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Chelsea stars ruled out, Tottenham sweating on key player’s fitness
The 2020/21 Premier League season continues this weekend, with some intriguing EPL fixtures scheduled over the next four days. The action gets underway on Friday evening as Newcastle United go head-to-head with Aston Villa at St James’ Park. The early kick-off on Saturday is at Elland Road, with Leeds United facing Chelsea. The Blues will be without Tammy Abraham and Thiago Silva, with manager Thomas Tuchel confirming they are sidelined with injuries. There are three other games later the same day, with the clash between Fulham and Manchester City the pick of the bunch. Fulham have given themselves a great chance of avoiding relegation, but they could have their work cut out against the champions-elect. The Sunday line-up features a quartet of matches, headlined by the north London derby b...
US state bans transgender athletes from women’s sports
Mississippi became the first US state on Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls or women’s sports teams, a move denounced as discriminatory by LGBTQ groups and likely to face legal challenges. Governor Tate Reeves said the “Mississippi Fairness Act” would “ensure young girls are not forced to compete against biological males.” The bill requires public schools in the conservative southern state to designate sports teams based on biological sex as for “Males,” “Females” or “Coed.” “Athletic teams or sports designated for ‘females,’ ‘women,’ or ‘girls,’ shall not be open to students of the male sex,” it states. Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a group which defends LGBTQ rights, described the bill as “discriminatory anti-transgender legislation” and said it would be challeng...
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides fresh injury update on three Manchester United stars
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided an injury update on three players following the club’s disappointing 1-1 draw against AC Milan in the first leg of the Europa League last 16. The Red Devils opened the scoring in the 50th minute following a delightful debut goal from Amad Diallo, who headed the ball beyond the goalkeeper after a terrific run. However, they could not double the advantage and eventually paid the price with the Rossoneri scoring through a Simon Kjaer header in stoppage time. Both Harry Maguire and Daniel James squandered gilt-edged scoring chances and the club travel to San Siro next week needing a goal to stay in the competition. Speaking after the game, Solskjaer provided an injury update on three players including Anthony Martial, who was substitu...
‘Big game player’, ‘Fantastic’: Some Arsenal fans react to 23-year-old’s display vs Olympiacos
A selection of Arsenal fans on Twitter heaped praise on Gabriel Magalhaes following the club’s 3-1 win over Olympiacos in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16. The centre-back returned to the starting line-up after sitting out the last two games where Pablo Mari was preferred to partner David Luiz. He could not do much to restrict the equalising goal (1-1) from Olympiacos before the hour mark which was gifted after a poor bit of play between Bernd Leno and Dani Ceballos. However, he made the difference in the 79th minute with a towering and looping header in the box which found the top right corner of Olympiacos’ net. Five minutes from time, he turned provider for Mohamed Elneny, who unleashed a swerving shot from outside the box which put the Gunners’ 3-1 ahead. The performance ...
‘Not a nice position to be in’ – 27-yr-old opens up about his situation at Newcastle this season
Newcastle United attacking midfielder Ryan Fraser has opened up about the lack of game time this season. The former Bournemouth star revealed but he is ready to give his all when called upon by Steve Bruce but the lack of game time is not ideal. Speaking to the Chronicle, he said: “I haven’t played too much this season so it’s when I’m called upon it’s just about giving my all. “Any way I can help the team, even when I’m not playing, I still want to win – [fight for safety] it’s not a nice position to be in but there’s no point moping about it, we just need to go and do our stuff and get ourselves out of it. “Yeah of course, when I’m called up I want to do the best for the team, the fans and myself. I want to show the best of me but with injuries, not playing, and other things happeni...
Three things Arsenal must avoid against Spurs on Sunday
Arsenal are scheduled to host arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday and the game can be considered a must-win for them in their quest for Champions League football. Mikel Arteta’s side are already 12 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand and need to come on top in the north London derby to maintain their slim chances of qualifying for the elite competition through the league. Ahead of the much-anticipated clash this weekend, we look at three things the Gunners must avoid as they look to beat Spurs for the first time in six games across all competitions. Cut out unforced defensive errors: Since the turn of the year, the Gunners have largely been the reason behind their own downfall. The capital outfit have conceded 14 goals in all competitions in 20...
Chelsea set to cut losses on Timo Werner
Chelsea may allow Timo Werner to leave the club as early as this summer, according to a report by Football Insider. Werner arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer for approximately £45 million following four stellar seasons in the Bundesliga at RB Leipzig. It was hoped that the forward would be one of the key difference makers as Chelsea looked to mount a title charge. Werner hasn’t had the desired impact at Chelsea However, this hasn’t been the case. The German has netted just five Premier League goals all season, including just one in his last 19 league outings. In front of goal, he has been extremely wasteful, squandering several clear cut chances. This summer, the Blues may cut their losses on Werner and sell him for whatever they can get, reports Football Insider. The Germany internati...
‘His feelings are not the best’: Mourinho suggests Spurs man won’t play on Thursday
Jose Mourinho confirmed in his pre-match press conference yesterday that he will make changes to his side ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League game on Thursday. Spurs face Dinamo Zagreb in the round of 16, and Mourinho has hinted that he will rotate his squad. The Spurs boss has confirmed that he will field a strong side, but there will be changes. One player who will not be playing is Giovani Lo Celso. The Argentine has suffered a minor setback and is not completely fit to play on Thursday. Lo Celso has not featured for Spurs since he was forced off with a hamstring injury in the 2-0 defeat to Leicester City in mid-December. He returned to training last month, and there were suggestions that he could play in the Europa League clash and the north London derby on March 14. H...
Bielsa confirms two Leeds players won’t play vs Chelsea; three players available
Marcelo Bielsa has suggested in his pre-match press conference today that Pablo Hernandez and Pascal Struijk won’t play against Chelsea this weekend. Leeds have lost four out of their last five Premier League games. The Whites are up against the Blues, who are on a superb run of form under Thomas Tuchel. Bielsa has confirmed that Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo are both fit, with the England midfielder playing the entire game on Monday against West Ham. “Neither will be able to play”, said Bielsa when asked about the latest update about Hernandez and Struijk. Injury news – Struijk and Hernandez will miss the Chelsea game again. Shackleton is back and Phillips and Rodrigo came through the West Ham game without any issues. Koch could play in the 23s on Monday. #lufc — Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) March ...
Injury-ridden United pay the price as Milan hold advantage ahead of Europa League second leg
It was a tale of two headers as Manchester United conceded an injury-time equaliser in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie against AC Milan with the sides playing out a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Simon Kjaer’s first goal for Milan late in the game cancelled out Amad Diallo’s 50th-minute opening goal for the hosts ahead of next week’s second leg at the San Siro. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made four changes to his starting line-up from Sunday’s 2-0 win at rivals Manchester City in the Premier League. In came Eric Bailly, Alex Telles, Nemanja Matić and Mason Greenwood, with the latter replacing an injured Marcus Rashford. Solskjaer’s side were also without goalkeeper David De Gea, who remains in Spain following the birth of his first child, so Dean Henderson continue...
Man United, Chelsea interested in £49.5m French star, but his club want to keep him
Kingsley Coman is attracting interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea, but Bayern Munich are determined to extend his contract, Sport1 journalist Florian Plettenberg claims. Coman is currently in his sixth season with the Bundesliga giants, accumulating 39 goals and 48 assists from 188 appearances in all competitions. His career has been plagued by multiple injuries, but he has stayed unscathed for most of the current campaign, which has brought the best out of him. The 24-year-old has registered six goals and 13 assists for the European champions this term, and it is already his best-ever return in a single season. Despite this, there has been speculation regarding his future, and a recent report from The Mail claimed that both United and the Blues are keeping tabs on him. Wh...
Man Utd and PSG turned down chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, claims Italian journalist
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain both rejected the opportunity to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus last summer, according to La Repubblica journalist Emanuele Gamba. The 36-year-old’s future has been at the centre of a lot of speculation in the last few days following Juventus’ early exit from the Champions League at the hands of Porto. Oliveira scored twice to eliminate Juventus This is the third year in a row that the Italian giants have suffered disappointment in Europe, having previously been knocked out by Ajax and Lyon. Given the current financial climate, Juventus’ failings on the pitch and Ronaldo’s ambition, it would not be surprising to see the Portuguese forward move on in the upcoming transfer window. Two clubs that have apparently already turned down Ronaldo once ...
