Новости за 01.01.2019

We need to talk about Aaron Ramsey. Out of contract at the end of the season, the midfielder's future shifted back into the spotlight with the start of a new year. There appears only one certainty when it comes to the Wales international – he will not be remaining at Arsenal beyond the 2018-19 campaign. The Gunners seemed certain to hand the player an extension at one stage, only to then change their minds as talks collapsed. "We all know that the contract was taken away off the table. I'm not... Читать дальше...

Claudio Ranieri has no issue with Aboubakar Kamara after the Fulham forward apologised for defying orders with his missed penalty against Huddersfield Town. Aleksandar Mitrovic was assigned spot-kick duties by his manager but Kamara took matters into his own hands on Saturday at Craven Cottage, dismissing the Serbia international to have a go himself from 12 yards. The French forward's effort was saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl and while Mitrovic spared his team-mate's blushes with a late winner... Читать дальше...

Unai Emery felt Arsenal were not flattered by a 4-1 scoreline against Fulham, despite enduring some nervy moments in the New Year's Day win at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners responded well to their 5-1 mauling on Merseyside at the hands of Liverpool on Saturday, with the home victory pushing them to within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table. Yet Fulham did not make life easy for their hosts, Ryan Sessegnon missing two excellent opportunities before Granit Xhaka opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Читать дальше...

Norwich City rescued a late 1-1 draw at Brentford to edge closer to Championship leaders Leeds United, who were beaten 4-2 by Nottingham Forest. Sheffield United closed in on the top two thanks to their 3-0 win at Wigan Athletic, but no one else in the top six was able to win – Derby County were held at home 1-1 by fellow high-flyers Middlesbrough, while West Brom lost 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers. Rock-bottom Ipswich Town continue to look doomed as they went down 3-2 at home to Millwall, while Rotherham... Читать дальше...

Alexandre Lacazette is restored to Arsenal's starting XI for the clash with Fulham, but Mesut Ozil is once again missing from the Gunners' matchday squad. Striker Lacazette has scored six Premier League goals this season but started Saturday's 5-1 defeat to Liverpool on the bench, coming on in the 71st minute to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, the pair are both in the team to take on bottom club Fulham at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with coach Unai Emery making changes to his side at the end of a busy festive period. Читать дальше...

Sergio Aguero still expects the Premier League title race to go down to the wire as a rejuvenated Manchester City look to make up ground on leaders Liverpool. The top two in the table meet at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday in a pivotal fixture for both clubs, with Jurgen Klopp's Reds heading to Manchester with a seven-point cushion over the reigning champions. City had led the way at the start of December but endured a dip at the end of 2018, suffering three defeats in the month, against Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester City. Читать дальше...

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been confirmed as the Player of the Year finalists at the 2018 CAF Awards. The prestigious honour, set to be awarded at a gala in Dakar, Senegal, next week will go to one of three Premier League stars after sparkling in 2018. Salah was last year's winner and he followed up his 2017 achievements with another fine 12 months, breaking the Premier League's 38-game season goals record, while leading Liverpool to the Champions League final... Читать дальше...

Melbourne City began 2019 by moving back into the A-League's top four as the outstanding Eugene Galekovic kept Western Sydney Wanderers at bay in a 2-0 away triumph. City's speed on the counter initially proved the undoing of the sloppy Wanderers, who have now won just once in seven matches, as Lachlan Wales and Ritchie de Laet found the target in quick succession, before goalkeeper Galekovic came to the fore. Rostyn Griffiths was foolishly sent off for City, but Galekovic made a string of stunning saves... Читать дальше...

Harry Kane is targeting Nations League glory in 2019 and believes success in Portugal will boost England's Euro 2020 chances. The Three Lions enjoyed a fine 12 months in 2018, reaching the World Cup semi-finals and then emerging from a tough group to reach the Nations League Finals, pipping Croatia and Spain in dramatic fashion. Not every nation has appeared to treat the inaugural edition of the competition as a major tournament, but Kane is confident that victory at the end of the season - when... Читать дальше...

He would have to reflect on back-to-back losses against Crystal Palace and Leicester City and a damaged Premier League title defence for a little longer, but Pep Guardiola leaned mischievously forward on his desk and broke into a grin. Speaking ahead of Sunday's restorative 3-1 win over Southampton, the Manchester City manager was asked whether the playing philosophy he was told would struggle under Premier League scrutiny – only to yield 100 points last term– might be due for a rethink during this mid-season turbulence. Читать дальше...

Liverpool travel to Manchester City with a seven-point advantage over the Premier League champions at the summit. The outcome at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday is likely to be viewed as a pivotal moment, whichever way this season's title race is settled. But the victors in such battles do not always win the overall war. Here, we look at some memorable Premier League tussles between title contenders and – crucially – what happened next. Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1 (March 1996) Until Sergio... Читать дальше...

The destiny of the 2018-19 Premier League title could become a lot clearer on Thursday if Liverpool are able to beat champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Jurgen Klopp's men were impeccable over the Christmas period as Pep Guardiola's team wobbled and the Reds would extend their lead to 10 points with victory. But a restorative 3-1 win at Southampton on Sunday means City can potentially haul in their rivals and reignite a quest to become the first back-to-back winners of England's top flight for a decade. Читать дальше...

January's transfer window does not always feature massive deals, but clubs around Europe may be tempted to enter the market this month. Teams including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich might move for players in a bid to boost their title hopes, with both sides currently adrift in their respective races. Premier League clubs are typically the biggest spending in the world and, with Liverpool's title charge looking ominous, chequebooks may open at Manchester City and Tottenham in a bid to stop the Reds. Читать дальше...

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo insisted he was not obsessed with individual awards after enjoying another stellar year in 2018. Ronaldo, 33, guided Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League success before his move to Juve, where he has scored 15 goals in 24 games. But he was denied a sixth Ballon d'Or, finishing second to Madrid star Luka Modric, whose exploits for the LaLiga giants and Croatia saw him claim numerous individual honours. Ronaldo said those prizes were not something he worried about... Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo vowed to return to the Portugal setup in 2019 after skipping his nation's matches following the World Cup. Ronaldo, 33, opted against adding to his 154 caps after Russia 2018, instead preferring to settle at Juventus. But the superstar forward, who has scored 15 goals in 24 games for Juve, said he would be back in Portugal colours in 2019. "In 2019 I intend to be back at the disposal of the coaching staff," Ronaldo told Record. Ronaldo said he had come to an agreement to skip... Читать дальше...

Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling believes his team can claim an important win over Liverpool if they are at their best. Pep Guardiola's side needs a victory at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday to close the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points. Despite two defeats in their past three games, Sterling is confident in City's chances against his former club. "If we can play the way we know we can play, we can beat anyone," he told UK newspapers. "It's going to be a great game... Читать дальше...

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson warned his team not to expect their trip to Manchester City to be like last season's Champions League encounter. Jurgen Klopp's men visit the Etihad Stadium with a seven-point lead over City at the top of the Premier League, and avoiding defeat would be another step towards the title. Liverpool are unbeaten in their past four meetings with City, including winning 2-1 in Manchester in April 2018 to seal a 5-1 aggregate success in the Champions League quarter-finals last season. Читать дальше...

Alexis Sanchez is in line to make his Manchester United return at Newcastle United on Wednesday and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident of getting the best out of him. The Chile international has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury in November, the latest setback in a faltering start to life at Old Trafford since his move from Arsenal in January 2018. There were fears at the time from Jose Mourinho that Sanchez was set to be out "for a long time", but fortunately for the 30-year-old... Читать дальше...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is convinced he and his coaching staff have the faith of managerial legend Alex Ferguson because they are "Manchester United through and through". Solskjaer has enjoyed a strong start to life back at United since being installed as caretaker manager, replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho. United have won all three games under Solskjaer's guidance, scoring 12 goals in the process, but perhaps the biggest difference is the free-flowing, attacking football on display. Some fans... Читать дальше...