#‘can aston villa handle the champions league?’ they asked

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Premier League managers could ask for reintroduction of five substitutes

Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola (proper) and Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp (left) are each in favour of 5 substitutes

Disgruntled Premier League managers may ask for the return of the 5 substitutes rule this season, regardless of the idea twice being rejected.

A rising variety of managers usually are not completely happy they will solely make three substitutions in 2020-21, after being allowed 5 when final season resumed.

The Premier League is the one main competitors to return to 3.

Some main managers consider the present substitution restrict is contributing to harm issues.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Manchester Metropolis counterpart Pep Guardiola have each mentioned the choice is partly answerable for a spate of muscular accidents throughout the highest flight.

BBC Sport understands the matter has been put to the 20 golf equipment twice – and on neither event did the proposal get the minimal requirement of 14 golf equipment to assist it. On the final event, 11 golf equipment had been in favour.

West Ham boss David Moyes mentioned on Friday he had modified his thoughts after initially backing the return to 3 substitutes.

Nevertheless, Aston Villa supervisor Dean Smith believes the Premier League ought to follow permitting using three substitutes.

Talking to BBC Radio 5 Reside after his aspect’s 3-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday, Smith mentioned: “I solely made one change within the 88th minute. The depth was there from our gamers.

“We have not obtained the largest squad on the planet and now we have to handle our gamers.

“I can sympathise with the groups which are in Europe however there are some huge squads on the market.

“I made my emotions identified from the off that I assumed they had been proper to stick with the three subs rule and now now we have we began with it, we should always definitely proceed with it.”

Golf equipment have the facility to deliver motions ahead for a vote. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely any membership would pursue that except they had been sure of adjusting the present scenario.

It’s understood Klopp specifically feels Premier League chief govt Richard Masters ought to have taken the lead in driving a return to 5 substitutes, moderately than leaving it to the golf equipment, who’ve subsequently been accused of making an attempt to usher in a regulation that advantages them.

One other reason behind angst over the weekend was scheduling of fixtures.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was livid at his staff being chosen to play within the Saturday lunchtime slot at Everton, having solely returned from a Champions League recreation in Turkey on Thursday morning.

Equally, Tottenham had a 12:00 GMT kick-off at West Brom on Sunday after a late Thursday Europa League tie in Bulgaria towards Ludogorets.

Such points are nothing new for Premier League bosses and stem from a league ruling that golf equipment ought to have two free days between matches – however as soon as they’ve been afforded, broadcasters can select no matter time they need for particular person matches to be performed.

Within the case of Manchester United, BT Sport have the Saturday lunchtime slot and chosen their fixture at Everton.

For Tottenham – who performed 4 video games in eight days throughout one week in September as they juggled the calls for of three competitions – it seems they got a lunchtime slot on Sunday as a result of their recreation at West Brom didn’t have the identical potential viewers because the match between Arsenal and Aston Villa, which began at 19:00 GMT.

Each of these matches had been proven on Sky Field Workplace.

The Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation, the gamers’ union, says it will be in assist of a re-vote on the five-substitutes rule, having written to the Premier League in August voicing considerations for participant welfare across the shortened break between seasons and the compressed 2020-21 marketing campaign.

‘They’re appearing like spoilt children’

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton was adamant {that a} return to 5 subs wouldn’t be good for the sport and would solely favour the wealthier golf equipment.

“They’re all distinctive managers however they’re appearing like spoilt children,” he instructed BBC Radio 5 Reside’s Monday Evening Membership.

“They’re crucial of the TV firms but it surely’s okay once they’re handed out the cash to spend on big wages and large switch charges.

“They must get on with it. They’ve the squad energy and depth to cope with it.

“That is elitism from the massive golf equipment. The essential factor about sport is competitors and if we return to 5 subs it would profit the strongest golf equipment.

“The nation is in lockdown, persons are shedding their jobs. It is a dangerous search for soccer, moaning about gamers being a bit bit fatigued.”

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[thisdaynews]

Build-up to Leicester v Chelsea & Saturday's Premier League action

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Build-up to Leicester v Chelsea & Saturday's Premier League action

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By Neil Johnston

All times stated are UK

Posted at 12:0812:08

Leicester hangover?

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Martin Fisher

MOTD commentator at the King Power Stadium

It is third versus fourth and, although both sides have been inconsistent recently in the Premier League, they remain firmly on course for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season.

Leicester suffered a major blow on Tuesday with the late defeat at Aston Villa denying them their first cup final in 20 years. Brendan Rodgers will be hoping there’s no hangover against a Chelsea side that boasts a terrific record at the King Power Stadium.

Frank Lampard’s men may have dropped soft away points since the turn of the year but overall they are still more productive on the road than at Stamford Bridge.

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Paul Malecki:I see Kepa is on the bench. Can we get the odds on him refusing not to start and seeing him stood between the sticks come kick off?

Posted at 12:0312:03

‘I trust in Willy’

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard:“We know Leicester are a good side it hasn’t gone amiss on us. They are a very good team, we played them earlier in the season and we saw that, so we’ll need to be really competitive.”

On leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga out:“It’s a decision I make. With keeper you don’t take those ones lightly. They train together, they are are close and it’s one I thought I’d make for this game. I trust in Willy, he’s very professional.”

On Tammy Abraham:“Sometimes you have to play with a bit of pain. He’s not got a muscle injury you hope he can deal with it. We wanted to get him on the pitch and he’s trained the last two days.”

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Posted at 11:5911:59

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Chris Roades:re Chris in Aylesbury (11:18), and the suggestion that Ighalo will “work his socks off” ask any Watford supporter about that, and they’ll tell you Ighalo was one of the laziest players they’ve had and couldn’t wait to offload him.

SMS Message: Fans berating Frank’s treatment of Giroud have no clue what goes on behind the scenes in training. Yes he may be the consummate professional, but if he’s not offering what Frank wants in training, how can you expect Oli to start? Frank is the manager for a reason, fans need to trust in the process instead of treating it like a game of FIFA. from Shivam Shah

Fans berating Frank’s treatment of Giroud have no clue what goes on behind the scenes in training. Yes he may be the consummate professional, but if he’s not offering what Frank wants in training, how can you expect Oli to start? Frank is the manager for a reason, fans need to trust in the process instead of treating it like a game of FIFA.

Posted at 11:5711:57

Rodgers on Ndidi’s late withdrawal

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers:“It’s part of the journey [losing to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup], you hope to get to finals and when you don’t it is a sore one. But you have to take it and use it to move forward.

“I’ve got a great group, who are very honest and within a couple of days they were back on it. With 14 games to go it’s about getting as many points as we can.”

On Wilfred Ndidi’s late withdrawal:“He’s felt a pain in his knee, he recently had an operation but was alright against Villa.

“We had him in to play but it’s become very sore. Rather than him go out in the warm-up we thought we’d leave it. We don’t want any long term problems.”

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Posted at 11:5211:52

Post update

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Jonny Evans and Kasper Schmiechel have started all 25 of Leicester’s league games this season. If/when the Foxes qualify for the Champions League, these two deserve big praise.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Posted at 11:4811:48

Team news

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport

Leicester Cityboss Brendan Rodgers makes one change to the side that thrashed West Ham 4-1 in their last Premier League match.

Nampalys Mendy remains out so Hamza Choudhury starts in midfield after Wilfred Ndidi was removed from the starting XI late on, due to a sore knee. Ndidi had been set to make his first league start since 1 January.

Leicester City XI:Schmeichel, Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Choudhury, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Perez, Vardy

Subs:Ward, Justin, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Gray, Praet, Fuchs

BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport

Chelseamanager Frank Lampard makes four changes to the side that started the 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal in their last Premier League outing.

Tammy Abraham, who suffered an ankle injury against the Gunners, is fit to start but Willy Caballero replaces Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal. Pedro, Mason Mount and Reece James also start in place of Emerson, Mateo Kovacic and Willian.

Chelsea XI:Caballero, James, Rudiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Abraham, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi

Subs:Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Barkley, Willian, Kovacic, Batshuayi, Tomori

Posted at 11:4611:46

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John Southworth:For a player who wanted to play no matter what, I am dissapointed in how Olivier Giroud has been handled by Frank. Refuse a move and then not even on the bench. He has been so professional as well.

Tor Noppharat:I get how Caballero got the nod. But I don’t get why Giroud didn’t even get a look in. He might not be that fast but I’m sure he offers another quality for our attack.

Posted at 11:4411:44

What now for Giroud?

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Video content

Video caption: Frank Lampard plays deadline day ‘Deal or no deal’ with reporterFrank Lampard plays deadline day ‘Deal or no deal’ with reporter

What now for Olivier Giroud?

Chelsea’s France World Cup winner was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham during the January window.

But Blues boss Frank Lampard did not want to let Giroud, 33, go unless he could bring in a like-for-like replacement for the forward.

Transfer deadline day came and went – with Giroud staying where he is.

He has made just two Premier League starts this season – his last on 30 November – and does not even make the substitutes bench today.

Posted at 11:4211:42

‘You have to fight to get your form back’

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Prior to Chelsea’s FA Cup win at Hull last week, Frank Lampard was specifically asked about Kepa Arrizabalaga’s form and criticism that the keeper has taken recently.

Here’s what he had to say: “He’ll have to deal with that because that’s what football is.

“Every player, no matter how good or great you are in your career, even the best get criticism and that’s what players have to deal with.

“Goalkeepers may have slightly more of a spotlight on them but it’s a similar thing really. The important thing is not get too embroiled in what the outside world is saying and just look at your own game, look at yourself, how hard can you work – those are always the basics. This is not just Kepa, it’s any player. If you’re lacking form, you have to fight to get it back.”

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Posted at 11:3811:38

Post update

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

It’s all about trying to seal a place in next season’s Champions League in the early kick-off. Leicester, who reached the quarter-finals last time they were in it, have a great chance of joining Europe’s elite. Brendan Rodgers’ side are 14 points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United with 14 games left.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Posted at 11:3411:34

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SMS Message: Why did Chelsea fight so hard to get the transfer ban reviewed and then not sign anyone. We obviously need another striker, left back, and a defensive (and attacking!!) coach for dead balls from Tony, Buckingham

Why did Chelsea fight so hard to get the transfer ban reviewed and then not sign anyone. We obviously need another striker, left back, and a defensive (and attacking!!) coach for dead balls

SMS Message: For all those disappointed Prem team supporters you should be glad you are not supporting Preston. We are a striker away from a possible playoff place. Get a windfall from Bristol City and do nothing with it. from Anonymous (please put your names on your texts!)

For all those disappointed Prem team supporters you should be glad you are not supporting Preston. We are a striker away from a possible playoff place. Get a windfall from Bristol City and do nothing with it.

Posted at 11:3411:34

Kepa not injured

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Chelsea

Frank Lampard has just told BT Sport that Kepa Arrizabalaga is not injured.

“It’s a decision I have not taken lightly,” the Chelsea boss adds. “I trust in Willy Caballero, I trust in both keepers.”

Posted at 11:3011:30

BreakingCaballero starts – Kepa on the bench

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)

Massive call from Frank Lampard! Willy Caballero starts in goal for Chelsea with Kepa Arrizabalaga on the bench. It’s Caballero’s first Premier League start since keeping a clean sheet away to Leicester on 12 May last season. Full team news from the King Power coming up.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Posted at 11:2811:28

Winter break explained

Video content

Video caption: The Premier League winter break explainedThe Premier League winter break explained

As mentioned earlier, the Premier League’s inaugural winter break starts after this weekend.

Here, BBC Sport explains how it will work.

The schedule, agreed in June 2018 between the Football Association, the Premier League and EFL, sees each teams get a weekend off in February 2020.

Posted at 11:2511:25

5 Live commentary from Anfield

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live will have full commentary of Liverpool’s game with Southampton at Anfield from 15:00 – in addition to updates from all of the day’s other seven top-flight matches.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Posted at 11:2111:21

Hand the trophy to Liverpool now?

Liverpool v Southampton (15:00 GMT)

For Liverpool to mess up the title from here, they have to lose seven games this season. They have not lost seven games in their last 100 in the Premier League.

Posted at 11:1811:18

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Chris Wilkinson:Jarrod Bowen – what a signing. West Ham have just guaranteed their Premier League status. It’s a player of his quality and talent which will be the difference between staying up and getting relegated. He will provide spark, goals and assists.

SMS Message: I’m genuinely more excited about Ighalo than Fernandes. Ighalo is going to play his socks off for Utd and could be the cleverest piece of business in the whole window. from Chris, Aylesbury

I’m genuinely more excited about Ighalo than Fernandes. Ighalo is going to play his socks off for Utd and could be the cleverest piece of business in the whole window.

Posted at 11:1411:14

Big day at the bottom

.Copyright: .

They might as well get it out of the way and hand the trophy toLiverpoolbefore their game withSouthampton, right?

Manchester Cityare not in action until Sunday when they are in London to faceTottenham(16:30).

.Copyright: .

It’s a massive day at the bottom where two points separate 15th from 19th.

Four of the bottom six face one another – 18th-placedBournemouthhostAston Villa,who start the day in 16th, while 17th-placedWest Hamare at home toBrighton,who are 15th.

Will reaching the Carabao Cup final galvanise Villa?

Posted at 11:1211:12

‘Quite a good signing’

Rory Smith

Chief Soccer Correspondent for The New York Times

Manchester United’s transfer strategy is nuts and the club’s badly organised and it needs major restructuring to be even vaguely modern but I think Odion Ighalo’s quite a good signing as cover, on loan.

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Harry Maguire “honoured” to be named Manchester United club captain – and explains what he will bring to the role

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer chose Maguire as Young’s replacement after the former Aston Villa man joined Inter earlier this week.

The centre-back has worn the armband on several occasions this season but says it is an “honour” to be handed the role on a full-time basis.

“It’s a really proud moment for myself and I’m really honoured to be captain of this great club. I’ve worn the armband previous but to be named captain is really special,” he told Sky Sports ahead of United‘s crunch clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

“He [Solskjaer] pulled me to one side and told me that if Ashley leaves, I’d be appointed as the next captain.

“He wished me well and told me to keep doing what I’m doing. I was really proud, it’s such an honour to play for this club, let alone captain it.

“It’s fairly new because I’ve never actually been appointed club captain, but I’ve had some great captains in my time. Michael Dawson at Hull, Wes Morgan at Leicester and then Youngy here. I’ve learnt from some great people who do stuff well off the pitch.”

“Leading by example and being responsible for your team’s actions on and off the pitch,” Maguire added when asked what it takes to be a successful skipper.

“I’ve had some great captains to look to and learn from and hopefully I can take that and bring it to the club here.

“I’ve been here for five or six months now but it shows great trust from the manager and great confidence in my ability to lead the boys on and off the pitch and I have confidence in the ability to be a success.

“First and foremost, you’ve got to go onto the pitch and lead by example. Then you have responsibilities off the pitch and in the dressing room. As I’ve got older with more experience, I’ve developed more speaking in my game whereas when I was a young boy, I was quite quiet.

“I always looked up to the experienced boys there and seeing how they handled themselves and it’s something I’ve improved as I’ve got older.”

READ MORE

Jesse Lingard: From big game player to Manchester United outcast

Adding another round of Champions League games is yet another pressure players can’t manage

Shkodran Mustafi’s criticism comments show that we must start treating footballers differently

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King Power? More like ‘king ridiculous

Sat in work last May, football was on the discussion table. One of my colleagues had been adamant from January onwards that the Foxes would lift the Premier League trophy in May, which was a remarkable show of belief in a team that had no previous experience of any remote success. He wasn’t a Leicester fan, and he hadn’t put any money on it (more fool him), but he was of course right.

In an attempt at outdoing said colleague, another piped up and said “Okay then, my shout is that Ranieri will be sacked within a year.” To be honest that seemed even more ridiculous than the notion that Leicester would win the title had done in the January. He’s feeling rather smug today.

So here we are. Another chapter in the nonsensical world of Leicester City Football Club. The rise and fall of the unlikeliest of protagonists.

Just nine months after pulling off one of the most incredible achievements in the history of the English game, Claudio Ranieri has been sacked, and personally, my love for football has diminished just a little bit more.

Reports are that some of the senior players had lost faith with the Italian, and that the owners didn’t have confidence in him to keep them in the Premier League. However, quite frankly, there is no reason whatsoever that justifies sacking the man when it’s not even March yet.

That any of his players could lose faith in the man that got them a Premier League winner’s medal is frankly laughable. Players, near enough to a man, who had no right finishing in the top half last season, let alone at the top.

I’ve seen it argued by very well respected football figures, pundits, and fans that the decision was correct as it had to be based on this season and this season only, and that Leicester could not risk being relegated. My issues with that are twofold.

First of all, sacking your manager does not necessarily prevent relegation. In fact as Newcastle will attest to, even hiring a world class manager to try and keep you up might not always work.

Secondly, Leicester deserve to be relegated. Okay, maybe not deserve to be, but after what they experienced last season it would be more than fair. They experienced something that Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton, Southampton, Newcastle and Aston Villa have not, all clubs that are bigger and should be doing better than Leicester.

I said after last season that Leicester should not consider sacking Ranieri until they hit the bottom of League One, and even then it would seem harsh. If Leicester were relegated this season, would you not back them to ‘do a Newcastle’ under Ranieri and comfortably bounce straight back up next season, full of new momentum and, who knows, the possibility of finding that groove they had last year?

Remember, just eight years ago, the Foxes were indeed playing in League One. In fact, less than eight years ago they lost 2-0 away to Tranmere Rovers, who are now a non-league team. Just two days ago, they were playing Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League. Yesterday, they sacked the man that got them there.

Don’t get me wrong, I agree that Ranieri has not performed well enough this season. He made poor signings, has made tactical errors and generally has not been able to get his team playing at an acceptable level, let alone the incredible one he had them at for most of last season.

But what buys you credit in football these days? Are past accomplishments just not a factor at all anymore? We’re seeing this sort of be the case with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, though that has been a much longer divorce over the past decade. It happened with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea last season, but then winning the league with that Chelsea squad was nowhere near the accomplishment winning it with Leicester was.

If achieving what Ranieri did last season doesn’t even allow you to get to March if you’re underperforming, then what does? Have we reached an age where you can’t have any manager of any standing start the season and end it with being relegated? They have to be sacked if there’s even a hint of it? As things stand realistically, only David Moyes and Aitor Karanka have a chance of doing that, and if Sunderland or Middlesbrough lose another couple of games you can’t see that lasting (especially with Ranieri now a free agent).

This is the price of the Premier League. The amount of money on the table just for being at the table is such that clubs fear relegation more than anything. Itchy trigger fingers made itchier by every new inflated television rights cheque that comes in.

Where has it gone wrong for Leicester though? The players are of course generally playing poorly, especially key players. Wes Morgan has gone from dominant captain to utter donkey, Danny Drinkwater has decided that playing the ball forward is too obvious a tactic so refuses to do so, Riyad Mahrez looks like he’d rather be dragging his scrotum over hot coals than turning out for the Champions, and Jamie Vardy is playing like he had far too many parties last year. I wonder how that film of his is going.

The loss of N’golo Kante has clearly had a big effect, on both the demise of Leicester and resurgence of Chelsea, but there’s no way any player is so good that their presence makes THAT much of a difference. He missed some games for Leicester last season and it barely slowed them down at all.

The main reason for me though is the one that most predicted. Last season teams underestimated them. This season no-one is. Teams have started raising their games and keeping their shape against a Leicester team not good enough to handle it. The Foxes needed to evolve, and they haven’t done so, and yes, that is partially Ranieri’s fault. But what did you really expect? It’s Leicester.

Just because they won the league and qualified for the Champions League, doesn’t mean they could go out and say to a Gonzalo Higuain or Zlatan Ibrahimovic “Look at us. We’re big time now. Come and be a part of the next big thing in European football”. They signed the likes of Ahmed Musa, Islam Slimani and Nampalys Mendy, which was probably about as well as they could do. No big player was going to look at Leicester and say “Yeah, that success looks sustainable. I’ll go there.”

What particularly irks me about it is the timing. Ranieri was apparently informed about his sacking just after he landed on the team’s return from Seville. They had just played the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, and come away with an away goal and still very much in it. Why then make the change now, with a new manager having to come in and only get to manage the second leg? Could they not have sacked him after the Swansea defeat and allowed a new manager both legs to try and do something against the Europa League holders? Or waited until after the second leg, by which time only two further league games will have been played?

If the players and owners had lost faith in Ranieri, then what can you do? But you have to ask why they lost faith in the best manager the club has ever had, or are ever likely to have? They have 13 games to go in the league. Is a new manager more likely to keep them up then a man who had them winning week-in week-out less than a year ago? Had Ranieri really not done enough to prove to them that he knows what he’s doing, and that perhaps a little more time and patience could see him turn it around?

Not even letting the man who got you into the Champions League be knocked out of it before sacking him is disgraceful. Not even waiting to actually be in the relegation zone before sacking him for fear of being relegated is disgraceful. In fact sacking Ranieri for any reason other than gross misconduct before the end of this campaign was always going to be disgraceful.

So who comes in? Who is better than Ranieri and will save them from the far from certain prospect of relegation?

Apparently Roberto Mancini. A decent manager. A history of success in English football (with a ‘slightly’ more talented team) and previous knowledge of the club having played for them before, even if it was only five appearances on loan, and he didn’t complete 90 minutes in any of them.

Mancini has also never had to fight relegation as a manager, an argument as to why Ranieri wasn’t suited. In fact that was the exact reason I expected Ranieri to fall flat on his face when he first got the Leicester job. I thought he’d be having a season like this, and would get sacked in the February. He won the league instead. That’s a pretty good way of avoiding relegation.

I’m not going to say Mancini will definitely fail (if indeed he does get the job). But Leicester City having an Italian who has a Premier League winner’s medal in charge?

That’ll never work.

@whichdave

[torentialtribute]

Premier League 2019/20 betting guide: Best bets, outrights, Golden Boot race odds and more

Premier League plainly

The title Premier League is Manchester City must be thrown away – say the bookmakers and almost everyone else who has been asked for this long, almost football-free summer.

And it's hard to argue with them. City stormed their way to domestic Treble last season, became the first side for a decade to successfully defend the crown and as a result installed as favorites on no less than 1/2 to complete the hat trick.

Only an eejit would act against them. So I choose Liverpool .

Manchester City started the campaign stopping the latter by winning a trophy – they ran into Liverpool to claim the Community Shield last weekend

The prediction on this page & # 39; s Twelve months ago that Liverpool would close the gap on City but still finished second, was perfect (Giving Manchester United as the next best in the table was not really impressive, but r you can't win them all). For Liverpool to come within a single point, however, it was a much bigger leap in the rankings than expected.

Jurgen Klopp's side consisted of 24 of the 25 points they followed in May 2018, and the 97 they collected were the most champions ever to be crowned by a team.

Former Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina claimed this week that he was a & # 39; shame & # 39; was that his old team had not won. Pepe should probably calm down a bit, but the Merseysiders can feel a hard touch.

Liverpool looks ready for a new epic Premier League title fight with Manchester City

Liverpool had the best defense in the league and lost only one match – against City. So if it's not broken, don't fix it and Klopp didn't look through the transfer window looking for a big name.

Likewise, Pep Guardiola did not feel the need for shopping. Rodri broke their transfer record when Cancell arrived and although the city authorities can no longer address Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne will start the campaign completely fit.

At Anfield, Klopp has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez in a better physical nickname than before the holidays and should be ready to encourage a team that was closed a few months ago.

The Champions League winners on their trips for the season were nothing to write home about, but they looked much better back in Blighty when they lost the Community Shield to their title rivals.

He went to punishment and there will be little between them when the serious case starts.

The ruling European champions look good for a season just like the previous one, but City's 14 consecutive wins to bring them to the title is something that doesn't do & # 39; t happens too often and they could drop just enough to let Liverpool enter.

The Reds to Edge it's the choice – they are 3/1

Behind them, Spurs look the best for third place. Despite Mauricio Pochettino's moans about job titles and transfers (we've heard them before), they had a decent summer. Daniel Levy dug deep to break their transfer record on Tanguy Ndombele and broke Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso while Harry Kane did not play in a tournament this summer. So even though they miss Paulo Dybala and Philippe Coutinho, they are in excellent condition across the board.

Tanguy Ndombele (right) is one of the newcomers as Spurs looks to close the gap

Meanwhile, there is real excitement among Arsenal fans about Nicolas Pepe joining their powerful attack, but also a real fear of what could happen to the other side with that defense. Kieran Tierney is good, but he is not a miracle worker and David Luiz is, well, he is David Luiz

Chelsea welcomed Frank Lampard all over London, but he is in charge of a missing team Eden Hazard and prohibited making transfers. The children are doing well, but just like Lampard, they may need more time in his second management year.

Nicolas Pepe has signed for Arsenal for £ 72 million if Unai Emery wants to return to the top four

SEASON BETS

LIVERPOOL wins competition 3/1

] Liverpool-Man City-Spurs-Arsenal in that order 33/1

City-Liverpool-Tottenham-Arsenal in that order 22/1

NICOLAS PEPE top scorer 50/1

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG top scorer 8/1

BRIGHTON bottom with Christmas / 1

Then there is Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer & # 39; s end of last season was a horror show and while Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dan James (total cost £ 145 million) have joined the ranks, their best midfielder won't play for them and the rest would probably not in the start XI of one of their rivals in the top 6.

Everton after a busy switch window, Leicester with Brendan Rodgers on their way to a first full season at the helm and Wolves on the back of a fantastic campaign last time out are the alleged runners to the & # 39; big six & # 39; to crash and it is certainly United and Chelsea who are most at risk.

Liverpool-Man City-Tottenham-Arsenal to reach the top four in that order returns 33/1 But if you can't bring yourself to bet that City will finish first, City-Liverpool-Tottenham-Arsenal returns 22/1 while the same four pays 9/2 in random order.

The Foxes are 10/1 and finish the top six with Wolves and the Toffees are both available at 6/1.

Harry Maguire is in Man United for £ 80m – a world record to defend

Frank Lampard has taken the lead in Chelsea, but he cannot handle Eden Hazard

BEST WEEKEND BETS

SUPER SINGLE – Manchester United wins on HT and the match ends in a draw 16/1

HOME BANKERS – Watford, West Brom, Fleetwood, Mansfield 11/1

WORTH A POINT – Bournemouth, Watford, West Brom, Blackpool , Aberdeen 35/1

ALL DRAWINGS – Charlton v Stoke, Ipswich v Sunderland, St Johnstone v Livingston 36/1

ANTI-TIME SCORERS – Barkley , Joelinton, McGinn Better Than 200/1

Van oddschecker.com

Premier League Pocket Race

Solskjaer gave a three-year deal with Old Trafford, but he is short as 4/1 with some bookmakers to be the first boss of a job at Steve Bruce in Newcastle, not far behind him on the market. Graham Potter, responsible for Brighton who only promoted pair of Norwich and Sheffield United for them in the downgraded bet, is 10/1

Golden Boot race

In in the top scorer market, Arsenal new-boy Pepe can be worth a one-way point. Unai Emery hinted that he might be able to cautiously break him in, but the £ 72m flyer scored 22 goals last year in Ligue 1 with PSG & Kylian Mbappe, the only man in the charts above him. Pepe is 50/1 while his teammate and last year the joint winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (he shared the Golden Boot with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool) is 8/1. Aubameyang is probably the penalty taker of the Gunners and VAR should mean more spot kicking. Harry Kane is the favorite to be the leader on 4/1.

Opening Weekend

A senior member of the sports desk at MailOnline Sport said this week that the opening round of competitions always throws a few funny results & # 39 ;. He also said that Mrs. Brown & # 39; s Boys & # 39; brilliant & # 39; and that Ed Sheeran was a & # 39; creaking singer & # 39; so make a decision.

Nothing jumps off the page since last August, but it's only a few years since Chelsea lost a five-goal epic from Burnley at home and Watford kept Liverpool 3-3 right in the first match. Swansea is staggering a campaign by staggering Manchester United on their own patch, is also pretty fresh in memory.

With that in mind, if you fancy a freaky Friday, Norwich 25/1 can be won at Anfield under the lights. The next day, West Ham 12/1 are home for champions City and Aston Villa, back in the big days, 11/1 in Tottenham.

Stranger things have happened, but for a better run for your money still in the long run, turn to scorers at any time.

John McGinn of Aston Villa will not be blinded by the step or the chic stadium, Joelinton can give the Newcastle fans who do not boycott the Arsenal game to cheer while Ross Barkley can build on his good preseason and can continue to impress Blues boss Lampard. Those three score more than 200/1 at any time or why not return to trixie – three double and one triple

Our game-by-game guide kicks a little form to study, until then you make a choose from the bets in the green box.

* All correct prices at the time of publication

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'He's too good for this club' - Lots of Everton fans discuss latest update on 2016 arrival

According to Sky Sports, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has asked the Toffees to let him move to Paris Saint-Germain before the end of the month.

The report claims that Gueye has ‘written to club officials pleading with them to allow the move’, but has not officially put in a transfer request.

Sky Sports reported on Sunday that PSG had submitted a £21.5m offer for the 29-year-old and they are ready to come back with an improved offer with Thomas Tuchel’s men, who will soon travel to England to take on Manchester United in the Champions League, currently short of options in the middle of the park.

Gueye is a hugely important player at Everton, who he joined from Aston Villa in 2016, as per the BBC.

The Merseyside outfit are currently struggling for a run of results, however, and it is not a surprise that a move to PSG appeals to the Senegal international.

The Everton fans have been on social media offering their views on the latest developments.

And a selection of their Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Let him leave hes too good for this club

— Jevon Kingston (@kingston_jevon) January 28, 2019

Can anyone blame him? Even as a Everton fan I’d of left a long time ago if I was him

— Chris Dewi Nicolson ?? (@Chris_Nicolson_) January 28, 2019

Get off that sinking ship fella, don’t blame ya

— Paul Stephens (@Paul_Stephens15) January 28, 2019

I get why people are encouraging Gueye’s departure, but if he does so with people saying the season is over/wait until summer, what happens if results continue or worsen? Can everyone handle that until summer? I’m not so sure if the past 48 hours are anything to go by. #EFC

— Dave Downie (@daviddownie17) January 28, 2019

Think we have to start running like a proper ruthless club. As soon as gana’s engine goes he offers zero. Give benni/McCarthy/Davies ago until season end

— steve doyle (@toffee5000) January 28, 2019

40 mil and I would let him go

— EFC. shite (@goodisonblue2) January 28, 2019

Schneiderlin will do the job. He’s better than we’ve given credit for. Deserves another chance IMO.

— Richard Henry (@eltongo1710) January 28, 2019

Season is over. We ain’t going down. Let him leave.

— Philip Barry (@Noodlepig) January 28, 2019

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

from FootballFanCast.com http://bit.ly/2FWxiNU via IFTTT from Blogger http://bit.ly/2TlVtbw via IFTTT

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Man Utd v Tottenham: What awaits Jose Mourinho on Old Trafford return?

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Man Utd v Tottenham: What awaits Jose Mourinho on Old Trafford return?

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‘It’s in my history book’ – Mourinho on Manchester United

Jose Mourinho returns to the Old Trafford dugout on Wednesday almost a year after his last appearance, for a 4-1 win over Fulham on 8 December 2018 that proved to be his last victory as Manchester United manager.

Mourinho travels north with a Tottenham side re-energised since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino on 19 November, with three wins from three games, which has helped take them sixth in the Premier League.

England midfielder Dele Alli in particular appears to have been transformed by Mourinho’s arrival.

In contrast, his old club are at a low ebb. When he walks into the visiting dressing room he was responsible for reducing in size during his time at the club, Mourinho will be preparing to meet a United side that are 10th in the table having won just four league matches this season and heading for their worst league finish since 1990.

So, who has benefited most from Mourinho’s United exit? And what should Spurs fans be wary of if they look back at the Portuguese’s time at Old Trafford?

Mourinho has stressed repeatedly nothing happening at Spurs at the moment is to do with him.

Few think he really means that. In any case, the noise that accompanies Mourinho assures he is centre of attention, even when it is not intended.

Praising a ball boy for helping Tottenham win their Champions League match against Olympiakos on 26 November, then inviting the lad into the home dressing room for Saturday’s victory against Bournemouth, became about Mourinho. Alli’s startling upturn in form is about Mourinho.

Sources at Tottenham say Mourinho has changed very little thus far. He occasionally stays in the overnight accommodation at Spurs’ training ground but that will not become a parody of itself as the Portuguese’s two-and-a-half-year residence at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester did.

However, tweaks have taken place.

Mourinho does not favour the high press Pochettino liked, so the training intensity will not be the same. Instead, work will be done on shape, both in and out of possession.

It is wrong to describe Mourinho as a defensive coach – but he is an organised one. As United experienced following Mourinho’s dismissal, the chances are what Tottenham are benefiting from is the introduction of a new voice, new methods and a fresh start.

Man Utd v Tottenham – match preview

‘My time at Man Utd is a closed chapter’

Solskjaer not ‘more concerned’ after recent sackings

This feels familiar – but has Mourinho changed?

Mourinho could not have done more than win his first three competitive games. Comfortable triumphs over West Ham and Bournemouth, plus a thriller against Olympiakos.

Spin back to the start of his United reign. Comfortable Premier League wins against Bournemouth and Southampton, followed by a last-minute Marcus Rashford winner at Hull.

It was game four that did not go to plan.

A home defeat by Manchester City was accompanied by a notable selection move from Mourinho. He substituted Henrikh Mkhitaryan at half-time. Mourinho, indirectly, called it “a bad performance”.

Mkhitaryan did not start another league game for nearly three months. After he left United, the Armenian said trust with his manager had been broken.

Jose Mourinho took Eric Dier off during the first half of his first home game as Spurs boss

The contrast with how Mourinho has handled Eric Dier over the past seven days could not be more marked. In the aftermath of the Olympiakos game, when he replaced the England midfielder after 29 minutes, Mourinho publicly apologised to the player.

He put him straight back into the side for the Bournemouth game, when Dier completed the full 90 minutes.

Is this evidence of a more compassionate Mourinho or is he merely being expedient in his handling of a midfielder in the mould of those he has tended to rely on throughout his career?

A feeling it may be the former is reinforced by the positive impression the 56-year-old has left on the Tottenham staff so far.

At United, there was a sense of excitement when his arrival as Louis van Gaal’s successor was announced only for Mourinho’s football to be not much better than the dismal fare served up by the Dutchman – and with less charisma.

It took Mourinho’s United seven games to hit double figures in terms of goals scored. At Tottenham he has done it in three.

‘The Special One To 11’ – pick your Mourinho all-time XI

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University Challenge star Bobby Seagull takes on Lawro

Harsh words – different agenda

Mourinho has never been scared of dropping a few verbal bombs. At United, they started the week after Mkhitaryan’s early derby exit.

After another loss – at Watford – Mourinho identified Luke Shaw as a culprit, accusing the England defender of being 25 metres away from his opponent, rather than five, and therefore in no position to stop a cross that led to a crucial Watford goal.

Shaw started one Premier League game in the following five months. Mourinho has already admitted to using verbal motivation on Alli, asking him whether he had been playing for Tottenham over the past few months, or his brother.

The reaction has been phenomenal – although, possibly, getting more out of Christian Eriksen might be a bit trickier given the Dane’s contract runs out at the end of the season.

Yet, while he spent nearly £400m on new players during his time at Old Trafford, Mourinho seems to have inherited a more rounded squad than he ever managed to put together in Manchester.

In Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez, he has three effective options in central defence, the position he was blocked from strengthening in his final year at United.

Alli is excelling in the number 10 role in much the same way Frank Lampard did – albeit from slightly deeper – when Mourinho first arrived in England from Porto in 2004.

And, while Harry Kane is not a Didier Drogba in physical terms, he scores more regularly than anyone at United since Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s debut season was wrecked by injury in 2017 after the Swede had scored 28 goals in 45 games.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United in the summer of 2016

The spectre of Mourinho hangs over Solskjaer

If the reaction he received on his most recent visit to Old Trafford as a pundit for Sky Sports is any guide, Mourinho will get a positive reception from United fans this week.

After all, he did win two trophies and took the club to their highest league finish – second – since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

United were sixth when he left, with the club privately saying there had been no improvement in results or style during his time in charge.

But the problem for his successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is that – after an initial surge – United have regressed under his management.

Sunday’s home draw with Aston Villa leaves them 10th, with four wins and 18 points from their opening 14 games. In order to reach the 26 from 17 that wasn’t enough to save Mourinho from the sack 12 months ago, Solskjaer needs to win his next three games, which includes Saturday’s derby trip to Manchester City.

It is true that the popular Norwegian retains support inside and outside the club and that he is committed to picking young players – something Mourinho never convinced about, even if he spoke often about doing it.

But United’s squad is evidently deficient. Without significant purchases in January, Solskjaer will struggle to reach the top six, let alone seal a Champions League place.

And no-one, no matter how popular they are, can survive in the cut-throat world of Premier League management if results continue to disappoint.

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