January 2022 – Page 2 – Football Flame    

Month: January 2022

PREMIER LEAGUE

Frank Lampard set to get Toffees job as fans vent fury at Pereira

Everton fans unveil a banner in the crowd, directed at the board after their sides defeat during the Premier League match between Everton and Aston Villa at Goodison Park on January 22, 2022 in Liverpool, England. Everton are poised to appoint their new manager in the next 24 hours, with Frank Lampard fighting it out with Vitor Pereira and Duncan Ferguson for the post.Ferguson, caretaker after the sacking of Rafa Benitez, is a surprise candidate given it had appeared to be a straight shoot-out between Pereira and Lampard. All three are due for talks today.Lampard was interviewed for a second time yesterday, in another twist to the club’s search. The former Chelsea and Derby County manager is under serious consideration to land the Goodison job, while Everton have already spoken to former P...
TRANSFERS

Arsenal mocked as they thank Calum Chambers for “everything” after Aston Villa move

New signing Calum Chambers of Aston Villa poses for a picture at Bodymoor Heath training ground on January 27, 2022 in Birmingham, England. Arsenal have been brutally mocked online for their "thanks for everything" tweet after Calum Chambers sealed a permanent switch to Aston Villa.Chambers, 27, has penned a three-and-half-year contract at Villa Park as new boss Steven Gerrard targets a late push for Europe.The Villans last featured in the Europa League during the 2010/11 season with caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald overseeing a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Rapid Vienna.But the Birmingham-based side are targeting a European tour once again and have shown they're not afraid to splash the cash in the winter transfer window.New signing Calum Chambers of Aston Villa poses for a picture at Bodymoor...
TRANSFERS

Chelsea offered €40 million by Newcastle United for 20-year-old striker

Armando Broja of Southampton scores a goal which is later disallowed due to offside during the Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Southampton, England. Newcastle United have reportedly lodged a €40 million bid for Chelsea’s rising talent Armando Broja, who is currently impressing on-loan at Southampton.According to Tutto Mercato Web, Newcastle United have launched a €40 million bid for Armando Broja as they look to add even more firepower to their attacking contingent.The Magpies have not had much success pursuing targets so far this month despite completing the acquisitions of England star Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood from Atletico Madrid and Burnley, respectively. Eddie Howe is still hoping to have at least two more ...
TRANSFERS

Lazio confirm Real Mallorca talks for Muriqi

Vedat Muriqi of SS Lazio in action during the Coppa Italia match between SS Lazio and Udinese at Olimpico Stadium on January 18, 2022 in Rome, Italy.Lazio director Igli Tare confirms they are ‘in negotiations’ with Real Mallorca, as Vedat Muriqi could move on loan with option to buy.The striker is well down the pecking order at the Stadio Olimpico, as when Ciro Immobile is injured, Maurizio Sarri prefers to use Pedro or Felipe Anderson as a False 9 rather than rely on Muriqi.Having been linked with CSKA Moscow, Leeds United, Hull City and others, it looks as if the Kosovo international might finally have found his next destination.Vedat Muriqi of SS Lazio looks on during the Coppa Italia match between SS Lazio and Udinese Calcio at Olimpico Stadium on January 18, 2022 in Rome, Italy. ...
LALIGA

Atletico get huge fitness boost ahead of crucial Barcelona clash

Antoine Griezmann of Atletico de Madrid celebrate a goal during the La Liga Santader match between Cadiz CF and tletico de Madrid at Nuevo Mirandilla in Cadiz, Spain, on November 28, 2021. Atletico Madrid should get a big fitness boost ahead of their return to action.Los Rojiblancos – and indeed their La Liga rivals – are currently on an international break, with South American and African players currently away.And for European players, this break has provided an opportunity to rest and recover, which is particularly important for injured players.In the case of Atletico Madrid, that includes Antoine Griezmann, who has been absent for the last four games due to a muscular injury.Luis Suarez of Atletico Madrid celebrates 0-3 with Yannick Carrasco of Atletico Madrid during the Spanish Copa d...
TRANSFERS

Tottenham Hotspur loan winger Clarke to Sunderland

Jack Clarke of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League 2 match between Tottenham Hotspur U23 and Blackburn Rovers U23 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 17, 2022 in London, England. Tottenham Hotspur have loaned England Under-20 winger Jack Clarke to League One side Sunderland for the remainder of the season.The 21-year-old joins having played just one first-team game this campaign, and is yet to make a Premier League appearance for his parent club.Clarke, who signed from Leeds for a fee of around £10m in July 2019, has had prior loan spells at Stoke and QPR.I know this is a massive club and what it means to the fans, Clarke said.I'm looking forward to playing at the Stadium of Light and the prospect of being part of the team that ta...
NEWS

Sadio Mane on target but suffers head injury in Senegal’s win over Cape Verde

Senegal's forward Sadio Mane controls the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 round of 16 football match between Senegal and Cape Verde at Stade de Kouekong in Bafoussam on January 25, 2022. Senegal’s Sadio Mane scored but then went off with a head injury as they beat nine-man Cape Verde Islands 2-0 in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam on Tuesday.Mane fired home from a set-piece after 62 minutes but had been hurt earlier in a nasty clash of heads with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who was sent off for the incident.Liverpool forward Mane then left the field shortly afterwards complaining of a headache and could be a doubt for the quarter-final in Limbe on Sunday.Substitute Bamba Dieng scored the second goal deep in stoppage time agai...
LALIGA

Ronald Araujo turns down new Barcelona contract

Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona during a training session at Camp Nou on January 03, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo has rejected the club's first offer of a new contract, putting Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool on high alert.The 22-year-old has been one of Barcelona's best defenders this year but has not signed a new contract since he joined the first team in October 2020, meaning he remains on a comparatively meagre salary.United, Liverpool and Chelsea are all tracking the situation, with all three more than happy to pay him what he deserves if he joins in the summer, when his Barcelona contract will have just 12 months left to run.The belief is that Araujo wants to stay at Barcelona and the club definitely want to keep him, but Marca note that the fi...
NEWS

Cameroon overcome plucky Comoros to advance to AFCON quarterfinals

Cameroon's forward Vincent Aboubakar (L) celebrates with Cameroon's forward Karl Toko Ekambi (R) after scoring his team's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 round of 16 football match between Cameroon and Comoros at Stade d'Olembe in Yaounde on January 24, 2022. Hosts Cameroon made heavy work of beating 10-man Comoros Islands 2-1 on Monday night to advance to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal stage.Comoros Islands had almost everything against them in the last 16 as they missed a number of key players, including goalkeepers, due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in their camp.Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar scored the home team's goals at the Olembe Stadium to eliminate the debutants, who were forced to use a fullback in goal and had their captain sent of...
NEWS

Balotelli Back for Italy After More Than Three Years

Mario Balotelli of Italy smiles during a training session on October 14, 2013 in Naples, Italy. Mario Balotelli is back in the Italy squad more than three years after his last appearance in an Azzurri shirt.Italy coach Roberto Mancini included the striker in a 35-man squad announced Monday for a three-day training camp this week, ahead of the World Cup playoffs in March.The 31-year-old Balotelli made the last of his 36 international appearances in a 1-1 draw against Poland in the Nations League in September 2018.Balotelli is playing for Turkish side Adana Demirspor, where he has scored eight goals in 19 league appearances.Mancini knows Balotelli well, having worked with him at Inter Milan and Manchester City, and Italy has lacked a consistent goalscorer, with Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belot...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Claudio Ranieri sacked as Watford manager after Norwich defeat plunges club into relegation zone

Manager of Watford Claudio Ranieri is interviewed after the Premier League match between Watford and Norwich City at Vicarage Road on January 21, 2022 in Watford, England.Claudio Ranieri has been sacked as manager of Watford just three days after the Premier League club lost 3-0 at home to relegation rivals Norwich City.Watford fell into the bottom three with the dismal defeat, which lifted Norwich out of the relegation zone on Friday evening.The terrible nature of the loss as well as the result ultimately sealed Ranieri’s fate, while it is understood the decision to sack the 70-year-old was taken by the Watford hierarchy in a meeting on Saturday morning.Watford do not play again until February 5, when they travel for their re-arranged fixture away to Burnley and it is understood that the ...
LALIGA

Tough day for Benzema as Real Madrid snatch draw

Karim Benzema player of Real Madrid celebrates during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Elche CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 23, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. La Liga leaders Real Madrid have required a stoppage-time goal by Eder Militao to salvage a 2-2 home draw while Barcelona accounted for Alaves 1-0 with a late strike of their own.Madrid struggled in what was a disappointing afternoon for Karim Benzema, who missed a penalty in the first half and had to be replaced in the second because of injury.The draw left Madrid -- who have won just once in their past three league games -- four points ahead of second-placed Sevilla.Benzema's struggles began when he missed an opportunity from close range with only the goalkeeper to beat inside the area in the first half.Mom...
NEWS

Alex Iwobi sent off as Nigeria knocked out of AFCON by Tunisia

Senegalese referee Maguette N'Diaye (2R) gives a red card to Nigeria's forward Alex Iwobi (unseen) during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 round of 16 football match between Nigeria and Tunisia at Stade Roumde Adjia in Garoua on January 23, 2022. Everton’s Alex Iwobi was sent off just seven minutes after coming on as Nigeria crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the round of 16.Iwobi was dismissed when his yellow card for a challenge on Youssef Msakni was upgraded to red after a VAR check in the 64th minute.The three-time Afcon winners were already trailing to Msakni’s strike from distance two minutes after the restart, with the ball squirming through Maduka Okoye’s grasp.There was no way back for them with Tunisia advancing to a quarter-final date wi...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea beat Tottenham for third time in three weeks

Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on January 23, 2022 in London, England. Two second-half goals, including a brilliant strike from Hakim Ziyech, helped Chelsea beat Tottenham for the third time in three weeks.After a goalless first half, Ziyech scored within two minutes of the restart, superbly curling the ball into the top corner from 20 yards after a fine run from Callum Hudson-Odoi.The hosts doubled their lead eight minutes later when defender Thiago Silva headed in from Mason Mount's excellent free-kick delivery.In the first half, Tottenham thought they had taken the lead as Harry Kane slotted the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga, but the goal was ruled out as the England striker wa...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool beat Crystal Palace to cut Man City lead

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park on January 23, 2022 in London, England. Liverpool gave their hopes of challenging for the Premier League title a boost as they mixed early class with late resilience to hold off Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.Less than 24 hours after league leaders Manchester City dropped points for the first time since October, Jurgen Klopp's side were sharp and ruthless early on to take the game away from their hosts.The intensity of their press and crisp use of the ball overwhelmed Palace and Virgil van Dijk rose to deliver a bullet header for their opener before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain finished a sweeping team move for their second.Palace, though, eventually offere...
LALIGA

Osasuna beat Granada 2-0 at Los Carmenes

David Garcia of CA Osasuna scores his teams first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Granada CF and CA Osasuna at Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes on January 23, 2022 in Granada, Spain.Osasuna beat Granada 2-0 at Los Carmenes in La Liga on Sunday afternoon. David Garcia fired the visitors into the lead in the 64th minute before Kike doubled their advantage in the 90th.The result is big for Osasuna. It leaves them 11th in the league table, just four points off sixth-placed Villarreal. Granada are four points behind the Pamplona side and currently sit in 14th.A solid, no-nonsense team, Europa League football would be a dream for Osasuna if they could achieve it.David Garcia of CA Osasuna celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the La Liga Santander match between Granad...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Laporte rescues Manchester City in Southampton draw

Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium on January 22, 2022 in Southampton, United Kingdom.Pep Guardiola backed Manchester City to hold their nerve after the Premier League leaders' 12-game winning run came to an end as Aymeric Laporte rescued a 1-1 draw against Southampton on Saturday.City were rocked by Kyle Walker-Peters' first ever top-flight goal in the opening minutes at St Mary's.After a poor first half by their high standards, Guardiola's side kicked into gear after the break.Spain defender Laporte headed the equaliser, but City could not extend their winning streak in a one-sided finale that saw the visitors lay siege to the Southampton goal.The ch...
SERIE A

Jose Mourinho Wants More From Roma Striker

AS Roma coach Josè Mourinho during a press conference at Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini on January 22, 2022 in Rome, Italy.Roma boss Jose Mourinho is desperate for Tammy Abraham to fulfil his potential at the Stadio Olimpico amid his side’s rough patch. In the build-up to Romanisti’s trip to Empoli, the Special One urged the ex-Chelsea striker to take advantage of his game time in Rome. Roma dashed out around £34m to rescue Abraham from his Stamford Bridge nightmare in the summer. Mourinho played a significant role in convincing the centre-forward to leave his native country for Serie A in pursuit of a long-term replacement for Edin Dzeko, who left for Inter.Despite Roma’s underwhelming Serie A season so far, Abraham has been one of the most consistent performers, alongside captain...
BUNDESLIGA

Borussia Dortmund edge past Hoffenheim to close the gap to Bayern Munich

Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund in action during the Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at PreZero-Arena on January 22, 2022 in Sinsheim, Germany. Erling Haaland put Borussia Dortmund on their way to a rollercoaster 3-2 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday to keep his side's Bundesliga title hopes alive.Despite being outplayed for much of the game, Marco Rose's side bounced back from a shock defeat in the cup in midweek, scrapping their way to a victory which moves them within three points of league leaders Bayern Munich overnight.Dortmund started brilliantly, carving through the Hoffenheim defence with a brilliant string of passes on six minutes, providing Erling Haaland with a tap-in for the opener.Hoffenheim then squandered several good chances before Andrej Kr...
LALIGA

Villarreal beat Mallorca at La Ceramica to leap-frog Barcelona into sixth

Dani Parejo (L) of Villarreal CF competes for the ball with Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta of RCD Mallorca during the La Liga Santander match between Villarreal CF and RCD Mallorca at Estadio de la Ceramica on January 22, 2022, Villarreal, Spain. Villarreal beat Mallorca 3-0 at La Ceramica on Saturday afternoon in La Liga.Franco Russo scored an own goal in the 12th minute to give the home side an early lead before Manu Trigueros doubled their advantage in the 34th minute.Dani Parejo made it 3-0 in the 87th minute when he scored a penalty, with Russo sent off the minute before.The result means that Villarreal have climbed above Barcelona in the table and into sixth. They’re just a point behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.Mallorca, on the other hand, are perilously close to the relegation zone. T...
Blogarama - Blog Directory