months of sustained interest from the Emirates however the Gunners spent too much time haggling over the final…

Liverpool must score three times against Real Madrid on Wednesday just to force extra time, but it’s been done before. Divock Origi (right) celebrates scoring the fourth Liverpool goal during the Liverpool v Barcelona UEFA Champions League semi-final 2nd leg match at Anfield on May 7, 2019. If any team can recover a three-goal deficit in the Champions League then surely it must be Liverpool? The Reds know all about coming back from the dead on the grandest of stages, having famously clinched their fifth European Cup in 2005 after turning around a 3-0 half-time scoreline to go on and…

Pep Guardiola has given his honest opinion of Kevin De Bruyne’s recent form, after dropping him to the bench for three games, and called on his midfielder to get the ‘simple things’ right. Normally by this point of the season, Guardiola can be starting to get the Brasso out in readiness for another league winner’s medal for Manchester City that he’ll have to polish. At very worst they might be in a tight battle with Liverpool for the title but this time things are very different, with Arsenal leading the way by five points. Time is certainly ticking on City’s charge, that’s…

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has explained why Thomas Tuchel is responsible for Chelsea’s poor season. According to Potter, some Chelsea players revealed to him that they had ‘the worst pre-season’ under Thomas Tuchel last summer. “It’s really tough, I think my quote is it is the toughest job in football, that was a few weeks ago,” Potter said. “There are lots of factors for that. Again, if you just take the season, a sub-optimal pre-season, speaking to a couple of the experienced guys thought it was the worse pre-season they’ve had for different reasons, that’s not to blame anybody, for different reasons…

The former Chelsea star announced his retirement from international football following the World Cup in Qatar. Eden Hazard has admitted that even he was surprised that he started ahead of Leandro Trossard for Belgium at the Qatar World Cup. The Red Devils had a disappointing tournament in which Hazard started both of their first two group games against Canada and Morocco. Hazard lost his place to Trossard for Belgium’s final group game against Croatia, where new Arsenal signing Trossard was given his first start of the tournament. Trossard, who notched three assists in the first half of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham…

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has won the Premier League Player of The Year award at the London Football Awards. The Norway international has been a key player for the Gunners this season in their attempt to win a first league title in 19 years, contributing with 10 goals and six assists. Odegaard beat off competition from Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Brentford striker Ivan Toney, Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic and Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka to claim the big prize. ‘I just want to share this with the whole team.It’sat to see the club being recognised with all the awards,’ the midfielder said. ‘I think it shows how far we’ve come…

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United following a difficult second spell and has moved to Saudi Arabia to sign with Al Nassr. Eric Cantona, who retired just before turning 31, believes that Ronaldo is a very different kind of footballer to him, as the Portuguese isn’t willing to accept that he is losing his skills with age. “He came back here and Manchester United wasn’t the Manchester United he left and sometimes he doesn’t realise things changed, so maybe he was surprised so many things changed,” Cantona said in an interview with the Manchester Evening News. “I think you have two kinds of players at the end of their career. Me,…

Neymar has extended his support to compatriot Antony at Man Utd, who stoked a controversy by showboating against Sheriff in the Europa League.. Amid controversy surrounding Antony’s showboating against Sheriff in the Europa League, his Brazil teammate Neymar showed support to the winger as he took to Instagram to write: “Keep it up, don’t change anything! Go for it boy! Boldness and joy.” While the Manchester United star drew criticism from Paul Scholes and Robbie Savage, his teammate Fred spoke in his support. His manager Erik ten Hag also addressed the issue after the match, admitting he wasn’t a fan…

Mason Mount could leave Chelsea this summer with a move to Liverpool on the cards – but he’s been urged to snub them and fight for his spot at Stamford Bridge by a club legend Mason Mount has been urged to stay at Chelsea (Image: Getty Images) Mason Mount has been urged to snub Liverpool and ‘stay at the club he loves’ by Chelsea legend Florent Malouda. Mount’s struggled to hold down a regular spot in Chelsea’s starting 11 this season, and it’s unlikely he’ll fare any better next term following the Blues’ £323million splurge on a swathe of new talent in…

Liverpool must learn from defeat at Bournemouth, with a change involving Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez now necessary. Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a transfer message. It was a chastening trip to the coast for Liverpool. Despite Jürgen Klopp making minimal changes to the team that ripped through Manchester United to win 7-0, it came away from Bournemouth empty-handed. Beating the side that kicked off bottom of the league would have temporarily moved Liverpool into the top-four places, providing a vital lift ahead of the looming international break. Instead, momentum has stalled once again. The best Klopp can hope for is…

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will arrive at the club from Ajax in the summer, replacing interim boss Ralf Rangnick in the Old Trafford dugout next season Erik ten Hag is already house hunting in Manchester ahead of his arrival (Image: 2018 UEFA) New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is ready to become Pep Guardiola’s ‘nosey’ neighbour. The Dutchman, 52, will take over the hot seat at Old Trafford at the end the season and has handed over a list of requests to United bosses. He has told United he doesn’t want to live out of a suitcase and stay at the Lowry Hotel,…

Antony made a ‘promise’ to Casemiro immediately after he was sent off for Manchester United against Southampton on Sunday. Casemiro was shown a straight red card following a VAR review in Man United’s goalless draw with Southampton at Old Trafford. The Brazilian, who was also sent off against Crystal Palace just last month, overcommitted in his tackle on Carlos Alcaraz, resulting in a red card. Antony and Lisandro Martinez consoled the star midfielder, who slowly trudged off the pitch with a four-match ban. Antony consoles a distraught Casemiro. Image: PA But before he made his way back to the dressing room, Man United’s Brazilian…

Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have long been thought of as the ‘young GOATs’, that is to say the players who will provide the next great individual rivalry in football after that of Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo. There appears to be only respect between the pair, at least on Haaland’s side, with the Manchester City forward calling Mbappe “phenomenal” for what he has already achieved. Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has shared his admiration for Kylian Mbappe, labelling the Paris Saint-Germain star “crazy” and an “incredible player”. Haaland and Mbappe have both ascended to the top of the game…

Manchester City legend Yaya Toure admits he loves watching Thomas Partey play and would see him at Arsenal every weekend if he could. Toure knows a thing or two about being a top midfielder, being arguably one of the most dominant players of his generation at the peak of his powers. Partey has been a driving force behind Arsenal’s title charge Toure was a vital cog in Man City’s Premier League title winning campaigns in 2012 and 2014. He also won the title in 2018 The 39-year-old, now an Under-16s coach at Tottenham, had plenty of praise for the Ghana international…

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench in the 1-0 win against Crystal Palace and knows what he can and can’t do Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne runs with the ball Kevin De Bruyne played down any concerns over his form by pointing out his exceptional record this season in the Premier League. Manchester City’s talisman for so many years has found it more of a challenge this year, especially since the World Cup, to nail down a place in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI. Injury and illness have not helped De Bruyne find his rhythm and the 31-year-old had to…

Darwin Nunez has been a curious finisher since his move to Liverpool. To kick on, he may need to ‘ignore’ Jürgen Klopp and take Carlo Ancelotti’s advice. Darwin Nunez is still getting used to life on English shores, and to suggest that his debut Premier League campaign has been a turbulent one would be an understatement. Since joining Liverpool from Benfica last summer, the Uruguayan international has established himself as a true agent of chaos, especially in the final third. So far this term, no player in the division is averaging more shots per 90 minutes than Núñez, and he also…

Alejandro Garnacho sustained an injury in Man United’s draw against Southampton on Sunday and he’s now on crutches. Garnacho left on crutches. Alejandro Garnacho left Old Trafford on crutches after Manchester United’s draw against Southampton. Garnacho started on the bench on Sunday afternoon and he replaced Jadon Sancho in the 73rd minute. He was soon forced to receive medical treatment after appearing to get caught between Kyle Walker-Peters’ legs. The youngster attempted to continue and he returned to the pitch, but he was eventually substituted off with a minute of normal time remaining. He then headed straight down the tunnel and…

Erik ten Hag’s comments about Casemiro’s disciplinary record at Real Madrid have been labelled ‘irrelevant’ after the Manchester United star received another red card. The Brazilian midfielder was dismissed during the Red Devils’ goalless draw at Southampton for a high challenge on Carlos Alcaraz, this coming after being red carded during Man United‘s win over Crystal Palace last month. SKY SPORTS5Casemiro’s challenge was soon met with a red card GETTY5Casemiro cut an emotional figure after being given his marching orders The red card, which sees Casemiro miss Man United’s next four domestic outings, was brandished by referee Anthony Taylor after VAR official Andre Marriner…