Carlo Ancelotti has stated that the Italian Serie A is now on a par with the English Premier League, and stated that he feels AC Milan are better than Arsenal.
The Scudetto holders meet The Gunners at the San Siro on Wednesday night, and the former Chelsea manger has spoken of the upturn in performances of clubs from his homeland.
“You never have an easy game in Italy,” the Paris Saint-Germain coach told The Daily Telegraph.
“For me, this is a game that is a real 50-50. Let’s not forget that Napoli already knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League. Comparisons between the two leagues can only be made after these games.
“Italian football has made steps forward and the English game is not in great shape, what with Manchester City and Manchester United’s elimination.
“Napoli already achieved something remarkable by beating a City side that is dominating the Premier League, so I don’t see why they can’t repeat it. I think Milan are superior to Arsenal,” he concluded.
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Real Madrid have ensured Barcelona will wait at least another week to claim the La Liga title after romping to a 6-2 win at Sevilla.Portuguese maestro Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show, with four goals in a virtuoso performance that would have delighted his manager Jose Mourinho.
Brazilian playmaker Kaka also got on the scoresheet for Real, as did defender Sergio Ramos, who powered Madrid into the lead after 21 minutes with a header, while Alvaro Negredo scored both goals for Sevilla.
The result means Real trail Barca by five points and have three matches remaining, although Barca have four games to play and take on Espanyol at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Athletic Bilbao climbed into fifth place – which would guarantee them a place in next year’s Europa League – with a 3-2 win over Levante at home.
Goals from Gaizka Toquero, David Lopez and Fernando Llorente had Bilbao cruising at 3-0 just after the hour mark but late strikes from Christian Stuani and Victoriano Nano ensured some anxious moments for the hosts in the closing stages.
Atletico Madrid’s grip on sixth place looks tenuous after they were thrashed 3-0 at home by Malaga, who had goals from Rondon, Julio Baptista and Enzo Maresca to thank for their fourth successive league win.
On-loan Spurs midfielder Giovani dos Santos scored a brace to help Racing Santander take a big step towards La Liga survival with a 3-2 win at Hercules, who look certain to face the drop.
Almeria were not so fortunate, and their 2-0 loss at Getafe confirmed a relegation that has looked likely for much of the campaign.
Sporting Gijon had a late penalty from David Barral to earn them a 2-2 draw at home against Deportivo La Coruna, while Valencia moved six points clear of third-placed Villarreal – who play on Sunday – with a 3-0 home win over Real Sociedad.
Roberto Soldado scored twice for the hosts, and Brazilian striker Jonas scored the other.
Wednesday’s High Court ruling against Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who were attempting to block the sale of the club, was a major boost for the whole Anfield community.
Had the aptly named Mr Justice Floyd ruled in favour of the Americans, it would have been a fatal blow for the 18-time league champions who were left staring down the barrel, with the threat of administration and a possible nine point deduction looming.
The club’s long-suffering supporters, who have been campaigning tirelessly for the despised American duo to sell up, look to have finally got their way. Mr Floyd’s decision will allow chairman Martin Broughton and his fellow board members to complete the club’s sale process over the next few days. And despite Hicks and Gillett’s best efforts, it looks like their days at the club are finally numbered.
Given the lack of respect the American owners have shown for Liverpool over the last three-and-a-half-years, it comes as no surprise that they were prepared to jeopardise the club’s future in the courts. They risked the club entering into administration and suffering a nine point deduction in an attempt to avoid making a heavy loss on their disastrous Merseyside investment. Had Hicks and Gillett managed to hang onto the club this week, then the threat of insolvency could have become a harsh and true reality.
The duo (Kop Holdings)were due to either refinance or pay back their £240m debt to the Royal Bank of Scotland on October 15, something which neither partner had the capital to do. This could have led to RBS taking control of Liverpool, placing the club’s parent company, Kop Holdings, into administration. Portsmouth became the first ever Premier League side to enter administration last March and were immediately hit with a nine point deduction as punishment. The same critical sentence could have also been forced on Liverpool.
After just one league win and six points from the opening seven games, a nine point deduction would have left the Reds with a perilous -3 points and nine adrift from the Premier League safety zone. While this difference could be made up over the course of a season, it would have ultimately been a disaster for a Liverpool side which finished second just two seasons ago. Key players would have almost certainly abandoned ship in January and it could have left the club stuck in the doldrums for another two decades.
Yet perhaps the most worrying aspect of a possible deduction would have been Red Sox owner John W.Henry and New England Sports Ventures’ insistence on walking away from the deal had the club fallen into administration. This would have left the club’s owner search back at square one and unprotected against bids from more investors in the shape of Hicks and Gillett.
Although, there is one more twist in the tale. Singapore businessman Peter Lim, who narrowly missed out to Henry in the first round of negotiations, has lodged an increased £320m offer for the club. Broughton and his colleagues will now decide between the two bids, with NESV still in pole position to clinch a deal. Chairman Broughton, mobbed by fans outside court on hearing the decision, admitted that he was elated with the outcome after warning last week about the serious impact administration would have had on the club.
“Going into administration needs to be avoided at all costs, as the negative impact would be catastrophic,” he said.
“Setting aside the nine-point deduction, it would have an impact on Liverpool’s value and be wide open to predators, whereas we have what we believe is the right new owner to take the club forward.”
The club will look to move up the table now that administration has been avoided and a new owner will give Liverpool the impetus and stability needed to go forward and rebuild from the foundations. Prospective new owner Henry was delighted by the decision, telling his Twitter audience:
“Well done Martin, Christian & Ian. Well done RBS. Well done supporters!”
A win in the Merseyside Derby for Liverpool on Sunday would top off the perfect week for a club which had been on the brink.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold burst onto the scene last season as he made the right-back spot his own towards the end of Liverpool’s campaign.
The 19-year-old held his own in Champions League knockout matches against Manchester City, Roma and in the final against Real Madrid.
The Liverpool-born player’s form earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup in Russia.
As for Nathaniel Clyne, it has been a different story as the 27-year-old spent the majority of the season on the sidelines with injury.
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In fact, the England right-back made just five appearances in all competitions and just two of those were Premier League starts.
In an interview with Goal.com, Clyne spoke of his desire to hit the ground running this season and make up for lost time.
If he impresses Jurgen Klopp then he could end up winning back his spot in the first XI, which could negatively affect Alexander-Arnold.
However, at times last season, the manager used the attack-minded full-back as a winger, so perhaps that indicates that the youngster’s future is further up the pitch.
Liverpool fans have been debating the situation on Reddit.
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Liverpool were at their attacking best on Saturday as they moved into second place, temporarily usurping Manchester United in one of the automatic qualification spots for next season’s Champions League with a 4-1 win over West Ham.
Emre Can headed Liverpool into the lead with just under half-an-hour played, and Mohamed Salah doubled the Reds’ advantage just after half-time when he put the ball beyond Adrian in the Hammers goal.
Roberto Firmino then made it three after a mistake by Adrian, before Michail Antonio made a game of it with a low finish and the rejuvenated Sadio Mane put the icing on a thumping win at Anfield.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 16 home matches in the league now, a record for which the ever-influential Mohamed Salah can be credited. The Premier League’s second highest goalscorer was again at his imperious best, getting on the score sheet and playing a key part in the Reds’ dismantling of the struggling Irons.
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With four different goalscorers, though, there are plenty of nominees for Liverpool’s best player, while a few Reds surely disappointed on Saturday despite the healthy scoreline. With that in mind, we’re asking Liverpool supporters to issue ratings out of ten for each individual performance…
There was no doubt about Edinson Cavani’s status in Uruguay’s starting XI for their World Cup opener against Costa Rica.
Injury to Luis Suarez allowed Cavani to take up the central striking role and carry the scoring responsibility for his side. But, first-half penalty aside, it was an indifferent performance from the Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is coming off his worst season in terms of goals in four years.
16 league goals is by no means a bad return; Cavani’s final tally was also a result of playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for much of the campaign. But the lofty heights reached by the Uruguayan while at Napoli means there is an expectation from a striker widely considered as one of the best on the continent.
In defence of Cavani, Uruguay as a whole were poor, being outplayed in midfield by a team clearly inferior. The invention and unpredictability of Luis Suarez was a big miss, and had the Liverpool forward been involved, it’s likely we’d have seen more from Cavani in the final third.
But this isn’t the first time Cavani has been offered the reins to lead his side’s attack in the absence of the first choice. Ibrahimovic’s injury in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final to Chelsea meant Cavani was allowed to play centrally in the return leg. PSG’s failure to hold onto their 3-1 lead and advance can be partly attributed to Cavani’s wastefulness in front of goal.
It’s been reported that the Uruguayan isn’t happy in Paris, a story that’s rumbled on for much of the campaign. There may not be too many sympathisers for Cavani’s frustration. His issue is in Laurent Blanc being unable to accommodate him in his favoured position with Ibrahimovic in the squad, but Cavani would have been well aware of those problems when he chose to sign with the Ligue 1 club last summer.
It’s not to say it’s been all bad for the forward. There have been some breathtaking goals throughout the season. Cavani, often deployed on the right of attack for both club and country, has an excellent work ethic. He’ll see to his defensive duties in the way most prolific forwards wouldn’t. He’s powerful, skilful and, despite the drop from his Napoli days, still registered 25 goals in all competitions last season.
But he’s in need of a good World Cup, just as much as Uruguay on the whole are. Considering their wealth of attacking talent, Uruguay should be dispatching sides like Costa Rica, who were initially deemed the whipping boys of a group also featuring Italy and England.
Manchester United may or may not decide to revisit their reported offer of £56 million for the striker, but not too many will be convinced he’s completely worth it after the events of the past year culminating in a poor showing in Brazil. With Robin van Persie showing no signs of decline, Cavani may see most of his playing time out on the right flank if he moves to Old Trafford this summer.
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He has two more games at least. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that’s all Uruguay have left at this tournament. After their semi-final finish four years ago in South Africa, it was a huge surprise to see them perform so poorly at the Summer Olympics in London in 2012, crashing out at the group stage.
But these two final group games against England and Italy will be an opportunity at redemption for Cavani. This isn’t a poor player who’s been troubled in front of goal all year. It’s simply a case of a world-class striker rediscovering his best form when it matters and convincing those who are starting to doubt.
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It doesn’t take a lot to constitute a crisis in modern football. Sunderland entered September, possibly even October on track to achieve the season’s goals and now a couple of demoralising home defeats leave a miserable cloud hanging over Wearside.
Manchester City are also edging towards the dreaded ‘c’ word, such is the madness of football. The league champions, who remain undefeated in the Premier League’s European failings leave the manager players feeling the heat. My point is in this crazy sport where the difference between success and failure is so minimal does the timing of when you play certain teams impact a team’s long-term results?
Bolton Wanderers weren’t among the favourites for relegation but ended the season in the drop-zone after picking up six points from their first nine games. During this tough tenure Wanderers met five members of the traditional top six of the league. A torrid start de-railed the ambitions of a team looking to build on a 14th place finish and a FA Cup semi-final appearance. After a momentum draining start, the Trotters lost winnable games against Sunderland, Swansea and West Brom putting them directly into a dogfight.
Other factors were at play, the influential Stuart Holden missed the entire season, while Lee Chung Yong had been an important player for the club and missed a majority of the season through injury. When Gary Cahill left in January the club were also left with a sub-standard back four, with centre backs Zat Knight, Tim Ream and David Wheater lacking the quality needed at Premier League level.
However, going against this trend, bottom club last year Wolverhampton Wanderers picked up 11 points from their opening nine games and enjoyed a relatively manageable opening quarter before fading badly. Blackburn Rovers the other club relegated that term met three of the traditional top teams in their opening nine fixtures. They managed just five points however they were always among the favourites to go down and matched people’s expectations throughout the season. Wolves weren’t many people’s favourites for relegation but were also not expected to be far away from the drop-zone perhaps not making the two clubs the best examples.
The biggest over-achievers last year were Norwich City. Guided by the highly rated Paul Lambert, the Canaries reached 12th spot in the Premier League rarely close to the relegation places all term. They managed a solid total of 12 points in their opening nine matches. This came against a steady level of competition including three of the traditional top six teams in the division. Losses to Manchester United and Chelsea didn’t halt the momentum of a well-organised squad who caught many by surprise last year. Birmingham City were perhaps the surprise package in the 2010-2011 relegation zone. The Blues over-achieved finishing the previous year in the top half and showed their team contained genuine quality, winning the league cup in the same year they exited England’s top division. That year the Midlands side started steadily with 12 points from their first nine playing two top six sides in the process.
While my small Premier League sample shows that many factors are in play during a season and the fixture list is perhaps low in ranking among the problems a football club faces. I do believe Sunderland to an extent are a victims of a tough start. Taken individually prior to defeat at Villa, Sunderland had acquired good away points and only tasted defeat at the hands of the league champions.
Plus the two draws at the Stadium of Light were against difficult opposition in tough circumstances. But failure to win matches combined with a demoralising cup defeat meant the Black Cats couldn’t play with any real confidence or conviction against Villa. Liverpool FC are also victims of the fixture list to an extent. The Reds are going through a transitional period under Brendan Rogers, and the Ulsterman has had a torrid run, playing four of last year’s top six already. The Merseyside club are currently in an unsatisfactory 12th.
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However if my findings are accurate and the cliché of things evening themselves out over a season is true, both Rodgers and O’Neill should take comfort and remain defiant in trying to lift their teams up the Premier League table.
According to reports from The Daily Mail, Antoine Griezmann’s decision to sign a new contract with Atletico Madrid could soon result in Barcelona swooping for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen. Griezmann and the Danish playmaker are no means like-for-like players, but the theory is that the Nou Camp giants will now look to strengthen their midfield options instead with Eriksen and Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara ‘under consideration’.
Tottenham would, of course, be incredibly reluctant to let the 78-cap international leave. Since arriving from Ajax, Eriksen’s established himself as a key part of Tottenham’s midfield and certainly during the course of last season, he appeared to really embrace the responsibility of being such an important player for Mauricio Pochettino.
But could there be unforeseen positives to letting Eriksen leave for Barcelona? We look at the potential consequences, both good and bad, of a deal taking place this summer…
Andre Gomes moves the other way
Soccer Football – Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg – FC Barcelona vs Chelsea – Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain – March 14, 2018 Barcelona’s Andre Gomes in action with Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta REUTERS/Albert Gea
Tottenham were linked with Andre Gomes back in April as a potential replacement for Mousa Dembele and the Belgium international’s future is still yet to be resolved with his current terms due to expire at the end of next season. The Portuguese midfielder has endured a difficult spell at the Nou Camp, even enduring jeers from his own fans, but he’s a talented playmaker and even if he can’t match Dembele’s physicality, he should give Tottenham a similar control of possession from deep midfield.
In some ways though, signing Gomes in return doesn’t really solve the biggest problem with Eriksen leaving this summer. More of a central midfielder by nature, he’s not exactly a like-for-like replacement – so some quality will be taken away from Tottenham’s attacking midfield berth.
Tottenham’s midfield loses its precision
Soccer Football – Premier League – Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – February 4, 2018 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino celebrates with Christian Eriksen after the match 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 single club/league/player publications. Pl
The greatest gift Eriksen gives to this Tottenham side is undoubtedly his vision and precision with the ball. He’s the one player the Lilywhites turn to for that killer pass splitting the opposition defence or a thunderous strike from long range. There’s plenty of talent elsewhere in this Tottenham team and in the transfer market, but that aspect of Eriksen’s game is incredibly difficult to replace – there are few players in world football who can match him in terms of passing and shooting technique.
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That inevitably takes something away from this Tottenham team – Eriksen was the hub of culture the rest of the attack played around. But it also gives Pochettino a chance to change the emphasis of this side and address arguably it’s biggest offensive flaw, which brings us onto…
Moura gets his chance to shine
Soccer Football – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – January 31, 2018 Tottenham’s Lucas Moura is presented to the fans on the pitch at half time Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge 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 single club/league/player publications
One of the key motivations for signing Lucas Moura in January laid in his ability to jink his way through opposition defences, which has been a real problem for Tottenham in recent seasons. While Dele Alli can arrive late in the box to score, Son Heung-min can stretch defences with pace and Eriksen can pick out the pair’s runs, Spurs’ attack under Pochettino has always seemed to lack that player capable of breaking through opposition defences with mazy dribbles. Tellingly, their most prolific forward for dribbles in the Premier League last season was Son with just 1.6 per match – whereas the highest rate in the whole division was Eden Hazard with 4.9.
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Moura though, arrests that problem and Eirksen’s departure will open up an obvious space in the team for him. His Spurs career thus far has mostly consisted of bench outings and cup games, purely because Tottenham’s attacking midfield berth is so competitive, but Eriksen will leave a big gap behind that the Brazilian can fill, bringing something a little different to the team.
So, Spurs fans, should your club cash on Eriksen this summer? Let us know by voting below…
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255574″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Four World Cup myths debunked”]
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a doubt for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Everton at the Emirates Stadium.
Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund on transfer deadline day, with the Gunners paying in the region of £60m to sign the Gabon international.
The 28-year-old had initially been pencilled in to make his Arsenal debut when Everton visit the English capital in Saturday’s late kickoff.
However, Wenger has conceded that Aubameyang has been suffering with an illness, and the centre-forward will be assessed on Friday to determine whether he can debut this weekend.
The same can also be said for Jack Wilshere, with Wenger, who spoke on Friday morning, revealing that the midfielder is also a doubt through illness.
Wenger told reporters:
“Aubameyang was sick as well, we have to assess him today.”
Aubameyang followed former Dortmund teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Arsenal during the January transfer window.
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Arsenal were also recently boosted by the news that Mesut Ozil has signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners, who lost 3-1 at Swansea City on Tuesday night.
Belgium manager Marc Wilmots has publicly reprimanded Everton star Kevin Mirallas for his comments on Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj’s prospects of making it to the World Cup.
After almost a year of anticipation, Januzaj recently declared his international allegiance to Belgium and the winger has been immediately rewarded with a spot in the preliminary World Cup squad. While Wilmots has clearly welcomed the youngster with open arms, Mirallas was not quite so welcoming.
“I don’t think he should go to Brazil. It would not be fair to leave out another good player for someone who does not know the others and has not played a lot for his club in recent months,” the Everton winger said.
Mirallas went on to add that participating in the 2016 European Championships would be a “more realistic target” for the youngster.
This astonishing attack prompted Wilmots to publicly condemn Mirallas and urge the player to “stop talking nonsense.”
Football fans have been quick to discuss the outburst on Twitter.
Whilst most agree that Mirallas was wrong to raise his concerns publicly, the Everton winger’s comments have prompted much discussion over whom should start for Belgium this summer or even if Januzaj is worthy of a place in the squad.
Does Mirallas’ outburst suggest that he is worried about losing his place? Or has Januzaj not played enough in the Premier League to warrant being selected ahead of the Everton winger?