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EPL: Lampard hits at Mourino for De Bruyne, Salah leave Chelsea
December 24, 2019
Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, has aimed a sly dig at former boss, Jose Mourinho, and how he handled Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku.
De Bruyne, Salah and Lukaku all used to ply their trade at Stamford Bridge.
But they have become superstars away from West London.
Lampard is eager to ensure that there is no repeat of that situation during his tenure and vowed to show patience with young players.
“If we’re not patient and we don’t stick with the players then you might be in a situation where we have been before, where top world-class players have been at Chelsea when they were 20 or 21, but the managers maybe didn’t stick with them so much then.
“I’m in a position where I’m going to stick with them,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.
Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James are among the youngsters to have seen regular game time this season, with that quartet flourishing on a Premier League stage, after spending time on loan in the second tier last season.
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EPL: Samir Nasri picks better player between Mahrez, Salah
December 24, 2019
Former Arsenal midfielder, Samir Nasri has identified Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez as a better player ahead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
According to Nasri, he would rather work with Mahrez than play alongside Salah.
He added that the Algerian international is more of a team player than the Egyptian star.
“Between Mahrez and Salah, I would prefer to work alongside Mahrez,” Nasri, who currently plays for Anderlecht told Le Buteur.
“Why? Because he is Algerian and I also like his style of play.
“Mahrez is a collective player, while Salah is much more an individual player. He only aspires to score goals. I wouldn’t say Salah is selfish, but he runs behind goals and statistics.
“Mahrez, meanwhile, you can play a one-two with him. He is a player with whom you can easily develop.”
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EPL: Arteta finally names Arsenal coaching staff ahead of Bournemouth clash
December 25, 2019
New Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has named his coaching team, with Freddie Ljungberg confirmed as one of his three assistants.
Arteta left his role as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City last week, to replace Unai Emery at the Emirates.
Ljungberg, who took interim charge of the team for six matches, remains as an assistant coach alongside Albert Stuivenberg and Steve Round.
Stuivenberg is currently Ryan Giggs’ assistant manager with Wales and will combine duties with Arsenal until after Euro 2020.
He previously worked with Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.
Arteta has also brought in Round, who was part of David Moyes’ backroom staff at Everton and Manchester United.
Inaki Cana Pavon comes in as goalkeeping coach from Brentford to work with Sal Bibbo.
“I am delighted to have this talented group of coaches alongside me. They bring a great mix of experience and fresh thinking.
“Along with the talented people we have in the club already they will be key people to get us back to winning ways,” Arteta told the club’s official website.
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EPL: Ancelotti reveals when Iwobi will play for Everton again
December 25, 2019
Everton manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has ruled Alex Iwobi out until 2020.
Iwobi picked up a hamstring injury early in the first half of the Toffees’ 0-0 draw with Arsenal last Saturday.
Ancelotti watched from the stands as the Super Eagles star limped off the pitch after 15 minutes.
“Alex Iwobi is not going to play in the next games.
“He is going to rest for two or three weeks, then start [training] with the team,” Ancelotti told Everton TV.
The Italian will take charge of his first game against Newcastle on December 28.
Everton wrap up their festive Premier League programme, with a game at Manchester City on New Year Day.
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EPL: What Mourinho said after Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Brighton
December 26, 2019
Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho has expressed happiness with the way his team played in the second half against Brighton during their Premier League 2-1 victory on Thursday.
The Portuguese also singled out midfielder, Dele Alli for special praise after his impressive display against Brighton.
A second-half goals from Dele Alli and Harry Kane gave Mourinho’s men all three points against Brighton at home.
“I am very happy with the second half. We changed our width – it’s not about the players but little things that can make a difference,” Mourinho told Amazon Prime after the game.
“The first half was not a disaster. It was not a bad performance – it was a difficult game against a good team and after a defeat, it’s never easy.
“Then when you don’t start well it always affects self-esteem.”
Mourinho added: “Another goal and another incredible effort and performance from Alli from first minute to last.
“His work rate was absolutely incredible so for me these little big details are more important than what people initially see. Amazing goal, I go to two other small details.
“His attitude, his fighting spirit for the team was awesome.”
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EPL: Arteta to make Juventus midfielder first Arsenal signing
December 26, 2019
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has identified Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, as one of his primary targets in the upcoming January transfer window, the UK Times reports.
Arteta will take charge of his first game on Boxing Day, when the Gunners travel to Bournemouth.
Arsenal are looking to arrest a run of form that has produced just one win in 15 games.
Arteta is believed to have given a full appraisal of the squad he has inherited when he interviewed for the job and already pointed out the areas that need strengthening.
The transfer window opens in five days’ time and he is looking to bolster his midfield with Rabiot’s arrival.
Rabiot, who only joined the club in the summer, has started just five matches in Serie A and Arsenal are hoping to persuade Juventus to let him leave on loan.
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EPL: Azpilicueta reveals those responsible for Chelsea’s home losses to Southampton, others
December 27, 2019
Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, has admitted that he and his teammates are guilty of lacking the correct focus for home matches.
The skipper noted that teams are coming to Stamford Bridge holding no fear because of their recent home results against teams struggling towards the bottom of the table.
The Blues were handed a shock 2-0 defeat by Southampton yesterday as Frank Lampard’s side struggled to break down the opposition who defended their box admirably and took their chances when they came.
“We haven’t managed to score or win in the last couple of home games, and it’s a big issue if we want to keep the consistency and stay where we want to be,” Azpilicueta told Chelsea’s website.
“The fans want us to perform and get results and we are not giving them that. It’s true at home we face teams who sometimes sit back, more than when they play at home and we can find more space. But it’s up to us to find a way.
“In the first half we shot once on target. In the second half we got the ball in the box, we went past a defender, but we didn’t find the man in the box, or we didn’t create the chance to get a goal. We are putting ourselves in difficulty.
“It’s up to us to find always the consistency, the level to play home or away, against any team. We know every game in the Premier League is very tough. When teams see you are losing points at home they come with more confidence. We have to recover this respect at home.”
It will a back-to-back away games for Azpilicueta and Chelsea. First up is a trip to the Emirates on Sunday to face Arsenal, when the Blues will be seeking to channel the kind of performance that proved so effective in their last fixture on the road, at Tottenham.
“When you lose a game you want to bounce back as quickly as possible. We have to find a way to do so in two days’ time. We have to react, but I have to be clear, we can’t be the whole season up down, up down,” Azpilicueta added.
“It’s key in the second half of the season we recover our consistency, the solidity at home, and to keep growing as a team.”
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EPL: Thierry Henry blasts Arsenal players for failing to beat Bournemouth in Arteta’s first game
December 27, 2019
Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, has criticised the club’s players for failing to beat Bournemouth in Mikel Arteta’s first match as Gunners manager on Thursday in the Premier League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised in the second-half for Arsenal after Dan Gosling had opened scoring for Bournemouth as the encounter ended 1-1.
However, Henry believes that he saw little sign of progress from Arsenal players, adding that they did not play well against Bournemouth.
“In all fairness it’s very difficult to judge someone after one game and only a few days of training,” Henry told Amazon.
“What I’ve seen today is what I’ve seen for a long time with Arsenal. I don’t think they played well but Aubameyang scored. I’ve seen that so many times.
“We go back to the [Bournemouth] goal. I don’t want to name names but we’re talking about the same guys again and again.
“Lacazette should have won it with a good chance but it’s difficult to judge that team right now. They are trying to learn under a new manager so we will see.
“But what I’ve seen today is what I’ve seen for a long time… not that great and Aubameyang scored.”
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EPL: Klopp names two areas Liverpool must improve after thrashing Leicester City
December 27, 2019
Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, has identified two areas his team must improve after thrashing Leicester City 4-0 in the Premier League on Thursday.
Klopp, who refused to talk about the Premier League title, said Liverpool must improve on their defending and how they manage games.
Goals from Roberto Firmino (2), James Milner (1) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (1) gave Klopp’s men all three points against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
The win over the Foxes means Liverpool are now 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Speaking at his post-match press conference after the game, Klopp said: “We had to work so hard for this.
“I couldn’t be less interested in that [talk that the title race is over] to be honest. It was a good game. We finished so strong and scored some great goals.
“We are not listening to any of that. We are focused on our next game only. We can still improve… how we manage games, how we defended in the first half. But we can enjoy this amazing win. And tomorrow we start again.”
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EPL: What Brendan Rodgers said after Leicester City’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool
December 27, 2019
Leicester manager, Brendan Rodgers, has said that Liverpool will now be “very, very hard to stop” in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
Rodgers watched the Liverpool hand his Leicester City side a 4-0 thrashing to open up a 13-point lead on the Boxing Day.
Leicester, who are still in second place, were made to look inferior at the King Power Stadium.
Firmino opened scoring for the Reds in the 31st minute followed by James Milner’s penalty following Caglar Soyuncu’s handball.
It was Liverpool’s 17th league win from 18 matches this season wrapped up with Firmino’s second and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strike.
Former Liverpool boss Rodgers, whose side were also beaten 3-1 at third-placed Manchester City on Saturday, said, “The last two games have been great benchmarks for us.
“Because of how well we’ve done, we’ve been catapulted into this title race, but then you’ve seen in the last couple of games, the quality of the opposition we’ve played, and Liverpool were absolutely terrific.
“They are going to be very, very hard to stop. There’s no doubt. They’re a fantastic team, with confidence high. They’ve become winners now, and haven’t lost many games now over an 18-month period.
“They’ve enough players, enough experience and enough quality to stay focused and get the job done.”
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Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury rematch announced for February 22 in Las Vegas
The rematch for Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury boxing clash has been confirmed to take place in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 22, 2020
This comes a year after the first bout between the WBC champion Wilder and the British heavyweight ended in a draw at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Wilder confirmed the rematch in a tweet saying: "After February 22nd there will be no more unanswered questions. I will finish what I started, and this time Tyson Fury will not be getting up off that canvas so quickly.
"I've proven myself time and time again and I will do it again in February."
The 31-year-old added in a statement: 'There's no more ducking and diving. The date has been set, and the 'Bomb Squad' is about to be securely detonated and the real champion crowned as the world watches on for the most anticipated fight in years.
[i]'This is unfinished business for me, but come February 22, this dosser will finally get what's coming to him, and I can't wait!' [/i]
'I promise my fans that there won't be any controversy with this one. I'm going to finish it,' Wilder said. 'There will be no more unanswered questions. I will finish what I started and, this time, Tyson Fury will not be getting up off that canvas so quickly. I've proven myself time and time again and I will do it again.'
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EPL: What Guardiola said after Man City’s 3-2 defeat at Wolves
December 28, 2019
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said his team must forget about catching up with leaders Liverpool and focus on overtaking second-placed Leicester City.
Guardiola stated this while addressing the media, following a 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
The champions blew a two-goal lead, after keeper Ederson was sent off in the 12th minute.
The result means City stay third behind second-placed Leicester and unbeaten league leaders Liverpool, who are 14 points ahead of them.
“It’s unrealistic when it’s 14 points to think about Liverpool.
“We think about Leicester, we have the chance to recover second position.
“Still we are third, I know the quality of the team but that’s the situation.
“In the last two previous seasons we are used to winning a lot of games and being at the top fighting.
“Now we are far away so we have to adjust mentally to the situation and prepare for the next games.
“We have to move on, we played the first season and it was quite similar to this but in the second and the third we were there all the time and winning all the time.
“Now this season in some situations and after some mistakes we are far away, we have to catch the second one and see where we are at the end,” Guardiola said.
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Transfer: Barcelona take decision on signing Osimhen in January
December 28, 2019
Barcelona have ruled out signing any new players in the January, with Victor Osimhen now set to stay at Lille, Marca reports.
Osimhen was reportedly identified as one of the candidates to replace Luis Suarez at the Camp Nou.
However, Barca will not add to their squad in the winter window, after spending heavily last summer.
The Spanish champions paid close to 200 million euros for Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong from Atletico Madrid and Ajax respectively.
Their transfer priorities for the next summer transfer window are a central defender, right-back, central midfielder and striker..
Apart from Barcelona, Osimhen has been linked with possible moves to Premier League trio Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
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EPL: Guardiola reveals why he substituted De Bruyne in Man City’s 3-2 defeat to Wolves
December 28, 2019
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has claimed that he was resting Kevin De Bruyne, when he took him off during their 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
City blew a 2-0 lead, as Raheem Sterling’s double was cancelled out by strikes from Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez and Matt Doherty.
The Blues played the game with 10 men, after goalkeeper Ederson was sent off in the 12th minute.
With his side looking in control, Guardiola turned his attention to Sunday’s game with Sheffield United and replaced De Bruyne with Ilkay Gundogan.
De Bruyne was visibly unhappy with the decision and the decision backfired as Wolves fought back to win.
Asked why he took De Bruyne off, Guardiola said Amazon Prime: “We have less than 48 hours for our next game.
“It is always what it is. We could not defend it at the end, they fought incredible, ran until the last minute. The goals could have been avoided.”
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Livescore: Latest Premier League results for Week 20 (Saturday), 2019/2020 EPL scores
December 28, 2019
The festive fixtures in the Premier League continue this weekend.
The early kick-off will see Bournemouth travel to Brighton.
Norwich City host Tottenham Hotspur, while Leicester City are away to West Ham.
Manchester United clash with Burnley at Turf Moor in the last fixture of Saturday.
Saturday, December 28
13:30 Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
16:00 Newcastle United vs Everton
16:00 Southampton vs Crystal Palace
16:00 Watford vs Aston Villa
18:30 Norwich City vs Tottenham Hotspur
18:30 West Ham United vs Leicester City
20:45 Burnley vs Manchester United
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