Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker:
Turning their attention back to Europa Conference League duties on Thursday evening, Aston Villa will travel to Holland when they meet AZ Alkmaar.
AZ Alkmaar
Starting with the hosts, while AZ Alkmaar might have suffered Europa Conference League semi-final heartbreak at the hands of West Ham last season, the Dutch outfit certainly haven’t shown any signs of a hangover. Really flying out of the traps since opening up the 2023/24 campaign and riding a major wave of momentum, Pascal Jansen’s side have continued to shine on either side of October’s international break. Marking their return to domestic duties over the weekend as they cruised their way to a stellar 3-0 romp against Heerenveen, the Cheese Farmers have won each of their …
Fernandinho has rejoined former club Athletico Paranaense after announcing his departure from Manchester City.
The 37-year-old stated his intention to return to Brazil in April before completing his ninth campaign at the Etihad Stadium, and leaves at the end of his contract having made a total of 383 appearances for City.
Fernandinho took over as City captain after David Silva s 2020 departure and featured in five Premier League title wins, the last four of them under Pep Guardiola s management.
But the holding midfielder, who has won 53 caps for Brazil, was reduced to a supporting role during the 2021-22 season, starting just 17 games in all competitions as Rodri enjoyed a terrific campaign at the base of Guardiola s midfield.
On Monday, Athletico Para…
Julian Nagelsmann would like Ralf Rangnick to be handed a long-term role at Manchester United amid widespread reports the experienced coach is to become the club s interim manager.
Rangnick, 63, only took over as Lokomotiv Moscow s head of sports and development earlier this year following an eight-season spell across various roles at RB Leipzig.
But the former Stuttgart and Schalke coach, who is credited for influencing some of football s brightest minds, appears set to join United as interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s departure.
Nagelsmann and Rangnick s careers crossed paths at Leipzig between 2019 and 2021, with the latter acting as head of sport and development for RedBullGMBH following his director of football role at both Red Bull Salzburg a…
What the papers say
Real Madrid are keen on making Kepa Arrizabalaga’s loan move from Chelsea permanent, according to the Sun. The LaLiga giants reportedly want to pay no more than £17.5million for the 29-year-old Spain goalkeeper, who cost the Blues £71m five years ago.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, 30, is being eyed by Juventus as a potential replacement for Paul Pogba, reports the Mirror. The Italian club are said to be looking at a loan deal in January, using the wages saved with Pogba reportedly facing a lengthy ban over a failed drugs test and Nicolo Fagiolo suspended for at least seven months over betting breaches.
Liverpool have been given a lift in their interest in Brazilian midfielder Andre according to the Mirror. A previous bid for the 22-year-old f…
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is expecting Steven Gerrard to fight with all he has when Liverpool host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.
Reds legend Gerrard was appointed manager of Villa last month following the dismissal of Dean Smith and has won three of his first four games in charge of the Midlands club.
The former England midfielder won a multitude of trophies during his playing days at Liverpool, including the Champions League in 2005 along with three EFL Cups, two FA Cups, the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
He started his coaching career leading Liverpool s Under-18s side before joining Rangers in 2018, and last season led the Gers to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade, ending Celtic s dominance.
Speaking ahead…
Arsene Wenger will claim another slice of Premier League history when he takes charge of Arsenal against West Brom on Sunday.
The 68-year-old has already matched Manchester United great Alex Ferguson on 810 matches as a manager in England s top flight and will break that record at the Hawthorns – interestingly, the very ground at which his old nemesis oversaw the final game of his career, a thrilling 5-5 draw with West Brom in May 2013.
Wenger has not exactly enjoyed unwavering support during his 20-year spell in north London but, with three league titles to his name, he is showing few signs of giving up hope of a fourth before he finishes his Gunners career.
Ahead of his latest milestone, we take a look at the Opta stats behind his remarkable time in England.<…
Joe Willock capped an impressive display with a late strike after two own goals helped Arsenal fight back to score a 4-1 win over Molde in the Europa League.
Martin Ellingsen s long-range strike gave the Norwegian champions a shock lead at Emirates Stadium on Thursday, but Kristoffer Haugen turned into his own net just before the break.
Substitute Sheriff Sinyan also scored at the wrong end before Nicolas Pepe drilled home, and Willock added a fourth late on as a much-changed Arsenal raised their game in the second half.
A third win out of three puts Mikel Arteta s team six three points clear of their opponents at the top of Group B and well on course to qualify for the knockout stages.
Three games
Three wins
— Arsenal (@Arsenal…
The son of former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has signed for Lazio.
Andrea Cannavaro, 16, has joined the Biancocelesti s Under-17 side, coached by Marco Alboni.
The youngster had been at Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, where his father has been head coach since 2017.
Former Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro spent most of his career in Italy s top flight, although he never won the Serie A title.
He captained Italy to their World Cup triumph in 2006, his displays helping him to win the Ballon d Or later that year.
He has enjoyed success as a coach in China, winning the League One title with Tianjin Quanjian in 2016 and the Super League with Guangzhou last year.
Andrea è un nuovo calciatore biancoceleste!
<…
Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed that Michel Vorm has left the club. The 35 year old first joined Spurs from Swansea back in July 2014, making 47 appearances in all competitions for the North London side. Five developmental squad members have also left the club.
Vorm was once considered to be one of the most exciting goalkeepers in the Premier League during his time with the Swans, but upon making the switch over to Tottenham, that no longer became the case. He wasn’t utilised in any major kind of way, and only really make sporadic appearances during his time there. It’s not yet known whether or not he’ll go in search of a new club, or if he’ll decide to retire from the game altogether.
Vorm has had a series of memorable moments both on and off the pitch througho…
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker:
Looking to open their Europa League adventure with a flurry at Old Trafford, Manchester United will host Real Sociedad on Thursday night.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have found themselves in the midst of a public nightmare when opening the 2022/23 campaign, the former Premier League champions have come roaring back. Last seen over the weekend keeping up their red-hot momentum with a 3-1 romp against Arsenal at Old Trafford, new boss Erik ten Hag should find the mood in his camp at a real high. Shocking almost everyone across England last month as they picked up a 2-1 victory against title contenders Liverpool, the former Ajax boss now finds his side in the midst of a four-match winning run.…