Category: Transfer news

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was understandably pleased as his side returned to Premier League winning ways with a narrow 1-0 win over Sheffield United, but did admit that scoring goals is proving difficult.

The Cityzens dominated proceedings at Bramall Lane, earning all three points after Kyle Walker’s low drive evaded the grasp of Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in slick conditions.

KYLEEEEEEEEEE!! pic.twitter.com/SxWXd79qeD

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 31, 2020

The scoreline suggests the game was a tight affair, but City were comfortable winners in truth – even though they were again forced to deploy Ferran Torres as a central striker because of injuries to both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.

After the game, Guardiola picked up with the club’s official website, commenting on the impressive nature of the performance, Walker’s importance to the side – as well as his continued love for City’s opponents – and those pesky links touting him for a return to former club Barcelona.

“It was our third game in seven days, away all of them. We played with a good tempo you need against Sheffield United.

“They had one clear chance in 90 minutes, so that good for us. But when we arrive in the final third we are not clinical enough.

“We played really well. We struggled to score goals with the chances we create – 16 shots, eight on target, that’s a lot against this team. When we couldn’t do it, they then send long balls and crosses and they had chances, but we are satisfied. 

“It’s the third game in seven days, all away. We are in a better position now. Two more games before international break and we move on.”

“His goal helps us a lot but not just the goal. The fact his concentration, he understands every day better what he has to do. “His physicality, he plays almost all the minutes. 

“His physicality, he plays almost all the minutes. 

“He scored against a team he loves. He’s a Sheffield United supporter. He always supports them in locker room – I remember their play off final! Come on Sheffield!”

“I said many times, my period as manager of Barcelona is over. There are incredible people who can be in charge, like Koeman.

“It’s over. I will go back to watch games but it is done. I am happy here and have desire to do well. This is most important thing. Now there are elections in Barcelona and hopefully they can choose the right person for the board.”

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was delighted with the impact of substitutes Diogo Jota and Xherdan Shaqiri as the Premier League champions came from a goal down to beat West Ham 2-1 at Anfield.

The Reds trailed early on to Pablo Fornals’ 11th minute strike, but Mohamed Salah’s penalty and a late goal from Jota, supplied by Shaqiri, turned the game on its head.

There was also a Premier League debut for Nat Phillips in central defence, as he stepped up to partner Joe Gomez in the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip.

It was a game Phillips will never forget, as he was named Man of the Match, and Klopp was effusive in his praise for the 23-year-old after the game. Here’s everything he had to say in his post-match press conference, quoted by Liverpool’s official website.

“Both were good, obviously. It is not difficult to bring Diogo and Shaq on in the moment because they train in an exceptional shape, so it makes absolute sense that they get their minutes.

“Yes, Diogo, is in a good moment. He is a good player and we are really happy that we could make that signing, so it is a proper win-win situation. I think we can help him and he can help us a lot. Yes, a very good night.

“It was not about doing things different, it was about doing the right things with different players, pretty much.

“That was more what it was about. Curtis Jones, for example, I don’t know how many starts he’s had, [but] he played an exceptional game tonight, not to forget how old he is. It is intense and Bobby is the one that always has to fight for us in the closest area of the pitch, so bringing in there kind of fresh players, in similar areas and especially Shaq on 10 in that case – we changed the system slightly but with the dominance we had tonight, that’s not a problem.

“Together with the runs. Mo and Sadio did exceptional runs there, so it is very important – if the two players are moving and the other two not, it is too easy to defend, so we needed these connected movements and that’s why we made the change.”

Many had tipped young Rhys Williams, who played in the Champions League midweek, to start again, but Klopp opted for Phillips, who has previous top level experience after a season-long loan at Stuttgart.

“If you know the story behind and all that stuff it makes it even more incredible. I am really pleased for him, he deserves it more than anybody.” Klopp said of Phillips.

“He is a great guy, a smart guy, knows exactly everything about himself as a footballer. He kept it really simple tonight, which was incredibly important for us. The boys supported him well and he supported the boys; he was vocal and he spoke on the pitch.

“In the challenges he was there, really aggressive but no fouls really, maybe one. It was a really good game and he deserves the [man of the match] award.”

“The basis for all what we do and did is the character of this group, that’s how it is. I cannot convince them to fight if they are not fighters, that’s not possible. And if they are not ready to put all the desire in the game and show all the determination, I cannot do that.

“I can find reasons why they should do it but I cannot convince them. So, it was always easy with this team to show them the right path and then that they follow it, but again it’s an incredibly difficult time – in the outside world, 100 per cent, and for the boys as well.

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West Ham manager David Moyes was left ruing referee Kevin Friend’s decision to award Liverpool a first half penalty in the 2-1 defeat at Anfield.

The Hammers had taken a surprise lead at the Premier League champions through Pablo Fornals, and looked good value for the lead as the first half drew to a close.

But Arthur Masuaku was adjudged to have fouled Salah just before the interval, and the Egyptian converted the resulting penalty with aplomb. Liverpool went on to pick up all three points thanks to a late goal from susbtitute Diogo Jota, but Moyes felt West Ham could easily have got something out of the game after a spirited display.

Here’s everything he had to say to Sky Sports after the game, quoted by West Ham’s official website.

“I thought tonight we looked as if we could have got something. Liverpool played well and had lot of the all, but I thought we did some really good things as well so there’s a lot of positives to take from it.

“We did have some half-chances to score more goals and we weren’t quite clinical enough two or three times. I have to say Liverpool were very good with the ball and we defended really well, but that’s what you expect.

“We knew the game was going to be really tough and we’d need to be disciplined, but we missed a couple of really good opportunities to get another goal, but it’s a good sign that we’re playing some really good stuff.”

Mo Salah fires #LFC level from the spot! ?

Masuaku’s kick on the Egyptian left the referee with no option but to point to the spot! ?

? Watch on Sky Sports PL
? Follow #LIVWHU here: https://t.co/PrGV7DBfcC
? Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/T7n6TpG4V9

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 31, 2020

“I’m amazed that a penalty kick for the action in the first half, I really am. I’m getting disappointed now, not with the decisions, but I’m getting more disappointed that we’re going to allow those sort of penalty kicks to be accepted.

“People may debate if it is or it isn’t, but in my book it just isn’t a penalty.”

Sebastien Haller was brought in for the injured Michail Antonio, but struggled to have much of an impact before he was replaced in the second half. Moyes was quick to defend the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker, insisting that it was always going to be a difficult game for the Frenchman to influence.

“I think for Seb Haller’s first game back it was always going to be tough, coming here and not having a great deal of the ball,” Moyes remarked.

“I think Sebastien’s got something to offer us and he’s got a lot of good attributes and hopefully he will show them in the coming weeks and months to come.”

“We feel like we can play and challenge our opponents in all the games. We’ll not win all of them like tonight’s, but I think we feel, going into them, that we’ve got a chance. We came here last year and were unlucky to lose 3-2.

“I wouldn’t say we were unlucky tonight, but we just needed a couple of decisions to go for us, even if the VAR decision did go in our favour.

“I’m just really disappointed with that decision for the penalty kick in the first half.”

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Everton will look to get back to winning ways and return to the summit of the Premier League when they face Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday.

The Toffees had their blistering opening to the season ended by Southampton last time out, suffering a 2-0 defeat against the Saints to bring their unbeaten start to an end.

They face a Newcastle side who currently sit 14th after grabbing a late draw with Wolves in their last top flight outing.

Here’s 90min‘s preview of the game.

When Is Kick Off? Sunday 1 November
What Time Is Kick Off? 14:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? St James’ Park
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports Main Event (UK)
Referee? Stuart Attwell

Newcastle have a number of injury concerns, with Martin Dúbravka, Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle all unavailable.

Captain Jamaal Lascelles is also a major doubt with a foot injury, but there’s hope that the former Nottingham Forest will be fit enough to start the game.

Everton are without the suspended Richarlison and Lucas Digne, with the former serving a three-match ban after seeing red in the Merseyside derby, and the latter out for one game following his sending off against Southampton.

The Toffees are also without the injured James Rodriguez, Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate, Cenk Tosun and Jean-Philippe Gbamin.

Newcastle: Darlow; Fernandez, Schar, Lascelles; Murphy, Hendrick, Hayden, Lewis, Almiron; Saint-Maximin, Wilson

Everton: Pickford; Kenny, Mina, Keane, Nkounkou; Delph, Allan, Gordon, Doucoure, Sigurdsson; Calvert-Lewin

Newcastle have made a steady start to the Premier League season; winning two, drawing two and losing two. New signing Callum Wilson has proved a very shrewd acquisition thus far, with the former Bournemouth man netting four goals in six games.

Everton suffered their first setback of the season last time out as they lost 2-0 to Southampton. Prior to that, the Toffees had been enjoying their best ever start to a Premier League campaign, with forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the form of his life.

Newcastle

Wolves 1-1 Newcastle (25/10)
Newcastle 1-3 Manchester United (17/10)
Newport 1-1 Newcastle (30/09)
Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle (27/09)
Morecambe 0-7 Newcastle (23/09)

Everton

Southampton 2-0 Everton (25/10)
Everton 2-2 Liverpool (17/10)
Everton 4-2 Brighton (03/10)
Everton 4-1 West Ham (30/09)
Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton (26/09)

Everton have been hugely impressive this season, but Sunday’s clash will be a real test of their strength in depth as their much depleted squad take on Newcastle.

The absence of Rodriguez is obviously key, but missing both first choice full backs in Digne and Coleman – who have both been consistently excellent this season – could be equally as detrimental.

Steve Bruce’s Newcastle can easily frustrate good teams as they proved against Wolves last time out, and with Everton down to their bare bones, the Magpies could take a share of the spoils again on Sunday.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Everton

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When asked prior to the 2-1 win over West Ham what he hopes to see from midfielder Curtis Jones, Jurgen Klopp simply replied: “I expect him to defend like a soldier and attack like a Scouser.”

Klopp went on to explain that Jones is most effective when having the freedom to drift into pockets of space and break the lines with incisive passing or by making penetrating runs.

With Klopp needing to manage his players’ fitness levels, especially considering the current injury problems, he handed Jones his first Premier League start of the season.

Indeed, it was a chance for the young midfielder to impress and show that he isn’t just a talented player for the future, but also someone who is ready to make an impact now.

But the 19-year-old found it challenging to get involved, often trying to float into areas where he wouldn’t be able to influence the game just so that he could get on the ball. Jones was often left frustrated as the Reds continued to push forward down the right and despite his best attempts to drift over to get involved, he was unable to show off his quality on the ball.

While he may come in for some criticism for not taking his chance, the reality is that it was through no fault of his own that he was unable influence the game. Instead, the balance in the midfield was off from the first minute and Klopp’s men struggled as a result.

The hosts were slow and passive in possession, but even when they did increase the tempo and look to break down a resolute Hammers defence, it was far too easy to defend against. With Roberto Firmino dropping deep to collect the ball, there was simply no space for the likes of Gini Wijnaldum and Jones to make late runs from deep to support attacks.

Instead, it closed off the space in the centre of the park and forced the Reds to look for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah down the right.

But this all changed when Klopp made his double substitution on 70 minutes.

J ?? T A ? pic.twitter.com/1vf2fdAQNi

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 31, 2020

When Firmino came off, it opened up the space for the midfielders to get in behind Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. Immediately, there were more options and the Anfield turf appeared to increase in size drastically.

That’s not to say Firmino is the root of the problem here. But his game simply didn’t compliment Jones and Wijnaldum’s in the system Klopp was utilising. Indeed, the German boss challenged Jones to be ‘cheeky’ during Saturday’s clash, but there was simply no opportunity for him to play in such a way.

When Xherdan Shaqiri and Diogo Jota came on, the complexion of the game changed completely. While the Portuguese was denied a goal after coming on, he was eventually rewarded for a bright performance when he was fed through by Shaqiri five minutes from time.

The defending Premier League champions finally began playing with purpose and a greater intensity, while players were also looking to make runs off the ball and open up the pitch. But this was only possible as Klopp’s substitutes brought a better balance to the team, with players complimenting each other’s game.

Sure, Jones didn’t enjoy his most creative display, but he deserves praise for being one of the few Liverpool players to show the constant hunger and desire to get on the ball and make things happen during his time on the field. This is despite the fact that the triangle involving him, Wijnaldum and Firmino clearly wasn’t working.

The Reds may have made it over the line eventually, but Klopp has decisions to make moving forward. For Jones, it was a frustrating evening for him through no fault of his own, but better days most definitely lie ahead.

For more from Adam Aladay, follow him on Twitter!

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