PREMIER LEAGUE

29Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

£12 million regular starter believes Southampton can again make a come-back

Kyle Walker-Peters of Southampton during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. Kyle Walker-Peters is one of the most experienced players for Southampton, and the 27-year-old is among the best defenders who have played for the Saints in recent seasons. Since arriving at the St. Mary's Stadium from Tottenham Hotspurs in a £12 million transfer move, the England international has gone strength to strength while establishing himself as an integral part of the Southampton defence. When the Saints were relegated last year, Walker-Peters was one of the few first-team players who decided to help Southampton to return to the English top flight. With 11 clean-sheets and 6 goal contributions in the previou...

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29Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Who will be the next Manchester United manager after Ten Hag?

Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United, reacts as he looks on during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Manchester United FC at London Stadium on October 27, 2024 in London, England. Manchester United sacked manager Erik ten Hag after the club failed to show any progress in the Dutchman's third season, leaving the hot seat vacant for a new coach to try their luck at one of the toughest jobs in the Premier League. Since Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013, the 20-times English champions have not won the league title despite some big names such as Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho taking the reins. The following are some of the candidates among the favourites to replace Ten Hag. Ruben Amorim The coach of Portuguese side Sporting appeared as the frontrunner to replace ...

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27Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pep Guardiola issues Man City reality check despite Liverpool vs Arsenal title race bonus

Manchester City's Manager Josep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. Pep Guardiola will settle down on Sunday afternoon to watch Liverpool take on Arsenal knowing his Manchester City side are top of the Premier League. City beat Southampton on Saturday to leapfrog Liverpool at the top of the Premier League ahead of the leaders travelling to third-placed Arsenal on Sunday. Elsewhere on Saturday, Aston Villa and Brighton moved up places in the top five but were both held and Guardiola says the results so far this season prove that nothing can be taken for granted - especially after seeing City given two tough contests against the bottom two sides in the last week. "I will watch...

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27Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Iwobi rues Fulham’s failure to hold on

Fulham's Alex Iwobi scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday October 26, 2024. Alex Iwobi was phlegmatic after Fulham failed to hold onto the lead he established for them at Everton on Saturday evening – as the Whites were denied three points on his return to Goodison Park by Beto’s late, late leveller. The Nigerian international struck a superb second half opener from just outside the box after a brilliant individual dribble from Emile Smith Rowe. His low-key celebration in front of the travelling fans was a testament to how special he considered his years on the blue half of Merseyside. Iwobi told Sky Sports after the final whistle: “It would have been a nice feeling to get three points against my old...

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26Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Predicted Chelsea line-up vs Newcastle United as Cole Palmer returns and £215m midfield duo

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could change his entire starting XI from the one that beat Panathinaikos 4-1 on Thursday night when Newcastle United come to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Blues boss was able to leave a host of first-team regulars in West London as they jetted out to Greece for their Europa Conference League game, and he is set to ring the changes again for this weekend's Premier League test against Eddie Howe's side. Of the side that started against Panathinaikos, only two are likely to keep their place against Newcastle, with Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez expected to start on Sunday - although Maresca has options to replace both. However he is expected to make at least NINE changes this weekend, with Cole Palmer likely to start. The Premier League's in-form star didn't e...

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25Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pep Guardiola: Manchester City missing key quartet for Southampton game

  Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku all remain unavailable for Saturday’s home Premier League game against Southampton. Guardiola, who named only 15 outfield players in his squad for this week’s Champions League win against Sparta Prague, also admitted he had no idea when De Bruyne would return to contention. When asked if De Bruyne and Walker were available, Guardiola said: “No, not yet.” And when pressed on whether De Bruyne’s extended absence due to a thigh injury was a concern, Guardiola added: “Yes of course. I’d prefer to have all the squad (fit) with the amount of games, but it is what it is. “Hopefully he can come back soon. I don’t know (when) yet. I would like to tell you, but I don’t know.” Playmaker De Bruyne has been out si...

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24Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Man United hold talks to sign manager to replace Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United, shows appreciation to the fans following the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brentford FC at Old Trafford on October 19, 2024 in Manchester, England. Despite the narrow 2-1 win over Brentford back in the weekend, the pressure remains on Erik ten Hag to get Manchester United to win games consistently and later today, he will take charge as his side face Fenerbahce in the Europa League. The Jose Mourinho-led Turkish team will be keen to ensure that they find a way to get one over the Red Devils. The legendary manager has personal revenge to fulfil against Manchester United, having managed them in the past. A loss today could push Erik ten Hag further closer to the axe. Manchester United on their part are looking at potential ...

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23Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta sends warning to Liverpool ahead of Premier League clash

Mikel Arteta has insisted the Arsenal will be at their best when they face off against Liverpool on Sunday in a crucial Premier League clash.   The Gunners head into the game on Sunday off the back of two rather disappointing performances both in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Arteta's side were well below par on Saturday at the Vitality Stadium, losing 2-0 to Bournemouth after going down to ten men - William Saliba received a straight red in the first half. They were similarly poor against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday evening at the Emirates Stadium, but managed to scrape a win thanks to an own goal from Dmytro Riznyk. Following two sub-par outings, manager Arteta has admitted that he was expecting a slight dip in form following a strenuous inte...

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21Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea: Three talking points

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on October 20, 2024 in Liverpool, England. Liverpool edged out Chelsea to return to the Premier League’s summit. Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock shortly before the half-hour mark from the penalty spot after Levi Colwill had tripped Curtis Jones inside the area. The visitors drew level early in the second half through Nicolas Jackson firing beyond Caoimhin Kelleher after VAR overturned the initial offside decision. But Curtis Jones restored the Reds’ advantage just three minutes later when he met Salah’s cross to the far post and guided it past Robert Sanchez. Arne Slot’s side consolidated their one-point cushion as league leaders following Manchester City’s late win over W...

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20Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham keeping tabs on 20-year-old Serie A midfield whizkid

The coach of Italy Luciano Spalletti and the Italian footballer Niccolo Pisilli during the UEFA Nations League match between Italy and Belgium at the Olympic stadium. Rome (Italy), 10 October 2024. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly tracking the progress of 20-year-old Italian midfield whizkid Niccolo Pisilli at Serie A club AS Roma. According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Niccolo Pisilli has piqued the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, especially in the Premier League. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur are closely monitoring the progress of the 20-year-old AS Roma midfield whizkid at the Serie A club. Niccolo Pisilli is the latest highly-rated prospect to rise in prominence in his homeland. A native of Rome, the young mi...

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19Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Ten Hag: We have to meet the standards

Manager Erik ten Hag of Manchester United speaks during a press conference at Carrington Training Ground on October 18, 2024 in Manchester, England. Erik ten Hag says Manchester United must shrug off any absentees in the 15:00 BST kick-off with Brentford. There was mixed news on the fitness front in training, with Kobbie Mainoo joining Harry Maguire on the sidelines, but recent recruit Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte are among those available. The Bees are certain to be awkward opponents but, during his pre-match interview with club media, the boss was full of expectation that the selected XI will deliver the three points required at Old Trafford. “It’s always about the players who are available,” Ten Hag told MUTV’s Mark Sullivan. “Because it’s what you have to work with and those ar...

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18Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Lopetegui admits he admires Tottenham man ahead of West Ham showdown

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Ipswich Town FC at London Stadium on October 5, 2024 in London, England. West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui believes Ange Postecoglou has made Tottenham one of the best teams in the Premier League. The Hammers are preparing to make the short trip to North London to face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 19 October. It is clear that the Spanish head coach has plenty of respect for his opposition boss, as shown by his kind prematch comments to The Mirror on 18 October (Page 57). He said: “They are one of the best teams in the Premier League. They have a big intensity and very good players. We have to be ready with an answer. “I think Ange changed a lot of things in their tea...

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18Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Man Utd faces injury blow ahead of Brentford clash

Erik ten Hag Manager / Head Coach of Manchester United with Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United as he is subsituted off during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Manchester United FC at Villa Park on October 06, 2024 in Birmingham, England. Premier League giants Manchester United have been dealt a fresh blow on the injury front. This comes amid confirmation that midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is set for an incoming spell on the sidelines. Youngster Mainoo, for his part, has continued to cement himself as one of the first names on the team sheet of manager Erik ten Hag over the early weeks of the new campaign. All told, across Man United’s seven Premier League fixtures, the England international has featured from the off in each and every one. Safe to say, then, that news of his i...

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17Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Traore says Guardiola gave him some pointer

Kyle Walker of Manchester City battles for possession with Adama Traore of Fulham during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Fulham FC at Etihad Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Manchester, England. Fulham winger Adama Traore has revealed that Pep Guardiola gave him ‘some pointers’ about how to finish the one-on-one opportunities he missed at Manchester City. The winger was disconsolate after spurning three good opportunities to get on the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium before the international break as the Whites went down to an agonising 3-2 defeat at the home of the champions. The Spaniard told El Larguero: “I’ve known him for a few years, but it’s always appreciated. He is the best coach in the world, without a doubt. After the game he came up to me to tell it was ...

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16Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Scott McTominay: What’s happened since he left Man Utd?

Six weeks have passed since Scott McTominay bid a permanent farewell to Manchester United, the club where he'd spent 22 of his almost 28 years on this planet. Despite scoring ten goals across all competitions last season, McTominay wasn't a regular starter for Erik ten Hag and his contributions weren't enough to convince the manager to keep him at Old Trafford. Even though Ten Hag later said he would have ideally preferred not to let McTominay go, United knew they needed to sell during the summer transfer window if they were going to bring new players in and home-grown sales are much more valuable when it comes to the Premier League's increasingly strict financial regulations. McTominay, who was the subject of a rejected £30m bid from West Ham in 2023, was earmarked as someone who could b...

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15Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City target Rúben Amorim as next manager if Pep Guardiola leaves

Manchester City are strongly considering the Sporting Lisbon head coach Rúben Amorim as their next manager if Pep Guardiola leaves when his contract expires at the end of the season. Guardiola said last weekend that “anything can happen” in terms of his future. The importance of City having a succession plan is clear and the link with Amorim, regarded as one of the best young managers in Europe, is understandable. The 39-year-old is a close ally of Hugo Viana, who will take over from Txiki Begiristain as City’s director of football next summer. The desire for a smooth transition means Viana, who has been at Sporting since 2018, will collaborate with Begiristain before the 60-year-old retires at the end of the season. There is the prospect of an immediate recruitment challenge given that G...

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15Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United have three transfer options to fund January rescue act

It has been five years since Manchester United spent money on a permanent signing in the January transfer window, and the new football structure at Old Trafford will aim to keep the chequebook closed again this winter. Bruno Fernandes was the last mid-season transfer at Old Trafford in January 2020, and if you were making a case for business in that window, you would certainly have Fernandes front and centre of your proposal. He is United's best signing of the last decade and has proved outstanding value for money at £47m. Since then, United have done all their major business in the summer, as the most well-run clubs always aim to do. The winter window in Erik ten Hag's first season was notable for some stop-gap loan deals, in Jack Butland, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst. Ralf Rangnick ...

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15Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Neymar responds to transfer claim as Mikel Arteta suffers another injury setback

With the international break nearing an end, Arsenal will be able to fully focus on a huge run of fixtures. The Gunners have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season and will be hoping to continue that when they travel to Bournemouth on October 19. That match will be followed by a midweek game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and a blockbuster clash against top of the table Liverpool on Sunday. However, they will be sweating on the fitness of a number of key players, including Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest Arsenal news. Neymar responds to transfer question Neymar has joked he is ready to join Arsenal after boxing promoter and Gunners fan Frank Warren urged him to move to the Emirates. Neymar, who currently plays for Saudi Pro...

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14Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins eyeing England start

The Villa striker, who memorably sent his country to the Euro 2024 final with a last-minute semi-final winner against the Netherlands, endured a frustrating Nations League camp over the last week. Despite Harry Kane being injured, Lee Carsley chose not to field a recognised striker in last Thursday’s match against Greece, instead opting to play Jude Bellingham as a false nine, and it backfired as England lost 2-1. Watkins came on as a substitute and teed up Bellingham but was again consigned to the bench when Kane returned against Finland on Sunday. The 28-year-old replaced the captain in the second half in Helsinki and got another assist as he created Declan Rice’s third goal. “People know what I can do,” Watkins said. “Whenever I come on I always try to grab that chance with both hands a...

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14Oct By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

PREMIER LEAGUE

Guardiola responds to England job speculation with intriguing remark

Pep Guardiola has left the door open to one day become manager of England after suggesting “anything can happen” in his future. Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City runs out at the end of the season, adding to the uncertainty around the four-in-a-row champions amid a legal case brought on by the Premier League alleging more than 100 financial breaches, which City deny. ITV pundit Roy Keane suggested England should “go for Pep” while interim manager Lee Carsley admitted: “The job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and has been there and done it.” Guardiola recently stressed his love for City is “deep” and has not ruled out signing an extension, but has yet to make any definitive decisions amid links to succeeding Gareth Southgate as permanent England manager. “Leaving C...

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