Manchester City and Everton teams
As Manchester City prepare to host Everton in the lunch-time kick-off, the team news has just been released by both clubs.
Here are the sides.
Man City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Kompany, Lescott, Milner, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Aguero, Negredo
Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Clichy, Nastasic, Navas, Nasri, Dzeko
Everton XI: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman, McCarthy, Osman, Naismith, Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku
Subs: Robles, Gibson, Heitinga, Jelavic, Kone, Deulofeu, Stones.
FIXTURES FOR TODAY
Today is round seven of the Premier League schedule and 12 teams will be in action throughout the day with the best game coming from Manchester as the blue-half take on unbeaten Everton.
Below you can see all the league fixtures taking place today.
Manchester City vs Everton (12:45 K.O)
Cardiff City vs Newcastle United (15:00)
Fulham vs Stoke City (15:00)
Hull vs Aston Villa (15:00)
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
Sunderland vs Manchester United (17:30)
I asked to leave, reveals Lukaku
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed that he asked manager Jose Mourinho for a loan-move away from the club.
Many fans were shocked when Mourinho decided to loan-out the Belgium striker once again, especially after his impressive season for West Bromwich Albion last year, but the 20-year-old has now revealed that he actually asked for the move.
Now at Everton, Lukaku has already scored three goals in two appearances and despite being labelled as the new Didier Drogba, he knew that first-team opportunities were going to be limited at Stamford Bridge.
“I did not know if I would be playing for Chelsea so I asked the manager to let me leave. We spoke and I told him,” Lukaku told the Daily Telegraph.
“It’s unfair to criticise Mourinho for letting me go because it was my decision.
“He knows what he is doing. He has won so many titles and I have too much respect for him to wish anything but the best.
“But there comes a point where you must think about yourself to show everyone that you can shine and be one of the best strikers in the league.
“I could have stayed and fought, but it was not about the competition. When you are a 20-year-old you need minutes. I lost my place in the national team because I did not play for a year with Chelsea.
“I want that position back. I want to be in a top team and play. You only get better if you play so the best thing was to leave.
“He’d called me into his office 10 days before the end of the window. I did not want to tell him what I wanted to do at that point, but he was very open and direct.
“I always wanted to work under him and even the time in pre-season he taught me lots I’m grateful for but I had to make a choice.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Jose Mourinho admits to finding it harder this time around
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that turning the club into winners will be harder this time around, compared to what it was like during his first stint at Stamford Bridge.
The Portuguese-man turned The Blues into title winners on to occasions before setting off to join Inter Milan in Italy, where he was also a big success.
But after a poor stint in Spain with Real Madrid, ‘The Special One’ returned to England with a lot of media attention and hopeful Chelsea fans, but even the man himself has admitted that it’s a harder task this time around.
Mourinho said: “If you see the position of Chelsea in the last leagues and the difference of points from Chelsea to the champions, you can imagine that even with a magic click – that I don’t have – it’s not easy to recover 20 points. It’s more than one click.
“For a club like us it’s not good to be 15, 20 points behind.
“We need to win seven matches 1-0, not win one match 7-0 and lose the other six, or lose points.
“This is the kind of mentality that you have to build. And it’s much more difficult.
“I had a team of players in the best moment, potentially, of their career (in his first spell as boss).
“I needed a click to make them believe. At this moment, in terms of building a team, the task is different.”
“We need to be more consistent. I don’t think we are strong enough at this moment to have that kind of run of victory, victory, victory,” he added.
“We will, for sure, we will. In this moment I don’t think we are.
“The players must feel and accept the responsibility to play for a big club with big ambitions, where you cannot fail, where you cannot play one good game, one bad game, win one game, lose another”.
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Spell on the wing will help Wilshere, says Wengers
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes midfielder Jack Wilshere will re-find his best form, especially playing on the wing.
The England international hasn’t been on top form yet this season and has now been forced to move position so that new signing Mesut Ozil can fit into the central-role alongside Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini.
There will be more midfield headaches for Wenger once Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all recover from injury, but he believes that time on the flanks will help improve Wilshere.
“He is getting it back and I think playing on the flanks helps him to find that back, because on the flanks you have to do a lot of that,” said Wenger. “Once he will have that back… his performances physically recently are like that.
“Deep-lying midfielder or wide [are his best positions] because higher up he is less comfortable at the moment. He doesn’t like to have his back to goal, he likes to face the game.
“Why? Because he has a burst to pass people with the ball at his feet. From deep he does that very well, he creates the openings for that little burst to run with the ball. He is a physically strong boy, he has a good body. He can win the challenge and make the difference and open the game up.”
Wenger then likened it to the time Ramsey was forced out on the win and the Frenchman believes Wilshere has the versatility to be a success.
“You ask every good football player and he says to you [he wants to play] ‘in the centre’,” said Wenger. “Nobody says I want to play wide, I’ve never heard that.
“But on the other hand I had Nasri, he and Silva they all play wide. It’s not like they are forced to stay out there. Ramsey the other night, he played on the right side and had an outstanding game. Because he is not pinned there, he can move.
“Jack can play basically everywhere. He is an important player for the squad, and he will play. But there is competition for places of course. On one side, people want you to have good players, on the other, that means you cannot give any guarantee to anybody.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
I couldn’t say no to Mesut Ozil, admits Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that despite having a packed squad of midfielders, he just couldn’t say no to Mesut Ozil.
The Gunners wrapped up the signing of the German on deadline day for a whopping £43million and a few weeks ago, Wenger revealed that he found out about the potential deal just hours before the North London derby.
If there is a department Arsenal do not need to strengthen it is their midfield, with the likes of; Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini all fighting for starting spots, but the boss has revealed that he would have been stupid to reject the former-Real Madrid man.
“You have to look at the quality first and when you have high expectation levels you can’t turn down a world-class player,” said Wenger.
“There was no special emptiness in that position but the quality was so big it was too difficult to say no.
“I believe what is important is what you see when a team plays, the rest you have to cope with,” Wenger added.
“Look at Bayern [Munich] the other night, they have [Javi] Martinez and [Mario] Goetze on the bench.
“People said the team cost £92 million and Man City cost £190 million, but Bayern had over £100 million on the bench. That’s part of big clubs today, having big players on the bench.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Don’t expect much in January, warns Moyes
Manchester United manager David Moyes has warned fans that January may be as quiet as the summer was regarding transfers.
The Red Devils were only able to purchase Marouane Fellaini from Everton in the summer for £27million, despite being linked with several world-class midfielders.
As the summer activity was so poor for the club, the board and also the fans have been pleading with Moyes to spend big in January in order to rescue the season, but ahead of the weekend’s clash with Sunderland, the boss has confirmed that the Winter window may be just as quiet.
‘I’ll look at January but I wouldn’t want people to have big expectations about what you would sign or do in January because I don’t think January has in the main been a really good month to sign really at the top.
‘If you’re in trouble near the bottom of the league you might if you’re desperate for something but I think where we’ll be with Manchester United we’ll be looking for the top.
‘I’ve got really, really top end players, great players to work with.
‘But undoubtedly we will in time try to make that better, that’s the part of the job. The job is to progress, to make progress at Man United. We’ll look to add to the squad if the right players become available.’
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Southampton boss wants Champions League
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that he wants to achieve a top-four finish with the club, rather than just aim for a Europa League spot.
The Saints were tipped for relegation last season and after they sacked Nigel Adkins, many people thought it would end badly for the club, but the Argentine boss took over and guided them to a comfortable finish.
This season has started well as well for Pochettino and co. as they have picked up 11 points from their opening six matches and currently sit in sixth position.
Now many people would assume Europa League would be an incredible achievement for Southampton, but not the manager, oh no, he wants Champions League football at St Marys.
‘To be honest I am not keen on the Europa League,’ the Southampton manager told a press conference.
‘I think we are all attracted to the Champions League.
‘The Europa League is a competition that I don’t look forward to because (if you are in it) it kind of means that you haven’t been good enough to actually make it in to the Champions League so I think all managers are aiming one step of competing in the Champions League, so it’s not a competition that is attractive to me.
‘It is something I have always looked forward to competing in.’
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Everton can make top-four, says midfielder
Everton midfielder Kevin Mirallas believes the team has enough quality to be able to finish inside the top-four and achieve a Champions League spot for next season.
The Toffees remained unbeaten after seeing off Newcastle United 3-2 on Monday night at Goodison Park and in doing so, remained the only unbeaten side in the Premier League.
Their impressive start to the season sees them sitting fourth in the table, which has shocked many as the Merseyside club were predicted to struggle without David Moyes and Marouane Fellaini.
However, despite losing their manager and star-player, Everton have looked confident and Mirallas believes a top-four finish is achievable.
“The coach [Roberto Martinez] and the team certainly believe we can do this,” Mirallas, 25, told BBC Sport.
“We’re playing well and it’s not by investing in £30m or £40m players. The team is better this season than last.”
“We’ve had a really good start and we’ve also got a very good team,”.
“Probably most people would not have believed we would be where we are now, but we want to maintain that.
“It’s important that we continue this run. We don’t know how long it’s going to last for, but it’s important we win as many games as we can and I think we could find ourselves in a good position.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Kenny Dalglish re-joins Liverpool
Former-Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish has taken a role on the club’s board as a non-executive director.
Dalglish’s second-stint as The Red boss ended badly despite lifting the Capital One Cup, as his side finished eighth in the Premier League, behind fierce-rivals Everton.
Despite the poor return to Anfield, Dalglish defended his time as manager of the club and is now proud to be apart of the club’s upstairs team.
“I have always said if there is anything I could do to help I would make myself available,” he said.
“It is an honour and privilege to be asked to return to Liverpool.
“I am looking forward to working with the board of directors and contributing to the strategic issues that affect Liverpool Football Club.”
Liverpool’s current manager Brendan Rodgers and the owner of the club, John W Henry, have both spoken of their delight over the appointment of ‘King Kenny’.
“When I met with Kenny to discuss this appointment, I was struck by the passion and drive he still has in wanting to see Liverpool return to where it should be – one of the most successful clubs in the world,” Rodgers said.
Liverpool owner John W Henry said: “We are delighted Kenny has accepted our offer to join Liverpool as a non-executive board director and we are sure he will make a valuable contribution to the club’s strategy.
“Kenny has a unique relationship with our supporters and embodies everything that is special about Liverpool.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United match preview
Tottenham welcome rivals West Ham United in a London derby on Sunday afternoon as Andre Villas Boas’ side will want to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after last week’s home draw against Chelsea which was followed up with a comfertable victory in the Europa League against Russian side anzhi makhachkala in freezing tempretures in Siberian Russia as Jermaine Defoe and Nacir Chadli gave Spurs the perfect way to bounce back and a general confidence boost heading into the game at White Hart Lane against a struggling West Ham United side , who have struggled with so called second season syndrome in their second season as Allardyce’s men are currently in 17th place in the League after just one win this season , and that was on the opening day victory at home to newlt promoted Cardiff City.
Tottenham go into the game in a decent run of form and Villas Boas’ usual optomism looks like to be paying off as the summer spending spree which including star signings such as Danish wonderkid Christian Eriksen and Spaniard centre forward Roberto Soldado , who has been superb following his summer move from Valencia , brought on through the reaccuring financial difficulties affecting not just Valencia , but the whole of Spanish football altogether.
Spurs also brought in Brazillian ace Paulinho to add to the already strong midfield consisting of the underrated Moussa Dembele and Icelandic playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson , who has been in fine form for the Lillywhite’s this season as the North London club want to make the Lane a fortress once again after some consistant performances which has led to pundits and various journalist’s even tipping them for a challenge at the top after Levy and Villas Boas’ benefitted from the summer sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid as he used the money to build a superb looking squad.
West Ham go into the game in a bad run of form after just one victory in the current season and look set for a season of struggle with no real recognised centre forward as club record transfer signing Andy Carroll , who impressed at the Boleyn Ground during his loan spell last season faces around four months out as Sam Allardyce looks set to gamble on an injury strikened side travel to a ground they haven’t had much look at in the lsst few years off the back of some poor results which include home defeats to Stoke City and Everton , and an away defeat to newly promoted Hull City as the Hammers struggle for form after last season’s positive tenth place finish .
The Hammers will look to bounce back in style after some unfortunate and unlucky defeats during the last couple of weeks without their big pony tailed centre forward as Allardyce will be looking to Modibo Maiga and influential captain Kevin Nolan , who has delievered time and time again for Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers as Nolan spent several superb years in the Big Sam revolution as the club punched above their weight in those years. Jussi Jaaskelainen , who put in a superb performance at Upton Park in the corresponding fixture in February , a game which was won by Spurs that day thanks to a superb winner from Gareth Bale….. will also be vital if the Hammers want to squash their poor record with a positive performance at the Lane.
Danny Rose is set to miss the game as he battles against an injury as Aaron Lennon , Emmanual Adebayor and recent French signing Etienne Capoue look set to miss the game through injury and will presumably be back after the international break next week.
West Ham have had a poor away record which is well doccumented having scored just 11 goals in 22 away games back in the Premier League after their promotion in 2012 , an unwated stat for Allardyce’s men as they rely heavilly on the tall physical centre forward Andy Carroll in what will be a tough fixture for the East London outfit.
Tottenham (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton; Dembélé, Paulinho; Townsend, Eriksen, Sigurdsson; Soldado.
Out: Adebayor (illness), Capoue (ankle), Kaboul (abductor), Lennon (foot), Rose (toe).
West Ham (Possible, 4-1-4-1): Jaaskelainen; O’Brien, Tomkins, Reid, McCartney; Noble; Jarvis, Morrison, Nolan, Downing; Petric.
Out: Carroll (heel), Diarra (knee).
Tests: Cole (hamstring).
Referee: Lee Probert. Matches: 3. R1 Y2.
My prediction Spurs 2 West Ham United 0
By Ben Reardon @BenReardon1
Arsenal goalkeeper wins praises from manager
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hailed goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and believes his influence over the last few games have been vital for the team’s current winning streak.
Despite being a spectator for around 85-minutes on Tuesday night against Napoli, the Polish international had to deal with some late crosses coming into the Arsenal area, but each one was easily smothered by the shot-stopper.
Szczesny was then asked into action late on at the weekend when Swansea City tried to grab a point after scoring a late-goal to make it 2-1, but unfortunately for them, Szczesny was on top form and Wenger admits that his influence has been vital.
“He comes off the line much more to claim the ball,” Wenger told Arsenal Player. “His movement to take the ball at the peak is much better and he has shown that especially in the last two games against Swansea and Napoli when it was needed to come off the line and take a cross.
“It sometimes has a psychological impact on an opposing team when a goalkeeper comes to claim a cross or is quick off his line.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
Luis Suarez still wants Madrid move, according to team-mate
Paris Saint-Germain and Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani believes Liverpool striker Luis Suarez still wants to leave the club and is still dreaming of a move to Spanish side Real Madrid.
Suarez admitted earlier on this year that he wanted to leave Anfield and that he dreams of a move to the Bernabeu in order to play in one of the best footballing sides, but unfortunately for the striker, Liverpool were dead-against selling him.
Despite no formal bid coming from Madrid in the summer for Suarez, the Uruguayan was still hoping for a move to take place and he according to his Uruguayan team-mate, he is still eyeing a move to Madrid.
Cavani said: ‘It is no surprise to me at all that Luis has come back for Liverpool and is scoring goals right away.
‘He is the most complete striker in England – and one of the most complete strikers in the world. Ability and confidence is no issue for him, he will score a lot of goals this season I am sure.
‘I am sure Liverpool fans are very happy Luis stayed – he will be a big player for them. I think Arsenal was not Luis’s dream move, maybe if it had been Real Madrid then it would have been a different outcome – but of course Madrid were concentrating on a different target this summer.
‘It is his dream club – and a club he thinks is worth waiting for.’
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
