The Morocco international has been included in the Blues starting XI to face the Russian Premier League side
Hakim Ziyech has been handed his first Chelsea start against Krasnodar in Wednesday’s Champions League game at Krasnodar Stadium.
The Morocco international teamed up with the Stamford Bridge outfit in the summer from Dutch side Ajax.
The winger‘s debut was delayed due to a knee injury he suffered during the Blues pre-season game against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The winger lasted just 26 minutes in his side’s second group stage match before being replaced by Pablo Sarabia
Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar was forced out of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Istanbul Basaksehir as the Brazilian star limped off with an injury.
Neymar was forced off inside half an hour in Instanbul with match still scoreless as PSG faced the Turkish side in the second match of the group stage
The winger was forced out after 26 minutes, having previously come off the pitch a few minutes earlier due to an apparent injury.
On week 6, Southampton ends Everton unbeaten run, Leeds United ends Aston Villa perfect start to a premier league season ever. Manchester City settled for a draw against resurgence West Ham while Leicester shocked Arsenal at the Emirates.
What more can we expect this week?
Below are my predictions for week 7:
Wolves vs Crystal Palace – Home Win
Sheffield vs Man City – Away Win
Burnley vs Chelsea – Away Win
Liverpool vs Westham – Home Win
Aston Villa vs Southampton – BTS
Newcastle vs Everton – BTS
Man United vs Arsenal – BTS
Tottenham vs Brighton – Home Win
Fulham vs West Brom – BTS
Leeds vs Leicester – BTS
If you stake N200 on www.nairabet.com or any Nairabet shop, you could win N37,215
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You don’t necessarily have to pick all games, you can pick some and leave the rest.
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You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @marcusowolabi
Jamie Vardy came off the bench to score a customary goal against Arsenal and send Leicester to within a point of the Premier League summit with a first win at the Gunners’ home since 1973.
Vardy, 33, had missed two games with a calf injury but was reintroduced after a largely sterile opening hour at Emirates Stadium and promptly ended a 262-minute Leicester goal drought in the league.
The former England international headed home fellow substitute Cengiz Under’s smart pass to bring up a remarkable 11th Premier League goal against Arsenal in 12 appearances. Only Wayne Rooney, with 12, has more goals.
Until Vardy’s arrival Leicester had barely threatened but they have now won their opening three away league games for the first time.
Arsenal were disappointing and, despite dominating possession and having 12 shots on goal, never looked like seriously testing Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as they slipped to a first home league defeat of 2020.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticised the decision to disallow an Alexandre Lacazette header for offside early in the first half.
“I’m really disappointed. We had it in our hands in the first half and I don’t know how the hell the goal was disallowed.
“They caught us with space at the back and in that moment we lost the game.”
The scourge of Arsenal
Four summers ago Arsenal tried to prise Vardy away from Leicester and he continues to pile on the regret with every game.
He had only 11 touches after replacing Dennis Praet, but still scored the winner and was only denied a second by the head of Bernd Leno as he raced through on goal late on.
Leicester lined up with no forward at all in his absence, with winger Harvey Barnes nominally playing up front, and their lack of cutting edge meant James Maddison had all four of their efforts, all from outside the area, before number nine Vardy came on.
Their improvement was as marked as it was predictable with Vardy on the field, and it was no surprise when they grabbed the lead.
Youri Tielemans’ excellent pass over the top freed Under, and he squared for the free Vardy to score with a stooping header.
There is no more clinical player in the Premier League. Vardy has scored six goals from just nine shots this season – 20 fewer than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and one fewer than the champions’ full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Last season Leicester capitulated from a position which seemed certain to deliver Champions League football, when they were 14 points ahead of Manchester United at the start of February. Could they seal the deal this time around?
Predictable Gunners firing blanks
Arsenal thought they had scored in the opening minutes when Lacazette headed in from a corner, but Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were both offside.
From that point Arsenal controlled the game for the most part, but, despite Kieran Tierney raiding with intent down the left, they struggled to bust open the organised visitors.
Arsenal had 11 shots in the first half but Schmeichel’s only save of note came from the one effort after the break, pushing out a decent volley from Hector Bellerin.
Aubameyang, who has now gone five Premier League games without a goal for the first time, was largely anonymous.
Thomas Partey made a much-vaunted full league debut in midfield but was not alone in failing to shine as Arsenal moved the ball painfully slowly at times.
They have scored only eight goals in six league games this season. They have managed fewer at this stage in one of the previous 20 campaigns, when they scored five goals in 2015-16.
The Spanish speedster initially struggled at Wolves until the club found a smart way to ensure he could slip away from opponents
Wolves star Adama Traore has opened up on his pre-game use of baby oil to ensure rival defenders aren’t able to slow him down.
While the winger has starred in the Premier League over the past year, the Spain international initially struggled with the physicality of English football having come through Barcelona’s academy.
Boasting such a big frame, the opposition has plenty to grab on to in any desperate attempt to slow Traore down but have found keeping hold of the speedster increasingly difficult.
Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota were on target for Liverpool, who had fallen behind to a Sander Berge penalty.
Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League as Diogo Jota’s second-half goal secured a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Anfield on Saturday.
A controversial draw with Everton last time out followed a 7-2 humiliation at the hands of Aston Villa before the international break and Jurgen Klopp’s side looked set for more disappointment when a Sander Berge penalty put the Blades ahead after 13 minutes.
Robert Firmino’s first of the season drew them level ahead of the interval, though, before Jota sealed all three points in the 64th minute with his second goal for the club following his move from Wolves last month.
Mesut Ozil’s agent has inclined up the playmaker’s debate with Arsenal by asserting Mikel Arteta has not been honest about the purposes behind banishing him from the squad.
It appears to be sure Ozil has played his last game for Arsenal after he was discarded from their Premier League and Europa League squad this month. On Wednesday Arteta said he had “fizzled” Ozil, who has not highlighted since March, by not getting the best out of him yet Ozil’s camp are determined that his nonattendance is inferable from factors past exhibitions in preparing or games.
“Arsenal fans merit a legitimate clarification, not [Arteta] saying: ‘I failed Özil,'” said Erkut Sogut, Özil’s delegate, in a meeting with ESPN. “You didn’t bomb Özil: you neglected to be reasonable, legit and straightforward and approach somebody with deference who has an agreement and was faithful constantly.
“Everyone outside realizes he hasn’t treated him reasonably. He didn’t allow him to give himself this season. In the event that he is as yet under agreement, the player ought to have the alternative to battle for his place. Mesut hasn’t been given that.”
Sogut said some of Özil’s partners felt likewise astounded at his prohibition, which comes when Arsenal do not have an inventive outlet. “I talked with in any event five partners who state he is preparing incredible,” he proceeded. “They state Mesut is perhaps the best player, and they can’t comprehend why he is forgotten about. So it can’t be the preparation: on the off chance that it isn’t the pitch, what are the footballing reasons? In the event that you talk, you should come clean that the Arsenal fans merit, in any case don’t talk by any means.”
In a further main side at Arteta, who originally joined Arsenal as a player from Everton in 2011, Sogut said Özil was “not a player who is yesterday a Toffee and today a Gunner”. Özil himself had disclosed an announcement before in the week, affirming his pledge to Arsenal and mourning “steadfastness is difficult to find nowadays”. His Twitter account was prominently dynamic on Thursday night while Arsenal played at Rapid Vienna, with score forecasts, in-game analysis and a man-of-the-coordinate survey served up for his devotees in what looked a determined demonstration of faithfulness.
While it is difficult to contend that Özil’s exhibitions on the pitch have made his case to a first-group place overwhelming, he has without a doubt been at loggerheads with the club on different issues, including his refusal to accept a decrease in salary in April and in freely voicing his help for Uighur Muslims in China last December.
“He expected to get more help from the club,” Sogut said of the last circumstance, which saw Arsenal stress the club had a rule of “not including itself in governmental issues” in a speedily delivered explanation. “It isn’t discussing legislative issues, it is about basic liberties, placing individuals in detainment focuses. Envision a football player comes out and says: ‘This is heartless.’ Is that legislative issues or compassion?”
Sogut asserted Özil might have left for another club and got a £30m marking on expense instead of marking another £350,000 seven days contract at Arsenal in 2018. He said he anticipated that Özil should expand on what has become a difficult deadlock for all gatherings later on.
“Mesut can’t talk now due to classification, however one day he will, and we’ll see what individuals think,” he said.
The Southampton manager has ensured the spotlight will be on the Toffees keeper once more when the sides meet in the Premier League on Sunday
Ralph Hasenhuttl has kept the spotlight squarely on under-fire goalkeeper Jordan Pickford ahead of Southampton’s Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday.
England No.1 Pickford has faced criticism from all angles after his challenge on Virgil van Dijk in the Merseyside derby which left the Liverpool defender possibly out for the season.
A number of Liverpool players and pundits have publicly blasted Pickford and, a week after the injury occurred, it remains a talking point.
Everton fans urge Ancelotti to give one player his fifth ever Premier League. Various Everton fans have encouraged Toffees supervisor Carlo Ancelotti to name Anthony Gordon in his beginning XI for Sunday’s Premier League away conflict.
The Blues, who head to Southampton, will be without the suspended Richarlison, while James Rodriguez endured a physical issue in the Merseyside derby.
Richarlison brought about a three-coordinate ban after being shipped off for a careless test on Thiago Alcantara, while Rodriguez was harmed in a meeting up with Virgil van Dijk.
This implies two of Alex Iwobi, Bernard and Gordon are probably going to get approval either side of Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a three-man assault.
Gordon, generally viewed as one of the Everton foundation’s best possibilities, has at long last made his first-group advancement following his heroics for the Toffees Under-23s.
The 19-year-old was never picked for a senior game by Marco Silva, managing with the odd put on the seat, yet is presently getting significantly more game time under Ancelotti.
All things considered, he’s yet to highlight in the Premier League this season, and were he to begin this end of the week, it would be simply his fifth first class start in the blue shirt.
An ex-Old Trafford favourite was impressed by the returning defender’s display in Europe and delighted to see the Red Devils boss outfox Thomas Tuchel
Axel Tuanzebe may be the centre-back Manchester United needed and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves credit for his tactics against Paris Saint-Germain, says Dimitar Berbatov.
United built on a confidence-boosting 4-1 victory against Newcastle in the Premier League last weekend by beating PSG at Parc des Princes in the Champions League.
Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford saw the Red Devils get off to the best possible start in Group H, with Solskjaer opting to start with a back three in the absence of club captain Harry Maguire.
David Coote, who is one of the official in charge of VAR during the Merseyside Derby, will not be on VAR duties for the upcoming Premier League weekend.
According to the PGMOL, the body responsible for match officials, has now decided to relinquish Coote of referee or VAR duties for this weekend’s round of games.
David Coote have come under fire following baffling decisions during the top of the table clash between Everton and Liverpool.
He failed to send off Pickford after his reckless challenge on Van Djik.
Coote also ruled out Henderson’s goal towards the closing stages of the match judging Mane to be offside.
However, the replays revealed that the freeze frame was inconclusive. In our opinion, he should be kept far away from high profile matches.
This is the 2nd time he has failed to perform his duties properly in the past few months.
Cech, 38, is currently Chelsea’s technical and performance advisor but takes role as non-contract player; Cech formally retired from playing in May 2019 following Arsenal’s Europa League final defeat to Chelsea
Petr Cech has been named in Chelsea’s Premier League squad as a non-contract player
Chelsea have named retired goalkeeper Petr Cech in their Premier League squad as emergency cover.
The surprise inclusion of the 38-year-old, who now works as the club’s technical and performance advisor, has been described by Chelsea as “a precautionary step due to the unprecedented conditions currently caused by the Covid-19 crisis”.
Cech formally retired from playing in May 2019 following Arsenal’s Europa League final defeat to Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Premier League squad:
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen (homegrown), Jorginho, Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kante, Tammy Abraham (homegrown), Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Willy Caballero, Fikayo Tomori (homegrown), Kurt Zouma, Edouard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic, Olivier Giroud, Mason Mount (under-21), Callum Hudson-Odoi (under-21), Ben Chilwell (homegrown), Hakim Ziyech, Billy Gilmour (under-21), Reece James (under-21), Cesar Azpilicueta, Kai Havertz (under-21), Emerson Palmieri, Petr Cech
The former Barcelona head coach has never gone beyond the last eight with Premier League side as he starts his fifth bid for the European trophy
Pep Guardiola says he feels responsible for Manchester City failing to get beyond the last-eight of the Champions League but believes the club are getting closer.
With less than a year remaining on his contract, the City boss is starting what will be his final challenge for the European competition unless he signs a new extension.
But he has thus far failed to get beyond the quarter-finals, conceding heavily in exits to Monaco and Liverpool in 2017 and 2018, while City were dumped out by Tottenham in 2019 and were surprisingly beaten by French side Lyon last season.
A former Ole Trafford favourite thinks the Red Devils have become too reliant on a talismanic duo in recent months
Former Manchester United star Louis Saha believes the Red Devils rely too much on Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes while also losing their “defensive balance”.
United have endured an inconsistent start to the 2020-21 campaign, picking up just four points from a possible 12 in the Premier League while shipping a total of 12 goals.
The Reds nevertheless made it through to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, and encouraging signs of progress were displayed during a 4-1 win over Newcastle in the top flight on Saturday.
The Premier League has confirmed eight positive coronavirus tests have been returned from the latest round of testing.
In a statement, the league confirmed 1,575 players and staff were tested between Monday, October 12, and Sunday, October 18.
“The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday Oct. 12 and Sunday Oct. 18, 1,575 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, there were eight new positive tests,” the Premier League said in a statement.
Those eight players or club staff must now isolate for a period of 10 days, meaning they will not be allowed to take part in match preparations.
The announcement comes after Crystal Palace striker, Jordan Ayew tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from international duty with Ghana, but the 29-year-old revealed he was asymptomatic.
Former West Ham United defender James Collins has announced his retirement.
The Wales international, at 37, has declared he’s hung up the boots.
Collins has been without a team for over a year and has preferred to step away from the game.
In his career, he made almost 300 appearances in the Premier League and participated in the 2016 Euros.
The facial expressions of Harry Maguire said everything as he arrived back at Manchester United training on Thursday morning.
After Wednesday evening’s horror show at Wembley where his erratic performance for England resulted during a red card, the 27-year-old made his way back to Carrington and looked as if the load of the planet was placed firmly upon his shoulders.
Photographers captured images of Maguire’s arrival because the dejected star drove his car into United’s complex able to train for the return of Premier League action this weekend.
The Red Devils resume domestic action against Steve Bruce’s Newcastle, though big questions now hang over the Manchester United captain.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must make the important call on whether to drop Maguire and permit his captain a while out of the limelight so as to recompose.
The defender appears to possess struggled greatly this season following his dramatic summer, during which he was arrested and detained on the Greek island of Mykonos following an altercation with police.
Maguire has been heavily criticized for his role in United’s poor start to the season, with the defender looking particularly off the mark during the 6-1 humiliation against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham.
Stuart Armstrong and Moussa Djenepo will miss Southampton’s Premier League trip to Chelsea on Saturday but manager Ralph Hasenhuettl sees this as an opportunity to hand deadline day signing Theo Walcott his debut at Stamford Bridge.
Midfielder Armstrong tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty with Scotland and will complete his 10-day isolation period on Friday.
“He cannot train with us and has been in quarantine,” Hasenhuettl told reporters on Thursday. “It’s a pity that he is out now. Nobody else has tested positive and we are all fine.
“I hope he is back in on Friday and then Saturday, so that he can be an option for next weekend.”
Meanwhile, Malian winger Djenepo, who scored his first league goal in over a year in Southampton’s 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last time out, picked up a hamstring injury in the same match.
“There is always a push back every time he makes a step into the team, and this is a problem for us,” Hasenhuettl added.
“With all the injuries we have in the number 10 position, with Stuey out and Moussa out, Theo has more chance to play on the weekend.”
Everton loanee Walcott has returned to his boyhood club on a season-long deal and will look to resurrect his career after struggling for first-team opportunities under Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park.
“With Theo, we know about his history at the club,” said Hasenhuettl.
“If you have the chance to get such a player in here who is still hungry, who still wants to learn, who has quality without a doubt… it is definitely a player that makes us better.”
Southampton are 11th in the standings with six points, while Chelsea are seventh with seven points after four games.
Rushhoursport handy Fantasy Premier League guide aims to assist your team selections over the course of the 2020-21 campaign
Gameweek 4 of the 2020-21 Fantasy Premier League campaign delivered two jaw-dropping results as Tottenham hit Manchester United for six before Liverpool conceded seven against Aston Villa.
It was a day to remember for Ollie Watkins (£5.9m) as he netted a hat-trick against the Premier League champions, while Jack Grealish (£7.1m) also starred for Villa and recorded a hugely impressive 24 points.
Week 4 saw the English champions Liverpool whooped by Aston Villa, while Manchester United recorded their second defeat of the season as they lost to Spurs.
What more can we expect this week?
Below are my predictions for week 5:
Everton vs Liverpool – BTS
Chelsea vs Southampton – BTS
Man City vs Arsenal – BTS
Newcastle vs Man United – BTS
Sheffield vs Fulham – Home Win
Crystal Palace vs Brighton – BTS
Tottenham vs Westham – BTS
Leicester vs Aston Villa – BTS
Westbrom vs Burnley – Draw
Leeds vs Wolves – BTS
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That way, the north London club were able to bypass negotiations with Atletico, who had stood firm on the release clause all summer, by paying up at the La Liga headquarters.
Atletico confirm the news on Twitter
Atletico confirmed the news on Monday night by tweeting that Partey had unilaterally terminated his contract by way of the release clause being released, essentially announced the move in tandem.
The tweet read: “@Arsenal pay Thomas Partey’s buyout clause at LaLiga headquarters. The player has unilaterally terminated his contract with our club.”
The news was followed by confirmation that Lucas Torreira will be moving in the opposite direction on a season-long loan, which come as scant consolation for the bypassed Spanish side.
Then, approximately 15 minutes later, Arsenal reiterated what had already been revealed in Madrid by way of declaring #NoThomasNoPartey with a fantastic announcement video on Twitter.
It would be possible to dismiss a 6-1 capitulation as a one-off brought on by the harsh dismissal of Anthony Martial in the first half. Possible but unwise.
If this was an aberration then how do you explain the comprehensive 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace a fortnight ago? Or the incredibly fortunate 3-2 win at Brighton last week that should have ended in a comfortable win for the home side?
United could easily be on zero points now with a goal difference well into minus double figures after three games.
Throughout this horror show, the television cameras focused morbidly on Ed Woodward sat on his own in the stands. The United chief swigged nervously on a bottle of water, no doubt hoping there was something a little stronger inside and that his mask was big enough to cover the rest of his face.
Where now for Woodward? If he thought the rather puzzling move for Edinson Cavani over the weekend would appease fans fretting over United’s lack of progress with one day now left of the transfer window, any vague sense of optimism was ruthlessly snuffed out by Spurs — and Jose Mourinho of all people.
Oh, how he must have loved this. Not only beating his old club but stuffing six goals past them playing some quite wonderful football.
As brilliant as Spurs were, United were awful.
When Solskjaer sent on Scott McTominay and Fred for Bruno Fernandes and Nemanja Matic at half-time here, it felt as though the white flag was already going up at 4-1. Spurs scored another two and it could have been worse.
Solskjaer admitted that the 4-0 defeat at Everton in April 2019 was his lowest point as United manager, but this was worse.
Manchester United on Sunday suffered a shameful 6 – 1 defeat in the hands of hungry and ferocious Tottenham Hotspur.
Although the Red Devils scored an early goal to maintain an early lead, it was short-lived as they conceded 4 goals before the end of the first half, and 2 more goals in the second half.
With Martial sent out by the referee, Tottenham proved unstoppable and things only got worse for United.
Manchester United has now conceded 11 goals in 2 premier league games this season, and continues to remain at the bottom 5 on the log.
The game was a huge reward for Jose Mourinho’s side which endured a bad break during last week’s encounter with Newcastle following a disappointing VAR decision that awarded Newcastle a penalty shortly before the stoppage time.
A hat-trick from new signing Ollie Watkins and a Jack Grealish double saw Aston Villa hammer reigning Premier League champions Liverpool 7-2 on Sunday.
Liverpool are now the first defending champion to concede seven goals in a Premier League game.
It is now three wins out of three games played so far for Villa while for Liverpool it is a first defeat in the league this season.
This is the second time Villa will score seven goals in a Premier League game since a 7-1 versus Wimbledon in 1995.
Also this is the first time Liverpool have conceded seven since a 7-2 league defeat at Tottenham in April 1963.
Watkins is the 10th player to score a Premier League hat-trick against Liverpool, and the first since Dimitar Berbatov in September 2010.
He is the first English-born player to do so since Kevin Lisbie for Charlton in Sept 2003
Salah’s goal was his 100th in English Football (98 Liverpool, 2 Chelsea) on his 177th appearance.
The Villains move up to second on nine points with Liverpool are fifth also on nine points.
Villa opened scoring in the 4th minute
after Jack Grealish pounced on Adrian’s mistake and played in Watkins who made no mistake for his first Premier League goal.
In the 22 minute Watkins doubled Villa’s lead as he cut into the box from the left and bend a super finish into the top corner.
Salah reduced the deficit in the 33 minute, lashing in a lovely strike to bring the score to 2-1.
But just two minutes after Salah’s goal Villa’s two-goal cushion was restored thanks to John McGinn whose shot from outside the box was deflected in.
Watkins completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute after heading in at the back post to make it 4-1.
Ten minutes into the second half Barkley got his debut Villa goal as he curled in after a slick one-two with Grealish to make it 5-1.
Salah got is second in the 60th minute, smashing in a superb strike to pull another one back which brought the score to 5-2.
Villa continued to go for more goals and were rewarded in the 66th minute through Grealish whose shot is deflected into the back of the net off Fabinho to go 6-2 ahead.
With 15 minutes left in the game Grealish got his second of the game off McGinn’s classy through ball to make it 7-2.
The Tanzanian star found the back of the net for the first time in the colours of the Yellow Canaries
Mbwana Samatta is not getting carried away by his fantastic performance which saw him net a brace in Fenerbahce’s 2-1 win over Fatih Karagumruk in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday, but is rather focused on the result.
The 27-year-old is currently on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa and having made his debut for the Yellow Canaries in the Istanbul derby against Galatasaray last week, was thrust into the starting XI and gave Fener the lead in the 24th minute with the assist coming from Caner Erkin.
The former Genk man increased the lead in the 68th minute and was substituted in the 84th minute for ex-Newcastle United and Senegal striker Papiss Cisse. Six minutes before that, Karagumruk pulled back via Erik Sabo from the penalty spot with the Slovakian missing the chance to equalise again from the spot three minutes from time.
Though fans are not back in the stadiums, EPL dramas continue as the reigning champions Liverpool thrashed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with Sadio Mane scoring a brace.
Crystal Palace shocked Manchester United at Old Trafford with Zaha scoring twice.
We can only expect more drama in week 3.
Below are my predictions for week 3:
Brighton vs Manchester United – BTS
Crystal Palace vs Everton – Away Win
Westbrom vs Chelsea – Away Win
Burnley vs Southampton – BTS
Sheffield vs Leeds – BTS
Tottenham vs Newcastle – BTS
Man City vs Leicester – Home Win
Westham vs Wolves – Away Win
Fulham vs Aston Villa – BTS
Liverpool vs Arsenal – BTS
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Good Luck.
The Brazilian veteran started and played 60 minutes in his first match with the Blues
Frank Lampard has praised summer signing Thiago Silva after a “perfect” Chelsea debut for the former Paris Saint-Germain star.
After sitting out the first two games of the Premier League season, Silva started and played the first 60 minutes of the Blues’ 6-0 Carabao Cup victory over Barnsley.
The Brazilian is still working his way to full fitness, having been given time off after helping PSG reach the Champions League final just last month.
Kevin De Bruyne says Manchester City want to reassert their superiority by winning all four major trophies this season.
City finished last season with a whimper as they ended 18 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool and suffered a shock Champions League quarter-final defeat against Lyon.
They were also beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Arsenal with the League Cup final win against Aston Villa a rare highlight for Pep Guardiola’s side.
But City are determined to make amends this term and Belgian midfielder De Bruyne insists fresh goals have been set, including a clean sweep of the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
“I think the motivation doesn’t change if you win or you lose,” De Bruyne said after impressing in City’s 3-1 win at Wolves on Monday.
“When you start a new season there are new aspirations, you want to win the most as possible and we want to win everything.
“For us, all four (trophies) is in the mind, that’s the mentality. It is obviously very hard but we went into Monday knowing that it was going to be a very hard game.
“We didn’t train a lot but I think the performance was really good and that’s good for us.”
Chelsea cruised into the EFL Cup fourth round as Kai Havertz’s hat-trick helped them to a 6-0 victory over Barnsley at Stamford Bridge.
Kai Havertz scored a hat-trick as Chelsea sealed their progression into the EFL Cup fourth round with a dominant 6-0 win over Barnsley.
Havertz had struggled in his first two Premier League appearances, but the former Bayer Leverkusen star got up and running in English football in style on Wednesday.
With Tammy Abraham opening the scoring, Havertz doubled Chelsea’s lead before playing his part in Ross Barkley putting the hosts 3-0 up.
The new signing from Bayern Munich has made an instant impact in a Reds shirt as they beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge
New signing Thiago Alcantara set a Premier League record on his Liverpool debut as he out-passed every single Chelsea player, despite only being on the pitch for 45 minutes.
The Spain international only completed his initial £20m ($26m) move from Bayern Munich on Friday, but was included in the travelling Reds squad for Sunday’s clash at Stamford Bridge.
He began the game on the bench but was introduced at half-time after captain Jordan Henderson was forced off with a suspected thigh injury, and immediately showed the excitement around his arrival at Liverpool was justified.
The game was goalless at that stage, though the champions were given the edge when Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen was shown a straight red card for hauling down Sadio Mane as he ran through on goal.
Thiago did not take long to make an impact in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield, with his 75 successful passes more than any other Chelsea player, including those who had played the entire 90 minutes.
It is also the most passes completed by a player who played a maximum of 45 minutes since Opta started producing passing statistics at the start of the 2003-04 season.
It was not all plain sailing for Thiago, though, with the 29-year-old tripping Timo Werner in the area for a Chelsea penalty. The error did not prove costly, however, with Reds goalkeeper Alisson saving Jorginho’s spot kick, the first time the Brazilian has missed from the spot from nine attempts in a Chelsea shirt.
With Thiago dictating from deep, Liverpool were able to take a firm grip on the game, with Mane heading the opener from Roberto Firmino’s cross five minutes into the second half.
Four minutes later, the Senegalese forward capitalised on an error from Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa to double Liverpool’s advantage from close range.
Thiago completed more passes (75) than any Chelsea player today.
He only played 45 minutes �#CHELIV pic.twitter.com/IPel0jrpSd
— Goal (@goal) September 20, 2020
It means Liverpool have begun the Premier League campaign with two wins from two, following their eventful 4-3 victory against Leeds United at Anfield last weekend. Next up for Klopp’s side is a trip to League One side Lincoln City in the EFL Cup on Thursday, before hosting Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal back in the Premier League on Monday.
The Gunners boss confirmed there were no contract talks underway with their French forward but stressed he has been happy with his performances
Arsenal are yet to begin contract talks with Alexandre Lacazette, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed.
Lacazette is contracted at the Premier League club until 2022 after joining from Lyon 2017, but there has been speculation over the forward’s future.
The Frenchman scored his 50th goal for Arsenal during Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham at Emirates Stadium.
The Nigeria international is in contention for Saturday’s league match after missing the Toffees’ opening two games of the season
Alex Iwobi has returned to the Everton squad ahead of their Premier League outing against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday after recovering from a knock.
The 24-year-old was missing in Carlo Ancelotti’s team for their opening league fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and their Carabao Cup triumph against Salford City on Wednesday.
Ahead of the encounter against the Baggies at Goodison Park on Saturday, Ancelotti confirmed the Super Eagles star is among the players fit and ready to play following his recovery.
Leeds and Southampton were the Premier League casualties in the second round of the League Cup on Wednesday as League One Hull won a Yorkshire derby 9-8 on penalties at Elland Road, while Saints lost 2-0 at home to Brentford.
On their first appearance in the top-flight for 16 years, Leeds were unlucky not to hold Liverpool to a thrilling draw at Anfield on Saturday, but Marcelo Bielsa’s decision to make 11 changes backfired as his side were far less clinical against a team two divisions below them.
Mallik Wilks’s early deflected effort gave the Tigers something to hold on to and, despite handing club Spanish international forward Rodrigo his first start, Leeds failed to muster a response until deep into stoppage time when Ezgjan Alioski fired home.
A marathon shootout followed with both sides missing just one of their first eight penalties before Jamie Shackleton’s spot-kick was saved and Alfie Jones sent Hull into round three.
Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl named a strong side at St Mary’s but still got no response from their disappointing start to the season at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Brentford narrowly missed promotion to the Premier League for the first time when they lost the playoff final to Fulham last month, but showed they do have the quality to compete with top-flight teams despite losing top scorer Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa.
Two goals in six minutes towards the end of the first half from Christian Norgaard and Josh Dasilva handed the Bees a place in the third round.
Everton enjoyed a far more comfortable night as Carlo Ancelotti’s much-changed team were still too good for League Two Salford City, who are part-owned by a cast of former Manchester United stars including David Beckham.
Michael Keane was the only man to keep his place in the Everton side form Sunday’s impressive 1-0 win at Tottenham and opened the scoring on eight minutes.
Gylfi Sigurdsson then put the tie to bed with his 100th goal in English football before Moise Kean added a late penalty.
Fulham and West Brom bounced back from being soundly beaten in their first matches back in the top-flight last weekend.
Aleksandr Mitrovic was recalled to the Scott Parker’s starting line-up and his header earned Fulham a 1-0 win at Ipswich.
West Brom eased past League Two Harrogate 3-0 thanks to goals from Rekeem Harper, Hal Robson-Kanu and Callum Robinson.
Bristol City were also comprehensive 4-0 winners over Northampton.
Former Chelsea star Mateja Kezman, who won the Premier League under Jose Mourinho debut new look.
The Serbian striker is almost unrecognizable with his hipster-hobo appearance.
The former Wales international is pleased to see his fellow countryman heading back to the Premier League, saying his quality is beyond questioning
Gareth Bale heading back to the Premier League at Tottenham is a good move for all concerned, says John Hartson, as the Wales international could have “sat on his backside in Madrid playing golf every day”.
The 31-year-old forward is closing in on a deal that will see him head back to familiar surroundings on an initial loan deal. A return to English football has been mooted for some time, with Manchester United and Chelsea having been heavily linked with a proven performer in the past.
Spurs have, however, moved to the front of the transfer queue due to their strong emotional and professional ties with Bale.
Everton vs Westbrom – Home win
Leeds vs Fulham – Home win
Man United vs Crystal Palace – Home win
Arsenal vs Westham – Home win
Southampton vs Tottenham – BTS
Newcastle vs Bournemouth – Home win
Chelsea vs Liverpool – BTS
Leicester vs Burnley – Home win
Aston Villa vs Sheffield – BTS
Wolves vs Man City – BTS
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Englishman Jack Grealish has signed a new 5-year deal with Aston Villa which keeps him at the club till 2025.
The Aston Villa skipper has been with his hometown club since he was eight-years-old and made his claret and blue debut at the end of the 2013/14 season.
He remained with Villa despite relegation in 2016 and was pivotal in our return to the top-flight last year.
🟣 𝗦 𝗨 𝗣 𝗘 𝗥 𝗝 𝗔 𝗖 𝗞 🟣@JackGrealish has signed a new five-year contract with Aston Villa! 🤩#Grealish2025
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 15, 2020
In their first season back in the Premier League, Jack was instrumental in the team’s survival and was capped by England for the first time earlier this month.
CEO Christian Purslow said: “Jack is an emblem of our Owner’s vision for Aston Villa. He joined our Club as a local boy aged six and has developed into one of the country’s finest players finally becoming a full England international last week.
“We are determined to build a top team around him and are delighted that he is extending his contract and committing himself to the club he loves.”
Jack Grealish said: “I am delighted to make this commitment to Villa. It is my club, my home and I am very happy here. The owners have made it very clear to me how ambitious they are and how they want to build Aston Villa. There are exciting times ahead and I am very glad to be part of it.”
Just a quick message from our captain, @JackGrealish… 😉 #Grealish2025 pic.twitter.com/Fi5aebnQqW
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 15, 2020
He has been targetted by Manchester United but he has chosen to remain at the club.
Branislav Ivanovic has sealed a return to the Premier League after signing a one-year contract with West Brom.
The 36-year-old left Chelsea in February 2017 and has spent the last three-and-a-half years in Russia with Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Ivanovic becomes Slaven Bilic’s sixth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira, Cedric Kipre, David Button and Callum Robinson.
The Serbian defender spent nine years at Chelsea between 2008-2017, winning 10 major trophies which included the 2012 Champions League.
Bilic said after West Brom’s opening game 3-0 defeat to Leicester that Ivanovic’s signing was almost done and the club have now confirmed it.
Ivanovic, who can play at right-back or centre-back, was a free agent after leaving Zenit following the conclusion of the Russian Premier League on July 22.
He brings a wealth of Premier League experience to the newly-promoted Baggies, having made 261 league appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho is the fourth most likely manager to be sacked first this season after Tottenham Hotspur’s opening day defeat.
Spurs lost 1-0 to Everton on Sunday afternoon as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header condemned Mourinho to his first opening day loss in the Premier League.
While there is plenty of time for the ‘Special One’ to turn it around, Oddschecker have revealed he currently sits at 33/1 to get the sack.
The most likely is West Ham United boss David Moyes, who oversaw a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
Check out the full odds for every Premier League manager per GIVEMESPORT:
20. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) – 100/1
19. Chris Wilder (Sheffield United) – 35/1
18. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) – 35/1
17. Carlo Ancelotti (Everton) – 33/1
16. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United) – 25/1
15. Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City) – 25/1
14. Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds United) – 25/1
13. Nuno Espírito Santo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) – 22/1
12. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) – 20/1
11. Graham Potter (Brighton & Hove Albion) – 18/1
10. Ralph Hasenhüttl (Southampton) – 17/1
9. Steve Bruce (Newcastle United) – 17/1
8. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) – 16/1
7. Dean Smith (Aston Villa) – 16/1
6. Sean Dyche (Burnley) – 16/1
5. Slaven Bilic (West Bromwich Albion) – 14/1
4. Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur) – 8/1
3. Roy Hodgson (Crystal Palace) – 11/12
2. Scott Parker (Fulham) – 4/1
1. David Moyes (West Ham United) – 2/1
Mourinho is the only ‘big six’ manager in the top five and Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson said: “It’s amazing how quickly things change in football.
“After ending last season so strongly, many were feeling positive about Spurs and Jose Mourinho this season, but one poor performance and result has seen the negativity return with a vengeance.
“While Spurs were atrocious against Everton on Sunday, it’s unlikely Mourinho will be next in line for the chop, particularly with so many other sack race candidates in the mix.”
Following Sunday’s loss, Mourinho spoke to the press and admitted he didn’t like his team’s performance.
“I didn’t like my team,” the Portuguese coach begun per The Guardian. “In the second half after their goal we were poor and in my opinion we were not physically strong, no intensity. The team lacks in this moment many players’ physical condition.
“The struggle started in the way we pressed – or I would say in the way we didn’t press because our pressure up front was very, very poor. I would say it was lazy pressure and when you have lazy pressure you don’t press and you let opponents build from the back.
“When you let almost any team in the Premier League play from the back, they are comfortable to have the ball.
“Lazy pressure up front, that creates an unbalanced situation for the rest of the team. It disappoints me and that is where I now have to work.”
Manchester City successfully defended their crown in the 2018/19 season but were pushed all the way by Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s men finished on 98 points, just one ahead of Liverpool, who responded by finishing 18 points ahead of City last season to end their 30-year wait for a league title,
“It was harder than we expected and we needed a very big fight with them to get it done,” De Bruyne told the Daily Mail. “Mentally, sometimes it’s tougher. Some teams are a little more focused on beating you.
“Sometimes, some people find it more difficult after winning to get that same feeling again. It is very difficult to recreate the same feeling even with the same team,
“There is so much in life that goes on personally. Every little thing can change you. Injury can change you. Football is all about circumstances and it’s already difficult enough to try and win one, never mind twice.
“I think they [Liverpool] can reach the levels again. I don’t think you need to change the team to have the same feeling or ambition. But I don’t know how they feel. I don’t know their desire. For everyone, it is personal.”
Manchester City were heavily linked with Lionel Messi during the close season, only for the Argentine star to reluctantly stay at Barcelona after he was denied a free transfer.
But even when a switch to City looked on the cards, De Bruyne never even considered the possibility of playing alongside Messi.
“I really don’t care. I really don’t,” he said. “If he would have come, it would have helped us because, for me, he has been the best player of all time. But I am never looking at what players may come and what may happen”,
“You play with the players you have and I think we have a pretty good team in that respect. It would be stupid of me to assume what would happen if a certain player came. It happens in football all the time. People are supposed to come and eventually they don’t.”
Manchester City are not in action on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. They open their campaign away to Wolves on September 21
Alexandre Lacazette insisted he is “really happy” at Arsenal after helping the Gunners kick off the new Premier League season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham.
Summer signings Willian and Gabriel both starred on their Arsenal debuts at Craven Cottage, the former Chelsea playmaker finishing with three assists while the ex-Lille defender headed home his side’s second.
Lacazette had opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he capitalised on a loose ball, with strike partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang adding Arsenal’s third before the hour mark.
Lacazette has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid but the French forward dismissed any suggestions he is unhappy at the Emirates Stadium.
“I am really happy,” he told the club website after the game.
“It’s only the press that says I’m not happy. From the beginning I’ve said I am happy at Arsenal and I want to play and win titles.
“We won a title last month so I am happy with Arsenal.”
On the performance itself, Lacazette added: “Yes, it was the best way to start the season. We wanted to win today and get the clean sheet.
“Defensively I think we did some good stuff and respected what the coach wanted. At the end, we won so everyone is happy today.”
It’s only the press that says I’m not happy.
The 28-year-old Egyptian scored three goals to give the defending English champions a winning start
Mohamed Salah has stated that playing without fans was tough but was nonetheless pleased as he scored a hat-trick in Liverpool’s 4-3 triumph over newly-promoted Premier League side Leeds United on Saturday.
The Egypt international got things off for the Reds in the fourth minute via a penalty, but the Whites responded through Jack Harrison eight minutes later.
Liverpool had a 2-1 lead thanks to Virgil van Dijk, but Leeds would equalise again. Even when Salah scored his second of the evening, Marcelo Bielsa’s men made it 3-3 thanks to Mateusz Klich in the second half.
The Premier League veteran believes the France international can bounce back this season if he remains at Stamford Bridge
N’Golo Kante can bounce back for Chelsea this season, with former team-mate Mark Schwarzer believing the midfielder has been in desperate need of a break from football.
The 29-year-old was restricted to 28 appearances for the Blues last season with minor injuries keeping him sidelined after playing 53 matches the campaign before.
Kante was criticised in some quarters for his performances over the past year, with Inter currently exploring the possibility of a transfer and the Blues reportedly open to cashing in on the Frenchman.
The Brazilian still has the desire and ambition to be a driving force at the top level, according to his new manager
Mikel Arteta believes Willian is the player who can drive Arsenal towards a push for more silverware and a top-four finish.
Willian, 32, signed a three-year deal with Arsenal in August after leaving Chelsea as a free agent.
The playmaker – who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 – scored 37 goals and provided 33 assists in 234 Premier League appearances for the Blues.
The Reds have made just one signing since winning the Premier League title, but their manager is not concerned by the lack of activity
Jurgen Klopp vowed Liverpool will not “throw money away” as he hit back at the Premier League champions’ transfer critics.
Liverpool finished 18 points clear at the top of the table last season but have been accused by some observers of sitting back after making just one signing so far this window.
Kostas Tsimikas was brought in from Olympiakos for £11.75 million ($15m) in August to provide competition for regular left-back Andy Robertson.
The Wales international has been linked with a return to the Premier League and has been put forward as an alternative signing to Jadon Sancho
Gareth Bale would be a ‘perfect’ signing for Manchester United if they fail to seal a deal to sign Jadon Sancho this summer, according to the Real Madrid’s former Tottenham team-mate Peter Crouch.
Bale has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford time and again in recent years, with United failing in a late bid to sign the Wales international prior to his world-record £86 million ($110m) move from Spurs to Madrid in 2013.
Now Bale is surplus to requirements at Real Madrid and has hinted that he would be open to a return to the Premier League, amid reports that the Spanish giants would be willing to fund some of his lavish wages in a bid to ease the 31-year-old out of the club in this summer’s transfer window.
The Foxes boss talks about the way forward for the 25-year-old following his return to the pitch ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opener
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers wants the club to tread cautiously in re-introducing fit-again defender Daniel Amartey to Premier League action.
On the sidelines since suffering an ankle injury against West Ham United in October 2018, the Ghana international made a massive step on his road to regaining full fitness with 45 minutes of action in a friendly fixture against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, capping his return with his side’s goal in the 1-1 draw.
Leicester are set to play as guests to West Bromwich Albion in their 2020-21 league opener on Sunday.
The Potters fortified their team with the former Nigeria international in the summer in their quest to return to the English top-flight
Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill is hoping John Obi Mikel will bring his experience to bear when the 2020-21 Championship campaign gets underway.
The 33-year-old teamed up with the Bet365 Stadium outfit in August as a free agent after mutually parting ways with Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor.
The former Nigeria captain made his name while playing for Chelsea, where he spent 11 years and won a number of accolades including the Champions League, Premier League and Europa League titles, among others.
The striker was not completely satisfied with his latest campaign for the Red Devils, despite posting career-best numbers in the final third
Marcus Rashford has admitted he “could have done much more” for Manchester United in 2019-20, and that he will “have to come back better” when the new season kicks off.
Rashford hit 22 goals across all competitions last term, his highest tally to date for United, to help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side finish third in the Premier League and reach three semi-finals.
However, the England international saw his progress halted when he was sidelined with a back injury in January, and his form dipped significantly upon his return to action post-lockdown.
The Blues have been the busiest of all English top-flight sides in the summer transfer window
Ex-Chelsea striker Victor Ezeji believes the Blues can win the Premier League this season following their plethora of signings in the transfer window.
The London side were unable to spend during the last summer window due to a ban by Fifa, which found them guilty of a serious and systemic breach of the rules regarding their dealings with overseas players under the age of 18.
It was, however, lifted this January after winning an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports.