Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain: Hiddink tips Costa to locate his Champions League scoring boots March 8, 2016 Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink has backed striker Diego Costa to blast his side to the Champions League quarter-finals after coming under fire from rivals Paris Saint-Germain ahead of Wednesday's pivotal second leg at Stamford Bridge. A video montage on the French club’s Twitter account yesterday urged followers to “find the imposter” within a series of images of [...]
In this crazy season, don’t rule out West Ham of top-four race March 8, 2016 West Ham have proven they can cling to the coattails of the leading pack and in this crazily unpredictable Premier League season I wouldn’t rule out a top-four finish. Three successive wins have propelled the Hammers to fifth, just a point behind Manchester City and three adrift of Arsenal. I don’t really see them finishing [...]
Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne resigns following Adam Johnson child abuse case March 8, 2016 Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne has resigned for allowing Adam Johnson to continue playing for the Premier League club after he was charged with two counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old schoolgirl last May. Johnson remained a first-team regular for Sunderland until last month when he was sacked after pleading guilty on one count [...]
Arsenal’s Premier League title bid may be stuttering but it’s not extinct, says Wenger March 7, 2016 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger remains adamant that his side’s chances of being crowned Premier League champions are very much alive despite a stuttering run of form which has given rise to oft-asked questions about their staying power. The Gunners having accumulated just one point from the last nine on offer, while the north London [...]
West Brom 1, Manchester United 0: Drop another point and forget Champions League, says Van Gaal March 6, 2016 Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists his side have to win all of their remaining Premier League matches to have any chance of finishing in the top four after their momentum was checked with defeat West Brom yesterday. Playmaker Juan Mata was the villain of the piece after his first-half dismissal forced United into [...]
Crystal Palace 1, Liverpool 2: Pardew accuses Benteke of diving as Eagles’ Premier League woes deepen March 6, 2016 Fuming Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew accused Liverpool forward Christian Benteke of diving as the powerful Belgium striker won and converted a contentious last-gasp penalty to consign the struggling Eagles to more Premier League misery yesterday. The Reds were awarded a stoppage-time spot-kick after a sliding Damien Delaney was adjudged to have fouled Benteke. While [...]
While you were watching Arsenal v Tottenham, football’s lawmakers announced fundamental changes to video replay rules March 5, 2016 Football's lawmakers have given the green light to trials of video replay technology being used for the "game changing decisions" of red cards, penalties, mistaken identities and goals. On Saturday, the International Football Associations Board, made up of the four home nations FAs and Fifa, said it had made a "historic decision" regarding the laws [...]
European super league criticised by FA chief executive Martin Glenn who says it could not offer “Leicester phenomenon” March 5, 2016 Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn has poured scorn on the prospect of the Premier League's biggest clubs breaking away to form a European Super League. Directors from five Premier League clubs met in London this week to discuss the format of European competition with American sports executive Charlie Stilitano, sparking speculation a European super league was [...]
Stats reveal Alexis Sanchez’s startling slump in form – should Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger drop him for the trip to Tottenham? March 4, 2016 It’s easy to forget that little over a year ago, some pundits questioned whether Barcelona had made a mistake in selling Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal for £35m in the summer of 2014. Sanchez was a leading candidate to be named Premier League player of the season following 16 goals in his first 28 games for [...]
England to play Euro 2016 warm-up games at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and Sunderland’s Stadium of Light March 4, 2016 The England football team are to play games outside of London for the first time in nine years ahead of this summer's Euro 2016, with games in Manchester and Sunderland. Roy Hodgson's side will take on Turkey at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Sunday 22 May and Australia at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland five [...]