Four straight Premier League defeats have left Everton fans feeling blue but manager Roberto Martinez is confident victory over West Ham United in the FA Cup on Tuesday will provide the perfect tonic for his side. . Everton have slipped to 13th in the Premier League and supporters have started voicing concerns over performances. . But Martinez, who guided Everton to fifth last season, believes there is enough quality in his team’s ranks to improve their lacklustre campaign. . “All we are concentrating on is how we can help each other in terms of performance,” Martinez told a news conference…
Author: David F.
Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice to rescue Liverpool from FA Cup embarrassment and lead tinto the fourth round after a tricky 2-1 win at fourth tier AFC Wimbledon on Monday. . In the night’s other Cup match, Premier League strugglers Burnley fought back from a goal down at Turf Moor to draw 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur and force a replay to decide who then takes on Leicester City. . Liverpool will move on to play second tier Bolton Wanderers in the next round but only after a night of living dangerously with determined League Two opponents who looked far from…
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku spared his side a fifth straight defeat by snatching an added-time equaliser to salvage a 1-1 home draw with West Ham United in the FA Cup third round on Tuesday. . It had looked like being another dismal occasion for Everton when West Ham centre back James Collins was left unmarked to head the visitors into the lead from Morgan Amalfitano’s corner to the near post 11 minutes into the second half. . But Lukaku volleyed home after Bryan Oviedo crossed into the area to force a replay and relieve the tension and frustration that had been…
Stuttering Chelsea retained their Premier League lead by virtue of the alphabet heading into the new year but will need a quick riposte at home to Newcastle United on Saturday to hold Manchester City at bay. . Jose Mourinho’s side gleaned a mere four points from nine during a frenzy of holiday fixtures and a humbling 5-3 loss at Tottenham Hotspur on January 1 meant champions City restored parity at the top having at one stage trailed by eight points. . An easy FA Cup win over second tier Watford offered Chelsea a breather, but they host managerless Newcastle knowing…
Harry Redknapp is renowned for his wheeling and dealing in the January transfer window but admits mid-season signings represent a gamble for the Premier League’s struggling clubs. . With his Queens Park Rangers side hovering just above the relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s trip to second-bottom Burnley, the former West Ham United, Portsmouth, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur boss is expected to be active in the window. . However, with a restricted budget he will be forced to look for loan signings such as Mauro Zarate who arrived this week from West Ham until the end of the campaign. .…
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti remains loyal to off-form Gareth Bale despite criticism during the team’s poor start to 2015 but needs the Welshman to return to his swashbuckling best. . Bale has sometimes been accused of being too greedy by Spanish media and those accusations returned after last weekend’s La Liga defeat by Valencia and Wednesday’s King’s Cup, last 16 first leg loss to Atletico Madrid. . Ancelotti’s side were able to relax over Christmas having won the Club World Cup to extend their Spanish record winning streak to 22 matches but their lacklustre displays since have alarmed fans…
Steven Gerrard’s departure to LA Galaxy at the end of the season will leave a void at Liverpool but will open the door for others, manager Brendan Rodgers said on Thursday. . The 34-year-old captain, who has spent his entire career at Anfield and is worshipped by the fans, agreed this week to continue his illustrious career in California with the Major League Soccer champions. . Gerrard has been quoted as saying he would have stayed at Liverpool had he been offered a new contract in the close season, while Rodgers admits his departure will be a huge loss. .…
Aston Villa’s Dutch international defender Ron Vlaar has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a knee injury, the Premier League team said on Thursday. . “There’s a little bit of meniscus damage there but it’s not as bad as we thought,” manager Paul Lambert told the club’s website (www.avfc.co.uk). . Vlaar suffered the injury early in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on January 1. . Villa, in 12th place on 22 points, face a Midlands derby at bottom club Leicester City on Saturday.
Uncapped midfielder Ahmed Kashi has been called up to play for Algeria at the African Nations Cup finals, the country’s official news agency said on Thursday. . The 26-year-old French-born player from FC Metz is expected to be named as a replacement for the injured Medhi Abeid of Newcastle United, said the Algerie Presse Service. The Algerian Football Federation was yet to confirm the call-up. . Algeria were the first of the 16 countries competing at this month’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea to name their final squad but still have a week to make changes before the deadline for the…
West Bromwich Albion named former Stoke City and Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulisas their head coach on Thursday, tasking the 56-year-old with the club’s Premier League survival. . Pulis has agreed a 2-1/2 year contract with the Baggies, the club said in a statement, replacing Alan Irvine who was sacked on Monday following a run of seven defeats in nine games. . “Every successful club is built on unity and that is what I shall strive to help bring to Albion,” Pulis said in the statement. . “We need everyone together from top to bottom – the supporters, all the…
Former England midfielder Frank Lampard will stay with Manchester City until the end of the season, the Premier League champions said on Wednesday. . Lampard initially joined City on loan for six months from New York City FC after leaving Chelsea at the end of last season. . “Manchester City can confirm that it has extended Frank Lampard’s contract up to the end of (the) season, enabling his continued participation in both domestic and European campaigns,” City said in a statement on their website. . The 36-year-old Lampard has scored six goals for City this season.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from fans even after defeats but, if he does not act to strengthen his defence, he might soon find their patience running out. . After a dire opening to the season, Van Gaal has steadied the ship and Thursday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Stoke City made it 10 games in a row without defeat. . They are firmly established in third place and though the title looks a step too far, a return to the Champions League is very much within their…
Few Chelsea fans would have begrudged Frank Lampard his farewell Premier League cameo at Manchester City but the goodwill is starting to dissipate after he scored another goal to keep his new club in the title hunt. . On Wednesday, Chelsea’s all-time record scorer Lampard tied up the deal that extends his loan from New York City to Manchester City until the end of the season and 24 hours later he showed exactly why Manuel Pellegrini was so keen to keep him. . The league champions, for the second time in four days, had blown a 2-0 lead in front…
Chelsea and Manchester City ended the first day of 2015 locked together at the top of the Premier League as City’s 3-2 victory over Sunderland on Thursday was followed by a shock 5-3 defeat for Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur. . Chelsea, previously beaten only once this season, looked set for another victory when Diego Costa scored after 18 minutes but rampant Spurs surged back with goals by Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Andros Townsend (penalty) to lead 3-1 at halftime. . Kane then fired in his second goal seven minutes after the restart and though Eden Hazard pulled one back,…
Arsene Wenger has praised Alex Song ahead of Arsenal’s clash with West Ham today. . The former Gunners midfielder has impressed in his loan spell at the Hammers, who lie fifth in the table. . Wenger helped mould Song after signing him from French outfit Bastia and is not surprised the 27-year-old has gone onto play for Barcelona. . He said: “I brought him here at the age of 17 and kept him despite all the opinions against him. . “He developed into a very good player, so you don’t need to convince me he is a good player. .…
Manchester City can revert to fielding a specialist striker against Burnley as Stevan Jovetic has returned to fitness. . The Premier League champions have played without their three leading centre-forwards for their last two games, both of which they have won, scoring six goals, but manager Manuel Pellegrini is considering recalling Montenegro international Jovetic for today’s clash. . Jovetic has not featured in City’s last three matches after suffering a hamstring problem but was available for the Boxing Day victory over West Brom, when Pellegrini decided not to risk him on the pitch at The Hawthorns. . “Jovetic was on…
Sky Sports expert and former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp has boldly claimed that Chelsea’s current powerhouse Nemanja Matic could go on to eclipse club legend Claude Makelele. . During Jose Mourinho’ spell in charge at the club his Chelsea era between 2004-2007 was almost defined by Makelele. The Frenchman had a role now exclusively named after him at the best of a ‘Christmas tree’ midfield and provided impregnable protection for the defence. . In 2014 however, that role is being wonderfully executed by Matic in his own unique style and Redknapp believes the Serbian’s name may now be more synonymous…
Nigeria international striker Emmanuel Emenike has declared he has no plans to quit Turkish champions Fenerbahce. . “I do not even think of that for a moment because they do not want me here,” Emenike told Hurriyet newspaper. Emenike’s agent, Erdem Konyar, has also revealed that there are no offers yet for the striker. . The Turkish agent played down the talk about impending move for the former Spartak Moscow forward in the winter. He said: “Emenike has had no official offers. . “Even if he does receive official bids he has no intention to leave Fenerbahce, he is happy…
The agent of Cristiano Ronaldo expects him to play out his career with Real Madrid. Jorge Mendes has taken care of the former Manchester United star since he was 15 years of age. . “I believe that Cristiano will finish his career at Real Madrid. He’s happy at the club and is still keen to achieve more success at the Madrid. Will the club retire his shirt number when he finishes at Madrid? With every respect to the likes of Raúl and Di Stéfano, no player can compare to Cristiano Ronaldo. . “He’s the best player ever and I’d say…
Juan Mata has described playing alongside Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney as a privilege. . The Red Devils were 3-1 winners against Newcastle United on Boxing Day courtesy of Rooney’s brace and Robin van Persie’s second-half strike. . And the Spain international talked up Rooney’s qualities, as well as his United team-mates Radamel Falcao and Van Persie. . “I think he can play there, yes,” declared Mata in a post-match interview with MUTV. “He can defend, he can attack, he can pass and he can score goals arriving into the box. . “For us, he is a very important player…