English Premier League
‘Outstanding performance’ – Grealish hails 28-yr-old Villa teammate after last night’s draw
Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion cancelled each other out in a goalless draw in the Premier League last night. Brighton were arguably the better side and could have easily won the game. However, Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez put in a world-class display to earn a point for his team. The 28-year-old Argentine shot-stopper has been in red hot form since joining the west Midlands club from Arsenal. He pulled off nine saves against Brighton last night. Villa turned in a mediocre performance as a team and their in-form keeper bailed them out. Villa star Jack Grealish took to Twitter after the game to lavish praise on his teammate. Tough game against a very good side 👏🏻 nowhere my standards or the teams standards but a point gained. Well done @emimartinezz1 outstandi...
Arsene Wenger reveals how close Arsenal were to signing Leicester City star
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has heaped praise on Leicester City star Jamie Vardy and revealed that he offered him a lot of money to join the Gunners in the summer of 2016. The 34-year-old guided the Foxes to a historic and maiden Premier League title during the 2015/16 season and ahead of the European Championships, he was widely fancied to sign for the north London giants after they triggered the £20 million release clause in his contract. However, the striker decided against joining them and instead committed his long-term future to the Foxes. The striker has not won any silverware since the unprecedented triumph but has still been the leader of the attack with 94 more goals to his tally. 86 of them have come in the English top-flight and he recently bagged the se...
Unhappy Chelsea star will push for move away from the club this summer
Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech wants to discuss his future with the club this summer. According to Corriere dello Sport, the 27-year-old is unhappy with his lack of game time and wants to move on at the end of the season. Ziyech has made 19 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, scoring just twice since joining the club from Ajax. AC Milan and Roma have previously linked with Ziyech and could be open to negotiating a loan move for the Moroccan. SL View Ziyech built up an impressive reputation during his time with Ajax, but he has failed to replicate that form in a Chelsea shirt. After getting off to steady enough start with the Blues, the forward appears to have regressed dramatically over the past couple of months. His cause wasn’t helped by Frank Lampard’s scattergun approach to ma...
Forget top four – can Liverpool qualify for Europe this season?
Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Leicester City on Saturday left their hopes of retaining the Premier League title in tatters. Securing a place in next season’s Champions League is now the height of their ambitions, although it would be a brave move to back them to achieve the feat. However, given that the Reds could drop to sixth place by the end of the weekend, is it too early to start thinking that qualifying for the Europa League might be problematical? SL View Three successive league defeats have left Liverpool looking nervously over their shoulders with a third of the season remaining. As things stand Manchester City, Manchester United and Leicester look good bets to claim the top three spots this term. The Reds’ hopes of finishing in the top four are questionable, with Chelsea and Everton ...
Tactical Analysis: How Guardiola schooled Mourinho as Manchester City breezed past Tottenham Hotspur
After watching Liverpool lose yet again to Leicester City, Manchester City took on Tottenham Hotspur on the back of an English top-flight record winning-streak spanning 15 games. The last side to beat Pep Guardiola’s rampant side were indeed Tottenham, but this was a completely different affair with both sides on opposite ends of the form table. The result was completely different from the reverse fixture too, as Manchester City emerged deserved 3-0 winners after another brilliant performance. In this analysis, we will attempt to dissect all of the tactical nuances on display in this match. Line-ups Manchester City lined up in their favoured 4-3-3, with Ederson shielded by a back-four of João Cancelo, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Oleksandr Zinchenko as Rúben Dias only made th...
Cavani and Fernandes return, Predicted Man United line-up (4-2-3-1) vs West Brom
Manchester United will be aiming to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they face West Bromwich Albion on the road tomorrow. The Red Devils have been inconsistent in the league over the past four games, picking up just five points during this period. As a result, they have dropped five points behind arch-rivals Manchester City for top spot, having also played an extra game. Their title prospects have taken a hit with the recent run of results and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will want a strong showing from his side at The Hawthorns. The club are going into the game on the back of a slender 1-0 win over West Ham United in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday night. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: David de Gea had a disappointing game against Everton last weekend where he sh...
Arsenal receive boost in signing on-loan Real Madrid star, available for £22m
Arsenal have received a potential boost in signing Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on a permanent basis this summer. The Spain international is currently in his second season on loan with the Gunners and has already made 61 appearances for them in all competitions. It is unclear whether the Gunners will look to sign him permanently in the summer, but La Razon claims that Los Blancos are willing to sanction his sale. The midfielder is not in the plans of Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane and it is reported that he could be sold for around £22 million (€25m). Ceballos’ former side Real Betis are also interested, but they may only approach to sign him if Nabil Fekir heads through the exit door. SL view: Ceballos had an impressive debut season with the Gunners where he caught the e...
Vardy and Ndidi return, Predicted Leicester City line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Liverpool
Leicester City are scheduled to host Liverpool in today’s early Premier League kick-off at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes are currently third in the table and have a three-point advantage over the Reds, who are right behind them in the standings. Jurgen Klopp’s side have picked up only two wins from the last eight league games and the Foxes will be aiming to inflict a third straight defeat on them. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: Kasper Schmeichel is a definite choice in goal. The Dane has played every minute of the club’s league campaign and should lead the side against the Reds. In the defence, there will be an enforced change with Justin James sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the midweek FA Cup fifth round tie. Meanwhile, Wesley Fofana is still on the sideline...
Predicted Liverpool starting XI: Klopp to make two changes, 23-year-old returns
Liverpool will travel to King Power Stadium to face Leicester City in the Premier League clash on Saturday lunchtime. The Reds are struggling for form and consistency. Jurgen Klopp’s side are heading into this game on the back of a 4-1 defeat against Manchester City at Anfield, and they will be eager to return to winning ways. The reigning champions are currently fourth in the Premier League, three points behind Leicester, and they cannot afford to drop further points if they are serious about retaining their crown. Klopp confirmed yesterday that Fabinho will be out for this game. The Brazilian midfielder – who has mainly operated as a makeshift centre-back this season – has picked up a muscle injury. Fabinho ruled out for #LFC trip to Leicester with a “little muscle issue”. — ...
3 Arsenal players with a point to prove against Leeds United
Arsenal will return to Premier League action on Sunday where they entertain Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium. The north London side have recently lost momentum with back-to-back league defeats and that has dropped them to 11th in the table. They are still with an outside chance of making the top four with a nine-point deficit, but need to start winning games to improve their prospects. Mikel Arteta’s side will come up against Leeds on Sunday afternoon. The Whites are currently one point and one place ahead of them in the standings. We look at three Gunners players, who may have a point to prove against the west Yorkshire outfit. Martin Odegaard The Norwegian joined the Gunners on loan from Real Madrid under much fanfare last month, but he has hardly played for them. He has managed only...
Tactical Analysis: How Leicester City dealt a potentially decisive blow to Liverpool’s title-hopes
After that demoralising 1-4 reverse against Manchester City, Liverpool had another tough task on their hands as they took on high-flying Leicester City, who were three points and one spot above them in the table. The Reds’ title-hopes were already a distant memory in this rapid season, but they needed to win here to keep a spot in the top-four. However, it was the Foxes who emerged victorious thanks to a late flurry of goals, denting Liverpool’s top-four hopes and boosting theirs. In this analysis, we will take a look at what went right – and wrong – for both sides. Line-ups Leicester City lined up in a 4-4-1-1, with a necessary change in defence as James Justin had to miss out due to an ACL injury. So, Kasper Schmeichel had Daniel Amartey, Jonny Evans, Çağlar Söyüncü and Ricardo...
Predicted Spurs XI vs Man City: Mourinho to make three changes; 24-year-old dropped
Tottenham Hotspur travel to Etihad Stadium to face league leaders Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday. Spurs have won only once in their last five games in all competitions. They are heading into this game on the back of a 5-4 defeat against Everton in the FA Cup in midweek. Jose Mourinho was clearly left frustrated with Tottenham’s poor defending against the Toffees, and he is going to shake things up against Pep Guardiola’s side. The partnership of Toby Alderwiereld and Davinson Sanchez is not working, despite the fact, the 24-year-old Colombian scoring two goals against Everton. Eric Dier has been left out in recent games, and it has been reported that the England international is struggling with confidence. This could open the door for Joe Rodon to get an extended ru...
