Newcastle United - Arsenal Preview

In-form Newcastle United host Arsenal onHowever, Arsenal are undefeated in their last six league trips to St James' Park, although the London club have triumphed in just two of those encounters.


Pardew is relishing the visit of Arsenal, though, and feels the clash will give him a better idea of the capabilities of his side.

"We've set ourselves up for what will be an intriguing encounter and we'll probably know a little bit more about this team after Arsenal," Pardew said.

"We've been on an incredible run really. I'm not sure if any team has beaten that run over the last nine or 10 games this season, not even Arsenal."

Midfielder Cheikh Tiote returns from suspension for Newcastle after missing the win over Stoke, leaving Pardew with almost a full squad to choose from.

Arsenal will be boosted by the return of Jack Wilshere following his two-game ban for making an offensive gesture towards Manchester City fans earlier this month, but Aaron Ramsey misses out after picking up a thigh injury in Thursday's 3-1 win over West Ham.

Laurent Koscielny is a doubt due to a knee problem, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also likely to be unavailable with a similar injury, although the winger is thought to be nearing his return.

The visitors' Boxing Day triumph against West Ham was their first in four league matches and moved them back to the summit of the division.

Wenger felt the victory at Upton Park underlined Arsenal's title credentials, but midfielder Tomas Rosicky is expecting another stern test of their character against Newcastle.

"Obviously it will be a tough game but Newcastle will always give you a good match," Rosicky told Arsenal's official website.

"It will be very interesting, I love these kind of games so I'm very much looking forward to playing them. I think it will be an exciting match." Sunday eyeing their first home Premier League win over Arsene Wenger's side since 2005.

Alan Pardew's men have won seven of their last nine Premier League fixtures, with their latest success a 5-1 hammering against Stoke City on Boxing Day.

That run - which includes victories over Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United - has seen Newcastle move to within three points of the Champions League places.

Liverpool are serious title contenders this season

Jose Mourinho claims Liverpool are serious title contenders this season because their gentle fixture schedule, with no European competition, is like being ‘on holidays’.

Mourinho believes fewer games and extra preparation time gives Brendan Rodgers an edge in a congested race at the top of the Barclays Premier League. ‘Liverpool are on holidays for one season,’ said the Chelsea boss ahead of tomorrow’s clash between the teams at Stamford Bridge.

‘One week to prepare a match, play the match and one more week to prepare the next match. It is an unbelievable advantage.’

Asked if he thought they could win their first title since 1990, Mourinho said: ‘I think they can. Because they are good, because Brendan is good. 

'Because they have time to prepare the team tactically, because they are not involved in the heat of the knock-out situation in the Champions League or even the Europa League. These players are going to play 60 matches at Chelsea. Liverpool will play 40 matches. It’s a big difference.

‘Quality, plus ambition, plus this advantage, so yes.’

During his first spell at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho established a fierce rivalry with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. It was forged on a series of controversial cup ties in Europe and domestic competitions, including the 2005 Carling Cup final, when Mourinho won his first trophy in England.

Those feelings remained strong last year with many Chelsea fans protesting and refusing to accept Benitez when he was appointed as interim manager.

This time, however, Mourinho expects his own friendship with Rodgers, once on his coaching team at Stamford Bridge, to diffuse such emotion when the teams meet tomorrow.

‘The manager is one of my best friends in the game,’ said the Chelsea boss. ‘So no rivalry.

‘Brendan is doing fantastically but he is training every week in a calm way, every day, maybe twice a day, which is a big, big advantage. He needs to work well but he has a big advantage in the way you build your team.

‘You know how much tactical work I have done since pre-season? Not much. It is easy for a team who do that every week. ‘Not to be involved in European competition gives them a big advantage.’

Liverpool finished seventh last season, missing out on the Europa League after finishing 28 points adrift of champions Manchester United. 

But they started this season well and topped the Premier League at Christmas, before losing 2-1 at Manchester City on Boxing Day and slipping to fourth. Chelsea are a point and a place ahead, but City are moving menacingly towards the summit

‘Everybody’s there,’ said Mourinho. ‘It’s Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and City in the top four and a match between two of them is worth a lot of points.

‘I think Man City are the big, big, big favourites. And Manchester United, despite being a few points behind, have the reality of the last few years.’

Liverpool’s resurgence has been fuelled by Luis Suarez, who has scored 19 Premier League goals in 14 appearances. ‘Fantastic numbers, fantastic numbers,’ said Mourinho, and he confessed his own team’s title hopes would be transformed with the addition of striker in such form.

‘That’s what it is, that’s what it is,’ he nodded, painfully aware that Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba have only five between them this season

Chelsea - Liverpool Preview at Stamford Bridge

Liverpool visit fellow title contenders Chelsea on Sunday and will take confidence from an impressive recent record at Stamford Bridge.


The Merseyside outfit have lost just once in their last six Premier League visits, winning on three of those occasions.

But Jose Mourinho has never suffered a league defeat on home turf as Chelsea manager, underlining the size of the task facing the away side.

Brendan Rodgers' charges head into the fixture on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out despite seemingly being in an onside position, but Liverpool took the lead through Philippe Coutinho, only for Vincent Kompany and Alvaro Negredo to put City ahead before half time.

Liverpool dominated large parts of the second half but were unable to find a breakthrough, and Rodgers was further irked by the referee's failure to give a penalty against Joleon Lescott following what appeared to be a foul on Luis Suarez.

This weekend's fixture marks the first time the two sides have met since the incident involving Suarez, who received a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

The scores finished 2-2 on that occasion at Anfield in April, with Suarez scoring a last-minute equaliser, and the Uruguayan - who tops this season's scoring charts with 19 goals - is sure to be met by a hostile Stamford Bridge crowd.

Liverpool make the trip with several of their squad still missing through injury, including captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring) and striker Daniel Sturridge (ankle).

Defensive trio Jon Flanagan (hamstring), Jose Enrique and Sebastian Coates (both knee) are also out, while winger Victor Moses is unavailable due to the conditions of his loan move from Chelsea.

Chelsea lie third in the Premier League, one place and one point above Liverpool, and are searching for a fourth straight home league victory following a 1-0 triumph over Swansea City on Boxing Day.

Eden Hazard notched the only goal of the game in the first half, and Mourinho will be looking for his side to lay down a marker in their final game of 2013.

He heads into the fixture without Ramires, who is suspended after he picked up his fifth booking of the season against Swansea, with Frank Lampard likely to take his spot.

Cristiano Ronaldo says he would be happy to work with former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho

Cristiano Ronaldo says he would be happy to work with former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho again in the future.

The relationship between the pair was reportedly a distant one by the time Mourinho left the Santiago Bernabeu for Chelsea at the end of last season.

But Ronaldo insists he holds no grudge against his former coach and after his compatriot recently hailed him as the best player he has coached in his career, the 28-year-old revealed he is open to a reunion one day.

"Forgive Mourinho? I forgive everyone. We never had a confrontation and I have never spoken ill about anyone," he told A Bola TV.

"I would work with Mourinho again and with other coaches I have had, like [Sir Alex] Ferguson, [Manuel] Pellegrini, and [Laszlo] Boloni. I learned a lot from them."

Ronaldo has been named on the final three-man shortlist of contenders for the Ballon d'Or and admitted he would love to win the award.

"Like last year and the year before, I always think I deserve the Ballon d'Or. I'd like to win it every year."

The 28-year-old recently made his return from a hamstring injury after making a stunning start to the season, in which he has scored 18 goals in just 16 Liga games.

Premier League Cardiff 2 Sunderland 2

Cardiff hosted Sunderland to conclude Saturday's action in the top flight.

The Bluebirds had been in turmoil on and off the pitch in recent weeks and went into their final match of the year hoping to avoid defeat which would drag them towards the bottom three.

Rock bottom Sunderland were on a high having recorded a shock victory at Everton on Boxing Day and could go within one point of the Premier League new boys with three points at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff looked to have the game won with a 2-0 lead seven minutes from the end, but Sunderland hit back to steal a 2-2 draw with a stoppage time equaliser.

Sunday MBA In Search Of Foreign Club

The midfielder is set to miss out on the
CHAN squad as he prepares to leave for
France in search of greener pastures
Midfielder Sunday Mba may not be
available for the African Nations
Championship (CHAN), according to
national team coach Stephen Keshi.
Keshi has disclosed that Mba is on his
way to France to join Bastia, the French
side that first indicated interest in the
player after the Nations Cup triumph.
It is said that the player could leave
camp as early as Friday, as he was not
one of the players listed for the friendly
game in Port Harcourt on Saturday
against a Rivers selected side.
“We have resigned ourselves to fate and
are working hard to discover those who
can fill Mba’s shoes, as he seems to
have nicked a deal with Bastia and may
not be part of the CHAN tourney. We
just have to brace up and wish him the
best because it’s a career thing,” he
said.
Also on Thursday, the weeding process
of the CHAN Eagles continued with
three players exiting camp. Keshi who
addressed the players once again told
them that they have all it takes to play
for the national team but there was not
time enough to fit into the system and
he would continue to monitor them for
future call ups.
“Take heart because as I always say,
many are called but few are chosen, we
would soon be back knocking on your
doors.”
Those who left camp on Thursday were
Sunshine Stars’ Kingsley Onome
Eduwo, Bendel Insurance’s Bello John
Ikeleji and Eric Kwame of Plateau
United. More players are expected to
exit the camp of the national team after
the training game in Port Harcourt and
Monday’s other practice match against
Nigeria league champions, Kano Pillars.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles medical
team has assured the technical crew
that Kano Pillars striker Gambo
Mohammed will be ready in time for the
CHAN tourney.
Gambo has been out with a hamstring
problem, recovered last week but there
was a relapse in the course of the week
which forced him out of Thursday’s
training. “He should be back and better,”
assistant coach Daniel Amokachi said.

Manchester United dealt another blow with the news that defender Phil Jones will be sidelined until the New Year. The centre-back has suffered a knee injury and will miss the forthcoming Premier League games against Norwich and Tottenham. United released a statement on social media just ahead of Thursday's match with Hull City at the KC Stadium. "We can confirm Phil Jones has suffered a knee injury and is expected to be out for a couple of weeks," the statement from United read. Jones is also set to miss the FA Cup tie against Swansea at Old Trafford next month and the Capital One Cup semi- final first-leg at Sunderland. Moyes is already without striker Robin van Persie, who has a thigh problem, while midfielder Marouane Fellaini is absent following wrist surgery.

Manchester United boss David Moyes
has been dealt another blow with the
news that defender Phil Jones will be
sidelined until the New Year.
The centre-back has suffered a knee
injury and will miss the forthcoming
Premier League games against Norwich
and Tottenham.
United released a statement on social
media just ahead of Thursday's match
with Hull City at the KC Stadium.
"We can confirm Phil Jones has suffered
a knee injury and is expected to be out
for a couple of weeks," the statement
from United read.
Jones is also set to miss the FA Cup tie
against Swansea at Old Trafford next
month and the Capital One Cup semi-
final first-leg at Sunderland.
Moyes is already without striker Robin
van Persie, who has a thigh problem,
while midfielder Marouane Fellaini is
absent following wrist surgery.

West Ham James Tomkins was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning

West Ham United manager Sam
Allardcye admits he is disappointed that
James Tomkins James Tomkins was arrested in the
early hours of Sunday morning was arrested in the
early hours of Sunday morning following
an incident at the Sugar Hut nightclub in
Essex.
Police were called to the venue in
Brentwood by security staff and
Tomkins was charged with assaulting a
police officer, resisting arrest and being
drunk and disorderly.
The incident happened just hours after
West Ham were beaten 3-1 by
Manchester United at Old Trafford, but
Allardyce insists he had not broken any
disciplinary code at the club.
Allardyce said: "Because of the legal
side of it, it is difficult for me to
comment. The only thing I can say is
that I don't think James should have
been there, irrespective of whether he
got into trouble or not.
“It is the biggest profile public house in
this country probably and he would have
been better if he had stayed away. From
a club's point of view, there is nothing
he has broken in terms of rules. It is five
or six days till the next game so what
will happen from a legal point of view,
we will have to wait and see.

Top 10 Best Midfielders: The GreatestMiddle-Men in World Football

10) Arturo Vidal - Juventus & Chile

'The new Makelele'. Vidal is quietly

establishing himself as one of the best

holding midfielders in the world for

Juventus. A brilliantly combative

operator - Vidal is the platform from

which the Old Lady have waltzed to

consecutive Serie A titles. Alongside

Andre Pirlo and the ever-improving Paul

Pogba, Juventus have a midfield trio to

rival anything in Europe.

9) Steven Gerrard - Liverpool & England

Now 33-years-old, Gerrard is not the

dynamic lung-busting player he once

was, but is still brilliantly effective for

both club and country. Now played in a

deeper role, the Liverpool skipper

dictates matches with his fantastic

array of passing and organisational

skills. One of the best players of his

generation, and still worth his place in

any side.

8) Ilkay Gundogan - Borussia Dortmund

& Germany

The youngest player in this top 10 -

Gundogan has quickly established

himself as one of the hottest properties

in world football. Brilliant technically,

Gundogan has an outrageous engine,

and can break through midfield with the

ball at his feet. At only 23-years-old,

the German will get better and better,

and his parent club will do well to hold

on to him when the likes of Barcelona

and Manchester United come sniffing.

7) Cesc Fabregas - Barcelona & Spain

Fabregas is a technically outstanding

midfielder, and is as good on the eye as

anyone in the world. Barcelona have an

embarrassment of midfield riches like

no other, but Fabregas is still an integral

part of their all-conquering outfit.

6) Yaya Toure - Manchester City &

Ivory Coast

The highest Premier League operator on

this list - Toure has been absolutely

brilliant since arriving in Manchester.

Arguably the world's most powerful

midfielder, Toure's physical presence on

a football field is virtually unrivalled. The

Ivorian was key to City's maiden title

win in 2011/12, and is still the first

name on their team sheet. Alongside

Fernandinho, City have the strongest

midfield base in the country.

5) Xabi Alonso - Real Madrid & Spain

Along with Paul Scholes, Alonso is

probably the best passer of a football to

play in the Premier League. Since

moving to Real Madrid for a whopping

£30m back in 2009, Alonso has only

cemented his reputation as one of the

world's best. His ability to pick out a

teammate with a long diagonal is

practically unrivalled.

4) Andrea Pirlo - Juventus & Italy

When Italy beat England in the Euro

quarters last year, there was a

begrudging acceptance that we had

watched a player who was head and

shoulders above anything else on the

park. Pirlo is a beautifully slick

midfielder to watch, with intricate

passing, perfect touch, and dangerous

set-pieces. The fact he can barely run

and we still rate him as the world's

fourth best centre-midfielder shows

how perfect a midfielder he really is.

3) Xavi - Barcelona & Spain

No player in the world plays more

passes than Xavi, and that's a fact. Xavi

epitomises the Barcelona tika-taka

approach, and marshals a wave of

attacking brilliance at the Nou Camp

every week. His one touch passing, and

ability to control the ball and recycle it

in tight areas leaves fans gobsmacked.

Like the player who tops this list - he's

won everything there is to win in world

football.

2) Bastian Schweinsteiger - Bayern

Munich & Germany

The dictator of Germany's and Bayern

Munich's midfield - Schweinsteiger has

no weaknesses, and virtually never has

a bad game. Strong in the tackle and

combative, but technically outstanding

and creative - the 29-year-old has

consistently been one of the best

European midfielders for the past

decade.

1) Andres Iniesta - Barcelona & Spain

What more can be said about this

wonderful midfielder? If Iniesta didn't

live in the same era as Lionel Messi, he

would have won a Ballon D'or by now.

To make up for it, the diminutive

Spaniard has won literally everything

there is to win in football. He even

bagged a winner in a World Cup final.

Probably the only midfielder to rival

Zinedine Zidane in terms of greatness in

the past 20 years.

The Argentine hit out at the club's economic vice-president Javier Faus on Friday

Lionel Messi does not enjoy talking to the media. Rarely interviewed and seldom speaking at press conferences, Barcelona's Argentine forward is an hermetic figure who rarely shares his thoughts and feelings with the outside world. This time, however, he had something to say.


The 26-year-old, who is currently in his homeland as he recovers from a troublesome hamstring injury which has seen him miss the last month of action for Barca, got in touch with Catalan radio RAC1 to discuss two topics on Friday. And he wasn't mincing his words.

First up was a passionate defence of his father following claims by a Madrid newspaper of criminal activity in the organisation of the benefit matches by the Leo Messi Foundation over the summer. "I deeply regret what is being said about my father and my friends because what we do in those matches is 100 per cent for charity," he said in a prepared statement. "I am very close to my father and as long as he wants to, he will be president of my companies and my Foundation."

Such a reaction was to be expected from the four-time Ballon d'Or winner, who enjoys a very strong relationship with his father. What came next, however, was a bombshell.

The Argentine hit out at Barca's economic vice-president, Javier Faus, following quotes made to the same station earlier this month by the director. "I don't see why we should [renew Messi's contract again]," Faus had told RAC1. "He has just signed a new contract until 2018 - and we don't have to offer an improved contract every six months."
Those words were not what the Argentine wanted to hear, especially as he has since seen Cristiano Ronaldo pen an even more lucrative deal at Real Madrid. "Faus is a person who knows nothing about football and he wants to run Barca like a business, but it isn't," Messi said on Friday. And clearly reading from a pre-prepared document as he spoke, the Argentine added: "Barca is the best club in the world and it should be run by the best directors in the world."

Word of the Argentine's annoyance had already reached Barca president Sandro Rosell and the Catalans' chief attempted to smooth over the situation on Thursday by claiming Messi merits even more than his current €16 million per year. "I haven't spoken to him about this, but the club offices are open," Rosell said as he announced an imminent new deal for Andres Iniesta. "But the world's best player deserves to be the highest-paid player," he added.

Those quotes, however, came too late to halt the Argentine's angry outburst at Faus and there is now concern at the Catalan club of a player becoming bigger than the team. Recent talk around Camp Nou has been of a spiteful media campaign from Madrid to destabilise Barcelona. But this was a Barca player responding to a Blaugrana director - and all of it heard on Catalan radio. While other stories may have emanated elsewhere, this Messi mess was homemade.

"What Messi has done has caused unnecessary problems," said former Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo on Friday. "What Faus said had no bad intention - and many socios agree. Messi understands football, but he doesn't understand companies, economics or how Barca is run. So it would have been better for him to stay quiet." And he added: "Messi is an employee, the highest-earning employee at the club. But he is not bigger than Barca."

Faus knows nothing about football. Barcelona are the world's best club and they should have the best directors" - Messi speaking on Friday

The worry, however, is that the Argentine does now have excessive power at the Catalan club. Known as a "little dictator" by one of his former colleagues, Leo has fallen out with several high-profile team-mates at Barca and barely spoke to Pep Guardiola in the latter's last six months at the club. The Catalan coach soon learned he had to pick the forward all of the time after Messi failed to show at training when rested for a 4-0 win over Sevilla in 2010-11, but was challenged by the Argentine after Barca lost to Madrid at Camp Nou in La Liga at the end of the 2011-12 season. "Why didn't you pick a team to win the game?" Messi asked Pep.

Guardiola is no longer around and in Martino, a fellow Argentine and Rosario native, Messi has a coach who is likely to be on his side almost all of the time. But the 26-year-old now feels he is being undermined and undervalued by the board, believing the club directors should show their appreciation for everything he has done at the Catalan club over the last few seasons. And even though he denied having asked for a new deal on Friday, members of his management team are thought to have sounded out the Catalan club concerning improved terms for their client.

Barca, however, believe a renewal is unnecessary at this stage as Leo has had time out through injury and because he has only recently penned an extension anyway. The Blaugrana board also feel Messi's words on Friday to be ungrateful after they stood by their player in his tax fraud case earlier this year and again amid the recent reports regarding his father.

Faus also said in his now infamous interview that while Rosell was at the club, there is "zero per cent chance" of Messi leaving. And at the moment, there is no split on the cards, but a power struggle is now underway - and the once harmonious co-existence between Barca and their prized player suddenly faces an uncertain future. 

The Argentine hit out at the club's economic vice-president Javier Faus on Friday

Lionel Messi does not enjoy talking to the media. Rarely interviewed and seldom speaking at press conferences, Barcelona's Argentine forward is an hermetic figure who rarely shares his thoughts and feelings with the outside world. This time, however, he had something to say.


The 26-year-old, who is currently in his homeland as he recovers from a troublesome hamstring injury which has seen him miss the last month of action for Barca, got in touch with Catalan radio RAC1 to discuss two topics on Friday. And he wasn't mincing his words.

First up was a passionate defence of his father following claims by a Madrid newspaper of criminal activity in the organisation of the benefit matches by the Leo Messi Foundation over the summer. "I deeply regret what is being said about my father and my friends because what we do in those matches is 100 per cent for charity," he said in a prepared statement. "I am very close to my father and as long as he wants to, he will be president of my companies and my Foundation."

Such a reaction was to be expected from the four-time Ballon d'Or winner, who enjoys a very strong relationship with his father. What came next, however, was a bombshell.

The Argentine hit out at Barca's economic vice-president, Javier Faus, following quotes made to the same station earlier this month by the director. "I don't see why we should [renew Messi's contract again]," Faus had told RAC1. "He has just signed a new contract until 2018 - and we don't have to offer an improved contract every six months."
Those words were not what the Argentine wanted to hear, especially as he has since seen Cristiano Ronaldo pen an even more lucrative deal at Real Madrid. "Faus is a person who knows nothing about football and he wants to run Barca like a business, but it isn't," Messi said on Friday. And clearly reading from a pre-prepared document as he spoke, the Argentine added: "Barca is the best club in the world and it should be run by the best directors in the world."

Word of the Argentine's annoyance had already reached Barca president Sandro Rosell and the Catalans' chief attempted to smooth over the situation on Thursday by claiming Messi merits even more than his current €16 million per year. "I haven't spoken to him about this, but the club offices are open," Rosell said as he announced an imminent new deal for Andres Iniesta. "But the world's best player deserves to be the highest-paid player," he added.

Those quotes, however, came too late to halt the Argentine's angry outburst at Faus and there is now concern at the Catalan club of a player becoming bigger than the team. Recent talk around Camp Nou has been of a spiteful media campaign from Madrid to destabilise Barcelona. But this was a Barca player responding to a Blaugrana director - and all of it heard on Catalan radio. While other stories may have emanated elsewhere, this Messi mess was homemade.

"What Messi has done has caused unnecessary problems," said former Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo on Friday. "What Faus said had no bad intention - and many socios agree. Messi understands football, but he doesn't understand companies, economics or how Barca is run. So it would have been better for him to stay quiet." And he added: "Messi is an employee, the highest-earning employee at the club. But he is not bigger than Barca."

Faus knows nothing about football. Barcelona are the world's best club and they should have the best directors" - Messi speaking on Friday

The worry, however, is that the Argentine does now have excessive power at the Catalan club. Known as a "little dictator" by one of his former colleagues, Leo has fallen out with several high-profile team-mates at Barca and barely spoke to Pep Guardiola in the latter's last six months at the club. The Catalan coach soon learned he had to pick the forward all of the time after Messi failed to show at training when rested for a 4-0 win over Sevilla in 2010-11, but was challenged by the Argentine after Barca lost to Madrid at Camp Nou in La Liga at the end of the 2011-12 season. "Why didn't you pick a team to win the game?" Messi asked Pep.

Guardiola is no longer around and in Martino, a fellow Argentine and Rosario native, Messi has a coach who is likely to be on his side almost all of the time. But the 26-year-old now feels he is being undermined and undervalued by the board, believing the club directors should show their appreciation for everything he has done at the Catalan club over the last few seasons. And even though he denied having asked for a new deal on Friday, members of his management team are thought to have sounded out the Catalan club concerning improved terms for their client.

Barca, however, believe a renewal is unnecessary at this stage as Leo has had time out through injury and because he has only recently penned an extension anyway. The Blaugrana board also feel Messi's words on Friday to be ungrateful after they stood by their player in his tax fraud case earlier this year and again amid the recent reports regarding his father.

Faus also said in his now infamous interview that while Rosell was at the club, there is "zero per cent chance" of Messi leaving. And at the moment, there is no split on the cards, but a power struggle is now underway - and the once harmonious co-existence between Barca and their prized player suddenly faces an uncertain future. 

Top Ten Most Expensive Players Of 2013: Ranking Based On Overall Cost Of Fee and Wage Demands

Arsenal to Tempt AC Milan With £7.5m Bid for Talented Youngster

Arsenal are ready to launch an offer for under-used AC Milan striker M’baye Niang according toTuttoMercato.

The North London club will look to tempt the San Siro to sell the 19 year old with an €9m (£7.5m) offer for the former Caen man, who has been a bench warmer for much of the current campaign.

The summer arrival of Alessandro Matri has further limited the forward’s chances at AC Milan, with Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy also ahead of Niang in Massimiliano Allegri’s pecking order.

Niang has managed just one Serie A start this season and could well be considering his options with a move to the Emirates Stadium perhaps an option the youngster would be interested in pursuing.

Wenger will be keen to strengthen his attack with Olivier Giroud being overly relied upon and the fact that Niang can play in a wide role as well as up front will no doubt be a factor dictating the North London club’s interest in the French Under 21 international.

Luis Suarez signs new long-term contract with Liverpool

Luis Suárez promised to remain at Liverpool ‘for a very long time’ after signing a contract extension worth £40 million.

Suárez is understood to have committed himself until at least 2018 on a deal worth up to £10 million a year, around £200,000 a week. Liverpool have refused to comment on suggestions an exit clause has been inserted into the contract, which would enable Suárez to leave should the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The club is adamant the agreement is aimed solely at retaining the 26-year-old’s services for the long-term, not to facilitate a move for his market value in the future. The swiftness with which negotiations were concluded was surprising to everyone except those within the higher echelons of Anfield.

Managing Director Ian Ayre had been negotiating with Suárez’s representative Pere Guardiola for several weeks and those talks continued when the executive flew to Barcelona on Monday. That trip was evidently planned to finalise the agreement rather than trigger negotiations as was initially thought.

Suárez was the subject of a bid of £40 million and one pound fromArsenal last summer and with the January transfer window looming, Liverpool knew they would receive renewed interest from Champions League clubs.

Principal owner John W. Henry made it clear he would never sell Suárez to a Premier League revival, and any clause in Suárez’s deal is sure to echo that stance. Equally, Liverpool set a valuation nearer to £70 million last summer.

An agreement at this stage of the season is mutually beneficial to all parties, creating a sense of buoyancy at Anfield that a world-class player has been retained, rewarding Suárez for his extraordinary form, and ensuring any future bids will not lead to a repeat of the dispute between the South American and the club that soured last summer.

With Liverpool currently in a Champions League position, the next priority is to satisfy the club’s and the player’s ambition by getting back into the European elite. Suárez, who despite his controversial on-field persona has always been one of the most popular players at the club, made it clear how influential his family was in the decision. It is known his wife, Sofia, is particularly settled on Merseyside and this will have played a role in negotiations, too.

“When you extend your contract, you extend it because you want to stay here for the future,” said Suárez. “I signed not only for two-and-a-half more years, but I signed for a long time to stay here and I am so happy.

“When you are happy, you try everything for the best for the future. I spoke a lot with my family because my family are very important to me and they are happy here. We spoke over the last few weeks with the club and everything is okay. I don’t have a problem; the club don’t have a problem, so it’s very good.

“I am delighted to have agreed a new deal with Liverpool and have my future secured for the long term. We have some great players and the team is growing and improving all the time. I believe I can achieve the ambitions of winning trophies and playing at the very highest level with Liverpool. My aim is to help get us there as quickly as possible.

“Without doubt the backing I have received from the Liverpool fans has influenced my decision. I am so proud to represent them and go out to do my best for them every time I pull on the shirt. We have a special relationship; they have love for me and in return I love them back. I will always do my best for them and hopefully we can achieve success together.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who has appointed Suárez as the club captain in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, said: “This is fantastic news for everyone associated with the club; the team, the owners and most importantly the supporters.

“Luis is a world-class talent and securing his services is crucial for what we are trying to achieve here. What’s most important and most exciting is that, at just 26 years old, his best years are still ahead of him and we now know we’ll be seeing him reach that potential in a Liverpool shirt.”

For principal owner Henry, Fenway Sports Group and Ayre, the negotiations are a victory given how Suárez wanted to leave six months ago.

Henry said: “We are committed to working hard to keep our best players and this is an indication that we are moving in the right direction and moving at a pace that impresses one of the best players in world football.”

Tom Werner, the Liverpool chairman, added: “This demonstrates our commitment, as an ownership group, to building a team that competes at the highest level both in the Barclays Premier League and in Europe.

“Our primary motive is to do what is best for Liverpool Football Club and today’s news is another significant step forward on this journey.”

Tottenham sack Andre Villas-Boas after 5-0 loss to Liverpool

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André Villas-Boas sacked by Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham have sacked André Villas-Boas this morning after the club’s latest thrashing at the hands of Liverpool.

Villas-Boas briefly met with Spurs chiefs after the 5-0 home defeat against Liverpool on Sunday and he was summoned by chairman Daniel Levy at the club’s Enfield training ground on Monday morning.

Levy and Tottenham owner Joe Lewis deemed another heavy defeat unacceptable, less than a month after the team had been hit for six at Manchester City.

A Spurs statement read: “The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach Andre Villas-Boas for the termination of his services. The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties.”"We wish Andre well for the future. We shall make a further announcement in due course."

With Tottenham still only five points outside the top four, Levy and Lewis decided to act now to give the club the best possible chance of qualifying for a Champions League place.

Tottenham must now decide whether to appoint an interim boss such as Fabio Capello, Guus Hiddink or Glenn Hoddle, or immediately look for a new full-time boss. Swansea’s Michael Laudrup, Southampton’s Mauricio Pochettino and FC Basel’s Murat Yakin are all candidates.

Levy will work with director of football Franco Baldini to find the man they feel can succeed where Villas-Boas failed and get the best out of the current squad.

Levy sanctioned £110million of summer spending in a bid to secure a top-four place and Spurs will try to find a new forward for their next boss in the January transfer window.

Spurs are currently seventh in the table, two points ahead of Manchester United, and won their Europa League group with a 100 per cent record, scoring 15 goals and conceding just two in six games.

Villas-Boas also had a good record overall as Tottenham manager, averaging 1.83 points per league match, the highest of all Spurs bosses in the Premier League era.

The dismissal comes after former Spurs manager called on Tottenham to be patient with Villas-Boas.

"I think people are over-reacting too quickly," Redknapp told talkSPORT. "You lose a couple of games now and you're in trouble, it shouldn't be like that.

"You either think somebody is good at their job or not and when you appoint someone you should give them time and let them do the job.

"But it's far too early for people to start wanting to pull the plug on him, you've got to give him time and see what he can do."

Later on Monday Hiddink's agent ruled the Dutchman out of the running after confirming that he will taking over as Holland coach after the World Cup.

Cees van Nieuwenhuizen said: "I would be surprised if (Hiddink) went to Spurs. I could hardly imagine that happening.

"He has just signed a contract with Holland and he has also turned down offers from other countries recently to coach them at the World Cup so I wouldn't take any talk of Guus going to Tottenham seriously."

The bookmakers have installed Russia coach Capello as the early favourite.

City Ran Past Arsenal Six Times 6-1 scoreline

Manchester City emphatically showed their Premier League title credentials as they consigned leaders Arsenal to a high-scoring defeat in a pulsating encounter.

City made a storming start and quickly claimed the lead; a wall of pressure told as another corner was delivered by Samir Nasri. At the near post Martin Demichelis flicked on with a header and there was Sergio Aguero to acrobatically steer his right-foot volley into the net. City made their early dominance count.

City were rampant – but also careless when Aaron Ramsey stole possession from Yaya Toure inside the centre circle. Ramsey ran on and fed Mesut Ozil who cut the ball back to Theo Walcott. He side-footed a first-time shot that appeared to skim of Demichelis’s head and into the net. Somehow, having been dominated, Arsenal were level.

Stung, City hit back. Alvaro Negredo was put clear, this time by David Silva, and he curled his shot around Wojciech Szczesny – but also wastefully past the post.

But Negredo would not be denied. Toure picked out Pablo Zabaleta with the outside of his right boot and he crossed low for Negredo to turn over the goal-line ahead of Koscielny who then departed, stretchered off with a deep laceration to his leg.City went close again. Again Demichelis was allowed to reach a corner – turning the ball narrowly over with a header before City had to cope with the loss of Aguero to injury. They brushed it off and added a third with Fernandinho collecting a woeful pass infield by Ozil – aimed at Mathieu Flamini – to stride on and superbly curl a right-foot shot around Szczesny.

Arsenal needed an immediate response. But Olivier Giroud volleyed over and then horribly screwed an attempted cross wide when through before, unluckily, guiding a diving header narrowly past the post. Arsenal howled for a penalty after the ball struck Zabaleta’s arm but their appeals were ignored.

The goal was coming, though, and Walcott claimed it. Wilshere dinked the ball over to the winger and he curled a right-foot shot high and around Pantimilon and into the net. City had been complacent but they regained their two-goal advantage with substitute Jesus Navas running to the byline and cross low for David Silva to steal in ahead of Per Mertesacker and steer his side-footed shot past Szczesny.

Pantilimon pushed over a fierce drive from Wilshere and Navas struck the side-netting after rounding Szczesny as the contest flowed brilliantly from end to end with Fernandino capping the scoring after Wilshere again lost possession. Nasri ran on and picked out the impressive Fernandinho who rode Per Mertesacker’s challenge to prod the ball past Szczesny.

Arsenal, to their credit, pushed on and claimed another goal – with Mertesacker diving to head home. Amazingly it did not end the scoring as City broke and Szczesny tripped substitute James Milner. Up stepped Toure to drive home the penalty.

ARSENAL 1- EVERTON

Everything you would expect of a game
between these two teams, with these
two managers, and more. Everton were
outstanding in the first 40 minutes,
dominating the game with Ross Barkley
at the heart of so much brilliant play.
But they struggled to register shots on
target, and goalkeeper Tim Howard
needed to make two very smart saves
in the final five minutes of the half when
first Giroud and then Ramsey burst into
the area.
Arsenal got their act together in the
second half and Everton saw much less
of the ball, but the game still seemed as
though it was going to drift towards a
goalless draw. Then, ten minutes from
time, the match sprang to life. Arsenal
went direct with a deep cross that
substitute Theo Walcott headed across
goal for Mesut Ozil to sweep home.
The Emirates Stadium was in rare-good
voice, ready to welcome a seven point
lead at the top of the Premier League,
but the home faithful had reckoned
without the talent of Everton's own
introduction from the bench Gerard
Deulofeo who controlled a low ball at
the back post, widened the angle and
hammered home an unstoppable
equaliser.
There was still time for Lukaku to blast
over when placed to do better, and
Giroud to spin on the ball 30 yards out
and launch an extraordinary volley off
the angle of post and bar.
Technically brilliant, entertaining in
spurts, a fair result in the end.
Everton manager Roberto
Martinez: "It’s very demanding
when you play three games in
a week. I thought we were fantastic
throughout. The performance, from our
point of view, I couldn’t be happier. The
only criticism is you have to take the
chances and in the final third we weren’t
ruthless enough. I can’t see many
teams being able to come to the
Emirates and do what we did today."
90+3 min An amazing moment right at
the death. Giroud brings a bouncing ball
down 30 yards out, swivels and lets go
of a Thierry Henry-style volley that
beats Tim Howard for power, but not for
accuracy - it cracks against the angle of
post and bar and flies away to safety.
90+1 min Lukaku gets going on a
powerful run to the edge of the box but
with support left and right he elects to
shoot and thrashes the ball over the
bar. Steven Naismith replaces the
wonderful Ross Barkley.
90 min Tim Howard comes piling off his
line to catch a through ball, but forgets
to tell Sylvain Distin his plan. The
French centre back heads the ball up in
the air and for a horrifying moment it
seems as though Flamini is going to
capitalise on the catastrophe and win
the game in the last minute. Everton
muscle up and survive. Three added
minutes.
88 min Deulofeu now booked for what
you'd probably call a tactical foul to
interupt an Arsenal counter attack.
Osman puts the ball behind for a corner
as Arsenal press for a winner.
87 min And Everton could easily have
won it. Deulofeu is at the heart of
everything and this time he plays in
Lukaku but Szczesny rushes out and
executes a block.
GOAL! Arsenal 1 EVERTON 1
(Deulofeu 83 minutes)
Sensational stuff from the
young Spaniard. Lukaku's attempt to
bicycle kick in a cross from Barkley fails
completely, but the ball falls to Deulofeu
at the back post who controls it, widens
the angle, and unleashes a shell through
Szczesny and into the net. Arsenal led
for just four minutes.
82 min Emirates Stadium now in good
voice , expecting Arsenal to go seven
points clear.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1 Everton 0
(Mesut Ozil 79 minutes)
For all the pretty football, it's
an old fashioned British-style goal that
breaks the deadlock. A deep cross to
the far post is headed back across goal
by Theo Walcott and although Giroud
totally misses his kick six yards out Ozil
is on hand to sweep the ball into the
roof of the net.
77 min Szczesny has to fingertip a near
post shot from Mirallas out for a corner.
The keeper then springs from his line to
punch the ball clear under pressure
from Jagielka and is relieved when
Distin plants a header from another
cross over the bar. Mirallas is the man
making way for Barcelona loanee
Deulofeu.
76 min Home crowd get their way -
Howard gets a yellow card, which is,
extraordinarily, already his fourth of the
season.
75 min Now Deulofeu is stripped and
ready for action down on the touchline.
The Arsenal fans accuse Tim Howard of
time wasting over a goal kick,
suggesting 0-0 would be Everton's
outcome of choice at this stage, but this
is a positive change that Martinez is
about to make here.
71 min Giroud touches a piece of
broken play back to Flamini who shoots
hard and low through the goal mouth
and just wide of the post.
69 mins Roberto Martinez said before
the game that the substitutions could
have a big bearing on the outcome of
this game and having seen Arsene
Wenger play three cards all at once
Everton now send on Osman for
Pienaar. Barkley is moving to right
wing, Mirallas to left and Osman is
pressing on through the middle behind
Lukaku.
67 min Theo Walcott replaces Santi
Carzorla, Aaron Ramsey is off for
Mathieu Flamini, and Jack Wilshere
goes off for Tomas Rosicky. Interesting
decision to hook Ramsey...
66 min Arsene Wenger ready to twist
with a triple substitution, but not before
Ross Barkley stings Szczesny's hands
with a fierce shot from the edge of the
area.
64 min Mirallas tries to slip Lukaku in
but again the final pass isn't there for
Everton. It's an intriguing game, which
is usually commentator speak for a
match that's destined to finish 0-0.
59 min Howard Webb belatedly awards
a free kick for a foul on McCarthy on
halfway but Everton choose against
putting the ball into the box and the
tippy tappy nonsense/silky sensual
football starts afresh. McCarthy is then
booked himself for a high boot on
Ramsey, and picks up a fifth yellow card
of the season which will see him
suspended for the forthcoming home
match with Fulham. Martinez is
readying substitute Leon Osman, for
then and now.
55 min Great stuff. Arteta puts Wilshere
through to the byline and his deep,
chipped cross is scissor kicked towards
goal by Aaron Ramsey from a difficult
angle and height. Howard rushes
across his goal and palms the ball wide
of the post.
53 min First threat from Everton in the
second half. Phil Jagielka bombs
forward from centre back sparking an
overload of Everton bodies in the
Arsenal half. Pienaar takes on a shot
from the edge of the area and finally
Szczesny is forced into a serious save.
50 min A cross to the back post finds
Jack Wilshere at the head of a queue of
Arsenal players waiting to capitalise. He
turns it back inside first time but
Cazorla can't generate enough purchase
with his header and it's an easy save
for Howard. Arsenal working at 68%
possession in the second half, a stark
difference from the first.
47 min Much better stuff from Arsenal,
keeping possession around the Everton
box and probing for openings. Carzorla
can't quite find one on this occasion,
and Gibbs' 35 yard volley could kindly
be described as ambitious, but the
warning signs are there now.
46 min Arsenal ask politely whether
Oviedo has handled the ball in the area,
but replays show Howard Webb is right
to wave it away. Substitute Theo
Walcott sets off for a little jog down the
touchline.
17.00 The general consensus at half
time seems to be that Everton, with their
unchanged side perhaps tiring after a
difficult midweek game at Man Utd, may
have missed their chance here. Arsenal
made four changes after a Wednesday
win against Hull and may be fresher
down the home straight in this game.
We shall see.
Half Time - Arsenal 0 Everton 0
Another 45 minutes to further the
reputation of the 2013/14 Everton team
and manager Roberto Martinez. Fresh
from a 1-0 win at Manchester United
during the week they've set about the
league leaders with real purpose today,
without ever really testing Szczesny in
the Arsenal goal.
Ross Barkley has been particularly
impressive for the visitors, but for all of
that it's only two fine saves from the
newly clean-shaven Tim Howard right
at the end of the half that prevented
Arsenal taking a lead into the break -
Giroud and Ramsey were both denied by
the American stopper in similar
circumstances.
If Everton can find a clinical finish to go
with the glorious approach work - 276
passes to 148 in Everton's favour so far
- they could claim a significant scalp
here.
45+1 min A minute of added time
passes without incident.
44 min Everton grateful to Howard for a
second time. Arsenal cut their visitors
apart again, this time it's Ramsey in
behind, and Howard makes another very
brave, commanding save. For all that
Everton domination, Arsenal have
created two much better chances in the
last four minutes than the Toffees did in
the previous half an hour.
41 min Arsenal's best spell of the game
should bring the opening goal. Everton-
like approach work feeds Giroud into the
area, behind the last man, but Tim
Howard races from his line and makes a
fine save. Gareth Barry has been
booked for a foul earlier in the move.
40 min Going to be another decision for
Howard Webb to make when the ball
goes out of play. Lukaku tries to burn
Koscielny for pace down the flank and
appears to be fouled by the Frenchman.
Webb says play on and Lukaku chases
his opponent back down the field before
apparently kicking him to the ground off
the ball. It looks like an accidental
collision to be fair, and Webb takes no
retrospective action.
38 min Fourth official Anthony Taylor
feeling the sharp edge of Arsene
Wenger's frustration as Coleman gets
away with chopping into the back of
Jack Wilshere leaving him in a grumpy
heap on the floor.
37 min More of the same - intricate,
thoughtful approach play comes to
nothing in the final third. They're
fantastic, but they're not winning.
33 min Arsene Wenger is pacing the
technical area chuntering to himself.
Everton are continuing to dominate
without ever quite getting into a position
to score, or even test the goalkeeper
really. A cutting edge stands between
them and a second enormous away win
in four days.
28 min Lukaku intelligently turns a ball
back into the area and if Mirallas had
been two yards further forward he'd
have had a tap in. Jack Wilshere kicks
the ball straight out. Everything but the
goal.
27 min Completed passes so far -
Everton 171 v Arsenal 74. Just throwing
that one out there so you know I'm not
making this stuff up.
26 min For all of that, the best chance of
the game has gone to Arsenal. Carzorla
feeds a teasing low cross through the
six yard box. Actually it's Kieran Gibbs
who's closest to converting having piled
forward to join the attack, but Jagielka
nudges him past the ball and the
chance goes.
24 min Aaron Ramsey 2012 vintage
makes a quick re-appearance there
with some sloppy possession
concession in his own half but he
quickly snaps back in with a recovery
tackle. Not long before Everton come
again though, Coleman cuts in from full
back and cracks a shot over. The
visitors totally dominant, their two full
backs rampant, but it's about scoring
when you're on top - actress, bishop
etc.
20 min Everton have drawn QPR at
home in the FA Cup Third Round. Very
fine club Queens Park Rangers, lovely
people. Arsenal are at home to Spurs in
other news. My word.
18 min Just not happening for the home
side who finally get some possession
around the edge of the box but waste
the opportunity with Santi Carzorla
uncharacteristically skewing a poor
pass out of play.
14 min Gareth Barry lucky not to see
yellow from our referee Howard Webb
for a crunching tackle on Ozil as he runs
away down the right side. Arsene
Wenger, standing nearby, has a bit of a
face on.
11 min Everton raid down the left this
time with Costa Rican full back Oviedo
(watch out England) bombing forward.
Barkley shoots wide via a deflection, the
corner falls to Distin who volleys wide.
9 min Crikey, an atmosphere almost
broke out there - Arsenal fans trying to
wake their team up a bit, spoiling the
ambience with the common football
chant. Arsenal still can't get the ball off
Everton - one wonders whether there
has ever been an opening ten minutes
on this ground where Arsenal have had
so little possession.
5 min Same again. Arsenal need to
protect their back four better than this -
Barkley is running at them at will,
Lukaku is pulling centre backs this way
and that with his runs, Mirallas looks
threatening.
4 min Ross Barkley breaks from halfway
with Lukaku and Mirallas for support,
feeds the ball wide to the latter but can't
get into position in the area to convert
the returned pass.
3 min Great start by Everton,
maintaining possession high up the field
and commiting plenty of men forward to
attacks. They're not here to shut up
shop on this evidence, and already
Seamus Coleman is getting joy down
the right flank.
1 min We're putting an appeal out for
Tim Howard's missing beard. Tweets
and e-mails to the usual addresses
(see above) and hopefully we'll have
tracked it down by half time. Do help
out if you can, the forecast is for a cold
night and it hasn't been out by itself
before.
16.00 And so is the game. Everton have
never won on this ground, Arsenal have
scored more goals against the Toffees
than any other Premier League team, is
today the day for change?
15.58 The penultimate Premier League
minute of applause in memory of Nelson
Mandela is underway.
15.56 Here come the teams, and here's
Martin Tyler, the British Airways captain
of the football commentary world.
15.55 BREAKING NEWS Tim Howard's
beard has gone. More on this as we get
it.
15.54 Everton await the arival of
Arsenal in the tunnel. Seamus Coleman
literally kicking his heels. There's only
four of them, that's how confident they
are, they're going to start short.
Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger on the four changes
he's made to his side after a
midweek win at home to Hull: "Every
game is different and unpredictable, the
only way to make it predictable is for us
to have a great game today and with the
usual performance we have produced
recently. We need to rotate the squad
because we play a lot of games and
every three days there is a massive
game."
Everton manager Roberto
Martinez: "Technically
Arsenal's team is really gifted,
the biggest challenge for us will be how
quickly we can be ourselves. At Old
Trafford on Wednesday we could do
that for long periods in the second half.
That will be an interesting battle for us."
Everton's Gareth Barry: "It’s
been a good week's training,
the result at United sets us up
nicely for today. We’re confident and it
takes the pressure off us today a little
bit getting that result on Wednesday."
15.15 Aidy Boothroyd, Gary Megson,
Tony Pulis et al look away now; Arsene
Wenger's Arsenal v Roberto Martinez's
Everton promises to be a feast for fans
of the finer elements of football.
But we're not just here for the
aesthetics. Arsenal and Everton may be
known for passing the air out of the ball,
but neither is exactly renowned for
picking up trophies in recent times. Man
Utd, Chelsea and Manchester City
(away from home at least) are not so
much leaving the door ajar as allowing
it to flap in the wind and the Gunners
and the Toffees are well placed to
capitalise.
With all the usual caveats about the
amount of football left to play this
season accepted, Arsenal can go seven
points clear with a win while Everton
would move into third if they follow up
Wednesday night's 1-0 win at Man Utd
with a similar score here.
15.05 Part two of Megatron Sunday
takes us to North London for a liquid
football clash between Arsenal and
Everton. The teams look like this...
Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson,
Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta,
Wilshere; Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla; Giroud
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal,
Rosicky, Flamini, Walcott, Bendtner
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Distin,
Jagielka, Oviedo; Barry, McCarthy;
Barkley, Pienaar, Mirallas; Lukaku.
Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic,
Deulofeu, Naismith, Osman, Stones