Premier League
Chelsea boss takes blame for Hakim Ziyech struggles at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has shouldered the blame for Hakim Ziyech’s stalled progress at Stamford Bridge, challenging the midfielder to fight for his place in the team. Morocco international Ziyech, who signed in July, has only featured twice so far under Tuchel, leading to suggestions the former Ajax star could seek a summer exit. But Tuchel is adamant he will need to call on Ziyech as the hectic season unfolds. “It is my fault actually, not his,” Tuchel said on Friday. “It is my hard decisions at the moment as well for Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and for Christian Pulisic sometimes in the half positions where we seem the strongest. “It is the same for Hakim at the moment and for some other players — there were hard decisions to make. It is never easy but it is a good thing, we have...
Chelsea pair set to miss out, Arsenal star may start against champions-elect
The 2020/21 Premier League season rumbles on this weekend, with some eye-catching fixtures scheduled to take place over the next four days. The action gets underway on Friday evening as Wolverhampton Wanderers go head-to-head with Leeds United at Molineux. There are four games on Saturday, with Southampton versus Chelsea kicking-off proceedings at lunchtime. Thiago Silva has definitely been ruled out of the game for the Blues, while Christian Pulisic is also doubtful with a calf injury. Burnley vs West Bromwich Albion is next on the agenda, but that will serve as a warm-up to the standout game of the day at 5.30 pm. Liverpool will be eager to bounce back to form in the Premier League after a dismal run as they face Everton at Anfield. The final match of the day sees Fulham welcome Sheffiel...
Premier League 2020/21 Week 25: EPL Results & Table
The 25th round of fixtures in the Premier League features some key match-ups at both ends of the EPL table. We’ll update this story with reports, results, highlights and the latest Premier League standings throughout the weekend. The action is already underway, with Wolverhampton Wanderers going head-to-head with Leeds United at Molineux. 🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨 We’ve got live commentary of 🐺 #WolvesFC 🆚 #LUFC ⚪️at 8pm courtesy of @vksparks & @mbrowny1977 📻! Here’s how both sides line up 🔽 Listen live on @BBCSounds👇🎧📲 https://t.co/SeNxYP3LvM#bbcfootball #WOLLEE pic.twitter.com/p2ncRckTej — BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) February 19, 2021 The early game on Saturday sees Chelsea attempt to boost their...
Thomas Tuchel confirms double Chelsea injury boost ahead of Southampton clash
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has provided an injury update ahead of the Premier League game against Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday. The west London side have been in fine form since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as manager last month, winning their last four league games. They are favourites to win this weekend with Southampton on a six-match losing league streak. Ahead of the game, Tuchel confirmed that both Tammy Abraham and Kai Havertz are in contention to face the Saints. Abraham picked up an ankle injury which saw him substituted in the 20th minute against Newcastle United on Monday. He has avoided any serious problem and looks set for a return alongside Havertz, who has been out with a knock over the past fortnight. “Tammy feels very good,” Tuchel told the club’s official website...
Arsenal boss hails Manchester City as ‘best in Europe’
Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal team will be facing the best side in Europe when they take on Premier League leaders Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. City have won a club-record 17 successive games across all competitions and are 10 points ahead of local rivals Manchester United at the summit of the English top-flight heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures. Arteta knows City well after working under manager Pep Guardiola in Manchester for three years before returning to manage Arsenal, having previously played for the Gunners. “I think they are the best team in Europe at the moment,” Arteta said of City. “The way they are performing, the football they are playing and the consistency of the results, take all that it and it makes them the best team. “So we have a b...
Preview: Liverpool vs Everton – Team News, Predicted Line-ups, Prediction
Liverpool will bid to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday evening. The Reds have lost their way with three league defeats on the bounce and that has left them a staggering 16 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City. The focus from now on will remain on qualifying for the Champions League. They are currently sixth in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp’s side will go into the game with some momentum after securing a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 in midweek. Meanwhile, the Toffees have recently suffered back-to-back losses in the league and they are currently three points and one place behind the Reds with a game in hand. Key Stats: Liverpool h...
‘Excellent’, ‘Unstoppable’: Some Man City fans react to attacker’s display vs Everton
A section of Manchester City fans on Twitter reacted to the performance of Riyad Mahrez during the club’s 3-1 Premier League win over Everton at Goodison Park. The Algeria international had recently gone through a rough patch and he managed only one goal and one assist from his 10 league appearances prior to facing the Toffees. With the minor injury to Ilkay Gundogan, Mahrez got the chance to return to the starting line-up against Carlo Ancelotti’s side and he changed the complexion of the game in the second half. The scores were level at 1-1 in the 63rd minute when the 29-year-old came up with a trademark curling strike from outside the box to beat Jordan Pickford at the far post. Mahrez had been struggling in the final third of late but made amends with an excellent first-time shot which...
Arsenal could offload nine first-team stars as part of summer overhaul
Arsenal are planning a summer overhaul which could see them part ways with nine first-team stars, a report from The Sun claims. The north London side ended the previous season on a good note as they won the FA Cup and secured their spot in the Europa League. It was anticipated that they would kick on and push for the Champions League places in the Premier League this term but that has clearly not been the case. The Gunners have been inconsistent with their displays for most of the season and they are currently languishing in the 10th spot, eight points adrift of the top four. Whatever happens for the rest of the season, the club are bound to make changes to the squad and it is reported that as many as nine players could head for the exit door. The club have been financially impacted due to...
Agent comments confirm that Tottenham boss is spot on about underperfomer
Sports agent Jonathan Barnett has rarely been shy about sharing his opinion about his long-time client Gareth Bale. He was at it again during the Financial Times’ Business of Football event, but on this occasion may well have put his foot in it. Bale has failed miserably to make an impact at Spurs since returning to the club on loan from Real Madrid last September. His efforts have infuriated Jose Mourinho, with the Spurs manager making no secret of how unhappy he is with Bale. The latest state-of-play undoubtedly mirrors the Welsman’s fall from grace at Madrid under Zinedine Zidane. Both bosses have come under fire for their handling of Bale, but Barnett’s latest comments have confirmed where the issue lies. When asked why Bale was not playing regularly at Spurs, Barnett said it was becau...
Chelsea linked with influential star, 23-year-old could be used as bait
Chelsea have been linked with a move for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie. According to ilmilanista.it, new manager Thomas Tuchel is a big admirer of the Ivory Coast international. The 24-year-old has been a standout performer for Milan in Serie A this season, scoring seven goals and assisting a further three in 21 appearances. SL View Kessie has emerged as a key figure under Milan boss Stefano Pioli, earning the nickname ‘The President’ due to his influence on the dressing room. However, his current contract expires in June 2022 and he is yet to agree a new deal with the club. Milan slapped a £45 million asking price on Kessie during December in a bid to ward off potential suitors and they will be keen to retain his services. While Chelsea may find it difficult to prise Kessie away from ...
Manchester United identify 22-year-old Real Madrid star as possible Paul Pogba replacement
Manchester United are keeping tabs on Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde ahead of a possible move for his services this summer, a report from The Sun claims. The Red Devils are currently second in the Premier League standings but their recent performances have been disappointing and they have picked up just one win in five games. They are already seven points adrift of Manchester City who are top of the table and the gap could extend further with the Cityzens having a game in hand. A title charge seems unlikely and it is now reported that they are lining up possible options to replace Pogba, should he leave the club this summer. Valverde is one of the top names on their wishlist having impressed their scouts with his displays for Los Blancos over the past 18 months. Sportslens view: ...
Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Leeds United, Odegaard to make full debut
Arsenal host Leeds United in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The north London side are currently positioned 11th in the standings after a three-match winless streak which has included back-to-back losses. They are currently nine points adrift of the Champions League places and will be aiming to reduce the gap with a much-needed win against Leeds today. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: Bernd Leno was suspended for the defeat at Aston Villa last weekend after his sending-off against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mat Ryan did a credible job on his debut where he made seven saves. However, Leno should reclaim his position in goal. In the defence, Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares should continue in the full-back positions. Kieran Tierney is still out with a lower leg inju...
