Hull City stunned Premier League champions Leicester City with a 2-1 victory at the KCOM Stadium in the opening match of the season. Leicester became masters of upsetting the odds en route to the title last term but became the first defending champions to lose their opening game as this time it was Hull who sprang the surprise. Adama Diomande’s overhead kick and Robert Snodgrass’ clinical finish sealed a 2-1 win either side of Riyad Mahrez’s penalty. Hull’s preparations for their top-flight return have been nightmarish, with Steve Bruce … [Read more...]
Jurgen Klopp accuses Wenger of using ‘long balls’
Jurgen Klopp has taken jibes at Arsene Wenger, claiming his Arsenal have become a long ball team when it suits them. Liverpool and Arsenal meet in their Premier League opener this weekend, with Klopp and Wenger coming up against each other for the seventh time. Wenger has the better record against the German, winning three and losing just one, but the last time they met it ended in a 3-3 draw. Klopp believes Arsenal changed their usual style of play and utilised the long ball against Liverpool, and the former Borussia Dortmund boss is … [Read more...]
Hazard hopes Chelsea can rediscover form of two years ago
Eden Hazard hopes Chelsea's players can rediscover the form that won them the Premier League title two years ago. Hazard was named Player of the Year as the Blues won the championship in 2014-15, but they suffered in defending their crown and could only finish 10th last season. The Belgium international knows he must find the performances that won him so many plaudits, and is targetting a strong start at home to West Ham United on Monday. "Everybody needs to be the same player as two years ago," Hazard told Sky Sports. "We tried to find … [Read more...]
Zlatan hints at extended Manchester United stay
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has admitted he could extend his stay at Manchester United by up to three more years as the 34-year-old prepares to make his Premier League debut against Bournemouth this weekend. The Red Devils signed Ibrahimovic on a one-year deal in July after the striker left French side Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season following four successful years in France. Ibrahimovic has already impressed at his new club, scoring the winner in United's Community Shield match against Leicester City last week. And the striker … [Read more...]
Mourinho hails Woodward and club for transfers
Jose Mourinho has hailed the efforts of Ed Woodward and Manchester United’s moneymen for bringing the club’s four major targets to the club this summer. Mourinho’s arrival has coincided with a transformative transfer window for the Red Devils, with world record signing Paul Pogba – who is suspended for the trip to Bournemouth – joining Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The decisive manner in which the club have secured their primary targets contrasts with the laborious and underwhelming recruitment that characterised … [Read more...]
Wenger expresses transfer fears; expects £200m deal ‘soon’
Arsene Wenger fears football transfers will never have a limit and believes the days of £200million transfers are not far away. Arsenal's Premier League rivals Manchester United broke the world transfer record earlier in the week when they paid £89million to Juventus to take Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford. That deal continues a trend which has seen the record extended by nearly £75million in 20 years, with the likes of Alan Shearer , Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale previously holding the tag of the world's most expensive … [Read more...]
Mertesacker named new Arsenal captain despite being sidelined with injury
Arsene Wenger believes it is "absolutely natural" for Arsenal to appoint injury victim Per Mertesacker as their captain for the new season. Arsenal have named Per Mertesacker as their new club captain despite the former Germany centre-back being in the midst of a lengthy knee injury lay-off. Mertesacker, who sustained his injury during a pre-season friendly against Lens, takes on the role following Mikel Arteta's departure to take up a coaching role at Manchester City after the end of last season. Manager Arsene Wenger believes his … [Read more...]
Moyes confirms loan deal for Man Utd winger Januzaj
New Sunderland manager David Moyes has confirmed that Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj has joined on loan for the rest of the season. Moyes gave Januzaj his chance in the United first-team during his brief reign at Old Trafford, with the Belgian scoring twice on his first-ever start, at Sunderland, in October 2013. JANUZAJ CONFIRMED: #SAFC manager David Moyes announces that Adnan Januzaj has arrived on a season-long loan from @ManUtd. - Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 12, 2016 Januzaj, 21, becomes Moyes' third signing as … [Read more...]
Sturridge and Milner injury doubts for Liverpool opener against Arsenal
Liverpool could be without both Daniel Sturridge and James Milner when they kick off their new Premier League campaign at Arsenal on Sunday. Striker Sturridge missed the Reds' final two pre-season fixtures last weekend with a hip injury which flared up again at training on Thursday while former England colleague Milner, who recently retired from international football , sustained a bruised heel during Saturday's 4-0 win over Barcelona. On Sturridge, boss Jurgen Klopp told liverpoolfc.com: "On Wednesday he could train; on Thursday, he felt … [Read more...]
Mourinho: Rivals are afraid to say they want to win title
Jose Mourinho has accused rival Premier League managers of being too “afraid” to publicly target the title. Mourinho was happy to describe the Red Devils as challengers for the crown in his first season at Old Trafford but believes others who share his aim are being coy about their ambitions. The Portuguese, who takes charge for the first time at Bournemouth on Sunday, did not name his targets but it can safely be assumed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Claudio Ranieri, who has already compared the chances of a Leicester title defence … [Read more...]
Zlatan: I’m not a bad boy, I’m a family man
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has insisted he is not arrogant and instead projected himself as a “family man” ahead of his Premier League bow for Manchester United this weekend. The 34-year-old Swede, who joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last month, scored the winning goal as United defeated champions Leicester City in the Community Shield last weekend and is likely to start for the trip to Bournemouth. Ibrahimovic has won major honours at Ajax, Juventus, Internazionale, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris before linking-up with Jose … [Read more...]