Thiago Alcantara has bizarrely been singled out by former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino Thiago Alcantara is part of the reason Liverpool’s midfield have struggled this season, according to former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino. Just days after their 3-1 mauling at Brentford, Jurgen Klopp’s side once again produced another lacklustre performance as they began their defence of the FA Cup, drawing 2-2 with Premier League counterparts Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite the Reds boss naming a virtually first-choice XI, Julen Lopetegui’s men outfought and outbattled Liverpool for large parts of the game and will feel hard done by that they were unable to…
Author: t1006
Liverpool sold Sadio Mané last summer. Now, Roberto Firmino could leave on a free transfer. Jürgen Klopp knows what to do as his iconic front line breaks up. Up until his recent calf injury, it would be hard to argue against the claim that Roberto Firmino has had a decent season for Liverpool. The Brazilian had been the main beneficiary of injuries to Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz, with Jürgen Klopp altering his formation to get the best out of him. With Sadio Mané gone, and no suitable wingers for his 4-3-3 system, Klopp pivoted to a 4-3-1-2 and utilised Firmino…
Gary Lineker poked fun at Kepa Arrizabalaga and Alan Shearer laid into Chelsea after their FA Cup defeat to Manchester City. Chelsea were abject in their third-round tie at the Etihad, conceding three goals in the first half and barely threatening the hosts at the other end throughout. The pressure is mounting on Graham Potter, who described the opening period of the game as particularly “painful and tough for us all”. He added: “We were second best to a very, very good side. We are not in a great moment and even though it was a cagey first 20 minutes…
Man City 4-0 Chelsea Manchester City coasted into the fourth round of the FA Cup as Chelsea’s last hope of a domestic trophy this season was extinguished in emphatic fashion at the Etihad Stadium. Goals from Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden ensured a home fourth-round tie with Oxford or Premier League leaders Arsenal was in the bag by half-time, while Mahrez got a fourth from the spot late on. Chelsea did not muster a shot in anger during the first half and while losing twice in four days to the reigning champions is no disgrace in itself, their tepid performance increases the pressure on…
Phil Foden was on the scoresheet as Man City defeated Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday. Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes that Phil Foden’s best position is in midfield, with the England international having scored in the FA Cup win over Chelsea. Pep Guardiola’s side cruised into the fourth round of the competition with a comfortable 4-0 victory over the London club on Sunday evening. The Blues will now face off against either Oxford or Arsenal in the next round, with the tie set to be played at the end of this month. Riyad…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was full of praise for forward Riyad Mahrez, who scored against Chelsea for the third time this season during Sunday’s comprehensive victory at the Etihad Stadium. The Algerian scored twice during the Blues’ 4-0 demolition of Chelsea in the FA Cup third round, as Pep Guardiola’s side set up a home fourth round tie against either Oxford United or Arsenal. Mahrez opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick in the 23rd minute and concluded the victory with an emphatic strike from the penalty spot in the 85th. The 31 year-old scored the match-winning goal against…
Julian Alvarez insists he was not put off by Kepa Arrizabalaga’s attempt at mind games before his penalty in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup on Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s side eased to victory at the Etihad Stadium with a double from Riyad Mahrez, while Alvarez and Phil Foden also scored. Alvarez took City’s penalty in the first half following Kai Havertz’s blatant handball inside Chelsea’s area. But as he was preparing to take the spot kick, Kepa stood a yard away from the ball and began to speak with Alvarez. The Chelsea goalkeeper dived the right way for Alvarez’s effort but…
Man City 4-0 Chelsea Manchester City coasted into the fourth round of the FA Cup as Chelsea’s last hope of a domestic trophy this season was extinguished in emphatic fashion at the Etihad Stadium. Goals from Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden ensured a home fourth-round tie with Oxford or Premier League leaders Arsenal was in the bag by half-time, while Mahrez got a fourth from the spot late on. Chelsea did not muster a shot in anger during the first half and while losing twice in four days to the reigning champions is no disgrace in itself, their tepid performance increases the pressure on…
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola told Chelsea owner Todd Boehly he must give under-pressure boss Graham Potter time to implement his ideas at Stamford Bridge after watching his side beat the Blues for the second time in four days. Following on from Thursday’s 1-0 Premier League win in the capital which left Chelsea in 10th place, City dumped Potter’s side out of the FA Cup with a resounding 4-0 win at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring with a fine free-kick before Julian Alvarez’s penalty and a Phil Foden strike made it 3-0 before the break, and Mahrez finished the job with another spot-kick in the second…
Chelsea’s torrid recent spell has reached peak embarrassment after Kai Havertz conceded a penalty by punching the ball in the box during the Blues’ FA Cup third round clash with Manchester City Chelsea star Kai Havertz absolutely gifted Manchester City a goal after bizarrely ‘Superman punching’ the ball in the box to concede a daft penalty during their FA Cup third clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The German forward was leaping to challenge Aymeric Laporte while defending a corner when the ball cannoned off his outstretched fist. Referee Rob Jones didn’t notice it at first, but was quickly called over to the monitors…
Chelsea manager Graham Potter appeared to mouth the words ‘f*** me’ after watching the replay of Kai Havertz’s handball blunder which gifted Manchester City a first half penalty Graham Potter looked completely baffled after watching Kai Havertz’s bonkers handball back against Manchester City during their FA Cup third round clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The scrunched-faced Chelsea boss appeared to mouth the words ‘f*** me’ as he watched the replay of the incident – where Havertz bizarrely ‘Superman punched’ the ball while defending a corner to gift City a first half penalty – in the dugout. Referee Rob Jones failed to spot the blunder, but…
Graham Potter’s future as Chelsea manager is hanging in the balance following his side’s 4-0 thumping at the hands of Manchester City – their fifth defeat in seven games It’s difficult to see how much more humiliation Graham Potter can survive. If the Chelsea boss thought the FA Cup would be a welcome distraction from his side’s Premier League woes, then how wrong he was. Instead, Potter and his millionaire flops suffered more pain as a second string Manchester City team brushed them aside with utter disdain at the Etihad to cruise into the FA Cup fourth round. This was Chelsea’s fifth defeat in…