Back-to-basics approach by new manager may have found traces of West Ham’s missing spark in the 1-1 draw with Leicester CityWell, there’s something new. With 55 minutes gone and West Ham’s players showing vim and fight on the pitch the home crowd at the London stadium could be seen up on its feet, waving its arms and sending a sustained chorus of “David Moyes’ claret and blue army” rolling around this vast, chilly, cantilevered bowl.As moments of ignition go, a messy 1-1 home draw against a meandering Leicester City is hardly a thunderclap. But whatever happens from here in the temp-to-perm mini-reign of Moyes as West Ham manager, he will always have Leicester, Friday night and the feeling of a...
Hugo Lloris’s top-four focus for Spurs is telling, Callum Wilson is making up for lost time and can Paul Pogba yet be compared with Steven Gerrard?After challenging for the title for the past couple of seasons, it was significant to hear Hugo Lloris contemplate looking over Tottenham Hotspur’s shoulder more than in front of them at the end of a derby defeat. “Oh, before we think about [the leaders] Man City it’s important to stay in the top four. This is the main target for our team,” he said. “We heard from outside that Tottenham play for the title, blah, blah, blah. The most important thing is to stay consistent in the league.” The difficulty imposing themselves on the most...
The table doesn’t lie but teams such as Burnley and Brighton are exceeding all expectations while Swansea and Everton have disappointed badly. Here’s how the 20 sides rank based on early-season health and vigourThey say the league table never lies, and this is of course true. What they don’t tell you is that during the dog days of an international break, when nothing falls or rises and hopes and fears are put on temporary hold, the narrative becomes a bit less compelling.You get sick of looking at the same thing, in other words, although Burnley, Brighton, Watford and Huddersfield will probably never tire of waiting for winter and the real meat of the season from a position in the top...
From a bargain triumph at Brighton to a costly success at Manchester City, and from a struggling £25m Leicester striker to an unseen defender at Southampton, we assess how last summer’s transfer business looks so farPascal Gross (Ingolstadt to Brighton, £2.6m) Related: The 10 most improved players in Europe's big leagues this season Related: Transfer window 2017 – every deal in Europe's top five leagues Continue reading...
Eden Hazard may tire of being kicked, Tony Pulis is under pressure at West Brom and Pep Guardiola may seek more firepower in JanuaryEden Hazard was fouled six times at Stamford Bridge. At one point in the second half the Belgium international was fouled by not one but three opponents in the colours of Manchester United, dragged to the ground by a combination of Nemanja Matic, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones like a man being crushed by falling trees. It is a regular experience for Chelsea’s No10, who can duck in and out from season to season, but who is at least consistent in his role as a human piñata for opposition teams. Hazard is kicked constantly in the Premier...