Chelsea’s Oscar forced to deny suggestions of training ground bust-up with Diego Costa January 7, 2016 Chelsea midfielder Oscar last night moved to douse suggestions that he and combative striker Diego Costa had been involved in a training ground bust-up ahead of the club’s FA Cup third round tie against Scunthorpe on Sunday. The duo were said to have squared up to each other at Chelsea’s Cobham training base yesterday before [...]
FA Cup betting preview: Injury-hit Liverpool to slip up against Exeter January 7, 2016 The last time Liverpool visited Exeter City in the FA Cup was 1950, when Scotland international Willie Fagan sealed a convincing 3-1 win. A lot has changed in the last 66 years but Liverpool’s superiority has not. The two have never been in the same league and Exeter have never played in the top flight. The [...]
FA Cup betting preview: In-form Tottenham to outfox fading Leicester January 7, 2016 Premier League high-flyers Tottenham and Leicester go head to head in the FA Cup on Sunday in one of the ties of the third round. It’s a different atmosphere from their cup meeting last year, which ended in a shock victory for then-top flight strugglers Leicester. A Foxes win would certainly be no surprise this time [...]
Everton 2, Manchester City 1: Pellegrini lampoons officials as Lukaku proves worth to Everton January 6, 2016 Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini blamed the “unbelievable” decisions of the match officials for his side’s Capital One Cup semi-final first leg demise at the hands of Everton last night. Romelu Lukaku proved the matchwinner with his 12th goal in as many matches, seconds after substitute Jesus Navas had cancelled out Ramiro Funes Mori’s opener [...]
Eva Carneiro legal case against Chelsea and Jose Mourinho set to go public after date is set for full employment tribunal January 6, 2016 Former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro’s legal claims against the Premier League champions and their ex-manager Jose Mourinho are set to result in a full and public employment tribunal later this year. A preliminary hearing at the London South Employment Tribunal in Croydon today, attended by Carneiro and her legal team, did not result in a settlement [...]
Stoke City 0, Liverpool 1: Klopp ready to splash cash as injuries bite January 5, 2016 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted that he may be forced into the transfer market after his side’s victory in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at Stoke last night was tainted by hamstring injuries to playmaker Philippe Coutinho and centre-half Dejan Lovren. Substitute Jordan Ibe proved the matchwinner as the Reds secured a slender [...]
Pep Guardiola confirms Premier League move in summer 2016 as Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea wait January 5, 2016 Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will move to the Premier League this summer but insists he has not yet decided which of several English clubs to join. Manchester City are the hot favourites to hire the Spaniard, whose wide-ranging and sustained success at Bayern and Barcelona has made him the world’s most [...]
Tottenham and Chelsea have greatest need to spend in January, Arsenal can sit tight, and Crystal Palace and West Ham are in a good position to grab a bargain January 5, 2016 Morning Wire’s resident columnist on how each London club has fared this season and how, if at all, they should buy this month ARSENAL: Nothing needed The Gunners will be delighted to be top of the Premier League and still in the Champions League, albeit having targeted as much. Despite injuries they’ve been consistent and [...]
Zinedine Zidane admits Gareth Bale is upset by Real Madrid sacking Rafael Benitez January 5, 2016 New Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane admits Gareth Bale has been left upset by the sacking of his predecessor as head coach, Rafael Benitez, but has vowed to win over the Wales star. Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Benitez was axed on Monday after just half a season in charge, prompting increased speculation that Bale [...]
Manchester United’s goal-shy performances dubbed “not what we want to see” by Adidas chiefs January 4, 2016 Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer has added his voice to the chorus of criticism of Manchester United’s lacklustre attacking performances this season. United have been urged to adopt a more adventurous approach by an Old Trafford faithful that has witnessed just 15 goals this term – fewer than at any other ground in the top [...]