Liverpool convincingly beat Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie at Anfield yesterday.
Goals from Mo Salah, Saido Mane and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin have put Liverpool in a convincing position before the second leg.
City disappointed for most the game, with no shots on goal. The game was marred due in the pre-match lead up when Liverpool fans attacked the Manchester City team bus.
When driving up to the ground, City were greeted with a hostile reception, with fans loudly chanting and releasing flares.
Small groups of fans took things too far, throwing projectiles at the team bus. The damage was so bad that the bus was undriveable and a replacement needed to be sent.
Fans reacted on Twitter, a section of this reaction can be seen below…
Tottenham Hotspurs certainly know how to develop future stars, with young Harry Kane looking to be the latest “real-deal.”
The 21-year-old has been plastered all over the newspapers and on TV in the last few months, with many clubs across Europe keeping an eye on his progress. Everyone is familiar with the story of Gareth Bale. Played amazing at Tottenham, helped them shoot up the table, got sold for a record fee and Spurs haven’t been as good since. The bosses at White Hart Lane need to make sure they do not cash in on the situation and sell Kane too early. So have they learnt their lesson?
Kane has been the undoubted star and surprise package of this season’s Premier League and it seems like nothing can stop “Hurricane.” The nice thing is though it is clear he just wants to play football and at any level he can. Despite having made his debut for England on Friday night (and scoring) he still wants to join the England U21 team during the summer.
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Last time Tottenham had a superstar in their midst they sold him to the tune of £86million. At the moment the future is bright for Tottenham Hotspur. Mauricio Pochettino is proving to be a great manager, the players are building as individuals and a squad and they are in the middle of planning a new 56,000 seater stadium but should Tottenham fans get used to seeing their main stars leave for bigger and better things?
The big problem seems to be money. It always comes down to money. There is currently a big debate over what Harry Kane will spend his summer doing. Tottenham have a big summer tour planned away in Australia but the young striker wants to play for England U21s. Spurs are keen for him to play in Australia because it will mean more money for him but it could be the worst decision they make.
If Spurs tell Kane to join them in Australia rather than join England than they may live to regret it. It would certainly not show any learning from the Bale sale. While I think it is clear they will want to keep Kane’s talents for as long as possible they need to think about how best to deal with the situation. It is great to see a young star so desperate to play for his country, but it could have been so easy for him to say no to playing for the U21s now he has started to be noticed by Roy Hodgson for the Seniors but he didn’t and Tottenham should really respect that.
If they don’t respect it, they may just lose Kane whether they want to or not because they might have learnt that selling your best player and not replacing him will not work, but they haven’t learnt that sometimes money is not the best answer.
Kane wants to play football, and Tottenham need to appreciate that.
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Gabriel Obertan looks set to be leaving Newcastle when the transfer window opens in the summer, according to reports from TalkSport.
The French winger has spent the majority of 2013 on the bench, after Alan Pardew’s January signings left Obertan out of favour at St James’ Park.
Both Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran have impressed Newcastle’s faithful, scoring 4 goals between them since their winter moves across the English Channel. The instant impact of the two Frenchmen have helped their side win their last three Premier League matches at home, pushing them further away from the relegation zone.
Obertan will be desperate for game time, as the winger hasn’t played a league game since January, coming on in the 80th minute in Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat at home to Reading. Since then, Obertan’s appearances have been limited to Europa League matches only.
With star man Hatem Ben Arfa returning from injury, Obertan seems to have fallen further down in Pardew’s pecking order, with the Englishman reportedly ready to sell the 24-year-old in the summer. And with clubs in Ligue 1 rumoured to be interested in the winger, Pardew may not struggle to find a new club for the Frenchman.
Obertan has scored just once in his 35 appearances for the Magpies since his move from Manchester United in 2011, where he also struggled to impress in his short spell there. With just nine games left in the season, Obertan will be looking to string a run of form together to ensure he’s a Newcastle player next season.
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Sam Allardyce arrived at Everton in November to stop their ship from sinking following a disastrous few months under former manager Ronald Koeman.
The experienced coach managed to drag the Toffees away from the relegation zone and life appeared a little bit brighter for the Merseyside outfit.
However, after recording just two Premier League wins across January and February, the tide turned, and fans began blasting Allardyce on social media.
Attention has now shifted to potential coaches that could take over at Goodison Park when the season comes to an end.
There does not seem to be a clear frontrunner as yet, but some fans have brought back an old candidate – Nice boss Lucien Favre.
A report in The Mirror from May 2016 revealed that Favre was being considered by Everton following the sacking of Roberto Martinez, but due to their lack of urgency in securing a replacement, the former Borussia Monchengladbach boss chose Nice.
With Favre’s future at the French outfit uncertain, Everton supporters are wondering whether their club should make a move at the end of the season.
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A thread on Reddit has given an insight into what the supporters are thinking.
Comment from discussion Lucien Favre?.Comment from discussion Lucien Favre?.Comment from discussion Lucien Favre?.Comment from discussion Lucien Favre?.Comment from discussion Lucien Favre?.Comment from discussion Lucien Favre?.Comment from discussion Lucien Favre?.
Reports from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo are suggesting that the Alexis Sanchez and Arsenal honeymoon is edging towards a messy end. Although the truth in suggestions that he’s worried about the club’s Premier League position, his role in the XI and Santi Cazorla’s emergence as the darling of the Emirates Stadium is unclear, there are now worries growing.
Alexis has been, without doubt, the key man in the Gunners’ XI this term, but his reaction to some losses, and even wins, has been a little alarming. The South American’s face after the dramatic Champions League victory against Anderlecht was one of frustration, but this could be, perhaps, a bi-product of his fierce will to win.
Regardless of what is going on, Arsenal must keep Sanchez… and here are FIVE reasons why!
Arsenal’s main man
A glance at the stats really does say it all… In terms of goals and assists, Sanchez wipes the floor with all his major competitors in the Gunners’ squad, registering a superior efforts on goal and accuracy rating, while creating far more chances for team-mates. Only Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is better in terms of beating his man one-on-one – which is an easier task on the wing – while 31 tackles shows he’s adept ant defending from the front in a high-pressing system.
Determination
Arsenal have often been criticised for lacking leaders and having a soft underbelly, but Sanchez is very much a player away from that mould. The 26-year-old’s game is all about action, pressing and fighting for every scrap, and his tendency to chase down lost causes is often infectious in the Arsenal team. Remove him from the equation, and where would the Londoners be this season? Lower than fifth, probably!
Star quality
As well as being a scrapper and a battler, Sanchez is also a pretty decent footballer! His hard-work is matched by silky skills, finishing ability and neat passing (he played for Barcelona, after all), and Gunners fans have witnessed what he can do on more than a few occasions since his arrival, which was made all the sweeter as he rejected rivals Liverpool.
Losing him would lead to ‘selling club’ worries
Over the years Arsenal have developed a reputation as a selling club. Robin van Persie left for Manchester United, Thierry Henry to Barcelona, Bacary Sagna, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor have gone to Manchester City… big blows there! However, with the Emirates Stadium debt now no longer the issue it was – hence the big fee paid for Sanchez over the summer – the time to offload key men for sizable profits may be in the past, so letting the fulcrum of the side head off would be, perhaps, even worse than the aforementioned deals.
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Rivals could pick him up…
Leading on from the last point, rival teams could move for Sanchez. Manchester has been an area of the country north London stars have headed in recent times, and with both City and United financially strong, there is a potential risk that they could weigh in for a player of Alexis’ quality. There have been no official links as of yet, but football is a funny game and proven Premier League quality is always in demand at the top end…
Former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra has revealed his gambling problems have left him with insufficient funds to afford the £50,000 legal fees required to defend himself against allegations of fixing a horserace.
The Ipswich Town forward has said he would not be attending the hearing, brought forward by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), due to start on Monday.
Chopra is among three footballers facing charges for exploiting inside information concerning horse races ridden by former UK-based flat jockey Andrew Heffernan.
Doncaster midfielder James Coppinger, who previously played for Newcastle and Darlington, and England under-21 international Mark Wilson were also charged by the BHA.
In a statement released on Ipswich Town’s website, Chopra, 29, said: “I have extensive debts and loans and simply cannot afford the amount of money necessary to clear my name.”
The former England Under-21 international said he had been advised that even if found innocent, his legal costs would not be refunded by racing’s governing body.
Chopra said that not being licensed by the BHA, he was not subject to its rules, and that the only punishment that could be imposed on him would be a ban from racecourses and premises it licenses, a penalty he accepts would help him resist further gambling.
He said: “It is well publicised that I have a gambling addiction problem and I see any such sanctions as being a useful mechanism in helping me to address these problems.
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“As of this year, I’ve voluntarily excluded myself from all betting institutions from where I live in Ipswich in order to help me fight this illness.”
Meanwhile Coppinger has already said he would fight the allegations to clear his name.
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie has revealed his ambition to play for boyhood heroes Rangers one day.
What’s the story?
Currently on loan and in-form at Championship outfit Barnsley, McBurnie could make his Scotland debut during the international break after Alex McLeish gave him a confidence boosting call-up for the friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary.
Now, the striker has revealed another big career goal is to one day play for Rangers, speaking with passion about his boyhood heroes from Ibrox.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, the 21-year-old said:
There were murmurs about Rangers in January but nothing ever happens easily or simply for me.
I got told about 3pm on deadline day that nothing was going to happen and I had a certain amount of clubs to pick from. I ended up choosing Barnsley and it’s going well for me at the minute.
Would I play for Rangers down the line? Of course.
I grew up supporting them and one day I would love to pull on the jersey.
We’ll just have to see how my career goes and see if I am lucky enough to pull it on.
It certainly sounds like he’d love to play for the club in the future, but does he have the ability to shine for the Light Blues?
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Can he make an Ibrox impact?
McBurnie hasn’t had much first team football in his career so far, given his age, but has shown exciting potential and certainly enough ability to make himself a hero with the Rangers support.
In a short loan spell at Newport County he scored three goals in three games and this season at Barsnley has scored six Championship goals in nine appearances.
He has found it more difficult in the Swansea first team, netting twice in 18 appearances, but the Premier League is a massive step up from the level required at Rangers.
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His form for Swansea’s U23 side is un-paralleled, with the player scoring 34 times and assisting six more in just 36 appearances for the development side.
If he can replicate this record at Rangers he would be a massive hit and the club should currently be assessing all options to bring him to Scotland, given his passion for playing for the club one day.
Sean Dyche has admirably led his Burnley side, with comfortably the league’s lowest budget, into every chance of survival, despite the bookmaker’s vast doubts.
Burley began the season as relegation favourites at just 1.25/1, and after twenty games that has drifted out to 1.55/1, they remain the primary choice. Even now, few outside Burnley seem to honestly believe they can stay up, which appears extremely harsh on a side who have improved as the season has progressed.
The Clarets had a terrible start, gaining just four points from 10 games, but, since their first win -a 1-0 success at home to fellow strugglers Hull – they have not looked out of place in the Premier League. Thereafter a Danny Ings double secured a first away success at Stoke, before a run that incorporated beating high-flying Southampton and four credible draws. Burnley have shown great character, equalising late against Aston Villa and more recently mounting a stunning comeback to draw 2-2 at the Etihad. The Clarets backed this up by equalising three times against Newcastle recently, with opposition manager John Carver admitting the away side deserved to win.
The contrast to their early season form is marked, with the only real disappointment being a 2-0 loss at fellow strugglers QPR. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur could only narrowly beat the Clarets, who have developed into a difficult test for the top teams. In contrast, Burnley lost four of their first 10 games this season by two goals or more, most humiliatingly going down 4-0 at fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion. The Clarets gained just four-points across this period, but have more than tripled this return, gaining 13 points from the following 10 matches. This has seen them move from rock bottom, and five points shy of escaping the relegation zone, to being inside it only on goal difference.
Sean Dyche has been a huge part of this turnaround, through trusting his methods and backing his players, who have responded magnificently. Fellow strugglers appear to already be panicking, seen by managerial changes at West Brom and Crystal Palace, with potentially Hull City and/or Leicester set to follow this trend. In contrast, Burnley will benefit from the stability of their faith in Dyche, who deserves this chance, having magnificently guided the Clarets to promotion last season. They began the campaign fifth favourites for relegation – Burnley and Dyche enjoy defying the bookmakers.
Dyche has helped his players to find the confidence that they can perform at this level, particularly offensively, where they appeared to have major problems. In early season Burnley failed to score in six successive games in all competitions. However, the Clarets have scored 12 in their last 10 games, primarily through talismanic Danny Ings, though George Boyd has also been excellent. The attacking midfielder has scored crucial goals, such as the third and final equaliser at Newcastle recently, whilst working hard to keep his defensive discipline. Boyd ran 8.1 miles on both Boxing Day against Liverpool, and just two days later against reigning champions Manchester City, and is unmatched in this regard.
Striker Ashley Barnes has eventually settled nicely into the Premier League, taking the burden off Ings by scoring an important winning goal at home to Southampton, and equalisers at the Etihad and White Hart Lane. Moreover, Burnley striker Sam Vokes, who was vital in last season’s promotion with 20 goals before a bad injury, is only now returning to add further firepower.
In summary, Burnley’s recent performances and obvious improvement suggesting definite capabilities of Premier League survival. This has been aided by an excellent manager in Sean Dyche, an improved attacking threat and players continuously gaining confidence that allows them to match the division’s best teams. The Clarets now face fellow strugglers QPR, Crystal Palace at West Brom at Turf Moor and also travel to Sunderland. By replicating their current performance levels Burnley can gain the necessary results to climb comfortably out of the drop zone. The momentum is very much with the Clarets, so you’d appear foolish to write them off anytime soon, no matter what the bookmakers might tell you.
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At their effortless best, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were the principal puppet masters of any football match. Blessed with a textbook technique and the foresight to predict the events unfolding around them, the dynamic duo could manufacture passes that I would struggle to recreate in my dreams. They are the last two shining lights of the golden generation, but is their influence beginning to deteriorate at Old Trafford?
In the three Premier League fixtures in which Manchester United have suffered defeat this season, either messrs Giggs or Scholes have started from the first whistle. A significant number of fans voiced their concern when Giggs and Michael Carrick were named at the heart of a 4-4-2 formation at Carrow Road. Sensing an upset was on the cards, their fears were confirmed as Norwich controlled the midfield battle and secured a vital 1-0 win thanks to an Anthony Pilkington header.
With a combined age of 77, few can expect the veteran Red Devils to drive from box-to-box or repeatedly get stuck into those meaty tackles. The onus is therefore on other members of the squad to provide the steel and grit needed to compliment the pair and while Carrick is incredibly gifted at dictating tempo or maintaining possession, the club have lacked such a talisman since the departure of Roy Keane.
Speaking of ITV’s plain-speaking pundit, perhaps the reason Scholes and Giggs have remained at Old Trafford for so long is down to their unwavering devotion to Sir Alex Ferguson. Their reliability and authority on the pitch undoubtedly extends into the dressing room, where they command respect among the young starlets of the squad and are unlikely to court controversy by challenging their manager.
Chelsea would do well to emulate Ferguson’s persistent praise and contractual rewards for the pair. With Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard drifting ever closer to the end of their deals at Stamford Bridge, the fallout from their departure could be catastrophic. Not only do the talismanic twosome still have plenty to offer on a Saturday afternoon, but they are clearly two of the most respected members of the squad. The club is crying out for stability, so why not start by gratifying those who have been crucial in the success story of the past decade?
To claim that Scholes and Giggs have now been cast in a cameo role this season would be an unfair justice to their potential impact. They may have been used sparingly in recent weeks but their experience and sense of leadership can still prove pivotal in situations where youthful exuberance is ineffective.
Cast your mind back to early September when Manchester United staged a classic comeback to defeat Southampton 3-2 at Saint Mary’s. Robin van Persie attracted all the plaudits with an inspired hat-trick but it was the introduction of Scholes – when the team were trailing 2-1 – that sparked the revival. Likewise, Giggs has been a prominent feature in United’s cup campaigns, helping shepherd the inexperienced by demonstrating the high standards expected at the pinnacle of football.
Manchester United are certainly on the brink of significant upheaveal. Ferguson is seemingly preparing for his belated retirement by orchestrating modifications across every area of the pitch. In midfield, the likes of Tom Cleverley and Anderson are gradually starting to fulfil their potential alongside new signing Shinji Kagawa. However, a spate of injuries or a dip in form has hampered their development and each of the aforementioned trio has been guilty of going missing in big games this season.
I refuse to be the one that casts Scholes or Giggs onto football’s scrapheap; they’ve been written off too many times only to re-emerge like a phoenix from the flames. Their replacements may already lie in wait, chomping at the bit to obtain their own legendary status, but there is no substitute for the drastic shift in mood at Old Trafford when either man surfaces from the bench.
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They may not find their names at the top of the credits if United regain their Premier League crown, but until Ferguson deems otherwise, we simply cannot deny their importance in a title race that is likely to be decided by the smallest of margins.
He is often twinned with Rajinder Goel for the misfortune of being great left-arm spinners in the time of Bishan Bedi
ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-20253:10
Manjrekar’s tribute to Shivalkar: ‘He wore the crown’
Padmakar Shivalkar, the champion left-arm spinner who is counted among the greatest Indian cricketers to never play for India, has died at the age of 84. He died in Mumbai on Monday and is survived by his wife, son and daughter.Shivalkar is often twinned with the Haryana left-arm spinner Rajinder Goel – the highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy history – for the misfortune of having careers that coincided with that of Bishan Singh Bedi.”One of the regrets I have is that, as the then captain of the Indian team, I could not convince my fellow selectors to pick Goel and Paddy to play for India,” Sunil Gavaskar told when the BCCI awarded Goel and Shivalkar the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award in 2017. “They were born in the same era as the greatest left-arm bowler I have seen, Mr Bishan Singh Bedi. Else they too would have played plenty of Tests for India.”Related
In praise of Paddy and Goel paaji
Goel, Shivalkar to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards
Gavaskar shared a dressing room with Shivalkar when Bombay (now Mumbai), the most successful team in the Ranji Trophy, enjoyed their greatest period of dominance. Shivalkar featured in ten of Bombay’s victorious Ranji Trophy campaigns from 1965-66 to 1976-77 – they won the title in every season barring one in that time – and was part of the squad that reclaimed the crown in 1980-81. Incredibly, he made a comeback seven years later at the age of 47 and played two matches during the 1987-88 season.His first-class debut had come all the way back in April 1962, when he was picked in a Cricket Club of India President’s XI against an International XI that was making a world tour. Against that team, which included luminaries such as Bob Simpson, Tom Graveney, Colin Cowdrey, Everton Weekes, Richie Benaud and Sonny Ramadhin, Shivalkar took 5 for 129 and 2 for 44 in a drawn game.In all, Shivalkar took 589 wickets in 124 first-class matches at an average of 19.69. Of those wickets, 361 came in the Ranji Trophy. No Mumbai bowler has taken more wickets in the competition. Shivalkar’s best figures of 8 for 16 came in the 1972-73 final against Tamil Nadu, when Bombay won in two days and one ball on a vicious Chepauk turner.Former India medium pacer and current BCCI president Roger Binny said in a statement, “Indian cricket has lost a true legend today. Padmakar Shivalkar’s mastery over left-arm spin and his deep understanding of the game made him a revered figure in domestic cricket. His exceptional career and selfless contribution to Mumbai and Indian cricket will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Another fine spinner from the 1970s who never played for India, V Ramnarayan, watched both Goel and Shivalkar closely and wrote this about them: “Quite possibly the best attribute of their cricket was their utter dependability. With them in the side, their captains only had to worry about their supporting bowlers.”Both were tireless, with their smooth actions demanding the minimum of effort – or so it seemed. Yet it was their unstinting work in the nets that made their seeming effortlessness in match situations possible.”If a comparison must be made between them, it must be to state that there was hardly anything to differentiate them, except the possibility that with his flight and subtle variations, Shivalkar posed a more attractive proposition on good wickets, with Goel perhaps more destructive on crumbling surfaces.”Shivalkar’s favourite mode of dismissal, perhaps, said something about the kind of bowler he was. “I used to enjoy getting the batsman stumped,” he told in 2017. “With my command over the loop, batsmen would step out of the crease and get trapped, beaten and stumped.”