Do Manchester United get more penalties or are Jurgen Klopp’s complaints just sour grapes? January 5, 2021 Do Manchester United get more penalties than other teams in the Premier League? And are Liverpool unfairly overlooked when referees dish out spot-kicks? Those were two questions raised by Jurgen Klopp after his side lost at Southampton on Monday, leaving them level on points with United at the top of the Premier League. “I hear [...]
How Covid is affecting sport in 2021: Will Premier League, Tokyo Olympics, England’s Test series in Sri Lanka and the Lions tour go ahead? January 5, 2021 The first wave of Covid-19 saw professional sport grind to a halt as countries across the world imposed lockdowns. With cases on the rise again, particularly in England, some sports – including football, rugby union, boxing and snooker – have already been disrupted. So how is elite sport in 2021 being affected by the pandemic [...]
Chelsea should give Frank Lampard more time – they will never have a better chance to show a manager patience January 4, 2021 A crisis is never far away for a Premier League manager, as Frank Lampard is finding out at Chelsea. Less than a month ago, all looked rosy for Lampard: two points off the top of the table and 17 games unbeaten in all competitions. Now, following Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, his credentials are [...]
21 Premier League players to watch in 2021 based on quantitative analysis January 2, 2021 Who are the Premier League players to watch in 2021? Using quantitative analysis derived from investment banking, Matthew Belford and Jack Morris of Carteret Analytics have drawn up a shortlist for Morning Wire that includes one player from each club plus the single most outstanding prospect. Arsenal: Gabriel Magalhaes (Carteret Rating: 239.5) Brazilian centre-back Gabriel, [...]
Sports law in 2021: Data disputes, the evolution of esports, all eyes on Premier League TV rights, and rules tighten for clubs and agents December 31, 2020 While there may not have been as much action on the pitch in 2020, this year has been an eventful one for sports lawyers off the pitch to say the least. Coronavirus has acted as a magnifying glass, intensifying the financial and legal pressures that those in the sports ecosystem face. But how is 2021 [...]
Trevor Steven’s heroes and villains of football in 2020 December 24, 2020 From Jack Grealish to Liverpool becoming champions of England again at last, the resurgence of Everton and Leeds to empty stadiums and bad rule changes; football in 2020 may have felt different but it was still eventful. Here, Morning Wire football columnist Trevor Steven picks his heroes and villains of this unique year. Greal deal [...]
The Big Sport Quiz of 2020: How well were you following the action this year? December 22, 2020 Roll up, roll up: it’s Morning Wire’s Big Sport Quiz of 2020! Yes, a lot of it was severely disrupted and most of it happened without fans present, but there was still plenty of vintage sport and some intriguing storylines to follow. So test your knowledge on our selection of questions covering all major sports [...]
The Week in Sportbiz: Premier League toasts beIN deal; banker set to buy Lille; breakaways boosted; Australian Open delay; and Griezmann bins Huawei December 17, 2020 Christmas cheer has arrived early at the Premier League after it agreed a new $500m deal with beIN Sports. The contract, which gives beIN exclusive broadcast rights in 24 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, is effectively a three-year extension to their deal for 2019-22. It comes as a boost to the Premier [...]
Post-Brexit transfer rules: How they work and why legal experts believe they are good for English football December 9, 2020 Post-Brexit transfer rules will be “easier and better” for English clubs and “a good thing for football”, according to a leading immigration lawyer. From January 2021, all overseas signings will have to prove their eligibility via a points system that takes into account factors including how many games they have played. In addition, English clubs [...]
Trevor Steven: Born again Tottenham are genuine Premier League title contenders December 4, 2020 As Tottenham prepare to host Arsenal this weekend, the north London rivals could hardly be in more contrasting form. Spurs sit top of the Premier League after 10 games, 13 places above their neigbhbours, so the momentum is firmly with them. And I put that down to three main factors: Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and [...]