Liverpool is gearing up for a trial event to assess the new Anfield Road Stand ahead of their highly anticipated clash with Manchester United on December 17. Delays in construction earlier this year, stemming from the bankruptcy of the overseeing firm, prompted Liverpool to start the season with the top tier of the stand closed. In a bid to partially open the expanded top tier for the clash against Manchester United, Liverpool is awaiting a license from Liverpool City Council. To secure this license, a trial event is scheduled for December 11. Over 3,000 fans have been invited to the…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed reports of dressing room unrest, countering recent allegations that players were questioning his tactics and signings. Several journalists were barred from Tuesday’s press conference amid claims of disunity following the team’s defeat to Newcastle United. Ten Hag refuted the reports, addressing the issue during the press conference attended by select journalists. He acknowledged the natural discontent among players not in the starting lineup but insisted there were no significant issues. “In every team, there are always players who are not playing as much and may be less happy. In some circumstances, you…
Sheffield United has removed Paul Heckingbottom as the first Premier League manager to face the sack this season, with Chris Wilder returning to the club as his successor. Heckingbottom, 46, faced dismissal after Sheffield United amassed just five points from their opening 14 matches, securing only one win—a controversial 2-1 victory against Wolves at home last month. The final blow came in a 5-0 defeat against Burnley on Saturday, prompting the club to confirm the decision on Tuesday. In an official statement, Sheffield United announced, “Football manager Paul Heckingbottom has been relieved of his duties. Additionally, coaches Stuart McCall and…
Katsina United is currently facing repercussions from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for breaching the recently instituted dress code for players and staff. In their recent encounter against Sporting Lagos, a Katsina United player was spotted wearing a jersey with a handwritten number, leading the NPFL to take disciplinary measures against the club. League officials are considering reporting the match officials involved in the game to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for allowing the player to participate despite the violation of the dress code. Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, stressed the league’s commitment to upholding…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta declined to assign any blame to goalkeeper David Raya despite his two errors that resulted in goals during their 4-3 victory over Luton Town on Tuesday night. Raya’s lapses allowed the hosts to score twice in eight minutes, taking the lead in the second half. The on-loan Brentford goalkeeper was caught out of position from a corner kick, leading to Elijah Adebayo’s equalizer, and later allowed a Ross Barkley shot to slip beneath him, putting the hosts in the lead. However, Kai Havertz leveled the score, and Declan Rice headed in the winner in the seventh…
Former Nigeria midfielder, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has expressed his belief that Victor Osimhen is worthy of winning the CAF Player of the Year. The recipient of this esteemed award is scheduled to be revealed at an event on December 11 in Morocco, with Osimhen being regarded as one of the frontrunners for the prestigious individual accolade. Competing against notable players such as Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi of PSG, and former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, Osimhen has earned recognition for his outstanding performances. “He [Osimhen] deserves it because for me, he was the most consistent player of…
Barcelona has officially announced that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery for his back injury. Ter Stegen, who had been absent from Barcelona’s recent matches due to the ailment, had initially hoped to avoid surgery, but the decision has now been made to proceed with a surgical solution. As a consequence, Ter Stegen is anticipated to be sidelined for at least two months. This extended absence raises concerns about his participation in the Champions League knockout stages, which commence on February 13, 2024. The timeline provides Ter Stegen with approximately three months to regain full fitness. During Ter Stegen’s…
Manchester City and Liverpool remain resolute in their pursuit of Florian Wirtz, despite the ongoing interest from Bayern Munich. Wirtz made a successful comeback from an ACL injury at the beginning of 2023, and his outstanding form this season has played a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen’s current lead in the Bundesliga as they vie for their inaugural title. Operating from the ‘number 10’ position, the 20-year-old has notched three goals and provided five assists in 13 Bundesliga appearances. Additionally, he has contributed to eight goals in six games across the Europa League and DFB-Pokal. While Leverkusen has already stated…
Chelsea’s head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, has acknowledged his admiration for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho. As the Blues prepare to face the Red Devils on Wednesday in a bid to revive their respective struggling seasons, Pochettino shared his thoughts on Garnacho, a compatriot who recently earned a spot in the Argentina senior team. After Chelsea’s hard-fought victory against Brighton & Hove Albion propelled them back into the Premier League’s top half, Pochettino, in anticipation of the Old Trafford clash, commended Garnacho’s qualities. The young winger had previously made a name for himself in Spain before joining Manchester United. Describing Garnacho…
Arsenal secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory at Kenilworth Road, with Declan Rice’s stoppage-time winner rescuing goalkeeper David Raya from two significant errors. Raya’s mistakes allowed Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley to score, giving Luton a 3-2 lead by the 60th minute. However, Kai Havertz leveled the score at 3-3 shortly after. As it seemed Raya’s errors might cost Arsenal, Rice stepped up in the last minute of added time, securing the crucial goal. In the initial stages, Arsenal dominated possession, but Luton’s counterattacks and high pressing created nervy moments for the visitors. A poor back pass from Amari’i Bell led…
Luis Suarez is on the verge of joining Inter Miami, with sources confirming that the agreement between the player and the club has been finalized. As previously disclosed in June, Suarez expressed a desire to reunite with former teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets in Florida. Despite initial intentions to make the move during the summer, Suarez remained bound by a contract with Brazilian side Gremio. The 36-year-old, whose deal with Gremio extends to 2024, activated a release clause, paving the way for his move to Inter Miami. Speculation surrounding Suarez’s imminent arrival intensified last week after head coach Renato…
Arsenal and Liverpool had representatives scouting Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong during the Bundesliga clash against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, as per information received by 90min. The match concluded with a 1-1 draw at Leverkusen’s BayArena, maintaining their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 season under the management of Xabi Alonso, who is steering them towards their first-ever Bundesliga title. Frimpong, the former Celtic full-back, was reportedly the main focus of attention for both Arsenal and Liverpool. The 22-year-old is expected to take the next step in his career in 2024, and he has a £35 million release clause set to…
Raphael Varane is determined to remain at Manchester United and compete for his place, despite slipping down Erik ten Hag’s pecking order and continuous speculation about a potential move in the upcoming January transfer window. (Manchester Evening News) Contract negotiations between Milan and goalkeeper Mike Maignan have stalled recently. Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and PSG are all keeping a close eye on the situation in case he becomes available. (Foot Mercato) Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has put a stop to the club’s pursuit of highly-rated Granada winger Bryan Zaragoza. (Defensa Central) Barcelona’s chances of acquiring Giovani Lo Celso…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed admiration for Bukayo Saka as the talented player prepares to mark his 200th appearance for the Gunners. Saka, who made his debut at the age of 17 in January 2019, is on the verge of reaching the milestone when Arsenal faces Luton Town in the Premier League. Should he feature as anticipated, Saka will become the youngest player to achieve this milestone for Arsenal since Cesc Fabregas. Arteta, commenting on Saka’s achievement, remarked, “That’s not bad at his age! It’s gone really fast but it shows again the consistency and the availability that he…
Super Eagles legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has shared his perspective on why Nigeria tends to produce more strikers than defenders and players in other positions in recent times. Currently boasting a wealth of top strikers, Nigeria is recognized for having some of the best attackers in Africa and globally, with Victor Osimhen leading the ranks, accompanied by talents like Gift Orban, Terem Moffi, Victor Boniface, and Taiwo Awoniyi. Okocha, in a recent interview, offered insights into why goal-scoring positions are more appealing to Nigerian players compared to other roles on the field. “I will say football is part of…
After spending five years in the English Premier League since his move from Napoli to Chelsea in a £50 million deal in 2018, Italian international Jorginho shared his thoughts on who he believes is the best player in the league currently. When asked about the top player, Jorginho immediately mentioned two names that stood out for him. He praised Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, a two-time PFA Player of the Year, as “ridiculous,” highlighting his intelligence on the pitch. However, Jorginho ultimately placed Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah at the pinnacle. He commended Salah’s strength, power, speed, and mental toughness, emphasizing his…
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed his desire for Aaron Ramsdale to remain at the club amid ongoing transfer speculation. The 25-year-old goalkeeper has been linked with a potential departure from the Emirates in the upcoming January transfer window. Despite facing limited playing time, with only one Premier League start since September 3, Ramsdale has been supplanted as Arsenal’s primary goalkeeper by summer loan acquisition David Raya. Interest from Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Newcastle United has been reported, particularly with Newcastle seeking goalkeeper reinforcements following Nick Pope’s shoulder injury. However, Arteta emphasized his contentment with having two excellent goalkeepers and affirmed,…
Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has shared insights into the most challenging defenders he has encountered throughout his career. In an interview with ESPN, the prolific 30-year-old forward, who has established himself as one of the premier goalscorers globally in the past decade, named Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini and former Chelsea captain John Terry as the two toughest opponents he has faced to date. Kane expressed his admiration for John Terry, acknowledging him as one of the best defenders globally due to his intelligence and astuteness on the field. Regarding Giorgio Chiellini, he highlighted the Italian’s toughness, smart…
Manchester United is reportedly considering terminating the contract of manager Erik ten Hag if he fails to reverse the team’s recent poor form. According to former Arsenal player Paul Merson, there is speculation that Ten Hag might face dismissal if Manchester United loses their upcoming three fixtures. The Red Devils are set to face Chelsea at Old Trafford in a crucial Premier League match following their recent 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. With the team currently trailing by 9 points in the league and positioned at the bottom of their Champions League group, there is heightened pressure for a turnaround in…
When Manchester United faces Chelsea at Old Trafford on Wednesday night in the Premier League, they aim to return to the winning column. Following a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday, the Red Devils slipped to seventh place in the standings. Erik ten Hag’s squad has already experienced six losses in the league this season. Their opponent, Chelsea, secured a 3-2 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. Before their clash with Chelsea, here is the Manchester United injury update: Malacia has been sidelined due to a knee ailment that required two surgeries. However, he is expected to…