Manchester City’s penalty shoot-out win and Kepa Arrizabalaga’s power-play leaves Maurizio Sarri a step nearer to Chelsea’s trap door February 24, 2019 After 120 minutes of stalemate, the Carabao Cup final crammed all of its drama into some engrossing and bizarre closing stages. Maurizio Sarri’s stifling tactics did exactly that, but the gamble to sit deep, avoid the 6-0 thrashing of two weeks ago, not muster an attempt on target and then triumph on penalties narrowly failed [...]
Has Liverpool’s new-found solidity turned Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football into pedestrian dad-rock? February 24, 2019 When Jurgen Klopp fine-tuned his Liverpool team in preparation for this season, he focused on making them more robust. Following the January 2018 signing of Virgil van Dijk, last summer saw the arrival at Anfield of an elite level goalkeeper in Alisson and an accomplished defensive midfielder in Fabinho. Until then devastating in attack but [...]
Premier League title-chasing Liverpool face moment of truth in Manchester United clash February 21, 2019 For a team locked in a battle for a first top-flight title for 29 years every league game has huge significance. But for Liverpool, Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United is a match which has ascended to even greater levels of importance: it’s a derby against a buoyant and bitter rival and [...]
Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich: Defensive masterclass leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side needing to overcome their poor away record February 19, 2019 On a crucial European night, in an atmosphere-filled Anfield against a weakened giant Liverpool managed just two shots on target. Bayern Munich came with a game-plan and executed it to perfection to stifle a side renowned for their dynamic, lightning-quick and interchangeable front three. A draw may not be a disaster, but given Jurgen Klopp’s [...]
Trevor Steven: Arsenal must prioritise a top four finish in the Premier League over European exploits February 19, 2019 The season starts here for Arsenal. The next seven days will be vital to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League and they have three winnable games. If they don't return to Europe's elite competition next year then this campaign will have to be seen as a disappointment. They face BATE Borisov, Southampton and [...]
Liverpool v Bayern Munich: Jurgen Klopp ready to face his old enemy as German giants arrive at Anfield February 18, 2019 They say familiarity breeds contempt, and although that isn’t quite the case with Jurgen Klopp and Bayern Munich, the Liverpool manager must be sick of the sight of the German giants. When Liverpool welcome Bayern to Anfield for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tomorrow there will be a personal element to [...]
Our cup runneth over: Five reasons why the FA Cup has been a treat this season February 17, 2019 If unpredictability is at the heart of the FA Cup’s appeal then there is much to love about how this season’s competition is unfolding and the composition of the last eight. For the first time in five years – and only the second time in a decade – there will be just two teams from [...]
AFC Wimbledon v Millwall: The FA Cup tie neither team wanted as giant-killers meet at Kingsmeadow February 14, 2019 If the FA Cup is a competition most loved for its giant-killings, then Millwall are its best proponents. In the entire history of the world’s oldest cup tournament the Lions have produced 25 giant-killings – defined as victories over a top-flight side by one in a lower division – the joint most alongside Southampton. And [...]
On the up and in the cup: Frank Lampard has turned Derby County into giant-killers as they look to claim third Premier League scalp February 14, 2019 Earlier this week Frank Lampard brushed off talk that he could be the man to replace Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea, anid speculation over the Italian’s future following a turbulent start to 2019. The notion that Lampard could be ready to take on such a big challenge at his former club is testament to the job [...]
Go away, Jose: Mourinho and his team receive £19.6m pay off from Manchester United February 14, 2019 Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his coaching team received a £19.6m payoff after getting sacked from the club, its accounts reveal. The club’s quarterly accounts list the £19.6m payment under exceptional items describing it as “compensation to the former manager and certain members of the coaching staff for loss of office”. Mourinho was [...]
