Chelsea and Tottenham are set to go head-to-head for the signing of Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, according to The Daily Mail.
The Poland international has impressed for both club and country over the last 12 months, and scored the first goal of Euro 2012 this summer.
Despite reports that Manchester United and Arsenal were keeping tabs on the eastern European marksman, the Blues and Spurs are now also thought to be interested.
The Stamford Bridge club are looking for a replacement for Didier Drogba, who left the outfit on a free transfer this summer, and have made no progress in their attempts to sign Hulk or Radamel Falcao.
Spurs meanwhile have handed new boss Andre Villas-Boas funds to spend this summer, and need a new striker after Emmanuel Adebayor’s loan spell ended and Louis Saha was released.
It is believed that the Portuguese trainer has already recommended Lewandowski to the White Hart Lane board, and the London pair will now fight it out for the Bundesliga star’s signature.
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With no European football to act as a distraction during the 2011/2012 season, Liverpool, a team rejuvenated following the return of Kenny Dalglish as manager in January, are being widely tipped to be a major force once again in the Premier League this season.
Some people, including Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, have hinted that the Reds under Dalglish could well challenge for the title or at very least get themselves back in the top four picture and a Champions League place after missing out for the past two years. The bookmakers football odds have made Liverpool 10/1 to win the title and evens to finish in the top four.
In the very short time that Dalglish has been back in charge at Anfield, the side has gone from strength to strength. Before the end of the season, most players were full of confidence and playing at the top of their games and it could not be too much better for Dalglish currently and the Scotsman, who left Anfield first time around in 1991 after winning three league titles will be hoping things will continue at the rate in which they’ve started, especially with the addition of some key summer signings to the squad which include Stewart Downing from Aston Villa, Jordan Henderson from Sunderland and Charlie Adam from Blackpool.
However, any Liverpool success could well hinge on a fully fit Steven Gerrard who remains troubled by a long standing groin injury and is expected to miss the first few matches of the season. That said, Liverpool’s revival under Dalglish last season which took then from 12th place in the league into 6th was achieved without Gerrard and relied heavily on the performances of the ultra gifted Luis Suarez, who showed his quality in Copa America over the Summer where his four goals helped Uruguay win the tournament. He was ably assisted in the Liverpool side by Raul Meireles and the much improved Maxi Rodriguez, who both made big contributions to the resurgent Reds in the final months of last season. Add to the equation a fit again Gerrard, a fully fit Andy Carroll together with the work rate of Dirk Kuyt and it seems very difficult to believe that Liverpool will not be there or thereabouts by the season’s end particularly with the league the sole focus on Merseyside.
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Liverpool have no European commitments this season, a factor that should leave the players a lot fresher than their main rivals who will all have heavy Champions League campaigns ahead of them starting in September. Indeed those teams, Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal will all have the Europe as a prime target this season, potentially playing 12 more games than Liverpool should any of England’s four representatives make the semi finals of the competition.
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In contrast, Liverpool will focus totally on the league and come January, should they be in with a chance of winning the title then it would be no surprise to see their owners, New England Sports Ventures, back them once more as they have done so already in the two transfer windows they’ve been in charge at Anfield and whilst it shouldn’t have a baring on results, who can ignore the romance of Dalglish winning a title some 21 years after leaving Anfield?
Liverpool fans should rightly be expecting a big season from their team in 2011-12 and whilst the pre-season talk has surrounding the ‘usual suspects’, Liverpool should not be ruled out of gate crashing the title party come next May and given their price in the Premier League title odds, it won’t be just Liverpool fans back the Reds to end a 22 year wait for the title.
The defensive resilience shown by Manchester United in last Sunday’s goalless draw against Spurs should have given answers to a few of those questioning souls wondering how the league leaders have managed to avoid defeat in the Premier League so far this season. Lapses in concentration at the back might have cost United a lot of points earlier on in the campaign but these now appear to have been eradicated.
Having a settled back four certainly helps. Rio Ferdinand has enjoyed a consistent run in the team alongside Nemanja Vidic, putting in several classy performances. Vidic – for whom United fans have an affectionate chant casting certain ironic aspersions of murderous intent against the imposing Serb – certainly killed off enough Spurs attacks on Sunday. If the two tall central defenders are the muscle in the middle of United’s defence, then, Patrice Evra and Rafael da Silva are the two attack dogs flanking them at full back.
Unfortunately, Rafael took that analogy a bit far at White Hart Lane. First he snapped at the ankles of Wilson Palacios to earn a yellow card after 28 minutes and then he foamed at the mouth when, with the game approaching the final quarter of an hour, the referee Mike Dean adjudged the young Brazilian to have clipped the legs of Benoît Assou-Ekotto and gave him a second booking. Rafael was furious at being sent off as a result of what he perceived as an accidental trip caused by two players crossing paths, but the fury with which he contested the decision to the match official’s face was deeply unedifying.
Another disappointing show of character from Rafael had occurred earlier on, when in the first half he appealed for Palacios to be booked after the Spurs midfielder had exacted revenge on the United player for his earlier tackle. Palacios duly received his caution from Dean but Rio Ferdinand was seen to remind his teammate that the waving of an imaginary yellow card so as to influence the referee’s decision is, in football’s admittedly complex and contradictory moral code, just not the done thing.
Rafael’s dismissal did not stop United from leaving north London with the point they needed to move back to the top of the table, but the misplaced aggression and impetuousness that he showed against Spurs were unfortunate when considered alongside the words of Sir Alex Ferguson before the game.
In praise of his emerging right back, the manager had said: “His form has been absolutely brilliant. He has learned.” On the evidence of Sunday, Rafael might be in need of a few more classes.
To his credit, the 20-year-old had only been booked once this season before the weekend, but his early exit against Spurs brought back memories of his other red card in a United shirt against Bayern Munich in the two sides’ Champions League quarter-final. Ferguson admitted that Rafael was “quite an impulsive young boy” last season, citing a moment of overexcitement against Milan that cost his side a goal in the away leg and the needless shirt pull that earned the defender a second yellow card against Bayern when United had been on course to win the tie.
As a result of being sent off last Sunday Rafael will miss United’s game against Birmingham on Saturday through suspension. He has also accepted an FA misconduct charge for the manner in which he argued with the referee after being shown his second yellow, as well as for his initial reluctance to leave the pitch and for kicking over a microphone stand when eventually he did so. The player has requested a personal hearing, to be held on Friday, in which he could be banned for a further game – United play Blackpool next Tuesday – or face a fine.
Rafael’s absence will be a blow to United. They have kept seven clean sheets from the nine games in which he has started alongside Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, and Patrice Evra in front of Edwin van der Sar in goal. That statistic points to his defensive qualities but the team will also miss his rambunctious forays forward. Wes Brown and John O’Shea both played for the reserves on Monday and the latter would probably be the favourite to take Rafael’s place against Birmingham, Gary Neville having sadly looked nothing less than a liability on his rare appearances this season. Whoever fills in for Rafael, though, he is currently the team’s first-choice right back and United will want him back as soon as possible. The hope amongst the club’s support is that the Brazilian can address his temperament issues and emerge as the latest in a long line of excellent right-sided defenders to have been produced by his nation of birth, which he certainly has the talent to do.
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Jose Mourinho has split opinion for years and years now but he has largely had the support of a Manchester United fanbase desperate to return to the top of English football throughout his time at Old Trafford.
However, the tumultuous week in March that saw the Red Devils crash out of the Champions League at the hands of Sevilla appeared to be something of a turning point for the former Real Madrid manager.
The disappointing defeat to the Spanish side and its insipid nature seemingly emboldened Mourinho’s critics – both fans of the club and those looking in from outside – and increased the scrutiny on him.
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As the Portuguese manager gears up to try and prevent United’s bitter rivals Manchester City winning the league against them, he has also been criticised by a club legend.
Former boss Tommy Docherty has had his say about a man who has taken to managing at Old Trafford in a very different manor to how he did.
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He was quoted by the Sun as saying:
“If he was made of chocolate he would eat himself. You can’t argue with his record but I think he goes over the score with the criticism of players.
“He has bought those players and then he is criticising them afterwards. I would be amazed if he lasts any length of time at United.
“I don’t think the board will put up with his antics. I don’t watch them a lot because I watch City – they are great to watch. They play football the way I like to play it.”
Harry Redknapp abruptly resigned as QPR manager after two and a quarter years at Loftus Road earlier this week. Redknapp cited the reason being an imminent knee surgery that has made him decide now is the right time to step aside but in truth, there could be a number of reasons why he has left QPR.
Redknapp didn’t enjoy the best of spells at Rangers after taking over from Mark Hughes in November 2012. He couldn’t help the club avoid relegation in his first season in charge, with the R’s finishing rock bottom of the Premier League. With a squad that, on paper, should have walked the Championship, Redknapp had difficulties in making his side a consistent outfit with QPR eventually finishing fourth.
An unconvincing campaign ended with a narrow 1-0 victory over Derby in the play-off final, thanks to a Bobby Zamora goal in the last minute. And in his third season in charge, things didn’t improve leaving the club in 19th position and needing something special to avoid a second relegation in three seasons.
On the face of it, Harry Redknapp has left QPR at the right time in terms of the lack of success he has achieved at Loftus Road. QPR had high expectations that Redknapp would be the man to lead the club to becoming an established Premier League team but that couldn’t be further from what has actually transpired. Redknapp had troubles in establishing a settled starting XI throughout his reign and although he had money to spend, too many players were on high wages that weren’t contributing to the side.
In the league, three defeats on the bounce and six without a win was enough to send Redknapp over the edge. Their away form has been much documented this season for the sheer embarrassment of the run they are on. Rangers have lost all eleven away matches in the Premier League this season and have looked hapless on their travels.
Just a couple of weeks ago Redknapp suggested an ‘insider’ was trying to destabilise the club by suggesting his job was on the line. He said “It’s this ‘insider’ who is trying to cause a problem. Who do you believe – the chairman or ‘the insider’?” This was a clear sign of the pressure getting to Redknapp and spelled the beginning of the end for the now former QPR boss.
Although Redknapp has had plenty of financial backing from Tony Fernandes, he was obviously frustrated at the lack of movement in the January transfer window. The club were crying out for two or three new players, not least another striker to partner Charlie Austin. But Fernandes wasn’t willing to let Redknapp spend any more money, which could potentially cost QPR their Premier League status. Mauro Zarate was their only addition, in a loan move from West Ham. However, much Redknapp wants to cover up the real reasons to why he left; leaving just a day after the transfer window shut after spending no money should be seen as no coincidence at all.
At 67-years-old, after a long and successful career in management, Redknapp in all likelihood saw no need to carry on the job at QPR. With the club struggling and seemingly no signs of improvement, Redknapp was right to step aside for a younger man to come in for the long haul.
Whether or not the need for knee surgery was the real reason behind his resignation, the time had come for Redknapp’s two and a quarter year spell at QPR to come to an end.
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Liverpool have taken the upper hand in the race for Norwegian defender Vegard Forren, by offering him a trial, report Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Everton in recent times, with the Toffees said to be keen on bringing him to the Premier League.
However, reports in his homeland claim that he has been invited to the Reds’ training complex by manager Brendan Rodgers, who is tempted to make an official bid for his signature.
Everton boss David Moyes has scouted the centre-half on two occasions, and is thought to be preparing a move.
Fulham, Manchester United and a number of top European clubs are also said to be monitoring his situation.
He has previously rejected a switch to Belgian giants Club Brugges, claiming that he sees his future in the Premier League, leaving the door open for the Merseyside duo.
There have been some reports that Liverpool had agreed a £4m deal to sign the 24-year-old, however these are believed to be false.
Forren has been impressive in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, helping his current club Molde to the 2012 title under the stewardship of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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He has drawn comparisons with current Anfield defender Daniel Agger, due to his solid reading of the game and attacking abilities.
Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen has issued a worrying update on the fitness of Harry Kane.
Spurs fans were delighted yesterday after a picture surfaced of Harry Kane without his protective boot. Kane looked in high spirits meeting with Gareth Southgate, and fans suspected he may even return for the Chelsea clash.
Those hopes now appear to have been crushed, as comments from Tottenham teammate Vertonghen seem to suggest Kane is simply targeting a return for the World Cup.
“The fact that we now risk facing a well-rested and in-form Kane at the World Cup doesn’t matter for me. I prefer a fit Kane, whether he’s an opponent or not,” Vertonghen told ESPN.
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“I don’t think [the injury] is serious enough for him to miss the World Cup. I hope he’ll return before the end of the season and then he has time for the national team.”
Of course, there is nothing in the quotes to definitively confirm Kane won’t return before the summer, but the fact that super Jan is “hoping” the striker can return before the end of the season surely does not bode well for the coming weeks.
A return for the Chelsea match would have been quite remarkable, but fans may now just be hoping to see their star man at the World Cup.
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Of course, Mauricio Pochettino has built a side capable of scoring the goals to fire them to a top four finish without Kane, but he is still an absolutely massive loss.
Spurs fans, would you rush Kane back or play it cautiously? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Liverpool may have recorded a first win in six games, but that should not detract from the problems at Anfield. The Reds are a pale imitation of the side that enthralled and entertained last season, with bad signings, the sale of Suarez and questionable management having all contributed. So should Brendan Rodgers go? Maybe, and here are three reasons why…
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Such poor form
With just one win in six games and four defeats, things really are looking bleak at Anfield. The Reds were a swashbuckling attacking force last term, yet things could not be much different this time around, with Brendan Rodgers’ side ponderous and toothless. The Northern Irishman is not entirely to blame, but maybe something new is needed to shake things up. After all, the Merseysiders do have some decent players.
Terrible summer
Liverpool’s bench today really highlighted the failings of the summer’s transfer window. Rodgers had £87m worth of arrivals on the sidelines, with the likes of Lovren and Lallana’s struggles forcing him to look to the likes of Kolo Toure and Lucas.
Struggling against sides like Stoke…
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A win may be vital, and three points are the maximum available over 90 minutes. But Liverpool should really be hammering sides of, no disrespect intended, Stoke’s level. Last season the Merseysiders were steamrolling opponents they were expected to beat, but this time around it takes a late Glen Johnson effort.
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has applauded the performances of his team so far this season, and urged them to maintain their form.
The Swans have amassed 25 Premier League points, leaving them in ninth position and within touching distance of European qualification.
Despite dropping points against Reading on Boxing Day, Laudrup is still proud of his team who have performed to higher standard than he had expected:
“Halfway through the season is a moment to stop and think about what we have achieved. The numbers are there,” he is quoted by Sky Sports.
“We have 25 points. We have a plus four goal difference and we have one of the top scorers in the league (Michu).
“I think we can be very pleased. Twenty-five points is more than I thought we would have at this stage, given half the starting XI have been new players to the club who have had to adapt.”
Swansea now face a hectic fixture schedule, as they prepare for their clashes with Fulham and games in both domestic cup competitions.
Laudrup believes that his team must push on and not relax following their achievements so far:
“We have so many games between now and the beginning of February, we don’t have time to stop and think how well we have done.
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“If you double our current points tally, that is 50. We will not necessarily reach that but the important thing for us first is to reach the magic number of 40 points the sooner the better.
“When we reach 40, then we will be able to see how many games are left and set our target for the rest of the season.”
Marouane Fellaini was handed a shock recall to the Manchester United starting lineup for their crunch Champions League tie with Sevilla on Tuesday.
It wasn’t quite clear what the Belgian – valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt – was supposed to provide or why he was hurried back when he was clearly not 100% fit and he was substituted on the hour mark.
Fellaini was not the only underperformer on Tuesday – the whole team was dire – and that adds yet more pressure to the FA Cup quarter-final clash with Brighton.
The Seagulls will travel to Old Trafford with nothing to lose, knowing that they could give their fans an unforgettable day out and set up a semi-final tie at Wembley; all the onus is on United.
The voices of dissent against Mourinho turned up a notch or two after his latest abject failure and that means it is imperative he gets his team selection right.
So we asked you, should Mourinho keep the faith with Fellaini and the response was staggering; 84% of United fans said no. Check out the full results of the poll below…
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