Sports Buzz

Tag: season contender

  • ‘New Alex Ferguson’ arrives with shock City rout; rockstar’s surprise commentary gig — CL Wrap

    ‘New Alex Ferguson’ arrives with shock City rout; rockstar’s surprise commentary gig — CL Wrap

    Oasis star Noel Gallagher made a bizarre commentary appearance as his beloved Manchester City went down 4-1 to Sporting CP in Ruben Amorim’s farewell match ahead of taking over at Old Trafford.

    The new Manchester United manager immediately endeared himself to his new fans as his Portuguese side inflicted a third defeat in the space of a week on City to maintain their standing in second position on the Champions League table with ten points from four games.

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    Amorim said pre-game that Red Devils fans might believe that “the new Alex Ferguson has arrived” if his team beat City, and he has poured fuel on the fire that is the Manchester derby.

    LISBON, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 05: Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Sporting CP, is thrown into the air by his players to celebrate his last home match as manager at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Manchester City at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 05, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Pep Guardiola will get his chance for revenge on Amorim in the 39-year-old’s first Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on December 15, but he has glaring issues to fix first.

    Phil Foden opened the scoring for City in the fourth minute and it appeared they were back on track after a shock Premier League loss to Bournemouth at the weekend after being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham mid-week.

    Lifelong City fan Gallagher was even crowing about how easy things were on the pitch for his side, but almost as soon as the words came out of mouth, Sporting front man Viktor Gyökeres fired home their first goal in the 38th minute.

    From then on despite City dominating possession (73%) and having more than double the amount of shots (20-9), Sporting had all the momentum on the counter and they rolled with it.

    No more than 30 seconds into the second half they grabbed the lead courtesy of a great through ball picking out Maximiliano Araujo who was in on goal and smashed it home.

    Former Brighton striker Gyökeres piled on the pain by slotting two second half penalties to ensure he took home the match ball.

    At the other end, Erling Haaland had a chance to keep the game alive when City were 3-1 down but he blasted his penalty straight into the bar.

    City’s injury issues still persist in defence and it was the first time they had conceded four goals in a Champions League match since Barcelona put four past them in 2016.

    It was a painful return to Portugal for Lisbon-born Silva, who conceded City are mired in a damaging slump.

    “It’s disappointing because we’re a bit in a dark place right now. Everything looks to be going in the wrong way,” he said.

    “Even when we are playing well we don’t score our chances and we concede too easily.

    “We need to get better very quickly otherwise it will be very difficult to come back from these losses.

    “It’s difficult to find reasons for what is happening to us. It just looks like this team is going the wrong way now.

    “Our injured players need to come back because we need them and it’s just not good enough tonight.”

    Mariners salvage draw in AFC CL | 01:03

    Ruthless Liverpool spoil Alonso’s return to Anfield

    Xabi Alonso endured a miserable return to Anfield as Liverpool thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 on Tuesday, thanks to a Luis Diaz hat-trick, to go top of the Champions League table.

    Cody Gakpo was also on target as the Reds maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe after four games.

    Alonso, a Champions League winner during his playing days in the Liverpool midfield, turned his back on succeeding Jurgen Klopp to remain at Leverkusen after leading them to an unbeaten German league and cup double last season.

    Liverpool, though, are not left wondering what might have been as Arne Slot continued his stunning start as manager with a 14th win in 16 games in all competitions.

    Leverkusen remain on seven points from their opening four Champions League matches after another sobering night for their ambitions to match the heights they hit last season.

    Alonso’s men sit fourth in the Bundesliga, seven points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich, and failed to master what Alonso described pre-match as a “beautiful challenge”.

    Absurd scenes as Fulham pull off heist | 01:02

    The Spaniard cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as his side struggled to get into the slick passing rhythm they have become famed for during his tenure.

    The German champions, though, created the best of what chances there were in a first half short on goalmouth action.

    Jeremie Frimpong saw appeals for a penalty waved away when he went down with a clear sight of goal under a challenge from Kostas Tsimikas.

    Frimpong also had the ball in the net just before the break but handled before racing through to finish.

    Liverpool’s best opening of the half came seconds later when Curtis Jones’ excellent pass finally found some space for Gakpo, but his powerful effort was repelled at his near post by Lukas Hradecky.

    Just like in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brighton that took Slot’s men to the top of the Premier League, it took until the second half for both Liverpool and the Anfield crowd to come to life.

    Mohamed Salah should have done better when he sliced wide after a jinking run through the Leverkusen midfield by Ryan Gravenberch.

    A cagey tactical battle was sparked into life on the hour mark by a moment of stunning quality.

    ”Ange Postecoglou blew my mind” | 01:18

    Jones spun his marker before splitting the Leverkusen defence with a pinpoint pass for Diaz, who nonchalantly chipped the advancing Hradecky.

    Moments later, Liverpool had killed the visitors off with another flowing move. Salah’s driven cross was headed in at the back post by the flying Gakpo. The linesman raised his flag to momentarily silence the celebrations, but a VAR review showed the Dutch forward was onside for his sixth goal of the season.

    Victor Boniface headed wide with a huge chance to bring Leverkusen immediately back into the game.

    Instead, Liverpool pulled further clear seven minutes from time when Diaz controlled Salah’s looping cross and fired home.

    The Colombian then rounded off the scoring with his ninth of the season in stoppage time with another clinical finish after Darwin Nunez’s blocked shot fell into his path.

    Liverpool’s return of 12 points means they are almost certainly already assured of a place in the knockout phase, but are closing in on sealing direct progression to the last 16 via a top-eight finish in the 36-team league.

    New Man U coach sends warning to City | 01:18

    AC Milan topple Champions League holders Real Madrid

    Champions League holders Real Madrid fell to a 3-1 home defeat by AC Milan on Tuesday in the group stage with striker Kylian Mbappe unable to find the net again.

    The 25-year-old France captain has scored once in his last six matches for Madrid across all competitions, including three losses for Los Blancos.

    Malick Thiaw headed the Italian side ahead before Vinicius Junior levelled from the penalty spot for the hosts.

    Alvaro Morata struck against his former side to restore Milan’s lead before the break and Tijjani Reijnders netted the third to secure Milan’s victory.

    Madrid were unable to bounce back strongly from the 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona in late October, their last outing after Saturday’s La Liga match at Valencia was postponed because of devastating floods in the east of Spain.

    ‘Goal of the season’ secures Victory win | 00:57

    Players from both sides wore t-shirts before the match reading “We are all Valencia” while in one stand a giant Valencia regional flag was unfurled for a minute’s silence.

    Carlo Ancelotti, who won the Champions League twice as a player and then twice as a coach with Milan, only made one change from the Clasico humiliation, bringing in Luka Modric for Eduardo Camavinga.

    Madrid may have been keen to set things right in front of their fans at the Santiago Bernabeu but fell behind in the 12th minute.

    Thiaw’s near-post header from a corner flew past the helpless Andriy Lunin to earn the Serie A side the lead.

    Mike Maignan saved from Mbappe at the other end as Madrid hit back, with Vinicius winning a penalty as he fell under a clumsy tackle from Emerson Royal.

    The Brazilian, who finished as runner-up in last week’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris when he had been favourite to win, coolly dispatched it with a cheeky dinked Panenka effort.

    Melbourne City snatch win from Glory | 00:53

    Milan regained the lead in the 39th minute through former Madrid striker Morata, who reacted quickly to fire home after Lunin saved from Rafael Leao.

    Mbappe, yet to find top form in a Madrid shirt since his move from Paris Saint-Germain and particularly frustrated in the Barcelona defeat, broke in again before half-time but Maignan saved his low effort.

    Ancelotti took action at half-time, bringing on Camavinga and Brahim Diaz, and it opened up the second half for an end-to-end affair.

    Lunin made a superb flying save from Leao’s header and the Portuguese forward wasted a couple of opportunities on the break.

    Leao made amends by teeing up Reijnders at the end of a superb solo run to turn home for Milan’s third after 73 minutes.

    Antonio Rudiger smashed home for Madrid after a poor Maignan punch but the goal was disallowed for a tight off-side against the defender.

    Maignan made a fine late save to deny Diaz and it killed any Madrid hopes of a comeback, like in their previous Champions League outing against Borussia Dortmund.

    Madrid have now lost two of their four matches and are in the middle of the table, provisionally 17th, one place above Milan.

    Chelsea spoil Man United homecoming | 00:50

    Other results:

    Slovan Bratislava 1 – 4 Dinamo Zagreb

    PSV 4 – 0 Girona

    Dortmund 1 – 0 SK Sturm Graz

    Celtic 3 – 1 RB Leipzig

    LOSC 1 – 1 Juventus

    Bologna 0 – 1 Monaco

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  • Ange hands transfer wishlist to Spurs amid mounting crisis … but expects ‘nothing magical’

    Ange hands transfer wishlist to Spurs amid mounting crisis … but expects ‘nothing magical’

    Ange Postecoglou admits “nothing magical” will happen in the January transfer window to help injury-hit Tottenham.

    Postecoglou’s depleted side crashed to a 4-2 defeat at Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday.

    Nine players were unavailable to the Tottenham boss and, after Sunday’s clash with Bournemouth, he will lose Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr and Son Heung-min for January due to the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup.

    However, Postecoglou tried to quash assumptions he will herald the new year with a flurry of transfer activity.

    “Nothing magical is going to happen in the January window,” Postecoglou said.

    “What we need to do is just keep building. We’ve had one window with this team to change it around, to do things differently.

    “The fact that we’re in the (fifth) position we are is a credit to the players. For all the challenges we’ve had, we just kept ploughing forward and that’s what we’ll do.

    “We’ll see what we can do in January, but ultimately it’s about building a side that will get us to where we want to.”

    Despite Postecoglou’s claims, The Telegraph reports the Australian has informed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy of the three positions in the team he needs strengthening in.

    Unsurprisingly one of those is at centre back, a position Tottenham have been decimated in through injuries and suspensions at various intervals this season.

    Hammers take down wasteful Gunners | 00:44

    MORE COVERAGE

    PL Wrap: VAR controversy strikes Gunners; Ange’s Spurs fall agonisingly short in late comeback

    ‘Nearly cost me’: VAR leaves Ange fuming as rival star almost gives Spurs boss fresh injury headache

    ‘Beyond an A-League club’: Coach’s stunning ‘global corporation’ spray after historic thrashing

    Additionally, Postecoglou is hoping for some help in central midfield as well as a winger.

    Tottenham have been linked with a move for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, but the report claims the French club will look to hold onto him for the rest of the season.

    Instead, The Telegraph reports Tottenham are eyeing up a move for Romanian centre back Radu Dragusin.

    After spending last season on loan at Genoa, the 21-year-old made the permanent switch at the start of the 2023/24 campaign so he will not come cheap.

    As for a new winger, Postecoglou appears likely to reunite with former Celtic winger Jota.

    Jota moved from the Hoops to Saudi club Al-Ittihad in the summer but his move has not gone to plan and will be desperate for game time.

    Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is another name that could move to Tottenham in January amid the Blues’ need to balance the books to comply with FFP regulations.

    However, The Telegraph claims Chelsea are unlikely to budge from their £50 million ($AUD93 million) valuation of Gallagher, a figure Tottenham are not keen to pay.

    But that could change should defensive midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg depart Tottenham in January, with the Dane linked with a switch to Italian giants Juventus.

    ‘I AM BACK!’: Rocket sinks Ange’s men | 00:43

    Tottenham’s long list of absentees means Postecoglou has used 27 players in all competitions this season.

    As a result, their early title bid has taken a blow, with the north Londoners presently in fifth place, six points behind leaders Liverpool.

    “We’re still at the beginning. Within that context, we want to compete. We’ve got ourselves in a position where we can compete. That’s what we need to keep pushing forward for,” Postecoglou said.

    “For us to sustain and maintain that and be a team, it’s no secret we need a strong squad.” Hugo Lloris’ departure from Tottenham is set to be finalised shortly, with the French goalkeeper close to agreeing a move to Los Angeles FC on a free transfer.

    “Obviously there’s stuff happening but I’ve been focused on the game. I’m sure we’ll hear something in the next couple of days,” Postecoglou said.

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  • ‘Nearly cost me’: VAR leaves Ange fuming as rival star almost gives Spurs boss fresh injury headache

    ‘Nearly cost me’: VAR leaves Ange fuming as rival star almost gives Spurs boss fresh injury headache

    Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou bemoaned VAR’s decision to let Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk off with a yellow card after his horror challenge on Dejan Kulusevski.

    With Brighton up 4-1 and into the final 10 minutes of regular time, Dunk flew into a tackle on Tottenham’s Swedish star.

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    Despite winning the ball, Dunk’s studs went into Kulusevski’s ankle and the challenge left the Tottenham star writhing in pain.

    Thankfully for Postecoglou, Kulusevski was able to return to the field after receiving medical treatment.

    Although Kulusevski was relatively unharmed by Dunk’s bruising challenge — which also forced him out of Brighton’s next match due to suspension — Postecoglou was left fuming at VAR’s inactivity.

    When asked about VAR’s decision to award a penalty in the first half thanks to Kulusevski’s shirt-pull on Danny Welbeck, Postecoglou took aim at the time it took to give a penalty with a tongue-in-cheek response.

    And he most certainly didn’t forget about Dunk’s tackle, either.

    “It (Kulusevski’s foul on Welbeck) was obviously clear and obvious because it only took him (referee Jarred Gillett) three minutes to see it on the screen and VAR picked up everything today except the one tackle which nearly cost me another player,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.

    Brighton put Ange’s winning run to bed | 01:59

    MORE COVERAGE

    PL Wrap: VAR controversy strikes Gunners; Ange’s Spurs fall agonisingly short in late comeback

    ‘Beyond an A-League club’: Coach’s stunning ‘global corporation’ spray after historic thrashing

    ‘Will never be worse’: PL star’s ‘impossibly’ bad meltdown against former club

    “So that’s their decisions.”

    Had Kulusevski come off worse for wear, it would have robbed Postecoglou of yet another star player in an already-thin squad.

    The Australian boss was once again forced to field a defensive backline comprised of four natural fullbacks after star centre back Cristian Romero suffered a hamstring strain.

    Postecoglou expects Romero to miss “probably four or five weeks”, adding to Tottenham’s well-documented injury woes across the squad.

    With Romero out injured, it leaves Postecoglou without yet another first-team figure as Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Ryan Sessegnon, Ivan Perisic and Rodrigo Bentancur all remain sidelined through injury while Yves Bissouma is suspended after his red card against Nottingham Forest.

    Although the likes of Van de Ven and Maddison could return in January, it’s unlikely to stop Postecoglou from seeking out reinforcements in the transfer window to add to his threadbare squad.

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  • ‘Mountain of work’ needed to fix wasteful Spurs; greats in awe over ‘brilliant’ Utd gem: PL Talking Pts

    ‘Mountain of work’ needed to fix wasteful Spurs; greats in awe over ‘brilliant’ Utd gem: PL Talking Pts

    The sheer size of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur rebuild continues to grow bigger in the wake of a third-straight defeat, while Manchester United continue to pick up points and had some young guns to thank.

    Meanwhile, a crucial tweak lifted a team into the top four for the first time in nearly 14 years as the title race looks like it won’t be a one-horse race just yet.

    Foxsports.com.au reviews the weekend that was in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!

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    Villa sink Spurs to 3rd straight loss | 03:00

    MORE COVERAGE

    Slumping Spurs lose third in a row … but Ange ‘couldn’t be happier’

    ‘By far the best’: Ange leads tributes as former Socceroos boss dead at 80

    ‘I can’t believe it’: Man Utd legend in shock as insane ‘goal of the season’ stuns

    IS ANGE HONEYMOON OVER?

    Whisper it quietly, but is Ange Postecoglou’s honeymoon period at Tottenham over?

    A 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa condemned Tottenham to a third-straight defeat and dropped Postecoglou’s team down to fifth.

    It’s a deflating result, especially when Tottenham finished with an xG of 2.09 to Villa’s 1.77.

    But there’s no points awarded for winning hypotheticals andThe Telegraph’s Thom Gibbs believes Postecoglou’s task of rebuilding Tottenham grows with each passing game.

    “After winning the first three Premier League manager of the month awards available to him, the honeymoon is not just over for Ange Postecoglou and his new partner,” Gibbs wrote.

    “Instead they have returned home to mountains of work, argument-inducing admin and a sullen Irish bloke passing judgment on the cleanliness of their house.”

    However, it’s worth remembering the options, or lack of, available to Postecoglou at the moment.

    Tottenham were missing James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Richarlison, Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Micky Van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr through injury while Cristian Romero was absent through suspension.

    As a result, Postecoglou had to name a team without a specialist defensive midfielder or centre back.

    Somehow, he almost managed to pull off the victory against a Villa side that started sluggishly but took over in the second half of a pulsating contest.

    CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

    Postecoglou has hit a sticky patch. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    MAN UTD HIT THEIR STRIDE AS YOUNG GUNS SHINE

    Everton was viewed as a potential banana peel for Manchester United, especially after a hefty 10-point penalty lit a fire underneath the Toffees players and fans.

    But the Red Devils struck in the third minute through a wondergoal to Alejandro Garnacho and made Everton pay for some poor finishing, winning 3-0 as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford both got on the scoresheet.

    United are now up to sixth place and in red-hot form – since the start of October, they’ve picked up five wins from their last six games, the best run of any team in the league.

    This was their biggest road win in over two years, and remarkably, it is the first time this season they have won a match by more than one goal.

    Marcus Rashford’s goal was his first since September and just his second this season in 17 games (all competitions), while Martial picked up his first league goal of the season and just his second in 16 games across all competitions.

    With €95 million winger Antony having failed to score at all this season (9 league games, 12 total) – and missing this game with injury – Rashford and Martial finding form in front of goal could be crucial to United’s hopes moving forward.

    Garnacho scored a goal of the season contender in the opening minutes against Everton. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Bruno Fernandes hinted as much after the game, revealing he gifted Rashford the penalty-taking duties to build his confidence.

    “I felt Marcus needed a little bit of confidence, [he] needed his goal,” Fernandes said.

    But perhaps the biggest boost was the stunning debut of 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, a standout in pre-season before an unfortunate injury ruled him out until today.

    With Casemiro injured until the new year, Mainoo was simply outstanding on his first league start, putting his hand up to replace the Brazilian.

    “Mainoo has been Manchester United’s best player by a street,” Manchester United great Gary Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast. “A brilliant, brilliant Premier League debut from him.”

    He added: “The biggest compliment I can pay him, and it hurts to say this is that he looked like a Manchester City player. I was thinking he was someone Pep Guardiola would look at and think he’d want him in his midfield.”

    Former Man Utd captain Roy Keane told Sky Sports Mainoo was “Unbelievable.

    “We don’t want to get too carried away but I’m sure we will.”

    The Red Devils now travel to Galatasaray for a huge Champions League clash, knowing defeat would see them ousted from Europe’s top club competition.

    But after a dismal run of injuries and a lack of form in front of goal, the tide appears to have turned – and there’s plenty of reason to believe United can make a charge in both the league and continental competition.

    Kobbie Mainoo impressed on his first Premier League start for United. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    THE ‘CORRECTION’ THAT SPARKED DARK HORSE’S ABSURD TURNAROUND

    Aston Villa manager Unai Emery continues to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of European managers.

    And it was a crucial tactical tweak from the meticulous Spaniard at half time that proved just as much.

    Emery named Ezri Konsa, usually a centre back, at right back which subsequently meant Matty Cash would play slightly higher than his usual defensive position on the right.

    However, it didn’t quite work in the first half as Cash picked up a yellow card after a rash challenge on Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur.

    The right side of Villa simply didn’t have the same fluidity they enjoyed down the left with Lucas Digne at the back and John McGinn ahead of him.

    With Cash at risk of being sent off and forward Moussa Diaby not able to get into the game, Emery switched it up at halftime.

    Off came Cash and Diaby, with Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans coming on.

    It proved a masterstroke, as Bailey’s relentless runs coupled with Tielemans’ intricate passing laid the platform for Villa to assert control in the second half.

    In fact, it was a silky no-look pass from Tielemans that slipped Ollie Watkins in between Tottenham’s centre back duo before he slotted home the winner in the 61st minute.

    Tielemans helped change the game for Villa. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    So, what was the exact reasoning behind Emery’s decision to make the game-changing double substitution at half time?

    “We were struggling on the right side and tactically it was my correction,” Emery said in his post-match press conference.

    “I needed to make a decision to correct it. Offensively as well, we weren’t attacking on the right like we were on the left. Cash was a risk on a yellow card, and the solution was Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans, trying to get two players different.

    “One did the passes and the other for the running. They did it.”

    And that they did, as Villa now sit just two points off top spot and have the equal second-most goals scored in the league.

    In fact, Emery’s troops ended the day in the top four at least 13 games into a Premier League season for the first time since December 27 2009.

    Now that a third of the season has passed, the key question surrounding Villa will be if they can sustain their form throughout the congested festive season and come out the other side without any major injuries.

    But so far, Emery and his band of Champions League hopefuls are proving themselves worthy of a spot amongst Europe’s elite next season.

    Emery’s crucial tactical change helped Villa beat Tottenham. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    HOW ‘WORLD CLASS’ REDS STAR COULD SHAKE UP TITLE RACE

    Has Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool proved we might have a title race on our hands?

    Pep Guardiola’s side failed to hold on to their lead as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold popped up in the 80th minute to score the equaliser.

    The draw between the two heavyweights allowed Arsenal to go one point clear at the top after a gritty 1-0 win away to Brentford.

    In fact, there’s just two points separating Arsenal from fourth-placed Aston Villa.

    Each of those four teams have players that can swing the contest in their favour.

    The likes of Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Ollie Watkins all spring to mind, but there’s a different Liverpool player who could have an even bigger say.

    It’s Alexander-Arnold, who continues to impress in his hybrid role as a right back and a central midfielder.

    The England international already had the tall ask of shackling electric City winger Jeremy Doku but his impact in midfield proved pivotal.

    Alexander-Arnold continues to shine in his hybrid role. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Just how far Alexander-Arnold can propel Liverpool in his unique role is anyone’s guess, but when Premier League great Gary Neville likens him to one of the best centre mids in the game, it could be the difference between winning the title.

    “Man City have (Kevin) De Bruyne injured, who is world class in terms of delivery, striking of the ball and passing,” Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast.

    “Trent is the equal of him, and he’s a right back. Not a traditional right back, but that’s where he plays.

    “He keeps going, his performances are out of this world. He’s playing central midfield for 50-60 per cent of the game, he’s going forward and scoring goals and achieving numbers that right midfield or right wingers don’t achieve.”

    Likening Alexander-Arnold to De Bruyne is a big stretch from Neville but at age 25, time is on the Liverpool star’s side to truly rebrand himself as a dominant centre midfielder.

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  • Gunners’ $38m bargain of the year; Reds’ ‘unacceptable’ issue: Premier League Talking Points

    Gunners’ $38m bargain of the year; Reds’ ‘unacceptable’ issue: Premier League Talking Points

    Leandro Trossard inspired Arsenal as the Premier League leaders restored their five-point lead.

    Erling Haaland hasn’t given up hope that Manchester City can catch the Gunners, while Liverpool are back to square one after a dismal defeat at Bournemouth.

    Meanwhile, Chelsea are bouncing back – and likely saving Graham Potter’s job, while there was plenty of refereeing controversy across the weekend.

    Here’s the biggest Premier League Talking Points!

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    Gunners go wild at the Cottage | 00:43

    TROSSARD ALREADY AN ARSENAL BARGAIN

    If Arsenal lift their first Premier League title since 2004, the £21 million ($38m AUD) invested in signing Leandro Trossard will prove one of the bargains of the season.

    Trossard already looks a shrewd acquisition by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta after his three assists inspired Sunday’s 3-0 win at Fulham.

    Arsenal only swooped for the Belgium forward after their bid for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhailo Mudryk was usurped by a bigger last-minute offer from Chelsea.

    But, while Mudryk is still adapting to the Premier League, Trossard has hit the ground running at Arsenal after four years’ experience of English football with Brighton.

    The 28-year-old’s latest display of creativity and intelligence paved the way for the Gunners to record a fifth successive league victory and move them a step closer to the title.

    With 11 games left, Arsenal have a five-point lead over second placed Manchester City and Trossard was happy to play his part.

    “A perfect win for us. I’m really happy with it. I always try to contribute. Today it went my way,” he said.

    “Same as last week. Eleven finals for us. We’ll take it game by game. Today we did a great game.”

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    Ange’s brilliant reaction after Mooy scores again in 13th-straight Celtic win

    Arteta was full of praise for the star man, saying: “He got three assists and could have scored two. I think he was really impressive.

    “Not only that, he had an injury three days ago which could have taken a week, or another 10 days, but he was really willing to come back early and the doctors and medical staff did a lot of good work.

    “It makes a big difference in the team. We needed him today and his contribution was superb.”

    Gabriel Jesus also made a welcome return from injury off the bench, and will play a crucial role in their title bid. But Trossard has helped to lift Arsenal in Jesus’s absence – showing that they won’t be overly reliant on the Brazilian moving forward.

    Premier League wrap: Reds stumble | 03:38

    ‘NOTHING IS DECIDED’: DEFIANT HAALAND EXPECTS CITY CHARGE

    Erling Haaland has warned Arsenal that Manchester City still believe they can win a fifth Premier League title in the last six seasons.

    Haaland scored the second half penalty that sealed a gritty 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, briefly moving the champions within two points of Arsenal.

    Although Arsenal reopened their five-point advantage less than 24 hours later, the City striker is convinced there will be more twists before the title race is decided.

    Pep Guardiola’s side face a crucial clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on April 26.

    And Haaland is determined to ensure his debut season in English football, which has so far produced 34 goals for the Norwegian in all competitions, ends on a high note.

    “With this gap, we just have to focus on ourselves,” he said. “We have them (Arsenal) at home and a lot of games left to play still.

    “Nothing is decided yet. This is England. This is what I’ve been watching my entire life.

    “I enjoy every single second of it. It’s good to be in the middle of it.”

    Bournemouth deliver huge upset over Reds | 01:37

    LIVERPOOL’S ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ PROBLEM

    Trent Alexander-Arnold admitted Liverpool did not play with enough desire during their miserable 1-0 defeat at lowly Bournemouth on Saturday.

    Philip Billing’s first-half goal punished sloppy Liverpool defending as the Reds crashed back down to earth after last weekend’s historic 7-0 rout of arch rivals Manchester United.

    Mohamed Salah missed a second-half penalty to compound Liverpool’s frustration against a team who started the day at the bottom of the table.

    Jurgen Klopp’s men have dropped to sixth place, six points behind fourth placed Tottenham, and right back Alexander-Arnold was concerned with the lethargic way Liverpool approached a key contest.

    “This is the time of the season when everyone knows what they are fighting for and obviously Bournemouth are in a relegation battle,” he said.

    “They are fighting for survival. But every team in the league is fighting for something.

    “I think looking back on it now, they probably wanted it more than us and that is something that is unacceptable and we need to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”

    Sam Kerr dinks the keeper with cute chip | 00:33

    RELIEF FOR CHELSEA … BUT ‘NOT GETTING CARRIED AWAY’

    The pressure is finally easing on Chelsea manager Graham Potter after the club claimed three-straight wins in the space of a week, shaking off a dismal run of just one win in 11 prior matches.

    The Blues beat Leicester 3-1 and had another two goals ruled out for off-side, with their finishing the crucial difference over the misfiring Foxes.

    Potter said after the team’s Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund midweek: “Has the weight been lifted off my shoulders? Yes, in some ways.”

    But, he said, “I’m not getting carried away.”

    Chelsea’s top four dream still seems improbable – they are 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, albeit with a game in hand.

    But there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Premier League record signing Enzo Fernandez continues to develop into the midfield superstar that Chelsea believed he could be, bagging a brilliant assist for Kai Havertz to score a goal of the season contender.

    Mykhailo Mudryk added his first assist against the Foxes, with the Ukrainian winger finally finding his feet after a slow start at the club – and even showing positive signs when shifted to a central striking role.

    Potter said: “He’s a young player that hasn’t that much experience, so each game he’ll get better and better. Mykhailo’s attitude is fantastic, I love his approach.”

    Mudryk celebrates a goal that was subsequently ruled out for off-side – but his improvement is a very positive sign.Source: Getty Images

    In another positive sign, Chelsea showed adaptability during the game, with Potter expertly reshaping the team mid-match. He started with three at the back, then shifted to 5-3-2 at halftime before moving to a back four in the final 20 minutes. The bold decision to bring off Joao Felix at halftime was crucial, with Conor Gallagher helping to stifle James Maddison’s influence in the middle of the park.

    There’ll be no getting carried away at Stamford Bridge, but with struggling Everton this weekend, the opportunity for further improvement is clear.

    Ten Hag hammers refs over Casemiro red | 01:54

    REFEREE DRAMA STRIKES AGAIN AND AGAIN

    It was a weekend full of refereeing controversy.

    Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was furious after Casemiro’s yellow card for a wayward tackle on Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz was upgraded to a red card after a review on the pitch-side VAR monitor.

    “Casemiro played over 500 games in Europe and never once got a red card. Now he has two in the Premier League,” United manager Erik ten Hag said. “His absence is not the issue. We will deal with that. This game was influenced by the referee.”

    Ten Hag was also upset at missed penalty calls in United’s draw with the bottom-placed Saints.

    “Well, what I think is the inconsistency (means) players don’t know any more what is the policy,” Ten Hag said.

    “I think it’s all across. I mean, you see yesterday, Leicester-Chelsea, then VAR is not coming on the line.

    “Today it’s coming on the line and then it’s two penalty situations, but they don’t come on the line.

    “I think especially the first one was for me clear and obvious handball, so what is the policy?”

    Slater: Erik ten Hag ‘has a valid point’ | 06:00

    Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui was furious after being denied a ‘very clear penalty’ in their 2-1 loss to Newcastle. When the game was still goalless, Newcastle keeper Nick Pope bodychecked Raul Jimenez – but was not given a penalty and red card by referee Andrew Madley, who was a significant distance away. He was not even instructed to review the video footage.

    “For me it is a very clear penalty for us,” Lopetegui told Sky Sports.

    “We are very unlucky with the referees. We were very unlucky in [the FA Cup match at] Liverpool and today too. It is a pity for us.”

    Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp said: “Pope is incredibly lucky …

    “It’s no doubt it’s a foul. And because he’s not trying to play the ball it would be a penalty, a red card and a ban for him. That’s how important this decision was … What a big mistake.”

    Aston Villa coach Unai Emery was also frustrated after his side drew 1-1 with West Ham, with the Hammers rescuing a draw thanks to Said Benrahma’s penalty. West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta went down under minimal contact from Villa’s Leon Bailey.

    Emery said: “I watched it and I respect the referees 100 per cent. But my opinion today is that it is a very soft penalty.”

    There is always refereeing drama, but this week was simply next level.

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