Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter has confirmed that young English full-back Tariq Lamptey will miss their home game against Leicester City with a new injury problem. Lamptey signed for Brighton in the 2020 January transfer window, having failed to make the breakthrough at Chelsea. Since then, he has become one of the most promising young full-backs around, recording a goal and two assists in 19 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls. Lamptey celebrates his first senior career goal against Tottenham However, the 20-year-old’s season has been blighted by injuries. He has not made an appearance since December 16 in the 0-0 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Lamptey was expected to make a return to action soon. However, manager Graham Potter has confirmed in his press co...
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will face a big decision this summer as he enters an important phase in his career. The 25-year-old is currently on loan at Fulham but has indicated that he will return to Chelsea this summer to fight for his place. Loftus-Cheek is contracted to the Blues until 2024, and his chances of forcing his way into their starting XI appear remote. The midfielder has performed well for Fulham, and manager Scott Parker has confirmed that we would love to make the move permanent. During his press conference for Fulham’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, Parker praised the impact Loftus-Cheek has made. “Ruben has been a fantastic addition,” he said. “I’ve seen someone grow immensely from the start of the season to a person and player now who has transformed. ...
Liverpool have had a mediocre season by their standards in the Premier League. The Reds are currently sixth in the table with 43 points and it would be a catastrophe if they missed out on Champions League qualification. According to Football Insider, there are suggestions from within the club that the motivation levels have dropped under Jurgen Klopp and the team is lacking in fight and desire. The whispers have made Rangers chiefs nervous that the Reds could come calling for Steven Gerrard after his superb season in the Scottish Premiership. SL View: Too early to dismiss Klopp The Rangers manager has been linked with a move back to Liverpool for a while now and it will be interesting to see if the Premier League giants decide to appoint him as their manager when Klopp decides to move...
Thomas Tuchel’s claim that Chelsea will challenge for silverware on all fronts next season raised plenty of eyebrows across the Sportslens team. In his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Liverpool in the Premier League on Thursday, Tuchel was adamant that the Blues will be a force to be reckoned in the future. The club last won the title in 2017, but they have dropped significantly behind Manchester City and Liverpool since then. “Sometimes, it’s good to look at the reality and have the ambition to close (the gap) as fast as possible,” he said. “The point is, will we close the gap to Man City this season? No, we will not – this is impossible. “But from next season, all of us start with zero points – City were in trouble this season, and nobody took advantage of it. It’s proven in...
The Daily Mail claimed last night that several Newcastle United players want assistant head coach Graeme Jones to immediately take over from boss Steve Bruce until the end of the season, believing he represents their best chance of avoiding the drop. It was reported that there is growing resentment towards the Magpies head coach in the dressing room, and that the players no longer trust and like him, with a training ground bust-up between him and Matt Ritchie on Tuesday fuelling the fire. However, the latest reports coming from The Telegraph have poured cold water on those claims, and Newcastle players are said to have contacted club officials to deny they wanted Bruce to be sacked. Some have also contacted the Newcastle boss directly, and they have dismissed the idea that they all want Jo...
The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in 2019 was heralded as a massive step forward for the Premier League. The days where controversial decisions were made were supposed to become a thing of the past, and football would be a better place for it. However, the reality has proved to be much different, with barely a week going by without some VAR-related nonsense occurring in England’s top flight. Whether it’s diving going unpunished or penalties not being given, VAR has not cleaned up the mistakes many thought it would have upon introduction. We’ve waded our way through the list of VAR decisions in the Premier League to pick out 10 of the most contentious since it was introduced. Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool – October 2019 Liverpool were unstoppable during the 2019...
The Manchester derby is widely viewed as one of the biggest football rivalries in the world. Meetings between City and United often produce memorable moments, and that has certainly been the case over the past few years. Ahead of the Premier League clash between the two sides on Sunday, we look at 10 recent defining moments of the rivalry. Benjani shows United no mercy United staged a memorial for the 50-year anniversary of the Munich air disaster ahead of their game against City in February 2008. The City fans and players showed their class by playing a respectful part in proceedings, but the gloves came off when the action got underway. Goals from Darius Vassell and Benjani secured a 2-1 victory for City – the first time they had won at Old Trafford in the league since 1974. Owen the unl...
Liverpool will take on Chelsea in the Premier League clash at Anfield on Thursday night. After losing three games in a row at Anfield, Liverpool will be determined to bring the fear factor back at their spiritual home that saw them remaining undefeated in 68 games in the first place. Thomas Tuchel’s side are unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions, and the match promises to be a cracker with both teams fighting for a place in the top-four. After Manchester United drew 0-0 against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, Liverpool will fancy their chances to close the gap with them with three points here. Liverpool will be without their talisman skipper Jordan Henderson for this game, but the likes of Fabinho and Allison are expected to return. Klopp suggested yesterday that Fabinho c...
Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow was dropped from the starting line-up for last weekend’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the news leaked last Tuesday – four days before the game – and it got the Englishman angry. According to Sportsmail, his teammates were disgusted when news of Darlow being dropped appeared in the press last week. The Newcastle goalkeeper had not been informed, and they believe it was head coach Steve Bruce who leaked it. The Magpies boss told Darlow that he was not playing on Friday, and the keeper challenged him on the press report, but Bruce denied leaking it. The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards – a close friend of the Newcastle boss – who reported the story has revealed that Bruce was not his source, claiming that he was furious and livid with him for writing...
Aston Villa crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane earlier tonight. Dean Smith’s men came into this game on the back of an impressive win over Leeds United, and they were expected to build on that result. David McGoldrick scored a vital first-half goal to hand his side a priceless win. The Blades managed to defend the final half-hour with ten men after Phil Jagielka was sent off around the 57th minute. The likes of John McGinn and Ollie Watkins spurned decent chances to score for the visitors. The fans will be particularly disappointed with the defensive performance of experienced full-back Ahmed Elmohamady. The 74-cap Egyptian international made a slow start to the game, and he put the midfield under constant pressure with his poor passing. Villa missed the quali...
Rangers picked up a late win over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership earlier tonight. Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos scored the only goal of the game in the 87th minute, and Steven Gerrard’s side are now on the verge of the title. The Ibrox outfit are currently 18 points clear at the top of the table and can win the title on Sunday if they manage to beat St Mirren and Celtic drop points at Dundee United. Gerrard was unhappy with the officiating throughout the game, and he confronted referee John Beaton at half-time. His side could have easily had a penalty tonight. However, he will be relieved to have picked up all three points here. Meanwhile, former Rangers star Graham Roberts has shared his reaction to the win on social media. Get innnnnnn 55 here we come!!! — Graham Roberts...
Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League earlier tonight. It was a good opportunity for the Old Trafford outfit to close the gap with Manchester City ahead of the derby game this weekend. Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer will be frustrated with the attacking performance of his side tonight. The likes of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford were quite wasteful with their chances, and both players could have given United the lead early in the game. Rashford has had a mixed season, and he has often been criticised for his lack of sharpness in front of goal. There is no doubt that the 23-year-old is a top-class talent, but he needs to work on his finishing if he wants to continue to lead the line for a club like United. The Red Devils may decide to invest in a ...