The Sir Jim Ratcliffe era at Old Trafford began on a high note as Manchester United secured a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Despite a comically poor defensive performance leading to two set-piece goals in the first half, the Red Devils dominated the game from that point onward, impressing INEOS representative Sir Dave Brailsford in the stands. Alejandro Garnacho, who had an earlier goal disallowed for offside, scored twice in the second half, while Rasmus Hojlund netted his much-awaited first league goal late in the game to seal the dramatic win. In the initial stages,…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Liverpool climbed to the top of the Premier League standings after securing a 2-0 victory over Burnley on Boxing Day. Jurgen Klopp’s team, previously in second place, aimed to intensify the pressure on Arsenal as they visited Turf Moor. Darwin Nunez, breaking his goal drought, propelled the Reds into the lead. The Uruguayan striker, who hadn’t scored in over 600 minutes, elegantly curled in a fantastic shot from the edge of the box early in the match. Despite a disallowed goal from Harvey Elliott due to Mohamed Salah’s offside position, Diogo Jota later sealed the win. With this result, Liverpool…
Discover the ultimate assist king in English football by exploring the top five playmakers in Premier League history. Kevin De Bruyne at Man City: The Premier League has been graced by extraordinary talents, and these players have left an enduring mark on English football. In this analysis, we delve into the top five maestros who have not only captivated fans with creativity and vision but have also played pivotal roles in shaping the course of the game in the Premier League. 5. David Silva – “The Magician”: David Silva, renowned as “The Magician,” secures the fifth spot on our list.…
Chelsea is poised to face Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday with a significant roster setback, as eleven players are expected to be unavailable for the Premier League clash. The absence of nearly half the squad is a result of a combination of injuries and suspensions. Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer are suspended following yellow cards in the 2-1 loss to Wolves on Sunday. Enzo Fernandez remains sidelined due to ongoing recovery, while Moises Caicedo’s availability is uncertain as he missed the Wolves clash due to fever. In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, manager Pochettino provided updates on…
Real Madrid is poised to receive a boost with the potential return of up to five injured players ahead of January’s Spanish Supercopa. Injuries have posed significant challenges for Carlo Ancelotti’s team this season, with key starters like David Alaba being sidelined due to an ACL injury. The upcoming game against Mallorca on January 3 could witness the return of right-back Dani Carvajal and winger Vinicius Junior. Carvajal, recovering from a muscular injury that kept him out of the last three games, is expected to be available. Vinicius, who suffered a thigh injury in November initially slated to sideline him…
Cody Gakpo expresses confidence that Liverpool’s attacking lineup will compensate for the absence of Mohamed Salah when the Egyptian departs for the Africa Cup of Nations. Following a 2-0 victory over Burnley on Boxing Day, secured by goals from Darwin Nunez and the returning Diogo Jota, Liverpool reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League standings. Despite Salah being tied for second place in the league’s scoring charts with 12 goals, only two behind the current leader Erling Haaland, he is set to leave for AFCON and could be absent from Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI for about a month. Speaking…
Barcelona has identified a world-class player poised to make waves in LaLiga and Europe, potentially causing concern for Real Madrid. Since Lionel Messi’s departure in 2021, Barcelona has been in search of a suitable replacement, with arrivals like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha aimed at restoring the Nou Camp’s star quality. While the young talent Vitor Roque is set to join from Athletico Paranaense, Barcelona intends to shield the 18-year-old from excessive pressure. The latest reports suggest that Barcelona’s top priority for the upcoming summer is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. According to ElFutbolero, with Salah’s contract expiring in 2025 and the player…
Tottenham has suffered another setback with Ange Postecoglou confirming that center-back Cristian Romero will be sidelined for a month due to a hamstring issue. The Argentina international had to be replaced by Eric Dier at half-time during Spurs’ 2-1 victory over Everton on Saturday after experiencing muscle discomfort. Already without Dutch defender Micky van de Ven, Tottenham has seen left-back Ben Davies fill in the role in recent months. Speaking ahead of Thursday’s match against Brighton, Postecoglou stated, “Not so great with Romero. He had a scan and he’s got a hamstring strain. We’re looking at four to five weeks…
Manchester United has intensified their scouting efforts for Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee, a 22-year-old with seven goals this season, valued at £26m. (Sport1) Raphael Varane is considering leaving Manchester United to rejoin former club Lens, but Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also in the race for the defender. (L’Equipe, Sport) Arsenal is in pole position to sign Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio in January, with Liverpool also expressing interest in the player with a £52m release clause. (A Bola) Inter has identified Porto striker Mehdi Taremi as their top target for January, but Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Chelsea’s…
The newly acquired minority owner of Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has asserted his authority by stipulating that he must grant approval for all sporting decisions made by the Premier League club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who serves as the chairman of Ineos, recently finalized a $1.3 billion deal to secure a 25% stake in Manchester United. As per football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Ratcliffe now holds sway over crucial aspects of the club, including player transfers and the fate of manager Erik ten Hag. Romano emphasized in a tweet on Wednesday that Manchester United is obliged to seek INEOS’s approval…
Former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce has expressed his opinion that three Arsenal players, namely Kai Havertz, Eddie Nketiah, and Gabriel Jesus, may not meet the required standard for the Gunners this season. Pearce suggests that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should strengthen the team’s attacking options, particularly by acquiring a prolific goal-scoring striker to enhance the squad. In an interview with The Express, Pearce stated, “You look at some of the high-flying teams around the world; they might have four options up front. There are still slight question marks about Nketiah and Jesus. Maybe even if [Kai] Havertz plays up…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he will not approve a departure for Eddie Nketiah, despite receiving interest from two Premier League clubs. Nketiah, who has featured in 23 matches across all competitions this season, is not set for a sale or loan during the upcoming January transfer window. Arteta considers the English player a crucial part of his squad, and even amid reported interest from Brentford and Crystal Palace, Nketiah’s departure is not on the agenda. The potential addition of Brentford’s Ivan Toney to Arsenal’s roster does not alter this stance, as the club aims to…
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to take the reins of Manchester United’s football department, with plans already underway at Old Trafford ahead of the January transfer window. The CEO of Ineos, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has officially secured a £1.3 billion deal with the Glazers, giving him a 25% stake in the club. Alongside his colleagues, Ratcliffe will assume control of United’s football operations and inject an additional $300 million (£236 million) into the club. In a statement, he criticized the club’s recent transfer dealings and expressed his intention to unlock its potential for success. While currently holding a 25% stake,…
Mauricio Pochettino has come to Chelsea’s defense regarding their disciplinary record, particularly in light of Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling receiving one-game suspensions. As a result, both players will be absent for a crucial London derby against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Their suspensions stem from accumulating five yellow cards each. The duo’s combined yellow card count contributes to Chelsea’s high total of 56 bookings, the most in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season. Additionally, the team has experienced three red cards, with Reece James, Conor Gallagher, and Malo Gusto all being sent off. Addressing the media ahead of…
Mohamed Salah addresses the ongoing Middle East conflict during the Christmas season. Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah has shared his highly anticipated Christmas photo and message on social media. Despite being a Muslim, Salah, recognized for regularly posting family photos and messages on Christmas day, took to Twitter this year to convey a different message. In his Christmas greetings post, the 31-year-old football star acknowledged the usual festivities associated with the season of love. However, Salah expressed a heavy heart due to the turmoil and violence plaguing the Middle East, diverging from his usual celebratory tone. “Christmas is a time when…
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa faced criticism from certain members of the Muslim community after he engaged in Christmas celebrations. The footballer, who is a devout Muslim, received negative comments for sharing a picture of his Cross River wife, Juliet Ejue, and extending Christmas wishes to Christians. Musa married Juliet, a Christian from Ogoja local government in Cross River, Nigeria, as his second wife in 2017 after reportedly parting ways with his first wife, Jamila. The couple’s union has flourished, resulting in the blessing of children. On December 25th, as the global Christian population celebrated Christmas, Musa joined in the…
Jurgen Klopp has acknowledged the significant challenges Liverpool faces due to the current left-back injury crisis at the club. Andrew Robertson, the first-choice left-back, has been unavailable since mid-October, undergoing shoulder surgery following an injury sustained while on international duty. Kostas Tsimikas admirably filled in for Robertson during his absence, but he is now facing an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a broken collarbone in Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal. Addressing the issue ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Burnley on Boxing Day, Klopp expressed the difficulty of coping with the absence of fit natural left-backs: “We…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has refuted claims of indiscipline among his players in the wake of Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling’s suspensions. Despite leading the league in yellow cards this season, Pochettino emphasized that the players’ actions stem from the pressure of representing a prestigious club like Chelsea. Palmer and Sterling accrued their fifth bookings during the recent 2-1 defeat to Wolves, rendering them ineligible for the upcoming match against Crystal Palace due to an automatic one-game ban. Chelsea has already faced suspensions for Reece James, Malo Gusto, and Conor Gallagher earlier in the season. Concerns also loom over summer…
Manchester United has been informed that they must cough up €100 million to secure the signing of Joao Neves from Benfica, as reported by Corriere dello Sport. Manager Erik ten Hag has purportedly expressed interest in acquiring the young talent, leaving speculation as to whether the Red Devils will make a decisive move for the player during the January transfer window. In other transfer news, Chelsea is said to be leading the race to sign Barcelona defender Balde in January. According to Sport, Mauricio Pochettino’s side has exhibited the most interest in the 20-year-old, who currently trails behind Joao Cancelo…
Numerous prominent football clubs across Europe have witnessed increases in market value during 2023. However, upon examining Transfermarkt data for these European teams, it becomes evident that none have experienced a surge comparable to that of Arsenal during this period. How did the Gunners achieve this? Arsenal Emerges at the Summit of Clubs with the Highest Market Value Rise in 2023 Under the management of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal commenced the year with a combined value of €759 million. Over the past 12 months, this figure has soared by €351 million, reaching a total of €1.11 billion. Captain Martin Ødegaard played…