December 2021 – Page 2 – Football Flame

Month: December 2021

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea: Romelu Lukaku admits Thomas Tuchel snub has been ‘difficult’ after scoring at Aston Villa

Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) shakes hands with Chelsea's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (L) after the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on December 26, 2021. - Chelsea won the game 3-1. Romelu Lukaku scored his first league goal since September to help Chelsea claim a precious 3-1 win at Villa Park, moving them level on points with Liverpool and six behind leaders Manchester City.The Belgium striker has failed to work his way back into Thomas Tuchel's plans since returning from an ankle injury in November, with his last league start coming back in October, while he also missed their last two matches after testing positive for Covid-19.And after coming off the bench to head home against Villa on...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City six points clear after winning thriller against Leicester City

Raheem Sterling of Manchester City scores their side's fourth goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Leicester City at Etihad Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Manchester, England.  Manchester City held off an unlikely Leicester comeback to clinch a ninth successive Premier League win in thrilling style and move six points clear at the top of the table.It looked like the defending champions had wrapped up the points after only 25 minutes as they led a depleted Foxes side 4-0, with a penalty apiece by Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling on top of strikes by Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan.Leicester had other ideas, however, with three goals in the space of 10 second-half minutes from James Maddison, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho giv...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Lucas Moura stars for Tottenham in comfortable win over Covid-hit Crystal Palace

Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 26, 2021 in London, England. Lucas Moura scored one and made two more as Tottenham piled on the Boxing Day misery for Crystal Palace with a 3-0 win.Palace had failed in their attempts to get the game called off after a coronavirus outbreak in their squad, with manager Patrick Vieira one of those affected by a positive test and absent in north London.And, after the Premier League ruled the game should go ahead, Moura made matters worse with a virtuoso display, setting up goals for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min either side of his own headed effort in the first half.Wilfried Zaha compounded his s...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Bukayo Saka stars for in-form Arsenal in Boxing Day rout over Norwich

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Arsenal at Carrow Road on December 26, 2021 in Norwich, England. Bukayo Saka’s two goals helped ensure Arsenal will enter 2022 in the Premier League’s top four as his side cantered to a 5-0 victory over Norwich at Carrow Road. Dean Smith’s defeated side, however, remain rooted to the bottom of the table, having been unable to add to their two league victories this season.Saka opened the scoring with a left-footed effort in the sixth minute, and the dominance of Mikel Arteta’s side was better reflected on the stroke of half-time as Kieran Tierney added a second – Martin Ødegaard supplied the assists for both first-half goals.Midway through the second half, Saka ma...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard to miss next two games after positive Covid test

Ashley Young of Aston Villa and Steven Gerrard, Manager of Aston Villa interact following the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on December 05, 2021 in Birmingham, England. Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard will miss the club’s next two Premier League games after testing positive for Covid-19.Gerrard will not be in the dugout for the Boxing Day clash at home to Chelsea or Tuesday’s trip to Leeds.The club said in a statement: “Aston Villa can confirm head coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.”Villa’s home game with Burnley last weekend was postponed due to an increased number of positive coronavirus tests among the...
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LALIGA

Barcelona reject the chance to re-sign former midfielder from PSG

Rafinha Alcantara of Paris Saint-Germain in action during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Reims at Parc des Princes on May 16, 2021 in Paris, France. Days after reports emerged that Barcelona had turned down the chance to re-sign former midfielder Ilaix Moriba, it seems like the Catalans have rejected another opportunity to bring back another La Masia product to the club.Indeed, El Nacional is reporting that Barca had been offered a chance to sign Rafinha Alcantara from Paris Saint-Germain, but the club have distanced themselves from a move for the Brazilian.The 28-year-old came through the La Masia ranks, alongside his brother, Thiago Alcantara. The versatile midfielder made his first-team debut under Pep Guardiola in 2011, at the age of 18.While Thiago moved on to...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Nathan Ake progress at Man City brings January transfer problem

Manchester City's Nathan Ake during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at Etihad Stadium on September 15, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester City's first Carabao Cup defeat in five years robbed Nathan Ake of the chance of another midweek start, yet there is no denying the defender's improved presence at the Etihad.Having made it his ambition to become a first team regular, too often in his first year since a £40m move from Bournemouth the defender was nowhere to be seen. A Boxing Day appearance at left-back against Newcastle — a seventh of the campaign — in what Pep Guardiola described as the best performance of the season so far looked like a perfect launchpad, only for the 26-year-old to suffer an injury that would see him sidelined...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers gears up for City challenge after agonising League Cup exit

Brendan Rogers, Manager of Leicester City talks with Jamie Vardy of Leicester City following the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Leicester City at St Mary's Stadium on December 01, 2021 in Southampton, England. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers believes his side will recover quickly from their agonising penalty shoot-out exit from the League Cup when they face Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.The Foxes twice conceded a two-goal lead in their midweek League Cup quarter-final against Liverpool — including an equaliser deep into added time — before losing on spot-kicks.Adding to the pain of defeat, Leicester defenders Caglar Soyuncu and Ricardo Pereira were forced off while star striker Jamie Vardy played the last 20 minutes with a tight hamstring.None of ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta hints at January signing as Arsenal weigh up move for new striker

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal celebrate with the Heads Up Emirates FA Cup Trophy following their team's victory in the FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 01, 2020 in London, England. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that the club could dip into the transfer market for a new signing in January.The Gunners will be without several players next month when the African Cup of Nations comes around.Former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future also remains up in the air and footballflame.com.ng understands that Arsenal will be open to offers for the Gabon forward.Aubameyang will head to Cameroon for the tournament which further emphasises the club's need for a new striker, with Alexandre Lacazette and E...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Michail Antonio determined to regain goalscoring touch

Michail Antonio of West Ham walks out onto the pitch during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea at London Stadium on December 04, 2021 in London, England. Michail Antonio is a possibility for West Ham’s clash with Southampton on Sunday.The striker’s hopes of answering his critics and rediscovering his goalscoring touch ahead of the busy holiday period were hamstrung last week with the announcement he had tested positive for COVID-19.Manager David Moyes confirmed Antonio tested positive last week, “so he’s getting closer now, but obviously not for tonight [Wednesday]” when West Ham took on neighbours Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.After the game, Moyes gave another update, suggesting Antonio was likely to play on Sunday because he was asym...
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NEWS

Austin Eguavoen shares his view on Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen

Victor James osimhen of Nigeria during the 2019 African Cup of Nations match between Tunisia and Nigeria at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on July 17, 2019. Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen has praised Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, saying the Nigerian has the qualities he is looking for in a striker.Osimhen has been brilliant for both club and country this season, although he is currently sidelined with a facial injury.The 22-year-old has scored nine goals in 14 appearances for Napoli this season while he was also Nigeria’s top scorer in the second round of 2022 World Cup qualifiers with four goals.Osimhen is expected to lead the line for Nigeria at the 2021 AFCON after confirming he would be available for selection. The news is a major boost for Nigeria and Eguavoen....
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TRANSFERS

Crystal Palace linked with loan move for Orlando City striker

Daryl Dike #11 of the United States during a game between Mexico and USMNT at Allegiant Stadium on August 1, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Orlando City star Daryl Dike in January – a striker who has been compared to Romelu Lukaku.The South London Press exclusively revealed in August that Palace were admirers of the USA International.Dike fired Barnsley to the Championship play-offs last season, as he scored nine goals in 19 appearances, only for the Tykes to lose to Swansea City in the semi-finals.The Athletic are reporting that the Eagles are looking to sign the 21-year-old on loan in January, with any deal to include an option to buy at the end of the season.The publication are also reporting that Dike suits the South London club’s new tra...
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NEWS

Sergio Ramos sees red as PSG snatch league draw

French referee Jeremie Pignard (C) shows a yellow card to Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos during the French L1 football match between FC Lorient and Paris Saint-Germain at the Yves Allainmat-Le Moustoir Stadium in Lorient, western France, on December 22, 2021. Paris Saint-Germain will go into the winter break with a 13-point advantage at the top of Ligue 1 after narrowly avoiding a humiliating defeat at second-bottom Lorient.Mauro Icardi's stoppage-time goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for PSG, who ended the game a man down due to Sergio Ramos being given his marching orders.Thomas Moncondui's 40th-minute effort gave Lorient the lead and they appeared on track to secure a major upset until Icardi's late intervention.PSG lead from second-place Nice and third-place Marseille by 1...
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SERIE A

Inter Milan continue fine form in Serie A

Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale celebrates with teammate Lautaro Martinez after scoring their side's first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 22, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Inter Milan consolidated their position at the top of Serie A courtesy of a scrappy 1-0 home win over Torino in their final match of 2021.It has been a year to remember for the Nerazzurri, ending an 11-year wait for the title under Antonio Conte but Simone Inzaghi’s team could be on the way to repeating the feat.Denzel Dumfries scored for the third time in four league matches and it was enough to secure another three points – a seventh straight Serie A success.Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between FC Intern...
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LALIGA

Karim Benzema goals lead Madrid’s La Liga charge

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid CF controls the ball during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 12, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. Karim Benzema has scored the 400th goal of his professional career before he soon added another to lead La Liga leaders Real Madrid to a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao.The victory came just hours after defending champions Atletico Madrid slumped to a fourth consecutive league defeat, going down 2-1 at Granada, extending their worst run in the competition sinceA total of 12 players between Madrid and Bilbao missed the game after testing positive for COVID-19 -- including the visitors' Luka Modric and the hosts' goalkeeper Unai Simon.Benzema opened the scoring with a superb curling strike four m...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Ralf Rangnick appoints Ewan Sharp as assistant at Man United

Ralf Rangnick, Manager of Manchester United looks on after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on December 05, 2021 in Manchester, England. Ralf Rangnick has made another addition to his backroom staff at Manchester United with the recruitment of Scotsman Ewan Sharp as assistant coach and analyst.Sharp was working alongside Rangnick at Lokomotiv Moscow before the German left to take up the role as interim manager at Old Trafford.Sharp joins Chris Armas, who was appointed assistant coach earlier this month, and the pair have previously worked together at New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC.Sharp came into the professional game through the US college system, spending two years as director of performance analysis at Northwestern University.Sport...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Steven Gerrard: Villa player scared to leave car

Steven Gerrard, head coach of Aston Villa, talks to the press during a press conference at Bodymoor Heath training ground on December 22, 2021 in Birmingham, England. Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has said anxiety over Covid-19 is reaching such a level that one of his players was reluctant to get out of their car.An outbreak at Villa forced their match against Burnley last Saturday to be postponed at short notice, and Gerrard says it will be a "nightmare" if the club have to tackle two matches in two days with just 14 players available.Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson insists player welfare is not taken seriously in England, as clubs manage the usual congested festive programme alongside a resurgence in Covid cases, and Villa boss Gerrard said the situation is becoming almost imposs...
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NEWS

Liverpool handed Africa Cup of Nations update as CAF president sets out plans

Patrice Motsepe, CAF President, delivers his introductory speech during the draw ceremony for the 2022 African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Yaounde, Cameroon, on August 17, 2021. The Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe believes the rearranged Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead as scheduled next month in Cameroon.There have been conflicting reports recently over whether or not the competition will go ahead as planned as the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.Africa's football showpiece, usually held every two years, was scheduled to be played last summer but was postponed because of the pandemic.The European Club Association expressed its 'deep concerns' earlier this month about whether players would be safe at the tournament amid a rise in covid cases.Bu...
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TRANSFERS

PSG ready to offer €6 million per season deal to Barcelona wonderkid

Pablo Martin Paez Gavira "Gavi" of FC Barcelona in action during the spanish league, La Liga Santander, football match played between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium on December 21, 2021, in Sevilla, Spain. PSG are reportedly willing to hand Barcelona sensation Gavi a bumper contract worth €6 million per season to lure him away from Camp Nou.According to a report from El Nacional, Paris Saint-Germain are desperate to sign Barcelona midfield prodigy Gavi in the summer transfer window and are prepared to hand him a bumper contract to lure him to Parc des Princes.Gavi came through the ranks at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy after joining the club in 2015 from the Real Betis youth setup. Handed his first-team breakthrough this season by Ronald Koeman, the 17-ye...
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TRANSFERS

Barcelona defender wanted by Tottenham in January move

Clement Lenglet of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the La Liga Santander match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on December 21, 2021 in Seville, Spain. Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly rekindled their pursuit of Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet over a move in January.According to reputed Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, Clement Lenglet has popped up on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur over a move in the January transfer window. The north Londoners were rebuffed by the Barcelona defender this past summer as he did not want to go to England at the time.Clement Lenglet joined Barcelona from Sevilla in July 2018 and has since endured a topsy-turvy ride at Camp Nou. While the Frenchman enjoyed a solid debut campaign with the Blaugrana and even established a ...
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