It has not been the most enjoyable few days for Manchester City – they lose 3-1 to Chelsea on home turf and now they have learned that star striker Sergio Aguero will be banned for the next four Premier League games.
In all honesty, there will not be many surprised faces among the fans or club staff considering the Argentine’s horror challenge on David Luiz in the dying minutes of the match on Saturday.
It was a tackle borne of frustration at the game, in which City were leading for an hour thanks to a Gary Cahill own goal, but it was reckless from Aguero as he lunged in high on his opponent.
A mass brawl ensued, and as well as the striker getting sent off, teammate Fernandinho was also given his marching orders by referee Anthony Taylor for shoving Cesc Fabregas over an advertising hoarding.
The rage between the sets of players eventually settled down on the pitch, but now City are left without Fernandinho for three games and Aguero for four due to the forward’s previous ban for violent conduct earlier in the season.
If you remember, the 28-year-old missed three games for City after allegedly elbowing West Ham United’s Winston Reid while off the ball during the North-West outfit’s 3-1 triumph in the top flight.
As expected, fans of The Citizens are concerned about the loss of their star player, while rival supporters are either happy with his absence or feel that the Football Association should have hit him harder.
Football can be a cruel game sometimes. Even when its someone as commonly disliked as Alan Pardew, seeing a person fired from their job is an unpleasant sight. When you add to that the joy around this time of year, it leaves a particularly bitter taste.
Pardew’s awkward thumbs up to Steve Parish is hardly out of our short-term memory, but the Dad-dancing manager is out of a job just in time for Christmas. Festive spirits evidently aren’t ringing around Selhurst Park at the moment – which is hardly surprising after their appalling 2016 – and Pardew has paid the price. Maybe the toughest time of year to lose a job, the timing of the decision is that of a side who are ready to hire someone else immediately.
Sam Allardyce will likely be that man. He has lurked around the relegation battle this season as the potential joker in the pack, ready to jump in when any of the current managerial incumbents lose their way. A fire fighter by nature, Allardyce is made for this situation, it is what his career has been based on. His heroics at Sunderland, despite the infamous England departure, live large in the memory of Premier League boards, which is why he remains the leading candidate for any available job.
The appointment of Allardyce would make sense on his track record alone. For Palace, though, it is a show of where they have fallen to in 2016. From a side who looked certain of Premier League safety long-term, they are now fighting for their lives as we head into 2017. While Pardew’s sides have always suffered great bouts of poor form, appointing Allardyce is putting a lid on ambitions. A short-term, needs-must appointment, perhaps.
The peaks and troughs of Pardew’s sides are a natural characteristic and it has been his ability to ride out such spells that has defined his career. Oddly for Palace, however, his string of defeats previously came to an end and there looked to be an upturn in performances. But narrow defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea were unsurprising and the performances themselves were a stark improvement on where they were throughout October and November. Still not reaching the levels that they perhaps could do, Pardew seemed to be turning things around and Allardyce must now find a way to accelerate that process.
The match against Swansea in the New Year is the highlight of the upcoming fixtures. Any points from games with Arsenal and Watford will be considered a bonus, and the Eagles are likely to be in the bottom three by the time they face the struggling Swans.
Allardyce’s appointment was an inevitability this season, it was just a question of which club opted for him first. The embarrassing revelations that led to his removal as England manager clearly do not bother the south London, either. Pardew’s stature had been diminished, but the timing of his sacking is as curious as anything. While Allardyce may keep the Eagles safe this season, Pardew was more likely to build a team to compete higher up the table next season.
But at some point, you start to think about survival. And this Christmas, it’s safety first for the Eagles.
In January of 2016, a recurring theme of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp was summed up in one game: Norwich 4-5 Liverpool.
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In what was to be one of the games of the year, Liverpool came back from 3-1 down to lead 4-3, conceded an equaliser in the 92nd minute, and then scored a winner three minutes later. It was a crazy game in terms of the scoreline, but it was a crazy game in many many other respects, too.
That was January 23rd, and the details will make you look back and smile warmly at a simpler time: Jurgen Klopp’s glasses broken by Christian Benteke in the celebratory melee of the winning goal, the assist for which was laid on by a Steven Caulker header, a sort of ‘Jurgen Klopp does English football’ tribute act, though this time Caulker was actually played in defence.
At the time, Liverpool were rocky defensively but good going forward. Not much has changed. Dieudonne Mbokani scored a backheeled goal after Klopp’s side were all over the place from a set piece – again, not much has changed.
Looking long term, to win a game 5-4 is probably not a good thing. It is a momentary high, but it shows a worrying lack of defensive solidity. Indeed, the positive from the opposite angle – that it shows you can score goals – is tempered by the fact that you’re playing against a team who can concede that many. As Swansea and Crystal Palace have shown this season, 5-4 doesn’t necessarily mean stellar attacks, but it definitely means shoddy defences.
If Liverpool haven’t managed to turn their defensive horrors around, though, they aren’t alone. This weekend’s opponents Manchester City are in a similar boat. The Norwich win was Liverpool’s only victory in six games between January 2th and February 6th, whilst they conceded 14 goals in that time: over two a game. After that, Liverpool picked up the pace and ended the season well.
City, meanwhile, picked up where Liverpool left off. On February 6th, they started their own run of six games with only one victory, conceding nine goals in that time.
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Neither team has looked much more solid this season than they did last. But perceptions have changed dramatically.
For one thing, both teams will still see themselves as title challengers. That wasn’t the case last season. In the end, Liverpool found themselves too far back to get even a Europa League spot, whilst City scraped a Champions League place. There’s a huge change in perception.
Adam Lallana didn’t start the game against Norwich in January, but he did finish it. The midfielder came off the bench when the score was still 3-2 to Norwich, replacing Jordon Ibe, who had looked like one of Liverpool’s best players in a poor performance up to that point. His biggest act was to score the winning goal in the 95th minute.
Since then, Lallana hasn’t really looked back. He’s been one of Liverpool’s best players, and the same goes for his country. Something has changed with the England man – from being a slight playmaker who gets lost in games, he’s become almost a spiritual leader for his team, working incredibly hard. He used to have a reputation for never lasting 90 minutes. Not any more.
It’s odd, though: Liverpool haven’t changed all that much. Their defence is still weak, and still weak from set-pieces; and they’re still a force in attack. Adam Lallana, too, for all his new-found industry and effectiveness, has only lasted a full 90 minutes on four occasions this season.
They say madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, but for Liverpool, the same old story is bearing more fruit this season than it did last time. Klopp kickstarted 2016 with a 5-4 victory that showed up his side’s defensive frailties, and if there’s a team to mirror that, it’s Manchester City.
But as we’ve seen – the perceptions may not match up with the reality.
As reported in an exclusive by The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur is a big transfer target for Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace in this month’s transfer window.
What’s the story?
Ben Davies may not be getting a whole lot of first team football this season but it seems Pochettino values his contribution to the Spurs squad this season massively.
The Sun report that Crystal Palace are looking to table a £10m bid for the defensive star. That’s not enough for Spurs though, the North London side are looking for at least double that to tempt them into selling the versatile defender.
Palace are in desperate need of quality in the left-back area and after missing out on Patrick van Aanholt have turned their attention to the Welsh international.
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Squad quality
Ben Davies may have only made three Premier League starts this season but he’s an excellent back-up option for the likes of Danny Rose and Spurs’ two first choice centre-backs.
The 23 year old hasn’t put a foot wrong when called upon this season. He even put in a man of the match performance against Aston Villa in their recent FA Cup match, scoring in a 2-0 win.
With Spurs fighting on three fronts in the coming months in the FA Cup, Europa League and Premier League, they are being very sensible in rebuffing offers for their fringe players.
The likes of Ben Davies could be key in that run of matches, especially if Pochettino has ambitions to do more than just mount a league title challenge.
Manchester United have agreed personal terms with Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, according to reports in France, and his arrival this summer is likely to mean the end for Wayne Rooney.
What’s the word?
Big news broke in France last night as French TV channel Canal+ reported that Antoine Griezmann has agreed personal terms with Manchester United and is set for a huge move to the Premier League this summer, which will see him unite with close friend Paul Pogba.
The move, which is likely to see Griezmann earn an equal amount to Pogba (£17.7m-a-year), is subject to Manchester United agreeing a fee with Atletico Madrid. With Griezmann’s contract running until 2021, it could mean that the Red Devils start next season with the world’s two most expensive players.
However, the reports have been disputed by Manchester United themselves as a source told PA Sportthat no deal has been agreed.
What have United said?
Reported by ESPN, Manchester United have denied that any agreement is in place for the 25-year-old but the continued links between the French international and Old Trafford mean there is definitely some interest at the club- and they may just be ensuring things aren’t confirmed too prematurely.
Of course, there’s a lot of work to do and agreeing terms with Griezmann can be seen as the easiest part of the deal to complete- with the real challenge being persuading Atletico Madrid to part ways with the striker- with recent reports from Spain declaring his release-clause stands at around £95m.
It’s likely that Atletico will want that figure to be met and it could see United break the world-record for a transfer for the second season in a row, following Paul Pogba’s return to Old Trafford from Juventus last summer.
One of the signings of the summer transfer window has certainly been Celtic’s capture of French U21 international Moussa Dembele, as the former Fulham man has been an instant hit north of the border with Brendan Rodgers’ side.With his performances this season attracting a host of suitors from across Europe, Celtic may not be able to keep hold of the young striker’s signature for long but they can certainly expect to earn an audacious profit for his services.The 20-year-old has been in exceptional form all season, scoring a total of 26 goals across all competitions, and he took his tally to 27 this afternoon with the opening goal against Motherwell- which saw him extend a formidable run.
Dembele has now scored ten goals in his last eight games for Celtic across all competitions, with his numbers significantly bolstered by back-to-back hat-tricks against Inverness in the Scottish FA Cup and St Johnstone in the SPL.
With three hat-tricks in total this season, his first coming against Rangers in the Old Firm derby, Dembele will be remembered for years to come at Celtic Park.
Manchester United’s unbeaten streak continued on Saturday after they soundly beat travelling Watford at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils haven’t been beaten in the Premier League since October and they’re now just two points behind second place. They’ve come a long way since being cut adrift of the top five in the table, never mind the top four.
Walter Mazzarri’s side gave it a good go across the ninety minutes but United were just too strong from start to finish, never really looking like conceding and in fact looking like they could go on and score another couple against the visitors.
United, still competing in four competitions, now face a big week with UEFA Europa League and FA Cup football on the cards.
Here are FIVE lessons we learned during Saturday’s win…
Juan matters to United
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With four goals and two assists in his last ten appearances, it’s clear that Juan Mata is as important as ever at Old Trafford.
He provides a classy and let edge in the final third, always able to find space in and around the box to either create or score himself. That was again apparent today. At one point in the first half it looked like United may never score.
However, the Spaniard popped up at the perfect time with the opportunity to slot the ball home, which he duly did with aplomb.
When he plays well it’s likely that United are too and he’ll be a vital part of any top four charge to come in the next few months.
Martial likes adversity
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Anthony Martial cannot be denied. Spending two consecutive matches on the bench after a storming FA Cup performance, he had to be patient for his chance to impress again in the Premier League.
He took that chance confidently and convincingly. He was the catalyst for the win, his overlapping run and cross setting up Mata before combining with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the second half to fire home United’s second.
The Frenchman now has eight goals and four assists across the campaign which isn’t a bad return at all, especially considering he hasn’t exactly been a first team regular.
He now deserves an extended run in the team in the weeks to come, from the start, to have the chance to show he can produce magic on a consistent basis.
Mourinho is a great man manager
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It’s clear when you see the uptick in form of Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial that Jose Mourinho is a great man manager. He rewards hard work and performances, with the players seemingly respecting his tough style of leadership.
Some of the players whose United future seemed to hang in the balance are now some of the team’s top performers and it’s all down to the way Mourinho has nurtured them through poor form to become the players most people know they can be.
Watford lack a clinical edge
Watford didn’t really perform poorly, the found themselves in decent positions in the final third but that last pass or that shot at goal just didn’t come off.
Mazzarri’s side lacked that clinical edge you need, especially at Old Trafford. If you find yourself with space in United’s portion of the pitch then you really need to make it count.
United defended stoutly but there could be a feeling of missed opportunity in the Watford camp. Counter-attacking well, they just fell short at the vital moments of the match.
Top four contenders
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There’s no doubting that Manchester United are now top four contenders and that’s something you wouldn’t have considered just two months ago. Mourinho has them playing an exciting brand of attacking football and they don’t look like losing anytime soon.
They now don’t play again in the league until March with the next two weekends booked up for cup action. By the time they host Bournemouth in the Premier League on March 4th they could have silverware in the bag and have progressed in two massive competitions.
This is a crucial part of the season but if they keep winning then the potential is there to have a very special campaign in Mourinho’s first year in charge.
According to the Daily Mail, both Marco Reus and Andre Silva have been added to the Arsenal shortlist as the Gunners look to cover their backs ahead of a potential Alexis Sanchez departure this summer…
What’s the word?
It’s set to be a very busy summer at the Emirates Stadium.
Amidst speculation surrounding the future of Arsene Wenger, The Gunners also have a pretty significant transfer dilemma on their hands when it comes to Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean is reportedly refusing to accept a contract offer of anything below £250,000 per week – and that could spell the end of his tenure in London.
With both sides unwilling to budge, the saga is likely to come to head in the coming months – and the end result could very well be an Arsenal departure for the Chilean attacker.
Arsenal have, then, reportedly made a move cover their backs should the Chilean depart – with The Daily Mail reporting that the Gunners have drawn up a 3 man shortlist as they look to identify a possible replacement for Sanchez.
The players in question are supposedly Alexandre Lacazette, Marcos Reus and Andre Silva – and whilst Lacazette is well-known and has been a long-term target for the Gunners, both Reus and Silva are new targets for Arsenal.
Would they fit?
Alexandre Lacazette is a recognised name, and with over 20 goals so far this season, there is no doubting that he would impress at the Emirates. It seems as though if Arsenal want to secure a deal for him this summer they will be able to, with Lyon reportedly open to a sale for the right price.
The duo of Marco Reus and Andre Silva are somewhat more interesting, and both would certainly offer something unique to Arsenal.
Reus has struggled with injury lately, and whilst that might put some people off, his ability on the pitch is unrivalled. Able to drive at defences and dribble towards goal – Reus would immediately come in and make an impact, if Arsenal could keep him fit.
Similarly, Andre Silva, who is currently playing for FC Porto, has been scoring for fun this season – having already bagged 13 in the Portuguese top flight.
When it comes to replacing Sanchez, Reus would probably be Arsenal’s best option – given that both Lacazette and Silva are far more natural upfront. The Gunners, ideally, would need to bring in a winger – given that Sanchez is most effective on the flanks – and Reus certainly fits that bill.
As reported by the BBC, Kieran Tierney reckons that despite his brilliant form he is still improving and learning all the time thanks to his manager Brendan Rodgers.
Tierney has had an excellent campaign and even though he was out for three months with ankle and shoulder problems has slotted right back into the Celtic first team with ease.
He’s always looked a bit of a player for the Hoops, ever since his debut in 2015, but under Rodgers you can tell he’s entered a new phase of his development.
No surprise then that he recognises the contribution of his manager and coaching staff.
As quoted by the BBC, Tierney said on Tuesday:
He’s made me, technically, a much better player. They’ve worked hard on that, him and the coaches, and they’ve just emphasised that I work on a lot of stuff. That’s what I’ve done in training and after training. Touches and passes, I’m working on that, and my crosses as well, so I’m working on a lot of stuff. I’m still young.
Despite the goalscoring exploits of the likes of Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele, it’s a testament to the performances of Tierney that he is still a contender for Player of the Year awards at the end of the season.
Manchester City and Liverpool battled to a 1-1 draw on Sunday, a result that harms both sides’ chances of achieving a top four finish in the Premier League.
It was one of the most dramatic and exciting games of the season as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s teams went toe-to-toe with some vibrant attacking football.
James Milner put the Reds ahead from the penalty spot before Sergio Aguero capped off a fine City move to level things with just 20 minutes remaining.
End-to-end football followed with the biggest chance of the match falling to Adam Lallana who missed the sitter of the century, the kind of miss that ends up on bargain bin footballing DVDs at Christmas. His failure to tap-in Roberto Firmino’s pass into an empty net will haunt him for the foreseeable future.
It’s likely to haunt Liverpool supporters too who know as we reach the tail-end of the season that it’s chances like Lallana’s that could be the difference between a UEFA Champions League qualification spot or not.
Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on one of the misses of the season…