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Predicted Liverpool XI v RB Leipzig: Klopp to make five changes, 27-yr-old key star set to return
Liverpool host RB Leipzig in the Champions League knockout round later tonight. The Reds managed to win the first leg 2-0 away from home, and they will be hoping to get the job done in the second leg. Liverpool have been in abysmal form, having lost four of the last six matches in all competitions, and Jurgen Klopp is under pressure to guide his team into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A win here would give them some much-needed relief and confidence heading into the remainder of the season. Despite their problems in the league, the Reds have been quite impressive in the European competition, and they will be eager to grind out a positive result against the German outfit. Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in six of their last eight Champions League matches and will fancy their...
‘Sokratis has told us Arsenal’s secrets,’ claims current teammate at Olympiacos
Arsenal take on Greek side Olympiacos in the Round of 16 of the Europa League on Thursday, with a defeat against them last year still in the back of their minds. The duo clashed in the round of 32 of the same competition last season, where the Greek side surprised the footballing world by cruising through at the Gunners’ expense. Since then, not much has changed at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Pedro Martins is still at the helm in Athens, while most of the players who defeated Arsenal 2-1 to advance on away goals are expected to start on Thursday night. Olympiacos 🆚 Arsenal on Thursday is the biggest game Arsenal are gonna play this season, it’s the one that determines how our season will look like, we have to go hard that day! — Saliba🔴. (@SalibaEra_) March 7, 2021 ...
‘Keeps coming back and breaking down’ – Ferdinand slams £200,000-a-week Arsenal ace
Arsenal signed former Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey at the start of the season for a fee of around £45 million. Partey arrived with a lot of expectations and he did manage to impress initially. However, his time at the north London club has been plagued with injuries. The 27-year-old has missed 16 matches with hip, muscle and hamstring issues. Former Premier League star and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has now slammed the £200,000-a-week midfielder because of his fitness problems. “Partey, that’s another one, he’s never fit!” Ferdinand said to Daily Mail. “He keeps coming back and breaking down! “They’ve got good players there but for some reason, I don’t know what’s happening, it just isn’t coming together consistently at the moment.” Partey will be aware of the disappointm...
As Bundesliga clubs suffer losses, Man Utd, Tottenham and co eye summer transfer deals
Clubs in the top two tiers of German football suffered a drop of 5.7% revenue in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may lead to increased pressure on Bundesliga clubs in the summer transfer window to sell some of their prized assets. Football in Germany was brought to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with over a quarter of the season still left to play. The leagues eventually restarted again in May, with all games being played behind closed doors. Bundesliga matches have been played without spectators for the last year The new season kicked off in the middle of September, with spectators still not allowed back into stadiums. This has hampered the revenues of many clubs across the German leagues. The 18 Bundesliga clubs generated revenue of €3.8 billion for the 2019/...
Three La Masia graduates to join Ilaix Moriba and co in Barcelona first-team
Alex Collado, Alejandro Balde and Angel Alarcon are set to earn a promotion to the Barcelona first-team squad. Collado has been one of the standouts at Barcelona B for a few seasons and has been touted for the first team for a long time. He plays as an attacking midfielder, scoring 15 goals in the Segunda Division B. The 21-year-old has made two appearances for the first team, having been given his debut by Ernesto Valverde in May 2019. Collado in action in a friendly against Arsenal Balde is a Spanish teenager who predominantly plays as a left-back, although he has also been deployed on the wing. The 17-year-old is believed to be one of the most promising talents in the youth team. Alarcon is the youngest of the trio, aged just 16. He joined Barcelona from Espanyol in 2018 and has played ...
Juventus knocked out by Porto in enthralling Champions League tie
Porto progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals after a breathless second leg against Juventus. Both sides had glorious chances to open the scoring in the first ten minutes. Alvaro Morata was first, seeing his header well saved by Agustin Marchesin after Juan Cuadrado’s inch-perfect cross. Shortly afterwards, Mehdi Taremi had his close range effort blocked by Leonardo Bonucci, and proceeded to head the rebound against the crossbar. But it wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken, and it was the away side who found the net. Taremi won his side a penalty following Merih Demiral’s challenge. Sergio Oliveira stepped up and placed his spot kick into the bottom corner. There was little in the way of goalmouth action before the break, with Porto looking solid at the back. Marchesin deni...
Leeds United make transfer decision after Wolves reportedly set £30m price tag for attacker
Leeds United are unlikely to make an approach for Adama Traore despite Wolverhampton Wanderers significantly reducing the price tag for the winger, Football Insider reports. Traore had an impressive 2019/2020 season with Wolves, registering six goals and 12 assists from 54 games while making other scoring contributions. However, his form has slumped this term with only one goal and one assist from 31 appearances for the Midlands outfit. Wolves valued Traore between £60-70 million last year, but it is reported that they have reduced their asking price to just £30m ahead of the summer. Leeds were said to be closely monitoring the situation, but it is now claimed that manager Marcelo Bielsa has no desire to land the winger. The Whites boss has concerns over the Spaniard’s techn...
Premier League striker ‘would be happy’ to sign for Barcelona this summer
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero would be happy to sign for Barcelona on a free transfer this summer, Mundo Deportivo reports. The Argentine has been with the Cityzens for a decade and is their all-time top scorer with 256 goals from just 381 appearances in all competitions. However, he has been a lesser influence this term due to injuries and coronavirus and has been limited to only 11 appearances, where he has netted only two goals. The 32-year-old recently said that he is unsure where his future may lie when his contract with the Cityzens expires in June. It is now reported that Aguero’s agent has held talks with Joan Laporta, who was recently elected as the Blaugrana president for a second time. The Argentine is happy to join the Catalan giants with a pay-cut, but will want a sign...
Manchester United, Manchester City to compete for signing of £45m Spanish star
Manchester United and Manchester City are among the clubs interested in signing Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres in the next transfer window, Manchester Evening News reports. The Spain international graduated through the youth ranks of the La Liga outfit, and he has made 74 appearances in all competitions for the club to date. The 24-year-old has been regularly linked with a move away from the Yellow Submarines in the past, and it is now reported that he is on the radar of United and City. United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants a left-footed centre-back in the squad, and Torres appears to fit their requirements. City manager Pep Guardiola is aiming to bolster his central defensive options and wants another addition in the department this summer. Sportslens view: Harry Maguire has be...
Another injury blow for Liverpool, Barcelona sweating on key player
The Champions League has reached the knockout stage, and the round of 16 features some exciting UCL fixtures. We’ll update this story with reports, results and the latest Champions League highlights as the second-leg games are played. The action is already underway, with Juventus facing Porto while Borussia Dortmund host Sevilla. Juventus XI: Szczesny, Cuadrado, Bonucci, Demiral, Alex Sandro, Chiesa, Rabiot, Arthur, Ramsey, C Ronaldo, Morata. Porto XI: Marchesín, Manafa, Pepe, Mbemba, Zaidu, Sergio Oliveira, Uribe, Otavio, Corona, Marega, Taremi. Can Juve turn around their #UCL last 16 tie? — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 9, 2021 Dortmund take a 3-2 lead into their #UCL second-leg vs Sevilla… Dortmund XI: Hitz, Morey, Can, Hummels, Schulz, Delaney, Bellingham, Dahoud, Reus, Haza...
Arsenal attacker becomes second PL star after Sadio Mane to sign New Balance deal
Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has become the second high-profile player after Liverpool’s Sadio Mane to sign with global sportswear brand New Balance. The 19-year-old has been a revelation for the Gunners since making his debut more than two years ago and has managed 74 appearances to date. His performances on the field have led to plenty of appreciation from the club’s faithful, and he has now signed a multi-year deal with New Balance. Now with @NBFootball , officially 😜🌶#NBFootball pic.twitter.com/OH1ymaY14l — Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) March 9, 2021 Earlier last year, Saka was wearing Adidas footwear, but the change was visible from September when he was exclusively spotted with New Balance boots (Furon v6). After several months, there has been official confirmation. New...
Boost for Barcelona as Paris Saint-Germain star misses out
The Champions League takes centre stage over the next two weeks as the eight second-leg ties in the round of 16 are played across Europe. The action gets underway on Tuesday with a pair of fixtures that are finely poised. Juventus head into their second meeting with Porto needing to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. Borussia Dortmund will fancy their chances of reaching the quarter-finals as they hold a 3-2 advantage over Sevilla. Liverpool continue their quest for Champions League glory as they go head-to-head with RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Reds lead 2-0 after the first leg, and it would be a surprise if they failed to progress to the last eight. Paris Saint-Germain are also well placed to go through as they hold a 4-1 lead over Barcelona. However, PSG star Neymar will miss th...
