Liverpool's trip to Watford was supposed to be a landmark day for the Reds but it ended up being one for the wrong reasons, reports Gary Rose.
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Saturday, February 29, 2020
Rangers: Steven Gerrard in pain after Hearts inflict Scottish Cup exit
A crestfallen Steven Gerrard admitted he needs to do some "serious thinking in the next 24, 48 hours" after lacklustre Rangers were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Hearts.
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Manchester United squad ‘stunned’ by Bruno Fernandes’ quality since £47m move
Bruno Fernandes’ performances in training have ‘stunned’ a number of his teammates with the Manchester United squad said to be ‘blown away’ by their newest recruit.
United finally landed the Portuguese midfielder in January for an initial fee of around £47m, which could rise to as much as £67.7m should the former Sporting Lisbon star trigger a number of performance-related clauses during his time at Old Trafford.
The deal was completed on the penultimate day of the winter window and though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have preferred to have signed the midfielder at the start of January, he backed the club’s tough negotiation stance.
United were always confident that a deal would materialise but there was little time to acclimatise as Fernandes made his full debut 48 hours later against Wolves at Old Trafford in a 0-0 draw.
A mid-season training camp in Marbella was a good opportunity for Fernandes to get to know his new colleagues and United’s conditioning department created an individual programme for the midfielder in a bid to get him up to speed.
But the programme was quickly ditched with one source telling Metro.co.uk that Fernandes was in ‘immaculate’ condition. The midfielder ranked in the top three during physical testing and it was decided that he could fully integrate with the rest of the squad.
Scholes on Fernandes' start
‘He looks a special talent and looks like he can be a hero of the fans as well. He has got the right name for it, with the song and stuff. But then you think of Eric Cantona and Wayne Rooney, these people who are idolised by the fans, and you hope that in the future he can become as good as them’
Fernandes’ quality was already evident during the 0-0 draw with Wolves at Old Trafford, when teammates noted the midfielder’s leadership skills. The 25-year-old only managed one training session with the group before making his debut but he was comfortable in dishing out orders on the pitch, urging the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw to make overlapping runs, while he instantly put himself forward for set piece duties.
United had reservations last summer over Fernandes’ decision-making and loose passing. While Solskjaer wanted an attacking midfielder that took risks on the ball, the Norwegian was unsure about Fernandes’ ability to retain possession given his 75.1% success rate in Portugal.
But Fernandes has taken little time in dispelling those fears. Once in Spain for the training camp, Fernandes’ speed of thought was clear for all to see during warm-up Rondo drills and backroom staff are pleased, having noted signs of a burgeoning understanding with Anthony Martial.
Rio Ferdinand on Fernandes
‘He’s come in and he’s been a breath of fresh air,’ the former United defender said on his YouTube channel. There’s no heirs and graces and he looks like he’s come in and is someone who wants to play football and enjoys his football.’
Though the focus of the camp was to prepare for a crucial away game at Chelsea after the break, the squad were given plenty of down-time after training. Fernandes, though, would spend up to half an hour after every training session practicing free-kicks alongside fellow midfielder Fred.
Fernandes has since translated his impressive performances in training into matches, providing three assists and scoring two goals in his first four matches in a red shirt. Solskjaer feels vindicated in his decision to bide his time over the purchase, while United believe their refusal to meet Sporting’s initial asking price has been justified.
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Fred explains how Michael Carrick saved his Manchester United career
Fred has revealed that Manchester United first-team coach Michael Carrick played a big part in turning around his fortunes at the club.
The Brazilian endured a tough start to his Old Trafford career after making the £52million switch from Shakhtar Donesk in 2018.
In the second part of this campaign the 26-year-old has blossomed, scoring his first two goals under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer in the 5-0 win over Club Brugge on Thursday night.
And Fred admitted former United midfielder Carrick was pivotal in resurrecting his career, he told United People’s TV: ‘Michael Carrick helps me a lot day-to-day. We always talk and he tries to help me with my positioning on the field.
‘Carrick is a guy that always helps me. He is someone that always talks to me, which is important for adapting my football for the Premier League.
‘Because when I arrived I would control the ball in midfield and, well, one or two opposition players would come along and I’d be knocked off the ball. So now I can understand the game better and that I have to be quicker and stronger.
‘Carrick helps me to calm down. We do some one-on-one training, so he’s someone who influences me a lot at the club.”
The midfielder was the subject of criticism in his debut season at the club, as he struggled to get up to the tempo of the Premier League.
He added: ‘I had to adapt to a new style of game, which is the Premier League, and very different to the Ukrainian championship. But I think that is normal.
‘I think the majority of players that come from other countries that don’t have a championship as strong as here in the Premier League end up feeling that process of adaptation.’
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Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Crystal Palace: A 'remarkable victory' for Eagles says Roy Hodgson
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson says his side's derby win was "remarkable" as the Eagles won a top-flight match at Brighton & Hove Albion for the first time.
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Mikel Arteta reveals how Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacted to Europa League heartache
Mikel Arteta revealed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was left ‘gutted’ and felt ‘responsible’ for Arsenal Europa League humiliation at the hands of Olympiacos.
The Gunners surrendered a 1-0 first leg advantage and will not be involved in European competition beyond February for the first time since 1999 after Youssef El-Arabi’s 119th minute goal proved decisive.
Aubameyang appeared to have rescued his side with an acrobatic volley in extra-time but his excellence was undone by familiar defensive frailties and the Arsenal skipper was left disconsolate at the final whistle, just moments after he had squandered a simple chance win the tie.
‘He was gutted,’ Arteta said ahead of Monday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Portsmouth.
‘Obviously he scored a wonder goal that was putting us through in the competition, and with the last kick of the game, he had the best chance of the game.
‘He felt very responsible about it, we will try to be right behind him. He has been phenomenal all season for us and now the players have to support him, I think his reaction after the game – to face the media and the way he talked, it was a very mature reaction from him.
‘We are all very down, frustrated, disappointed, but my message to the players was that I am right behind them. I thanked them for the effort they put into the game, for the attitude and the personality they played with and the way they reacted after we conceded the goal.
‘We tried, tried and tried again and completely deserved to win the game but there were aspects of the game that we have to dominate better if we want to keep competing at that level.
‘It is part of the profession. We can fall and have disappointments, it is about how we react individually and collectively. Then my job is to try to convince them that in the process in which we are at the moment, there are a lot of positive things and as well things we have to improve if we want to much better as a team.’
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Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace: Seagulls need to keep fighting - Graham Potter
Brighton manager Graham Potter says his team cannot afford to "feel sorry" for themselves, after losing 1-0 at home to derby rivals Crystal Palace.
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Tony Bellew backs Anthony Joshua to knock out Tyson Fury inside six rounds
Tony Bellew is backing Anthony Joshua to knock Tyson Fury out and believes the WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF champion will get the job done within six rounds.
An all-British heavyweight affair is on the cards later this year, with Fury’s WBC belt also set to be on the line in what would be a historic unification bout.
Fury dominated Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas a week ago, with many backing the undefeated Gypsy King to come out on top against Joshua, who recently won his belts back by defeating Andy Ruiz in a rematch.
But former heavyweight Bellew has bucked the trend and tipped Joshua to beat Fury, but only if he gets the job done inside the first six rounds.
‘It’s an amazing match up,’ Bellew told Soccer AM. ‘I still believe styles make fights and everyone’s going to say to me “boo, you’re sticking by Matchroom”. I just think AJ’s style will be all wrong for Tyson Fury.
‘I believe that because Wilder has the bigger punch than AJ, but Wilder is not technically good enough to put Fury in a position to nail him and that’s why he couldn’t land on the night.
‘Anthony Joshua is technically good enough, you’re talking about an Olympic gold medallist, a guy who is technically and fundamentally is good, he does have speed, he’s a brilliant athlete, he functions the right way.
‘I just feel that he would get to Fury. Don’t get me wrong it would have to be within six rounds because anyone who goes past six rounds with someone like Fury you’ve lost. The guy’s such an immense boxer, he can adapt in fights, he’s versatile and he’s just an amazing fighter.
‘It’s a fight we all want to see and we have to see because if boxing’s going to remain one of the premier sports in the world we need to see the best face the best.
‘It’s just too big of a fight not to happen. Great Britain has got two of the best heavyweights in the world, they own four of the belts. We’ve never had it – British fighters who have owned all four of the belts through two fights, AJ’s got three, Tyson’s got one.
‘Everyone’s going to have their opinion of who’s going to be number one and who’s not. I don’t care who you’re going to label as number one and number two, the main thing is we just want to see them fight.’
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Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Crystal Palace: Jordan Ayew goal clinches victory for Eagles
Jordan Ayew's second-half goal ensures Brighton's dismal start to 2020 continues as Crystal Palace edge a tight affair at Amex Stadium.
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Hull City 0-4 Leeds United: Ayling, Hernandez & Roberts give Whites victory
Leeds United strengthen their grip on an automatic promotion place with a fourth successive victory against Hull City.
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Mikel Arteta: Arsenal players 'all very down' after Europa exit
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his players are still "down, frustrated and disappointed" two days after Europa League exit.
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Joe Cole warns Mikel Arteta he needs to axe seven Arsenal stars
Arsenal needs a massive overhaul that could take several years, according to Joe Cole.
Mikel Arteta’s reign at Arsenal had got off to a positive start before the Gunners came crashing back down to earth following their exit from the Europa League at the hands of Olympiacos.
It’s been a season punctuated by dismal results and Cole warned Arteta he needed to axe as many as seven first-team stars.
‘I think this is a long, long-term project,’ Cole told BT Sport.
‘This isn’t something that’s going to get sorted out in 2-3 years when we’ll see them bounce back into the Champions League places.
‘If anything they need to get rid of about five, six, seven players and bring in new recruits, but they’ve got to get the recruitment right.’
Several Arsenal stars publicly backed the squad and their manager after the defeat to Olympiacos, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners captain thought he’d sent Arsenal through to the next round with a goal in extra-time before Youssef El-Arabi struck for Olympiacos in the dying moments.
Aubameyang is in talks with Arsenal to sign a new long-term deal, but Cole urged the striker to leave the club if he wants to win trophies.
He said: ‘If I’m Aubameyang I’d be looking out the door because he’s a player that needs to be playing at the very, very top level. He needs to be playing in the Champions League.
‘He’s not played enough years in the Champions League to cement himself as a top, top player, which is what he actually is because his stats and his numbers add up with anyone.
‘I think the process Arsenal have got to go through, they’ve got to go back to the days when they’re bringing players through, which they are, Saka, the left-back, I think is different class.
But also they need to find these gems that they were finding 20 years ago.
‘Arsenal will always be able to bring players in because ‘of the name, because it’s in London and the stature of the club, players will want to play for Arsenal.
‘Traditionally they play good football, but again I think it’s a long road for them.
‘I think they’re miles behind Chelsea and Tottenham, Man United, Man City. Man United seem to be coming back, it’s a long road for Arsenal.’
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MORE: Ian Wright sends passionate message to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over Arsenal future
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Chelsea Women v Arsenal Women: Continental League Cup final
Preview followed by live coverage of Saturday's Women's Continental League Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal.
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Storm Jorge: Weather hits Saturday's EFL programme
Saturday's EFL programme is affected by the weather as three League Two games are called off because of waterlogged pitches.
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Juventus vs Inter Milan title clash postponed as coronavirus calls off Serie A matches
Several of the weekend’s Serie A matches in Italy have been called off, including Juventus’ top-of-the-table clash with Inter Milan due to growing concerns around the spread of coronavirus.
Matches were due to be played behind closed doors, with Inter and Juventus set to face off in a crunch fixture at the top of Italy’s top flight, but have now been scrapped in totality.
Juventus, who are top of the table, are instead scheduled to welcome third-place Inter Milan to the Allianz Stadium on May 13. Both sides are coached by former Chelsea managers, with Maurizio Sarri managing Juventus and Antonio Conte in charge of Inter Milan.
Other matches cancelled are AC Milan vs Genoa, Parma vs SPAL, Udinese vs Fiorentina and Sassuolo vs Brescia.
The outbreak of coronavirus is yet to affect English football but a situation could arise where Liverpool are denied their first Premier League title if the season brought to a premature halt.
English clubs are already taking precautionary measures. Newcastle United have instructed their players not to shake hands for fear over coronavirus spreading.
In Italy – the European country worst affected by coronavirus thus far, three Serie C players have been diagnosed with coronavirus, with a 22-year-old unnamed US Pianese player the first to be diagnosed and putting himself in ‘voluntary quarantine’.
A statement from US Pianese, based in Tuscany, said: ‘At the moment those infected are four, three players and a team official.
‘The first is a young player who had started to experience a slight rise in temperature and headache last Saturday, when the team was away to Alessandria to play a championship game.
‘The second player is in self-isolation at his home, while not showing any symptoms, as well as the third player who is slightly feverish.
‘The fourth person tested positive for the swab is a club official who this morning, after spending the night in a feverish state, was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Siena.
‘Currently all the players, the technical staff and the managers present during the trip last weekend are in a 15-day quarantine.”‘
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Coronavirus: Juventus v Inter Milan one of five Serie A matches postponed
Five Serie A matches this weekend have been postponed because of coronavirus, including Juventus' game at home to Inter Milan.
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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith opens door to Jack Grealish Manchester United transfer
Dean Smith admitted Jack Grealish’s future at Aston Villa will be ‘down to what happens over the next three months’ amid serious interest from Manchester United.
Grealish, 24, is captain of his boyhood club but has ambitions to play at the very top level – something Aston Villa may struggle to deliver anytime soon.
He will lead his side out at Wembley on Sunday when they face Manchester City – another side reported to be interested in landing him – in the final of the Carabao Cup and Smith believes that securing an unlikely piece of silverware would be a huge step forward in keeping the club’s talisman.
But more important, he believes, is ensuring they stay in the Premier League, with Villa lurking perilously above the relegation zone.
Should they drop down to the Championship a summer exit seems inevitable, with Manchester United at the front of the queue and desperate to sign him early in the summer.
And Smith admitted the club have to match his ambition in order to keep him beyond this season.
‘He wants to play at the highest level and he wants to win trophies,’ said Smith. ‘We have to work hard on Sunday to win that trophy.
‘But staying in this league is one of the biggest things to help us keep him.
‘Jack’s future is down to what happens over the next three months.’
This will be Grealish’s fifth trip to Wembley with Villa, winning two of the previous four in a FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool and a play-off final against Derby County last season.
He will have played more times at Wembley than any other player in Aston Villa’s history when he steps out at the national stadium on Sunday, and he is determined to deliver his boyhood club their first piece off silverware since a League Cup triumph in 1996 over Leeds.
‘Cup finals are the games you dream of playing in as a kid and, being an Aston Villa fan, leading my boyhood club out,’ said Grealish.
‘It always touches me before the game when you go past the pubs and the Villa fans are everywhere.
‘If anyhow I could get my hands on that trophy it would be a dream come true. I know what I want to do in my career: play for Aston Villa, play for England and win trophies. That’s the aim.
‘I’ve always known what I can do and how good I can be. I’ve never really had any doubts that I wouldn’t be able to perform the way I am.
‘You want to have medals and have lifted trophies and sometimes I pinch myself that I’m Villa captain at 24.’
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Chelsea ready to offer £43m to seal transfer of Lyon star Houssem Aouar
Chelsea are closely monitoring Houssem Aouar and are reportedly prepared to move for the Lyon star this summer.
Aouar has earned rave reviews in France and is a target of Premier League leaders Liverpool, as well as Manchester City.
Italian outlet Tuttosport claim Chelsea are one of several clubs tracking Aouar with a view to a summer move.
Juventus are also interested in the 21-year-old, who has scored nine times from midfield this season.
Chelsea are ‘particularly interested’ and see Aouar as a better option than Juventus star Miralem Pjanic going forward.
Frank Lampard has already made his first signing of the summer after it was confirmed Hakim Ziyech would arrive from Ajax at the end of the season.
Aouar is another attacking option in midfield and Chelsea are ready to offer £43million for his services.
Lyon have nurtured Aouar through their youth ranks and regard him as one of their brightest talents.
Aouar can play through the middle or on the left side of midfield and has provided seven assists this season.
Lampard is plotting a big summer and there could be a massive clear-out at the club.
The Chelsea boss was bitterly disappointed not to sign a single player in January, but expects to be backed in the summer transfer window.
‘There is a reason why we are where we are [in the table],’ Lampard said ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth this weekend.
‘We have not challenged in the Premier League for a couple of years. We want to close that gap.
‘Come the summer, of course as a club we want to move forward and make some decisions.
‘We are certainly on the same page here when I speak with the board and we have our conversations. We know we are fighting for fourth place.’
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Ian Wright sends passionate message to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over Arsenal future
Ian Wright has sent a passionate plea to Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, begging him to sign a new contract and stay at the Emirates.
Former Borussia Dortmund forward Aubameyang has been linked with a move away from the club, with his contract expiring at the end of next season.
Barcelona are among the sides thought to be interested in the Gabon international, 30. who has scored 20 goals in the Premier League and Europa League this season.
He was on the scoresheet again in a shock defeat to Olympiacos but missed a glorious opportunity at the death that would have stopped his side crashing out of the Europa League.
Aubameyang took to Instagram a day later and wrote: ‘I Woke up This Morning praying as usual and i thanks God for what he gave me.
‘An incredible Family and you Fans are part of it 🙏🏽 thanks for all the messages and the love i received since yesterday.
‘Football is great Even if he gives you sometimes Strange emotions but i Take it as a lesson again and keep my head up Season’s Not over yet 🙏🏽we’ll fight as a Team Till the end.’
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was quick to respond to Aubameyang and begged him to stay beyond his current deal.
‘We love you!!! This club loves you. Our fans love you,’ Wright wrote.
‘Forget about last night. If you weren’t here with all due respect to the rest of our team we’d be in deep trouble.
‘For you to score the amount of goals you are scoring whilst doing all that defending is just incredible!!! (Please stay and sign the ting).
Arsenal return to action on Monday when they face Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
They aren’t involved in the Premier League this weekend as their clash with Manchester City was postponed while they contest the Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa.
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