TheNewsGuru

Tag: Epl

  • EPL: Ndidi to return against West Ham – Rodgers

    EPL: Ndidi to return against West Ham – Rodgers

    Brendan Rodgers yesterday provided an update on the fitness of Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi ahead of the club’s clash against West Ham United today.

    The Foxes are set to welcome David Moyes’ men to the King Power stadium, as part of the Premier League’s midweek fixture list.

    Speaking in his pre-West Ham press conference yesterday, Rodgers was asked for a fitness update on his squad and the main talking point surrounded sidelined midfielder Ndidi whose absence has been sorely felt in the Foxes’ last two outings.

    Amazingly, though, despite having only undergone surgery on a knee issue two weeks ago, the Nigerian midfielder is already in line to make a return to the pitch after Rodgers confirmed that his side’s midfield enforcer has made an ‘incredible recovery’, and could yet feature tomorrow night: “Yes, there’s a great chance he (Ndidi) will be in the squad for tomorrow. We’ll see how he is from today. He’s made an incredible recovery. I think that’s the thing with the type of operation he had, people will recover in different timescales. For Wilf it was 11 days.’

    “He’s been out on the pitch; he’s had all the tests. It’s a great testament to him and our medical team, the work that’s gone in to getting him fit. He’s available, we think,” the coach added.

    Leicester will enter the matchup desperate for a bounce-back display, on the back of an alarming dip in form of late as Rodgers’ outfit are winless in their last 3 outings across all competitions.

    After falling to a shock 2-1 loss at home to Southampton two weeks ago, Leicester were again put to the sword by a side battling relegation this past weekend.

    A meeting with struggling Burnley at Turf Moor eventually saw the Clarets run out 2-1 winners, courtesy of second-half strikes from Chris Wood and Ashley Westwood.

  • Infantino urges EPL referees to use VAR monitors

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino described referees as “heroes” and urged Premier League officials to start using pitch-side monitors before making key decisions involving VAR.

    Infantino told Sky Sports News on Friday, that he was unaware Premier League referees have not been making the final call on VAR decisions.

    The FIFA chief lauded the “difficult” work of referees on the pitch but encouraged them to “accept the help” of pitch-side monitors to enable them to play a more active role in the VAR process.

    “The job of the referee is so difficult, these guys are heroes, we are all criticising them so let’s help them and they have to accept the help.

    “They have a safety net when they are not sure or when somebody who sees the images telling them to go and check. They should go and check.”

    Despite VAR’s controversial start in the Premier League, Infantino says the system is helping football and as the technology improves, so too will the game.

    “VAR is making [football] more just and clean and if we have to wait one minute or two minutes, we have a game-changing decision which is taken correctly instead of wrongly.

    “Of course, VAR will improve, will develop, and will have automatised offsides because that’s what technology will give us today or tomorrow.

    “Offside and handball are these two situations which we need to constantly analyse and see how we can and if we can, these are difficult topics.”

     

  • EPL: Leicester lose ground at top with draw against Norwich

    Leicester were dealt a huge blow in the Premier League title race as they were held to a draw by a battling Norwich at King Power Stadium.

    The Foxes, who remain second, now lie 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool, following their hard-fought win over Watford in Saturday’s early game.

    Norwich, who were impressive, deservedly took the lead when Teemu Pukki slotted home after being sent through by Emiliano Buendia.

    But their lead only lasted 12 minutes as Leicester equalised when Jamie Vardy’s bullet header was turned into the net by Norwich keeper Tim Krul.

    Both sides pressed for a winner in an entertaining second half, with Vardy twice going close, but neither side could find a way through.

    The point sees Norwich close the gap on Aston Villa and Southampton, who play in Saturday’s late game, to three points but they remain 19th.

    BBC

  • Sacked Arsenal manager set for another EPL job

    Sacked Arsenal manager set for another EPL job

    Everton have approached former Arsenal manager, Unai Emery, about replacing Marco Silva, according to Sky Sports.

    An informal meeting was held in London and it is thought that Emery wants more time to think about his next move, following his sack at the Emirates.

    The Spaniard wants to continue improving his English as he sees England, as well as Spain and Italy, as viable options for his next job.

    Everton are also believed to be keen on Shanghai SIPG boss, Vitor Pereira.

    Chairman Bill Kenwright and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri have drawn up a four-man shortlist, which includes Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti.

  • EPL winners, losers after Wednesday’s fixtures

    Jurgen Klopp risked resting Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino for the first Merseyside derby of the 2019/20 Premier League season on Wednesday night.

    Jamie Vardy and James Maddison scored as Leicester beat bottom-club Watford to climb back to second in the Premier League.

    See results:

    Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa

    Leicester City 2-0 Watford

    Manchester United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

    Southampton 2-1 Norwich City

    Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 West Ham United

    Liverpool 5-2 Everton

  • EPL: Crystal Palace move to fifth after home win

    Jeffrey Schlupp struck in the second half as 10-man Crystal Palace beat Bournemouth to move up to fifth in the Premier League.

    The hosts lost Mamadou Sakho early in the first half when he was sent off for a high challenge on Adam Smith.

    Bournemouth dominated possession from that point but failed to make the most of their man advantage as they rarely tested Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal.

    Philip Billing hit a shot straight at Guaita at the end of the first half, while Dominic Solanke just failed to connect with a dangerous low ball shortly after the restart.

    It appeared as though the first Premier League match to be broadcast on Amazon Prime would end goalless, but instead the hosts snatched victory when Schlupp, on as a first-half substitute for the injured Patrick van Aanholt, weaved his way through the Bournemouth defence before tucking home a low shot.

    After a run of five games without victory, Palace have now won their last two having also beaten Burnley 2-0 at the weekend.

    Defeat for Bournemouth was their fourth in a row and leaves them in 12th.

  • EPL: Xhaka needs to apologize – Unai Emery

    EPL: Xhaka needs to apologize – Unai Emery

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery says Granit Xhaka should apologise after he was involved in an angry confrontation with home fans during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

    The Gunners captain was booed while he walked off the pitch at Emirates Stadium, prompting him to cup his ear.

    Emery said: “Yes [he should apologise]. We make mistakes, we need to apologise and we suggested for him to do that.

    “Really, he knows he was wrong and he feels inside very deep.”

    It is not the first time Xhaka has been booed by his own fans this season, with Emery publicly defending the Switzerland midfielder after a game against Aston Villa last month.

    That uneasy relationship with the Gunners fans did not stop Emery appointing Xhaka as club captain in September after the summer departure of Laurent Koscielny.

    However, Emery has refused to confirm whether Xhaka will remain captain after Sunday’s incident.

    “At the moment I am not speaking and I don’t want to think about that,” the Spaniard added.

    “It is not easy for him and for the team. We spoke yesterday, and Sunday night also, and this morning.

    “He trained normally with the group but he is devastated and sad about the situation.”

  • Liverpool restore six-point lead with win over Tottenham

    Liverpool restore six-point lead with win over Tottenham

    Liverpool needed two second-half goals to come from behind to beat Tottenham at Anfield and restore their six-point lead at the top of the table.

    Harry Kane scored within 48 seconds of kick-off and keeper Paulo Gazzaniga pulled off a number of impressive saves to give Spurs a 1-0 lead at half-time.

    Jordan Henderson equalised six minutes after the break before Mo Salah thumped the winner from the penalty spot.

    Liverpool’s unbeaten run at home extends to 45 league games.

    In a repeat of June’s Champions League final, Liverpool once again came out victorious and have dropped just two points in the Premier League this season.

    They were made to work for it – needing several big chances to score before Henderson eventually slotted his half-volley into the far corner early in the second half.

    That came moments after Son Heung-min had smacked the crossbar for the second time in the match – his first effort was nodded in by Kane from seven yards out for the opener.

    But Liverpool’s pressure eventually took its toll when Serge Aurier caught the back of Sadio Mane’s leg and gave away a penalty, which Salah smashed past a stationary Gazzaniga with 15 minutes left.

    BBC

  • Man City beat Villa to close gap on Liverpool

    Man City beat Villa to close gap on Liverpool

    Manchester City cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points after seeing off a determined Aston Villa side with three second-half goals.

    Liverpool can restore their six-point advantage if they beat Tottenham on Sunday but, after dropping points last weekend, the Reds go into that game knowing they have the defending champions breathing down their neck.

    But while this ended up being a routine win for Pep Guardiola’s side, they had to work hard and wait to break down a well-organised Villa side.

    The visitors had largely frustrated City in the first half but their resistance lasted for only 20 seconds after the restart.

    After Villa squandered possession from their own kick-off, Ederson’s long punt forward was flicked on by Gabriel Jesus and into the path of Sterling, who made no mistake.

    Jesus should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards when a mistake by Bjorn Engels left him clean through, but a combination of a Tom Heaton save and a brilliant goal-line clearance by Tyrone Mings denied him.

    City had to wait until the 65th minute for their second goal, which confusingly was eventually awarded to David Silva, after a long delay for a VAR decision that had concluded it was Kevin de Bruyne’s goal.

    It was unclear at first glance whether Silva or Raheem Sterling, who would have been offside from a Silva touch, had got a deflection on De Bruyne’s wicked curling cross but after a four-minute delay that was met with derision by both sets of fans, it was ruled it had gone straight in and was allowed to stand.

    However, some time after the final whistle, the goal accreditation panel – an independent entity which has no affiliation with VAR – awarded the goal to Silva, who had wheeled away in celebration.

    Nonetheless, Ilkay Gundogan made absolutely sure of the points a few moments later, when Fernandinho’s shot was cleared into his path, and he expertly adjusted his body to put away a fine first-time finish.

    The hosts finished the game with 10 men after Fernandinho was shown a second yellow card.

    BBC

  • Liverpool maintain unbeaten start with late draw at Old Trafford

    Liverpool maintain unbeaten start with late draw at Old Trafford

    Adam Lallana’s late equaliser rescued a point for Liverpool at Old Trafford as Manchester United ended their flawless start to the Premier League season.

    Liverpool were in search of their 18th successive league win to equal Manchester City’s top-flight record set between August and December 2017 but had to settle for a point after a scrappy encounter.

    Marcus Rashford’s hotly contested first-half goal, allowed after a video assistant referee check for a foul by Victor Lindelof on Divock Origi, looked to be condemning Liverpool to their first league loss since they went down at Manchester City in January.

    Rashford finished neatly from Daniel James’ cross in the 36th minute but Liverpool, who saw a first-half strike from Sadio Mane ruled out by VAR for handball, struck back when substitute Lallana arrived unmarked at the far post to score from Andy Robertson’s cross five minutes from time.

    The draw means Liverpool’s advantage at the top of the table has been cut to six points.

    BBC