..::Football IV::..

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Burnley 1 Liverpool 3: Firmino and Shaqiri complete comeback

Roberto Firmino scored with his first touch and Xherdan Shaqiri netted in stoppage time to ensure Liverpool kept up the pace with Premier League leaders Manchester City by winning 3-1 at Burnley.

The hosts had already seen an Ashley Barnes volley ruled out for offside when Jack Cork gave the Clarets the lead, this time the flag staying down.Barnes challenged Alisson in the box and the goalkeeper spilled the ball for Cork to tap in, but James Milner found the bottom corner with a fine strike from 25 yards to quickly equalise.

Jurgen Klopp then sent for substitutes Mohamed Salah and Firmino and it changed the game, with the latter scoring the winner less than three minutes after his introduction, staying onside to finish a set-piece struggling Burnley defended badly. Shaqiri then put the seal on the result for Liverpool late on.
Joe Gomez was forced off injured after a heavy challenge from Ben Mee as Burnley made a physical start.

Liverpool had to wait until the 29th minute for their first effort on goal, a Virgil van Dijk header from Milner's corner easily saved by Joe Hart.Burnley had the ball in the net first, Barnes brilliantly volleying in Robbie Brady's free-kick, but a marginal offside call saw the goal disallowed.

Hart plunged to his right to turn away Daniel Sturridge's 20-yard drive after the restart, the Burnley goalkeeper then making a sensational save to tip Naby Keita's piledriver on to the post.

Burnley took the lead in the 54th minute as James Tarkowski's header was saved by Alisson, Barnes beating the goalkeeper to the loose ball with Cork pouncing on the rebound to slot home.The Clarets' advantage lead was short-lived, Divock Origi teeing up Milner for an excellent drive into the bottom-right corner, Klopp swiftly bringing on Salah and Firmino to hunt a winner.

And Firmino ensured Liverpool set a club record for the most points after 15 games of a league season, tucking in from close range after Van Dijk turned a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick back into the six-yard box.

Battling Burnley tried to snatch a point, but Alisson made a fine save to deny captain Mee, Shaqiri then finishing off a rapid counter-attack led by Salah to secure the points.

 

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Wolves 2 Chelsea 1: Jimenez and Jota complete stunning fightback

Wolves produced a stunning second-half turnaround as two quickfire goals earned a shock 2-1 victory over Chelsea to end a six-match winless run in the Premier League.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, handed his first league start of the campaign, had put the Blues ahead in the 18th minute with a heavily deflected effort - his second goal in four days after netting in Sunday's 2-0 win over Fulham.And it looked as though his contribution could prove decisive until the hosts struck twice in four minutes at a raucous Molineux.

Raul Jimenez brought the scores level, his rasping finish from a narrow angle proving too hot for Kepa Arrizabalaga and the comeback was complete when Matt Doherty's low cross to the far post found Diogo Jota unmarked to tap home.
The fightback consigned Chelsea to successive Premier League away defeats and left Maurizio Sarri with much to ponder ahead of welcoming leaders Manchester City to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.Eden Hazard, without a goal in two months, saw a pair of half-chances come and go in the opening seven minutes but the Blues did not have to wait long for a breakthrough.

It arrived with a healthy slice of fortune, however, as Loftus-Cheek's effort looked to be heading straight for Rui Patricio before Conor Coady's unwitting intervention with his head wrong-footed his goalkeeper.Patricio superbly tipped Willian's free-kick over as Chelsea sought a swift second, although Cesc Fabregas had to throw himself into a desperate block to thwart Morgan Gibbs-White at the other end.

Ryan Bennett and Willy Boly produced similarly heroic last-ditch challenges to deny Willian and Alvaro Morata either side of the break, and those interventions took on added importance as Wolves struck twice in quick succession around the hour through Jimenez and Jota.

Chelsea fought to find a way back, Hazard and Fabregas firing over in the closing stages, but Nuno Espirito Santo's men held on to claim a famous win and snap a worrying sequence that delivered just one point from six matches.

 

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Barcelona 4 Cultural Leonesa 1 (5-1 agg): Copa del Rey holders cruise into last 16

Denis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona eased into the Copa del Rey last 16 by seeing off minnows Cultural Leonesa 4-1 at Camp Nou.

Ernesto Valverde's side relied on a last-gasp goal from Clement Lenglet to win the first leg, but endured no such difficulties in overcoming their Segunda Division B opponents en route to a 5-1 aggregate triumph this time around.Munir El Haddadi's sublime 18th-minute effort got Barca up and running, with Suarez swiftly making it two before Malcom put the holders out of sight before half-time thanks to a third assist from Ivan Rakitic.

Jasper Cillessen's error enabled Josep Sene to haul one back for Cultural, but there was no danger of a comeback, with Suarez's second capping a comfortable passage through to the last 16.

Cultural started well, Adrian Mance forcing Cillessen into an early save, but it did not take long for Barca to exert their dominance – Munir spinning clear of his marker in the area to arrow in a high finish.

Munir hit the base of the upright when one-on-one with Jorge Palatsi, though Cultural's goalkeeper was soon beaten again when, having latched onto Rakitic's sublime pass, Suarez placed a neat effort into the bottom-right corner.Rakitic had his third assist two minutes before the interval with a delicate cross into the unmarked Malcom, who clinically headed home.

Cultural's battling display was rewarded nine minutes into the second half, Cillessen's fumble falling kindly for Jose Manuel Alonso, whose cut-back was tucked home by Sene.

But Barca had the final say when Suarez latched onto Riqui Puig's disguised pass to add further gloss to a convincing win.

 

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Strasbourg 1 Paris Saint-Germain 1: Champions falter again

Leaders Paris Saint-Germain dropped points again in Ligue 1 as penalties at either end resulted in a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg.Thomas Tuchel's men had conceded late to draw against Bordeaux at the weekend, but it was the champions who had to come from behind to earn a share of the spoils at the Stade de la Meinau on Wednesday.

PSG were blunt in the first half and trailed to Kenny Lala's spot-kick after Thilo Kehrer was adjudged to have handled, but the Strasbourg hero turned villain with a wild swipe at inspirational substitute Kylian Mbappe that saw Edinson Cavani level with a penalty of his own.


There was late drama when Adrien Thomasson thought he had won it with a header for the hosts in stoppage time, only to be flagged offside.Back-to-back draws represent the first minor wobble of Tuchel's Ligue 1 career and, given how PSG missed the injured Neymar and rested Mbappe before the break, the coach will hope to have both fit and firing swiftly.

PSG, some 14 points clear at the top of the table, made a slow start, threatening only occasionally from crosses into a physical forward pairing, before the champions fell behind in controversial fashion five minutes before half-time.

Referee Antony Gautier was instructed by the VAR to consult the replay after Kehrer blocked a cross, with the official deciding following a lengthy delay that the ball struck the defender's arm - and not his chest - in the area. Lala stroked home the consequent penalty.

Mbappe was introduced at the break and his wonderful cross picked out Kehrer unmarked in front of goal, only for Matz Sels to make a superb instinctive stop.Cavani was denied by an offside flag and then curled a free-kick just over, but he was on the scoresheet when Lala foolishly clattered into Mbappe.

However, PSG could not force a winner, with Sels saving again from Kehrer and then from Eric Choupo-Moting, and Strasbourg would have stolen the points but for a late Alphonse Areola stop to keep out Thomasson.And Thomasson came closer still in stoppage time, with an offside flag ruling out his close-range header.

 

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Fulham 1 Leicester City 1: Maddison denies Ranieri on Foxes reunion


James Maddison denied Claudio Ranieri a victorious reunion with Leicester City as his second-half equaliser forced Fulham to settle for a 1-1 home draw on Wednesday.

Beaten by former employers Chelsea on the weekend, veteran manager Ranieri looked set to enjoy more fortune against the club he famously guided to the 2015-16 title following Aboubakar Kamara's maiden Premier League goal.That was until playmaker Maddison picked out the bottom corner 16 minutes from the end to extend the Foxes' unbeaten run to six Premier League matches.

The 22-year-old's second goal in as many outings scuppered the bottom-placed Cottagers' hopes of a first clean sheet of the campaign and left them ruing a wasted opportunity.

Jamie Vardy missed out with a groin problem and Leicester felt his absence in the third minute, Kelechi Iheanacho failing to beat Sergio Rico in a one-on-one following Maddison's pass.Kasper Schmeichel soon rivalled his opposite number's efforts by brilliantly turning Calum Chambers' volley past the post.

But the Foxes goalkeeper was exposed when Caglar Soyuncu's naive slide allowed Kamara, who had chased down Aleksandar Mitrovic's flick-on, to turn inside from the byline and finish coolly in the 42nd minute.

Ranieri introduced Tom Cairney at the interval and the classy midfielder went close to doubling the advantage in the 70th minute, curling agonisingly wide from the edge of the area.

Instead, it was left to key man Maddison to demonstrate the poise Leicester had long lacked, stroking beyond Rico from Shinji Okazaki's intelligent pass to seal a share of the points.

Ranieri, meanwhile, will have been frustrated that the final chance to snatch back the lead fell to Denis Odoi, the defender spooning well over from close range in added time.

 

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Atletico Madrid 4 Sant Andreu 0 (5-0 agg): Simeone's 400th game a triumph



Diego Simeone's 400th match in charge of Atletico Madrid ended with an ultimately comfortable 4-0 victory over Sant Andreu that sent them into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Atletico's most decorated coach watched the from the stands at the Wanda Metropolitano due to a three-game Copa del Rey ban carried over from last season and his team had to weather a woeful first half before sealing the second-leg win and a 5-0 aggregate triumph.

Simeone made seven changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Girona at the weekend and they were fortunate not to go behind once again when Elhadji Bandeh hit the post for the fourth-tier visitors in the 33rd minute.


The introduction of Thomas Lemar for the second half proved key and his opener kick-started an eight-minute spell that included goals for Nikola Kalinic and Angel Correa, with Vitolo getting in on the act late on.Sant Andreu had a chance to take a surprise lead after Santiago Arias sold Antonio Adan short in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper recovered to deflect Josue Rodriguez's attempt over.

Bandeh struck the upright with a looping header and only a brilliant stop from Adan three minutes before half-time kept another effort from the striker out.Lemar took less than three minutes to ease Atletico's concerns after replacing Toni Moya at the break by firing a powerful 20-yard drive in off the post.

The hosts doubled their lead five minutes later when Kalinic nodded Arias' right-wing cross beyond Jose Segovia.

Correa made it three in the 55th minute with a brilliant turn on the right side of the box and an exquisite finish inside the far post with the outside of his boot.Sant Andreu were floored and the final blow came nine minutes from time, when Vitolo tapped home a cross from Saul Niguez.

 

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'There are things I cannot get from them' - Mourinho questions players' ability after Arsenal draw


Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has questioned his players' ability after his side drew Arsenal 2-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.United came from a goal down to level the game twice, but both goals Mourinho's side conceded were a result of individual errors.

David de Gea produced an uncharacteristic howler for Arsenal's first goal, while a Marcos Rojo giveaway led to Alexandre Lacazette grabbing the second for the Gunners.

Though he lamented his team's mistakes, Mourinho did praise their effort at Old Trafford.

"We shoot ourselves so many times during the season. That is really, really difficult, but big soul by the players," Mourinho told BT Sport."Fantastic attitude from the first minute. Many players in difficulties, some good performances but players in difficulty.

"We should win the game. We made two big mistakes for their goals, we made other mistakes that were the mistakes to allow them to have counter-attack situations."Mourinho was forced to name a makeshift squad against the Gunners, with several players who haven't seen many minutes this season getting a start on Wednesday.

"Diogo Dalot the first [Premier League] start, Marcos Rojo the first minutes [of the season], Matteo Darmian the third [Premier League] start, Eric Bailly doesn't play for a couple months," Mourinho said.

Mourinho was unable to finish speaking about the match, however, without calling out his players in an apparent shot at their lack of talent relative to other top teams in the league."It's a positive sign but there are things that I cannot get from them and I cannot say much more than this," Mourinho said.

When pressed on the comment, the Portuguese refused to elaborate."I prefer just to say that I'm happy with the soul, the commitment the bravery – I'm really happy with that."

 

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AC Milan confirm ex-Arsenal chief Gazidis as CEO


Former Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has been officially appointed as AC Milan's new CEO, the Italian club have confirmed.

The 54-year-old left Arsenal at the end of October after a decade in north London, having led an overhaul of the club's structure.He was officially appointed to the Milan board on Wednesday, though his link-up with the Italian giants has been known ever since his departure from the Gunners.

"It's a great honour to have been chosen to lead AC Milan into a new era as its chief executive," Gazidis said in a video published by the Rossoneri.
"I'd like to assure the club's millions of fans all over the world that I will work with my heart and soul to do the best job that I can."To achieve what we all want for this great football club, the hard work must start now, and it will require team work, both on and off the pitch.

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunities ahead. Although the journey will be challenging, I'm confident that, together, we can bring AC Milan back to where it belongs."

Although Wenger is looking for a return to management, he denied suggestions he is on his way to San Siro, saying: "The only thing I can say is that it's fake news".Milan are fourth in Serie A after 14 games, sitting 15 points behind leaders Juventus.

 

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Real Madrid 6 Melilla 1 (10-1 agg): Asensio and Isco at the double

Isco offered a timely reminder of his quality to head coach Santiago Solari with a brace in Real Madrid's processional 6-1 win over Melilla in the Copa del Rey.

It meant a 10-1 aggregate triumph over their third-tier opponents to progress to the last 16, with Marco Asensio's quickfire double after the half-hour getting Madrid up and running.Asensio then crafted a maiden senior strike for rookie centre-back Javi Sanchez, with Isco – making his first start under Solari – netting brilliantly in the 47th minute.

Vinicius Junior got in on the act and Isco's second came after Yacine Qasmi converted a consolation penalty for the visitors.
Mohamed Mohamed Mahanan needed a brilliant last-ditch challenge to deny Mariano as Madrid predictably started quickly and Vinicius blazed over following clever work from Isco.It left Asensio to show his team-mates how it should be done as he eased through an already-tiring defence in the 33rd minute and caressed a finish past Pedro Luis.

Right-back Pepe Lopez was beaten far too easily by Vinicius, as he set up a second for Asensio, who then turned provider with a chipped pass for Javi Sanchez to volley in off the underside of the crossbar.Isco spectacularly got in on the act early in the second half, clipping a brilliant 25-yarder into the top corner – earning Solari's applause as the Bernabeu faithful sung his name.

There was less to shout about for Vinicius, who rounded Pedro Luis but could only bundle a finish into the side netting before the goalkeeper repelled a later strike with his feet.Persistence paid off for the 18-year-old, who unfurled a celebratory jig in the 75th minute after beating Pedro Luis at the second attempt.

Javi Sanchez blotted his afternoon with the foul that allowed Qasmi to send Keylor Navas the wrong way before Isco was given space to lash into the bottom corner from 10 yards in the 83rd minute.

 

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Cause of Leicester City helicopter crash revealed by investigators


The Air Accidents Investigation Branch have revealed the cause of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of five people, including Leicester City chairman and owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

The helicopter picked Srivaddhanaprabha up in the centre of the pitch at Leicester's King Power Stadium after their game against West Ham, as it often did, and took off before losing control shortly after and crashing down in a car park just outside the stadium before becoming engulfed in flames.

The other four victims were Srivaddhanaprabha's staff Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, as well as pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

The report explains that a pin had come loose due to a "build-up of black grease", causing the pilot's pedals to become unable to control the tail rotor, leading to a loss of control of the aircraft and subsequent crash."The tail rotor actuator control shaft became disconnected from the actuator lever mechanism," the report stated.

"The disconnection stopped the feedback mechanism for the tail rotor actuator from operating and the tail rotor actuator from responding to yaw control inputs.
"This resulted in an uncontrollable right yaw.

"Sufficient force and torque had been applied to the castellated nut on the actuator end of the control shaft to friction weld it to the pin carrier and to shear the installed split pin."Whilst the shaft was rotating and a yaw control input was applied, the shaft 'unscrewed' from the nut, disconnecting the shaft from the actuator level mechanism, and causing the nut to become welded to the pin carrier."

The incident was met with an outpouring of grief from around the world and there were several moving tributes to the memory of a chairman who took Leicester to the unlikeliest of Premier League titles at odds of 5000/1 in 2016.

 

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‘Maybe I’ll stay another year’ - De Jong uncertain on future


Ajax youngster Frenkie de Jong admits he is uncertain of his club future beyond this season, though he admitted he has an admiration for Pep Guardiola’s playing style.The 21-year-old midfielder has become one of Europe’s most sought after products after starring for the Eredivisie side over the past year.

De Jong has been linked to the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City over the past few months, with Kylian Mbappe openly hoping the midfielder will make the move to the Ligue 1 champions.

However, while the interest has continued to grow, De Jong is uncertain where he will be playing next season, as he has now claimed his primary focus is just on finishing the campaign well. After that, De Jong says he could depart the club or remain for another season.

“It’s difficult to say what will happen,” De Jong told the Guardian. “I want to finish this season well with Ajax. Then we will see. Maybe I’ll stay for another year, maybe I’ll leave. But I am not sure.”

The youngster is well aware of all the stories linking him to big moves abroad. In October, he conceded constant links to Barcelona had grown “annoying.”
Now he’s simply tuning out the noise.

“I don’t pay attention to it,” De Jong said. “I hear the stories but I just want to finish this season well.”While he may not pay attention to the speculation, De Jong does have an admiration toward a particular style of play.

Given De Jong’s budding reputation as a skilled passer, it is no surprise he enjoys how Pep Guardiola’s sides play, whether they are his old Barcelona champions or his current Manchester City squad.“I love this style,” he added. “Get the ball back quickly, then play possession with so many combinations.

“When you watch that, you get the feeling you want to go out on the pitch and play football with your friends and just enjoy yourself. City and Barcelona are great examples.”

 

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Does Bayern role beckon for Wenger? Petit tipping imminent return for former Arsenal boss


Arsene Wenger “is going to manage soon”, claims Emmanuel Petit, with the former Arsenal boss being tipped to return to the dugout amid ongoing talk of a possible role at Bayern Munich.There is no vacancy with the Bundesliga giants at present, but Niko Kovac has found himself falling under mounting pressure just a few months into his tenure.

It has been suggested that Bayern will turn to Wenger’s considerable experience if a change is made, with the Frenchman still out of work after bringing a 22-year Arsenal reign to a close.

Petit believes an appointment for a man he worked under in north London is imminent, with it considered unlikely that an iconic coach will shun another managerial role and head into a directorial post instead.

Asked if Wenger is going to retire, former Gunners midfielder Petit told The Sun: “No. He is going to manage soon. Yes, soon.“I had a conversation three weeks ago when I was in Dubai. He was with a friend of mine.“There are big rumours in France about him taking over as Bayern Munich manager.

“Some of them said he is going to go to Madrid, I don't believe in it. Some of them said there is big things at Paris Saint-Germain as a sporting director.“You've got big names there. Can you imagine if you put Arsene Wenger there? I don't believe in it.

“I still believe Arsene is passionate about the field, working with the players. This is something really important for him.“It's vital, so I don't see him working in the offices. He could, he has the knowledge and the intelligence to do that. He still has experience to give on the pitch.”

Petit believes an appointment for a man he worked under in north London is imminent, with it considered unlikely that an iconic coach will shun another managerial role and head into a directorial post instead.

Asked if Wenger is going to retire, former Gunners midfielder Petit told The Sun: “No. He is going to manage soon. Yes, soon.“I had a conversation three weeks ago when I was in Dubai. He was with a friend of mine.

“There are big rumours in France about him taking over as Bayern Munich manager.“Some of them said he is going to go to Madrid, I don't believe in it. Some of them said there is big things at Paris Saint-Germain as a sporting director.

“You've got big names there. Can you imagine if you put Arsene Wenger there? I don't believe in it.“I still believe Arsene is passionate about the field, working with the players. This is something really important for him.“It's vital, so I don't see him working in the offices. He could, he has the knowledge and the intelligence to do that. He still has experience to give on the pitch.”

“I'm sure he knows exactly what was wrong. Even when he is almost 70 years old that will serve him as an experience.“They needed a change. Even Arsene knows it. He knows that after 20 years at the same club and frustrating years.“It's like living with your wife after a while things are not the same way. It was like a divorce, but it was meant to be.”

 

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Juventus 1 Inter 0: Mandzukic header settles tight Derby d'Italia

Mario Mandzukic's second-half header earned Juventus a 1-0 win over Inter in Friday's Derby d'Italia, strengthening the Serie A champions' grip on top spot in the table.

The Nerazzurri had the chance to exert pressure on the runaway leaders at Allianz Stadium but could not break down Juve as they moved 11 points clear of second-placed Napoli, who host Frosinone on Saturday.

Roberto Gagliardini had the best chance of breaking the deadlock for the visitors in a tactical battle of a first half but the Italy midfielder struck the post when he found a rare pocket of space in the Juventus box.


And when Joao Cancelo picked out Mandzukic at the back post with a floated left-wing cross, the striker nodded home to ensure Juve equalled PSG's record of 43 points as the best ever start in any of Europe's top five leagues after 15 games of a season.Juve started on the front foot with Paulo Dybala heading Cristiano Ronaldo's cross wide but Sime Vrsaljko saw a long-range drive saved at the other end, where Inter hit the post in the 29th minute.

Matteo Politano cut inside off the right wing to feed Mauro Icardi, with the striker laying off a pass to Gagliardini, whose low shot beat Wojciech Szczesny but not the woodwork.

Marcelo Brozovic's excellent block denied Rodrigo Bentancur as Juve cranked up the pressure, Giorgio Chiellini forcing a great save from Samir Handanovic at the resulting corner.Both sides were struggling to produce their best football, the surprisingly ineffective Ronaldo thumping over a 20-yard strike after Blaise Matuidi seized on a loose Inter pass.

But Mandzukic came up with the winner in the 66th minute, getting the better of former Juve man Kwadwo Asamoah when he arrived at the back post to head in Cancelo's perfect delivery.

Inter substitute Lautaro Martinez fired two efforts wide as Inter threatened to level, but Juve held on to record a fifth straight clean sheet in all competitions, their march to another title taking another big step.

 

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Pogba is 'bang average' & Lukaku 'brings nothing to the table' - Ince


Paul Pogba has been branded “bang average” by Paul Ince, with Romelu Lukaku told he “brings nothing to the table” as Manchester United sit in a “disgraceful” eighth place in the table.The 2018-19 campaign has been a testing one for all concerned at Old Trafford, with there no indication that things are about to get any easier.

A top-four finish and Champions League football is looking increasingly unlikely, with an eight-point gap separating the Red Devils from that pack, while supposedly key men are yet to deliver.

World Cup winner Pogba and Belgian striker Lukaku fit into that category, with Jose Mourinho having taken the decision to drop both for a 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

Former United star Ince told Paddy Power of that call: "It feels like every time I speak about Man United, it's about Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku. I'm getting bored of them both.

"He did the right thing in dropping Pogba and Lukaku, they don't seem remotely interested and they're just not good enough."Against Arsenal, the game was quite exciting and fun - which is rare for United at the minute - until those two came on the pitch."

Ince added on Lukaku, who has found the target just once in his last 14 appearances: "Lukaku isn't scoring goals at the moment. And when he isn't scoring goals, what is he good for? Nothing. He brings nothing to the table.

"If your main role is a striker, and you're not scoring goals for fun, then what's the point of you being on the pitch? You should be dropped."I know his confidence is low but Mourinho needs to think about the team."They're in eighth place, which is disgraceful. So, it's all about getting points on the table, and if that means dropping Lukaku then that's what he should do, simple."

Pogba is another who continues to see his value questioned, with Ince suggesting that the midfielder should be moved on as fans grow tired of his inability to produce on the field and distracting antics off it.

The ex-England international added: "When it comes to Pogba. It's just another drama, another chapter in the life of him."He was atrocious against Southampton and didn't deserve to be picked for a game like Arsenal. It's all well and good him moaning off the pitch, but the fact is, he's doing nothing to deserve a place in the side.

"Pogba's supposed to be world class, but he looks bang average. If he thinks his place is to come on the pitch and do stupid little flicks and tricks which lead to them losing the ball – he's an idiot."It doesn't matter how big your name is. No one is too big of a name to be dropped at United, or at least they shouldn't be.

"It's rare that United players would boo a player, but they're getting sick of his behaviour."There aren't many United fans that would be sad to see him go."If he's that desperate to leave Old Trafford – he should just go. In fact, that would be the best outcome for everyone involved."

 

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Man Utd target Maguire ‘happy’ but no guarantee he stays with Leicester - Puel


Harry Maguire is “happy” and likely to remain with Leicester City for the remainder of the season, but manager Claude Puel admitted he cannot give a full guarantee the defender will stay.A strong World Cup with England saw Maguire’s value skyrocket this summer, with Manchester United hot on his heels.

Leicester refused to be cowed into a sale, however, and eventually tied Maguire down to a new five-year contract, keeping their man through the summer window.

Yet, with Man Utd still suffering through questions along their back line, the possibility remains the Red Devils could return again this January.Should that happen, Puel could not provide a total guarantee Maguire, who has been sidelined since November 3 with a knee injury, would remain through the winter window.

However, based on Maguire’s current mood, and his previous decision to stay with the club, Puel is confident he’ll keep the centre-back for the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign."We cannot ever guarantee, but he decided this summer to remain with us, to play a full season," Puel told reporters.

"He is happy with us, he saw the quality of the team, the ambition, his fantastic team-mates, and of course for Harry or other valuable players of the club, it's important to keep our best players until the end of the season and continue this work, to continue to improve, to maintain our motivation and ambition.”Adding to his confidence is the club’s history with such matters, pointing to their ability to fend of interest in Riyad Mahrez until the end of last season.

"In the past, Leicester took the right decisions,” Puel added. “We saw this with Riyad Mahrez last season also."It was important to maintain the squad until the end of the season, and to keep all our players to play and perform.

"I hope to have a good result and perhaps win something at the end of the season.
"We will not have a problem this winter because we have a good squad with good guys, with their heads on their shoulders."Leicester sit ninth in the Premier League table on 22 points, though they remain just a point back of Everton in sixth, and four ahead of West Ham in 13th.

A return for Jamie Vardy would be a boost for the Foxes, but Puel does not want to rush the striker back from a groin injury, which saw him miss the midweek draw with Fulham.

Vardy will therefore miss this weekend’s clash with Tottenham in the hope he is fit for the Foxes match a week later against Crystal Palace."Jamie won't be available. We will protect him, he has a little pain and I hope he can recover after 10 days.

"If we push him perhaps it will be a big injury and I want to protect him."I hope we can have Jamie for Crystal Palace, but I am not sure. We will see if he will improve his feeling and see when we can use him.

"It's just something about the pain and we needed to be careful. We have to respect the rest so he can come back into the squad."

 

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'Manchester City are not the best in Europe' - Guardiola plays down lofty billing


Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City need Champions League glory before they can consider themselves the best team in Europe.Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri bestowed such a label on City and his friend Guardiola ahead of the two sides meeting at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The reigning Premier League champions are top of the table once more and undefeated after 15 games of their title defence, having amassed 100 points last time around.

They also collected the Carabao Cup but lost 5-1 on aggregate to Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in April.

Guardiola's contrasting experiences in Europe's top competition while in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich means he knows his team's performances on that stage remain critical to how they are judged overall.

"Thank you but we are not the best," he told a pre-match news conference. "To be the best you have to win the titles and we didn't win the titles to be the best team in Europe."City still need a point from their final Group F game against Hoffenheim next week to be sure of top spot, but that comes after a mouth-watering clash against Chelsea.

Guardiola and Sarri's mutual respect was to the fore during City and Napoli's Champions League clashes last season and the Catalan is full of admiration for the manner in which his counterpart has implemented an attacking, high-pressing style with the Blues – an approach very much at odds to that of predecessor Antonio Conte.

"The job he has done so far, from my point of view, is excellent," he said, despite the scrutiny invited by Chelsea's recent defeats to Tottenham and Wolves."People do not know how difficult it is to create a special way to play. You need time, everybody needs time."Apart from the last two games – winning at Tottenham away is so difficult, Wolves too. That can happen in this league."Just in pre-season when we played against them in the Community Shield [City won 2-0 at Wembley in August], it was already his team, the way he wants to play.

"Maybe they are not playing 90 minutes but when they play good for 50, 60, 70, 75 minutes they are excellent."Having such a challenge ahead of him meant Guardiola predictably gave a question over the possibility of City completing an unbeaten Premier League season the short shrift.

"I don't care about that. Believe me, it is the least important thing. There are more important things that we have to think about," he added."Just to win the next game and play good - that is our target. It [being unbeaten] is not important."

City will again be without Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne as the duo close in on returns from respective adductor and knee injuries.

 

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'We believe as a squad' - Lingard remains upbeat on Man United's top-four hopes


Jesse Lingard believes there is still plenty of time for Manchester United to make up ground in their fight for Champions League qualification. United currently sit eighth, eight points back of the top four, following Wednesday's 2-2 draw at home to fifth-placed Arsenal.

Goals from Anthony Martial and Lingard helped rescue a point for Jose Mourinho’s side against the Gunners, but the Red Devils' winless streak in the league is now up to four games, the club’s last win coming against Bournemouth in early November.

Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks, having claimed the club will need something close to a miracle to finish in the top four .

Lingard remains positive however, and thinks the side have plenty of time to get back into the running. "It's a long way to go in the season, so for us it's about taking every game as it comes and trying to get the three points, that's the main thing," the England forward said.

"Especially this month there's a lot of games, so we need everyone in the squad to be fully fit. Obviously, there will be a lot of rotation, but everyone is there to play and show 100 per cent in each game." The 25-year-old also sees the performance against Arsenal as proof that the players in the team are ready to cope with the pressure and have the belief that they can push for a Champions League place.

"I think we believe as a squad," he said. "We're in it as a team. “We had to put on a performance [against Arsenal] for the fans and show the passion on the pitch for them. "There's always pressure on people's shoulders when it comes to Man United and it's how you deal with the pressure.”

And while the season has not gotten off to the best of starts for the club or for Lingard personally, the attacker says he’s recovered from his World Cup exertions and is now “raring to go”."We didn't get much rest obviously in the summer after the World Cup, so coming back there's always going to be little niggles here and there," he said.

"Obviously it got to a point where I couldn't carry on, so that break did me well and I am raring to go now. It was an enjoyable summer and a good season for me on a personal level last season. "I wanted to kickstart this season in the same form and obviously you have setbacks throughout the season, but it's how you bounce back.”

Mourinho’s side will get a chance to get back to winning ways against Fulham on Saturday, with the Cottagers entering the match rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'We believe as a squad' - Lingard remains upbeat on Man United's top-four hopes

Hopes thiyagena inna ekanam hodai.ath play karanna meh widiyatamanam top 4 finish eka hithannawath puluwan deyak newei​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho: No player has asked to leave Manchester United


Jose Mourinho insists that none of his players have asked to leave Manchester United during the January transfer window.

The Portuguese manager has struggled to maintain a regular starting lineup this season, having made 46 total changes in the first 15 Premier League matches of the campaign.

A total of seven players are entering the last few months of their contract as decisions will need to be made on Antonio Valencia, Andreas Pereira, Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Anthony Martial and loanee James Wilson in the near future.

Rumours have also continued to swirl surrounding the futures of Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez.

Pogba has frequently been a target of Mourinho's ire, and the Frenchman has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the club just two-and-a-half seasons after his return to Manchester from Juventus.Sanchez, meanwhile, has struggled mightily when it comes to replicating his Arsenal form, although his wages would almost certainly make a sale difficult for the club.Still, Mourinho insists that no one has asked to leave in January.

"No," Mourinho stressed when asked if any players had come to him about departing the team. "Nobody asked me. Nobody at all."Mourinho could certainly hit the market in January, though, as the manager has made no secret of the fact that he is looking for additions.

Central defence remains a focus with Mourinho recently having turned to midfielders Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay to play in more defensive roles.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.12.08

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.12.08

Bournemouth Vs Liverpool

Arsenal Vs Huddersfield

Burnley Vs Brighton

Cardiff City Vs Southampton

Manchester United Vs Fulham

West Ham Vs Crystal Palace

Chelsea Vs Manchester City

Leicester City Vs Tottenham

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