Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticized the scheduling of his team’s Premier League clash against Manchester City after the international break, accusing those responsible of lacking a true understanding of football. The Reds are set to travel to Manchester on Saturday, November 25, with the kickoff moved forward from the original 3 pm slot to the earlier 12:30 pm TV slot. While the game was always slated for a time other than 3 pm due to broadcasting restrictions in England, Klopp takes issue with the immediate scheduling after an international break when Liverpool’s players are returning from duty worldwide. This…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Harry Maguire is feeling justified in his decision to remain at Manchester United and persevere for his future with the club, especially as he has reclaimed a pivotal role under Erik ten Hag. Last season, the center-back lost his spot in the team and, after being stripped of the captaincy, came close to departing during the summer. A potential £30 million deal with West Ham United was on the horizon but ultimately fell through, resulting in Maguire staying put at Old Trafford. Despite playing only 26 minutes in United’s first seven Premier League games, Maguire has now started the last…
Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot has pulled out of Portugal’s squad for the upcoming international window. Portugal, having already secured a spot in the Euro 2024 Championships, will conclude Group J with matches against Liechtenstein and Iceland this week. Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal has transformed into a potent attacking force, leading the continent with 32 goals in Euro 2024 qualifying. Despite this, they will have to navigate their final two fixtures without Dalot, who is unavailable for “personal reasons,” as confirmed by Manchester United. Joao Mario from Porto has taken Dalot’s place in the Portugal squad, making Bruno Fernandes the sole…
Manchester United duo Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen have both been compelled to withdraw from the Denmark squad for the current international break. Currently occupying the second spot in their Euro 2024 qualifying group, Denmark is set to face group leaders Slovenia and the already eliminated Northern Ireland, with a potential spot in the final tournament at stake. Denmark can secure their place in Germany next summer with one more victory in the final two games or if Kazakhstan drops points against either San Marino or Slovenia. However, they will have to navigate the last two qualifiers without the services…
Reece James remains dedicated to aiding Chelsea in their quest to re-establish themselves as Premier League title contenders, unfazed by the interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid. Having signed a six-year contract in 2022, James was appointed Chelsea captain this summer under the management of Mauricio Pochettino. The 23-year-old right-back is widely recognized as one of the premier players in his position globally. While Manchester City has long admired James’ development, particularly in light of the impending need to replace the 33-year-old Kyle Walker, there are no indications that the Premier League champions are actively pursuing a deal for…
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has downplayed criticism over his interaction with teenager Lamine Yamal during Sunday’s victory against Alaves. Despite Yamal, who just turned 16 in July and made his debut last season at the age of 15, being a regular for the senior side, a minor controversy arose during the Alaves game. In a particular moment, Yamal chose to take a shot instead of passing the ball as Lewandowski desired, leading to a swift verbal reprimand from the veteran striker. Following the incident, Yamal extended a hand to his much older teammate, but Lewandowski seemed to intentionally ignore him.…
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez strongly criticized UEFA’s upcoming Champions League format changes, reiterating his support for the European Super League. The announcement of this continental competition in 2021 faced immediate global backlash when 12 founding clubs declared their participation, with only Madrid and Barcelona remaining as the last standing participants. In June of this year, Juventus confirmed their decision to withdraw from the Super League plan. The European Court of Justice is set to deliver its final ruling on the league’s validity on December 21, determining whether UEFA and FIFA lawfully blocked its creation and imposed sanctions on involved…
Pep Guardiola asserts that Manchester City’s 4-4 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge serves as evidence that his team has not become “soft” following their treble-winning season. In an epic Premier League clash on Sunday, City held the lead three times, only to be equalized by a 94th-minute penalty from former player Cole Palmer. With Liverpool securing a 3-0 victory over Brentford earlier in the day, City’s lead at the top of the league table has now narrowed to just one point as they head into the international break. Addressing the media after the draw, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the…
Reece James has offered support to his Chelsea teammate Nicolas Jackson following a challenging start to his Premier League career. Despite facing criticism, Jackson secured his first hat-trick in Chelsea colors during a tumultuous London derby against Tottenham, where all three goals were scored in the second half when Spurs were down to nine players. Previously targeted for criticism on Match of the Day by former England and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer and subjected to jeers from home fans in a 2-0 defeat to Brentford at Stamford Bridge, Jackson’s resilience and hard work have earned him praise. James, speaking to…
Jurgen Klopp has offered special commendation to Darwin Nunez following Liverpool’s impressive 3-0 triumph over Brentford. Despite facing recent criticism for lackluster performances against Luton Town and Toulouse, including a glaring miss in the Luton Town clash, Nunez showcased a notable improvement in the Brentford match. While his remarkable overhead kick goal was disallowed, the Uruguayan forward contributed by providing an assist for the opening goal, playing a crucial role in Liverpool’s commanding victory at Anfield. Addressing the press post-game, Klopp was eager to commend his number nine, praising Nunez for his adept hold-up play and commendable defensive work rate:…
A last-minute penalty kick from Cole Palmer secured a point for Chelsea in a thrilling Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. In a game where both teams scored four goals each, Palmer, facing his former club, stepped up in the 94th minute to convert the equalizer after Armando Broja was fouled by Ruben Dias in the box. The result trims Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just one point, while Chelsea climbs into the top half of the table following two impressive results in the span of a week. The match kicked off with some…
In stark contrast to the “chaotic” Europa League performance against Toulouse, which Jurgen Klopp criticized just three days earlier, Liverpool displayed patience and precision in a 3-0 victory over Brentford. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in his sixth consecutive Premier League appearance at Anfield and added a second after the interval. Despite Brentford’s three straight wins coming into the match, Liverpool, now in second place in the Premier League, effectively dealt with their resilience. Facing one of the league’s most formidable counter-attacking teams, Liverpool pressed vigorously after each turnover. Brentford, led by Bryan Mbeumo’s persistent foraging, posed challenges, but Liverpool…
Xavi Hernandez has emphasized that Barcelona’s recent performances have been hampered by criticism from the media. Despite narrowly securing a victory against Deportivo Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, with Robert Lewandowski netting a brace, Barcelona’s overall display was unconvincing. They even found themselves trailing 1-0 early in the game due to a first-minute goal from Samuel Omorodion. This performance adds to a string of lackluster outings, including a “totally unacceptable” 1-0 win against Real Sociedad, as noted by the manager, and a loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League midweek. Addressing the criticism after the Alaves win,…
A somber stillness enveloped the Santiago Bernabeu as Jude Bellingham failed to promptly rise to his feet during the encounter against Rayo Vallecano. A collective sigh of relief echoed as Bellingham, albeit groggy, made his way back onto the pitch. However, the remainder of the goalless draw witnessed him grimacing, his shoulder heavily strapped, especially evident during an inadvisable throw-in. Though few teams in Spain had managed to thwart the unstoppable 20-year-old, injuries spare no one, not even the exceptional talents. Stay tuned for the latest updates on Bellingham’s recovery, shedding light on how much longer fans of Real Madrid…
Mauricio Pochettino has extended an apology to referee Anthony Taylor for his post-match outburst following the intense 4-4 draw between Chelsea and Manchester City. The Chelsea manager expressed his frustration with Taylor’s decision to conclude the game just as Chelsea appeared poised for a rapid counter-attack in the 98th minute at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino, visibly upset, rushed onto the pitch, vociferously confronting the referee and requiring restraint from his coaching staff. In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Pochettino promptly acknowledged his actions and attributed them to heightened emotions in the midst of a gripping football match: “I may have…
Attributing a striker’s goalless streak to a lack of confidence is a common tendency in football. However, when a reporter raised this question regarding Rasmus Hojlund’s ninth consecutive Premier League appearance without scoring against Luton Town, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag dismissed the notion. Ten Hag argued, “I don’t think it is a confidence thing because Rasmus Hojlund scored five goals in the Champions League.” This perspective was supported by Hojlund’s remarkable achievement of becoming the first player in the club’s history to score five goals in his initial four Champions League games for United. Despite his prolific performance…
Xavi has unveiled that Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to regain fitness and be available for selection following the November international break. De Jong, who has been sidelined by an ankle issue since late September, was among the key players affected by injuries earlier in the season. Despite initially targeting a comeback for El Clasico in late October, the Netherlands international wasn’t deemed fit for the fixture. However, Xavi has now affirmed that De Jong will be ready to participate in Barcelona’s upcoming match once the international break concludes. Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the…
Mikel Arteta has advised Aaron Ramsdale to exercise patience in his bid to reclaim the position of Arsenal’s primary goalkeeper and to resist contemplating a departure in the upcoming January transfer window. Ramsdale found himself displaced by David Raya earlier in the season, leading to the England international making only two cup appearances since early September. He has been relegated to the sidelines in both Premier League and Champions League matches. Notably, Chelsea is one of the clubs monitoring Ramsdale’s situation at Arsenal. Initially, the 25-year-old showed a willingness to dismiss the interest and focus on securing his future at…
After what seemed like an eternity, Marcus Rashford finally wore a smile on the Manchester United pitch. However, it was a grin of disbelief as he received a red card, interrupting what had been one of United’s more impressive performances of the season—albeit not the most competitive. The setback occurred during the midweek clash against Copenhagen, where Rashford’s second career dismissal paved the way for United to concede four goals, marking the club’s ninth defeat in 17 games this season. In the midst of this collective turmoil, Rashford faced a personal struggle in front of goal, managing to score only…
Manchester United has officially announced that center-back Jonny Evans will be sidelined “for the next few weeks” due to a thigh strain sustained during the 4-3 defeat to Copenhagen. Despite being brought in as emergency cover for Erik ten Hag’s team this summer, Evans had to be substituted just 16 minutes into the Champions League match, with Raphael Varane taking his place alongside Harry Maguire. Following thorough tests on the 35-year-old defender, United stated, “Jonny Evans will be out of action for the next few weeks with injury. The Northern Ireland defender suffered a thigh strain in the first half…