Month: October 2020

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“PROJECT BIG PICTURE” REJECTED BY THE PREMIER LEAGUE.

The radical overhaul of English football proposed by Liverpool and Manchester United labelled “Project Big Picture” was unanimously rejected at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday.

Representatives of the 20 clubs met to discuss the future of the game after details of a bailout package to help the English Football League (EFL) offered in return for supporting a series of changes to rules and competitions were leaked to a Sunday newspaper.

While the overarching “Project Big Picture” was dismissed, the Premier League did take a notable step forward in helping EFL clubs avoid bankruptcy resulting from COVID-19 by agreeing an extra £50 million in grants and interest-free loans to League One and League Two. Talks with Championship clubs are ongoing, as are wider discussions about restructuring the game at the highest level.

“All 20 Premier League clubs today unanimously agreed that Project Big Picture will not be endorsed or pursued by the Premier League, or The FA,” read a statement from the Premier League.

“Further, Premier League Shareholders agreed to work together as a 20-club collective on a strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football, consulting with all stakeholders to ensure a vibrant, competitive and sustainable football pyramid. Clubs will work collaboratively, in an open and transparent process, focusing on competition structure, calendar, governance and financial sustainability. This project has the full support of The FA and will include engagement with all relevant stakeholders including fans, Government and, of course, the EFL.”

The backlash has been widespread, with EFL chairman Rick Parry facing calls to resign, and today the Premier League clubs outside the traditional Big Six voiced their concerns amid accusations of a power grab by the top sides.

There were several elements of the proposal that encountered significant opposition, chief among them the plan to give 25% of all future Premier League revenue to the EFL and the abolition of the top flight’s “one club, one vote” system.

This voting system is viewed as integral to maintaining the competitiveness of the Premier League as regulations cannot currently be changed without a two-thirds majority among the 20 clubs.

However, Liverpool and United are among the top sides to argue they generate greater interest in the league and attract a larger share of the global audience than many of their rivals, believing their influence should be proportionate to their popularity.

The government have repeatedly refused to intervene to help EFL clubs. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden, speaking at a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing this morning, labeled the proposal as a “distraction” from urgent funding issues lower down the ladder.

Amid concerns that around six EFL clubs could face bankruptcy in the next few weeks, Dowden insisted, “I have had assurance from the EFL that they have the resources” to avoid that outcome, presumably reflecting the advancement in talks with the Premier League.

The Premier League had originally offered a £250m bailout in return for supporting key reform measures, initially including things such as relaxing visa rules for foreign players post-Brexit but since escalating to “Project Big Picture.”

A private investment fund TPG Capital had offered the EFL funds in return for a 25% equity stake in the lower leagues, secured against future television income.

That offer has been rejected with talks set to continue between the Premier League and the EFL to find a solution.

FA chairman Greg Clarke claimed he walked away from finance and restructuring talks in the spring when “a breakaway league was mooted as a threat.”

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool and United will attempt to pursue a breakaway league more aggressively, but Wednesday’s meeting suggests they currently face an uphill battle to garner enough support.

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CHAMPIONSHIP SIDES IN RACE TO SIGN OUT OF FAVOUR LIVERPOOL MIDFIELDER.

Derby County and Swansea are leading the race to sign Harry Wilson on loan from Liverpool.

Liverpool want to send Wilson out on loan after they failed to sell him during the main transfer window and Swansea and Derby are among five clubs keen to sign him.

Wilson, 23, had a successful loan period with Derby two seasons ago when the Wales winger helped them reach the Championship play-off final.

Swansea are also showing strong interest and Liverpool have good relations with the Swans because of the progress Rhian Brewster made with them while on loan last season.

Liverpool and Wilson agree that he needs to leave Anfield to play regularly and he is not part of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans.

The Reds have a host of options in midfield with summer signing Thiago only adding to the competition.

While in attack Klopp has a fully functioning trio and added Diogo Jota from Wolves in the summer.

Wilson’s appearance in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal was only his second for the Reds and his first since making his debut in an FA Cup tie against Plymouth in January 2017.

Wilson spent last season on loan at Bournemouth where he was one of their more impressive performers despite their relegation.

The Welshman was second in the Cherries’ goalscoring charts having notched seven times in 35 games.

Wilson has also had loan spells away at Crewe and Hull City earlier in his career.

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EVERTON RECEIVE TRIPLE FITNESS BOOST AHEAD MERSEYSIDE DERBY.

Everton have received a huge fitness boost ahead of the Merseyside derby with news that Seamus Coleman, Allan and Andre Gomes are ready to face Liverpool.

But the Toffees face a nervous wait on centre-back Yerry Mina who missed Colombia’s draw with Chile due to a thigh injury.

Mina will be assessed on his return to the club’s Finch Farm training base before boss Carlo Ancelotti makes a decision on his team for the weekend.

Coleman was forced off in Everton’s win over Brighton before the international break with a hamstring injury while Allan and Andre Gomes missed the 4-2 victory.

Ancelotti said: “Andre Gomes is available for Saturday, no problem.

“Allan started to train with the team this week. If nothing happens in the next few days he will be available to play against Liverpool.

I think Seamus is going to be good, too, because he started to train with us on Monday.”

Everton may face a worry at centre-back if Mina is not fit with Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite still not ready to return.

Ancelotti said: “Holgate and Branthwaite are working individually. Branthwaite is closer to returning.

“They have no problems [in their recovery programmes] but we have to wait a little bit.”

The Toffees did bring in Ben Godfrey from Norwich just before the transfer window shut but he has yet to train with his new team-mates as he has been on international duty with England Under-21s.

But he could make his debut against Liverpool on Saturday.

Ancelotti added: “Godfrey is a a really talented player.

“He is really fast, very quick. He has different characteristics from the centre-backs we have in this moment.

He is a complete defender, fast, good with his head and good with the ball. He has all the quality to be a really good centre-back.

“He has experience in the Premier League. He was really happy to come here.

“I think he will be a good signing, not only for the present because I think he is ready to play in the Premier League, but also for the future of the club.

“If he is fit, he is going to be in competition with the others [for the game against Liverpool].”

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NATIONS LEAGUE: SPAIN, GERMANY FACE SET BACK IN GROUP 4.

Spain and Germany had setbacks in the Nations League on Tuesday, with Spain losing to Ukraine for the first time and Germany being held to a draw by last-place Switzerland.

Spain kept the group lead despite a 1-0 loss in Kiev in a match attended by about 15,000 fans.

Germany went two goals down in the first 30 minutes and could not manage more than a 3-3 draw against the Swiss in Cologne.

Spain has seven points from four matches, one point more than Germany and Ukraine, followed by Switzerland with two points.

In the final round in November, Spain visits Switzerland and then hosts Germany. Ukraine visits Germany and Switzerland.

Germany-Switzerland

Germany fought back to draw with Switzerland after another performance filled with errors.

Mario Gavranovic scored twice for the visitors, who led 2-1 at half-time after capitalising on sloppy defending and wayward passes by the hosts.

The Swiss were ahead 3-2 by the 57th minute before Serge Gnabry’s equaliser three minutes later.

“If you lead three times, you can win the game,” Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer said.

“We played a very good first half, forced German mistakes and were efficient, which we were not in recent matches.

“In the end, they are still Germany. Too bad the result will not help us with Ukraine having won. We really wanted to beat Germany tonight.”

The game was played without fans because of rising coronavirus infections in the area.

Midfielder Toni Kroos made his 100th appearance with Germany.

Ukraine-Spain

Viktor Tsygankov scored shortly after coming off the bench in the second half to give Ukraine its first victory over La Roja.

The fans celebrated loudly as Tsygankov struck the net from outside the area after a through-ball by captain Andriy Yarmolenko, completing a counter-attack in the 76th minute.

It was Ukraine’s first goal against Spain in 17 years. Tsygankov entered the match about 10 minutes earlier.

“We had lost three games in a row and we owed an apology to our fans,” he said. “We missed them so much and we are happy to have given them a reason to celebrate tonight.”

Young sensations Ansu Fati and Adama Traore, touted as the future of Spain’s national team, were together in the starting line-up for the first time but could not help Spain to find the net.

They basically had one proper chance and scored it,” Spain midfielder Rodri said of Ukraine. “These are errors we need to learn from.

“It certainly wasn’t in our plans to lose here but we came to Kiev knowing it was a tough place to get a result.”

Ukraine goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan made several key saves to keep Spain scoreless for the first time in a Nations League match.

“We played with heart and absolute commitment,” Bushchan said. “We had to defend a lot and wait for our chance.

“Unfortunately, we can’t play from the position of strength against such top teams as Spain.”

Other results

Malta defeated Latvia 1-0 for its first away victory since 2013, with Steve Borg’s winning goal scored seven minutes into second-half injury time.

San Marino earned its first point since 2014 with a 0-0 draw at Liechtenstein, while the Faroe Islands defeated Andorra 2-0 and Luxembourg won 2-1 at Montenegro.

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CRISTIANO RONALDO TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

Portugal and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for coronavirus, the Portuguese football federation announced on Tuesday.

Ronaldo “is asymptomatic” and “will not play against Sweden” in Wednesday’s Nations League match, the federation said on its website.

Ronaldo, 35, who has won the Ballon d’Or five times, played in Portugal’s goalless Nations League draw against France in Paris on Sunday.

The federation added that the rest of the Portugal squad were “all negative” after tests on Tuesday morning, as was the France squad, according to the French Football Federation.

Ronaldo has scored 101 goals for Portugal and will be a huge absence for his team against Sweden as they aim to hold on to top spot in their group.

His contracting the disease is also a big blow for Juventus, as the health protocol in force for Serie A says that Ronaldo must self-isolate for 10 days and then record a negative test before he can resume playing.

That means Ronaldo will miss Juve’s Serie A match at Crotone on Saturday and the Italian champions’ opening Champions League group stage game at Dynamo Kiev in a week’s time.

He is also a doubt for Juventus’ following Champions League clash with Barcelona on October 28, which was set to pit Ronaldo against his old rival Lionel Messi.

The test result re-opens the controversy over his departure from Turin for the Portugal training camp, which was, according to local health authorities in Italy’s Piedmont region, a violation of the virus protocol.

Ronaldo and other Juventus stars left to join up with their national teams despite the team being in isolation after two staff members tested positive for the virus.

Roberto Testi, a director of the regional health authority, said that local prosecutors had been informed of the players’ unauthorised departure.

Ronaldo, who has also starred for Manchester United and Real Madrid, is the highest-profile footballer to test positive for Covid-19, which has killed over a million people since the start of the pandemic earlier this year.

Brazil forward Neymar, his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic have also tested positive for the virus in recent weeks. Premier League champions Liverpool placed Senegalese forward Sadio Mane and Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara in isolation after they tested positive last week.

Last week two of Ronaldo’s Portugal teammates goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and defender Jose Fonte also returned positive tests, forcing them out of the Nations League fixtures.

The international break has been marked by a host of players contracting the virus as it continues its spread worldwide.

The Republic of Ireland had five players ruled out just before their Nations League draw with Wales after one squad member tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile Ukraine had to draft in 45-year-old assistant coach Oleksandr Shovkovsky for last week’s friendly with France as the virus swept through the squad.

Ukraine also lost to Germany on Saturday in the Nations League with 14 players missing either through injury or positive for the virus.

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ARGENTINA SEES OFF BOLIVIA IN WCQ COME BACK WIN.

Argentina beat Bolivia 2-1 on Tuesday in South American World Cup qualifiers — the second consecutive victory for Lionel Messi’s team and its first in the altitude of La Paz since 2005.

Goals from Lautaro Martínez and Joaquín Correa enough to see off Bolivians in a match played 3,600 metres above sea level in La Paz.

Uruguay wasn’t so lucky. After a hard-fought win against Chile in the opening game, Uruguay lost 4-2 at Ecuador. Its only goals came from the spot in the final minutes of the encounter in Quito, when the hosts already seemed sure of their victory.

La Paz has old traumas for Argentina in World Cup qualifiers. The biggest was in 2009, when Bolivia had an astonishing 6-1 win over Messi’s team. The superstar also failed to impress in 2017, losing 2-0 in the Bolivian capital.

History seemed set to repeat after Marcelo Martíns opened the scoring for the hosts with an easy header in the 24th minute, raising the spectre of another bad day for the national team 3,600 metres (11,800 feet) above sea level in the Bolivian capital.

But in first-half stoppage time, Bolivia defender José Carrasco failed to clear close to the line and the ball hit the right leg of Argentina striker Lautaro Martínez and went into the net.

The goal made Martínez the first Albiceleste player other than Messi to score in a World Cup qualifier since a 3-0 home win against Colombia in 2016. Seven matches took place in between.

Just when the draw seemed to be good enough for Argentina, whose players were clearly taking their time to catch their breath, Bolivia made another costly defensive mistake in the 79th.

Messi found Martínez on the edge of the box. The striker calmly assisted unmarked Joaquín Correa, who beat goalkeeper Carlos Lampe with a left-foot shot.

“It was a great win in the altitude, where it costs more,” Messi said in his social media channels. “There’s still a lot to go, the qualifiers have just started, and we are very happy for these two wins.”

Bolivia’s national team is mired in a political fight between clubs and the sport’s national governing body. Many of its main players are sitting out World Cup qualifiers.

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TEN MAN ALGERIA CLOSES INT’L BREAK WITH HUGE DRAW AGAINST MEXICO

Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria ended an impressive international break with a 2-2 draw against Mexico in The Hague on Tuesday, despite being a man down for much of the second half.

The contest was a rare meeting between Africa Cup of Nations holders and Concacaf Gold Cup holders, but ultimately neither continental representative was able to clinch bragging rights for their confederation.

Diego Lainez struck in the 86th minute for Mexico as they salvaged a draw, having initially taken the lead late in the first half through Jesus Corona.

Algeria responded to his 43rd-minute effort two minutes later, when Ismael Bennacer finished with a fine effort from the edge of the box.

Despite going a man down 10 minutes in the second half when Adlene Guedioura was shown a second booking for a high challenge on Raul Jimenez, Algeria took the lead in the 67th minute as Mahrez finished calmly after Ramy Bensebaini had reacted quickest to lax possession from Mexico, intercepting the play and feeding the Manchester City forward.

By this point, they could have been further ahead, with Baghdad Bounedjah missing a decent chance before his withdrawal, and Yacine Brahimi striking the woodwork.

After equalising through Lainez, meeting a delightful Jimenez pass in style, Mexico could have even gone on to clinch a winner, as both Hector Herrera and Jorge Sanchez struck the crossbar during a frenetic finale.

The draw, coupled with last week’s 1-0 victory over Nigeria, extends Algeria’s undefeated streak to 20 matches the longest such run of any of Africa’s teams.

“It was similar to how we thought it’d be,” Mexico coach Tata Martinez said after the match, “intense, a lot back and forth at times; in different moments Algeria had [control] of the game, in other moments we had.

“It was a good game to make conclusions,” he added. “I thought off the basis of the game it was a fair result.

“I’m satisfied with this tour to Europe. I’m satisfied with what we’ve shown against the Netherlands and Algeria.”

Next month, Algeria will take on Zimbabwe in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header, as they look to return to the continent’s grandest stage to defend the prize they won in 2019.

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NEYMAR HITS HATRICK, SURPASSES RONALDO RECORD IN WIN OVER PERU.

A hat-trick from Neymar helped Brazil to a 4-2 victory over Peru in a 2022 World Cup qualifier in Lima on Tuesday and moved the Paris St Germain forward second behind Pele on his country’s all-time goal-scoring list.

Peru’s Andre Carrillo got his third goal in two games to put the home side ahead after six minutes with a crisp volley from outside the box but Neymar equalised from the spot in 28 minutes after he had been fouled.

Peru went ahead again after 59 minutes when Renato Tapia’s 25-metre shot hit Rodrigo Caio before rolling into the net, only for Richarlison to equalise five minutes later.

Neymar put Brazil ahead with another penalty with seven minutes left and, after Peru’s Carlos Zambrano was sent off, scored his 64th international goal when he stabbed home in injury time to make it 4-2.

Only Pele, with 77 goals, has scored more for Brazil than Neymar.

In Merida, Paraguay took the points with a 1-0 win over Venezuela, Gaston Gimenez scoring for the visitors with five minutes left.

Brazil and Argentina top the group after winning both of their opening matches, while Paraguay, who drew with Peru in their opener, are third on four points.

Peru’s point keeps them above Venezuela and Bolivia, who have lost their first two matches.

The next round of games take place next month.

The top four from the 10-team group qualify directly for Qatar with the fifth-placed side going into an inter-confederation playoff.

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HUGE BOOST FOR LIVERPOOL AHEAD MERSEYSIDE DERBY AS MANE, THIAGO RETURN TO TRAINING.

Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara have given Liverpool a huge boost ahead of their return to Premier League action against Everton in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

Mane and Thiago were all smiles in training at Melwood on Tuesday, having completed their respective periods of self-isolation after both recently tested positive for coronavirus.

And both players were looking happy and raring to go after returning negative results for Covid-19 at the club’s training complex on Monday.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will now run the rule over both players to determine whether they have retained enough fitness to start against Everton at Goodison on Saturday.

The pair’s return to training will have given the manager a huge lift as he formulates a plan to topple Carlo Ancelotti’s early Premier League leaders, who have a 100% record so far this season.

Both Mane and Thiago missed Liverpool’s last game before the international break, when they were thrashed 7-2 by Aston Villa in one of the most remarkable results in Premier League history.

Thiago has in fact played only 45 minutes since joining the Reds, having impressed after being brought on at half-time during their 2-0 win at Chelsea last month.

Senegal forward Mane and Spain midfielder Thiago also missed games for their respective countries during the international break as they continued to self-isolate.

Klopp tends to turn to players who have rested during international breaks.

And with some of his stars playing across the globe and not due back until Thursday, the manager will be inclined to include both Thiago and Mane against Everton if they are fit enough.

Klopp seems likely to be without Naby Keita, after the midfielder tested positive for the virus while on international duty with his country Guinea.

The midfielder tested positive with four other members of the Guinea team while preparing for friendly games against Cape Verde and Gambia in Portugal, and went into immediate isolation.

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MANCHESTER UNITED BLOCKED ROMERO’S MOVE TO EVERTON- REPORTS

Manchester United goalkeeper, Sergio Romero was denied a move to Everton on international transfer deadline day, according to reports.

Romero was left annoyed by the decision not to allow him to join the Toffees from those at Old Trafford.

Everton made a deadline day move to sign Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero from Manchester United. The Merseyside side had offered to cover Romero’s £100,000-a-week wages in their entirety, with the addition of a £2 million loan fee. However, Manchester United rejected this, instead demanding £8 million for a full sale.

It is also claimed that there are suspicions that Manchester United didn’t want to strengthen a rival, given Everton’s positive start to the season.

Romero now finds himself as Manchester United’s third-choice goalkeeper and understandably wants to be allowed to leave the club to find more regular football.

He has been an excellent servant to the club, since joining in 2015. Romero was signed on a free by Dutch manager Louis van Gaal, who had previously worked with him at AZ Alkmaar.

However, since Dean Henderson‘s return from his loan at Sheffield United, Romero looks to have no way into the team. It’s understandable that the goalkeeper would seek a departure.

Everton had been looking for some competition for England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Pickford has made a series of mistakes over the last year or so and the club needs a reliable back-up, that could also force Pickford to step up on his performances. Following the rejection from Manchester United, Everton signed AS Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen on loan instead. So, whilst the domestic window remains open, the Toffees are no longer looking for a new goalkeeper.