Author: cimi

?Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named Premier League Player of the Month for December, a reward for his fine form in the final few weeks of the decade.

It is the first time that Alexander-Arnold has won the prestigious monthly prize in his fledgling career, while he is the first defender to win since Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk in December 2018 – it is almost always usually won by attacking players.

Reds forward Sadio Mane won it for November, making it two in a row for Liverpool.

“It’s a proud moment,” Alexander-Arnold told the Premier League’s official website.

“We’ve had a good month as a team. There were many players that were up for it so it’s an honour to be the one that won it,” he added.

Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold were on fire throughout December. The Premier League leaders won all five games they played, with the 21-year-old England star particularly devastating in a top of the table clash with Leicester on Boxing Day.

The 4-0 demolition of the Foxes at King Power Stadium was the biggest margin of victory in a game between first and second in the Premier League since Manchester City battered Manchester United 6-1 back in October 2011.

Alexander-Arnold had a direct hand in three of Liverpool’s four goals, assisting Roberto Firmino twice and scoring one of his own. Earlier in the month, he also got an assist against Everton in the Merseyside derby as Liverpool crushed their neighbours 5-2 at Anfield.

Away from the Premier League in December, Liverpool also secured progress to the Champions League knockout stages and won the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.

[embedded content]

The trip to the Gulf state meant that the pre-Christmas Premier League clash with West Ham had to be postponed, meaning that Liverpool have a game in hand to play.

---

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Let’

?Struggling Aston Villa will look to cause a shock when they host Manchester City in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday.

The Villans find themselves just one point above the drop zone after a poor festive period which also saw them pick up several injuries to key players.

The last thing they will have wanted then is a tough fixture against the reigning English champions, who looked rampant in their Carabao Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United.

But Dean Smith’s side will be hoping that their own impressive midweek cup performance can be a springboard for what would be three massive points in their bid for survival.

---

Where to Watch

When Is Kick Off?	Sunday 12th January
What Time Is Kick Off?	16:30 (BST)
Where Is it Played?	Villa Park
TV Channel/Live Stream?	Sky Sports Main Event
Referee?	Jon Moss

---

Team News

After losing Wesley for the rest of the season, it is probable that ?Aston Villa will also be without Jonathan Kodjia due to illness, meaning that they will likely adopt the false nine system that proved relatively effective in the midweek draw with ?Leicester.

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton is unavailable after he too suffered a season-ending injury, while Jed Steer, John McGinn, Matt Targett and Keinan Davis will also miss out.

For ?Manchester City it is expected that Ederson will return in goal following illness and suspension. This will come as something of a relief for City fans, after Claudio Bravo conceded from the first shot on target he faced yet again in Tuesday’s derby victory.

They will also be without long term absentees Leroy Sané and Aymeric Laporte, although both are nearing fitness.

---

Predicted Lineups

Aston Villa	Nyland; Konsa, Mings, Hause; Guilbert, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, Taylor; Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Grealish
Manchester City	Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Stones, Zinchenko; Rodri, D. Silva, De Bruyne; Sterling, Aguero, B. Silva

---

Head-to-Head Record

The first meeting between these two sides took place in 1899, and there have 169 games between them since.

In that time Manchester City have largely dominated with 72 wins to Villa’s 57. There pair have played out 41 draws.

That trend has continued in recent years, and the last time Villa beat City in any competition was back in 2013.

---

Recent Form

Despite a win against ?Burnley in their last Premier League match, the hosts have suffered a torrid run of form recently.

Defeats in games against ?Sheffield United, ?Southampton and 10 man ?Watford could prove fatal in their bid to avoid Premier League relegation.

Manchester City on the other hand have bounced back well from a disappointing defeat to ?Wolves with four straight wins.

They looked particularly impressive in the first half against ?Manchester United, and Pep Guardiola will be wanting to come at least second after admitting the Premier League title race is over.

Here’s how the two have got on in their last five games…

Aston Villa	Manchester City
Leicester 1-1 Aston Villa (8/1/20)	Manchester United 1-3 Manchester City (7/1/20)
Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa (4/1/20)	Manchester City 4-1 Port Vale (4/1/20)
Burnley 1-2 Aston Villa (1/1/20)	Manchester City 2-1 Everton (1/1/20)
Watford 3-0 Aston Villa (28/12/19)	Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield United (29/12/19)
Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich (26/12/19)	Wolves 3-2 Manchester City (27/12/19)

---

Prediction

If Manchester City show anything like the kind of form they did in the opening half on Tuesday then it’s hard to look beyond them for a win.

With Villa’s injury problems and poor defensive record, there’s a genuine worry that this could get ugly for Dean Smith’s side.

Prediction: Aston Villa 0-4 Manchester City ?

---

Let’

?Real Madrid are still keen to sell Gareth Bale in the summer, despite quotes from his agent recently suggesting otherwise, but are struggling to find a potential buyer for the 30-year-old. 

The Welsh forward has endured a tough year in the Spanish capital, being all-but written off by Zinedine Zidane in the summer, before a seemingly imminent move to the Chinese Super League collapsed at the eleventh hour. 

Though he would return to the ?Real side, he has been vilified by some sections of supporters and the press since, and matters only got worse during the ?’Wales, Golf, Madrid’ saga, in which he played up to the suggestion that he cared more about playing for his country – and his leisurely activities – than featuring under Zidane. 

All that considered, it came as something as a surprise this week, when ?his agent Jonathan Barnett said that not only is Bale ‘going nowhere’ in January, but it is also ‘very unlikely’ that he will depart in the summer. 

Unsurprisingly, that’s not a view shared by the club. According to ?The Telegraph, they do concede that it will be very difficult to offload Bale this month, but they remain keen to move him on and will actively endeavour to do so when the summer window reopens. 

They are not thought to be expecting an avalanche of offers for the 30-year-old’s services, and accept that even in the summer it may be tricky to attract offers for a highly-valued, highly-paid, ageing asset such as Bale.

However, that won’t stop them trying, so expect the same old tired Manchester United rumours to come to the fore once again come June. 

Bale is currently sidelined with a chest infection as Real prepare for Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final with Atletico Madrid, and has scored twice and registered two assists in 14 appearances this season. 

---

For more from Robbie Copeland, follow him on Twitter!

Let’

?Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has met with Inter officials and agreed personal terms over a January switch to San Siro, although the Frenchman must wait for the clubs to strike a deal before he can reunite with former boss Antonio Conte.

Giroud has found himself a spare part at Stamford Bridge this season, appearing seven times in all competitions halfway through the campaign and starting only twice in the Premier League.

The 33-year-old former Arsenal star is out of contract at the end of the season, but his lack of action may have knock-on effects for his Euro 2020 prospects.

Giroud is vital to the way France play and has never yet been left out of a France squad when not injured since he made his debut in 2011. His selection for Euro 2020 isn’t in doubt, but minimal playing time at club level could see him reach the summer lacking match sharpness.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Giroud was able to agree a two-and-a-half year contract with Inter directors at this week’s meeting that would see him join until 2022.

Exclusive: Olivier Giroud agent met Inter directors today in Milano. The French striker would be ready to join and agreed personal terms (contract until 2022) – but talks are still on between Inter and Chelsea, no agreement yet btw the two clubs. ? @SkySport #Inter #Chelsea #CFC pic.twitter.com/zcumNneQjU

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 9, 2020

However, the talks between Inter and Chelsea are said to still be ‘ongoing’.

While Giroud is already permitted to discuss his future with overseas clubs with a view to securing a free transfer in summer when his contract expires, Chelsea must agree to a deal if he is to leave during the current transfer window.

Should Giroud leave, it may be that Chelsea look to strengthen their squad with a replacement to support and challenge primary striker Tammy Abraham and back-up Michy Batshuayi.

90min told you earlier this week that Chelsea are unlikely to be able to conclude a deal for target Moussa Dembele, with Lyon keen not to sell their star midway through the season.

Elsewhere, Chelsea are now being linked with Napoli star Dries Mertens, although such a deal would come in the form of a free transfer in summer. Le10Sport claims that both Chelsea and Inter have spoken with 32-year-old Mertens, who is nearing the end of his Napoli contract.

---

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Let’

?Manchester United will have to find a way through their current defensive injury crisis that doesn’t involve Chris Smalling as the club does not have the option of recalling the England centre-back, who has been impressing in Serie A, from his loan at Roma.

Smalling joined Roma for the duration of the 2019/20 campaign in August when it became clear that he would be a fringe player at United following the £80m arrival of Harry Maguire.

It proved to be the move the 30-year-old needed to reignite his career and he has been widely praised for the way he has taken to Italian football.

But with his parent club now struggling to put a defence together as a result of injuries to Maguire, Axel Tuanzebe, Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo – even Phil Jones looked to be struggling with cramp in his last appearance – Smalling would have been in line to play an important role.

However, the Daily Mirror notes that there is no option in Smalling’s loan agreement with Roma to recall him to Old Trafford any earlier than the end of the season.

Assuming Jones has no lingering problems from that cramp, he will partner Victor Lindelof against Norwich in the Premier League on Saturday. Otherwise, it may be that Nemanja Matic is asked to fill in as an emergency centre-back, which will have a knock-on effect in midfield.

Jones was given the run around by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup earlier this week and has only made one Premier League appearance so far this season, such has been his lowly status in the defensive pecking order. That was against Sheffield United in November and ended after just 45 minutes when he substituted at half-time following a disastrous performance.

United have been tipped to consider an emergency loan signing to cover for Maguire’s absence. The former Leicester man is nursing a hip injury and it was reported earlier this week that he has suffered a muscle tear and could be sidelined for two months.

However, there may be a reprieve for United as the latest on the subject is that it is nothing like as bad as suspected. The Daily Mail writes that the tear is only a small one and puts Maguire’s expected recovery back down to ‘a matter of days rather than weeks’.

They also revealed that he was able to train on grass on Thursday and hasn’t even ruled out a return to action against Norwich, although it is still not considered likely.

---

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Let’