Tag: Man City

  • EPL: Man City Beats Liverpool 4-1 To End 18-Year Anfield Hoodoo

    EPL: Man City Beats Liverpool 4-1 To End 18-Year Anfield Hoodoo

    Manchester City ended an 18-year wait to beat Liverpool at Anfield in style with a 4-1 win on Sunday to take a firm grip on the Premier League title race.

    Ilkay Gundogan scored twice and missed a penalty as Pep Guardiola’s men moved five points clear of Manchester United, with a game in hand to come, at the top of the table.

    A third consecutive home defeat leaves Liverpool 10 points off the top in fourth, having also played a game more than City.

    Raheem Sterling and the outstanding Phil Foden were also on target for the visitors on a day to forget for Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who was at fault for three of City’s goals.

    After a club record-breaking run of 68 league games unbeaten at Anfield, Liverpool have now lost three consecutive home league games for the first time since 1963.

    The margin of defeat was also the Reds’ biggest in the Premier League era as City landed a knockout blow to their title defence.

    City’s club record run of 14 consecutive wins, 10 of which have come in the league, has seen them pull away from the pack at the top of the table from what seemed a wide-open title race just a few weeks ago.

    That run is reminiscent of the City and Liverpool sides at their best over the past three seasons as they have ran up record points tallies in combining to win the last three league titles.

    However, Liverpool appear to have run out of gas in an injury-hit campaign after ending a 30-year wait to win a league title by taking City’s crown as champions last season.

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp again paired midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson together at centre-back, despite new loan signing Ozan Kabak being available on the bench.

    The Liverpool backline had been rarely tested until Sterling ran at them eight minutes before the break and the former Reds winger was upended by Fabinho.

    Kevin De Bruyne missed a penalty for City when the sides met earlier in the season, while Riyad Mahrez blazed over from the spot in a 0-0 draw at Anfield in 2018 – the only time Guardiola had previously avoided defeat away to Liverpool as City manager.

    The Catalan threw his arms up in disgust as Gundogan also failed to hit the target as his spot-kick flew well over the bar.

    Not for the first time in City’s fine run, Guardiola started without a recognised striker, but a half-time tinkering of his formation to push Bernardo Silva closer to Foden in attack paid immediate dividends.

    Another purposeful burst from Sterling fed Foden and after his low shot was saved by Alisson, Gundogan this time made no mistake on the rebound to score his seventh goal in 11 league games.

    City had conceded just twice in their 13 league games, thanks in large part to the formidable partnership of Ruben Dias and John Stones in central defence.

    In contrast, Liverpool had not scored at Anfield in over six hours until a rare error from Dias handed the champions a lifeline just after the hour mark.

    The Portuguese’s attempted clearance was blocked by Mohamed Salah, who was then pulled down by Dias.

    Salah has not missed a penalty for Liverpool since 2017 and made no mistake when he fired straight down the middle.

    But Liverpool could not build on that reprieve as the normally dependable Alisson gifted away two goals in comical fashion.

    The Brazilian cleared the ball straight to Foden, who wriggled clear inside the area before squaring for Gundogan to tap home his second off the underside of the bar.

    Seconds later, Alisson’s confidence seemed to have gone as another wayward attempted clearance picked out a City player as this time Silva crossed for Sterling to score his first goal at Anfield since leaving Liverpool six years ago.

    Foden then completed the rout and an outstanding personal performance with a blistering shot seven minutes from time that also escaped Alisson’s grasp.

    AFP

  • Man City Threaten To Turn Premier League Race Into Procession

    Man City Threaten To Turn Premier League Race Into Procession

    This season’s Premier League race has been touted as one of the most open in years but Manchester City have quietly moved through the gears and are threatening to pull away from the pack. 

    Pep Guardiola’s men, who have won their past seven league games, host Manchester United’s midweek conquerors Sheffield United on Saturday, hoping lightning cannot strike twice.

    United, their closest challengers, face a tricky trip away to rejuvenated Arsenal while Liverpool travel to high-flying West Ham.

    AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the weekend action in the English top-flight.

    United seek away-day comfortsManchester United hoped to be travelling to the Emirates as Premier League leaders before their shock defeat to bottom side Sheffield United at Old Trafford.

    The 2-1 reverse on Wednesday, which ended a 13-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, was their fourth home defeat of the season.

    In sharp contrast, they have won eight out of their 10 league games on the road and are unbeaten away from home in the Premier League for more than a year.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope this week’s limp showing was a one-off but the Emirates will not be an easy place for United to rediscover their form.

    Mikel Arteta has turned Arsenal’s fortunes around, winning five out of six Premier League matches to move to within striking distance of the top four.

    He will hope to make a statement that the Gunners are back in business by completing the double over United this season.

    Striker-less City purringCity are heavy favourites to land a third Premier League crown in four years, even though Sergio Aguero has no league goals this season and Gabriel Jesus has just two.

    Aguero, City’s all-time record goalscorer, has been unavailable for most of the campaign as a result of injury and the coronavirus while Jesus, who also suffered from Covid, has been a bit-part player in recent weeks.

    In their absence Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez have chipped in with plenty of goals, backed by a rock-solid defence.

    City have won their past seven league games, scoring 18 goals in the process and conceding just one.

    Manager Pep Guardiola believes Aguero could still play a key role in the second half of the season but will be delighted his squad have stepped up as they chase glory on four fronts.

    Last chance for Bruce?Frank Lampard this week became the second managerial casualty of the Premier League season when he was jettisoned by Chelsea, but Steve Bruce could soon be next.

    Newcastle have collected just two points out of a possible 27 in the Premier League and the manager’s future looks bleak.

    Some fans mounted a protest at St James’s Park after last week’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa, displaying a banner aimed at owner Mike Ashley that bore the message “Act late, seal your fate”.

    In a sign of the pressure he is under, Bruce refused to take questions from written media at his press conference before this week’s match against Leeds, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.

    He still believes he is the right man to turn things around but must know time is running out.

    Tuchel’s homeworkNew Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admitted after his side’s dull 0-0 draw against Wolves this week that he had not had time to properly assess his squad.

    Midfielder Mason Mount, one of the standout players at Stamford Bridge this season, and Christian Pulisic were left kicking their heels on the bench.

    Chelsea dominated possession but looked short of ideas until Mount and Pulisic were introduced in the late stages of the game.

    England international Mount in particular looked dangerous and will be disappointed if he does not make the teamsheet against Burnley.

    Fixtures (all times GMT)

    Saturday (1500 unless stated)

    Everton v Newcastle (1230), Crystal Palace v Wolves, Manchester City v Sheffield United, West Brom v Fulham, Arsenal v Manchester United (1730), Southampton v Aston Villa (2000)

    Sunday

    Chelsea v Burnley (1200), Leicester v Leeds (1400), West Ham v Liverpool (1630), Brighton v Tottenham (1915)

  • EPL: Chelsea Suffers 3-1 Home Lose to Man City

    EPL: Chelsea Suffers 3-1 Home Lose to Man City

    Chelsea have been beaten 3-1 at Stamford Bridge by Manchester City in the English Premier League on Sunday.

    Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for City in the 18th minute from a Phil Foden assist.

    Three minutes later, Kevin De Bruyne set up Foden to double the lead for the visitors who went into the game on the back of a 2-0 win against Newcastle.

    City continued to dominate the game and pressed with counter-attacks whenever Chelsea found their way in their half.

    One of the counter-attacks paid off with Raheem Sterling making a brilliant run, hitting a shot against the bar and leaving De Bruyne to score from the rebound in the 34th minute.

    The second half of the game saw the same momentum but ended with a consolation goal for Chelsea and scored by Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 92nd minute.

  • Guardiola gives hope to Stones after Man City star makes an impressive return

    Guardiola gives hope to Stones after Man City star makes an impressive return

    Pep Guardiola says John Stones will get every opportunity at Manchester City if he continues to impress after the defender bounced back to top form.

    The City boss brought in new centre-backs Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake at a cost of £102 million ($132m) in the summer to sort out the defensive problems that impacted their last campaign.

    With Aymeric Laporte already at the club, Stones appeared to face an uncertain future after falling behind wantaway defender Eric Garcia and midfielder Fernandinho in the pecking order at the end of last season.

    But the England international has impressed when starting City’s last two matches against Olympiacos and Burnley, which they won without conceding.

    Stones also had problems with injuries last season but Guardiola said the new arrivals do not mean he cannot compete for a regular starting place.

    “He played two already,” Guardiola said. “The previous season it was difficult to feel it – sometimes for my decisions but most of the time because of injuries.

    “It’s good again because he was so concentrated and didn’t make any mistakes. What we are looking for from the back four is to not make mistakes.”

    Asked about Stones’ reaction to extra competition, the City boss added: “It’s not too complicated to understand. I see the performance and the levels, and the guys that help the team and help me have more chance to play.

    “The other ones have to wait for the opportunity and they have to fight and wait for their moment and, when they have the moment, do it as well as possible.

    “This business it works in this way, not any other way. What happened one week ago or today for example is past. Now you have to do it in the game in Portugal.”

    City travel to Portugal on Tuesday to face Porto aiming to secure top spot in their Champions League group having already qualified for the knockout stages.

    Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were left behind for last week’s win over Olympiacos but came straight back into the side that beat Burnley 5-0 on Saturday.

    But Guardiola warned his players that they will be in for a surprise if they think being left out means they will be straight back into the team after a break.

    “It’s not about rest,” he said. “I saw Kevin a little bit exhausted mentally that’s true. Right now I see the players who are in a better condition or more focused.

    “If these players believe they are rested because I am rotating, they are making a big mistake.

    “I put in every game the best players for many reasons. Sometimes the health of the team or not being injured, But especially the players who perform well.

    “The youngest player that we have, Phil Foden, gets the same treatment and opportunities as Fernandinho, our most experienced player.

    “It doesn’t matter if you won more titles in the past or scored a lot of goals, you have to show it on the pitch. In the recent past, in the present and especially in the future.”

  • Man City boss confident return of fans to stadiums will be successful

    Man City boss confident return of fans to stadiums will be successful

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the long-awaited return of fans to stadiums in England will happen without any major issues.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that stadiums in tier 1 areas of England will be able to welcome up to 4,000 fans when the national lockdown ends on December 2. Grounds in tier 2 areas be allowed to hold up to 2,000 people, but those in tier 3 areas will remain closed to the public.

    Guardiola does not envisage any major problems if Manchester City are able to open their gates at the Etihad to supporters for the first time since March.

    “If they believe this is the best, we can do it, hopefully it will work and nothing wrong will happen. Everyone is [waiting] for fans to come back into stadiums,” he said ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League fixture against Olympiacos.

    “If the government have decided this it is because they have listened to the scientists and the doctors for what is the best for everyone.

    “We are a lucky profession for the fact we can do our job. How many jobs are closed and will not reopen again? We are waiting to come back for our fans.”

    Sergio Aguero was on the bench during the 2-0 loss to Tottenham after recovering from a hamstring injury but did not get on the field.

    After the Argentinian underwent knee surgery in the summer, Guardiola is wary of rushing him back too soon.

    He said: “Today he trained again. What we want is for him to feel a good feeling in his knee.

    “We wait for him and there is still time. We have many, many games to play and we will need him. We want him in the best condition.”

    Guardiola added that left-back Benjamin Mendy is back in contention after injury and midfielder Fernandinho has recovered from gastroenteritis.

    Defender Nathan Ake is still out with a thigh injury but should return to training on Friday.

    City are chasing a fourth-successive win in the competition which would secure a place in the last 16.

    Guardiola, whose side were beaten by Tottenham at the weekend, said: “It is important for our qualification and also to recover our feelings. To be able to win games is important.

    “We can leave this competition until February and focus on other competitions, especially the Premier League.”

  • Man City must be careful in managing injury-hit Aguero – Guardiola

    Man City must be careful in managing injury-hit Aguero – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has warned that his side must be careful as they look to work Sergio Aguero back into the team.

    City have made their worst start to a Premier League season for more than a decade following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

    Club-record goalscorer Aguero was an unused substitute at Spurs after missing the last month with a hamstring injury.

    Guardiola’s side sit 13th in the Premier League table and the City boss, who this week signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2023, says his side need to start winning games quickly.

    Aguro could be key to any turnaround, as City have scored just 10 goals from their opening eight Premier League fixtures and just five from their last six matches.

    The Argentinian has made just three appearances in the last five months after suffering a knee injury in June and Guardiola says they must carefully manage his return.

    “I’m not going to say we don’t need Sergio, we need him,” Guardiola said. “But Sergio is 32 and was five months injured with a difficult and dangerous injury.

    “He came back, he played 50 minutes and 55 and got injured again. We want and I want Sergio fit because I know how important he is for us and what he has done in the Premier League.

    “But we have to be careful, to not get knocked back again and injured again and you have to see the right moment to put him back in the side. Hopefully it can be soon and maintain the regularity to play games.”

    Though City could potentially use some tweaks after a poor start, Guardiola has said it is impossible for managers to work on tactics because of the hectic schedule.

    With at least two games a week between now and the new year, the 49-year-old says there’s no time to work on changes in training.

    “It’s impossible,” he said. “But it’s the same for all clubs so I’m not saying we’re at an advantage or a disadvantage. But it’s impossible, there’s no time.”

    Guardiola insisted it was his responsibility, rather than the players, to solve their issues with City taking just 12 points from their opening eight matches, winning just three and losing twice.

    “I never said it was the responsibility of the players, it’s my responsibility as a manager to lift them and to give them everything that’s possible,” he said.

    “Never in my career of 12 years have I complained or pointed at someone that everything is going to solve. I love having Sergio back, I love having Gabriel [Jesus] back, but they are not going to solve all the situations.

    “We scored in two seasons, more than 100 goals and 80 or 90 per cent of the players are the same, especially up front.

    “Maybe we lost Leroy [Sane] but Leroy didn’t play much last season because he was injured all season and we still scored 100 goals.

    “We are the same but football is like this. Sometimes one season is completely different to another one. We will find a little bit the way to get better.”

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  • Man City told Grealish will cost ‘astronomical’ fee as Hutton sees Aston Villa star’s price tag rising above £80m

    Man City told Grealish will cost ‘astronomical’ fee as Hutton sees Aston Villa star’s price tag rising above £80m

    Manchester City are reported to be mulling over a move for Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish, but Alan Hutton has warned that the England international will cost any of his suitors an “astronomical” sum.

    Various landing spots were mooted for the talented 25-year-old during the summer transfer window, with Manchester United seemingly leading the chase for his signature at one stage.

    Tottenham have also been credited with interest in the past, while Arsenal are being urged to join the clamour for one of the Premier League’s most creative influences if a bidding war is sparked.

    Hutton can appreciate why Grealish has become such a sought-after commodity, given his recent performances for club and country, but he cannot see those at Villa Park sanctioning a sale.

    That is because they have tied their captain to a new long-term contract and made it clear to domestic rivals, including big-spending City, that their asking price for a prized asset has risen considerably since the last opportunity to table bids presented itself.

    Former Villa defender Hutton told Football Insider of the speculation that Grealish continues to generate: “For him to move, it would be astronomical now, I think.

    “They were talking about £80 million ($106m) before the start of this season and then look what he’s done this season. I think he’s that good at the moment and if he keeps progressing the way he’s going, he will command a starting role wherever he is, that’s how good I think he is.

    “People are now starting to see the real Jack – such high-level performances with Villa and then taking it up a level again, I think, with England. The more he plays, the better he’ll get and people are seeing, they’re starting to sit up and notice him.

    “It doesn’t surprise me that all the big clubs will be watching, I hate to say it as a Villa fan but it happens, he’s getting that good at what he does that everybody’s watching him and it’s only a matter of time before some silly offer does come in at some stage.”

    Another player on Villa’s books that City are said to have their eye on is Douglas Luiz, with the Blues retaining a buy-back option on a player they offloaded in 2019.

    Pep Guardiola’s are said to have an agreement in place that allows them to re-sign the Brazil international for £30m ($40m) up until June 2021, but Villans boss Dean Smith is reading little into those rumours.

    He has said: “He’s done really well for Brazil. There’s been talk about a buy-back option. I’m not aware of it, I don’t deal with contracts. I deal with the players.

    “What I know is Douglas Luiz is loving his time at Aston Villa and getting better and better. He’s performing very well for Brazil as well. Long may that continue.

    “Next summer’s a long way off for me, we’ve got 31 games in the Premier League left still so I’m concentrating on that.”

  • Emmanuel Adebayor: How I Persuaded Partey To Choose Arsenal Over Chelsea And Man City

    Emmanuel Adebayor: How I Persuaded Partey To Choose Arsenal Over Chelsea And Man City

    Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor encouraged Thomas Partey to join the Gunners over Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

    Adebayor felt Partey would benefit from joining a ‘family club’ and claimed a move to Arsenal would be ‘good for his development’.

    Subsequently, the Ghana midfielder completed a £45million transfer from Atletico Madrid to Arsenal in September following Adebayor’s advice.

    Speaking at an event in Ghana, Adebayor said: “He told me that some clubs in England, namely Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and others have shown interest in him and he needs advice.

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    “I advised him to go to Arsenal because I have had the opportunity to play there and I think it will be good for his development.

    “Arsenal is more than a club, it is a family, and I’m impressed with his performances so far in the Premier League.”

    Adebayor is not the only one who has been impressed with Partey’s performances. Former Arsenal and England star Paul Merson hailed the Ghana midfielder, calling him the ‘signing of the summer’.   

    He told Sky Sports: “I think Partey’s a massive, massive difference. I mean, what a signing.

    “When you talk about signings in the summer, he’s got to be number one. I cannot believe, without being horrible here, that Arsenal got him.” 

    Partey has had a positive impression at Arsenal, following his debut against Manchester City on October 17.

    There are, however, injury concerns over Partey after the 27-year-old forced to withdraw from Ghana’s double-header Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Sudan due to a thigh strain he picked up against Aston Villa. 

    Partey was subbed off during Arsenal’s 3-0 loss, but the injury concern does not seem detrimental. 

  • Klopp spent just two days working on Liverpool’s fab four unleashed against Man City

    Klopp spent just two days working on Liverpool’s fab four unleashed against Man City

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he spent just two days working on the front four approach that left many observers surprised in the Reds’ trip to Manchester City.

    Much of the build-up to a heavyweight Premier League encounter at the Etihad Stadium had been dominated by a supposed selection poser that pitted Roberto Firmino against Diogo Jota.

    Liverpool’s established No.9 has been struggling for a spark of late, putting his position under threat from a summer signing that has hit the ground running at Anfield.

    Many had Jota getting the nod for a meeting with City, but Klopp had other ideas and opted to field an even more adventurous staring XI against fellow title hopefuls.

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    That decision paid off as the Reds burst out of the blocks and into an early lead, but they did tire as the game went on and – after seeing Kevin De Bruyne miss a penalty for the Blues – were happy to make the short journey back to Merseyside with a 1-1 draw.

    Klopp told Liverpool’s official website of tweaking his approach and taking a point: “Top game. Top, top level [from] both teams. Energy level outstanding from both teams, two really good football-playing sides battle against each other. It was outstandingly interesting to watch.

    “I loved our start, obviously we played a different system and you saw that in the game – in moments we had still to adapt to it. We had two days’ time to work on it, we did that but in the end, under pressure from a proper opponent, it’s slightly different. But the boys did incredibly well, I liked really a lot of situations, a lot of football parts, how we defended City was really good.

    “They had their 10 minutes when we weren’t as compact as necessary after the quick start. That’s where they came back, that’s the quality of City, but then it was again equal or level or whatever you want. So, I’m really fine with a point.”

    Defending champions Liverpool have positioned themselves among the early frontrunners in 2020-21, and have arguably their toughest test out of the way after getting through a trip to the Etihad, but Klopp is eager to point out that there is still a long way to go.

    The German added with 30 Premier League games still to take in and trophy bids to be sustained across multiple competitions: “Look, in the Premier League all opponents are tricky to play, unbelievable, so I don’t make really these kind of assumptions or think, ‘OK, we played them already and we played them already’.

    “We have to play them again and wherever it is it will be difficult. It’s a tough period and for the boys it just goes on. They go now and play two, some of them three, games for their national teams and yeah, it’s a tough time.

    “That’s why we have to make sure with the boys [that] we give them time, at least a few days when we can do it, to recover. Apart from that, the boys were ready to go again [against City] and I couldn’t be more happy about that.”

    Liverpool will return to action after the international break with a home date against table-topping Leicester on November 21.

  • ‘Man City don’t need Messi, he would cause problems’ – Emile Mpenza

    ‘Man City don’t need Messi, he would cause problems’ – Emile Mpenza

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola “doesn’t really need” Lionel Messi and should be prioritising further defensive additions over putting a reunion with a Barcelona superstar in place, says Emile Mpenza.

    A move to the Etihad Stadium for a six-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to be mooted.

    City were considered to be leading the chase for a much sought-after signature once Messi aired a desire to leave Camp Nou over the summer.

    Exit doors were soon shut off in Catalunya, but a mercurial Argentine is only tied to a contract through to 2021.

    He will be free to speak with his many suitors from January, with City admitting to having the funds in place if Guardiola wanted a deal to be discussed.

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    Mpenza expects the former Barca boss to work with Messi again at some stage in the future, but feels that will happen in MLS as adding another diminutive forward to their books makes no sense for City.

    The ex-Blues striker told the Manchester Evening News: “I think that with all the defensive problems Guardiola has, he doesn’t really need someone like Messi.

    “He should sort the leaky defence out first. [Vincent] Kompany has left a huge hole at the heart of the defence and City are yet to find the stability they had when Kompany was running the backline.

    “It’s a tall order to fill Vincent’s shoes and what’s the point of signing Messi with all the issues they have at the back?

    “They have enough players in his position like [Riyad] Mahrez and [Sergio] Aguero. If they sign Messi that would be too many players for the same position and cause problems.

    “I believe that he will link up with Pep Guardiola again at some point in his career, but not at City itself but rather for their partner club New York City FC.

    “Guardiola has managed in three of the best European leagues such as La Liga, the Premier League and Bundesliga with only Serie A missing. For me MLS is his next stop and he will take Messi with him there.”

    Messi has been quiet on his future plans since revealing that he will be honouring the final year of his contract at Barca, with the 33-year-old expected to have a number of options to consider at the turn of the year.

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