Liverpool 2-2 West Ham United: Anfield point has laid foundations for our surge up Premier League, says Slaven Bilic December 11, 2016 West Ham boss Slaven Bilic believes his relegation-threatened side have paved the way for a surge up the Premier League after preying on Liverpool’s defensive frailties to leave Anfield with a priceless point. A Dimitri Payet free-kick and smart Michail Antonio finish cancelled out an opener from England midfielder Adam Lallana, only for a Darren [...]
Manchester United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0: Mauricio Pochettino keeps faith in title challenge despite Spurs slipping 10 points behind leaders Chelsea December 11, 2016 Manchester United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his team can still catch runaway leaders Chelsea despite a second defeat in three Premier League matches leaving them 10 points off the pace. A ferocious first-half strike by Henrikh Mkhitaryan proved decisive on Sunday as Manchester United recorded a first top-flight victory at [...]
Chelsea 1, West Brom 0: Blues boss Antonio Conte labels threat of points deduction “a joke” December 11, 2016 Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists it would be laughable should his title-hunting side be slapped with a points deduction following the mass brawl which marred their victory at Manchester City last week. Both clubs have been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players – Chelsea’s fifth such indiscretion in 19 months [...]
Henrikh Mkhitaryan comes in from the cold to fire Manchester United into Europa League last 32 – but Southampton crash out in late drama December 8, 2016 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has praised the resilience of Henrikh Mkhitaryan after the playmaker’s first goal for the club ushered them into the last 32 of the Europa League with a 2-0 win at Zorya Luhansk on Thursday night. Mkhitaryan – making only his only fifth start, having struggled to win over Mourinho following a [...]
Dominant domestically, crushed on the continent: Why the Atlantic League is back on the agenda for clubs like Celtic December 8, 2016 If you're ever going to win the European Cup, then this is the day and this is the place.” Those were Jock Stein’s parting words to his Celtic side in 1967 before they became the first British club to become kings of Europe with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan. More likely intended as a rallying [...]
Betting: Draw specialists United and Spurs to continue the trend December 8, 2016 JOSE Mourinho has hardly had the start he dreamed of after taking over at Manchester United The Red Devils are 13 points behind leaders and Mourinho’s former club Chelsea, and are already facing a battle for fourth. His side host Tottenham, who have been beaten just once in the Premier League but have already drawn [...]
Betting: Man City to pile more misery on back-to-earth Leicester December 8, 2016 LEICESTER’S peculiarity of winning the Premier League last season has only been matched by their defence of it this term. Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes have one win in nine league games, and sit two points off the drop zone. Make no mistake, last year’s unlikely winners are in a relegation battle. Leicester face Manchester City tomorrow [...]
Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez not for sale but Arsenal boss offers “no assurances” over contract talks December 8, 2016 Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will not sell star duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, but stopped short of promising fans the club would secure them to new contracts. Both players' contracts expire at the end of next season and the pair are believed to be holding out for a significant pay rise from the Gunners before agreeing to [...]
Southampton and Leeds United named best academies in English football for producing high earning players December 8, 2016 Southampton and Leeds United are the best breeding grounds in England for footballers on a super salary in excess of €100,000 (£85,000) per week. The two clubs are the only English academies to be able to boast of more than one player currently among the game's 112 highest earners, according to a new study from [...]
Tottenham Hotspur 3, CSKA Moscow 1: Harry Kane hails end of Wembley curse as Spurs ensure qualification for Europa League December 7, 2016 Tottenham Hotspur 3, CSKA Moscow 1 Tottenham centre-forward Harry Kane insists they have lifted the Wembley curse after beating CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night to prolong their European campaign into the second half of the season. Kane’s seventh strike in six games, a cool finish from Dele Alli and an own goal from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev [...]