Following a third consecutive Premier League defeat, it might seem easy to declare that Tottenham’s season is swiftly losing momentum. For those who humorously entertained the idea that they were ready to contend for the title, the reality check is apparent (even though such assumptions were misguided from the start). However, an unusual sense of optimism emerged from their recent 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on home turf. Despite missing five regular starters, Tottenham generated numerous scoring opportunities, showcasing the cohesion of a lineup that seemed to have played together for 50 games. In his first start for Tottenham in…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Chelsea is poised to make Victor Osimhen their top priority in the striker market, with indications from Italian sources suggesting the Napoli forward may be receptive to a move to Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old Nigerian international is anticipated to command an asking price well exceeding £100 million, potentially surpassing the Premier League record of £106.8 million set by Chelsea for Enzo Fernandez. While a January deal might pose challenges due to the substantial figure, it aligns with Chelsea’s long-term ambitions in the striking department. There’s a connection between Osimhen and Chelsea through Kalidou Koulibaly, who departed the club for Al-Hilal…
After Chelsea’s dismal 4-1 defeat to Newcastle, Mauricio Pochettino took charge by summoning the squad for an early morning cold training session. The Blues now find themselves in 10th place, having suffered their fifth league loss of the season. Expressing his frustration, Pochettino labeled it as their worst game of the season, citing a failure to read the game from the start and a lack of intensity and energy. He emphasized the need for the team to understand the required level of competition. Pochettino sees this setback as a valuable teaching moment for his young team, acknowledging, “It is a…
Fresh from slotting the ball into the bottom corner to level the score for Liverpool against the reigning champions, Trent Alexander-Arnold couldn’t resist silencing the crowd by placing one finger in front of his lips. However, there wasn’t much noise to hush at the Etihad Stadium, at least according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. In a meeting between the Premier League’s top two teams, the latest installment of the defining rivalry in modern English football felt somewhat subdued. Guardiola, on numerous occasions during the match, turned away from the pitch, pointing at his ears and flapping his arms toward…
A spectacular overhead kick from Alejandro Garnacho propelled Manchester United to a 3-0 triumph over Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. Garnacho’s extraordinary goal not only left the buoyant Everton protesters in the stands silenced but also contributed to the Toffees ending the weekend in 19th place. United further solidified their victory with two additional goals in the second half. Despite Sean Dyche finding some positives in his team’s performance, Everton paid the price for inefficiencies in the final third. In contrast, Manchester United capitalized on limited opportunities, securing three crucial points. The game unfolded with Erik ten Hag…
Kai Havertz emerged from the bench to secure a dramatic late victory for Arsenal against Brentford, propelling the Gunners to the summit of the Premier League table. With Manchester City and Liverpool’s earlier draw creating an opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s team to claim the top spot, Arsenal eventually capitalized in the dying moments of the game. Brentford exhibited resilience and had notable opportunities to score, yet they were unable to breach Arsenal’s defense. The unfolding of the match saw Brentford nearly taking the lead in the 13th minute when Aaron Ramsdale’s slip in the six-yard box allowed Yoane Wissa to…
Jurgen Klopp found himself stepping in to separate Darwin Nunez and Pep Guardiola in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City, although both managers downplayed the incident during the post-match discussions. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold salvaged a point with a low drive after Erling Haaland had opened the scoring for the champions, achieving the fastest milestone of 50 Premier League goals in the process. The outcome left the two teams only a point apart in the league table, with Liverpool’s resilience frustrating the home side, who had a Ruben Dias goal disallowed when the score was 1-0. However,…
Napoli’s manager, Walter Mazzarri, is optimistic about Victor Osimhen’s swift return to peak form following the Nigerian striker’s impactful performance in the 2-1 away victory against Atalanta on Saturday night. Osimhen, who came off the bench, set up Elf Elmas for the decisive goal at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. This marked the striker’s first goal for the Serie A champions since recovering from a hamstring injury sustained on international duty last month. Mazzarri, who recently assumed the managerial role at Napoli, praised the talismanic striker, expressing confidence in his abilities. “I didn’t need to be the Napoli coach to…
Bayer Leverkusen’s manager, Xabi Alonso, has expressed confidence in Patrik Schick’s ability to step in for Victor Boniface should he be called up for the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Boniface is anticipated to receive a call-up for the tournament as part of the Super Eagles squad, particularly with Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest set to undergo surgery, increasing Boniface’s likelihood of making the final squad. While Leverkusen will miss Boniface’s impressive contributions since his summer transfer, Alonso remains composed about the situation. Regarding Boniface’s potential absence, Alonso stated, “The tournament runs from January 13th to February 11th. We…
Kai Havertz revealed that he had to set aside his ego after scoring the decisive late goal for Arsenal against Brentford. The German midfielder, adapting to a different role than his Chelsea stint last season, came off the bench to secure a crucial 89th-minute victory at the GTech Community Stadium. This goal propelled Arsenal to the top of the Premier League, surpassing both Manchester City and Liverpool. Havertz’s goal, only his second in Arsenal colors since his £65 million summer transfer, marked his first from open play, with the previous one being a penalty in the away win against Bournemouth.…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has voiced his desire for defender Takehiro Tomiyasu to stay with the Gunners amid swirling reports of a potential January transfer. Sky Sports suggests that Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are actively pursuing a deal for Tomiyasu, impressed by the player’s versatility, which includes proficiency in both left-back and right-back positions. Thomas Tuchel, the coach of Bayern Munich, is reportedly keen on securing Tomiyasu due to his ability to cover multiple roles on the field. Ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming match against Brentford, Arteta, in his pre-match press conference, acknowledged the widespread admiration for the Japanese international within…
In a showdown at the Etihad Stadium, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late equalizer secured a 1-1 draw for Liverpool against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Erling Haaland marked his 50th Premier League goal in just 48 appearances, providing City with a deserved lead midway through the first half. Despite their dominance, City couldn’t put the game out of reach against a resilient Liverpool side. City controlled possession from the start, with Jeremy Doku’s pace creating opportunities. Alisson’s error allowed Phil Foden a shot on goal, while Liverpool’s strategy involved sitting back and seeking counter-attacks. A quarter-hour in, Mohamed Salah’s well-placed cross…
Following a series of positive results leading up to the international break, Chelsea experienced a humbling 4-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Saturday. The early goal by Alexander Isak was countered by Raheem Sterling’s impressive free-kick in a lively first half, leaving the outcome uncertain. However, two critical moments in the 60th minute shifted the momentum decisively in favor of Newcastle. Jamaal Lascelles’ header regained the lead for the Magpies, followed by an unfortunate error from Thiago Silva, gifting Joelinton another goal. Chelsea’s challenges were compounded by Reece James’ red card, leaving them with an uphill battle.…
Pep Guardiola has emphasized his commitment to Manchester City, asserting that he would be more likely to stay with the club in League One than even if they were to win the Champions League. Addressing the ongoing Premier League investigation into alleged financial breaches, Guardiola refused to draw parallels with Everton’s situation, where they received a 10-point deduction for violating profit and sustainability rules. Despite the possibility of serious consequences for City, who vehemently deny the charges, Guardiola remained resolute in his commitment to the club. He refrained from engaging in comparisons with Everton’s case, emphasizing the presumption of innocence…
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has commended Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham for his impressive start to the season but issued a warning that he is determined to increase his goal tally in the race for the Pichichi Trophy. Bellingham has garnered global acclaim since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, netting 13 goals and providing three assists in his 14 appearances for Los Blancos. Several of the 20-year-old’s goals have come in crucial moments, securing victories for Real Madrid, including a pivotal strike in their 2-1 win over Barcelona in El Clasico last month. Of Bellingham’s 10…
Mauricio Pochettino has affirmed that Christopher Nkunku won’t be participating in Chelsea’s encounter with Newcastle United on Saturday. Pochettino urged fans to manage their immediate expectations for the Frenchman. Nkunku, recovering from a knee injury that necessitated surgery during pre-season, resumed training on the pitch during the international break. Despite growing excitement among Chelsea supporters about Nkunku’s impending debut, Pochettino unfortunately confirmed that the wait for the French international’s return will extend a bit longer. “Still out,” Pochettino stated when questioned about Nkunku’s status. “In the past week’s training sessions, he hasn’t fully recovered to join the tactical sessions. It’s…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has verified that midfielder Mason Mount has encountered another injury, potentially leading to a period of absence. Mount, who previously missed five games this season due to injury, has faced challenges in regaining a spot in Ten Hag’s starting lineup. In the last six Premier League matches, he has come off the bench in four. Since his transfer from Chelsea in the summer, Mount has grappled with consistency, and he finds himself sidelined once again due to a recent injury. Ten Hag commented, “Mason picked up an issue, so we have to assess if…
Reportedly, discussions are underway for Manchester United star Casemiro to potentially make a move to Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the upcoming January transfer window, as per information from TheNassrZone. Following a fallout with Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag in January 2023, Ronaldo officially joined the Saudi Pro League (SPL) side. Casemiro, who previously played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid, is now considering a reunion with the Portuguese star. Casemiro made the switch to Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, for a transfer fee of £60 million. Since then, he has made 63 appearances across…
UEFA has imposed a one-match suspension on Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the Champions League. As a result, Rashford will be unavailable for the Red Devils’ upcoming fixture against Galatasaray next week. The England international received a red card during United’s 4-3 loss to FC Copenhagen earlier this month. Referee Donatas Rumsas, prompted by VAR, reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor and subsequently dismissed Rashford for a foul on Elia Jelert. The defeat has left Erik ten Hag’s team on the brink of elimination from the Champions League group stages. Reflecting on the game, Ten Hag expressed his…
Nigeria’s canoeing pair, Bello Ayomide and Otuedo Beauty, secured an automatic qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the C2 W 500 category. Competing in lane three during the all-African qualifiers, they finished first, outpacing their counterparts from Mozambique, Egypt, and Senegal. The week-long African Olympic qualifying tournament will conclude on Saturday, with 16 countries vying for six available spots. President of the Nigerian Canoeing, Rowing, and Sailing Federation, Admiral Festus Pobeni, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s podium potential in Paris and emphasized the need for focused athlete training. Pobeni highlighted the importance of effective management in optimizing resources…