The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chelsea

  • Vardy earns Leicester narrow win at Chelsea

    Jamie Vardy’s well-taken breakaway goal helped Leicester to earn a 1-0 win at Chelsea on Saturday to ease the pressure on coach Claude Puel.

    The victory also inflicted on the hosts their first home English Premier League defeat of the season.

    The English striker’s goal in the 51st minute earned the visitors only their second win in six league matches.

    They also put up a determined defensive display to keep Chelsea forward Eden Hazard at bay.

    The Belgian winger, deployed in a false nine role by Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri, came closest in the first half as he struck the crossbar with a fierce drive.

    The hosts dominated possession but failed to create many clear chances.

    Vardy made Chelsea pay shortly after the break, finishing lethally after James Maddison slipped him through at the end of a quick counter-attack.

    Hazard came close again but was denied by a brilliant Kasper Schmeichel save, while Cesar Azpilicueta’s last-ditch block stopped Vardy adding another with a clever backheel.

    Chelsea almost found an equaliser in the 90th minute but Marcos Alonso hit the inside of the post and the ball rolled agonisingly across the face of goal and out.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Biggest test perhaps for Sarri, as Chelsea host Manchester City

    It has taken less than two weeks for the optimism generated by a 12-match unbeaten start to Maurizio Sarri’s reign at Stamford Bridge to fizzle out.

    This weekend the Italian faces his biggest test to date when Manchester City visit.

    In fairness to the former Napoli manager, he stressed throughout the heady days of early Autumn that Chelsea were not equipped to challenge Manchester City for the title.

    Now, ahead of Saturday’s clash between the sides, a 10-point gap has opened up.

    On Tuesday, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City maintained a searing pace at the top with a 2-1 win against Watford.

    Twenty four hours later, Chelsea went down 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers — their second defeat in three English Premier League games.

    Sarri said his side had only played well for 55 minutes at Wolves.

    He added that he knows they will have to be at full tilt for 90 minutes on Saturday if they are to have any chance of halting the Manchester City juggernaut.

    He said he expects a “big reaction” on Saturday.

    But he already appears to have settled for a top-four scrap along with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, rather than chasing down Liverpool and champions Manchester City.

    “Manchester City are in another category. We have to play and to fight to be in the top four,” Sarri said after the setback at Wolves.

    “City are the best team in Europe, maybe the best in the world. They can win the UEFA Champions League.”

    Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool, who like Manchester City are unbeaten, started without Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at Burnley on Wednesday but still won 3-1.

    With a huge `must-win’ UEFA Champions League game coming up next week against Napoli, Klopp may well gamble on squad rotation as they travel to seventh-placed Bournemouth for Saturday’s early kick-off.

    Victory for Liverpool would take them top, at least until Manchester City’s later clash with Chelsea.

    Third-placed Tottenham Hotspur will also have a massive UEFA Champions League night on their minds when they travel to Leicester City on Saturday evening.

    Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be less than pleased that his side kickoff at 1945 GMT with a trip to FC Barcelona following on Tuesday.

    It was a game Tottenham will almost certainly have to win to reach the last 16 of the tournament.

    Fifth-placed Arsenal have no such concerns as they host Huddersfield Town on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 matches.

    Manchester United, who are 18 points behind leaders Manchester City and eight adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea after three successive draws, are at home to bottom club Fulham.

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has made 46 changes to his starting line-up already this season and all eyes will be on his selection again.

    He comes face to face with the original “tinkerman” Claudio Ranieri, now at the helm at Fulham.

    Mourinho left record signing Paul Pogba on the bench for Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal and also started without Romelu Lukaku.

    But goalscorer Anthony Martial picked up an injury against Arsenal and is a major doubt to face Fulham.

    Also on Saturday, Burnley host Brighton and Hove Albion while new Southampton boss manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will be in the dugout for the first time.

    His side take on fellow strugglers Cardiff City.

    West Ham United will be seeking a third consecutive win when they host Crystal Palace in a London derby.

    Match Day 16 Fixtures

    Bournemouth vs Liverpool

    Arsenal vs Huddersfield

    Burnley vs Brighton

    Cardiff vs Southampton

    Manchester United vs Fulham

    West Ham vs Crystal Palace

    Chelsea vs Manchester City

    Leicester vs Tottenham

    Newcastle United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Everton vs Watford

  • Sarri rules out switching Kante’s role

    Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante will not be moved back to his preferred position in central midfield, according to the English Premier League clubside’s manager Maurizio Sarri.

    The Italian manager said the role was more suited to technical players such as Jorginho and Cesc Fabregas.

    Kante emerged as a leading deep-lying midfielder in recent seasons, winning back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea.

    He also helped France to claim the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but Sarri said he had to adapt to an advanced role.

    “I want to play a central midfielder who is a very technical player. So, for me, it’s Jorginho or Fabregas.

    Read Also:Kante signs five-year deal with Chelsea

    “I don’t want Kante in this position,” Sarri told reporters ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash with Greek side PAOK Salonika.

    Chelsea head into the contest on the back of a 3-1 league defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, their first loss of the season, where Kante and Jorginho struggled to influence the game.

    The result saw Chelsea drop to fourth in the standings and Sarri criticised 27-year-old Kante’s performance.

    “Kante, in the last match, wanted to solve the match after the first 15 minutes, but in the wrong way. He lost the position, he attacked too much,” Sarri added.

    “This one is not one of the best characteristics of Kante, but it was only in reaction to the difficulties.

    “Maybe it’s only a question of time, but Kante has to stay near to Jorginho, especially when the ball is on the other side,” the Chelsea coach said.

     

  • Sigurdsson: in-form Everton are confident of good show

    Everton’s ability to grind out results has boosted their confidence ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool in the English Premier League, midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson said on Thursday.

    Iceland international Sigurdsson scored the winning goal as Everton overcame promoted Cardiff City 1-0 last Saturday.

    The victory helped them to extend their unbeaten league run to three games and climb to sixth in the table on 22 points.

    “I think all the boys have been looking forward to the derby since the start of the season and that feeling has grown with the performances we have been putting together over the past couple of months,” Sigurdsson told the club’s website.

    Read Also: Everton must prepare to win ugly, Sigurdsson says

    “The team is playing really well and getting results and we are grinding out wins when we’re not playing our best football.”

    Victory over Cardiff followed a determined display at Stamford Bridge, where Everton held title contenders Chelsea to a goalless draw earlier this month.

    “We can take confidence from the way we played at Chelsea. That was a good result,” Sigurdsson, who has scored six goals this season, added.

    Liverpool come into the 232nd meeting with their city rivals on the back of a 2-1 defeat by French side Paris St Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

    Juergen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in the league, however, and sit second on 33 points, two behind leaders Manchester City.

    They go into the match having not lost to Everton at Anfield since 1999.

    “Sunday is another big game for us, we want to make it a good one and we’ll be ready for the challenge,” Sigurdsson said.

  • Kante signs five-year deal with Chelsea

    French international midfielder N’Golo Kante has committed his long-term future to Chelsea by signing a new five-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.

    Kante, an ex-Leicester City FC player who joined Chelsea in 2016, helped the club to win the title in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

    Kante was rewarded for his consistent play by being named the Player of the Year 2016/2017 by both the Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association.

    “I’m happy to extend my time with Chelsea. It has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come.

    “Since I came, I completely improved as a player, challenged myself and got some awards I never thought about.

    “I like the city, I like the club and I am happy to be here for more time’’, Kante said.

    The 27-year-old player tasted his first English Premier League title triumph with Leicester City in the 2015-16 season.

    He also started all seven matches for France as they lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia earlier this year.

     

    NAN

  • Silva confident Everton can end dreadful record at Chelsea

    MARCO SILVA believes his Everton squad are well-equipped to win at Chelsea, despite their terrible record at Stamford Bridge and their opponent’s imperious recent form.

    The Blues last won at the Bridge in November 1994, and in order to end this hoodoo tomorrow, they must end new manager Maurizio Sarri’s unbeaten start as Chelsea boss.

    But while Silva is aware that Everton will be unfancied by many this weekend, he is relishing the opportunity to make a huge statement to the rest of the Premier League:

    “We have confidence in our work and the way we are playing, seeing how our team is growing and getting better and getting results in the last two-and-a-half months. I accept they will be favourites but it is a big challenge for us.

    “What I hope and expect is that we will be ourselves on the pitch. I want to see our team to be ourselves. They will obligate us to do different things to what we want but when we have the ball we have to be ourselves.”

    Everton have won none of their away league games against the so-called ‘big six’ since a victory at Manchester United in December 2013, and Silva has already tasted defeat at Old Trafford and away to Arsenal as Blues boss.

    But, speaking at his pre-match press conference earlier yesterday, he said: “It’s a very good challenge for us. We are improving as a team. We played two away [Arsenal and Manchester United] and challenged them. It’s our way.

    “Sunday will be a tough match. Chelsea are doing well. They have great individual quality and are doing really well. It’s our goal to compete and take a good result.

  • Mourinho in focus again as English Premier League returns

    When Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho returns on Saturday to Stamford Bridge to face former club Chelsea, much would not have changed about him regarding his recent comments.

    He had said “it’s not about me” after his team’s thrilling comeback win over Newcastle United, but this is unlikely to be heeded this time.

    Mourinho’s words, spoken after united fans chanted his name in appreciation of the 3-2 victory, may have reflected weariness at the constant focus on his position at Old Trafford.

    But the spotlight will unavoidably be on the Portuguese again.

    The manner of United’s win, with three goals in the final 20 minutes of all-out attacking football, has raised the question of whether he will change.

    The change is for him to embrace a more positive style of play.

    Nothing in Mourinho’s history suggests that is likely and the prospect of facing Maurizio Sarri’s in-form team at Stamford Bridge is a strong deterrent against a cavalier approach.

    Second-placed Chelsea are unbeaten, level on points with champions Manchester City and challengers Liverpool and with their Belgian forward Eden Hazard in scintillating form they will start as clear favourites.

    Manchester United is already seven points behind the leading trio, having lost to Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United on the road and Tottenham Hotspur at home.

    Read Also: Mourinho deserves respect for being ‘real’ – Lukaku

    Surely, Mourinho will be keen to ensure they avoid defeat in west London.

    Chelsea has not lost at home to United since October 2012, losing just two of the 16 meetings between the two since then.

    Mourinho has suffered four defeats in six games against his former club since taking over at United.

    But, as he reminded the media in his recent demand for more “respect”, Mourinho won three Premier League titles in his two spells as Chelsea manager.

    The former Porto and Real Madrid boss has never been afraid to play defensively when visiting top rivals.

    So, for all the hope that he might try to replicate the ‘gung-ho’ second half display against Newcastle United, it would be no surprise if he were to revert to type on Saturday.

    Manchester City will expect to pick up three points at home to a Burnley side that will feature former City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

    City has not lost at home to the Clarets since 1963 and has lost once in their last 19 meetings in all competitions.

    Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp will also be expecting maximum points when he faces off with close friend David Wagner as the Reds travel to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

    Huddersfield is 18th in the table, have yet to win during this campaign and have managed to score only four goals.

    Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur visit London rivals West Ham on Saturday while in-form Arsenal host Leicester on Monday looking for a 10th successive victory in all competitions.

    Sunday’s game features Everton at home to Crystal Palace.

  • Liverpool’s Van Dijk faces fitness test ahead of Chelsea clash

    Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk faces a fitness test ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Chelsea, although fellow defender Dejan Lovren is available, manager Juergen Klopp said on Tuesday.

    Van Dijk sustained a knock to an earlier rib injury and was substituted in the second half of Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.

    It was a result that left the early Premier League pace-setters with six wins from as many games.

    “He is much better. It’s still a bit painful, nothing else,” Klopp told reporters ahead of the League Cup third round clash at Anfield.

    “We will see how we deal with that. It’s not too serious, but it’s not anything, so that needs to settle for sure.

    “We will see how he is today and make a decision about him.”

    If Van Dijk is ruled out, the experienced Lovren could fill in, as the Croatian had shaken off a pelvic injury.

    Read Also: Van Dijk ready to spur Liverpool to silverware

    The 29-year-old has not played this season after aggravating an earlier pelvic injury during Croatia’s World Cup final march in Russia in July.

    “Dejan looks quite good. He trained completely normal now four times. He worked with the fitness guys before that for 10 days. He looks ready,”Klopp added.

    Klopp said first choice goalkeeper Alisson would be rested with Simon Mignolet taking his place.

    The German, however, said he would field a strong side against Maurizio Sarri’s team.

    “It’s a difficult draw for both teams. It’s not that you think the first two-three rounds you go through somehow, and from the semis on it starts getting exciting…

    “It’s a home game against a very strong side, so it’ll be really interesting.”

    Liverpool returns to Premier League action on Saturday, when they face Chelsea for the second time this week, away at Stamford Bridge.

  • Klopp defends Salah, says Firmino fit to face Chelsea

    Liverpool Manager Juergen Klopp says he has no concern over Egypt striker Mohamed Salah’s form, ahead of Saturday’s match against Chelsea.

    Salah has not scored in his last three Liverpool outings and some observers have suggested he looks short of full fitness and sharpness.

    The former AS Roma forward has scored twice in five games — just one fewer than at this stage last season.

    “Wow, that’s a crisis,” joked Klopp who went on to outline his satisfaction with Salah’s contributions to what has been a 100 per cent start to the campaign for Liverpool.

    “On the defensive side the last two games he was outstanding, perfect, and it is so important in these games especially.

    Read Also: Klopp expects problems despite Liverpool’s perfect start

    “So that says everything about him: that he is really ready to work for the team in these moments. “It is a completely normal situation for an offensive player that they have times when they don’t score.

    “But he is still a threat, has fantastic situations in both games and he is in a good shape,” said Klopp.

    Salah suffered a shoulder injury in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid which hampered him during the World Cup and he is still wearing some strapping around the area.

    “The most important thing is physically he is in a very good shape, which helps,”said Klopp.

    “Salah is really ready to work for the team and it is a normal situation to have times where you don’t score,” added the German.

    “He is just taking his time this year, just like he did last season.”

    Firmino started as substitute due to an eye injury he picked up in last week’s win against Spurs at Wembley but that appears to have healed quickly.

    “Yes, he is ready… so far there is no reason to think about Bobby, it’s about thinking about how we can line up in general differently,” said the former Dortmund manager.

    Daniel Sturridge started against PSG in place of Firmino and scored the opening goal as part of an impressive return to the side.

    “It’s just positive the impact Daniel had (against PSG).

    “It was an intense game; it was a fantastic game from him, to be honest.

    “So that’s the best news and so now we know more about that,” said Klopp, who suggested the English forward could also play alongside Firmino in the future.

    “There are a lot of games to come and these two boys can play together as well — they did in the past, by the way, and they can do it again,” he said.

  • Europa League: A gift to Arsenal, Chelsea fans – StarTimes

    StarTimes Nigeria on Tuesday revealed that adding the UEFA Europa League competition to its list of football offerings is simply a gift to fans of Arsenal and Chelsea Football clubs who also happen to be its subscribers.

    In a statement on Tuesday, Kunmi Balogun, the company’s Public Relations Manager described the surprise move as “simply a gift to all our subscribers for their love and for sticking with StarTimes and for Chelsea and Arsenal fans who have been wondering how to watch the games on Thursday”.

    According to him, “We have signed a 3-year exclusive broadcast rights of the Europa League across sub-Saharan Africa. This means that our 10 million plus subscribers all over Africa can enjoy the games from the comfort of their homes or on the StarTimes mobile app, because they deserve it”

    The company had on September 1 announced a crash in subscription fee of its classic bouquet, reviewing the price downward to N1,900 from N2,600, a move which received many positive reactions from subscribers across the country.

    StarTimes is the leading digital TV operator in Africa, serving nearly 20 million users with a signal covering the whole continent and a massive distribution network of 200 brand halls, 3,000 convenience stores and 5,000 distributors.