PREMIER LEAGUE – Page 116 – Football Flame

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N’Golo Kante delight in new attacking role with Chelsea

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante has revealed the pleasure he is taking from his new attacking midfield role after scoring the game’s only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.The Frenchman’s recent change from  the world’s leading defensive midfielder, it was from that position he was so influential as France became world champions  to a more offensive position has consistently divided opinion.Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri has also occasionally been criticised for the decision taken to accommodate summer signing Jorginho, but at Selhurst Park amid Palace’s negativity it was Kante’s forward run and finish that was needed to secure victory.Despite their ability Chelsea had rarely looked like scoring, and the 27-year-old Kante told the club’s official website: “(This role) is somet...
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Bournemouth captain Simon Francis ruled out for the rest of the season with injury

Bournemouth captain Simon Francis will be sidelines for nine month with a cruciate ligament injury.The 33-year-old defender ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the 5-0 Premier League defeat by Tottenham at Wembley on Boxing Day.He was carried from the field on a stretcher and after being assessed by the Cherries' medical staff, underwent a scan in London on Wednesday evening which revealed the extent of the damage.Manager Eddie Howe told the club’s official website: “We are devastated to have lost Simon to a serious knee injury.“It is a huge blow for us to lose our captain and someone who has performed so well and consistently for the team over a long period of time.“There is a long road ahead, but Simon is a model professional who has a positive mindset and is...
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Brighton held 1-1 draw against Arsenal

Brighton & Hove Albion came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday and arrest a run of three straight defeats.Their poor run looked like continuing as Arsenal took the lead after seven minutes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang producing a fine side-foot finish wide in the box for his 13th league goal of the season.However, the Gunners have only kept three clean sheets in 19 league games and were pegged back just after the half hour mark.A long ball up the field came off the head of Stephan Lichtsteiner and fell to Jurgen Locadia who had sprinted up the pitch and did well to poke it past Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.Brighton midfielder Davy Propper headed just wide shortly after halftime, while Solly March later got on the end of another long ball but his...
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Liverpool beat Newcastle to stay six point clear at the top

Liverpool displayed the form of champions as they increased their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points by beating Newcastle United 4-0 at Anfield.Goals from Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho did the damage as Liverpool's chances of a first English top-flight title since the 1989-90 season were boosted by Manchester City's 2-1 defeat at Leicester.Klopp made three changes to his starting XI whereas Benitez made an eye-catching six from Newcastle's previous result,  a goalless draw against Fulham that featured zero shots on target.Joselu missed a glorious opportunity after eight minutes, heading wide of Alisson Becker's goal following a wonderful cross from Matt Ritchie.Liverpool punished Newcastle's lack of ruthlessness as three minutes later.A deep...
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Crystal Palace thrash Manchester city 3-2 through Andros Townsend wonder goal

Liverpool are still four points clear at the top of the Premier League after Crystal Palace thrash Manchester City 3-2 at the Etihad, partly thanks to an Andros Townsend wonder goal. Manchester City had led through Ilkay Gundogan but two goals in three minutes overturned the scores as Palace led 2-1 at the break.Jeffery Schlup levelled on 33mins before Townsend put them ahead with a wonder goal. Luka Milivojevic penalty doubled Palace's lead on 51mins.Kelvin De Bruyne gave City hope in 85mins but the visitors held on to stun Man City. 
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West Ham eyeing January move for Beskitas Midfielder Gary Medel

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini plans to sign Gary Medel from Beskitas in Janaury, according to Sky Sport. The Midfielder Previously played in the Premier League in a one-year spell at Cardiff City who made him their club-record 11million pounds transfer from SevillaAnd now it looks as though the Midfielder could be on his way back to England with the Hammers chasing his signature.It’s reported that officials of the London club are set to travel to Turkey to get negotiations under way.No formal offer is thought to have been made at this stage, but Pellegrini is determined to bring his fellow countryman to the capital.Medel, who has also had spells at Universidad Católica, Boca Juniors and Inter Milan, has played  116 times for Chile.
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Manchester United confirm Jose Mourinho dismissal

Manchester United announced in a statement this morning that the Portuguese has been sacked after two and half years at the club and the team sitting in sixth in the league after their worst start to a top-flight campaign since the Premier League's inception in 1992.“Manchester United announces that managerMourinho has left the club with immediate effect. The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future," the statement read.“A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”
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West Ham eye Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross

Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross is reportedly on the radar of West Ham. According to report, West Ham and Liverpool are both interested in the 27-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.But it was reported on Tuesday that Liverpool were already eyeing up a deal for the creative playmaker for January, as Jurgen Klopp plans a potential £15million move. West Ham should step up their interest in Gross and try to match Liverpool for his signature in the New Year.The German is an attacking midfielder that is one of the most technically gifted players at Brighton and would be a good signing for Manuel Pellegrini.Gross made a huge impact at Brighton last season, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists in the Premier League to save his club from relegation.He’s now back in ...
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EPL: Manchester United set for biggest test as they face Liverpool this weekend

Jose Mourinho faces tough test as he prepares Manchester United for a trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool while Manchester City look to get back into  groove after last week's Chelsea defeat.United have an impressive recent record against Liverpool, unbeaten in eight league games, but away fans will travel with a sense of trepidation to Anfield.Unai Emery takes his Arsenal side, unbeaten in 21 matches in all competitions, to face struggling Southampton while Chelsea also travel to the south coast to take on Brighton. Manchester City host seventh-placed Everton while Tottenham, fresh from reaching the Champions League knockout phase, face Burnley at Wembley.
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Gylfi Sigurdsson says Everton Players are happy with the work of new manager Marco Silva

Gylfi Sigurdsson has praised Marco Silva for bringing a feel-good factor to Everton. The Toffees manager Silva has lead the club to seventh in the Premier League table since his summer appointment. Everton will welcomes  Watford to Goodison Park on Monday evening.Iceland international Sigurdsson feels Everton are going in the right direction under their new coach.Sigurdsson told the club website:“I think if you ask any of the players, they are enjoying working with the new manager.“He wants us to play attacking football, to work hard without the ball and press.“There is a good understanding within the players.”Silva brought six new outfield players to Merseyside during the summer. Brazilian duo Richarlison and Bernard were joined by commanding centre-backs Kurt Zouma an...
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EPL: Jurgen Klopp focused on Bournemouth clash, not the league table

Jurgen Klopp’s goal is to ensure Liverpool are ready to perform at their best against AFC Bournemouth, not the plan of going top of the Premier League. Liverpool will visit the Vitality Stadium on Saturday knowing that victory would lift them above Manchester City for a few hours at least, with Pep Guardiola’s team taking on Chelsea later in the day.Klopp’s primary concern, however, is the immediate task of overcoming seventh-placed Bournemouth, not the wider context of the league standings.Klopp stated during Friday’s pre-match press conference:“I don’t think Man City feel any pressure, they don’t look like that and that’s not the first target - the first target is to perform on the highest level because it’s needed against Bournemouth.“They play a fantastic season and it’s just an outsta...
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Riyad Mahrez believes Manchester City will return stronger from Watford scare

Riyad Mahrez has revealed that Manchester City will return stronger from their scare at Watford, but insists any of the top-four teams can still beat them to the Premier League title.Manchester City, who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, extended their unbeaten run after Leroy Sane and Mahrez struck either side of half-time at Vicarage Road.But the champions were given a fright in the concluding stages when Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled over from close range with just five minutes remaining.Despite facing a nervous end as Watford went in search of what, for most of the match seemed an unlikely point, Pep Guardiola’s side held firm to claim their seventh consecutive league victory.The City squad will now be given Thursday off ahead of their match against Chelsea this coming ...
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Maurizio Sarri claim Chelsea are ready with new contract for Eden Hazard

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has disclosed the club are ready with a new contract for Eden Hazard, but it remains up to the Belgian forward Hazard if he wants to commit his future with the Blues. Hazard, 27, has been a key player for Chelsea since arriving from French side Lille in 2012, and n recent years has emerged as one of the finest players in the Premier League. Hazard's current contract expires in 2020, which presents a problem for Chelsea if he does not agree to the new deal soon, the club will need to decide whether to sell their best player next summer while they can still command a substantial fee or risk losing him for nothing the following year.Hazard made his thoughts perfectly clear after helping Belgium to third place at the World Cup in Russia that he was torn between C...
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Eddie Howe hailed his players as Bournemouth end losing run

Eddie Howe praised his Bournemouth side’s as they ended a four-game losing run with a 2-1 win over Huddersfield. Bournemouth had lost to Newcastle, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in recent weeks but goals in the opening 22 minutes from Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser got them back on track.They did have to battle for the three points after that, though, as  Huddersfield came back strongly and made a game of it through Terence Kongolo’s header shortly before the break.Howe was relieved to end his side’s drought and was grateful to their fast start.Howe said:“It’s a big relief, it was a very, very tough game. “We anticipated it would be, we respect Huddersfield a lot, I think they play a really good brand of football, they press really well.“We kne...
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Bournemouth are unhappy about Dan Gosling injury

Bournemouth midfielder Dan Gosling has been sent for a scan on his knee injury. Gosling picked up the injury against Arsenal last weekend and missed Saturday’s defeat at Manchester City after pulling out of the warm-up.He will get the injury checked out by specialists and is a doubt for Tuesday’s Premier League clash with Huddersfield.Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said in his pre-match press conference:“Dan Gosling is a concern for us.“We’ve sent him away for a scan on his knee so we’ll see how he is. He didn’t feel comfortable during the warm up at the weekend.“We have a couple of niggles. You’re always going to have a few niggles at this time of the season, so we’ll see how those guys are.“We know we’re coming in to a busy period of fixtures. We need everyone in the squad to be r...
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Southampton sack manager Mark Hughes

Southampton sack manager Mark Hughes after just winning one of their 14 matches so far this season. The Premier League club  announced on their official Twitter account:"Southampton Football Club can today confirm it  has parted company with first team manager Mark Hughes. "Assistant first team manager Mark Bowen and assistant first team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki have also left the club. "We would like to express our thanks to Mark Andy his staff for all their efforts during their time at St Mary’s."The search to find a new manager is already under way. First team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will lead the team for Wednesday’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley."
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Isaac Success pens new five-year contract with Watford

Isaac Success has penned a new five-year contract with Watford. The Nigerian moved to Watford on a permanent deal from Granada in 2016, and spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan at Malaga.Success has featured 15 times in all competitions for Watford this season, starting six times and scoring three goals.Watford chairman Scott Duxbury told the club's website: "This is a just reward for Isaac's continued hard work and application this season. We look forward to seeing him develop further over the coming years."Success has represented Nigeria four times since making his international debut last year.
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Javi Gracia signs four-year Watford extension

Watford have awarded boss Javi Gracia a new four-and-a-half-year deal with the option of a further years added on, it has been confirmed.Gracia replaced Marco Silva at Vicarage Road in January and has won 11 of his 30 matches at the helm to date, with the Hornets ninth in the Premier League standings.Gracia told club media:“I am very happy to extend my contract.“I am very proud in this moment to be part of this club and to belong here for more seasons.”
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Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante signs new five-year contract

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has penned a new five-year contract. The midfielder joined  the blues from Leicester city  in the summer of 2016 and has been currently in Maurizio Sarri’s side this season.“N’Golo Kante has today extended his stay at Stamford Bridge by signing a new five-year contract,” Chelsea stated on their website.Kante said:“I’m happy to extend my time with Chelsea. It has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come.“Since I came, I completely improved as a player, challenged myself and got some awards I never thought about.”
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Predicted Lineup: West Ham vs Manchester City

Manchester City will travel to West Ham as the Premier League returns on Saturday, City's are ready to grab another three points that will keep them at the top of the table. Pep Guardiola side are yet to be defeated after 12 league matches, as they are presently two point ahead of second-place Liverpool.West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is set to face his fomer club,With his side Unbeaten in their last three league outings.City's have bagged 13 goals during thier previous three visits to the London stadium,Including a 4-1 win in april. West ham have not taken a single point from Man City since January 2016.PREDICTED LINE-UP:WEST HAM: Fabianski; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell; Rice, Ogbonna, Obiang; Snodgrass, Arnautovic, Felipe Anderson.MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson; Walker, Stones, La...
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