Silver Emmanuel – Page 456 – Football Flame

Author: Silver Emmanuel

Football blogger
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Fabinho happy with his new defensive role for Liverpool

Fabinho has been forced to play at centre-back in Liverpool last two matches due to the number of injured players  at Anfield.Joe Gomez [ankle], Trent Alexander-Arnold [knee] and Dejan Lovren [hamstring] are all currently sidelined, while Joel Matip is yet to feature since returning to full training after a fractured collarbone.Jurgen Klopp could play Fabinho in defence again on Saturday when Crystal Palace visit Anfield, while James Milner remains another option for the Red boss.Fabinho told Liverpool's website:"Some weeks ago, I knew this could be an option because we had some players out injured and we only had two centre-backs available."When Dejan got injured, I knew it would be logical that I'd play in that position."I had some training sessions playing in that position, which h...
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NEWS

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Italian Super Cup for Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal to hand Juventus their first trophy of the season with a 1-0 win over ten-man AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia.Ronaldo joined the Italian giants last year from Real Madrid as they target a first Champions League title since 1996  headed in a 61st-minute winner.
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TRANSFERS

Bournemouth close to signing Brentford defender Chris Mepham

Brentford and Bournemouth have resumed negogiations over a potential move for Chris Mepham and a deal now appears to be close.Bournemouth had offers for the Hammersmith-born central defender rejected during the summer transfer window.The Cherries remain interested in Mepham, 21, and have again made an approach to Brentford to see if an agreement can be reached.Southampton are also eyeing Mepham along with his team-mate Ollie Watkins. 
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Harry kane set for ankle scan with fear of lengthy absence

Harry Kane is set for a scan on his ankle injury with fears he is facing a lengthy absence.Tottenham striker Kane is worried he has suffered serious ankle ligament damage which could keep him out for up to four weeks to wreck Spurs' season. It comes with Tottenham facing a huge run of games in seven days which could make or break their season as they face Fulham next Sunday, the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi final at  Chelsea and then the FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace. Kane’s ankle was still so badly swollen on Monday that the club could not do a scan on the damage and will not know the full extent until today at the earliest.However, they are desperately hoping their worst fears are not confirmed that it is a grade two sprain which would keep him out for at least a month.
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Atletico Madrid holds transfer talk with Chelsea to sign Alvaro Morata

Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have begun talks over a possible deal deal for Alvaro Morata to join the Spainish club.Atletico have shown their interest in Morata after much speculation over the future of the Chelsea striker, who has also been linked with the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Sevilla.Morata has struggled since a big-money move to Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid in the summer of 2017.He could now return to Madrid, paving the way for Maurizio Sarri to bring in a striker.Chelsea head coach Sarri wants a forward during this month’s transfer window and in recent weeks has deployed Eden Hazard as a ‘false number nine’ rather than select Morata or Olivier Giroud.Sarri is keen for Chelsea to sign Gonzalo Higuain, who played under him at Napoli and is currently on a season-long l...
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LALIGA

Messi hits 400th La Liga goal as Barcelona grab a 3-0 win over Eibar

Lionel Messi scored his 400th La Liga goal as leaders Barcelona claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Eibar at the Nou Camp to maintain their five-point advantage at the top of the table. Luis Suarez got the other two goals. Messi's perfect strike came in just his 435th appearance in the competition. Cristiano Ronaldo (311) is the only other player to have scored more than 300 goals in La Liga.Dani Ceballos 88th mins strike gave Real Madrid  a 2-1 win at Real Betis. Real are now joint third with Sevilla, who lost 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao to Inaki Williams' brace.In Italy, promising young Argentinian Lautaro Martinez and Ivan Perisic stole the show as Inter Milan hammered Benevento 6-2 at the San Siro to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.Martinez scored two seco...
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LALIGA

Griezmann saves Atletico Madrid to 1-0 win over Levante

Antoine Griezmann saves Atletico Madrid again to pressurize Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Sunday by thrashing Levante 1-0. Griezmann has now scored all of Atletico's last six goals. A 1-0 victory for Diego Simeone's side cuts the gap from five points to two behind Barcelona, who will restore their advantage with a win over Eibar later on Sunday.Levante, who have not won in the league since December 3, stay 11th.Atletico had 19 shots and, unusually for them, dominated possession but they continue to rely on Griezmann's excellent scoring run for points."We all pull the cart in difficult moments," Griezmann said. "I cannot do anything without my team-mates."After a nervy start, Levante began to frustrate their opponents, whose poor decision-making in the final third had Simeone flai...
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SERIE A

Milan boss Gattuso says Higuain wants to leave San Siro

Ac Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso has disclosed that Chelsea target Gonzalo Higuain desire to leave San Siro this month.The Argentine striker has struggled to match the form displayed for Napoli and Juventus since arriving in Milan five months ago, scoring six times in 15 Serie A games this season.Higuain is currently on loan with Ac Milan from Juventus until the end of the season, which has complicated a potential transfer to Chelsea.Maurizio Sarri has worked with the striker at Napoli and is keen on a reunion before the end of the January window, but the Blues must negotiate terms with both Milan and Juventus.Gattuso has confirmed that, despite his best efforts, Higuain would prefer to play his football elsewhere in the second half of the season, he said: "When a player makes up his mind it...
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NEWS

Stoke City appoint Nathan Jones as new manager

Stoke City have appointed Nathan Jones as their new manager following the dismissal of Gary Rowett less than 24 hours ago.The 45-year-old Welshman joins from  Luton Town after a compensation package was agreed between the Potters and the League One club.Jones takes over from Rowett, who lasted just eight months at the bet365 Stadium following a poor run of form that has seen Stoke drop into the bottom half of the Championship table. After enjoying considerable success at Luton  having overseen the side’s promotion to League One last season – Jones is now tasked with returning Stoke to the Premier League.Stoke owners John Coates and Peter Coates said in a statement which read: “Nathan is an incredibly driven and passionate individual and we are delighted to hav...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham postpone opening of White Hart Lane stadium

Tottenham Hotspur new stadium (well, the old ground, but made newer) is now not expected to open until March at the earliest, meaning the first game there could well be the North London Derby against Arsenal on the second of that month.According to a new statement from the club, a number of building test dates are still being confirmed, meaning the next three home league games will be played at the club’s temporary home of Wembley Stadium.The home leg of Spurs’ Champions League last 16 game against Borussia Dortmund will also take place at the national stadium, as will an FA Cup fifth round fixture if the club progresses and gets a home draw.Tottenham have spent the last 18 months at Wembley as building work goes on, with the exception of a league cup game this season where they had to use...
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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich keen to complete signing of Chelsea youngster Hudson-Odoi

Bayern Munich are targeting young talent in the current transfer window, have confirmed their strong interest in English teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi amid reports the defending German champions have agreed a fee with Chelsea."We definitely want to sign him - he has the qualities which would fit very well into our team," Bayern's director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic said Wednesday at their winter training camp in Doha."He is very fast and good at dribbling."According to report, Bayern and Chelsea have agreed a transfer of 39 million euros (35 million pounds, $44.6 million), but it is unclear whether Hudson-Odoi would move in the current Bundesliga transfer window, which closes at 17:00 GMT on January 31, or in July.
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LALIGA

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos ruled out for three weeks with muscle injury

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos will be sidelined for about three weeks because of a muscle injury.The club says tests on Monday showed Kroos sustained a tear of the adductor muscle in his left leg on Sunday in the home loss to Real Sociedad.The German player had to be replaced late in the game at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.Kroos was added to an injury list that already includes Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio and Mariano Diaz.Madrid dropped to fifth place in the Spanish league with the 2-0 defeat to Real Sociedad.
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal set a demanding price of £20million for Aaron Ramsey

According to reports, Arsenal have placed a £20million asking price on Aaron Ramsey.The Wales international looks set to leave the Emirates this summer, after failing to agree a new contract with the club.Earlier this season the Gunners left the negotiation table with the belief that Ramsey was requesting too much of an increase to his wages.It is thought the 28 year-old has signed a five-year pre-contractual agreement with Juventus worth around £5.83million-a-year.However, there is still a strong possibility that Ramsey could leave the Emirates this month for a cut-price deal.
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LALIGA

Brahim Diaz: It was impossible not to join the club of my dream Real madrid

Spainish Midfielder Brahim Diaz says it was impossible not to leave Manchester City and sign for the club of his dreams Real Madrid.Diaz joins Madrid on a six-a-half year deal for around £15.5milliona from Manchester City, the deal being announced after a 2-0 defeat by Real Sociedad on Sunday left them fifth in La Liga.And as we unveiled at the Bernabue the 19-year-old could scarcely be happier.Diaz said:"This is the happiest day of my life, I couldn't have a better gift for Three Kings Day."I had three options after deciding to leave Manchester City. One, play at Real Madrid, two, play at Real Madrid and three, play at Real Madrid. It was impossible to go anywhere else. "I understand the responsibility of playing with this shirt. I will give everything from the first day."
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NEWS

Newport County stuns Leicester City in the third round of the FA Cup

Padraig Amond was the hero for Newport County on Sunday afternoon, as the League Two club shocked Leicester City in the third round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win.Jamille Matt gave the hosts the lead, before Rachid Ghezzal levelled with eight minute left on the clock.A handball inside the box by Marc Albrighton gave Newport the chance to win it in the 85th minute, with 30-year-old Amond holding his nerve to score and record a massive upset against Leicester City.
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LALIGA

Alaves move to fourth place in La liga after thrashing Valencia 2-1

Alaves maintain their excellent home form by recovering to beat  Valencia 2-1 on Saturday, climbing into fourth place in La Liga and boosting their chances of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.Valencia captain Dani Parejo gave the visitors the lead with a swerving free kick in the 14th minute but Alaves, who are the only side in Spain's top flight alongside Atletico Madrid to still be unbeaten at home this season, soon hit back.Striker Borja Baston pulled the 2001 UEFA Cup runners-up level in the 21st with a scrappy, deflected shot from inside the area, while midfielder Tomas Pina put Alaves ahead in first-half stoppage time after a period of heavy pressure.The win took Alaves to 31 points from 18 games, one ahead of European champions Real Madrid who host Real So...
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NEWS

FA Cup: Gillingham stun Cardiff City with 1-0 win at Priestfield

London League one strugglers Gillingham produced the biggest shock of the FA Cup third round by beating Premier League Cardiff City 1-0 at Priestfield.Midfielder Elliott List scored the vital goal on 81 minutes and Gillingham held on in eight minutes of injury time to send Neil Warnock’s side out at the first time of asking.While, Manchester United beat second-tier struggler Reading 2-0 for a fifth straight win since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced the fired Jose Mourinho last month. It ties the record of Sir Matt Busby, who also won his first five games in charge in the 1946-47 season.Juan Mata, from the penalty spot, and Romelu Lukaku scored the first-half goals to see off Reading at Old Trafford, while Alexis Sanchez played a part in both strikes amid a busy display in the Chilean’s first...
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LALIGA

Ernesto Valverde is yet to decide his future as Barca manager till the end of the season

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde says his future as the Blaugrana manager will not be decided until the end of the season.Valverde won the double last year, La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and his side are currently three points clear at the top of the table after 17 games and have reached the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will play Lyon.But the coach sparked speculation about his future last week by saying in an interview with Barca's official TV channel that he did not know where he would be next season.Speaking at a news conference ahead of Barcelona's trip to Getafe on Sunday, Valverde sought to clarify his future.He said:"I have a contract with the club which was two years plus an option and at the end of the season we have to decide whether I continue or not."We will po...
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TRANSFERS

West Brom winger Oliver Burke join Celtic on loan

Celtic have signed Oliver Burke on loan from West Brom for the remainder of the season.The winger joined West Brom from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in the summer of 2017 for a fee reported to be around €16.5m, but he has fallen down the pecking order under West Brom head coach Darren Moore.Burke has made only three substitute appearances in his Championship club this season and he will get the chance to kick-start his career under Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow.However, West Brom’s sporting and technical director Luke Dowling ruled out a permanent switch for the Kirkcaldy-born Burke, capped five times by Scotland.Dowling told the West Brom website:“To be fair to Oli, there have been a lot of changes at the club since his arrival which have not helped him.“The opportunity to join a club of Celti...
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TRANSFERS

Jason Puncheon joins Huddersfield on loan

Huddersfield have confirmed the signing of Jason Puncheon from Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the season.Puncheon, 32, whose four Premier League appearances for Palace this season have come off the bench, is Huddersfield’s second January signing following the arrival of defender Jaden Brown from Tottenham.“I’m very happy that we are able to welcome Jason to Huddersfield Town,” manager David Wagner stated in a statement.“It is clear that we want to add quality and options to our midfield areas in this January transfer window and I’m sure many of our supporters know about Jason from his years playing in the Premier League.”The midfielder, who has made almost 200 appearances in the top flight for Palace, Southampton, Blackpool and QPR, will stay at Huddersfield until June 30.“As well...
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