Manchester City
RB Leipzig boss emerges as Tottenham’s ‘top target’ to replace Jose Mourinho
RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as the likely candidate to replace Jose Mourinho, should Tottenham’s current slump continue. Spurs began the season in excellent form and even topped the table as recently as early December, yet just a few months later, Mourinho’s men find themselves 23 points behind leaders Manchester City and with a real job to do to secure a top-four spot. Their defeat to London rivals West Ham United on Sunday means they are now nine points behind the Hammers in fourth, albeit with a game in hand on David Moyes’ side. Despite a late rally in that game, inspired by half-time substitute Gareth Bale, Tottenham’s defensive woes once again came to the fore, the centre-back pairing of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez looking particularly shaky in recent weeks. With...
RB Leipzig boss emerges as Tottenham’s ‘top target’ to replace Jose Mourinho
RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has emerged as the likely candidate to replace Jose Mourinho, should Tottenham’s current slump continue. Spurs began the season in excellent form and even topped the table as recently as early December, yet just a few months later, Mourinho’s men find themselves 23 points behind leaders Manchester City and with a real job to do to secure a top-four spot. Their defeat to London rivals West Ham United on Sunday means they are now nine points behind the Hammers in fourth, albeit with a game in hand on David Moyes’ side. Despite a late rally in that game, inspired by half-time substitute Gareth Bale, Tottenham’s defensive woes once again came to the fore, the centre-back pairing of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez looking particularly shaky in recent weeks. With...
‘He’s doing really, really well’: Mikel Arteta raves about Manchester City star
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash against the Cityzens. Gundogan has been in exceptional form over the past few months, registering 11 goals in his last 12 games in the top-flight. His form recently saw him named as the Premier League Player of the Month for January. He should also be the favourite for the award this month after scoring braces against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Arteta worked with the German closely when he was the assistant manager at the Cityzens and he has raved about him ahead of Sunday’s game. He told Football.London: “Well I think now he’s playing a higher role in the team.” “He’s always had the ability to arrive in the box and has great timing and great qualities ...
Joan Laporta says Barcelona can afford to sign 25-goal striker this summer
Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has talked up the prospect of Erling Braut Haaland joining the Blaugrana during this summer’s transfer window. The presidential elections were initially scheduled for January before it was pushed back to March 7 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Laporta is one of the three candidates in line for the post alongside Victor Font and Toni Freixa and he is seen as the favourite to win the election The primary focus for the next president will be to reinforce the squad after what has been a disappointing 2020/21 campaign for the club judging by their high standards. Haaland has been mentioned as one of the potential targets for the Blaugrana and Laporta has suggested that the club can afford to sign the Borussia Dortmund ace. “If we have to improve th...
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...
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...
‘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...
Predicted Everton starting XI: Ancelotti to make five changes, 26-year-old returns
Everton will face Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night at Goodison Park. The Toffees are heading into this game on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Fulham. They are up against the Premier League leaders who have won 16 games in a row in all competitions. Team News Ahead of the match, Ancelotti revealed yesterday that striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin won’t take any part in the game. The England striker is still not yet fully fit, but he is expected to return soon. However, the likes of James Rodriguez, Jordan Pickford and Allan could return to the side. Ancelotti also hinted that Josh King, the January signing from Bournemouth, needs more time to get adopt tactically at Everton. He is unlikely to start against Pep Guardiola’s side but could make the benc...
‘Masterclass’: Some Man City fans react after midfielder’s display vs Tottenham Hotspur
A section of Manchester City fans on Twitter have hailed the performance of Ilkay Gundogan following the club’s 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last night. The German has been in splendid form since mid-December and he went into the game on the back of contributing nine goals and one assist from his last 11 league games. He continued the fine run by winning the penalty which gave the Cityzens the lead in the 23rd minute. Rodri just about managed to convert the spot-kick past Hugo Lloris. Shortly after the interval, Gundogan linked up impressively with Raheem Sterling before unleashing a low shot which beat Lloris at the near post. The 30-year-old doubled his goal tally for the game in the 66th minute following a stunning long-ball from goalkeeper Ederson. Gundogan prod...
Liverpool fans show full support for Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool fans have thrown their full support behind under-fire Reds boss Jurgen Klopp by hanging a heartfelt banner outside of Anfield The Reds slipped to their third consecutive Premier League defeat on Saturday as Leicester City fought from behind to claim a 3-1 victory at the King Power. And Liverpool have now fallen 13 points behind league leaders Manchester City, who still have a match in hand. Klopp, who has come under increasing pressure as Liverpool’s form has slipped, appeared on the verge of tears as he conceded that the title race is over for the Reds. The 53-year-old German has also dealt with heartbreak off the field after his mother, Elisabeth, passed away and he was unable to travel to Germany for the funeral. Liverpool fans have rallied around Klopp as a banner was spotted...
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...
