Six months after their treble, where has it all gone wrong for Manchester City? December 8, 2019 If Manchester City’s relentless brilliance created an impenetrable sky blue wall around the Premier League trophy last season, this term they are rolling out the red carpet. Saturday’s surprise 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United means they now trail runaway leaders Liverpool by 14 points, a chasm that manager Pep Guardiola called “not realistic” as [...]
Liverpool 5-2 Everton: Jurgen Klopp’s gamble pays off as Reds rest, rotate and roll on undeterred in Merseyside derby December 4, 2019 Some might have questioned Jurgen Klopp’s wisdom when they saw the Liverpool teamsheet he turned in to face Everton in the Merseyside derby. With a daunting and draining festive fixture list lying ahead, Klopp has decided rotation is his only option. The clash with their rivals from across Stanley Park represented the fourth of 12 [...]
Stop comparing business with football December 4, 2019 There are many similarities to be drawn between the executive boardroom and the football pitch. Both are high-stakes environments, full of competition and ruthlessness. They also host some of the most meaningless jargon in the history of the English language (think “game of two halves” and “reaching out about disrupting industries”). And, dare I say [...]
Forget Brendan Rodgers and Mauricio Pochettino, Arsenal should make Patrick Vieira their Frank Lampard December 3, 2019 Mid-season can be a difficult time for clubs to recruit a new manager, with big moves tending to happen in the close season and next summer in particular looking like being one of major appointments. So Arsenal need to be realistic as they seek a successor for Unai Emery and in my eyes there is [...]
Jose Mourinho ready to silence critics once more on return to Old Trafford December 3, 2019 It was this very fixture little more than two years ago that saw Jose Mourinho turn to the TV cameras and raise a silencing finger to his lips. Manchester United had just beaten Tottenham 1-0 to maintain their 100 per cent home record and keep the pressure on table-toppers Manchester City – a scenario that [...]
Amazon steps into Premier League broadcasting for the first time with big ambitions December 2, 2019 December is an important month for the future of the Premier League. On the pitch, the focus will be on whether Liverpool can sustain their charge at the top of the table, if Jose Mourinho can turn around Tottenham’s fortunes in the long term and which sides are sliding towards relegation. But off it eyes [...]
Premier League talking points: No new manager bounce for Ljungberg, Iheanacho’s impact and United struggling December 1, 2019 No one was under any illusions about how deep the problems at Arsenal go. No one really thought the sacking of Unai Emery would be a move which would turn the Gunners around overnight. But Arsenal’s first game under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg showed just how far they have fallen. Norwich are an ambitious and [...]
Commuters told to avoid London Bridge station after terror attack November 29, 2019 Commuters have been told to avoid London Bridge station following a terror attack this afternoon. Police were called to London Bridge at 1.58pm along with emergency services after reports of a stabbing. Read more: Police kill man in London Bridge terrorist incident The Metropolitan Police said “a number of people have been stabbed”. Assistant commissioner [...]
Police kill man wearing hoax explosive device in London Bridge terrorist incident November 29, 2019 Police have shot and killed a man wearing a hoax explosive device after multiple people were injured during a terrorist incident on London Bridge this afternoon. The Metropolitan Police said “a number of people have been stabbed” during the incident, following reports circulating on social media of multiple stabbings. Met commissioner Neil Basu said one [...]
The Premier League’s incoming chief executive David Pemsel has withdrawn from the role November 29, 2019 The incoming chief executive of the Premier League David Pemsel has withdrawn from the role following tabloid reports about his private life. Former Guardian chief executive Pemsel was due to take up the position in February, succeeding Richard Scudamore. Read more: Premier League appoints Guardian boss as new chief executive The Premier League said in [...]