The top six already seems settled and they are standing up for themselves instead of standing aside as happened last seasonThe FA Cup traditionally inserts a much-needed break into the giddy rush of league fixtures at this time of year, though on this occasion the Premier League appears to have arrived at a sort of mid-season crux all by itself.The teams have now played 20 games, just over halfway. Three near or at the bottom have just changed managers. Chelsea’s impressive run of victories has come to an end at a record-equalling 13, giving hope to a chasing pack who were beginning to despair, though the realisation is now setting in that there are six title contenders this season and...
Liverpool, Manchester United, Sunderland, Leicester and others may be hit by loss of players to tournament as clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City capitaliseNow is the time for top clubs to prove that to be forewarned really is to be forearmed. Everyone knew that the Africa Cup of Nations was on the agenda for early 2017 and now, with 23 Premier League players among those heading off to Gabon to compete for their countries in what their employers view as the world’s worst-timed international tournament, rich clubs must show they are resourceful enough to cope. Otherwise they will pay a heavy price. Related: Liverpool’s matchwinner Sadio Mané will head to Gabon with a heavy heart Related: Wilfried Zaha accepts Ivory...
Manchester City’s manager and Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp have not enjoyed the festive mayhem unique to the English game, but that is one of the many hurdles to overcome in the Premier LeagueThe FA Cup arrives like the cavalry at the weekend to interrupt an engrossing title race and temporarily shelve Pep Guardiola’s rhetorical question about whether or not Manchester City are in it. Related: Pep Guardiola denies Manchester City discipline problem after latest red card Related: Manchester City’s Bacary Sagna asked by FA to explain ‘10 against 12’ post If you think this PL holiday fixture list is mad, here's next year: December 16/20/23/26/30 January 1. World Cup follows. Utterly Bonkers. Related: Pep Guardiola feels pressure as tempers fray and...
Pep Guardiola was angry behind the scenes at Liverpool and the defeat showed he has yet to recreate the understanding at Manchester City that he enjoyed at BarcelonaPep Guardiola wished the assembled media a happy new year at the start of his post-match press conference and extended the seasonal goodwill message to their families when he left the Anfield stage. It was a nice touch by the Manchester City manager but the niceties were part of a performance better than that produced by his team at Liverpool and exposed by an angry, exasperated exchange with Txiki Begiristain shortly afterwards. There was no goodwill to be found in defeat by Jürgen Klopp and falling 10 points adrift of Chelsea, the leaders.Press...
From Wilfried Zaha to Jeff Hendrick, Jordan Henderson and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Arsenal’s opener against Crystal Palace has joined some exalted companyArsenal striker Olivier Giroud staked his claim for the goal-of-the-season award with a glorious scorpion-kick finish against Crystal Palace. The Frenchman became the talk of the town when he reached behind him with his left boot to flick Alexis Sánchez’s cross in off the crossbar to give the Gunners a 17th-minute lead. Here are some of his rivals for best league goal this season. Related: Jordan Henderson’s sumptuous strike helps Liverpool to win at Chelsea Continue reading...