Premier League: Skrtel reopens old wounds as Arsenal falter December 21, 2014 LIVERPOOL 2 ARSENAL 2 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger blamed a hangover from last season’s 5-1 humiliation for a lukewarm performance and another late surrender at 10-man Liverpool yesterday. Goals from defender Mathieu Debuchy and striker Olivier Giroud cancelled out Philippe Coutinho’s opener and put the Gunners on course to take all three Premier League points [...]
Sport Comment: Squad’s better but Gunners lack balance December 21, 2014 IT WAS no 5-1, but in its own way yesterday’s draw at Anfield was another reminder of just how far Arsenal are from being capable of mounting a concerted Premier League title challenge. For all the money spent during the summer – £80m on Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and others – the Gunners’ level of [...]
Chelsea bid to exorcise last season’s Britannia ghost and re-establish Premier League cushion December 21, 2014 TABLE-TOPPERS Chelsea head into tonight’s Premier League clash with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium aiming to re-establish a three-point cushion at the Premier League summit. Reigning champions Manchester City hauled themselves level with the Blues courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with goal difference the only [...]
Premier League: Poyet’s Johnson whim results in Pardew wearing unenviable tag December 21, 2014 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 SUNDERLAND 1 SUNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet admitted he contemplated substituting Adam Johnson shortly before the former England winger proved the last-gasp match-winner in yesterday’s Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle at St James’ Park. Johnson rounded off a swift Black Cats’ counter-attack in the 90th minute as Sunderland extended their unbeaten run against Newcastle [...]
Exclusive: Liverpool still in mix for top four, insists Barnes December 18, 2014 CRISIS club Liverpool can still finish in the top four this season but only if the Anfield hierarchy maintains faith in under-fire boss Brendan Rodgers, according to Reds great John Barnes. Rodgers’ position has become precarious just months after falling agonisingly short of the Premier League title, following the club’s worst start to a domestic [...]
Instagram post KOs Balotelli for Arsenal match December 18, 2014 CONTROVERSIAL Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is set to miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal after he was last night handed a one-match ban for an offensive social media post. Balotelli was also fined £25,000 and ordered to attend an education course for republishing an image of video game character Super Mario that contained the [...]
Arsenal can pile pressure back on Brendan Rodgers December 18, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON LOOKS AT THE BIG GAMES IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND LIVERPOOL’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night was only their third in their last 11 games. Welcome as that victory over the Championship leaders was, it doesn’t even begin to mask what has been a terrible campaign so far for last [...]
Premier League outright spread betting with Sporting Index December 18, 2014 UNLIKE fixed-odds bookmakers, Sporting Index gives points to every team in the Premier League regardless of where they finish. The Championship 60 Index is updated after every gameweek and points are awarded as follows: Winner = 60pts, Second = 40pts, Third = 30pts, Fourth = 20pts, Fifth = 10pts, Sixth = 5pts. All others = [...]
André Villas-Boas: The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager on charity, football and coaching in Saint Petersburg December 18, 2014 How have you found being an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation? I have been an ambassador since 2011. I’m very grateful for the opportunity they have given me to reach out to people who have suffered from all kinds of problems, from social exclusion, to poverty, to disabilities. As a citizen you [...]
Premier League auction turns heat up on Sky December 17, 2014 Sky’s reliance on Premier League football rights was highlighted again yesterday after a leading broker reiterated its “sell” rating on the company by reminding investors about the significance of the sporting contract to the company’s future. Broker Liberum Capital published fresh research identifying the auction for the Premier League’s viewing rights – which began last [...]