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Report: Benzema argues with Zidane in Real Madrid dressing room
Real Madrid’s disappointing defeat against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup has raised plenty of questions over Zinedine Zidane’s decision-making. Diaro GOL reports that Karim Benzema was not happy with Zidane’s substitutions. The Frenchman was taken off in the 87th minute with Madrid searching for an equaliser. SPORTSLENS VIEW – Did Zinedine Zidane make the correct decision to substitute Benzema? Benzema did not start the game on a bright note. The 33-year-old French striker was livelier in the second half after scoring Madrid’s goal. He became more involved thereafter and was unfortunate not to level the game when he had an equaliser chalked off by VAR for offside. However, Zidane’s decision to replace Benzema with Mariano Diaz in the 87th minute was baffling with Madrid nee...
Premier League 2020/21 Week 19: EPL Results & Table
The 19th round of fixtures in the Premier League features some important matches at both ends of the table. Liverpool versus Manchester United is the standout game, with the two old enemies set to go head-to-head at Anfield on Sunday. The lunchtime match at Molineux got the weekend off to a thrilling start as West Bromwich Albion triumphed 3-2 against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves led 2-1 at the break, with Fabio Silva and Willy Boly turning things around after Matheus Pereira’s penalty had given the Baggies an early lead. However, goals in the second half by Semi Ajayi and another Pereira penalty gave Sam Allardyce his first victory as West Brom manager. There are two games at 3.00 pm, with West Ham United hosting Burnley while Leeds United take on Brighton & Hove Albion. HALF-TIME ...
Report: Liverpool keen on French duo, contact made with 22-yr-old’s representatives
Liverpool are interested in signing the RB Leipzig defenders Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate. According to Christian Falk, Liverpool have contacted the representatives of Upamecano along with Bayern Munich and Chelsea. TRUE ✅ @ChelseaFC have contact to the Management of Dayot Upamecano. Like @FCBayern and @LFC. Liverpool is also interested in Ibrahima Konaté @BILD_Sport pic.twitter.com/uVh2B7falh — Christian Falk (@cfbayern) January 15, 2021 The 22-year-old French defender is highly rated around Europe and it is hardly a surprise that the top European clubs are vying for his services. According to the Guardian, the German outfit will not sell the 22-year-old this month but his suitors will be able to activate his £37.4 million release clause in the summer. Konate has done an imp...
Report: Mourinho hints at 24-yr-old’s lack of professionalism and fight at Spurs
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho believes that midfielder Dele Alli is unhappy at Tottenham and he is not fighting for the team. The midfielder recently posted a photograph of himself looking frustrated on Instagram after the game against Fulham. He has been linked with a loan move to Paris Saint-Germain as well. The 24-year-old has played just 74 minutes in the Premier League this season and a player of his calibre needs to play more often. It is evident that he has fallen out of favour with Mourinho and it remains to be seen if the London club are willing to sanction a loan move before the transfer window closes. Speaking to Guardian during his pre-match presser, the Spurs boss explained how some unhappy players believe that it is not their job to fight and work for the squad. Mourinho sa...
Wayne Rooney: One of England’s greatest
6,727 days. That is how long ago Wayne Rooney made his senior debut as a footballer. In his long and illustrious career, Wazza pretty much did and won it all (except an international trophy). Now, ‘Roonaldo’ has decided to hang up his boots in favour of smoother patent leather shoes, so let’s take a look back at the last 18-odd years when he has graced football pitches all around the world. An early introduction Rooney joined the Everton youth set-up aged nine after scoring 99 goals in one season in a local junior league – ninety-nine. That was a sign of things to come, and they started on July 15, 2002, when Rooney netted for Everton in a friendly against SC Weiz, an Austrian club. About a month later, the teenager made his Premier League debut when he started in Everton’s match against T...
Real Madrid forward stabs Zidane in the back and wants him sacked
One of the players who admired Zinedine Zidane now wants him to be sacked on the back of some terrible decision-making. Real Madrid crashed out of the Spanish Super Cup earlier this week thanks to a 2-1 defeat against Athletic Bilbao. Los Blancos looked short of ideas in the final third and Eden Hazard was one of the side’s worst performers, raising questions over his continued involvement in the team. One of the players who feels hard done at the moment is fellow winger Vinicius Junior, as per Diario GOL. The Brazilian international has been one of Madrid’s better players this season, but his minutes have been limited lately. Zidane and Vinicius have reportedly fallen out of favour due to the latter texting during a team talk. The young forward now aims to take drastic action against the ...
Predicted Celtic Line-up vs Livingston: Lennon set to field heavily weakened side
Celtic host Livingston in the Scottish Premiership this weekend and they will be hoping to get back to winning ways. The defending champions have failed to win their last two league games against Rangers and Hibernian. Neil Lennon’s side are already 21 points behind Rangers in the league table and cannot afford any more slip-ups. The Hoops have a formidable record at home and it will be interesting to see if they can step up and grind out the three points. Celtic are currently undefeated in 36 of their last 38 home league games. They have an excellent record against Livingston as well and have managed to beat the away side 12 times in their last 13 meetings at Parkhead. Livingston are coming into this game on the back of six consecutive wins in the league and will fancy their chances again...
Predicted Rangers XI v Motherwell: Gerrard without five first team players this week
Rangers travel to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership this weekend aiming to extend their fine run of form with a win. Steven Gerrard’s side have won their last six league games and will be confident of getting a good result here against a struggling Motherwell side. The hosts are coming into this game having failed to win their last six league games and they will be up against the best team in the country right now. Rangers have an impressive record against Motherwell in all competitions and have beaten the home side seven times in the last seven meetings. The visitors are on a tremendous run right now having won their last 15 league matches. Gerrard will demand a big performance from his players and Rangers will be looking to extend the gap with Celtic at the top of the table. Rangers...
Report: Manchester United to rival Chelsea in the race to sign £70m Premier League star
Manchester United are likely to compete Chelsea in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice at the end of the season, a report from ESPN claims. The England international was regularly linked with Frank Lampard’s side last summer, but nothing materialised beyond the speculation. He continues to remain on the radar of the west London giants and it has been recently suggested that he may prefer to remain in the English capital. However, United appear to be keeping a close eye on the player’s situation and it is reported that they could rival the Blues for the midfielder’s services next summer. Rice has more than three years remaining on his contract and the Hammers have the option of extending his deal for another 12 months. Hence, they are in a strong position to keep hold of...
Derby County appoint Wayne Rooney as their new manager
Wayne Rooney has been appointed as Derby County’s new manager on a permanent basis, as confirmed by the club via their official website. The Manchester United legend agreed to join Derby in August 2019 on a player-coach role starting in January 2020. Since then, he has made 35 appearances for the Rams, scoring on seven occasions. From November 26 onwards, Rooney has been taking charge of Derby on an interim basis. This sparked an impressive turnaround, going unbeaten in their next six games having lost the previous four. Captain. Leader. The greatest.@WayneRooney: The Manager 🐏 — Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 15, 2021 And now the England national team’s all-time top goalscorer has been rewarded with the job permanently. The 35-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year contra...
‘Sell him and move on’ – Some Liverpool fans react to Klopp’s update on 25-yr-old
Liverpool take on Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend and Jurgen Klopp has confirmed a number of injury blows for the Reds. During his pre-match presser, the Liverpool manager confirmed that midfielder Naby Keita won’t be involved against United with an injury and Joel Matip is close to returning but he hasn’t had sufficient training so far. It seems that the defender could miss out once again and Liverpool might have to field a makeshift back four against United. Klopp says Naby Keita will not be involved v United.#LFC — Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) January 15, 2021 Jurgen Klopp says Joel Matip is “close” to returning. “Does it make sense to throw him in with one or two sessions he hasn’t done yet? I don’t know, we have to decide, look at him, how he trains. We have differ...
Report: Man Utd handed injury boost, Solskjaer confirms 25-yr-old could play on Sunday
Manchester United travel to Anfield this weekend and they will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table with a win at Anfield. The Red Devils have not had much joy against the Premier League champions in recent seasons and they will be hoping to pull off an upset here. OGS says given Liverpool’s status as PL champions and home record it would be ‘an upset and a shock’ if @ManUtd won at Anfield on Sunday. Says no fans an advantage for his team. “We are the challengers, the hunters.” — Simon Stone (@sistoney67) January 15, 2021 Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five matches against United but they are going through a rough patch right now and the visitors will fancy their chances of victory. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Anthony Martial could be fit for Sun...
