Best Odds: 8/11
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Two sides who have their sights set on clinching a top-four finish this season, Newcastle will welcome Manchester United to St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle
Starting with the hosts, while Newcastle might have shown some extended issues when returning from the World Cup’s winter break, Eddie Howe’s men did enter the international interval enjoying a crucial boost. Last seen on March 17th claiming a last-gasp 2-1 victory away at relegation scrappers Nottingham Forest, the one-time Bournemouth boss has seen his side gain a string of plaudits this season. Marking their return to Premier League duties this weekend sat just two points adrift of breaking into the Champions League spots, the Magpies will be desperate to ma…
Diego Simeone has called for patience with Julian Alvarez, after the forward opened his Atletico Madrid account last weekend.
The Argentina international netted his first goal for Los Rojiblancos against Valencia on Sunday, rounding off a commanding 3-0 victory at the Metropolitano Stadium.
It was Alvarez s fifth appearance since completing his move from Manchester City on a six-year deal reportedly worth up to €95million (£81.8million).
The 24-year-old linked up with his new team-mates following an extended break, having starred in Argentina s Copa America triumph in July.
Simeone insists Alvarez still needs time to settle into life in the Spanish capital, but is confident he will score plenty of goals throughout the campaign.
[Alvarez] is a …
Aston Villa are interested in signing Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that superagent Kia Joorabchian is working on a deal to take the forward to Villa Park, adding that Villa Sporting Director Monchi knows the youngster well from his time working at AS Roma.
Zirkzee has been on the books of Bologna since 2022 when he joined from Bayern Munich. The forward has established himself as one of the better forwards in Serie A. The 22-year-old has made 27 starts and two substitute appearances in Serie A this season. He has scored 10 goals and given three assists in those games.
Villa are fifth in the Premier League table at the moment with 60 points from 32 matches, level on points with Tottenham Hotspur, who are…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp claimed Wednesday s 7-1 Champions League win away to Rangers has completely changed the mood within the group ahead of Sunday s clash with Manchester City.
The Reds have endured a difficult start to the 2022-23 season, particularly in the Premier League, where they are 10th with 10 points from eight games. Klopp s side also lost their opening Champions League game with a poor 4-1 loss away to Napoli, compounding their issues.
Wednesday s emphatic win in Glasgow, which included a record-breaking Mohamed Salah hat-trick within six minutes and 12 seconds, came after losing 3-2 to Arsenal.
Klopp argued the win had made the mood completely different and even joked about getting drunk amid the celebrations.
It changed the mood, d…
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has been voted LaLiga s Player of the Season after playing a pivotal role in leading the club to their 36th league title.
Bellingham edged out team-mate Vinicius Junior, Atletico Madrid s Antoine Griezmann, Girona s Artem Dovbyk and Barcelona s Robert Lewandowski in votes cast by fans, club captains and a panel of experts.
He scored 19 goals and had six assists in 28 league games this season, tallying 23 goals and 12 assists in all competitions in his first campaign with Los Blancos.
Bellingham, who could not attend Tuesday s ceremony in Sardinia as he is preparing for the Champions League final at Wembley against his former club Borussia Dortmund, said he was honoured to have received the award.
I would like to ded…
Manchester United are interested in signing Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus in the summer transfer window, according to . The report in the Italian news outlet has claimed that United like Iling-Junior and could try to sign him using Mason Greenwood in a potential deal.
Juventus are interested in Greenwood, so United could try to include the forward in a deal to sign Iling-Junior. TuttoJuve has noted that United’s Premier League rivals Aston Villa are also interested in securing the services of the 20-year-old, who can play as a winger or as a wing-back.
Iling-Junior has been on the books of Juventus since 2020 when he joined after leaving Chelsea. The England Under-21 international has been part of the Juventus first team since 2022, but he is not a regular in the …
Football Association of Ireland CEO Jonathan Hill insists that Vera Pauw’s departure came as a result of the need for a “different and fresh approach”.
Hill’s comments came in response to claims from the outgoing Republic of Ireland manager, who oversaw the team in their recent World Cup campaign in New Zealand and Australia.
After it was announced last month that the Dutchwoman would not be having her contract renewed, Pauw issued a statement claiming that the FAI’s review into their World Cup was “flawed” and the outcome was “pre-determined”, adding that her position had been “undermined”.
At an FAI briefing on Thursday, Hill insisted that “it was clear” Pauw would not “change her fundamental approach”.
Hill said: “It’s…
The Premier League is back!
Arsenal travel to newly promoted Brentford in the opening game of the 2021-22 campaign on Friday.
Champions Manchester City face Tottenham – and possibly top transfer target Harry Kane – on Sunday, with Liverpool in action against returning Norwich City on Saturday, after Manchester United have hosted Leeds United.
So, ahead of the new season, why not give this Opta-powered quiz a go? You can find the answers at the bottom of the page
Tomorrow we begin
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC)
1. Arsenal begin against Brentford – it is the fourth time the Gunners have been involved in the opening game of a Premier League campaign, winning the other three in 2008-09, 2017-18 and 2020-21, but who did they play…
Man City nearly impenetrable, Man Utd issues masked by penalty miss, bad omens for Nuno – the Premie
Manchester City made something of a statement in their 1-0 win over potential title challengers Chelsea on Saturday, whereas Manchester United seemed to take another step back as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s reign stuttered again.
But Solskjaer is certainly not the only top-flight manager feeling the heat – Nuno Espirito Santo s honeymoon period as Tottenham boss is well and truly over, with the Portuguese now among the favourites to be the first Premier League boss sacked this season following a 3-1 defeat in the north London derby.
Without any further ado, here are some of the more curious facts and stats from across the Premier League this past weekend…
City defence putting the guard in Guardiola
It may not have been the thrill ride neutrals were likel…
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted it is not impossible to leave out Cristiano Ronaldo as he said the superstar will not play every game this season following his stunning start to life back at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo enjoyed a remarkable second debut for United on Saturday, scoring two goals in their 4-1 Premier League rout of Newcastle United.
The five-time Ballon d Or winner, who was serenaded by fans before, during and after the match, completed a sensational return to United from Juventus last month after leaving the Red Devils for Real Madrid in 2009.
As United prepare to challenge on all fronts this season ahead of their Champions League opener at Young Boys on Tuesday, Solskjaer said the 36-year-old s minutes will be managed in 2021-22.…