This Saturday, Manchester United faced another setback in their already extensive list of defensive absentees, as center-back Raphael Varane was unable to feature for the Red Devils. Despite making a rare start against Liverpool last weekend and delivering a solid performance, Varane was expected to retain his place in the lineup against West Ham United in the Premier League. However, the Frenchman was noticeably absent from the squad, and manager Erik ten Hag confirmed that illness, not injury, was the reason for Varane’s exclusion. The 30-year-old’s absence added to the defensive challenges already faced by Manchester United, with key players…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold has showered praise on Declan Rice and the entire Arsenal squad for their impressive performances leading up to the crucial clash against Liverpool. The two teams are set to face off in a highly anticipated showdown on Saturday evening to determine the Premier League table leader heading into Christmas. Currently, Arsenal sits at the top with 39 points, while Liverpool is in third place with 38 points and a slightly superior goal difference. Reflecting on Arsenal’s resurgence this season, Alexander-Arnold acknowledged the impactful contribution of club-record signing Declan Rice, highlighting the midfielder’s role in Arsenal’s elevated…
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed the absence of midfielder Enzo Fernandez for their upcoming Premier League match against Wolves on Christmas Eve. During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Pochettino revealed that Fernandez is dealing with a hernia problem. This development follows Fernandez being substituted off after only 32 minutes in Chelsea’s recent Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle United. The Argentina international exhibited signs of discomfort as he left the field, and Pochettino later mentioned that he ‘felt sick.’ “Enzo is going to be out of the game against Wolverhampton,” Pochettino stated. “We are going to see if he…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed confidence that his team can quiet the Anfield crowd this Saturday through a display of dominance. The Gunners, seeking their first victory at Liverpool since September 2012, faced a 2-0 lead last season in April before the Reds staged a comeback to secure a draw. Despite Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp encouraging fans to create a hostile atmosphere, Arteta is focused on outperforming the home team to stifle the supporters. Arteta emphasized, “Silencing the crowd comes down to playing better than them. If you are dominant and superior, you will quiet the crowd. The upcoming…
The Premier League has announced the exclusion of Christmas Eve fixtures for the 2024-2025 season. The upcoming season is set to commence on August 17, as confirmed by the league on Friday, providing a 90-day gap after the conclusion of the current campaign. The final match of the 2024-2025 season is scheduled for May 25, 2025. Notably, in response to concerns raised during the current season, the league has taken steps to address the congested schedule across Christmas and New Year. A statement from officials outlines their commitment to providing more rest time over three festive match rounds, ensuring no…
Manchester City has clinched this year’s Club World Cup, marking a historic triumph for the Premier League champions. The team secured a 4-0 victory over Fluminense, claiming the trophy for the first time in the club’s history. The scoring spree began just 40 seconds into the match when Julian Alvarez found the net, and City’s lead was further extended with an own goal. Phil Foden contributed to the commanding 3-0 lead, sliding in at the far post to convert Alvarez’s cross following Stones’s interception high up the pitch. Alvarez sealed the win with the final goal in the 88th minute.…
Discovering the top earners at Chelsea Football Club can be astonishing. Renowned as one of the wealthiest and most successful Premier League clubs, Chelsea consistently attracts top-tier talent and compensates them accordingly. The Blues have a history of securing high-profile signings, often accompanied by substantial contracts. Here’s an insight into the projected top five highest-paid Chelsea players for the 2023-2024 season, based on their weekly wages. Brace yourself, as these figures are truly remarkable. Chelsea Highest Paid Players (2023-2024) 5 Christopher Nkunku – £195,000 Per Week At the fifth spot is Christopher Nkunku, a dynamic French attacking midfielder currently gracing…
Inter Miami’s recent acquisition, Luis Suarez, has expressed his commitment to bringing delight to the club’s supporters. The Uruguayan international, who reunited with former colleagues after joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami, eagerly anticipates the challenge. Following Friday’s announcement of Suarez’s signing, he shared his enthusiasm on the club’s website, saying, “I’m very happy and excited to embrace this new challenge with Inter Miami. I can’t wait to get started. I am dedicated to bringing joy to these passionate fans I’ve heard so much about while proudly wearing the Inter Miami colors. Additionally, I look forward to reuniting with esteemed friends…
Nicolò Zaniolo made a significant impact coming off the bench, scoring his inaugural Premier League goal to secure a late equalizer against Sheffield United at Villa Park on Friday night. In the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time, the Italian skillfully headed home Douglas Luiz’s cross, extending Aston Villa’s unbeaten streak to ten games. Throughout the match, the Blades adopted a defensive strategy, creating an attack versus defense dynamic, and challenging the hosts to break them down. Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, and Moussa Diaby had missed opportunities in the first half, and the breakthrough moment seemed to arrive on the…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is urging fans to bring their A-game in terms of enthusiasm to Anfield for the upcoming clash against Arsenal. Despite a lukewarm atmosphere during the recent 5-1 victory over West Ham in the EFL Cup, Klopp emphasized the importance of the Anfield crowd, known as the 12th man, in their pursuit of success. Klopp acknowledged the disappointment of some fans after the draw against Manchester United, suggesting that the subdued atmosphere from that match carried over to the midweek fixture. Despite a stellar performance by his players, the manager felt the crowd’s engagement was lacking. With…
Having secured a 4-0 victory against Fluminense on Friday to clinch their fifth trophy of 2023, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, expressed that he has “closed a chapter” at the Premier League club with the triumph in the Club World Cup. Since taking over as manager in 2016, Guardiola has now claimed every available trophy. With 18 months remaining on his contract, Guardiola declared his satisfaction after the game, stating that he feels the job is complete. He remarked, “I’m very pleased, and I would like to say we had the feeling we would close the chapter; we…
The Nigeria Premier Football League has imposed a three-week suspension on Plateau United duo, Jimmy Ambrose and Charles Henlong. Additionally, the club’s team manager, Iliya Abel, has also received a three-week suspension. This disciplinary action was taken by the NPFL due to their unsporting conduct. Furthermore, Plateau United has been fined N1 million for failing to ensure the proper conduct of their players and officials. This failure resulted in the harassment and intimidation of the referee following their matchday 15 encounter against Kwara United. Plateau United has been cautioned that more severe sanctions may be imposed if such behavior recurs.…
Once again, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opted not to enlist the services of Nigerian referees for officiating duties in the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. For the 34th edition of the tournament set to commence in Cote d’Ivoire next month, CAF has selected 32 referees from 19 countries. This marks the 18th consecutive year of Nigerian referees being overlooked since their last participation in the competition in 2006. Among the chosen nationalities, Egypt and Morocco lead the pack with three representatives each heading to the AFCON, surpassing Algeria, Gabon, and Mauritania, which have two officials each.…
Chelsea’s record-signing Moises Caicedo has disclosed the player who holds the highest trust within the entire squad. Caicedo identified teammate Cole Palmer as the individual highly esteemed by Mauricio Pochettino’s side. He commended Palmer, labeling him a ‘highly talented player’ who brings joy to the rest of the Blues squad. Palmer, making a surprising move from Manchester City to Chelsea on September 1, swiftly left a positive impression on the team. The 21-year-old, secured by Chelsea for £40 million, has promptly secured a starting position in Pochettino’s XI. He has netted six goals in 14 Premier League appearances for Chelsea…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has identified Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton as potential replacements for Andre Onana at Old Trafford. Ten Hag expressed his confidence in the goalkeeping options while addressing concerns about the possibility of losing Onana to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January and February. While Onana’s participation in AFCON is yet to be officially confirmed, it appears likely that he will be called up to represent Cameroon in the tournament hosted in Ivory Coast. This potential call-up could see Onana miss up to six games for Manchester United if his national team…
The conclusion of 2023 sees the Super Eagles of Nigeria securing the 42nd position in the latest FIFA ranking, marking a year of varied outcomes. Following their inability to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles regrouped under the guidance of coach Jose Peseiro in preparation for 2023. The year commenced positively, with the team comfortably advancing through the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by claiming the top spot in their qualification group. However, the latter part of the year brought disappointment, particularly with the onset of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.…
The board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has officially sanctioned Rangers’ return to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Stadium in Enugu. Having utilized the Akwa City Stadium as their home venue due to the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium being deemed unsuitable for NPFL games, the Flying Antelopes undertook significant renovations. These enhancements encompassed re-grassing the turf, modernizing the dressing rooms, and upgrading spectator stands. Following a recent inspection of the facility prompted by Rangers’ invitation, the NPFL decided to grant approval. In a communication from the NPFL to Rangers, signed by Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer, the approval was…
As reported by Express, Manchester United has listed Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, Raphael Varane, and Anthony Martial for sale ahead of the January transfer window. Despite discussions during a meeting in Saudi Arabia led by football director John Murtough, no agreements were reached. The primary objective for the club in the upcoming month appears to be the offloading of high-earning players. The decision to make these players available for transfer stems from various factors. Jadon Sancho, the highly anticipated signing from Borussia Dortmund, has struggled to establish a cohesive relationship with manager Erik ten Hag, resulting in limited on-field impact. Raphael…
Undoubtedly, Manchester United Football Club is set to intensify efforts in bolstering their attacking options under the management of Erik ten Hag when the transfer window reopens. The Premier League powerhouse made significant additions to their squad during the summer transfer window, securing the services of Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, and Andre Onana. Despite these marquee signings, Manchester United has faced challenges in front of goal this season, particularly with the underperforming winger Antony. In light of this, the club is actively seeking a potential replacement. Recent reports suggest that Manchester United has expressed interest in pursuing a transfer for…
Manchester City’s interim captain, Kyle Walker, acknowledges that the team has a significant distance to cover before reaching the stature of Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson’s era and Liverpool in the 1980s. While City has the opportunity to make history by clinching a fifth major trophy in a calendar year if they defeat Fluminense in the Club World Cup final, Walker emphasizes that despite last season’s triumphs in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, the team is not yet on par with the achievements of United in 1998/99. Despite the potential for City to be recognized as…