Newcastle United were beaten 1-0 by runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City at St James’ Park on Wednesday night, and Magpies fans weren’t impressed with Jonjo Shelvey’s performance.
Rafa Benitez’s side were looking for their second successive top flight win after beating West Ham 3-2 at the London Stadium on Saturday, and the Spaniard decided to recall Shelvey to the starting line-up after he missed the last two matches through suspension.
However, the midfielder struggled to make an impression against Pep Guardiola’s men, and even shot straight from kick-off with an effort that was easily gathered by Ederson in the opposition goal as the Tyneside outfit remained one point above the relegation zone.
Newcastle supporters were quick to have their say on his display via social media, and while one said said the 25-year-old “never wanted the ball and was way off the pace”, another said “we look worse with Shelvey in the team”.
According to reports in The Telegraph, West Ham United are lining up a January move for Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson, and Irons fans are divided on the potential addition of the centre-back.
The Telegraph says that Hammers boss David Moyes is weighing up making an offer for the 23-year-old next month as he looks to bolster his side’s backline, but he may have to pay £25m to convince the Welsh club to sell.
Mawson has been an ever-present at the heart of the Swans’ defence this term and has been busy, with the managerless outfit currently lying bottom of the Premier League table following a disappointing campaign to date.
West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on the rumour via social media, and they were divided with their opinions.
While one was excited and said “what a signing this would be”, another was less than enthused and said “I hope not, don’t rate him”.
After a loan spell at fellow Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone, Rangers star Michael O’Halloran has returned to the club and is ready to fight for his first team place.
The attacking midfielder is in Florida with the Rangers squad for their winter training camp and has opened up on his desire to be involved in Graeme Murty’s plans.
As quoted by the official Rangers website, O’Halloran said:
Hopefully this time I can come and work hard and show the manager what I can do and get into the team and play as regularly as I can. For me it’s important that I come and show what I’ve done at St Johnstone and do that for Rangers as well as that’s the club I play for and I’m really glad to be back.
He got a chance to impress in the second half against Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro on Thursday evening, impressing some supporters eager to see his return to the first team.
A repeat of his 5 goals in 16 appearances for Saints this season in the second half of Rangers’ campaign would no doubt go a long way to proving his worth to supporters and it’ll be interesting to see the level of his involvement when the the Light Blues return to competitive action next weekend.
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Fans took to Twitter this week to discuss his return to the club…
Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Alan Brazil believes that Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will be tempted to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Pochettino is believed to be the Spanish club’s number one target to replace Zinedine Zidane, who is currently under pressure at the Bernabeu.
Zidane has won the Champions League title in each of his two seasons with the club, but Los Blancos are currently 19 points off Barcelona in La Liga following a poor run of form.
It is understood that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is considering Zidane’s future, and Pochettino is the club’s number one target to take the reigns.
Brazil, who represented Tottenham between 1983 and 1984, believes that Pochettino will ultimately decide to make the move to the Bernabeu.
Brazil said on talkSPORT:
“I think he goes, me.”
Pochettino started his managerial career in Spain with Espanyol – spending three years in charge of the Catalan outfit before leaving for Southampton.
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The 45-year-old has been in charge of Tottenham since the summer of 2014.
Philippe Coutinho’s departure in January hit some Liverpool fans hard, but it was not completely unexpected.
The Brazilian playmaker was heavily linked with the Catalan giants in the summer, but the Reds held firm and did not sell.
Once the January transfer window opened, rumours reignited about Coutinho’s possible switch to the Camp Nou.
It was not long before the 25-year-old was bidding farewell to the Merseyside outfit, where he had transformed into arguably the team’s best player.
Coutinho has now revealed some detail about the manner in which the deal was struck.
Interestingly, the former Inter Milan star suggested during an interview with Fora de Joc on Catalan channel 8tv that an agreement had been put in place for the player to join Barcelona in the winter following their interest prior to the start of the season.
“Everyone knows that I wanted to come to Barcelona. It wasn’t possible in the summer, but we worked so that it could be done in winter. I really want to win big titles, it was one of the reasons that made me sign for the club. I want to win as many as I can, I don’t have preferences.”
Liverpool fans have since taken to Twitter to discuss their former player’s admission, and not everyone is best pleased.
Javier Hernandez has revealed that he is now enjoying his football at West Ham United after a difficult period with the Hammers.
Hernandez has not been afraid to hide the fact that he asked to leave the London Stadium during the January transfer window.
Indeed, the Mexico international found himself out of the team in the latter stages of 2017 due to the form of Marko Arnautovic at centre-forward.
The 29-year-old has scored three times in his last four Premier League appearances, however, during a strong spell.
Hernandez has claimed that he can feel himself returning to his best form as the Hammers prepare for this weekend’s trip to Liverpool in the Premier League.
Hernandez told West Ham’s official website:
“I’m happy, not only because I’m playing my game, but because I can feel my sharpness coming back.
“You can see the same has happened with Marko [Arnautovic]. Now, I’m going to try and keep that smile on my face.”
Hernandez, who is believed to collect £140,000-a-week in wages at the London Stadium, has seven Premier League goals in total for the Hammers this season.
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David Moyes’ side will enter Saturday’s clash with Liverpool in 12th position in the Premier League – just four points clear of the relegation zone.
FC Porto are a decent side – they’re top of the Portuguese league this season with a game in hand and coordinated their way through a tricky Champions League group that also included Red Bull Leipzig and Monaco – but Liverpool made exceptionally light work of them last night, recording a 5-0 win at Estadio do Dragao.
It was a blistering attacking performance that saw all members of Liverpool’s front three find the net – in most instances, in incredibly pomp fashion – and essentially puts the Reds into the quarter-finals of the Champions League excepting an incredible turnaround in the second leg at Anfield next month.
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But Jurgen Klopp might find himself most pleased this morning with how Liverpool performed at the opposite end of the pitch. The Reds’ defensive frailties have been discussed continuously during the German’s time at the club but Liverpool now boast three consecutive clean sheets away from home in all competitions – which is half of all the clean sheets they’ve managed on the road during the entire campaign.
And central to that last night was January signing Virgil van Dijk, who performed both aspects of his dual role for Liverpool exceptionally well. Klopp hasn’t invested in the Dutchman simply to improve Liverpool’s defensive solidity, but also to help retain possession and build attacks from the back with his quality on the ball.
Although Porto did make chances early on, the Netherlands international’s dominance eventually shone through, making three tackles, three interceptions, five clearances and blocking one shot at goal while winning two aerial duels.
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In addition to that though, van Dijk made the most passes and had the most touches of the ball of any player on the pitch.
Van Dijk hasn’t wholly convinced since arriving at Anfield, especially in light of his gigantic price-tag with Transfermarkt valuing him at £45million – around £30million less than what Liverpool actually paid Southampton. But the 26-year-old was at his best last night and Liverpool’s flurry of goals at the other end only highlighted the importance of the platform he provides from the heart of defence.
Everton fans are baffled by reports linking the club with a move for Arsene Wenger.
According to the Daily Star, Everton are hoping to convince Arsene Wenger to take over from Sam Allardyce at the end of the season.
The pressure on Wenger has increased ten fold in recent weeks, as Brighton heaped more misery on the Frenchman at the Amex stadium on Sunday.
Wenger’s men lost 2-1, their third loss in a week, and are now 13 points adrift of the Champions League places.
Everton aren’t exactly in top form either, the Toffees made it five away defeats on the bounce at Turf Moor on Saturday, crumbling in the second half after showing some good signs to start the match.
Much like Wenger, the pressure on Allardyce is at an all time high, as fans have been left angered by both his tactics and demeanour.
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It would seem that Farhad Moshiri is already planning for life without Allardyce. The Iranian-born businessman was supposed to usher in a new era at Goodison Park, but his big money signings have far from convinced.
While some Everton fans have been welcoming the links to Wenger, most have been left bemused by the news. Some of the best twitter reactions can be found below…
Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered their heaviest defeat of the season so far on Saturday, thrashed 4-1 away to Aston Villa in the English Championship.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side knew victory would give an almost unassailable lead over the Villans and almost ensure automatic promotion to the Premier League, but Steve Bruce’s outfit have now moved to within seven points.
The first half was competitive, with both sides heading into the interval level, but a second half collapse ensured victory for the home side, leaving away supporters bitterly disappointed.
Much of their criticism was aimed at defender Danny Batth, whose sliced clearance led to Villa’s first goal of the afternoon. The defender looked off the pace throughout before eventually being hauled off in the 68th minute.
Fans are now calling for him to be dropped in the run-in, believing he is not good enough to be trusted.
Everton fans have been reacting to the news that Idrissa Gueye has torn a muscle, and they want 19 year-old Beni Baningime to replace him.
If there was one player Everton fans wouldn’t want to lose against the attacking flair of Manchester City and Liverpool, it’s Idrissa Gueye.
Gueye played the full 90 minutes against Stoke City last weekend, but Senegal boss Aliou Cisse claims the midfielder arrived on international duty with a muscle tear.
“My squad is almost complete, but Gana had a muscle tear when he came over,” he reportedly said. “I had wanted him to be in my team, but I think he will be out for three weeks.”
If Gueye is indeed out for three weeks, he will definitely miss the clash with Manchester City and could miss the derby against Liverpool the following weekend as well.
Morgan Schneiderlin is one of several Everton players to take a lot of flak from fans this season, and fans are now desperate for the Frenchman to be left on the sidelines to make room for 19 year-old Beni Baningime.
Baningime has impressed through the youth ranks at Everton and has had a few good performances for the first team as well. In three Europa League starts this season, the youngster averaged an incredible five tackles and two interceptions per game.
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Everton fans are desperate for the young defensive midfielder to get his chance in light of Gueye’s injury, and have been sharing their thoughts on Twitter.