Month: January 2021

Categories
football Sports News

LIV 0-1 BUR: ASHLEY BARNES’ LATE PENALTY END LIVERPOOL’S HOME UNBEATEN RUN

Ashley Barnes’s late penalty snatched all three points as Burnley ended Liverpool’s unbeaten home run with a surprise 1-0 win at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s team dictated play for much of the match. Sadio Mane went close with an early header, Xherdan Shaqiri blazed a shot just wide and Divock Origi also forced Burnley’s Nick Pope into action more than once in a one-sided first half.

A minute before half-time, Origi crashed a shot against the crossbar after a defensive error by Ben Mee put him clear on goal.

After Trent Alexander-Arnold went close, Klopp introduced Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino from the bench on 58 minutes, and Salah immediately brought a fine reflex save from Pope with a low, angled shot.

Mane shot over after being teed up by Salah as the Reds continued to press, while visiting substitute Johann Gudmundsson put a rare chance wide for Burnley after excellent wing play by Dwight McNeil.

Firmino side-footed wide on 72 minutes but the Reds could find no way through and, seven minutes before the end, Alisson brought down Barnes in the penalty area.

The Burnley forward calmly converted the penalty to end the Reds’ 68-match unbeaten home record.

Liverpool’s first defeat in three years and 273 days leaves them fourth, on 34 points, six points behind leaders Manchester United at the halfway stage of the season.

Burnley’s first league win at Anfield since 1975 lifts them up one place to 16th on 19 points.

Categories
football Sports News

FIFA THREATENS TO BAN PLAYERS FROM WORLD CUP IF THEY PLAY IN EUROPEAN SUPER CUP.

FIFA, world football’s governing body, have issued a statement to condemn the rumoured European Super League, and say they will ban players involved in a breakaway league from participating in any of their competitions.

These of course include the World Cup and the European Championship, meaning if a player plays in a European Super League, they can’t go to the World Cup or the Euros.

The pinnacle of international football would be denied for anyone involved, and with many players dreaming of guiding their country to glory, it may put a halt in any plans to launch a league involving elite European clubs.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and several Premier League clubs had been reportedly keen on establishing a league spread across the continent with the richest and most famous clubs invited, but the letter published by FIFA may scupper these plans.

The letter has been signed by all six of FIFA’s continental confederations and states: “In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European ‘Super League’ by some European clubs, FIFA and the six confederations once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation.

“Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by FIFA or their respective confederation.

“As per the FIFA and confederations statutes, all competitions should be organised or recognised by the relevant body at their respective level, by FIFA at the global level and by the confederations at the continental level.

“In this respect, the confederations recognise the FIFA Club World Cup, in its current and new format, as the only worldwide club competition while FIFA recognises the club competitions organised by the confederations as the only club continental competitions.

The universal principles of sporting merit, solidarity, promotion and relegation, and subsidiarity are the foundation of the football pyramid that ensures football’s global success and are, as such, enshrined in the FIFA and confederation statutes.

“Football has a long and successful history thanks to these principles. Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.”

The letter was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and will throw the mooted idea of a European Super League into serious doubt.

France are the current reigning world champions, but with many of their players, such as Kylian Mbappe, Raphael Varane, and Paul Pogba, plying their trade for European superpowers, they may face the prospect of a severely weakened squad if their players are involved in a European Super League.

Categories
football Sports News

UEFA TO CONSIDER HOSTING EURO 2020 IN ONE COUNTRY DUE TO COVID-19.

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has claimed that UEFA are considering staging the rescheduled 2020 European Championships in just one country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament – still branded Euro 2020 – had been originally intended to take place in multiple locations across the continent, with 12 different host cities from 12 different European countries: Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and St Petersburg.

It is due to kick off on 11 June having already been delayed by a year as a result of coronavirus, but with the tournament format proposed prior to the pandemic, Rummenigge says Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is now weighing up whether to alter the plans.

“We must not forget that the idea of this special hosting of the tournament came about when the coronavirus didn’t exist … it was an initiative of the EU Commission that wanted to have football shown all over Europe,” the Bayern CEO told German news men.

But I know that the Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin – who is incredibly careful with corona – is thinking about whether it wouldn’t make more sense in these times to play the tournament in just one country. That would be with a corresponding hygiene concept, of course.

In the next few weeks, UEFA will and must make a decision on how and where the tournament should take place. That will not be easy. But the way I got to know Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA will make the right decision with great care and wisdom.”

Ticket holders have been informed by Uefa that they will be entitled to a refund if matches are moved to over 50km away from their original venue. A decision on the tournament is expected in March, with Covid vaccination programmes currently beginning to be rolled out across Europe.

Categories
football Sports News

CRYSTAL PALACE SIGN MATETA ON LOAN FROM BUNDESLIGA.

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on an 18-month loan deal from German club Mainz.

The 23-year-old’s arrival is subject to international clearance, and there is an option to make the move permanent.

Mateta has scored 10 goals this season, including seven in 15 Bundesliga appearances.

In total, he has netted 24 times in 67 league matches for the German side.

“I’m very happy to come to Crystal Palace and I look forward to training,” Mateta told Palace’s official website.

“Playing in the Premier League was my dream when I was a child. Now I can play, I will show the fans of Crystal Palace what I can do.”

Chairman Steve Parish added: “We have followed Jean-Philippe’s development with keen interest for some time, and I’m so pleased that we have been able to bring him to south London.

“He is a player that is full of potential with a proven goalscoring record, and his signing reiterates our commitment to ensuring we have a well-balanced squad in terms of youth and experience for the seasons ahead.”

Palace’s next match is a London derby at home against West Ham United on Tuesday.

Categories
football Sports News

SILVA, GUNDOGAN SCORE IN CITY’S 2-0 WIN OVER VILLA.

Bernardo Silva’s superb strike and a last-minute Ilkay Gundogan penalty earned Manchester City a 2-0 win over a battling Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side enjoyed much of the possession, but were frustrated by a well-drilled Villa defence.

Phil Foden twice went close in the first half, heading at Emiliano Martinez, before pouncing on a wonderful Kevin De Bruyne through-ball, only to be denied by Matty Cash’s block.

After the break, Bertrand Traore showed sublime control from a long throw by Martinez and slipped past De Bruyne, but his final shot lacked power on 52 minutes.

City responded, with Joao Cancelo clipping the woodwork two minutes later.

Silva broke the deadlock with 11 minutes remaining, controlling Rodrigo’s pass before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot.

Gundogan wrapped up the points from the spot after Cash had handled.

City’s sixth straight Premier League win sends them second, on 38 points, above Leicester City on goal difference and two points below Manchester United, with a match in hand on both.

Villa, whose head coach Dean Smith was sent off shortly after Silva’s goal, lie 11th with 26 points.

Categories
football Sports News

POGBA’S SUPER STRIKE DOWNS FULHAM AS UNITED RETAIN TOP SPOT.

An equaliser by Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba’s brilliant winner sent Manchester United back to the top of the table as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1.

Fulham went ahead on five minutes at Craven Cottage, when Ademola Lookman met Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s ball over the top and dispatched a crisp finish into the far corner.

United levelled after 21 minutes when Bruno Fernandes, who had struck a post moments earlier, whipped over a cross that Alphonse Areola fumbled into the path of Cavani, who stabbed home.

Fulham started the second half as positively as they had the first but Lookman shot tamely at David De Gea.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side edged ahead on 65 minutes when Pogba picked up the ball on the edge of the area and turned to hit an unstoppable curling drive beyond Areola’s reach.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired over Fulham’s best chance to claim a point nine minutes from time.

United return to the top on 40 points, two clear of Manchester City, who have a match in hand.

Fulham remain 18th with 12 points.

Categories
football Sports News

PREMIER LEAGUE TO TRIAL CONCUSSION SUBSTITUTION.

The Premier League could begin trialling the use of concussion substitutes as soon as next week.

Clubs have voted in favour of conducting the trial in England’s top flight.

Each team will be allowed up to two extra substitutions per game if concussion is suspected in a player.

The issue of concussion and head injuries has been brought into focus by the number of ex-players living out their later years battling dementia.

Clubs’ attitudes towards head injuries have also been called into question, none more so than when David Luiz stayed on for Arsenal after a clash of heads that fractured the skull of Wolves striker Raul Jimenez in November.

Arsenal say they followed all the proper protocols at the time.

The trial could begin as early as the middle of next week if it is okayed by the game’s lawmakers, IFAB.

A Premier League statement read, “The trial will be confirmed when the implementation of the reporting processes, including private medical information, has been resolved with IFAB and FIFA.

“With player welfare the Premier League’s priority, the protocols will allow a maximum of two concussion substitutes to be used per team, with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number.

“The additional concussion substitutions may be made regardless of the number of substitutions a team have made already.

“The trial is a result of the IFAB’s consultation with stakeholders and recommendations from their concussion expert group to allow additional substitutions for players with actual or suspected concussion.”

Meanwhile, all Premier League games through to the end of February will be televised.

Fans are no nearer a return to English stadia, with COVID-19 numbers out of control.

The split between rights holders will be revealed in due course.

The Premier League said, “The Premier League and its clubs are committed to an accessible solution for fans.

“These plans have been made with the cooperation of our broadcast partners, working with us to deliver these additional matches while stadiums are missing the supporters who are such an integral part of the game.”

Categories
football Sports News

WE MUST BE CLOSE TO PERFECTION TO RETAIN THE TITLE – KLOPP.

Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has said his side will need to be “close to perfection” in order to win a second straight Premier League title.

Klopp’s side ran away with the title last term, clinching the club’s first Premier League crown by an 18-point margin over Manchester City.

The race for the title is set to be much closer this season with Liverpool currently in fourth place, four points back of table-topping Leicester City having played one game fewer.

With several teams looking to be genuine title contenders Klopp knows that his side, currently on a four-match winless run in the Premier League, can’t afford many more slip-ups.

Asked what it would take to win the title, Klopp replied: “Close to perfection, but perfection depends on the situation.

“There is no perfect season with 114 points, there is just dealing with circumstances and the situation and the amount of games. We have to be as perfect as possible and that is what we try.”

Leicester took the lead in the Premier League after defeating Chelsea on Tuesday, but Manchester United could regain the lead by beating Fulham on Wednesday. Klopp said that the back-and-forth nature of the race this term means every team must always be on their toes.

“It changes all the time and that’s because it is so close, we know that for a few weeks,” Klopp said. “That makes it a slightly different title race or race in general this year and we have to be ready, 100 per cent.

“I know in this business only results count but before you have a result you need performances and the last performance was really good.”

Klopp said he wasn’t getting too carried away with his side’s form, insisting he saw some positive signs in Liverpool’s 0-0 draw against Man Utd on Sunday.

“It is not a catastrophe, it is not perfect, but that is not important,” he said. “Be as good as you can be. I saw a lot of good signs in the Man Utd game and if we had won that game everyone would have seen them, but because we didn’t win no one was interested. That doesn’t change my view.”

Categories
football Sports News

LEICESTER GO TOP OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE AFTER BEATING CHELSEA 2-0.

First-half goals by Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison powered Leicester City to the top of the Premier League in Brendan Rodgers’ first career win against Chelsea.

Ndidi fired the Foxes ahead from the edge of the penalty area on six minutes following a well-worked corner.

Jamie Vardy’s scooped effort was then kept out on 34 minutes thanks to a touch from Blues goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

On 38 minutes, Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Jonny Evans fouled Christian Pulisic, but a VAR review showed the offence had taken place just outside the area.

Mason Mount fired the resulting free-kick over the crossbar and seconds later, a defensive mix-up at the other end allowed Maddison to make it 2-0.

James Justin sent a free header wide and Youri Tielemans had a shot well saved by Mendy on 57 minutes as the dominant hosts threatened a third.

They closed out an assured 2-0 win after Timo Werner’s late effort that was disallowed for offside.

With 19 matches played, Leicester are top with 38 points, one ahead of Manchester United, who have played a match fewer and face Fulham on Wednesday.

Chelsea lie eighth on 29 points.

Categories
football Sports News

OLE GUNNAR SOLKSJAER DENIES BRUNO FERNANDEZ IS TIRED AND NEEDS REST.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dismissed suggestions that Bruno Fernandes is tired and needs a break following the Manchester United star’s ineffective display against Liverpool.

The 26-year-old hit the ground running after arriving from Sporting Lisbon last January, scoring 19 goals and providing 14 assists in just 32 Premier League appearances.

Fernandes’ Player of the Month award for December was a record-breaking fourth of the year, yet the midfielder has failed to scale the same heights in the opening weeks of 2021.

The playmaker was below par in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Liverpool – something pointed out by former United skipper Roy Keane – but Solskjaer does not believe the frantic festive schedule has taken its toll on the Portuguese.

His form is very good,” the United boss said. “He was just voted Player of the month. He’s not tired. No chance.

He is one of the players who runs and covers the ground in every single game. Very good at recovering, very good at recharging his batteries.

“If he’d scored his free-kick or just had a little air on the ball when Luke (Shaw) put the cross in, he would have been lauded as the best player in the Premier League again.

“Since he’s come in, he’s been absolutely immense. No, he’s not tired. If I ask him there’s absolutely no chance he’ll say he’s tired.

“He’s expected to create goals, score goals and sometimes the margins are against him.

“That free-kick, I saw that one in! There was a couple of passes that he plays through and it’s just marginal as to whether the player was on or off.

“So he’s always on the verge of creating something, even when he loses the ball, and that’s the position I want him in and that’s what he’s been told to do. He has to be the creative one. I want him to play the passes he sees.”

Fernandes could well play a key role for United on Wednesday as Solskjaer leads his table-topping side to improving Fulham, with the Norwegian waiting to see if there are any unwanted surprises regarding his options.

“Well, we’ve not got test results from Covid yet and that’s almost 30 hours ago since we did the testing, so hopefully we get them soon,” Solskjaer said.

“Everyone trained this morning more or less. Brandon (Williams) and Phil Jones didn’t train and the rest were on the pitch.”

United’s ability to rotate and maintain fitness during such a frantic period has been key to their recent rise.

Solskjaer has underlined the importance of maintaining that advantageous strength in depth this month, meaning the Norwegian will have to be careful when deciding who can follow Timothy Fosu-Mensah out of the club.