..::Football IV::..

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Arsenal warned it will take €80m to prise Pepe from Lille


Arsenal, and any other suitor of Nicolas Pepe, have been made aware that it will cost €80 million (£72m/$91m) to secure the Lille winger’s signature.The talented 23-year-old has emerged as a target for leading sides across Europe.The Emirates Stadium has been mooted as one possible landing spot for the Ivory Coast international.

Lille, though, are aware that they have a prized asset on their hands and will not be parting with him unless a hefty price tag is met.

The Ligue 1 club’s sporting director, Luis Campos, told Telefoot of Pepe: “I hope he will stay this winter. We'll do everything to keep him.“All the top clubs in the world have their eyes on him, and that's normal, but the president has been clear.

“The idea is for him to continue at the club.“In contrast, with my experience in football, I would say that if a club arrives with a big number and can convince the player... I would sell him for €80 million.

“That's the price tag, but you'd have to convince the player and he's been a big part of us being in second place.”

Pepe has certainly enjoyed a productive opening to the 2018-19 campaign.
In just 19 Ligue 1 appearances this term, he has contributed 12 goals and five assists.

It is that productivity which has him attracting admiring glances from afar.Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who got a good look at Pepe during his time in charge of Paris Saint-Germain, is said to be a big fan.

The Gunners already have plenty of creativity on their books, but the opportunity to bolster those ranks will not be passed up if an opportunity presents itself.

 

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Zidane's the best choice for Manchester United – Saha


Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha believes Zinedine Zidane is the best choice to replace Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.United are on the hunt for a permanent replacement for manager Mourinho, who was sacked by the Premier League giants on Tuesday.

Club favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stepped in on a caretaker basis until the end of the season, with United reportedly keen to lure Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to Manchester in 2019-20.

Zidane – who led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles before leaving the LaLiga side ahead of the 2018-19 season – has also been linked.In an interview with Omnisport, Saha backed former France team-mate Zidane to succeed at the Theatre of Dreams.

"For me, I am a supporter of Zidane in relation to the man," Saha said. "He was an exceptional player, the coach, there is no equivalent."In communication he has made a lot of progress. When I hear him talking, it's incredible.

"He breathes football, he is a passionate person, who has all the qualities to be respected. He knows how to balance attack and defence.

"At Real Madrid, he had three offensive monsters, and he has to make the link with the defence. It's huge."For me it's the best choice for United. I think he will have the support of the supporters, the staff, the president because he deserves it. And we're going to give him time."

Solskjaer led United to a 5-1 rout of Cardiff City on Saturday – the first time the club had score five goals in a league game since Alex Ferguson's final match in 2013.

United remain sixth but only eight points adrift of the Champions League places ahead of their Boxing Day meeting at home to Huddersfield Town.

 

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'He will never hide away' - Martinez baffled by Lukaku criticism


Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has been unfairly criticised for his performances this season, Belgium boss Roberto Martinez says.

The 25-year-old has only managed six goals in all competitions in 2018-19 and was not always guaranteed a regular starting spot during former manager Jose Mourinho's final few weeks in charge.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw a 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff City on Saturday in his first match as caretaker boss, but Lukaku was absent after missing training in the build-up to the trip to Wales.

Despite his struggles at club level, Lukaku is a key part of Martinez's Belgium side, scoring 14 goals in as many games in 2018.

And the former Everton boss thinks the scrutiny on the striker's scoring record for United is often unfairly used against him."There is a negative way of assessing Romelu's performance for Manchester United," he told The Sunday Times.

"When Rom scores, everyone expects him to score, and when he doesn't, he is almost directly the reason United haven't won."But Rom is ready for that challenge. He will never hide away. He understands what is expected of him.

"For Belgium, he has shown he's one of the best number nines in the world and I don't understand why he's being treated in a manner which he doesn't deserve."

 

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'I'm having fun' - Ribery coy on Bayern Munich extension following brace against Eintracht


Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has admitted that he could see himself remaining at the Bundesliga champions for another year after his impressive performance against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday helped them to victory.

The Frenchman’s brace inspired Niko Kovac’s side to a 3-0 win in the final game before the winter break, to ensure that they stay within feasible distance of league leaders Borussia Dortmund.

His two goals also ensured that, at 35, he became the oldest player in Bayern history to achieve a double in a game for the club.

Ribery has been linked with an exit from the club he has called home for more than a decade at the end of the current campaign, with club officials Hasan Salihamidzic and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hinting that this could be his last season at the Allianz Arena.

Speaking afterwards, the midfielder’s tune was more ambiguous, acknowledging that he could still see his future with Bayern while admitting that he has no concrete plans beyond next May.“Yes, of course,” Ribery told Sky when asked about remaining in Munich, before adding: “My situation is not easy to assess.

“But I just work, I'm having fun and I'm performing. What will happen next season, we'll see.”Ribery joined Bayern from Marseille in 2007 and has gone on to win virtually every major honour with the club.

He is an eight-time winner of the Bundesliga and also holds medals for the DFB-Pokal and DFB-Supercup domestically.In Europe, he has won the Champions League and the Super Cup as well as the Club World Cup in 2013.

He was also a runner-up with France at the 2006 World Cup, featuring in the final for Les Bleus as they were beaten on penalties by Italy.Ribery has also been named in UEFA’s Team of the Year twice, both times while playing for Bayern, in 2008 and 2013.

If he is to depart, he would become the second big-name winger to exit the club in the space of a season, after Arjen Robben confirmed he would call time on his 10-year Bayern career at the end of the current season.

 

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Pochettino believes Tottenham can be title contenders


Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham have a role to play in this season's title race after claiming a fourth Premier League win in a row.Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min both scored twice as Spurs ran out 6-2 winners against Everton at Goodison Park.

The north Londoners came from behind to win for the 18th time in the top flight under Pochettino, and took their points tally after conceding the first goal to 70.

Victory takes Tottenham within two points of defending champions Manchester City and four behind leaders Liverpool.And despite the calibre of the opposition ahead of them in the table, Pochettino says his side remain in the title picture.

“Football is about being consistent, if we are able to be consistent and play in the way we played tonight, yes, maybe we will arrive in April as a real contender," he told the media.“I am proud of the way we played. "I am so pleased and very proud of the performance and energy we showed today. I am pleased about the result, but of course the performance comes first.

“But there is still a long way to go."We are involved in four competitions, today was a surprise to everyone, not only the quality, but not only the energy to play after a very tough game against Arsenal on Wednesday.

"The energy was fantastic after that game.”A presentable run of games gives Tottenham a chance to cement their position in the title race, with AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers travelling to Wembley before the end of 2018.

They travel to strugglers Cardiff City on New Year's Day before the FA Cup trip to Tranmere Rovers and Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.

 

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'I don't want to upset this guy again!' - Pochettino responds to Man Utd rumours


Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham need to be focused despite rumours linking the Argentine to Manchester United.The Spurs boss has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford next season after Jose Mourinho was sacked by United on Tuesday, and is yet to rule himself out of the job.

Tottenham's press officer angrily interjected during his news conference on Thursday to stop further questions about the rumours, but reporters again probed Pochettino after his side's thrilling win over Everton on Sunday.

"A lot [of] rumours happen. I don't want this guy to get upset again [pointing to Spurs press officer]. We need to be focused. We will do our best to try to be successful," Pochettino said.

The speculation is sure to continue until the end of the campaign as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only been appointed on an interim basis until then, meaning United are yet to appoint a permanent successor to Mourinho.

Zinedine Zidane, who is out of work after leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season, has also been linked with the job, while rumours have emerged that Real could look to hijack United's bid for Pochettino and take him to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Many onlookers have pointed to Pochettino's past at Southampton, where he refused to be drawn on speculation that he would leave for a bigger club, only to move to White Hart Lane in 2014.

"A lot [of] rumours happen. I don't want this guy to get upset again [pointing to Spurs press officer]. We need to be focused. We will do our best to try to be successful," Pochettino said.The speculation is sure to continue until the end of the campaign as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only been appointed on an interim basis until then, meaning United are yet to appoint a permanent successor to Mourinho.

Zinedine Zidane, who is out of work after leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season, has also been linked with the job, while rumours have emerged that Real could look to hijack United's bid for Pochettino and take him to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Many onlookers have pointed to Pochettino's past at Southampton, where he refused to be drawn on speculation that he would leave for a bigger club, only to move to White Hart Lane in 2014.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Poch wa nam ganna puluwan wei kiyala hithanna amaruiZidane thamai mata hithenne hodama choice eka​

 

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Guardiola: Man City are better now than last season


Manchester City may have won the Premier League title with 100 points last season, but Pep Guardiola believes they are even better this time around.

The Catalan's second campaign at the Etihad Stadium also delivered the Carabao Cup as City finished a record 19 points clear of nearest challengers and neighbours Manchester United.City lost just two league matches in 2017-18 - to Liverpool and United - but defeats to Chelsea and Crystal Palace this month mean they have already equalled that tally before the halfway stage of the season.

Nevertheless, Guardiola feels his side look stronger as they aim to achieve what no City team has done and win back-to-back Premier League crowns."In little details we are better than last season, which is normal because we have more time together," he told Sky Sports .

"Our process, our build-ups, our high pressing, we can use different movements, we have more alternatives to defend into attack and we are more solid when we defend deeper."

When asked what impressed him so much about that record-breaking title winning season, Guardiola said: "It was our consistency."Of course we dropped points, that happens, but after that we were always there, which was the most remarkable thing and what I give the most importance.

"Winning cups or the Champions League, that's six or seven games where you have to be good, but in the Premier League it can be every three days, which is why it's the title I like the most."Defeat to Palace on Saturday has left City trailing Liverpool by four points in this season's title race as they head into the busy festive period of fixtures.

They will be looking to get to winning ways on Boxing Day when they travel to Leicester City while a meeting with Jurgen Klopp's side is just around the corner on January 3.

 

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Klopp yet to consider Liverpool future beyond 2022


Jurgen Klopp is yet to think about his future at Liverpool beyond the expiry of his current deal in 2022.

The German signed a fresh six-year contract in July 2016, having only been appointed as Brendan Rodgers' successor nine months previously.Klopp is yet to lift any silverware at Anfield, having lost the finals of the Europa League, EFL Cup and Champions League during his spell.

Liverpool sit four points clear of defending champions Manchester City atop the Premier League at Christmas, raising hopes that the wait for a trophy could be over in May, but Klopp says his relative success thus far has not prompted him to consider his long-term future.
"I don't want to think that far ahead," he told Sky Sports. "If you write that already, a lot of people will speak. Everything is good at the moment, but still, [people say] 'Klopp didn't win anything'. "I haven't won anything so that's part of the truth, we don't have to think about 2022, it's a long way to go.

"In the summer, there will be people who say it's the best time for me to go if we win something because we will never win anything again, there will be other people who say I have to go if we don't win anything.

"As long as we all enjoy the ride here, and I mean all - from the owners, the players to the supporters, to everyone around the club - we can try it and try it, but at the moment if one of those groups isn't happy any more, then we shouldn't stretch it and say 'come on, try to do it'.

"It's a good time, and 2022 is a long time so I don't have to think about it hopefully, everything will be fine and then we can think about that."

 

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Barclays Premier League Boxing Day Fixtures 2018.12.26

Barclays Premier League Boxing Day Fixtures 2018.12.26

Fulham Vs Wolves

Burnley Vs Everton

Crystal Palace Vs Cardiff City

Leicester City Vs Manchester City

Liverpool Vs Newcastle

Manchester United Vs Huddersfield

Tottenham Vs Bournemouth

Brighton Vs Arsenal

Watford Vs Chelsea

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[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United Vs Huddersfield

Manchester United Starting Line-up

De Gea
Lindelof
Jones
Dalot
Shaw
Matic
Fred
Mata
Pogba
Lingard
Rashford

&

Huddersfield Starting Line-up

Lossl
Zanka
Schindler
Kongolo
Hadergjonaj
Kachunga
Billing
Durm
Pritchard
Mbenza
Depoitre
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

Manchester United 3 Vs 1 Huddersfield

Manchester United Goal(s)

N.Matic 28'
P.Pogba 64,78'

&

Huddersfield Goal(s)

M.Jorgensen 88'


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[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Pogba,Rash,Mata

btw aparade clean sheet ekak nathi unaManchester United backline ekanam expose wenawa wadikohomath defense eka gana nam godak hithanna wei

& next Bournemouth.Good luck for the next match Manchester United!
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Manchester United 3 Huddersfield Town 1: Pogba strikes twice in happy homecoming for Solskjaer

Manchester United made it two wins from two under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they saw off Huddersfield Town 3-1 on Wednesday.

Goals in each half from Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba sealed a happy return to Old Trafford for Solskjaer, who received a rapturous reception before kick-off.

The victory, which followed a 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff City in their first match since Jose Mourinho's departure, means the Red Devils are back to within five points of the top four having played a game more than Arsenal and Chelsea.


Huddersfield, who got a goal back late on through Mathias Jorgensen, are bottom of the Premier League table and five points from safety.
United should have been behind in the first 10 minutes, Terence Kongolo slicing a shot over the crossbar from barely five yards out after a long throw was flicked on by Alex Pritchard.The visitors kept United at bay until 28 minutes in, when Matic tapped in after Victor Lindelof's header was blocked on the line.

Diego Dalot shot wide from a Marcus Rashford cross and Huddersfield threatened to punish that miss with a good start to the second half, in which Laurent Depoitre was denied acrobatically by David de Gea.

That save proved pivotal as, three minutes later, United doubled their lead. Juan Mata danced his way into the penalty area and found Ander Herrera, who teed up Pogba to sweep home first time.

Pogba added gloss to the scoreline and a super personal display with 12 minutes to go, collecting Jesse Lingard's pass and bending a sublime low strike past Jonas Lossl from 25 yards out, making Jorgensen's late tap-in mere consolation.

 

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Liverpool 4 Newcastle United 0: Salah strikes again to punish City loss as Klopp reaches 100 wins

Mohamed Salah scored again to help stretch Liverpool's Premier League lead to six points, as a 4-0 home win over Newcastle United gave Jurgen Klopp his 100th Reds victory.

Klopp's 181st game in charge saw Liverpool take an early Boxing Day lead at Anfield, Dejan Lovren smashing in a superb half-volley to set up their eighth straight Premier League win.

And when Salah stepped up to convert a penalty he won himself immediately after the restart, Rafael Benitez's side were heading to defeat on his Anfield return.


Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho added late goals for the rampant hosts and Manchester City's 2-1 loss at Leicester City means the 2017-18 champions fall further behind Klopp's men ahead of their clash at the Etihad Stadium on January 3, with Tottenham moving up to second after thrashing Bournemouth.
Joselu and Shaqiri missed clear chances in an open start at Anfield, with Liverpool taking the lead in the 11th minute.A diabolical clearing header from Jamaal Lascelles fell straight to Lovren, who smashed a wonderful half-volleyed finish high into the roof of the net.

Martin Dubravka denied Sadio Mane and then made a fine save to keep out a deflected Shaqiri free-kick before the interval.But Liverpool extended their advantage two minutes after the restart, Salah beating Dubravka from the penalty spot after he was tugged on the arm by Paul Dummett.

And with City dropping points again, Liverpool gave their fans an ideal late Christmas present when Shaqiri tapped in a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross and Fabinho headed in Salah's corner for a close-range fourth.

 

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Tottenham 5 Bournemouth 0: Spurs go second with free-scoring victory

Tottenham's festive goal glut continued on Boxing Day as they cruised to a 5-0 Premier League win against Bournemouth that sends them above Manchester City into second.

Having given Everton a nightmare before Christmas in a 6-2 victory at Goodison Park on Sunday, three first-half goals laid the foundations for another convincing triumph.

Kyle Walker-Peters seemingly still had some presents to hand out as he provided the assists for Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura to find the net before the break.


Harry Kane and Son then made it five after the interval for a victory that lifts Spurs a point clear of floundering City.Spurs looked lively in the opening stages but it was Bournemouth who had the first clear-cut opportunities to break the deadlock.

Junior Stanislas got in the way of Ryan Fraser as he attempted to head a right-wing cross goalwards, before David Brooks failed to lift the ball over Hugo Lloris after being played in by a perfectly weighted Jefferson Lerma chip.

Lerma was involved when the breakthrough came at the other end in the 16th minute, Eriksen's shot from 20 yards taking a wicked deflection off the Colombian's leg to leave Asmir Begovic beaten.

Spurs' second followed seven minutes later, when Charlie Daniels failed to clear his lines and allowed Walker-Peters to snatch possession, passing inside to Son, who picked his spot and fired low into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.The match looked beyond Bournemouth by the 35th minute, with Lucas sweeping home a Walker-Peters cutback for Spurs' third.

Bournemouth's problems got worse before half-time, with captain Simon Francis stretchered from the field with a serious-looking injury after a challenge on Son, while a Daniels header was kept out by Lloris on the whistle.

Spurs were lucky not to concede a penalty when Juan Foyth barged Callum Wilson over in the box early in the second period, before Stanislas was correctly flagged offside having found the net.

The result was put beyond all doubt in the 61st minute, though, when Kane met a delightful Eriksen chip with a hooked volley to beat Begovic, and Son added further gloss after Bournemouth somehow failed to get rid of the ball amid a goalmouth scramble.

 

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Leicester City 2 Manchester City 1: Ragged 10-man champions lose more ground

Manchester City dropped to third in the Premier League as Leicester City made it back-to-back defeats for Pep Guardiola's men - Ricardo Pereira's spectacular 81st-minute strike securing a 2-1 triumph.

The reigning champions have lost three of their past four top-flight outings and lie seven points behind Liverpool, whose closest challengers are now Tottenham - six points back of the leaders.

As in their weekend defeat to Crystal Palace, Manchester City took a first-half lead but were quickly pegged back - Bernardo Silva's goal cancelled out by Marc Albrighton, who also equalised when the sides met in the EFL Cup quarter-finals last week.


A 1-1 draw on that occasion ended with a victory for Manchester City on penalties but Leicester prevailed this time, with hero Pereira on the receiving end of a rash challenge that saw Fabian Delph sent off in the closing minutes.

Such a turnaround appeared unlikely when Aymeric Laporte fizzed a 14th-minute pass into Sergio Aguero's feet and the Argentina striker played in Silva for a neat finish.

The lead lasted only five minutes, though, as referee Mike Dean waved away claims for a foul against Danilo and Leicester made the most of an undermanned defence – Jamie Vardy crossing for Albrighton to head in at the far post.

Aguero almost restored the visitors' advantage following excellent work from Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane, though they needed a trio of saves from Ederson to deny Vardy, James Maddison and Hamza Choudhury before half-time.

Manchester City resumed after the break in similarly ragged fashion but began to turn the screw after the hour, with Sane unable to scramble home after Raheem Sterling sent Aguero to the byline inside the box.Leicester attacks had started to dry up, although Laporte needed an inch-perfect tackle to thwart the ever-alert Vardy.

Pereira's opening was nowhere near as enticing but he struck a beautifully clinical blow from the edge of the box when Sane could only partially clear a corner.
Guardiola's Christmas nightmare was compounded when Sane lashed a chance to equalise over and Delph lost control.

 

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Burnley 1 Everton 5: Digne at the double as Toffees bounce back in style


Lucas Digne scored twice as Everton responded to their Tottenham humiliation with a 5-1 away hammering of Premier League strugglers Burnley on Boxing Day.
Thumped 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday, the pressure was on the Merseysiders to end a five-match winless streak and they all-but achieved the task in the space of 22 minutes at Turf Moor.

Digne's free-kick - his second in four matches - and a Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty added to Yerry Mina's second-minute opener, before Ben Gibson marked his Premier League debut for Burnley with a goal.


But the Clarets, now three points behind fourth-bottom Cardiff City, never looked like avoiding an eighth loss in 10 matches, which was confirmed through Digne's exquisite second in the 71st minute and a tidy a late Richarlison finish.Toffees boss Silva urged his players to "show character" following their meek surrender to Spurs and they delivered in a devastating start.

Mina rose unchallenged to nod home his first Premier League goal from Bernard's corner, before left-back Digne beat Joe Hart with a classy curling free-kick in the 13th minute.

Ben Mee's handball from a set-piece then enabled Sigurdsson to coolly extend the margin from the spot, although the Clarets were given a glimmer of hope when Gibson turned in James Tarkowski's blocked header eight minutes before the break.England international Tarkowski squandered a glorious chance to further reduce the deficit soon after the restart, slicing a close-range half-volley over the crossbar.

The miss was compounded 19 minutes from the end as France defender Digne fired a left-footed drive into the bottom-right corner to ensure Everton serenely ascended back into the top half, with substitute Richarlison poking home a fifth right at the end after Sigurdsson played him in.