West Ham welcome Sunderland to Upton Park on Saturday hoping to maintain their 100% home record.
Martin O’Neil brings his side to East London in search of their first three points having drawn all three of their opening Premier League fixtures.
Whilst unbeaten, Sunderland know their creativity needs to improve, having averaged just five shots per game this season, the lowest in the division.
Allardyce see’s his side currently sitting in eighth, and knows a victory could see them leapfrog into the top four ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.
Carlton Cole is set to continue deputising for the injured Andy Carroll, although the on loan Liverpool striker has returned to light training. Jack Collison also remains sidelined with a knee injury, whilst Matt Jarvis could make his first start for his new club after finding himself on the bench for last weekends trip to Norwich.
Sunderland remain without the injured trio of Carlos Cueller (hamstring), Phil Bardsley (ankle) and Wes Brown (knee).
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A late decision is expected to be made on Adam Johnson, after the winger was forced to withdraw from the England squad a fortnight ago with a thigh problem.
Tottenham Hotspur fans have been reflecting on their season, which once again ended without any silverware being won.
Despite this, the North London outfit managed to secure Champions League football for the third consecutive season.
In addition, the team finished third behind champions Manchester City and second-placed Manchester United in the table.
Harry Kane continued his goalscoring heroics by netting 30 in the top flight, but it was not enough to secure a third Golden Boot award.
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Instead, that gong went to Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who ended the campaign with 32 league goals to his name.
Ahead of the new season, in which Tottenham will compete in a brand new stadium adjacent to White Hart Lane, rumours have begum rumbling regarding potential summer signings.
A surprise name has emerged from the rumour mill in the form of Stoke City attacker Xherdan Shaqiri, who could be looking for pastures new after suffering relegation to the Championship.
The winger – valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt – scored eight goals and created seven assists in 36 Premier League outings for the Potters this season.
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According to Teamtalk, the North London outfit have enquired about the Switzerland international’s availability.
The report claims that Spurs could potentially snap up Shaqiri for £12m as there is a clause in his contract that comes into effect due to Stoke’s relegation from the Premier League.
It is believed that Pochettino has been an admirer of the winger for some time, but plenty of fans do not share the same opinion.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp branded Alberto Moreno ‘probably the quickest healer in the squad’ when discussing the left-back’s ankle problem.
Moreno, who is valued at £9m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has missed Liverpool’s last five matches in all competitions after picking up an ankle injury during their 7-0 win over Spartak Moscow in the Champions League on December 6.
The Spain international will not be involved in his team’s next two matches against Leicester City and Burnley, but Klopp has suggested that he could return for the clash with Premier League leaders Manchester City at Anfield on January 14.
Klopp told reporters:
“He’s probably the quickest healer in the squad, but still not sure [when he will be back]. [He will miss] the next two games [and] I think I’ll have to involve the third game as well.
“Then we have maybe nine days between Everton and City—I think that could be the first for him, then.”
Andrew Robertson has played at left-back in Moreno’s absence, and the former Hull City defender appears to have won over the fans with a series of impressive performances.
Liverpool have not lost in the Premier League since suffering a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the middle of October, with that impressive run seeing them occupy a top-four position heading into 2018.
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The future looks bright for Liverpool. A club that had previously slipped into the mire during the failed reigns of Hodgson and Dalglish and whose footballing credibility has been on the wane ever since. Rodgers’ arrival was greeted with the same sense of unease that gripped the ends of previous regimes, with many quick to disregard the new incoming manager. However as the Rodgers revolution begins to take shape, will it be the Northern Irishman who gets the last laugh over his critics?
Fans of the Premier League club will be all to aware of the rocky start that Rodgers enjoyed at Anfield. Keen to develop the slick passing game that was so successful at Swansea, the Reds put in a number of Jekyll and Hyde performances in the early months. Suffering the ignominy of defeat to Oldham whilst also offering a number of scintillating attacking displays in the process. The pace of change may have been slow but the omens were good.
Criticised as a team overly dependent on Suarez and Gerrard with a soft youthful underbelly, many touted Liverpool as a team destined for also ran mediocrity.
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Perhaps many were right with Liverpool finishing in the shadow of their cross-city rivals and without the offer of European football going forward. Was this simply a transitional phase or more of the same disappointment for Liverpool?
There seems to be general agreement on the fact this season will be quite telling for the future of Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool. No Suarez for the early months and the retirement of stalwart Jamie Carragher will likely test the resolve of the new look Reds. A pre-season to bed in new players, consolidate playing style and take stock of the season past.
What can we make of Liverpool so far this season?
Clearly only a handful of games in and it difficult to prophesise about what will happen, but the signs couldn’t be better really. Top of the table with a perfect record, including a convincing victory over United, Liverpool fans have a lot to celebrate. On the face of it the three 1-0 wins may look unconvincing, but Liverpool have arguably played some of the best attacking football this season and if they were more clinical we may have seen some more emphatic score lines.
Now clearly I don’t expect Liverpool to offer up a title challenge in the immediate future, but the promise they are showing means they shouldn’t be discounted from the Champions League shakeup. Shrewd acquisitions at what I would consider reasonable prices have seen Rodgers add depth to what previously was a pretty flimsy looking squad.
Criticised for his early reliance on youngsters like Suso, Sterling and Wisdom; Rodgers now has cover that offers him much greater experience. Of course the focus remains on youth, but the likes of Aspas, Coutinho and Sturridge all offer the manager the sort of pedigree that is paramount over the course of a Premier League season.
Say what you like about the early months of Rodgers’ reign, the Northern Irishman looked out of depth and at times out of ideas. But his willingness to adapt and alter his plans whilst staying tight to his central ‘project’ has seen his side develop remarkably well over the previous 12 months. Too often managers are rightly criticised for the egotistical stubbornness, but in the case of Rodgers this just couldn’t be more wrong.
The Northern Irishman has a respect for tradition, an eye for developing youth and a hunger for sweet attack minded football. Is he about to prove a lot of people wrong?
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It is important not to sensationalise things; too many fans have already decided this year will be the year for Liverpool. The reality is that the success of the Rodgers reign will be determined not this coming May but probably a couple of seasons after that. Of course this fails to chime with supporters hunger for short term gain, but I think if fans continue to afford Rodgers the faith that maybe the pundits hadn’t they could well be onto a winner here.
Will Rodgers prove his critics wrong and bring about a return to the ‘Glory Days’ for Liverpool?
Today I’m tasked with writing a blog on Sheffield Wednesday on the same day that David Cameron stated in the House of Commons, “Today’s report is black and white. The Liverpool fans were not the cause of the (Hillsborough) disaster.”
Cameron then went on to issue a “proper and profound apology on behalf of the government and the country”.
How am I meant to follow this? Lets face it, the biggest news to come out of Sheffield Wednesday of late is that, 23 years after the incident, the club have apologised for what happened that day.
A statement said, “Chairman Milan Mandaric and the current board of directors have adopted a policy of complete compliance with the requests of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and on behalf of the club would like to offer our sincere condolences and an apology to all the families who have suffered as a consequence of the tragic events of 15 April, 1989.”
As for the national news, the full extent of the huge police cover up that ensued after the Hillsborough Disaster is now out in the open. Sickeningly, it is thought that 41 of the 96 fans that died could have survived after the cut-off point of 15.15pm set by the coroner, meanwhile, 116 of the 164 police statements had been altered to fit better what the police wanted people to believe.
In the HoC, Ed Miliband said it best, he said, “It shames us as a country that it has taken 23 years to get to the truth of what happened at Hillsborough.”
I’m sorry, as a Wednesdayite I wanted to do a blog on how we need to use the Brighton game this weekend to bounce back from the Crystal Palace defeat, how the international break may have given us a chance to regroup, and how I want Dave Jones to make sure that the defeat remains as a blip and not the beginning of a bad spell.
However, as a football fan it’s hard. 96 people were lost at a football game, in my home city. I know that the state of football grounds back then was an accident waiting to happen. I know that there are several factors to look at with regards to what happened that day and that several people must take the blame for what transpired. I also know that it shouldn’t have taken place, those people shouldn’t have died, and more importantly, my local police force shouldn’t have tried to cover it up and try to blame the innocent.
I have no doubt there were a handful of drunken Liverpool fans in and around Hillsborough that day, I think you’d be pushed to find a football ground in the country that doesn’t have a few people who are bevvied up in it’s parameters on match day, however, does that mean they can be blamed for what happened? Of course it doesn’t. Does that give the police the right to try and scapegoat them? No it bloody well doesn’t.
I can’t really even fathom what the families of the victims must have been going through all these years. Personally I’m horrified that the police force in my local area would have gone to such extents to exonerate themselves, and secondly, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t do more to help the cause over the years.
I wasn’t even born when all of this went on, all I’ve been able to do is read about it from people who were there, who saw it all. I’m not going to profess to being an expert on the matter, but after today’s revelations what I can do is concur with my team’s statement when they say, “We can only hope that the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report goes some way to providing the closure sought by all those involved.
“The thoughts of everyone at Sheffield Wednesday FC remain with the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives, their families, and the wider Liverpool community who have all been affected so deeply by the disaster of 23 years ago.”
This weekend we take on Brighton, a team level with us on points, but five goals ahead of us with regards to goal difference. A win would put us back on track and help us continue the push towards the Premier League that so many Owls fans are looking for.
It’s going to be a tough week or so for Jones and his boys if they’re looking to start another unbeaten run, after Brighton we’ve got Huddersfield and Bolton to consider, but I’m confident.
I’ve said it before, one defeat isn’t a problem, it’s a stumbling block. It’s all about how you overcome that block that sets the tone for your season. And do you know what? I have complete faith that DJ can help our talented squad overcome this stumble with flying colours. Onwards and upwards boys.
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By the way, it looks like we’re all but certain to get Ross Barkley from Everton on loan. No one can really say how this will work out, but he’s a damn talented boy and should be a good addition to our ranks.
It has been a good 24 hours for Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle-Walker Peters.
Indeed, the 21-year-old made just his second Premier League start of the season against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, before penning a new long-term contract at Spurs.
Walker-Peters is now tied to Tottenham until the summer of 2021, and that is an indication that head coach Mauricio Pochettino sees the defender as a player capable of big things.
Tottenham’s crazy 5-4 victory over Leicester City on Sunday was the match on the final weekend of the 2017-18 Premier League campaign.
It was also the first time that Walker-Peters had started a Premier League fixture since the opening weekend of the season away to Newcastle United.
Kieran Trippier has impressed in the right-back area for Spurs this term, but the same cannot be said for Serge Aurier, who has done more harm than good in that position.
Walker-Peters would have been keen to make his point to Pochettino on the final weekend of the season, and that was indeed the case.
The right-back set up Erik Lamela for both of the Argentine’s goals at Wembley, whilst a passing success rate of 72% for a player that delivered a lot of crosses is a very impressive statistic.
Walker-Peters, who is valued at £2.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, also made two tackles during the 90 minutes, and was not afraid to venture forward, which is shown by his three dribbles on the afternoon.
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The fact that the young Englishman had 79 touches is also extremely impressive, and there is no question that Tottenham benefited from his strong running in a wide position.
Walker-Peters must work on his defensive skills if he is to become a feature for Tottenham in the coming years, but all of the core skills are there, and it was a fine attacking performance from the defender against the Foxes.
All eyes have been on incoming stars at Anfield this summer, as Brendan Rodgers continues to strengthen his side for life after Steven Gerrard, but the issue that should really be concerning Reds supporters is another potential outgoing.
The Daily Mail has reported that the club’s defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva will head a list of players on their way out the door at Anfield, as they look to balance the books.
This simply cannot happen. Lucas is a vital part of this Liverpool squad and should not be sold.
Since his £5m move from Gremio back in 2007 the Brazilian has become a cult hero at the club.
Like many defensive midfielders, his talents often go unnoticed, but the 28-year-old is incredible in this role. The way he recovers the ball and calmly builds an attack from the back has become a vital part of manager Brendan Rodgers’ counter attacking tactics.
No matter who the opponent, the player can be relied on to step up and support his defence and his calm presence on and off the ball has worked wonders for his team-mates.
Last season the midfielder made 32 appearances, despite a number of injuries, and now that Steven Gerrard has departed Lucas is the only natural defensive midfielder at the club.
His position in the team should also now be vital following the addition of a second attacking full back in Nathaniel Clyne. He and Alberto Moreno will be supporting attacks from out wide and Lucas is the obvious candidate to provide the necessary cover for the defence.
However it is not just his on-field abilities that will benefit the team.
Brendan Rodgers has assembled a young squad and players like Lucas are vital to provide advice to those around them still learning their game.
Emre Can is still young and learning his trade at the club, Jordan Henderson is in the, likely, transition of becoming the new club captain and James Milner is adapting to his new status as a Liverpool player.
There has never been a time when Lucas Leiva has been needed more
Add to that his importance in settling new arrivals from South America – Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho were both very vocal in their praise of the midfielder in helping them adapt to life on Merseyside.
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Now following the arrival of big money signing and fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino, he can again play a key role in settling the new addition, ahead of what will be a difficult first season in English football.
Many would even argue that Lucas has all the characteristics of a good leader and should even be considered for at least a vice captaincy role if he remains at the club past the summer.
It’s clear to see that Lucas plays a massive role at Liverpool both on and off the field and needs to be heavily involved at Anfield next season. Brendan Rodgers simply cannot afford to lose the unsung hero any time soon.
On paper it makes perfect sense. It’s a nod to the future and the recruitment of Leandro Damiao could offer Tottenham long-term stability in attack – something which they’ve lacked in recent years. But at which point is it ok to accept that a ship has sailed? How many times have Tottenham been down this road before in the pursuit for the Brazilian forward? Again, on paper it all looks brilliant. But there is far too much hassle in chasing Damiao’s signature this summer.
The other striker linked with Tottenham, in a move that should signal plenty of flexibility on the formation front, is Roberto Soldado. I’ve been over this one already: Soldado would be an excellent signing for Tottenham, or any Premier League side for that matter. As of now, the Valencia forward is the highest scoring Spaniard in La Liga. He’s currently in the prime of his career and has remained at the peak of his strengths across domestic and European competition.
It’s one of football’s most well-known secrets that Spanish clubs are in financial turmoil. For the right price – and one that really shouldn’t be seen as too steep in today’s market – Valencia would most likely be willing to let Soldado leave this summer. They’re still in the hunt for Champions League football which is naturally a benefit to them, but the player himself may feel that the time is right to move on.
A move for Soldado makes plenty of sense, both in terms of the player’s availability and the ease at which negotiations could take place. In contrast, there have proven to be plenty of hurdles in the way in attempting to acquire Damiao. The Brazilian is reportedly owned by a third-party group and thus Tottenham may be forced to pay well over what they deem the player to be worth. Maybe that’s just the way it is, football is about tough negotiations. But adding the additional headache of third-party ownership is something Spurs can afford to avoid.
You have to ask questions about the club’s scouting network, and that’s not to say they have a poor one in place. In fact, it might be worth questioning how much truth there is to the stories linking Tottenham with Damiao again. Yes, the Brazilian will spearhead Brazil’s attack at the next World Cup alongside Neymar and he was excellent at last summer’s Olympics, but is the gamble worth it? The transition to European football and the Premier League could mean that Spurs only really get going with their strikers midway through the season. Soldado isn’t an issue, but it’s a big investment and plenty of risks with Damiao.
Andre Villas-Boas has urged Tottenham to “raise the bar” this summer and the addition of Soldado will go a long way to doing so. The prospect of pairing the Spaniard with the Brazilian is one that could see Spurs hold one of the deadliest strike forces in England over the next few years. These are both full internationals with the ability to score at least 20 goals a season. Damiao in particular has shown with Brazil that he has the ability to act as provider in the box as well as crafting chances for himself. Soldado meanwhile has the pace and consistency in front of goal to cause damage to any of the defences currently in the Premier League.
But you have to question if it is viable and realistic. Soldado certainly, but Tottenham may find a lot of joy in scouting further into Spain and looking at the forwards currently competing in La Liga. Financially they would be better off, not to mention the fact that there are other clubs reportedly looking at Damiao, including Napoli and Marseille.
A good pair of signings? Potentially yes. But certainly not what Spurs should limit themselves to.
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It feels quite difficult not to be blinded be all the razzmatazz that’s surrounding Manchester United at the moment. A Marouane Fellaini induced defeat at Goodison Park last night may have brought supporters back down to earth, but the summer additions of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa have certainly brought a bit of glitz and glamour back to Old Trafford.
The Hollywood high profile feel of these sorts of acquisition always create a nice sense of pre-season belief, but it’s important not to forget the components of an already successful team. Because there is one player in Sir Alex Ferguson’s side who may not necessarily bestow the flair and high profile of some of his colleagues, but he isn’t half crucial to the team’s future prospects. Antonio Valencia is more industry than ingenious; but he must start games for United.
It was a refreshing sight to see that amongst the influx of talent at Manchester United this summer, there was still room for Antonio Valencia in the starting line-up at Everton last night. It did however, soon become very clear that the Ecuadorian was in the team more as emergency cover than essential winger, as his stint at right back suggested. But whilst he suffered a difficult evening at the hands of the marauding Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar, his first-team prospects may strangely have been handed a boost.
Because for all United’s crisp passing and pretty patterns across the midfield, they failed to really create anything in the way of clear-cut chances. Now, before the sirens come out for media stirring and overreaction, you can’t read too much into the first game of the season; especially against a team as dogged and competitive as David Moyes’ Everton. But they were craving a more direct outlet last night or at least something a little more effective.
And they have the asset to do just that, although emergency right-back probably isn’t the most effective way to deploy him. Antonio Valencia is the quiet man of Old Trafford and his lack of baggage and fuss is perhaps testament to a Premier League profile that is often overshadowed by the likes of Nani and Ashley Young. Valencia gets on with the job and does it effectively. No rubbish, no whining and little theatrics. Just an outstanding work ethic and one of the most wicked deliveries in the league.
It’s always been like that since day one of Valencia’s Old Trafford career. He was brought in amongst a strangely muted atmosphere at Manchester United in 2009, following the £80miilion departure of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, and expectations for the new season were somewhat mixed. Despite the gifted talent of the man that had just departed, Valencia is of course a completely different package to the Portuguese, but that didn’t necessarily stop him being labeled as a replacement.
But Valencia got his head down and stuck to his game, paying dividends for both Manchester United and Wayne Rooney in particular, during his first term in Manchester. United narrowly lost out to Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea for the Premier League title during the 2009-10 term, but Valencia played his part, contributing seven goals and 11 assists in all competitions. The biggest benefactor was Rooney, who owed Valencia more than a few drinks as the winger played a key part in helping the Englishman net 34 goals in all competitions during his real breakthrough season as a goal scorer. Valencia didn’t showcase the sort of showboating or goal scoring talents of his predecessor, but it didn’t matter- his game is about effectiveness and he proved that in abundance.
Even last season, as Sir Alex Ferguson swooped for the services of Ashley Young, some still raised question marks about Valencia’s ability to survive in a squad that boasted both Young and Nani. But the statistics speak for themselves. Valencia knocked up 13 assists in the Premier League last season, second only to David Silva’s tally of 15 for eventual champions, Manchester City. Nani may be more of a match winner, but Valencia is perhaps the more consistent outlet with his almost industrial levels of performance.
He needs to add more goals to his game, but his role is as that of the provider, not the show stealer. His game is built around selflessness- he puts in the sort of tireless shifts defensively that his rivals would baulk at; look no further than Fergie’s decision to start with him in the Champions League final against Barcelona for evidence. But it’s his delivery that is the centerpiece of his game. In a league where we so often talk about the fabled notion of end-product, Valencia has it in abundance and he has produced the goods time and time again. His explosive pace and imposing strength catalyze the wonderful craft of his right foot. No need for step overs and no need for messing around- just a truly scintillating ball into the box.
And this is what Manchester United have to ensure they keep in their starting XI. Sir Alex has a lot of options in midfield now, but he can’t become too seduced by the aesthetically pleasing passing game or creating his own ‘carousel’ as he likes to call it. They need a cutting edge to compliment the craft. Shinji Kagawa is a wonderful prospect but he’s no wide player and his success at Borussia Dortmund came in a far more central role. Balancing the team is an art but there is one man who could prosper more than any from Valencia’s presence in the team.
When you sign a 30-goal-a-season striker, you need to give him the best possible service you have available. Valencia was, as already mentioned, a crucial component in eeking goals out of Wayne Rooney when he started playing higher up the pitch. There’s no reason why he can’t repeat the trick with Van Persie. Young and Nani are both creative outlets and they offer perhaps a more dynamic option to Sir Alex on the flanks. But surely the best bet in terms of getting the best out of Robin van Persie is plumping for the Ecuadorian.
Robin van Persie harnessethe sort of firepower that can see Manchester United back as Premier League champions again. But he’s not going to be able to do it all on his own. But be it Van Persie and Rooney up front together, Rooney just behind, or even Danny Welbeck for that matter, the purest choice of winger to get the most out of your attack must be Antonio Valencia.
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Manchester United host Fulham this Saturday at Old Trafford and it’ll be interesting to see if Ferguson will maintain his faith in Valencia. Let’s just hope he’s played a little bit further up the pitch this weekend.
How do you feel about the role Valencia has to play in the United team this season? Guarenteed starter or forever in Nani & Young’s shadow? Let me know how you’d get the best out of Van Persie on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and tweet me your line-up.
As reported by The Sun, English Premier League side Bournemouth are the latest team to enter the race to sign Celtic star Kieran Tierney.
What’s the story?
The potential and passion of Tierney was again on full display this weekend as the Hoops thrashed Rangers 5-0 at Celtic Park, with the left-back crucial to the performance and leading celebrations with supporters after the match.
Understandable then that he continues to attract interest from the English Premier League.
The Sun say that Bournemouth are the latest team to seek the £20m-rated defender’s signature and are willing to battle with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to land their man.
The paper reckon that the Cherries will attempt to lure him south with the promise of regular first team football in the English top-flight.
Will Tierney be leaving Celtic?
Still just 20 years of age, the Scotland international has plenty of years left at Celtic before entertaining a move away from Glasgow.
The club are in a strong enough financial position to resist attempts to buy him and the player is clearly happy enough at his boyhood heroes.
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With four goals and 11 assists this season, the left-back continues to develop and improve under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers and it’s going to take a massive offer both in terms of financial benefits and personal improvement to lure him away from Glasgow.
The time to leave may come in the future, but in the short-term, the prospect of him leaving seems very slim indeed.