Category: Premier League

Man City winger Ferran Torres set to join Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona for around 55 million Euros

Catalan giants FC Barcelona have agreed a mega deal with reigning Premier League champions Manchester City for the transfer of Spanish forward Ferran Torres.

https://twitter.com/goal/status/1473674770566852615?s=20

The deal is said to be worth in excess of 50 million Euros (around 55 million Euros) plus an extra 10 million Euros in add-ons and it will be the very first signing under the management of new coach Xavi Hernandez.

Ferrán Torres will put pen to paper on a five-year deal, as he makes a return to his native homeland – having previously featured for Valencia. Barca will pay an initial fee of €50 million Euros for Torres, with an additional amount to follow in add-ons.

Valencia on the other hand, will receive 10% of the transfer fee – having added that stipulation to their agreement with Manchester City last year, plus an additional 4%.

Torres joined Manchester City in the summer of 2020 from Spanish side Valencia but has struggled to nail a regular place in the Starting XI, having to battle it out and contend with the likes Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva.

While Barcelona can revel in having bolstered their attacking options with the recruitment of Ferran Torres, following the sudden and abrupt retirement of striker Sergio Aguero, they MUST now offload dead-weights in a bid to enable them register their latest acquisition – as a result of their terrible financial situation.

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FT: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona, Araujo salvages point for the Catalans, Papu Gomez on target and Jules Kounde is SENT OFF for the hosts

FULL-TIME IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona

64′ MIN: Jules Kounde is given his marching orders for throwing the ball at Barca left-back Jordi Alba’s face.

RED CARD!!! Jules Kounde (Sevilla)

A night Charlie Patino will remember for a long time to come.

The Gunners are through to the Last-Four of the EFL Cup. They can surely now fancy their chances of winning silverware this season.

FULL-TIME AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 5-1 Sunderland

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona

90′ MIN: What a special moment for Charlie Patino, who makes his debut for the Arsenal and SCORES to put the icing on the cake in what has been a dominant evening for the Gunners.

GOOAAAALL!!! Arsenal 5-1 Sunderland (C. Patino)

HALF-TIME IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona

45′ MIN: Araujo levels things up for the visitors. GAME ON!!!

GOOOAAAALLL!!! Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona (R. Araujo)

32′ MIN: In our other feature game, hosts Sevilla have taken the lead against Barcelona through former Atalanta skipper Alejandro Papu Gomez.

GOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! Sevilla 1-0 Barcelona (P. Gomez)

58′ MIN: Eddie Nketiah is on FIRE!!! He bags his hat-trick on the night and he now has 10 goals in nine League Cup games.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland (E. Nketiah)

49′ MIN: It’s Nketiah at the double! The young gun bags his brace of the evening.

GOOOAAAALLLL!!! Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland (E. Nketiah)

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland

KICK-OFF IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 0-0 Barcelona

HALF-TIME AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland

31′ MIN: Embleton’s through ball finds Broadhead and he lifts the ball over Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Nicholas Pepe marks his 100th Gunners cap with a goal.

GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland (N. Broadhead)

27′ MIN: Ivorian attacker Nicholas Pepe adds a second for the Gunners off an assist by Cedric Soares.

GOOOAAALLLL!!! Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland (N. Pepe)

STATS: Eddie Nketiah has scored eight goals in nine EFL Cup appearances for the Gunners, including five in five at the Emirates Stadium.

17′ MIN: The hosts are in front! A corner kick comes in and Rob Holding’s header is initially saved by Lee Burge but the rebound comes to Eddie Nketiah who bundles home from close range.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 1-0 Sunderland (E. Nketiah)

KICK-OFF AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland

STATS: Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Sunderland (Won 8, Drawn 3) since they lost 2-0 in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup in February 2012. This is the first meeting between both sides since May 2017 – which ended in a 2-0 win for the Gunners in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Barca’s safe pair of hands Marc Andre Ter Stegen is set to make his 300th appearance for the Blaugrana.

Barca coach Xavi Hernandez has named a side filled with experience and youth, as he hopes to make a statement with a win at Seville.

Coach Julen Lopetegui’s XI set to take on Barcelona at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sunderland manager Lee Johnson has named his squad that will do battle against their more fanciful hosts.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta expectedly has named a different line-up for tonight’s encounter against Sunderland. He makes NINE changes to the Starting XI.

Hello and welcome to our evening coverage of the EFL Cup quarter-final clash between Arsenal and lower-league opposition Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium and the super encounter (at least on paper) between Sevilla and Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga. Do keep up with the action LIVE from both matches!

FT: Arsenal 5-1 Sunderland, Eddie Nketiah hat-trick fires the Gunners into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, Pepe & Patino also on targets

FULL-TIME IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona

64′ MIN: Jules Kounde is given his marching orders for throwing the ball at Barca left-back Jordi Alba’s face.

RED CARD!!! Jules Kounde (Sevilla)

A night Charlie Patino will remember for a long time to come.

The Gunners are through to the Last-Four of the EFL Cup. They can surely now fancy their chances of winning silverware this season.

FULL-TIME AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 5-1 Sunderland

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona

90′ MIN: What a special moment for Charlie Patino, who makes his debut for the Arsenal and SCORES to put the icing on the cake in what has been a dominant evening for the Gunners.

GOOAAAALL!!! Arsenal 5-1 Sunderland (C. Patino)

HALF-TIME IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona

45′ MIN: Araujo levels things up for the visitors. GAME ON!!!

GOOOAAAALLL!!! Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona (R. Araujo)

32′ MIN: In our other feature game, hosts Sevilla have taken the lead against Barcelona through former Atalanta skipper Alejandro Papu Gomez.

GOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! Sevilla 1-0 Barcelona (P. Gomez)

58′ MIN: Eddie Nketiah is on FIRE!!! He bags his hat-trick on the night and he now has 10 goals in nine League Cup games.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland (E. Nketiah)

49′ MIN: It’s Nketiah at the double! The young gun bags his brace of the evening.

GOOOAAAALLLL!!! Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland (E. Nketiah)

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland

KICK-OFF IN SEVILLE: Sevilla 0-0 Barcelona

HALF-TIME AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland

31′ MIN: Embleton’s through ball finds Broadhead and he lifts the ball over Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Nicholas Pepe marks his 100th Gunners cap with a goal.

GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland (N. Broadhead)

27′ MIN: Ivorian attacker Nicholas Pepe adds a second for the Gunners off an assist by Cedric Soares.

GOOOAAALLLL!!! Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland (N. Pepe)

STATS: Eddie Nketiah has scored eight goals in nine EFL Cup appearances for the Gunners, including five in five at the Emirates Stadium.

17′ MIN: The hosts are in front! A corner kick comes in and Rob Holding’s header is initially saved by Lee Burge but the rebound comes to Eddie Nketiah who bundles home from close range.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 1-0 Sunderland (E. Nketiah)

KICK-OFF AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland

STATS: Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Sunderland (Won 8, Drawn 3) since they lost 2-0 in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup in February 2012. This is the first meeting between both sides since May 2017 – which ended in a 2-0 win for the Gunners in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Barca’s safe pair of hands Marc Andre Ter Stegen is set to make his 300th appearance for the Blaugrana.

Barca coach Xavi Hernandez has named a side filled with experience and youth, as he hopes to make a statement with a win at Seville.

Coach Julen Lopetegui’s XI set to take on Barcelona at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sunderland manager Lee Johnson has named his squad that will do battle against their more fanciful hosts.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta expectedly has named a different line-up for tonight’s encounter against Sunderland. He makes NINE changes to the Starting XI.

Hello and welcome to our evening coverage of the EFL Cup quarter-final clash between Arsenal and lower-league opposition Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium and the super encounter (at least on paper) between Sevilla and Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga. Do keep up with the action LIVE from both matches!

Premier League confirms that festive fixtures to go ahead as planned, inspite of Covid-19

Clubs in the Premier League and in the English Football League (EFL) have opted to fulfil their festive fixtures, amidst rising Coronavirus cases in the country.

All twenty Premier League clubs had met on Monday to discuss the festive fixture schedule, following the postponement of six domestic matches last weekend. In the end, no vote took place which means that there will be two rounds of fixtures across five days – beginning from 26th December, while the EFL revealed they will continue to play matches “where it is safe to do so”.

Prior to Monday’s meeting, it was widely expected that the postponement of one round of games over Christmas was likely – with Matchday 20 which starts on December 28th being postponed, in order to ease the pressure on Premier League squads.

Instead, clubs have been advised that if they have 13 fit players plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games. Also, FA Cup replays in Rounds Three and Four have been SCRAPPED and talks are ongoing on whether to reduce EFL Cup semi-final ties to one-leg matches.

As for the lower-tier of English football widely known as the EFL, the body says it anticipates further postponements, but sees “optimism that disruption can be minimised.”

🎥 Video: Watch Kylian Mbappe’s best goals as the PSG Forward turns 23!

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – JULY 15: Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates with the World Cup Trophy following his sides victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

We celebrate the birthday of one of the most outstanding attackers in football today, Kylian Mbappe, with a quick look at some of the best moments of his career. 

There are players that find it difficult to break into first-team action in their early twenties but Mbappe’s story is not like that. Instead, he has seen a blazing start to his career with wonderful goals and important trophies. 

At the age of 23, Kylian Mbappe is a World Cup winner, 4-time Ligue 1 winner and countless individual accolades.

Here is a look at some of his best goals:

Tottenham Hotspurs eliminated from Europa Conference League

Tottenham have been thrown out of Europa Conference League after UEFA confirmed Rennes have been awarded a 3-0 win for their postponed fixture earlier this month.

Spurs announced on December 8 that their match against Rennes on December 9 could not take place after eight players and five members of staff tested positive for Covid.

Rennes criticised Tottenham for making a “unilateral decision” and accused Spurs of a “lack of fair play”.

UEFA announced on Saturday that the postponed fixture would not be replayed after the two clubs could not find a date to play the game.

A 3-0 win for Rennes means Spurs finish third in Group G and are eliminated.

Vitesse progress in second place behind Rennes and will face Rapid Vienna in the play-off round.

A UEFA statement read: “The Chairman of the UEFA Appeals Body took the following decision: To declare the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Stade Rennais FC, that was initially scheduled to be played on 9 December 2021, as forfeited by Tottenham Hotspur FC, who is therefore deemed to have lost the match 0-3 in accordance with Annex J.3.1 to the Regulations of the UEFA Europa Conference League (2021/22 Season).

FT: Tottenham Hotspurs 2-2 Liverpool, Son Heung-Min scores on 300th appearance for Spurs, Kane on target; Jota scores & Robertson is SENT OFF for the visitors

Manchester City are the biggest beneficiaries of Matchday 18 round of games. They are currently three points above the Reds and six points ahead of West London giants Chelsea.

FULL-TIME AT THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS STADIUM: Tottenham Hotspurs 2-2 Liverpool

78′ MIN: Andrew Robertson is sent off following a challenge on Emerson Royal, with the decision being confirmed after visiting the Referee Review Area. Hero turned Villain!

RED CARD!!!!! Andy Robertson has been SENT OFF for the visitors.

74′ MIN: In what is his 300th appearance for the Lilywhites, Son takes advantage of an error from Alisson to level proceedings.

GOOOAAALLLL!!! Tottenham Hotspurs 2-2 Liverpool (S. Heung-Min)

70′ MIN: Trent Alexander-Arnold hits the ball across goal and Andrew Robertson is at the back post to nod in from close range.

GOOOOAAAALLL!!! Tottenham Hotspurs 1-2 Liverpool (A. Robertson)

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS STADIUM: Tottenham Hotspurs 1-1 Liverpool

HALF-TIME AT THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS STADIUM: Tottenham Hotspurs 1-1 Liverpool

35′ MIN: The visitors are LEVEL! A sharp header from Diogo Jota makes the difference as he converts Andrew Robertson’s clipped cross.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Tottenham Hotspurs 1-1 Liverpool (D. Jota)

13′ MIN: The hosts take the lead! Tanguy Ndombele picks out Harry Kane with a sublime pass, and the forward slides the ball into the far corner.

GOOOAALLLL!!! Tottenham Hotspurs 1-0 Liverpool (H. Kane)

KICK-OFF AT THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS STADIUM: Tottenham Hotspurs 0-0 Liverpool

STATS: Liverpool haven’t won in London this season, after drawing 3-3 with Brentford and losing 3-1 to West Ham United.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has included the usual suspects in his starting line-up and he will be hoping to come away with all three points, so as to reduce the deficit between the Reds and Manchester City.

Meanwhile, South Korean attacker Son Heung-Min is set to make his 300th appearance for the club this evening.

Spurs gaffer Antonio Conte has named his Starting XI who will do battle against the Reds. It is the first time in two weeks that Tottenham will take to the pitch, after previous domestic and European matches were postponed due to Covid-19.

Welcome to our Big Game feature between North London side Tottenham Hotspurs and Merseyside outfit Liverpool.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS VS LIVERPOOL:

FT: Wolves 0-0 Chelsea, Blues drop points again; Newcastle Utd 0-4 Man City, Dias, Cancelo, Mahrez & Sterling all on targets as Cityzens maintain lead at the top

FULL-TIME AT THE MOLINEUX: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Chelsea

FULL-TIME AT ST. JAMES’ PARK: Newcastle United 0-4 Manchester City

80′ MIN: Gabriel Jesus storms into to box near the byline and plays the ball across the face of goal for Raheem Sterling to tap home!

GOOOOAAALLLLL!!! Newcastle United 0-4 Manchester City (R. Sterling)

65′ MIN: A delightful ball from Oleksandr Zinchenko was met on the volley by Riyad Mahrez to give City an unassailable lead. It is the Algerian’s 50th goal for the Cityzens.

GOOOAAAALLLL!!! Newcastle United 0-3 Manchester City (R. Mahrez)

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT THE MOLINEUX AND AT ST. JAMES’ PARK: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Chelsea, Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City

HALF-TIME AT THE MOLINEUX AND AT ST. JAMES’ PARK: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Chelsea, Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City

27′ MIN: In what is his 100th appearance for the club, full-back Joao Cancelo picks the ball up in the middle of the park, drifts past one, fakes onto his strong foot and then unleashes a rocket past Dubravka! Certainly one of the goals of the season!

Rocket

GOOOAAALLL!!! Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City (J. Cancelo)

5′ MIN: The Cityzens find an early breakthrough! Portuguese defender Ruben Dias takes full advantage of the confusion in the Newcastle backline to head the ball into an empty net.

GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester City (R. Dias)

KICK-OFF AT THE MOLINEUX AND AT ST. JAMES’ PARK: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Chelsea, Newcastle United 0-0 Manchester City

STATS: Chelsea have won just twice in five Premier League fixtures (D2, L1) and have dropped seven points from winning positions in their last seven Premier League matches. The Blues have also conceded in their last five league games – their longest streak without a clean sheet under German tactician Thomas Tuchel.

City gaffer Pep Guardiola has made three changes from the side that thrashed Leeds United 7-0 as Joao Cancelo, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus all in the Starting XI while John Stones, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden are all among the substitutes.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe makes five changes to the side that began the 3-1 loss away to Liverpool at Anfield last Thursday with Ciaran Clark, Joe Willock, Miguel Almiron, Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson all in the Starting XI, while Allan Saint-Maximin is only good enough to be on the bench.

NEWCASTLE UNITED VS MANCHESTER CITY:

The Blues have made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Everton last time out, with N’Golo Kante and Trevoh Chalobah replacing the injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jorginho. Chelsea name just six players on their bench, including midfielder Mateo Kovacic who has been out for 11 games plus two goalkeepers.

Wolves boss Bruno Lage makes three changes to his starting XI, with Mexican striker Raul Jimenez returning from suspension to replace the injured Hwang Hee-chan. Ki-Jana Hoever and Leander Dendoncker both comes in for Nelson Semedo and Francisco Trincao.

Welcome to our Super Sunday coverage of the Premier League (Matchday 18) as Chelsea visit the Molineux to take on Wolves, while Newcastle United will play hosts to table-toppers and current defending champions Manchester City. Follow this live feed which will give you all of the action as it breaks.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS VS CHELSEA:

FT: Leeds 1-4 Arsenal, Deadly Gunners run riot on Leeds with Martinelli brace & goals from Saka and Smith Rowe; Barca 3-2 Elche, Catalans snatch victory from probing Elche thanks to goals from Gonzalez, Gavi and Jutgla

Full Time

Here are the results: Leeds 1-4 Arsenal, Gunners tighten top four grip.

Barcelona 3-2 Elche, a late goal from Nico Gonzalez ensures that the Catalans walk away victorious!

85′ Barca takes the lead! Barcelona 3-2 Elche

Barcelona might have won it in the closing stages in La Liga!

Nico Gonzalez could well have ridden to the rescue for the Blaugrana, with five minutes and added time on the clock.

They retake the lead once more, at Camp Nou.

84′ Smith Rowe! Leeds 1-4 Arsenal

He just got on and he is already on the scoresheet

75′ Penalty well taken! – Leeds 1-3 Arsenal

Raphinha put all of his frustration behind his penalty to pull one back for Leeds!

63′ Goooooaaal – Barcelona 2-2 Elche

The unbelievable is happening before our eyes! It’s all gone wrong for Barcelona! Pere Milla heads in and two goals in two minutes have Elche level!

62′ Goal – Barcelona 2-1 Elche

Raphina down injured?

Another 45 minutes to play for!

Half-time in Camp Nou & Elland Road

42′ Saka makes it 3!!! – Leeds 0-3 Arsenal

It is getting worse for Leeds in their own home. Saka compounds their woe!

28′ Goooooaaaal Martinelli – Leeds 0-2 Arsenal

Martinelli is ruthless again to punish a Leeds side who have been carved open once more.

7000th GOAL FOR ARSENAL!

Martinelli’s goal makes it 7000 top flight goals for the Gunners!

19′ Another goooooaaal – Barcelona 2-0 Elche

What a goal that is from Gavi! His first for Barcelona as he skips past the Elche defence and fires a pinpoint finish off the post and in.

16′ Goal! – Barcelona 1-0 Elche

Ferran Jutglà scores on his first start for Barcelona! He rose highest and scores a fine header 16 minutes into his Camp Nou debut.

Elche protested, but nothing doing.

16′ Goal!!! Leeds 0-1 Arsenal

Gabriel Martinelli has fired Arsenal in front after 15 minutes! Three goals in his last six games.

Goooal…oh no!

Kickoff at Elland Road & Camp Nou!

Will Arsenal miss Auba?

Lacazette continues as Captain of the Gunners after Aubameyang’s debacle.

Meanwhile, in Camp Nou, Barcelona files out against Elche.

They are so young!

LEEDS STARTING XI

ARSENAL STARTING XI

Arsenal travels to Leeds, with an unchanged side, to see if they can close in on a battling Chelsea. Will Leeds let this happen?

Welcome to our Live Blog! At a time when games are being postponed as a result of Covid-19, we appreciate all the games that are available.

Inter Milan terminates contract of Christian Eriksen

Italian Serie A outfit Inter Milan have confirmed that they have terminated the contract of Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The reigning domestic champions announced they have mutually agreed to terminate Christian Eriksen’s contract, as he continues to rehabilitate from the cardiac arrest he suffered while representing Denmark during the UEFA European Championship (Euro 2020).

The 29 year-old has not played competitive football since collapsing during his country’s opening Euro 2020 match against Finland in June. The former Ajax and Tottenham Hotspurs player had resumed training on his own, but it was at a facility arranged by his former club in Denmark.

Eriksen joined Inter Milan from Tottenham Hotspurs in January 2020 on a four-and-a-half-year contract. Though he struggled initially under then-coach Antonio Conte, he later became one of the key members of the Nerazzurri side – helping the team to win the 2020/2021 Serie A title, which was their first domestic title in 11 years.

While Inter would have wanted to keep Eriksen, he is legally unable to play in Italy because he has a heart defibrillator implanted. The only way he could have played in the Serie A is if the ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) that was inserted following his cardiac arrest was removed.

Inter Milan have released a statement confirming the Dane’s departure and said “a strong and indissoluble bond will remain” between the club and Eriksen.

Following the termination of Eriksen’s contract, he is now free to look for a new club.