Talking points: Tottenham and Liverpool hold their nerve to reach Champions League last 16 December 11, 2018 Tottenham are used to having their nerve questioned but tonight in Barcelona they recovered from an early setback, regained composure and seized a deserved place in the Champions League last 16 that had looked beyond them halfway through the group stage. When Ousmane Dembele capitalised on the inexperience of Kyle Walker-Peters – the third-choice right-back [...]
Does winning your Champions League group make any difference make any difference to how far a team goes? December 11, 2018 With qualification for the last 16 long since sewn up like the seasoned Champions League veterans that they are, Manchester City and Manchester United could be forgiven for viewing Wednesday’s final group games as an unwanted additional burden in the busiest month of the season. Yet Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, with two winners’ medals [...]
Tottenham’s trip to Barcelona may be a must-win match but the result isn’t everything for Spurs December 10, 2018 A trip to the home of the defining team of the 21st century, a chance to pull off one of the most famous triumphs in the club’s history, a shot at a kind of immortality; there is every reason for Tottenham to savour this week's Champions League fixture against Barcelona. The challenge is as steep [...]
Did Football Leaks kill financial fair play? Where breakaway threats and claims of systematic cheating have left Uefa’s rules December 6, 2018 Credibility has always been hard to come by for Uefa’s financial fair play rules, but a series of recent claims involving some of the sport’s richest and most powerful clubs has made the European governing body’s attempts at regulation look weak at best and, at worst, doomed. Central to the current crisis surrounding FFP is [...]
John Arne Riise interview: Former Liverpool left-back on retirement, punditry, poker and his ambition to become a manager December 6, 2018 John Arne Riise retired from playing football two years ago. But unlike some, the former Liverpool player did not make a clean break from the sport. He did not crave time away. Far from it. The Norwegian’s enduring love of football has meant he hasn’t gone far since hanging up his boots in June 2016, [...]
Manchester United 2-2 Arsenal: Five things we learned as poor defending defines scrappy Old Trafford draw December 5, 2018 Jose Mourinho isn’t one to be understated and with his side struggling he used the visit of Arsenal to Old Trafford to make a point. Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini were all left on the bench, with £47m summer signing Fred not even in the squad. Pogba and Lukaku both came off [...]
Trevor Steven: Missed opportunities cost Mark Hughes at Southampton December 4, 2018 When Southampton needed someone to steer them away from the threat of relegation last season, they banked on Premier League experience. Mark Hughes replaced Mauricio Pellegrino for the final eight games and the former Stoke, Fulham, Manchester City and Blackburn boss saved them from the drop. He proved that he knew how to organise and [...]
Women’s Euro 2021: England’s hosting provides great opportunity for game’s growth and Lionesses to win silverware December 3, 2018 The announcement was expected, but the result still sparked excitement for those involved with women’s football in England. Uefa have confirmed that the Football Association’s bid to host the 2021 Women’s European Championship had been accepted. The fact there were no alternatives mattered little to the FA, which quickly trumpeted the news. “A home Euro in [...]
Unai Emery enjoys his finest hour as Arsenal overpower Tottenham in pulsating derby December 2, 2018 If the jury has been out on Unai Emery’s ability to reverse Arsenal’s fall from the Premier League’s top four then this was the most compelling evidence yet that the Spaniard’s methods are working. His team’s deserved 4-2 win over Tottenham in Sunday’s pulsating north London derby was their first over another team from the [...]
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Five things we learned as Pedro leads Blues to west London derby victory December 2, 2018 Eden Hazard is undoubtedly the main man at Chelsea, yet the most influential player in a slightly lacklustre west London derby was a different player in a blue shirt. Pedro has often played second-fiddle in his career, from Barcelona to Chelsea, but the Spaniard underlined his importance with the opening goal and involvement in the [...]