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Leeds United face Everton this weekend and Phil Hay has provided an injury update after Marcelo Bielsa’s pre-match press conference.

Hay provides big update

Hay reported that Bielsa has confirmed that Pablo Hernandez and Diego Llorente are both still missing due to their injuries. The return date for the two is still unknown.

Blow for Leeds

Hernandez shone in Leeds’ promotion season last campaign. He scored nine goals and picked up nine assists (WhoScored). He also managed on average 2.1 shots, 2.3 key passes and 1.1 successful dribbles per game.

Meanwhile summer signing Diego Llorente is yet to start for Leeds. However, in his career before joining the Premier League side, the six-capped Spanish international was very impressive. He is a defensive player with 247 appearances and has 18 goals to his name (Transfermarkt), so enough experience to come in and thrive when fit and healthy.

The fact that they are both unavailable to start or even come off the bench will definitely be a big blow for Bielsa and it will make his fixture against the Toffees even harder.

In other Leeds news, the club have managed to tie down an exciting prospect. Have a read here!

Liverpool extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table as they secure their top spot ahead of Christmas. An emphatic 7-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park has sent their title rivals a huge message as they defend their league title.

It was a day full of statements as Roberto Firmino scored for his second consecutive game, impressing the boss with two goals and an assist. Another man who was difficult to ignore this afternoon was Takumi Minamino, who earned a rare start ahead of Mohamed Salah.

Minamino masterclass

It took Liverpool just three minutes before they were on the front foot against Palace. Little did they know, it would open up the floodgates for a demolishing.

It was Minamino, who earns £75,000-a-week, who found the back of the net first, latching onto a ball from Sadio Mane to give the Reds an early lead. The former Red Bull Salzburg man slotted perfectly into the lineup, despite being limited to his time on the pitch this season.

According to Sofascore, the 25-year-old completed 100% of his dribbles and won three of his six attempted ground duels. He also missed a big chance to score his second goal of the game in the second half, which just highlights further how much of a problem he was for Roy Hodgson’s defence.

Despite being an underrated member of the team, his colleagues are more than aware of his attacking threat. Joe Gomez recently described him as an “unbelievable addition” to the Merseyside outfit.

Since the arrival of Diogo Jota in the summer, Liverpool are heavily stacked with their attacking options. Many are fighting for their spot in the starting lineup and Minamino ensured he did not waste this rare opportunity. His performance in such an influential win will have pricked up Jurgen Klopp’s ears and the Japanese international will be hoping that he has done enough to warrant more starts in the Premier League this campaign.

In other news, Liverpool should cash in on Divock Origi amidst Wolves interest…

After ten years progressing through the ranks at West Brom, Louie Barry couldn’t turn down the opportunity to sign for European heavyweights Barcelona, though the story since has been one massive nightmare for the Midlands side…

What’s been the saga?

The Baggies were entitled to compensation over the 17-year-old, which they subsequently never received, leading to the club’s hierarchy reporting the La Liga giants to FIFA.

As per the Express & Star, Barca were ordered to pay just £235k, though to this day, it is still yet to be resolved.

The Catalan outfit have even gone onto profit from his sale since as Albion’s arch-rivals Aston Villa successfully signed him in a €1m (£900k) deal last January.

And if that’s not enough, he’s hit the ground running in their youth team…

How is Barry getting on now?

The England U17 international has featured regularly for their U23 squad despite being just 17, scoring four goals in seven Premier League 2 matches this term so far.

Whilst he made his first appearance in the EFL Trophy earlier in the campaign, losing 3-0 to Fleetwood Town.

Barry’s latest outing was witnessed by Villa boss Dean Smith, who spoke glowingly after the match and said:

“I saw him for 20 minutes in a game last week for the under-23s. He has really good movement and is a bright young kid. I am sure he will be a hit at Aston Villa but we can’t forget he is only 16. I am excited by the potential he has got, that is for sure. That is why we have gone and got him.”

Whilst other reports claim that the former Baggies academy sensation has ‘clever’ movement – ‘He’s pacey, too, but it’s his close control and his bravery to dribble at his opponents – often beating them one-on-one – that makes him a joy to watch.’

You can’t help but feel that Albion chief Luke Dowling made a shockingly bad call to not offer the emerging prospect a contract package that would’ve been worth staying for at the Hawthorns.

At this rate, it’ll only be a matter of time before the teenage goal machine comes back to truly haunt his former club.

AND in other news, West Brom shouldn’t offer rarely-seen talent a new contract…

MatériaMais Notícias

Após ter garantido sua permanência na elite do futebol brasileiro, a Chapecoense iniciou seu planejamento para 2016 a pleno vapor. Na quarta-feira, o clube anunciou as chegadas do atacante Kempes, do lateral-direito Gimenez e do volante Josimar.

Destaque do Joinville em meio à pífia campanha do rival catarinense, Kempes estava em negociação com a Chape há uma semana. Porém, o acerto só foi confirmado na terça.

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Josimar desembarca na Chape após passagens por Internacional, Palmeiras e, neste Brasileirão, ter defendido a Ponte Preta.

Já Gimenez, que defendeu o Goiás no Brasileirão, teve passagens por Botafogo-SP e Comercial. Sua contratação ocorreu pela possibilidade de atuar tanto na lateral quanto como volante.

O clube catarinense já havia contratado dois jogadores para a próxima temporada: João Lucas, que estava no Paysandu, e Silvinho, que disputou o Brasileiro pelo Joinville.

رد الألماني يورجن كلوب، المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول، على تصريحات أسطورة مانشستر يونايتد، بول سكولز، والتي أدلى بها بعد فوز اليونايتد على أتالانتا في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وكان مانشستر يونايتد قد حول تأخره في النتيجة أمام أتالانتا من هزيمة 2-0 إلى فوز بنتيجة 3-2 في مباراة مثيرة بدوري الأبطال.

سكولز عقب نهاية المباراة قال: “هل سيلعب أولي بهذه الطريقة يوم الأحد ضد ليفربول؟ عليه أن يذهب ويفعل ذلك يوم الأحد وشاهد ما سيحدث، يورجن كلوب في منزله سيفرك يديه معًا”.

وقال كلوب في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة: “لقد كنت أشاهد المباراة ولم تكن هناك ثانية واحدة حيث كنت أفرك يدي معًا”.

وأضاف: “خلال مشاهدتي لمباراة أتالانتا، رأيت أنهم صنعوا 3 فرص واضحة وأثبتوا قوة كبيرة بالشوط الثاني، الأمر الذي يُمكن أن يسبب الكثير من المشاكل”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. كلوب يوضح تطورات إصابة جونز وألكانتار قبل مباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد

وواصل: “نحن استعدينا لمباراة صعبة جدًا ضد خصم استثنائي، مانشستر يونايتد فريق جيد حقًا ونحن سنخوض مباراة هامة على أرضهم أيضًا”.

وتابع: “اليونايتد وليفربول هي مواجهة هائلة ونحن نعلم ذلك، نعم اليونايتد ليسوا سعداء عمومًا بنتائجهم لكنهم ما زالوا قادرين على القيام بأشياء لا تُصدق، سنركز على أنفسنا، نعلم تمامًا كيف هو عالم كرة القدم”.

وأردف: “نحن لا نفكر بالإرهاق لأننا لعبنا الثلاثاء وسنلعب يوم الأحد، نعم أتلتيكو مدريد حصل على أسبوع توقف لذا طاقتهم كانت مختلفة تمامًا لكن قاتلنا ضدهم ولقد تعافينا الآن”.

كلوب: محمد صلاح يتفوّق على رونالدو في شيء واحد.. ولست مهتماً بالمقارنة بينهما https://t.co/8HJVr8TaPY pic.twitter.com/1WhTkPjB0M — Btolat.com (@Btolat) October 22, 2021

وعن السجل التهديفي الرائع لـ ليفربول مؤخرًا: “نحن لا نعتمد على مهاجمينا وحسب، الأمر وكأنه صدفة أكثر من كونه أي شيء آخر أن نسجل بهذه الغزارة.. تسجيل العديد من الأهداف أمر غريب وقد فعلنا ذلك، أنا أحب الفوز بنتيجة 1-0 أيضًا، أحب الشباك النظيفة للغاية”.

وعن تصريحات سولشاير والتي قال فيها أن كلوب السبب في أن يونايتد لا يحصل على الكثير من ركلات الجزاء: “نحن لا يمكننا التأثير على الحكام بأشياء من هذا القبيل، أنا ليس لدي ما أقوله حقًا، نحن لم نحصل على الكثير من ركلات الجزاء مثلهم”.

وعن كواليس ما يقوله بين الشوطين للاعبين: “ليس لديّ تأثير كبير على الفريق خلال المباريات، في المباراة الماضية على سبيل المثال، كان الملعب صاخبًا ولم أفهم معظم ما قاله بيب ليندرز (مساعده)”.

واسترسل: “من الصعب التحدث للاعبين خلال المباريات لذا من المهم قول الأشياء المناسبة قبل المباراة وبين الشوطين، هذه وظيفتي وهي تحليل الأمور بالطريقة الصحيحة”.

وأنهى  تصريحاته بالحديث عن تياجو ألكانتارا وموعد عودته المُحتمل للتدريبات الجماعية: “لقد بدأ الركض، وهذه إشارة جيدة، ربما يعود قبل الاستراحة الدولية القادمة، سنرى”.

After scraping a win against Norwich City in the Premier League, Chelsea shift their focus to their FA Cup run.

The Blues travel to Wembley to take on Manchester United in a battle for their place in this season’s final. Frank Lampard’s side were successful in knocking out Leicester in the previous round after one goal separated the teams at the King Power Stadium.

Chelsea are involved in an intense battle to finish in the Premier League top four, but they will also want to push for their ninth FA Cup and their second in three years.

Transfer Tavern has predicted how Lampard might set up to face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men this evening…

There’s no need to tamper with a front three that has been so clinical together since the restart. Olivier Giroud, Christian Pulisic and Willian have a combined 15 goal contributions in eight matches played (via Sofascore). Lampard will be hoping that at least one of them will find the back of the net tonight.

Ross Barkley was the man of the hour in the previous round after his goal put the Blues through to the semi-finals. The England international has also been in good form since the restart and may be called upon again to work his magic from midfield. Mason Mount could also return to the starting XI after being an unused substitute against Norwich, which would see £32.4m-valued Mateo Kovacic dropped.

After earning a low Sofascore rating of 6.9 and losing possession 13 times against the Canaries, Lampard may opt to drop Marcos Alonso in favour of pushing Cesar Azpilicueta onto the left. Reece James could fill the absent right-back role after starting against both Crystal Palace and Watford earlier this month.

It could be a cagey affair as two sides who know each very well (they have already met three times this season) will lock horns for their place in the final, but who will come out on top?

How do you think Chelsea will line up against Man United, Blues fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

MatériaMais Notícias

As mãos cada vez mais santas de Fernando Prass guiaram o Palmeiras à final da Copa do Brasil. Autor de defesas importantes durante a vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Fluminense, nesta quarta, no Allianz Parque, o goleiro defendeu o tiro de Gustavo Scarpa e ainda viu Gum isolar na disputa de pênaltis. O Verdão, perfeito em todas as batidas, venceu por 4 a 1. Rafael Marques, Jackson, Cristaldo e Allione acertaram o pé! Na decisão, o rival do Alviverde será o Santos, que eliminou o São Paulo com duas vitórias.

O roteiro que antecedeu os pênaltis foi típico de um mata-mata entre dois gigantes. Prova disso é que o Allianz Parque chegou a explodir de alegria por alguns instantes quando Dudu marcou um gol bem anulado aos 45 minutos do segundo tempo e prendeu a respiração pouco depois, quando Fernando Prass (sempre ele!) fez defesa fantástica em chute de Fred.

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O desempenho das duas equipes no primeiro tempo não sugeria tamanha emoção. O Palmeiras, que precisava de apenas um gol para avançar, já estava vencendo por 2 a 0 aos 17 minutos. Empurrado pela torcida a cada dividida, o time ganhou o meio de campo graças à qualidade do jovem Matheus Sales para marcar e sair jogando e sobretudo pelo retorno de Robinho, após um mês machucado.

Foi Robinho quem acreditou em uma bola perdida e cruzou para Barrios abrir o placar. E foi dele o lançamento para Gabriel Jesus ganhar de Wellington Silva e sofrer falta que começou fora, mas acabou dentro da área. Pênalti que Zé Roberto perdeu, mas Barrios conferiu no rebote.

Parecia ser a noite do carrasco Barrios, autor de cinco gols em três jogos contra o Fluminense. Fred, o carrasco dos alviverdes, sofria muito para superar os zagueiros e as dores na perna esquerda ao mesmo tempo. Mas o camisa 9, guerreiro que é, não se entregou. Mesmo debilitado, surgiu livre na área aos 25 minutos do segundo tempo para aproveitar cruzamento de Gerson e marcar seu oitavo gol em 11 duelos com o Verdão.

Àquela altura, era o Flu quem dominava. Sem Robinho, que saiu cansado, os cariocas passaram a controlar o jogo. Não conseguiram o empate que lhes daria a vaga graças a… Fernando Prass! Herói de novo!

Frank Lampard insists Manchester United are Chelsea’s biggest rivals in the race to reach the Champions League. 

Man United have been in sensational form ever since the Premier League restarted last month, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have won four games in a row.

The Red Devils are now enjoying an unbeaten run stemming all the way back to the 2-0 defeat at home to Burnley in January.

Everyone seems to be playing their part, as Mason Greenwood has stepped up to the plate over the past week or so, while Bruno Fernandes continues to impress in the middle of the park.

Solskjaer’s side are currently fifth in the table, just five points behind the Blues with a game in hand, with five games remaining in their season.

The competition to finish in the top four is arguably hotter than ever before, as four teams are closely vying for two spots to qualify for the European tournament.

Lampard, who is Chelsea’s leading goalscorer of all time, has admitted Man United are the biggest threat he has faced as a manager so far, pointing to their recent track record as an example.

He told a virtual press conference, as per The Manchester Evening News, that “Manchester United are the closest threat, they are a very strong team, they’ve been in great form for a long period of time.

“They’ve got really got players and you see the momentum they have gained at this part of the season.

“Individuals across their front three are all scoring a lot of goals. They are the biggest threat from behind.”

In some respect, Lampard’s assessment actually works both ways.

Both clubs were in the middle of planning for a long-term rebuild before the nationwide lockdown was imposed in response to the pandemic in March.

More often than not, they have found themselves battling each other in the transfer market, as the two teams are in contention to sign Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz this summer.

United have beaten the Blues in three out of the past four fixtures, including a 4-0 thumping at Old Trafford at the beginning of the season.

Nevertheless, Lampard’s side have bounced back from that defeat and have jumped ahead of the Red Devils.

As it stands, Solskjaer’s men trail their rivals by two points, with everything left to play for as the Premier League heads into the crunch stage of the competition.

United fans, do you think Chelsea are your biggest threat for a top four finish? Let us know down below!

It’s safe to say Louis van Gaal may not be the most popular of figures in Manchester right now.

Former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie opened up on his departure from the club, and revealed that it was down to Van Gaal’s ruthlessness that saw him make his exit.

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Speaking on The High Performance Podcast back in April, he said (as quoted by The Manchester Evening News): “I had this chat with Louis van Gaal and he told me: ‘Ok Robin, our ways will part. I’m the coach, you’re the player – you have to go, your time is up.

“Ruthless. Towards the end of it, I saw something coming but not this ruthless. And the way he said it as well. And then, like a lot of things go through your mind when you get a message like that.”

After the footage re-emerged via Twitter user @ManUnitedZone_, fans of the Manchester side took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on Van Gaal.

One United fan simply called Van Gaal “bitter” and criticised his treatment of Van Persie as being “very harsh and too direct”.

After firing in the goals to lead United to a final Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson, Van Persie surely deserved better treatment from the club and Van Gaal in particular.

He may not have spent too many seasons there, but he certainly contributed massively, and Van Gaal’s abrasive approach feels a little jarring.

It’s no wonder many United fans seem to be up in arms over him.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to new reports coming from Corriere della Sera, Roma are working hard to make Chris Smalling’s stay in the capital permanent. Looking at the season the defender is having and their team as a whole, this should be their priority for the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

It seems that the Italians have made up their mind: Smalling has to stay put and his agent will be working hard to make it happen as soon as possible.

Still, it seems that the Red Devils will demand around €18m (£15m) for the 30-year-old centre-back, as per Corriere della Sera’s same report, but the upper management of the Roman Gladiators appear calm.

They believe Smalling wants to stay put and that should play right into their hands once the upcoming winter market opens in January.

Keeping the reborn defender at the club definitely looks like a good piece of business for them at the very moment.

A new player

Needless to say, Smalling has completely changed ever since his departure from Manchester United.

During his last season at Old Trafford, the 30-year-old centre-back struggled to show consistency week in, week out and even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted it would be for the best if he sought out the exit door.

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His spell with Manchester United was littered with big blunders and heavy criticism but now he seems to have turned a new leaf altogether.

He’s been Roma’s best performers in 2019/20 with an average rating of 7.53 in Serie A according to Whoscored.

Smalling has averaged 1.2 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game and even managed to bag two goals and one assist in the league this season.

By all standards, he went from being a zero over at Old Trafford to being a hero at the Olimpico and that’s no small feat to achieve.

Roma’s reported insistence of keeping the centre-back is very much warranted and despite his reformed status, with the likes of Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and Marcos Rojo all fighting for a central defensive spot in the Red Devils’ team, a return back to England would definitely not suit either party.

Staying in Italy, however, seems like the ideal scenario, both for Roma and Smalling himself.

In other news, Paris Saint-Germain seem to be targeting one of Roma’s young jewels and the Italians might have some trouble keeping them away.