Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Shanghai ‘rule out Rooney move’, Fabregas ‘available for loan’

Boss of Goss Kevin Darling on yet more bad news for the England captain and is the end nigh for Arsenal's favourite Chelsea player?....

 

Every self-respecting household has to have a Pot Noodle in the cupboard. You don’t eat it for your dinner, obviously. That would be a terrible state of affairs. Instead, you just leave it there - forever. It’s security. It’s the reassuring knowledge that, even if one day you have no other food in the house - whether due to poverty, nuclear war or mere forgetfulness - the Pot Noodle will be there.

But this morning, something awful has happened in Wayne Rooney’s house. The Manchester United captain has opened his cupboard to check on his Pot Noodle - and it’s gone!

Or put another way, the Sun has reported that Shanghai SIPG coach Sven Goran-Eriksson has ruled out any future move for Rooney.

This comes a day after USA legend Alexi Lalas urged MLS clubs not to buy England’s record goalscorer because he would be “stealing money” from the American people.

Even in Rooney’s darkest days sitting on the bench this season, whether for United or England, he could console himself with the fact he had not just one, but two Pot Noodles in the cupboard. China and the MLS.

They might have been difficult to stomach - given the glamorous ways he had previously become accustomed to - but they were better than nothing.

 

Yet Eriksson’s comments about signing Rooney seemed to have wiped that last resort from existence.

The Swede said, “There is absolutely nothing in it, zero. It is not something we have ever even spoken about at the club — and we have been discussing our options for next season a lot.”

All of which could leave Rooney scrambling behind the back of the sofa looking for crisp crumbs come the end of the season.

How the mighty have fallen. And another former giant whose season is not panning out the way he wanted is Cesc Fabregas.

The Times reports that Chelsea are willing to loan out the midfielder in January and "may even subsidise his wages” to ensure someone takes him.

The Spaniard is said to be the Blues’ third highest-paid player, after Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, on wages of £160,000 a week, and the club have decided this is an “unjustifiable outlay” on a man who has only started one league game all season.

Milan and Juventus are interested, but Fabregas is said to be “happy in London”.

Much of today’s other gossip concerns players who will not be moving to new clubs, with West Ham’s beloved Alexandre Lacazette being offered a new contract at Lyon (Mirror), Man Utd target Goncalo Guedes pledging his future to Benfica (Star) and Old Trafford outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan categorically “not for sale” (Squawka).

Elsewhere, Marseille have joined Liverpool in the race for Inter Milan midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia (Talksport), Tottenham considering a January loan move for Real Madrid playmaker Isco (Mirror) and Frank de Boer is set to be sacked by Inter today “by conference call” (Gazzetta dello Sport). Hopefully Frank has got a Pot Noodle in the cupboard, just to make himself feel a bit better

 

LaLiga: Barcelona preparing to open Leo Messi contract renewal talks

Lionel Messi, 29, is out of contract at Barcelona in June 2018 and Premier League clubs are reportedly circling.

 

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident of keeping hold of Lionel Messi, with the LaLiga champions set to open negations over a new contract in the "next couple of months".

Messi's current deal is set to expire in June 2018 and Bartomeu has already said the Barca star has a contract for ever at Camp Nou.

However, Premier League giants Manchester City have been linked with a move for Messi, ex-Barca boss Pep Guardiola opening the door for the 29-year-old should he ever leave the Catalans.

Bartomeu, though, is confident of warding off interest from the lucrative Premier League.

"This is a decision for Leo Messi or for any player to change club," Bartomeu told the Telegraph. "Right now Leo Messi has a contract to the end of the Russian World Cup [in 2018] and we are very happy with him. Very happy. He's the best player in the world, by far.

"I don't know what will happen in the future but of course we will always try to explain to him that he is at the best club in the world and this is the best place for him to live and he is living the best experience of his life with us.

 

Euro 2016: Belgium 0-2 Italy highlights

Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle scored as Italy began their Euro 2016 campaign with victory over much-fancied Belgium in Lyon.

Sunderland's Giaccherini slotted home in the first half after collecting Leonardo Bonucci's superb long pass.
Southampton's Pelle sealed the win in injury time with an emphatic finish following an incisive break.

Belgium were very disappointing, with Romelu Lukaku and Divock Origi wasteful in front of goal.
Everton forward Lukaku curled over from the edge of the box with just the keeper to beat while Liverpool's Origi missed two opportunities to head his side level.

video: Manchester United 1 – 1 Leicester City [Premier League] Highlights 2015/16

Manchester United 1 – 1 Leicester City [Premier League] Highlights 2015/16 – Leicester City will have to wait to be crowned Premier League champions after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

 

 

The Foxes headed into the game aware that a victory would see them win the title, but they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils, as Anthony Martial’s early strike was cancelled out by Wes Morgan’s powerful header...

DOWNLOAD NOW 

Champions League preview: Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich...

– Atletico Madrid play host to Bayern Munich in a Champions League semi-final – This is the Spanish side’s second semi-final appearance in three seasons
 – Arjen Robben and Diego Godin are ruled out but Jerome Boateng is available 2014 finalist Atletico

 Madrid welcome Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich to the Vicente Calderon in a Champions League semi-final tie.

The Spanish side are without influential centre-back Diego Godin (hamstring) but former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres should start after scoring five goals in six games. Bayern Munich have named defender Jerome Boateng, who has missed three months with a groin injury, in their 22-man squad for the trip to Madrid but Netherlands winger Arjen Robben (thigh) is ruled out for the German giants.

Bayern are one win away from securing a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, while Atletico are level on points with leaders Barcelona in their quest for a second Spanish title in three seasons.

The defeat leaves Real nine points off leaders Barcelona, and four below...

 Atletico Atletico have now reached the last four of Europe’s premier club competition in two of the past three seasons. Atletico, who have never been crowned European champions, are facing the club that denied them in the 1974 European Cup final while Bayern have won the title on five occasions. The match kicks off at 7.45 (Nigerian time)
Read more: https://www.naij.com/812912-champions-league-preview-atletico-madrid-vs-bayern-munich.html

Premier League - Paper Round: Manchester United want Blanc and hummels,

Laurent Blanc could get the Manchester United job over Jose Mourinho and the Red Devils are competing with Arsenal and Chelsea for Mats Hummels and Antoine Griezmann, while a Chelsea youth player is demanding £50k a week after just 17 minutes of first-team action. It’s the top stories from Tuesday’s papers...

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and assistant manager Ryan Giggs

Paper Round’s view: It's anybody's guess what's going on at Manchester United. One minute it appears that the Jose Mourinho deal is all wrapped up, the next it looks like Van Gaal could even stay, and now we have a new name in the mix. World Cup-winner Blanc was slightly over the hill by the time he arrived at Old Trafford in his playing career, but he's approaching his prime as a manager after developing impressively during his three and a bit years at PSG. The Giggs factor was always likely to be a stumbling block in any move for Mourinho, while fan patience does seem to be running out for Van Gaal (despite an upturn in form and his introduction of a number of young players), so this story could actually make sense... but more likely it is simply adding two and two together and making five.

 

Arsenal and Man United on red alert over Hummels

Borussia Dortmund are open to allowing centre-back Mats Hummels to leave the club in the summer - reports The Express. The Germany international has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has been quoted as saying that to "forbid Hummels to leave would be small-minded". Arsenal and Manchester United have both been heavily linked with a move for the 27-year-old defender.

Paper Round’s view: The Dortmund chief might as well have just said "stump up the cash and you can have him". Hummels isn't getting much younger and in another year or two's time he won't be able to attract the sort of mega-money transfer fee that he will demand currently, so it would make sense if his club were feeling out their options. The Bundesliga has profited enormously from the Premier League's influx of television money over the last couple of years, with Germany's clubs negotiating some huge fees for a number of want-away players, and it would be no big surprise if Hummels was to move to England. He would fit in nicely at both United and Arsenal, but if that contest turns into a bidding war then there's only likely to be one winner.

 

 

Champions League: Madrid will not repeat Wolfsburg mistakes - Bale

In-form forward Gareth Bale, making his return to England, says Real Madrid are confident ahead of their clash with Manchester City

 

 

Gareth Bale believes Real Madrid have learnt the lessons of their Champions League scare at Wolfsburg.

Madrid face Manchester City in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday - a stage it looked like Zinedine Zidane's men might struggle to reach.

They went down 2-0 against the Bundesliga side in the first instalment of their quarter-final, only for a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick to stunningly turn the tie on its head.

Bale scored a brace as Madrid completed the same feat within 90 minutes at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and, ahead of another away first leg, he reported a cautious confidence among Zidane's squad.

He told a pre-match news conference: "I think we're feeling confident at the moment. 

"We had not a great performance away to Wolfsburg but that's something we've learnt from, something we've corrected.

"I think we have to go out and play our own game and try and impose ourselves on the other team. We'll go into the game confident and trying to win it."

Tuesday's match is set to be former Tottenham favourite Bale's first on English soil since leaving the Premier League for the Spanish capital in 2013.

Aside from the unseasonably cold April weather in Manchester, the Wales international said he was glad to be back but refused to attach any particular significance to his return.

"I don't feel like I have a point to prove. I've played long enough now to be okay about that," he said.

"Obviously we want to stamp our authority on the game and we want to win by as many goals as we can but we know it's going to be a difficult game.

"The first legs are always a bit tense, a bit cagier, I suppose.

As Ronaldo rested a calf strain and after striker Karim Benzema limped off, Bale thrillingly led Madrid's weekend comeback.

However, after once again dismissing rumours of a rift between himself and Ronaldo, the forward refused to cast himself as a star.

"I think whenever I step on the pitch I try to do the best I can," he explained. "No matter who is on the pitch we all want to work together as a team.

"For us, that's the most important thing. We attack together, we defend together.

"Whoever gets the goals, whoever wins the game, if we keep clean sheets - it's for all of us to celebrate."

City won their first league title for 44 years in Bale's penultimate season at Tottenham and the 26-year-old is slightly surprised by the rate of their progress to a maiden Champions League semi-final.

"If anything I'm surprised they haven't got here earlier," he added. "They're obviously a club who have progressed a lot over the years and have really become a force in the Premier League. They're starting to in Europe now.

"They've done well up until this moment and hopefully now we can stop them."

 

Martial has proved worth to United, says Smalling....

Chris Smalling said Anthony Martial has made Old Trafford his own after taking Manchester United by storm in his debut season.

United were criticised for spending in excess of £36million for Martial in September, but the 20-year-old has repaid the faith, scoring an injury-time winner to send the club into the FA Cup final on Saturday.

 

Martial has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, eight of those coming in the Premier League.

And United team-mate Smalling said the France international has proved his worth to the team.

"No one is going to have a harder circumstance coming to Old Trafford with the pressure he had and he is performing brilliantly," said Smalling.

"A lot of players come with potential but it's how they perform on that stage and luckily enough for us he's taken to it like it's like it's nothing.

"Not many players come in with that amount of pressure and he was relatively unknown to the majority of us so to see him turn up week after week, he's our main attacking threat and he's been brilliant all season.

"Nothing seems to faze him and you can see that when he gets the ball, he's got the beating of anyone no matter who he's playing against.

"More often than not he gets the beating of them and that's great for us because you just want to feed players like that who are constantly that high on confidence all season.

"You can tell in training sessions, his pace, his ability to take on people, after a few training sessions you have to try to suss him out."

Photos: England Football Players All Dope In Suits And Shoes For Euro 2016

Has Hodgson’s Squad Been Accidentally Revealed?

The Three Lions have showed off their official suit for the Euro 2016 competition next summer, with some surprising players, including Jonjo Shelvey, featured in the pictures

England have revealed their official suit for the Euro 2016 tournament this summer… but have the pictures accidentally confirmed Roy Hodgson’s squad?
The tournament kicks off on June 10, with Hodgson set to announce his squad in July, but tongues have been set wagging by the inclusion of the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Ryan Bertrand and Kieran Gibbs in the official pictures.

The trio, of Swansea, Southampton and Arsenal respectively, join such England stalwarts as Joe Hart, Gary Cahill and Harry Kane as they model the navy three-piece suit that has been produced in conjunction with Marks & Spencer.
Wayne Rooney, the Three Lions’ captain, does not make an appearance, with Kane the only striker called in to model having propelled Tottenham into the title race with 16 top-flight goals in 26 appearances..




The FA’s Commercial Director Stuart Turner said in a statement: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with M&S into a ninth successive year and ahead of another major tournament.
“The FA’s relationship with M&S continues to go from strength-to-strength and we are really pleased with the England team’s official suit for Euro 2016.

“Once again, the in-house design team at M&S has shown excellent attention to detail and the England squad will be heading to France in a suit of the highest quality.”
England qualified for Euro 2016 with a perfect record and will face Russia, Wales and Slovakia in Group B.

video: PSG 2 – 1 Chelsea [Champions League] Highlights 2015/16..

Edinson Cavani came off the bench to score the winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 2-1 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League at Parc des Princes.

An entertaining first half saw Diego Costa go closest to opening the scoring, his header tipped onto the woodwork by Kevin Trapp before Ibrahimovic fired the hosts ahead in the 39th minute.
The Sweden international smashed a free kick low against the wall which took a deflection off Mikel to fly past Thibaut Courtois who was committed to diving the other way.

However, Mikel was quick to make amends grabbing the equaliser, and a precious away goal, right on the stroke of half-time, tucking home Costa’s flick from a Willian corner.
PSG piled on the pressure in the second half but Chelsea held firm until the 78th minute when Cavani latched onto an Ibrahimovic past before sliding the ball under Courtois at his near post.

DOWNLOAD NOW 

 

Sport News: Neymar Has £35m of Assets Frozen In Brazil Including A Yacht, A Jet & Houses [AP]

The Barcelona star has had a yacht, a jet and his properties frozen in Brazil in relation to his ongoing tax problems.
The Brazilian tax authority claim that Neymar owes them a lot of money from his time as a player at Santos.
 
Neymar, his family and related businesses were found guilty of owing around €14 million in taxes for the period between 2011 and 2013. Neymar had appealed that judgement, but his appeal has recently been denied by the courts.
Iagaro Jung Martins, an auditor with Brazil’s federal tax agency, has told The Associated Press that Neymar won’t face any jail time if he pays his fine:

He can still appeal that decision, but it is a step forward. Nothing changed to what was in place last year: if he pays what he owes, the case is closed. Our legislation isn’t too harsh.

In a separate case, Neymar is also facing tax issues in Spain at the moment related to his move from Santos to Barcelona.

10 amazing facts about Cristiano Ronaldo as he turns 31

– Cristiano Ronaldo clocks 31 today February 5, 2016..

– The living legend has an exceptional gift you will definitely be envious of

As Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 31st birthday, here is an overview of the living legend who has exhibited amazing and exceptional skills on and off the pitch, in which most of his colleagues will be envious of.

Here are 10 amazing facts about Ronaldo

1. He was expelled from school at the age of 14: ‘Naughty Ronaldo’ threw a chair at his teacher at the age of fourteen. He was consequently expelled from school. The development made his mother compel him to focus entirely on football, a decision that has made him what he is today. What a decision!

Cristiano Ronaldo at Sporting as a youth

2. A friendly against Manchester United shot him into limelite: Cristiano Ronaldo sent John O’Shea into dizzy spells when Manchester United faced Sporting. Ronaldo blew away Sir Alex Ferguson and the United players with his dazzling play.
Roy Keane, John O’Shea and Gary Neville asked Ferguson to buy Ronaldo after the game, but Ferguson was way ahead of them and had made his mind up by halftime.

Sporting’s player Cristiano Ronaldo (R) fights for the ball Manchester United player

3. He is named after former U.S President Ronald Reagan: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is his full name, but is known to everyone else as just Cristiano Ronaldo. His father was a big fan of the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989, Ronald Reagan, which is where the now world famous name “Ronaldo” came from.
He has other nicknames, CR7, Ronnie and the Yoruba’s in Nigeria call him ‘Ororo’ (Groundnut Oil)

Ronald Reagan

4. He has his own museum in his honour: 
In 2013, Ronaldo opened his own museum in his hometown of Madeira. The museum contains all of his awards and trophies (over 150), with extra room available for future trophies, which he expects to win..

Cristiano Ronaldo poses next to a model of himself wearing the Portuguese national team kit during a tour of his museum in Funchal, Portugal, Sunday, Dec. 15 2013. The museum opening displays 150 of the soccer player’s trophies and awards.

5. He has no tattoos: Unlike most of his colleagues, Ronaldo has no ink on his body. This is because he donated blood regularly. In some countries, you have to wait up to a year after getting a tattoo to give blood, so Ronaldo remains ink free. He also has become a bone marrow donor.

Ronaldo shows-off his body

6. His free kick speed is around 130 kmph: He has a tremendous shot and can shoot with both legs. The Arsenal ‘wall’ below needed to cover some vital body parts.

7. His father passed away when he was 20: Cristiano’s father, Jose Dinis Aveiro, unfortunately passed away at the age of 52 due to alcoholism. As a result, the Real Madrid star does not take alcohol.
Infact in 2010 he received a libel payout from a journalist who reported that he was drinking champagne heavily in a nightclub.

Cristiano Ronaldo poses with parents

8. He has less body fat than most supermodels and has a fashion boutique

Christiano Ronaldo poses as a model

9. He paid for a brain operation and treatments for a 10-month old boy: Ronaldo is a very loving and caring person. He shares the pain of other people and has paid for the surgery and further treatments of others, including this little boy Erik Ortiz Cruz.

Erik Ortiz Cruz and his mother

10. He has scored a goal in every minute of a game over his career: Legendary! Ronaldo has an astonishing statistic that not even Lionel Messi can match. He is the only player that has scored every minute of a 90 minute game over his career. That is lethal.

Ronaldo celebrates a goal

Alexandre Pato reaches agreement to join Chelsea

Chelsea is on the verge of adding Alexandre Pato to its attacking core.
The Brazilian forward has reached a verbal agreement to join the struggling Premier League side from Corinthians, sources tell ESPN Brazil.
Chelsea has yet to confirm the transfer, but the club is believed to be in the advanced stages of finalising a contract that will pay the 26-year-old £1.77 million a year.
His projected annual salary pales in comparison to the £6.9-million offer that Chinese second-division side Tianjin Quanjian proposed earlier this month.


Pato has played in his native Brazil since 2013 after he was sold by AC Milan. He's spent the last two seasons on loan at Sao Paulo, where he scored 26 goals in 51 appearances in 2015.
Pato's arrival could also spell the end for Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao at Chelsea. Remy looks destined for a move away in search of an opportunity to play regular first-team football, while Falcao has been plagued by injuries and could still reportedly move back to his parent-club, AS Monaco, this month.

Madrid, A'Madrid Sanctioned, Fined Over Transfers Of Minors

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee on Thursday, January 14, said it has sanctioned Spanish clubs Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players.


This was disclosed in a statement from the FIFA Media Office which stated the registration related to players under the age of 18.

The statement reads: “The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players.
“They also violated other relevant provisions with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in competitions.”

The committee said both clubs are to serve a transfer ban.
The ban will prevent them from registering any player at national and international level for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods.

“This is for breaching articles 5, 9, 19 and 19b, as well as annexes 2 and 3 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players,’’ the statement said.

 FIFA sanctions Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid

The transfer ban, which does not affect the current registration period at all, given that it opened before the decisions were notified, applies to each club as a whole.
There is however the exception of their women’s, futsal and beach soccer teams, and it does not prevent the release of players.


Both teams have been also fined CHF 900,000 and CHF 360,000 respectively.
They have been issued with a reprimand and given 90 days in which to regularise the situation of all minor players concerned.
The decisions, which were notified to the parties concerned on Thursday, were made based on the specific elements of each case.

They followed investigations initially conducted by FIFA Transfer Matching System GmbH (FIFA TMS) and subsequently by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee as part of disciplinary proceedings.
The investigations concerned minor players who were involved and participated in competitions with the clubs over various periods between 2007 and 2014 (Atlético Madrid) and between 2005 and 2014 (Real Madrid).

The statement affirmed that FIFA works hard to protect the rights of players under the age of 18 – whether male or female, amateur or professional.

“This is done through the enforcement of regulations prohibiting the international transfer of minors, or the first registration of minors in a country other than their own, except in specific circumstances which must be approved by the sub-committee appointed by the Players’ Status Committee.
“As such, the provisions relating to the protection of minors need to be strictly applied.
“This has been confirmed on various occasions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Opening up the door to exceptions beyond those carefully drafted and included in the Regulations would unavoidably lead to cases of circumvention of the rationale for these provisions.’’ (NAN)..

Real Madrid Players Welcomed New Coach Zinedine Zidane With Smile (Photos)

Zinedine Zidane who was unveiled as the new coach of Real Madrid Football Club yesterday is seen here receiving handshakes from the players before their training. More photos below;

#2016InPreview: Hot Football Events Of The Year

Below are five top football events scheduled to take place in 2016. The matches are a must watch as they are known to be top-notched and important to the nation in its entirety.




Rwanda 2016 (CHAN)

Nigeria will participate in the CHAN 2016 which has been scheduled to take place in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The tournament is specifically aimed at professional footballers based in Africa, playing actively in local leagues.
Nigeria has been drawn with Tunisia, Niger and Niger in the same group. The tournament will kick off on January 6.

2017 AFCON qualifier against Egypt 

The Super Eagles will continue their qualifying rounds in a two-legged match against Egypt. The next year’s tournament has been billed to take place in Gabon.
First leg of the encounter will be played by Nigeria in Kaduna when the Super Eagles play host to the Egyptians on March 26 while the return leg will be played few days later – a date will be communicated by CAF.
So far, Egypt are the group topper with Chad and Tanzania following. Nigeria however is the last on the table with only four points.

Recall that Nigeria did not qualify for the last edition of the tournament which took place in Equitorial Guinea.

Draws for the world Cup 2018 qualifier.

The draws for the 2018 qualifier will take place in Egypt on June 24. The most followed global football event will take place in Russia.
However, Nigeria who has not improved much in the FIFA rankings, and if Nigeria did not improve its FIFA rankings they might not make it for the draws, as rankings are used solely for world cup teams selection. So far, 20 African countries will make the final cut and a draws will take place to determine groups and who is meeting to qualify.

Rio 2016 Olympics

The Nigeria Dream Team VI made it timely and qualify for the tournament.  They last featured for the tournament in 2008.
Samson Siasia will lead the team to Brazil and try to bring back the 1996 memory where Nigeria won the trophy.

Women 2017 AFCON qualifier

The Super Falcons will now face Senegal or Guinea in April in a qualifying rounds for the 2017 AFCON which will take place in Cameroon.
The team doesn’t have a Coach yet as Edwin Okon who led them to the 2015 FIFA world cup in Canada was sacked after the tournament for poor run at the event.

See The Latest Arsenal's Transfer Plans

According to the rumours, Wenger is planning to buy Mahrez and sell Debuchy.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that the Gunners will be active in the January window, although just how active is anyone’s guess.

Metro reports that Mathieu Debuchy has failed to recover after being ousted by Hector Bellerin this season, and is desperate for game time with Euro 2016 on the horizon. In other words, his stay at the Emirates may well be coming to an end.



The source also states that Mahrez is increasingly looking like the real deal, and it’s claimed that the Gunners have now made an enquiry over his availability.

EPL Review: Arsenal At The Summit, Van Gaal Got A Reprieve And The Current Table

Odion Ighalo continued where he left off on Boxing Day with yet another goal, Louis van Gaal got a reprieve with a goal-less draw at Old Trafford, while Spurs re-affirmed their top four credential with another win against the in-form Watford.


The Hammers stop the rot of no Premier League win in eight matches and Stoke proved that the victory against United was no fluke by beating Everton.

Odion Ighalo celebrates scoring a goal for Watford

Watford 1-2 Tottenham Hotspurs

Odion Ighalo’s unbelievable rich vein of form continues unabated with a delightful finish from another assist by his strike partner Troy Deeney, to level the scoring on the 41^st minute after Harry Kane put Spurs ahead at Vicarage road.

 

It was an even first-half with either team enjoying any significant control of the game. Spurs played the better football in the second-half, however, the match turned on its head after Nathan Ake himself sent off for dissent in the 64^th minute.

Substitute Heung-Min Son capitalised in the dying minutes with a magnificient back-heel goal from Kieran Trippier swinging cross into the box. Spurs re-affirmed their top four position.

 

 

Norwich player, Jerome Cameron

 

Norwich 2-0 Aston Villa

 

Neither of the teams enjoyed any superiority over the first-half aside a stunning volley by Jonathan Howson in the 24^th minute that nestled inside the right post for Norwich to open the scoring.

The lead was doubled three minutes to the end of the match when Wes Hoolihan finds Mbokani with a lofted pass before steering his header into the bottom right corner, giving Brad Guzan no chance.

 

 

Lukaku scored twice for Everton

 

Everton 3-4 Stoke

 

Shaqiri’s brace in the first-half, with Lukaku’s reply sandwiched between them kept the Potters ahead at the break.

Romelu Lukaku added to his first-half strike in the 64^th minute from a terrific cross by Tom Cleverly, before calmly slotting home. Gerard Deulofue added the third with a cool strike when he found himself one on one with the goalie seven minutes later.

Joselu restored parity for Stoke with a first time shot that goes into the top of the net. Stoke claimed all the three points from the penalty box when John Stones was adjudged to have committed a foul. Arnautovic kept his cool and scored the spot-kick.

 

 

Victor Anichebe

 

 

West Brom 1-0 Newcastle

The first-half was more entertaining than the score-line suggests. The home side played some attractive offensive football, while the away side created their chances using lightning fast counter attacks.

West Brom stepped it up in the second-half with the creation of a couple opportunities. The decisive moment of the match came in the 78^th minute with a perfect lofted pass from Claudio Yacob which finds Daren Fletcher, who jumped the highest and steered a close-range strong and precise header that beat the Newcastle Keeper to score the winning goal.

 

 

Cyrstal Palace player on the ball

 

Crystal Palace 0-0 Swansea

This certainly was not the most exciting encounter in the EPL today, but extended Palace’s unbeaten run to six, although remaining fifth in the table.

There’s a lot of positives to be taken from this match against the high flying Palace by the managerless Swansea who have now claimed two clean sheets on the trot to aid their fight against relegation.

 

 

Petr Cech

 

Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth

The Gunners leapfrogged Leicester with goals from Gabriel Paulista and Mesut Ozil despite the Boxing Day trashing by Southampton.

Ozil was as expected, the star of the show yet again with another assist – taking him to 16, from the corner for Gabriel to notch home. He later secured the victory to confirm himself as the best player in the EPL this season bar none.

Bournemouth gave a good account of themselves with some adventurous and bold play but the Gunners were much too strong on the day.

 

 

Guus Hiddink

 

Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea

 

It was not United’s best performance of the season but at least halted the recent run of defeats. The under fire manager Louis van Gaal can breathe a sigh of relief to come out of the match with at least a point against a Chelsea side struggling with confidence.

The match was more entertaining than the 0-0 score-line suggests, with United the livelier of the two sides. The two goalkeepers were outstanding, making some fine saves and United hitting the post twice.

 

 

West Ham player celebrates a goal

 

West Ham 2-1 Southampton

The Hammers run of eight games without a win came to an abrupt end at Upton Park against a Southampton side full of confidence after the mauling of Arsenal on Boxing Day.

An own goal by Jenkinson gave the Saints the lead with the Hammers drawing level in the 69^th minute from a deflected ball off Michail Antonio before substitute, Andy Carroll heading the winner in the 79^th minute.

 

 Teams              P  GD Pts

	Arsenal	19	15	39
	Leicester	18	12	38
	Tottenham	19	18	35
	Man City	18	17	35
	Crystal Palace	19	7	31
	Man Utd	19	6	30
	West Ham	19	5	29
	Watford	19	4	29
	Stoke	19	1	29
	Liverpool	18	-1	27
	Everton	19	7	26
	Southampton	19	3	24
	West Brom	19	-6	23
	Chelsea	19	-6	20
	Norwich	19	-10	20
	Bournemouth	19	-12	20
	Swansea	19	-8	19
	Newcastle	19	-15	17
	Sunderland	18	-18	12
	Aston Villa	19	-19	8

 

 

 

Louis Van Gaal: I Have Tried To Do Everything But...

Manchester United coach Louis Van Gaal was asked if he remained the right man to motivate United’s players and drag them out of their slump.

He said: “That is now the big issue. I have tried to do everything but the pressure shall be higher and higher with every match. That is the problem now”.

 

Mirror notes that the Red Devils have not won since November 21, a run of seven games, with Van Gaal admitting he may have lost the faith of his United squad.
The Dutch continued: “It is more difficult, because I am also part of the four matches we have lost so people are looking at me and I have to deal with that.”

However, when asked if he still felt United’s players believed in him the coach said: “Until now, I can say yes.”
He concluded: “It’s very difficult, because we have to recover. We need a victory and that’s very important.”