Millwall handed FA Cup reward with home tie against Premier League side as Chelsea face west London derby January 9, 2017 League One Millwall have been rewarded for dumping Bournemouth out of the FA Cup with another home clash against top-flight Watford in the fourth round. Millwall, who are currently 10th in the third tier, thrashed an under-strength Cherries 3-0 at the New Den on Saturday and will now face Walter Mazzarri’s Hornets in the last 32, which [...]
Fifa set to expand World Cup to 48 teams – and bank $1bn in extra revenue January 9, 2017 Controversial but highly lucrative proposals to expand the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 from 2026 are expected to be rubber-stamped by governing body Fifa on Tuesday. Critics say the plans, advanced by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, will dilute the overall standard, produce less exciting matches and could increase the likelihood of teams colluding. [...]
Fifa World Cup expansion vote Q+A: What are the proposals and how do they work? January 9, 2017 Fifa's Council is expected to approve plans to expand the World Cup to a record 48 teams from 2026 when it meets to vote on the issue on Tuesday. Here is the lowdown on how it works. What is being proposed? The first expansion of the World Cup since 1998, from 32 teams to 48. [...]
Jurgen Klopp to field Liverpool’s top brass against Southampton as playmaker prepares to make comeback January 9, 2017 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he will field the strongest line-up at his disposal during his side’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday. Klopp has also confirmed that Philippe Coutinho is primed for a return to action after being sidelined for more than six weeks with an ankle [...]
Chelsea youngster Nathan Ake vows to force his way into Antonio Conte’s first-team plans January 9, 2017 Chelsea youngster Nathan Ake has vowed to force his way into manager Antonio Conte’s plans after returning to Stamford Bridge having had his loan spell at Bournemouth cut short. The 21-year-old former Feyenoord player made 12 appearances for the Cherries, scoring three goals including a last-gasp winner against Liverpool last month, after moving to the [...]
Hull boss Marco Silva determined to keep hold of West Ham target, while Jose Mourinho ranks EFL Cup semi-final greater than Liverpool showdown January 9, 2017 Newly-appointed Hull boss Marco Silva has vowed to hold on to the club’s top-scorer Robert Snodgrass amid interest from fellow Premier League strugglers West Ham. Hull turned down an offer, believed to be in the region of £3m, for Scotland winger Snodgrass, who has spearheaded his side’s bid for top-flight survival by netting nine goals [...]
President Xi loves football, but China’s spending spree won’t last long says ex-Manchester City man Sun Jihai January 9, 2017 Premier League clubs need not worry about losing their best players to the China, says former Manchester City defender Sun Jihai who predicts a slowdown in spending from the emerging football power. Chinese teams’ spending has exploded as some of the country’s richest men acquired football clubs in the wake of President Xi Jinping revealing [...]
How the Africa Cup of Nations affects Premier League clubs January 9, 2017 While January offers the opportunity for squads to be bolstered before the campaign’s business end, some Premier League managers are already counting the cost of international call-ups for the Africa Cup of Nations. A quick browse of the list of top-flight absentees for the tournament in Gabon, which begins on Saturday, shows those sides who [...]
Tottenham Hotspur 2, Aston Villa 0: Mauricio Pochettino tips rookie midfielder Harry Winks for stardom January 8, 2017 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino tipped rookie midfielder Harry Winks to scale lofty heights after his side began their FA Cup campaign with a regulation victory over Championship side Aston Villa. Eight-time tournament winners Spurs cruised into round four after brushing aside an initially stubborn Villa, currently 12th in the second tier, courtesy of second-half goals [...]
Chelsea 4, Peterborough United 1: Fringe stars shine for Blues in FA Cup but Antonio Conte still eyeing January transfer business January 8, 2017 Chelsea 4, Peterborough United 1 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte insists he still hopes to add to his squad this month despite fringe players forcing their way back into his thinking in an FA Cup romp against Peterborough on Sunday. Unsettled striker Michy Batshuayi scored his first goal since August, midfielders Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Cahlobah [...]