English Premier League
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs Man Utd: Smith to make one change, 27-yr-old to start
Aston Villa host Manchester United in the Premier League later today and will hope to build on their impressive win over Everton last time out. Dean Smith’s men are currently 11th in the Premier League table after suffering a dip in form in the second half of the season. The fans will want a strong finish to the campaign, but their recent head-to-head to record against United suggests they will have their work cut out today. Villa have failed to beat the Red Devils 36 times in their last 38 meetings, and they will be facing a United team that is high on confidence. United have been impressive on their travels in recent weeks, keeping a clean sheet in five of their last seven away Premier League games. United recorded a 2-1 win over Villa earlier this season, but the hosts will be look...
Manchester United lose £200m sponsorship deal amid fan protests towards Glazers
Manchester United have lost a 10-year training kit deal with Myprotein following the fan protests against the club’s owners, The Guardian reports. AON have sponsored the club’s training kit over the past eight years, but their contract is due to expire at the end of June. Myprotein, who are owned by The Hut Group (THG), were on course to become the new sponsors on a 10-year contract worth £200 million. However, the Cheshire-based company have now pulled out of the deal amid the anti-Glazers fan protests in recent weeks. There have been calls from some fans to boycott the club’s commercial partners in protest against the ownership of the Glazers. THG believe they could be targeted as a local business and have decided to withdraw from the proposed contract. Sportslens view: There has be...
‘Still the best’: Some Liverpool fans drool over player who was ‘outstanding’ vs Southampton
Liverpool kept their top-four hopes alive with a 2-0 home win over Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday. With Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur dropping points earlier, the victory meant the Reds still have a slim chance of finishing in the top four. Goals in each half earned Liverpool all three points against the Saints, although the performance was unspectacular from Jurgen Klopp’s side. Sadio Mane gave Liverpool the lead in the 31st minute when he headed home a delicious cross from Mohamed Salah. Thiago Alcantara doubled the advantage towards the end of the match with his first goal for the club. One player who was really impressive during the game was Alisson, with the goalkeeper making a string of saves to keep the Reds on the game. The Brazilian has made some costly ...
Predicted West Ham XI vs Everton: Moyes to make one change, 24-yr-old to start
West Ham United host Everton in the Premier League later today and will be hoping to close in on the top four with a win. The Hammers beat Burnley 2-1 in their last Premier League outing and should be confident of following up against the Toffees. The Hammers battled to a narrow win at Goodison Park earlier in the season and are favourites to complete the double at the London Stadium. The visitors head into this game on the back of just one win in six league games, and Carlo Ancelotti is under pressure to turn his side’s form around. Despite their recent run of results, the Toffees have generally been hard to beat on their travels this season. They are currently undefeated in 11 of the last 12 games on the road and they have an excellent away record against the Hammers. West Ham have faile...
Gary Lineker reacts to Aguero’s Twitter post in eight words after Man City defeat vs Chelsea
Sergio Aguero has apologised on social networking site Twitter after Manchester City lost 2-1 against Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday. The Argentine striker, who is the club’s all-time highest goalscorer, is set to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. Aguero will definitely be remembered as one of the most decorated strikers in Premier League history. However, his shocking penalty miss at the Etihad Stadium was the central topic of discussion yesterday. City were leading 1-0 in first-half stoppage time, and a second goal would have secured the club’s fifth Premier League title. The former Atletico Madrid striker was given the ball to score from the spot after Billy Gilmour fouled Gabriel Jesus inside the penalty area. However, Aguero’s att...
Jamie Redknapp claims Liverpool have got a ‘special footballer’ on their ranks
Popular football pundit Jamie Redknapp has showered praise on Thiago Alcantara. The Spaniard scored his first goal for Liverpool as the Reds earned a 2-0 home victory against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday. Sadio Mane scored the opening goal for Liverpool when he headed home a cross from Mohamed Salah. Thiago doubled the lead towards the end of the match to seal a vital three points for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Liverpool are sixth in the Premier League, six points behind fourth-placed Leicester City having played a game less. The victory has given them a huge boost in the race for a top-four spot in the Premier League table. Thiago took to social networking site Twitter after the game to express his reaction. first in Red 😍 #YNWA pic.twitter.com/SBwbpRH8WV — Thiago...
Leeds reportedly in contact with €20m French attacker PSG want
Leeds United are keen on bringing Brest attacking midfielder Romain Faivre to Elland Road this summer and have been in contact with his representatives, according to Le Parisien (via GFFN). However, they face huge competition from Paris Saint-Germain for his signature. PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino was impressed with Faivre’s performance against his side in a Coupe de France match and will go all-out to secure his services. They are ready to blow Leeds and others away in the race by offering Bandiougou Fadiga – who is currently on loan at Brest – as a makeweight to clinch the deal. Brest are expected to demand around €20 million for Faivre, and Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, AC Milan, Rennes and Nice are also keen on him. Leeds brought in Raphinha fro...
‘That’s where I want to be’ – West Ham star drops a hint regarding his future
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice has admitted that he dreams of playing Champions League football. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, and the player’s admission that he wants European football will certainly worry the Hammers faithful. He said (via Daily Mirror): “To have that Champions League music playing, that’s where I want to be. “It’s special – I can’t really describe it to be honest. As a kid, it’s your dream – first of all to play in the Premier League, but to be competing for the Champions League (as well). “You know West Ham, people say (we’re) a mid-table club and last three seasons we’ve been battling relegation. But this, what we’re doing now, has always been there. It was just about when. We’re on fire. “We’re on course...
Villa star reveals vile abuse from season ticket holder that made him quit Twitter
Aston Villa forward Anwar El Ghazi quit Twitter following a torrent of abuse he received for missing a chance against Everton last season. The winger was in full support as the footballing world boycotted social media platforms last weekend as a pledge to cut out online hate, racism and other forms of discrimination, and he is hoping that such protests will help bring change and sanity to the internet. El Ghazi scored just four Premier League goals last term but has already doubled that tally this season, playing a huge role in Villa’s attempt to break into the European places. The Dutchman has bagged match-winning goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United and Everton this term and will be keen to keep impressing going forward. El Ghazi’s lack of consistency for Villa attracted v...
Ancelotti reportedly big admirer of Real Madrid-linked £25m man as Everton plot move
Everton are considering a summer move for Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, according to the Mirror. With the Cottagers staring at relegation in the face, the £25 million-rated Cameroon international is expected to remain in the top-flight and is not short of suitors. Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti is a big admirer of Anguissa’s style of play and reckons he could help add some dynamism and steel to Everton’s midfield. The 25-year-old has also been a creative outlet for Fulham this term, weighing in with three assists in 32 Premier League games. Anguissa spent last season on loan at Villarreal following Fulham’s relegation at the end of his debut campaign in England, and he reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid. Sportslens View The midfield powerhouse has what it takes...
Tactical Analysis: How Chelsea halted Manchester City’s Premier League title party
Just over three weeks after their FA Cup semi-final success, Chelsea faced Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with the hosts having the chance to seal the Premier League title with a victory. The two sides were fresh after midweek Champions League semi-final successes – against Paris Saint-Germain for City and Real Madrid for Chelsea – but with wholesale changes to the line-ups (nine for City and five for Chelsea), this was no dress rehearsal. Psychologically, though, this was a significant battle, and Chelsea came away with a crucial win (for their top-four hopes, too) after going a goal down in the first half. The match was filled with plenty of controversies, but we will strictly restrict ourselves to focusing on the tactical aspects of the clash. Manchester City in poss...
Aston Villa and Everton have made enquiries for 22-yr-old midfielder
Aston Villa and Everton are thought to be keen on signing the Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumaré. The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the most exciting midfield talents around Europe right now and the likes of Leicester City are thought to be interested in signing him as well. According to footmercato, the Foxes are currently leading the race to sign Soumaré this summer but the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Everton have made enquiries for the player as well. Soumaré was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League at the start of the season as well and it remains to be seen whether his suitors can bring him to England next season. The Frenchman can operate as a central midfielder and in a holding role. He has the potential to develop into a world-class...
