April 27th 2014 is a date that has gone down in Premier League folklore. Its events are burned into our retinas. Its highlights – should you not be of a Liverpool persuasion – has since been memed more times than a piano-playing cat.
It was on this sunny afternoon that Jose Mourinho brought his Chelsea team up to Merseyside with the devout intention of spoiling a party while much more significantly – and an aspect so often over-looked with the passage of time – putting themselves firmly back into that year’s title race.
At the start of that memorable day Liverpool were on 80 points with Chelsea chasing on 75. Manchester City trailed on 74 but had a game in hand on both. After a frenetically competed fight at the top there were but a handful of games left.
At lunchtime, ahead of the 2.05pm kick-off the Liverpool supporters welcomed their team coach with a sea of red and fire. A victory here and they were surely champions in waiting. Two weeks earlier, following a highly dramatic see-saw win over Manchester City, their captain had spoken: “We don’t let this slip. We go again at Norwich”.
We all know what happened next. We all know how the Liverpool captain’s words became cruelly portentous.
What we perhaps don’t remember so sharply – again another aspect lost to time – is that later that day Manchester City then had to travel to Selhurst Park to fully capitalise on the Reds’ (sorry) slip. They did so by winning 2-0 with an early Edin Dzeko strike calming the nerves.
It is a strange quirk of fate indeed that has brought these two exact fixtures to the fore again this weekend with Liverpool once more ahead of Manchester City with mere games to spare. And considering what happened last time it is a legitimate question to ponder whether the heightened and dramatic events of 2013/14 have any relevance to the present-day title scrap?
Does the ghost of Demba Ba still haunt the fans, if not the team who are a completely different composition now to then, bar Jordan Henderson? Undoubtedly so. Liverpool fans truly believed that was going to be ‘their year’ and invested a great deal of heart and soul into the contest, particularly as the finish line neared. To have it snatched from them in such bizarre circumstances must have been gut-wrenching.
Nerves therefore will be even more spiked this Sunday, with a clear need to exorcise a dark day and very public failing. It is nerves that will manifest itself as fervour and tremendous noise. But what about if the stalemate is not broken as half-time approaches? Might the memories then come flooding back?
As for City – who incidentally have three remaining players from that time in Kompany, Silva and Aguero – any positive learned behaviour from that day is lost due to them playing first this time out. The seasoned pros might well think back and smile but more so for the squad as a whole the memory of last season’s tight 0-0 draw will be much more prominent.
قرر ربيع ياسين المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الشباب تحت 20 عامًا، ضم الثنائي محمود صابر لاعب خط وسط فريق النجم الساحلي التونسي، وبلال مظهر لاعب الرديف في نادي باناثانيكوس اليوناني، لقائمة شباب الفراعنة التي تستعد لخوض فعاليات بطولة شمال إفريقيا، المقرر لها الشهر المقبل في تونس، والمؤهلة إلى كأس الأمم الإفريقية بموريتانيا.
ووصل بلال مظهر إلى مصر فجر اليوم للانضمام لصفوف شباب الفراعنة، على أن يخوض مرانه الأول بقميص المنتخب غدًا الأحد على الملعب الفرعي لاستاد القاهرة، وسيبقى اللاعب في معسكر منتخب الشباب حتي موعد عودته للفريق اليوناني.
طالع | قائمة منتخب مصر الأولمبي لمباراتي كوريا والبرازيل.. ضم ناصر ماهر وصلاح محسن
ويخوض بلال وديتين بقميص منتخب الشباب للوقوف علي مستواه الفني والبدني مع منتخب شباب الفراعنة، بينما يصل محمود صابر إلى مصر نهاية الأسبوع الجاري عقب موافقة ناديه التونسي على الانضمام لصفوف شباب الفراعنة، استعدادًا لخوض فعاليات بطولة شمال إفريقيا.
ويرسل مسؤولو المنتخب خطابًا إلى مسؤولي النجم الساحلي غدًا الأحد لطلب انضمام اللاعب لصفوف الفراعنة وحجز تذكرة الطيران في أقرب موعد ممكن، ويخوض محمود صابر وديتين بقميص شباب الفراعنة خلال فترة انضمامه لصفوف منتخب الشباب، للانسجام مع باقي اللاعبين قبل خوض فعاليات البطولة الهامة.
علّق وليد العطار المدير التنفيذي للاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، على إمكانية تأجيل مباراة نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا المقررة بين الأهلي والزمالك في نهاية الشهر الجاري.
ويواجه الأهلي منافسه الزمالك في المباراة النهائية من البطولة القارية مساء يوم 27 من نوفمبر الجاري.
وقال وليد العطار في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا سيكون في برج العرب، ولو هناك أي تغيرات جوية شديدة تمنع لعب المباراة أو تأجيلها سيكون الأمر في يد لجنة المسابقات بالاتحاد الإفريقي”.
طالع | مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا مهددة بالتأجيل
وتابع: “نحاول أن نتيح حضور الجماهير للمباراة ولكن لا يوجد قرار حتى الآن”.
وبسؤاله هل الأهلي والزمالك طلبا تأجيل القيد إلى بعد مباراة النهائي؟، أجاب: “نحن نحاول بقدر الإمكان مساعدة الأندية المصرية كما فعلنا في تأجيل القيد الأول، لأن هذا أمر داخلي، أما القيد الخاص بالموسم الجديد أبلغنا به فيفا وصعب تغييره”.
وكان اتحاد الكرة قد أعلن عن تمديد فترة القيد الأولى الخاصة بالموسم الجديد للأندية إلى يوم 11 نوفمبر الجاري.
وأردف: “تم تحديد مواعيد مباريات الكأس المتبقية، ونأخذ الموافقات الأمنية وسنخطر الأندية، وستنتهي مبارايات الكأس بحد أقصى أول أسبوع في شهر ديسمبر”.
هل الأندية ستشارك بالصفقات الجديدة في الكأس؟، أجاب: ” نعم الأندية تستطيع أن تشارك بلاعبيها الجدد”.
Whisper it quietly but Barnsley are now within touching distance of an immediate return to the Championship.
A fantastic Easter weekend for the Tykes saw them grind out a crucial 2-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town on Friday before they sent out a signal of intent to the rest of League One by dispatching Plymouth Argyle 3-0 on Monday.
Six points from a possible six saw Daniel Stendel’s side move further clear of Sunderland with their nearest challenge for a top-two finish now coming from Portsmouth who matched their results. Although Barnsley currently have an advantage of two points over Pompey, their rivals still have one more game to play between now and the end of the season.
However, when you considered that Kenny Jackett’s men still have to face the Black Cats and Peterborough United, it is clear that if the Tykes can extend their current winning run to five, they will be in a superb position to secure automatic promotion.
One of the biggest positives that the club’s supporters can take from Barnsley’s recent performances is that they have seemingly fully recovered from their defeat at Burton Albion at the start of the month and are showing no signs of letting the pressure get to them. Whereas Sunderland have floundered in recent weeks under the weight of expectations, Stendel has kept his players grounded and focused on the task in hand which has in turn produced positive results.
Indeed, the race for the top-two is far from over and there is still time for the Tykes to slip-up yet if they can take their recent form into their clashes against Blackpool and Bristol Rovers, they should have more than enough to take their tally for season to 94 points, a total which has guaranteed promotion for the last 20 years in the third tier.
What do you think Barnsley fans? Are you confident that your side now have what it takes to seal automatic promotion in May? How impressed have you been with Stendel’s impact since the German joined the club last summer? Get in touch below.
Charlton recorded a sensational 3-1 win over league leaders Luton Town at the weekend – their fourth consecutive victory – and thus extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games, with goals from Igor Vetokele and Lyle Taylor (2) bringing an end to the Hatters’ own excellent run.
Taylor’s brace took him to 21 goals in all competitions this season – a feat very few manage – but for Vetokele his strike and assist for his partner up front are an indicator that he is perhaps getting back to his best again after a difficult season plighted with injury.
The 27-year-old had this to say after a fantastic result:
“We have a chance (for automatic promotion) but we just have to focus on ourselves and try to win the remaining games and then we’ll see what happens.
“It gives us a massive boost and gives us confidence. It shows that we are capable of beating top teams and that’s what we’re going to have to do if we are going to get promotion.
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“It’s not really in our hands, so all we have to do is win every game that’s left and that will put pressure on the other teams.”
With four games to go and just three points separating the Addicks and second-placed Sunderland, the race for automatic promotion is on and if Charlton can keep up this kind of form then the Black Cats should be very worried indeed.
For most teams, winning your next four games seems like a big ask but, for a team on such a streak as the Valley outfit find themselves enjoying, it’s certainly possible if not likely. As Vetokele puts it, it’s all they have to do, with other results needing to go their way if they are to soar above the play-off places.
Mauricio Pochettino wants Tottenham Hotspur to spend £150million this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
Spurs are seemingly set to invest in the playing squad when the transfer window reopens, having gone the past two without signing a single player.
What’s the word?
The Mail report that Pochettino will be given an initial kitty of £60m to spend before player sales are considered, but the report states that the majority of transfer revenue will be retained and spent on the playing staff.
Doubts persist over the futures of both Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen.
The defender, of course, has a £25m release clause embedded into his contract, while the report states that Spurs could cash in on Eriksen, with his deal set to expire at the end of next season.
Full-back Danny Rose, midfielder Victor Wanyama, winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou will all reportedly be sold if bids come in, while Kieran Trippier and Fernando Llorente could also depart.
The Mail believe that could raise upwards of £100m to boost Pochettino’s spending power, with the club hoping to sign two central midfielders as well as an attacking player who can inject some creativity into the forward line.
Back him
Daniel Levy is absolutely right to throw some cash behind Pochettino.
The Argentine has worked miracles this season, with Spurs in the Champions League semi-finals and also fighting to finish in the Premier League top four.
Quite frankly, Pochettino deserves to be backed to the absolute hilt.
And while he may not have a say in the future of Alderweireld, his targets have to be brought in this summer.
Spurs stand on the precipice of something massive; major investment, then, is absolutely key if they are to take the next step.
When Caleb Ekuban joined Leeds United from Serie A side Chievo Verona in 2017, the club’s supporters had every right to be excited about the forward.
Having fired in 17 goals in the Albanian Superliga whilst on loan at FK Partizani, the 25-year-old seemingly had all the ingredients needed to become a cult-hero at Elland Road.
However, with expectations high, Ekuban ultimately failed to deliver for the Whites in his debut season in England as he struggled to adapt to the pace of the Championship.
Although he showed glimpses of his ability throughout the year, a myriad of injury problems resulted in the Italian-born ace featuring in just 21 games in all competitions for Leeds in which he only scored two goals for the club.
Following the arrival of fellow forwards Patrick Bamford and Izzy Brown last summer, Ekuban was loaned out to Trabzonspor in order to have a better chance of playing first-team football this season.
A regular starter for the Turkish side, the former Chievo forward has been directly involved in 11 goals this year with his performances causing a positive impression on Head Coach Unal Karaman.
With the transfer window scheduled to open in just under two months time, it is of little surprise that Trabzonspor are trying to secure a deal to sign Ekuban on a permanent basis. According to Football Ghana, the Super Lig side are close to sealing an £860,000 move for the forward.
If Leeds do indeed receive a healthy sum of money for Ekuban, Bielsa could use it to bolster his squad in the summer.
In the absence of the Ghanian international, the Whites have enjoyed a fruitful year which could be capped off by promotion later this month if they can successfully navigate their way through the play-offs.
Regardless of what division the club finds itself in next season however, it is certain that they won’t miss Ekuban if he leaves as they already have better attacking options at the club in the form of Bamford and Kemar Roofe.
What do you think Leeds fans? Will you be glad to see the back of Ekuban in the summer? Or do you think he was harshly treated at Elland Road? Let us know below.
“The future is bleak, because there is no way we can improve on what we have achieved so far.”
Pep Guardiola said those very words after Barcelona won the Club World Cup in 2009. The game, against Estudiantes, was nondescript, really, with few on these shores even paying it much mind. But in Catalonia it sparked wild celebrations and an uncharacteristically downbeat response from Guardiola. The reason? It confirmed that Barcelona had won six trophies in 2009. Six. For those counting, that’s La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey at the end of the 2008-09 campaign and, at the beginning of 2009-10, the Supercopa de Espana, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Guardiola had told his biographer, Guillem Balague, that he motivated his men by telling them they would be “eternal” if they won the Club World Cup. It was the first time they had won the competition.
Guardiola left Barcelona in 2012. At the end of his reign, he had won 13 trophies, having established a staggering stranglehold on the Spanish game.
What Guardiola has done since is enjoy a sabbatical, move to Manchester City, achieve a century of Premier League points and, this season, bring the excitement of the title race to a juddering halt.
He is a visionary, of course, a genius of a manager capable of building teams into irrepressible winning machines. City, at this point in time, are on a 12-game winning run. They last dropped points in the Premier League on January 29, losing 2-1 to Newcastle United. In the run since they have thumped Chelsea 6-0, beaten Arsenal 3-1 and also enjoyed victories over both Manchester United and title rivals Liverpool.
They have also won the Carabao Cup and will play in the FA Cup final in May. They are out of the Champions League but even that came after a 4-3 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
It is the Premier League, though, where the story is, and where the boredom lies.
City are currently slugging it out with Liverpool at the top of the table. They are two of the greatest teams the Premier League has ever seen and this, in turn, should be the most exciting title race in history.
Liverpool have 91 points but are second. In all but two seasons in Premier League history – last season, when City clocked 100, and 2004-05, when Chelsea won 95 points – they would have won the competition already. They have already amassed one more point than Arsenal’s Invincibles. They are 12 clear of the tally amassed by Manchester United’s treble winners. City, though, are a point clear. They have 92 and could end the season with 98. The only other team to ever better such a tally was, inevitably, Pep’s vintage from last season.
Why, then, is it so dull?
It has been grindingly predictable as a race. City, in particular, have reverted to their win-by-all-costs mantra that has so characterised the best teams in the league. Their 1-0 win over Burnley at the weekend was a prime example of this; it was three more points, yes, and it leaves City two wins away from the title, but they were not convincing, they did not play well and it was not particularly good to watch, with Burnley reduced to merely defending for their lives.
Liverpool have played their part in this but they are more thrilling to watch, more exciting, more explosive. They have pace in attack and defence but they have flaws too; were it not for Virgil van Dijk, they would probably be scrapping for Champions League football and the Premier League trophy would already be sitting in the Etihad Stadium.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester United v Manchester City – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – April 24, 2019 Manchester City’s Leroy Sane celebrates scoring their second goal with Oleksandr Zinchenko and team mates Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or singl
City, though, are almost omnipotent. They move the ball quickly and precisely but they are patient almost to a fault and have become synonymous with the ‘cut-back goal’, when a winger reaches the byline, fires the ball across the six-yard box and either Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling or another of City’s cherry-picked superstars taps it in. It works but it’s a bit like exploiting a cheat code that isn’t available to anyone else.
Indeed, the best title races have featured fallibility. Think of Manchester United and City duking it out in 2011-12, the year of Aguerroooooooo. United were eight points clear with six games remaining. A loss against Wigan Athletic and a chaotic, pulsating and simply brilliant 4-4 draw with Everton, followed by a derby defeat to City, saw Roberto Mancini’s side back on top. You don’t need reminding about what happened on the final day. The drama was only added to by the context of the season before it.
Look, too, at 2013-14, when City again swooped in to snatch the crown, this time from Liverpool, their rivals this year. Brendan Rodgers’ side, featuring the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard, were five points clear of Chelsea and nine ahead of City – who had two games in hand – after a 3-2 win over Norwich City on April 20th. A loss to Chelsea was followed by that collapse at Crystal Palace and, poof, the title had gone.
Again, set against the context of the season before it, this was genuinely thrilling stuff for the neutral.
But this season, there has been no such drama. This title race has just been two very good teams who are very good at winning football matches, winning football matches. City play Leicester and Brighton & Hove Albion in their final two matches, while the Reds take on Newcastle United and Wolves. Both teams are likely to win out because that is just what they do.
And Guardiola will be given the Premier League trophy. He may well weep, just as he did in 2009.
For what else is there to do but merely go and win it again? The competition – the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur – either don’t have the financial clout or the ability in the starting XI to match the feats of City and the Reds next season.
So we may see a duopoly established, with Guardiola yet again establishing a stranglehold.
City fans, surely, will love it. But the rest of us – we’ll call it what it is: boring.
تلقى المدرب الإسباني بيب جوارديولا المدير الفني لنادي مانشستر سيتي، أنباء سارة، اليوم الثلاثاء، في تدريبات السكاي بلو، بشأن ظهير الفريق الأيسر، بنجامين ميندي.
الدولي الفرنسي يغيب عن مانشستر سيتي بسبب مشاكل عضلية، إذ يغيب عن السيتي مُنذ 3 أكتوبر الماضي، بعدما أصيب في مواجهة ليدز يونايتد، بالجولة الرابعة من البريميرليج.
اقرأ أيضًا.. جوائز نورث ويست.. دي بروين أفضل لاعب في موسم 2019/2020
ورد ميندي عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “إنستجرام”، بشأن موقفه من العودة لتدريبات الفريق، حيث أوضح أنه عاد بالفعل.
وقال ميندي: “نعم، لقد عدت، وبدأت التدريب مرة أخرى، وكل شيء يسير على ما يرام”.
وبذلك يُمكن أنّ يصبح ميندي مُتاحًا لمباراة توتنهام ومانشستر سيتي، بعد العودة من فترة التوقف الدولية، يوم السبت 21 نوفمبر الجاري.
Leeds United fans on Twitter have highlighted the striker position as the area the team needed to improve on to make the next step.
The Whites have relied on Patrick Bamford and Kemar Roofe to lead their line this season and despite the pair netting 23 league goals between them, Leeds fans aren’t satisfied with the output of their attackers.
Leeds average 16.8 shots per game in the league yet they have scored just 70 goals so far this campaign which is only good enough to make them the fifth highest scorers in the division.
Elland Road has seen some prolific strikers in recent seasons with fans using the likes of Chris Wood and Jermaine Beckford as examples of the type of front-man they have been missing.
Other fans have been envious of their rivals strike forces, wishing they had the likes of Teemu Pukki or Tammy Abraham.
Leeds supporters have been quick to criticise Patrick Bamford’s performances this season despite the forward’s impressive minutes to goal ratio which has him scoring on average every 141 minutes.
Here’s what Leeds fans have been saying on Twitter…