Europa League: What Chelsea and Arsenal need to do to win their groups November 28, 2018 Chelsea and Arsenal may have already guaranteed their progress to the knockout rounds of the Europa League, but there is still something to play for in both of their fixtures on Thursday evening. What Chelsea need The Blues can clinch top spot in Group L and, in theory, an easier draw in the last 32 [...]
Trevor Steven: Claudio Ranieri’s experience and personality has given Fulham a fighting chance of staying up November 27, 2018 You never want to see people lose their jobs but I’m happy that Claudio Ranieri is back in the Premier League, tasked with lifting Fulham off the bottom of the table. I felt sorry for Slavisa Jokanovic, the man he replaced last week, who got off to a difficult start and never managed to adapt [...]
Champions League: What do Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool need on matchday five? November 26, 2018 English clubs return to Champions League action this week in the hope of securing their places in the last 16, although that task is looking a good deal easier for some than others. Here is what is at stake for Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool on Tuesday and Wednesday. Man City: The Premier League [...]
Sam Torrance: Belgium’s young bucks Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry are ones to watch in 2019 November 26, 2018 Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry are really good golfers with beautiful swings so I was delighted to see them claim the World Cup of Golf for Belgium in Melbourne on Sunday. Pieters is a bit of a puzzle. Having announced himself on the European Tour with a couple of wins in the second half of [...]
Second-half stars Arsenal find a way to win again – with a little help from Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma November 25, 2018 It can be hard to know what to make of Arsenal’s performances since the summer arrival of Unai Emery and Sunday's 2-1 Premier League win at Bournemouth was no different. On the one hand, an own goal from Jefferson Lerma and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s close-range strike extended an unbeaten run that stretches back to August to [...]
Deontay Wilder has an enviable record but the defining period of his career starts against Tyson Fury November 25, 2018 Deontay Wilder has one of the best records in boxing yet his biggest challenges lie ahead of him as he bids to prove himself as the leading heavyweight on the planet. It begins this week with Tyson Fury. There is little doubt that Wilder is currently the best heavyweight in North America and with a [...]
Is Tottenham’s thrashing of Chelsea a sign that Mauricio Pochettino has got Spurs to peak the right time this season? November 25, 2018 If Tottenham supporters have had reason to gripe this season then the most compelling cause must be the ongoing delay to completion of their new stadium, which has left fans in a state of limbo. If they have had a second reason to gripe then it may be that, despite putting more points on the [...]
Davis Cup reboots, Wembley sale talk and Premiership Rugby takeover bids: how private investment is shaking up a sports industry at a crossroads November 22, 2018 From plans for a breakaway Super League in European football to takeover bids for Premiership Rugby, the collapsed sale of Wembley Stadium and the $3bn revamp of the Davis Cup, there is a common thread running through some of the biggest sports stories of recent months. Change is sweeping through the industry at breakneck pace [...]
Ollie Phillips: England’s next two matches can make or break their Rugby World Cup hopes November 22, 2018 England’s autumn has gone well so far, with a lot of the negativity surrounding Eddie Jones and the team dissipating, yet they have been fortunate and cracks have, for now, just been papered over. They were very lucky to edge out a South Africa team who pummelled them in the first half; downpours played into [...]
Southampton’s slump: where has it all gone wrong for the Premier League’s model club? November 22, 2018 “Sometimes you just need something to fly off somebody’s head, it flies past the keeper who can’t do anything about it and you’re off and running.” Mark Hughes is convinced Southampton aren’t far off turning things around. They just need some good fortune, some decisions to fall their way, some momentum. That is the stage [...]