Month: November 2024

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker:

Looking to extend on what has been a rampant start to the 2022/23 campaign, Manchester City will make the trip to Villa Park on Saturday evening.

Aston Villa

Starting with the hosts, while Aston Villa might have opened the new campaign with a European charge at the top of their agenda, Steven Gerrard s men are in the midst of an extended struggle. Getting the 2022/23 season underway with a shock 2-0 loss away at Premier League returners Bournemouth on August 6th, the former Rangers boss finds himself under a huge amount of pressure. Last seen earlier in the week when getting hit with a deserved 2-1 loss away at a high-flying Arsenal, Villa have managed to win just one of their opening five top-flight contests. Having to settle for a sl…

To say it s as you were in the Premier League s title race after Saturday s action wouldn t be doing Arsenal justice.

A brilliant turnaround against Bournemouth saw them answer Manchester City s earlier statement, a 2-0 win over a Newcastle United side who find themselves in a real rut.

Arsenal s lead at the summit somehow – we ll get there – remains five points, and the nature of their victory will surely prove a massive boost.

Also on Saturday, Graham Potter eased the pressure on him ever so slightly, though the same cannot be said for David Moyes.

Stats Perform has delved into the Opta data from the pick of the day s action.

Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth: Title tilt still on track as Gunners respond to Cherries incredible start

If Arsenal…

Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno has signed a new contract that will keep him at the Serie A side until 2024.

Cragno reportedly attracted interest from Italian rivals Roma but has now pledged his long-term future to Rolando Maran s Cagliari.

The 24-year-old arrived from Brescia in 2014 but despite making 14 Serie A appearances in his maiden campaign he was sent out on loan to Virtus Lanciano and Benevento respectively in the subsequent two seasons.

Cragno became first choice at Cagliari for the 2017-18 campaign, however, and appeared in every league game last season as the Rossoblu finished 15th, three points above the relegation zone.

Cragno s form has seen him called up to the Italy squad but he is yet to make his debut for Roberto Mancini s men.

…

Dominik Livakovic became Croatia s latest penalty hero as they again survived a World Cup shoot-out on Monday, beating Japan 3-1 from the spot after a turgid 1-1 draw at Al Janoub Stadium.

Goalkeeper Livakovic saved spot-kicks from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida to send Croatia through to the quarter-finals.

Danijel Subasic had likewise kept out three penalties in a last-16 shoot-out during a run to the final in Russia four years ago, with Croatia now having won each of their three World Cup knockout ties that have gone all the way.

The result was a little harsh on Japan, who had led through Daizen Maeda before Ivan Perisic equalised, although neither side impressed ahead of a meeting with either Brazil or South Korea in the next round.

3 …

Arsenal moved eight points clear at the Premier League summit after a commanding 2-0 victory at rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

Manchester City fell to a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday and Arsenal capitalised to extend their lead with their first away win in the north London derby since 2014.

Hugo Lloris incomprehensible own goal and Martin Odegaard s sublime first-half strike proved the difference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a fan seemingly kicked out at Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at full time.

Antonio Conte s side improved after the interval but a largely uninspiring performance leaves Spurs five points off fourth-placed United, who have played a game fewer.

Leading by example

— Arsenal (@Arsenal)

Lloris hande…

Al Qadsiah are interested in signing Paulo Dybala from AS Roma in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected Italian journalist has claimed that the Saudi Pro League have made an offer for Dybala, who can operate as a forward or as an attacking midfielder.

Romano wrote on : “More on Paulo Dybala and Al Qadsiah. Three year contract on the table from Saudi club, as reported yesterday.

“Negotiations underway between all parties involved in order to agree on every detail of the deal. No final green light yet, key details are still being discussed.”

Dybala has been on the books of AS Roma since the summer of 2022 when he joined on a free transfer after leaving Juventus. The 30-year-old scored 12 goals and gave si…

Former Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is in intensive care after suffering bleeding around his brain, Dutch club Ajax have announced.

Van der Sar, 52, won the Premier League four times during his time at United, as well as the Champions League in 2008, which he also lifted while at Ajax.

After retirement, Van der Sar, who also enjoyed a spell at Fulham before signing for United, returned to Ajax where he took up the role of chief executive in 2016, from which he decided to stand down at the end of last season.

On Friday, Edwin van der Sar has had a bleeding around his brain. He’s currently in hospital in the intensive care unit and is in a stable condition.

Once there is more concrete information, an update will follow.

Italy captain Leonardo Bonucci has announced that he will retire at the end of next season.

Defender Bonucci has just turned 36 with one year left on his Juventus contract.

“When I stop playing next year, it will be the end of a defensive era – a way of defending Italian style,” Bonucci said on Juventus’ YouTube channel.

The 120-times capped Bonucci was part of Italy’s Euro 2020-winning team and is a nine-time Serie A champion – claiming eight titles at Juventus and one at AC Milan, where he spent the 2017-18 season.

He made his 500th Juventus appearance against Sevilla in the Europa League last week.

Bonucci, recognised as one of football’s great defenders, was part of the famous Juventus backline that included Andrea Barzagli, Gior…

Everton have completed the loan signing of Jesper Lindstrom from Napoli, the club confirmed on Friday.

Lindstrom will join the Toffees for the 2024-25 season with the deal including an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

The 24-year-old becomes the fourth addition at Goodison Park following the arrivals of Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Harrison.

Lindstrom arrives after a difficult season with Napoli, playing just 416 minutes in 22 league appearances for the Serie A side.

The Denmark international arrived in Naples from Eintracht Frankfurt where he scored 14 goals in 80 appearances, helping the German side lift the Europa League in the 2021-22 season.

We have completed the season-long loan signing of Jesper Li…

Best odds: 10/11

Bookmaker:

They may have hoped to qualify for the Champions League as their previously woeful results picked up towards the end of last season, but it was too late and Liverpool will play in the Europa League this term instead. Their journey in the competition begins with a trip to Linz, Austria, where there they will face LASK in the opening round on Thursday.

In the Austrian football landscape, the Red Bull Salzburg team continues to be the dominant force, leaving Sturm Graz and LASK to compete for the title of best of the rest. LASK fell short in that race in 2023/24, and it was Sturm who advanced into the Champions League qualifications.

LASK entered the preliminary rounds of the Europa League, where they faced Bosnian team Zrinjski,…