The 18-year-old midfielder made his first start of the season only a fortnight ago but played with a maturity beyond his years as his side crushed Manchester CityPep Guardiola knew this fixture was going to be hard but felt his side would show the benefit of a full week off in which to prepare. Manchester City had enjoyed that five-goal romp at West Ham United in the FA Cup on Friday 6 January, whereas Everton had played on the Saturday and been dumped out of the only competition remaining open to them by Leicester City. Related: Ademola Lookman adds flourish for Everton in defeat of Manchester City Related: Pep Guardiola rules Manchester City out of title race after Everton thrashing Continue...
Unlike José Mourinho at Manchester United, the manager at Goodison Park will not define his new arrival by his limitations – and that may reap rewardsRoy Keane was not spouting hooey. Not completely. His denunciation of Everton in November, when he blithely chucked scorn at the club’s complaints about the strain being placed on their Republic of Ireland internationals, was more than a touch garbled and wholly undiplomatic but it happened to allude to a home truth about Everton. “Maybe their players need to toughen up a bit,” he said. Related: Everton v Manchester City: match preview Continue reading...
City Football Group insists NYC FC and Manchester City are separate clubs with separate identities, but doubt persist over the true nature of their partnershipCity Football Group and Major League Soccer were careful not to draw too many lines of association upon announcing the league’s 20th franchise back in May 2013. New York City FC, they said, would be “a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights.” Their inception would create “an intense crosstown rivalry between NYC FC and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.” Manchester City, the European superpower anchoring the purchase, were barely mentioned. Related: Frank Lampard's legacy with New York City FC remains difficult to assess Related: Manchester City...
Manchester United may go for jugular against Liverpool, Morgan Schneiderlin must settle quickly at Everton and Ahmed Musa has chance to shine for LeicesterManchester United were on the receiving end of heavy criticism when they shut up shop and successfully played for a 0-0 draw when they visited Liverpool in October. It was a classic exercise in parking the bus from an unapologetic José Mourinho, who reasoned that a cautious approach was necessary against a team who regularly overwhelm their opponents with blistering attacking play. But while it was possible to grudgingly respect Mourinho’s plan, there is no need for the United manager to play it safe at Old Trafford on Sunday. Although United are unlikely to veer too far...
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...