Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in 17 matches in all competitions after comfortably beating Huddersfield Town 2-0 at Wembley in the English Premier League on Saturday.
It’s their longest unbeaten streak since 1967 and couldn’t be coming at a more perfect time with Juventus set to visit this week and the race to reach the top four in the top-flight heating up.
They never looked like losing Saturday’s match against the Terriers with Son Heung-min securing the win with a goal in each half, much to the delight of supporters.
Fans were also pleased to keep a clean sheet and see one of their heroes return after missing out on last week’s match against Crystal Palace.
Jan Vertonghen was a doubt for both the Huddersfield and Juventus match after suffering an ankle injury in training, but was in exceptional form on Saturday, looking set to lead the defence against the Italians too.
Rated at £25.2m by Transfermarkt, some supporters believe he’s not only the best defender at the club, but also the best in the entire league.
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They took to Twitter to enthuse about his performance against Huddersfield…
Liverpool have made a stuttering start to the current Premier League campaign and look a shadow of the team that came so close last season to winning the title.
Are their title aspirations from last season a mere flash in the pan? It seems that way so far this season and they have fallen way short of the required standard to mount any sort of serious title challenge.
First of all, recruitment was a disaster over the summer. They had a lot of money to spend in the transfer market after the sale of Luis Suarez, and despite one or two decent transfers, the majority of the players they recruited did not add anything of any substance to the squad. In a world where you’re supposed to improve on what you have to move forward, Brendan Rodgers has merely added bodies of a similar or worse quality to what he already had, rather than actually bringing new players in that would have significantly improved the squad to actually push on from where they left off last season.
The panic buy of Mario Balotelli has mis-fired horribly on Liverpool so far; he was a marquee signing to keep the fans happy after losing their biggest star, but the wrong signing all together. They should have gone for someone who could have replaced Suarez’s goals and contribution to the team, not necessarily someone who was just a ‘big name’ maybe along the lines of Wilfried Bony who would have guaranteed a good return of goals, getting his head down and getting on with the job in hand.
Balotelli was nothing short of disastrous against QPR on Sunday; he was misplacing his passes, scuffing his shots, looking confused and out of place at the best of times. He has stood out like a sore thumb in most games he has featured in for his new club since his arrival and as much as this blog is not supposed to be revolving around the Italian, it has to be said that he was one of the reasons Liverpool struggled to score the goals they needed to kill the game off against QPR early on; he was given a large number of chances to provide a goal for team-mates but chose to sky the ball into ‘row z’ and an equal number of chances in front of the goal to slot the ball home which went equally as high.
Mario bashing aside, the whole team looks truly awful at the moment. It seems that apart from club captain Steven Gerrard, they have no one there at the moment with the drive and urgency to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and do something of any substance. They do not look hungry enough or organised enough as a unit at the moment, which is a far cry from the Liverpool of last season which you knew would have been all over the opposition in the first 20 minutes of any game and would be looking to create chance after chance, look fluid and organised in both attack and defence.
Sunday’s game made them look like they would concede a goal every time QPR came forward, apart from some heroics from Simon Mignolet and some very poor finishing from the QPR strikers, it could’ve been a lot worse for the Reds; it was a very scrappy and fortunate victory in the end.
Liverpool sit nine points behind the leaders Chelsea at the moment, in fifth place on 13 points. There already seems to be too big a gap to make up between them and the top, especially if you consider how poor they have been so far, and if they continue to play in this manner, the gap is only going to get bigger.
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Whatever it is that Liverpool had last season, they have not got it this time around in the slightest. They look like they do not want to win a game let alone any silverware. Rodgers will have his work cut out and will have to kick his troops into shape.
He best also hope that he manages to do a bit better in the next transfer window as well, otherwise they might not even finish in the top four. Liverpool this season are not title contenders, they are average at best.
Sir Alex Ferguson should try and sign Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling according to former Manchester United winger Willie Morgan, reports the Daily Mail.
The United old boy has told Ferguson to make a shock bid to bring the highly rated winger to Old Trafford in a move that would certainly ruffle the feathers of arch rivals Liverpool FC.
The 18-year-old has flourished under new manager Brendan Rodgers and has become a regular in the team, featuring in every Premier League game so far this season apart from the defeat to West Brom on the opening weekend.
Morgan who made 236 appearances for United between 1968 and 1975 told the Manchester Evening News: “Sterling is the first winger I have seen in a long time who looks like a proper winger. He looks very good already and I think he is going to be great.
“If you just let him go wide on the outside of the full-backs all the time I think he will be a great player. He’ll frighten people to death, so long as nobody coaches it out of him. He’s the brightest prospect out there and would suit United.”
Sterling’s form this season has also caught the eye of England chief Roy Hodgson who awarded him his first senior cap in the friendly defeat to Sweden last month.
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A deal would seem unlikely though, as no player has moved straight from Liverpool to Manchester United or vice versa since Phil Chisnall made the switch from Old Trafford to Anfield in 1964.
Over the last few months, Roma goalkeeper Alisson has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.
It has been clear for some time that the Merseyside outfit are in need of a new shot-stopper.
Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius are not at the level required to push the Reds into title contention.
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After Karius made two costly blunders during the Reds’ Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in May, speculation that a keeper is on the transfer wishlist intensified.
Judging by the conversation on social media, Alisson was the number one target, but plenty of fans have seemingly changed their tune.
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After watching the 25-year-old in action for Brazil in Wednesday night’s World Cup clash against Serbia, the Roma star was less-than-convincing between the sticks.
The performance has led some Liverpool supporters to question whether the club should pursue a move, and plenty think that any interest should be shelved.
Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.Comment from discussion Anyone else not been impressed by Alisson this World Cup?.
With long-standing midfielder Michael Carrick set to retire in the summer and Marouane Fellaini coming to the end of his contract, Manchester United are looking at a six-man transfer shortlist to replace their potentially departing stars, according to The Daily Mail.
The six players that have been named as potential midfield newcomers are;
Jean Michael Seri, a tricky yet diminutive midfielder from Nice Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, a talented young Serbian in red hot form at Lazio Jorginho, a deep lying Brazilian playmaker at the forefront of Napoli’s Serie A dominance this year Toni Kroos, Real Madrid and Germany’s exceptional central midfielder Victor Wanyama, the bullish, defensively minded Tottenham star Willian, Chelsea’s in-form attacking midfielder
While some of these players on the shortlist would seem unlikely targets for Manchester United, there are one or two who have caught the eye on the European stage this season, no-one more so than Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
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Upon hearing the shortlist, United fans took to Twitter and most were desperate to see the talented Serbian, who is valued at by £49.5 million by Transfermarkt, join the club…
Arsenal looked like real title favourites last season before they slipped away, and the task for Arsene Wenger this term is to go that extra mile and really mount a charge for the big prize.
The once frugal Frenchman has shown in recent times that he’s ready to open the club’s chequebook, with this summer having yielded the £35m purchase of Alexis Sanchez – a sum only beaten by British record buy Angel di Maria at Manchester United.
But have the major questions been answered? Has Wenger solved the recurring problems at Arsenal? And can they finally challenge for the title once again? Here’s how we think the window went for the Londoners.
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Getting a top class striker
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Had Arsenal had a world-class striker last season, they may well have made the title battle a four-horse race. But Olivier Giroud’s form dipped and Yaya Sanogo was… well he was another body.
So with a whole summer at his disposal, has Wenger solved the issue? In a word, no. Danny Welbeck was the headline gabbing deadline day signing, but the England international has never been famed for his goalscoring prowess. Mario Balotelli was a target they passed on, while Radamel Falcao is now on loan at Manchester United, leaving Arsenal’s frontline much weaker than all their major rivals’.
Rating: 4/10
Building a squad for a title push
Arsenal led the way longer than any other side last season, but eventually their dip in form saw them scrapping for fourth spot. Déjà vu.
Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy have added quality, while Welbeck is another option up front to take the pressure off of Giroud. Of course the club still have their top talents of last season, but in terms of depth the Gunners are some way off of Chelsea and Manchester City.
Rating: 5/10
Bulking out the midfield
It’s a little cliché, but Arsenal have not been a real title heavyweight since the exit of Patrick Vieira.
And this summer is yet another to add to the list of those in which he has not been replaced. Wenger could have drafted in William Carvalho, yet he opted against doing so, while, arguably, the £35m spent on Sanchez may have been better used on his Chilean compatriot, Arturo Vidal.
Rating: 2/10
Solving the goalkeeper worries
Wojciech Szczesny was impressive last season, but the Pole has never been the most convincing of stoppers at Arsenal. But he certainly has a capable stand-in now in the shape of David Ospina.
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The Colombian ‘keeper was excellent at the World Cup, and looks to be a cut above the now departed Lukasz Fabianski. He may have to wait for a Szczesny mistake for his chance, but Ospina will be ready.
9/10
Replacing Sagna
The latest Arsenal player to trade north London for Manchester was Bacary Sagna, who left on a free transfer to become a City star.
Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers are the two men signed who can fill the role, and early indications suggest the former is more than ready following his switch from Newcastle. Chambers has been used as an emergency centre-back, but his long-term position may be on the right, where he will no doubt impress.
Manchester United target Christian Eriksen is refusing to sign a new contract with the club, according to reports from talkSPORT.
The Danish international has been on the radar of the Premier League outfit for some time, following multiple impressive performances with the Amsterdam club both domestically and in Europe.
The 20-year-old has previously claimed to be happy in Holland and keen to remain at the Amsterdam ArenA for the foreseeable future.
However, Ajax director, and former Arsenal player, Marc Overmars told reporters that the youngster has changed his mind, and may attempt to leave the club:
“We would like Christian to sign a new contract with us, but it’s not something he wants.” He told Sporten in Denmark.
“We will see what happens after this year. We speak with him and his agent and we will see what happens after December.”
With his current deal set to expire in 2014, the midfielder could be available at a reduced fee during the coming transfer windows.
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United have been heavily linked with the starlet in recent months, with Sir Alex Ferguson keen to add his creative talents to the Old Trafford armoury.
Liverpool are another interested party, with reports claiming that Brendan Rodgers sees the playmaker as the ideal long-term replacement for club captain Steven Gerrard.
Boca Juniors winger Cristian Pavon impressed as a substitute in Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Iceland in their opening Russia 2018 group game on Saturday, and Arsenal fans have urged their club to sign the 22-year-old, rated at £18m by Transfermarkt.
The young wideman was brought on in the second half as the South American giants looked for a winner against the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, and he perhaps should have won a penalty kick.
Meanwhile, new Gunners boss Unai Emery may well be looking to add some pace in wide areas, which the north London club have sometimes lacked having lost both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott over the course of the previous 12 months.
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Arsenal supporters, who also want their club to make a shock move to sign another 31-year-old World Cup star, were quick to have their say on Pavon’s latest performance via social media, and while one said they “would love to see him at Arsenal”, another said “he reminds me of Sanchez”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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Liverpool’s goalkeeping situation seems to have taken a twist, and the majority of supporters are not entirely happy about it.
The Liverpool Echo reports that the club are unlikely to move for Roma shot-stopper Alisson in the summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old has been one of the names touted in the media as a possible target for the Merseyside outfit, but the publication states that the situation has changed.
According to the report, manager Jurgen Klopp is happy with Loris Karius’s recent performances since taking over as number one from Simon Mignolet.
In addition, Roma are reportedly demanding £70m for Alisson, and given that the Serie A outfit wish they had asked for more money from Liverpool for Mohamed Salah last year, negotiations could be a problem.
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Many Liverpool supporters are keen for the club to bring in a new world-class keeper in order to compete for titles, so this latest development has not been met with much joy.
It’s been a stellar season for Everton. Although the Toffees missed out on their ultimate aim of Champions League football by seven points, you’ll find few Goodison goers disappointed with the progress made since David Moyes’ resignation last summer.
Roberto Martinez has hit Merseyside like a swirling wind of hot-yet-crisp Iberian-Peninsulan air, bringing in his gust a brand of intoxicatingly aesthetic football that will leave Evertonians feeling only positive about future endeavours. That all-important unique identity is the kind of footballing phenomena that can breach any lack of finance or resources – just take a gander to the other side of Stanley Park.
But could second season syndrome – that Premier League cliché previously used to describe the plights of Reading and Hull City to name a few – be looming in for the Toffees and their manager? Their first recording was a chart topper, but will they struggle when it comes to that notoriously difficult second album?
My immediate concern is that three key members of the Everton band will most likely not be at Goodison next season. For example, although Martinez has already announced his attentions to use the full powers of Bill Kenwright’s purse this summer to keep 15-goal front-man Romelu Lukaku on Merseyside permanently, the chances of doing so remain relatively thin.
Even if he decides to quit parent club Chelsea for the sake of first team football, Everton’s interest will most likely be eclipsed by many of his Champions League suitors, including Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund to name a few.
Likewise, Manchester City loanee Gareth Barry has been rocking the baseline groove at the heart of Everton’s midfield all season. His ability to illusively transcend between the roles of a holding midfielder and third centre-back are vital to the Toffees game-plan; that simple yet instrumental movement is the trigger for Martinez’s men to switch from a 4-3-3 in defence to a 3-4-3 in possession.
The 33 year-old’s defensive work is expectedly solid, whilst his three goals and four assists is an equally positive contribution. Perhaps most tellingly of his vitality to the Everton cause, his average of 68 passes per match this season is the most of any player on the Goodison roster. He’s very much at Everton’s core.
WANT MORE? >> Everton transfer news | Latest transfer news
Admittedly, the Toffees have a better chance of acquiring the England international permanently this summer in comparison to Romelu Lukaku, having been officially released by the Premier League champions last Friday. But any deal at Everton will have to take Barry’s age into account and honour the £2.5million agreement written into his initial loan agreement. With that in mind, reported interest from West Ham, Arsenal, Spurs and Leicester will trouble Martinez.
Then there’s Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu, the shredding guitarist of the act, if you wish to maintain our band-member analogy. Admittedly, the high-potential Spaniard isn’t as intrinsic to the Everton make-up in comparison to Barry or Lukaku, but his ability to change the dynamic of the Toffees attack, adding a frighteningly direct threat at goal, has been influential throughout the course of the season.
Perhaps I’m exacerbating the problem slightly. After all, although Lukaku, Barry and Deulofeu represent three of Everton’s best performers this season, it would be wrong to say they’ve been the three best performers in that exact order. Kevin Mirallas, Steven Naismith and Leon Osman have been essential influences too and that water-tight back five – containing two of the Premier League’s leading full-backs – still remains from the David Moyes days.
Likewise, although both have been linked with multi-million moves away, it would be surprising if England duo John Stones and Ross Barkley weren’t at Goodison next season. Judging from the performances of both throughout the current campaign, their quality can compensate for any loss of personnel this summer.
Furthermore, due to the sensational progress Everton’s loan signings have made this year, Roberto Martinez has previously claimed that clubs are queuing up to offer him their hot prospects for next season. Should the Spaniard run the rule effectively, he could replace the Toffees loan contingent from 2013/14 with an equally as impressive one. Also, if the Mersey boss is prepared to throw his entire transfer budget at Romelu Lukaku, there’s obviously a fair bit of money to spend this summer.
WANT MORE? >> Everton transfer news | Latest transfer news
So maybe Martinez’s second season at Everton won’t be a complete catastrophy, but it’s hard to envisage it paralleling the progress of the first. After all, last season was very much a unique Premier League campaign – next term, Manchester United will almost certainly be back in the Champions League fold and Tottenham will be looking to make up for lost time too.
Arsenal are keen to spend this summer and Liverpool appear to only be moving forward, whilst Chelsea and Manchester City are dead-certs for the top four, so competition for fourth spot will be more ferocious than ever.
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My lingering concern is how Martinez will cope. In my opinion, the 40 year-old is a world-class manager in the making; part purist philosopher, part transfer market gem-finder, part public diplomat, part motivation machine, the Spaniard truly is the total managerial package.
But up until now, his career has only moved in one direction. From Swansea, to Wigan to Everton, Martinez has continually soared – even the disappointment of relegation with the Latics was offset by the historic achievement of last season’s FA Cup.
The coming campaign however presents the likelihood of stagnation. The honeymoon is over and the hard graft truly begins. In many ways, that difficult second season at Everton will be the toughest challenge of Martinez’s management career – the truest test of his abilities to date. But Everton is a well-run club, and the fan-base showed continual patience under Moyes.
They’ll accept the inadequacies of the second album, as long as the third is filled with as much beauty and promise as the first.