Jurgen Klopp blames windy conditions after Liverpool blow chance to regain Premier League lead March 3, 2019 A prickly Jurgen Klopp preferred to focus on the blustery conditions inside Goodison Park after his team drew 0-0 with Everton on Sunday but there is no escaping the conclusion that the Premier League title that Liverpool so crave is slipping from their grasp. Having fuelled hope of a first top-flight crown since 1990 by [...]
Roy Hodgson’s career enjoying late bloom at boyhood club Crystal Palace after England’s Iceland debarcle February 28, 2019 England’s infamous 2-1 defeat by Iceland at the 2016 European Championships could easily have been the end of Roy Hodgson’s management career. Embarrassed by one of the national team’s biggest ever shocks, Hodgson resigned immediately and was heavily criticised for his side’s dreadful performance, negative tactics and team selection. Aged 68 and with 40 years [...]
Brendan’s second coming: Rodgers to resurrect Premier League career with Leicester February 28, 2019 “My biggest mentor is myself,” was just one of the memorable utterances to emerge from Brendan Rodgers during his first stint in the Premier League, but more than three years after his sacking by Liverpool he has returned to England in the latest step in his bid to rebuild credibility. The Northern Irish manager has [...]
Improving Arsenal aiming to repeat finest hour of Unai Emery’s reign against stuttering Tottenham February 28, 2019 This was more like it. After a sticky opening double header, Unai Emery had crowned a 19-game unbeaten run with a watershed 4-2 triumph over Tottenham that suggested not only a challenge to Spurs’ new-found superiority in north London but also a successful transition to the post-Wenger era at Arsenal. It wasn’t just the result, [...]
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Spurs’s Stamford Bridge curse continues as Blues begin to click into gear after Kepa saga February 27, 2019 As Tottenham slipped to a disappointing defeat tonight they knew their Stamford Bridge curse had not been broken. Spurs have now won just once in the last 33 attempts away to their London rivals while the result also gave them the unwanted fact of four consecutive defeats away from home for the first time in 10 years. [...]
Leicester City have time on their side to find the right successor to Claude Puel February 25, 2019 Leicester City’s decision to sack manager Claude Puel on Sunday was understandable and logical. Under the Frenchman’s guidance the Foxes were going nowhere fast, with no win or clean sheet since New Year’s Day. Inconsistent selection, a failing playing style, apparent disregard for cup competitions, and players and fans openly voicing their displeasure have clouded [...]
Manchester City’s penalty shoot-out win and Kepa Arrizabalaga’s power-play leaves Maurizio Sarri a step nearer to Chelsea’s trap door February 24, 2019 After 120 minutes of stalemate, the Carabao Cup final crammed all of its drama into some engrossing and bizarre closing stages. Maurizio Sarri’s stifling tactics did exactly that, but the gamble to sit deep, avoid the 6-0 thrashing of two weeks ago, not muster an attempt on target and then triumph on penalties narrowly failed [...]
Has Liverpool’s new-found solidity turned Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football into pedestrian dad-rock? February 24, 2019 When Jurgen Klopp fine-tuned his Liverpool team in preparation for this season, he focused on making them more robust. Following the January 2018 signing of Virgil van Dijk, last summer saw the arrival at Anfield of an elite level goalkeeper in Alisson and an accomplished defensive midfielder in Fabinho. Until then devastating in attack but [...]
Premier League title-chasing Liverpool face moment of truth in Manchester United clash February 21, 2019 For a team locked in a battle for a first top-flight title for 29 years every league game has huge significance. But for Liverpool, Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United is a match which has ascended to even greater levels of importance: it’s a derby against a buoyant and bitter rival and [...]
Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich: Defensive masterclass leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side needing to overcome their poor away record February 19, 2019 On a crucial European night, in an atmosphere-filled Anfield against a weakened giant Liverpool managed just two shots on target. Bayern Munich came with a game-plan and executed it to perfection to stifle a side renowned for their dynamic, lightning-quick and interchangeable front three. A draw may not be a disaster, but given Jurgen Klopp’s [...]