Month: January 2023

West Ham booked a fifth-round FA Cup tie at boss David Moyes’ former club Manchester United with a comfortable 2-0 win at Derby.

Jarrod Bowen’s third goal in two games gave the Hammers a first-half lead and Michail Antonio headed home their second five minutes after break.

The Londoners made it back-to-back wins after beating Everton 2-0 to climb out of the Premier League’s bottom three nine days go and rarely needed to hit top gear as they halted League One side Derby’s 19-game unbeaten run.

Paul Warne’s side are flying high in fourth place in the third tier and there were high hopes of an upset among the home faithful before kick-off in a Pride Park crowd of 25,308.

Derby forward Tom Barkhuizen wasted no time in breaching West Ham’s defence, scampering clear in the opening minute before his cut-back was scrambled clear.

Bowen shot tamely at Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith soon after, but was not so wasteful in the 10th minute.

Antonio’s ball over the top caught Derby flat-footed and Bowen volleyed home Tomas Soucek’s neat headed pass from six yards.

Derby’s best move of the half saw James Collins volley just off target after Barkhuizen had run on to Craig Forsyth’s dinked pass to pick out the Derby striker with a fine cross.

Barkhuizen and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing offered Derby’s best hopes of getting back on level terms before the break, but they had no shots on target in the first period.

The good news for Rams fans at the break was their side were still in the tie against a top-flight side who were not at their best.

But five minutes into the second period the home side fell 2-0 behind. Derby skipper Curtis Davies’s sliced clearance span into Bowen’s path down the right and his cross was headed in at the far post by Antonio after deflecting off Forsyth.

Warne sent on four substitutes – Eiran Cashin, Liam Thompson, Lewis Dobbin and Tony Springett – soon after and their fresh legs gave Derby a lift.

Haydon Roberts was an inch away from connecting fully with Dobbin’s excellent cross, but the Rams were soon back-pedalling again.

Bowen was denied in quick succession by Wildsmith’s point-blank save and Cashin’s last-ditch tackle and Ben Johnson’s angled drive was kept out by the Derby goalkeeper.

The Rams were full of endeavour until the final whistle and Dobbin was close to being rewarded for an impressive cameo display when shooting straight at Alphonse Areola, but on the night County could not bridge the gulf in class.

Leeds have completed the loan signing of USA international midfielder Weston McKennie.

McKennie, 24, will join fellow Stars and Stripes team-mates Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson at Elland Road as compatriot Jesse Marsch seeks to guide the West Yorkshire club to Premier League safety.

He told Sky Sports: “I’m definitely excited. The January window works quick. Around one week ago I didn’t know if I was going anywhere and now I’m coming here.

“When I heard the interest, it is definitely exciting. There are people I know here, Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Jesse Marsch, I’m ready to get started. 

“I’ve heard the support is amazing, the atmosphere too — that’s an adrenaline rush for me to come out and see fans going crazy. It’s like a 10-times energy boost. Elland Road is dope. The stadium is really nice. It’s top level.”

Marsch’s men sit 15th in the table, just a point from the bottom three, ahead of Sunday’s trip to fellow relegation candidates Nottingham Forest.

On the move, which includes an option tog buy, director of football Victor Orta said: “I am really happy, I think it is a good addition for Leeds United,

“He is a player who is at international level, which is really helpful for the squad and someone who will strengthen us. 

“Weston is a versatile player who will be able to adapt quickly, helped by his knowledge of the other players in the team. 

“I think it gives Jesse Marsch balance in his team and more options, with a player who can grow within the transition of English football. 

“We hope he can adapt quickly with the rhythm here after playing in Italy. To have Weston on loan with an option to buy is a really good situation for Leeds United.”

McKennie becomes the Whites’ third signing of the January transfer window, following the arrivals of defender Max Wober from FC Salzburg and centre forward Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim.

The versatile engine room operator leaves parent club Juventus, having joined the Turin giants from Schalke in 2021.

He made 96 appearances for the Old Lady, who are in crisis, after they received a 15-point deduction earlier this month.

McKennie was not in the matchday squad for Juve’s 2-0 home loss to Monza on Sunday which left the Bianconeri 13th in the table.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more details become available. Please keep refreshing the page. 

Gennaro Gattuso’s Valencia tenure lasted just 18 LaLiga matches as the club announced his departure on Monday.

The former Milan and Napoli coach was appointed ahead of the 2022-23 season after a year out of the game.

But Gattuso has been unable to inspire Valencia, who finished ninth last term.

Gattuso leaves the club in 14th place, winless in four outings since the World Cup break and just a point above the bottom three – albeit with a game in hand over the other sides in the bottom half.

Following Sunday’s last-gasp defeat to Real Valladolid – his final match at the helm – Gattuso addressed supporters and told them Valencia’s poor results were his responsibility.

The 45-year-old also angrily confronted the assembled media a day before Valencia announced his exit.

“Valencia CF announce that this Monday, January 30th, the club and the first team coach, Gennaro Gattuso, have decided by mutual agreement to end the contractual relationship between the two parties,” a statement read.

“The club wish to thank Gattuso for his commitment and work during his time in charge and wish him the best of luck for the future.

“The team will return to training this Tuesday, January 31st, under ‘Voro’ Gonzalez.”

Voro, who is set to take charge of the team at Real Madrid on Thursday, is in his seventh spell as interim coach, having also led Los Che on a permanent basis in the second half of the 2016-17 campaign.

Non-league Wrexham have been handed a potential blockbuster clash with Premier League outfit Tottenham in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Welsh side will welcome Spurs to the Racecourse Ground if they beat Sheffield United in their fourth round replay.

Manchester City visit Bristol City while the victors of tonight’s clash between Derby and West Ham will earn a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Elsewhere in the fifth round draw, Southampton boss Nathan Jones could face former club Luton if the Hatters see off Grimsby in their fourth-round replay.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more details become available. Please keep refreshing the page.

Roger Schmidt acknowledges Benfica may be helpless to stop World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez leaving the club as reports of Chelsea’s interest persist.

Argentina midfielder Fernandez has been linked with the Premier League club throughout the January transfer window after catching the eye at Qatar 2022.

Benfica coach Schmidt was frustrated by Chelsea’s attempts to sign Fernandez earlier in the window when it was claimed they did not intend to pay his £105million (€120m) release clause.

Schmidt, who dropped Fernandez for one match, said the Blues were trying to “drive the player crazy” as it appeared he was keen to make the move.

Yet it was suggested on Monday a bid had been lodged that would see Chelsea match the £105m clause, giving Benfica no option but to allow their prized asset to leave.

The Portuguese giants are top of the Primeira Liga and through to a last-16 Champions League tie against Club Brugge, and Schmidt believes they are set for their next move if Fernandez departs ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

“I think we always have to prepare everything in the background, especially at the end of the transfer window, and especially when you are not in the driver’s seat,” Schmidt said on Monday.

“So, we all know that we have a situation with Enzo that he has a clause in the contract. That means if the player wants and there’s a club that pays this amount of money, you cannot stop that.

“Of course, for this moment, you have to be prepared and you have to find solutions. But at the moment, he is our player, he’s still there, so there is no deal.

“We will see what happens in the next two days. Then I’m happy when the transfer window is closed and we can focus completely on our players in the squad and we can try to play a top season.”

Despite removing Fernandez from the team at the start of the month, Schmidt has no concerns around the player’s mentality now.

“Of course, he gets our full support,” the coach added. “He’s a great person and a great player, and I think I said everything about that topic.

“I already said a few times that as long as the transfer window is open, you always have to expect that something can happen. It’s the same with the Enzo topic.

“So, we will see what happens in the next two days. But my mindset hasn’t changed in the last weeks. I really appreciate after the discussions at the beginning of January that he was able to focus again on Benfica.

“I think he played top games for Benfica, which shows what I said before – that his attitude towards Benfica is 100 per cent.

“But we know also how the football business is. I think I’m always very honest, as honest as possible, to you here in the press conference. That’s the situation. I cannot say anything more about this topic.”

The race to head the goalscoring charts in the Eredivisie is hotting up with a host of players in with a chance of picking up the accolade.

Cody Gakpo’s departure has left FC Utrecht’s Anastasios Douvikas leading the rankings despite his side being 12 points off the top of the league table.

As the battle to secure the title rages on, we look at the leading marksmen in the Dutch top flight.

Anastasios Douvikas (FC Utrecht)

FC Utrecht currently sit seventh in the Eredivisie, but that has not stopped Douvikas from rattling in the goals across 17 appearances this season.

The 23-year-old has a total of 12 goal contributions and bagged a hat-trick against AZ Alkmaar at the weekend to send him to the top of the scoring charts.

Despite his flurry of goals in recent weeks, the Greek international will have to maintain his form if he is to remain in his current position at the top.

Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven)

Xavi Simons has thrived in the Netherlands since he made the switch from Paris Saint-Germain last summer and his form suggests he could be in with a shout for individual awards at the end of the season.

With nine strikes and three assists in 19 appearances for PSV Eindhoven, the 19-year-old is on track to become one of the youngest-ever players to top the list of elite goalscorers.

Utilised in a number of different positions by boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, Simons has been an ever-present operating most often in an attacking midfield role.

Vangelis Pavlidis (AZ Alkmaar)

Vangelis Pavlidis’ form for AZ Alkmaar has been key to helping his side stay in touch with Feyenoord in the race for the title.

His nine goals this season have come in just 11 appearances for a club that sit only two points off the top of the table.

Another Greek international, the 24-year-old has scored seven goals in his last six matches and is going to be a key contributor for Alkmaar as they chase a first Eredivisie title since 2008-09.

Steven Bergwijn (Ajax)

Steven Bergwijn has settled in well at Ajax despite some recent struggles in front of goal for the former Tottenham forward.

He is one of five players who sit on eight goals for the season but the Dutch star has not bagged since November and risks falling out of touch with the leaders if his form does not pick up soon.

Often relying on pace and skill to beat his man, Bergwijn has never had an issue when it comes to fashioning goalscoring opportunities, but it was his end product that meant Spurs were willing to sell him last summer.

Danilo (Feyenoord)

The league leaders have scored 43 goals this year and eight of them have come from Brazilian striker Danilo.

Aged 23, the Sao Paulo-born finisher has netted some crucial strikes this season, including a goal in the 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar.

Having made the switch from Ajax last summer, Danilo will hope to surpass the 17 goals he netted on loan at FC Twente in 2020-21.

Brian Brobbey (Ajax)

Brian Brobbey is the second Ajax player in contention to top the goalscoring charts at the end of the season — his eight strikes have him tied with team-mate Bergwijn.

The young Dutchman is a key player for a club struggling to replicate their recent dominance which has seen the Amsterdam giants win the last three Eredivisie titles.

Brobbey has been averaging a goal every 130 mins for his boyhood club but has not found the net since October.

Burak Yilmaz (Fortuna Sittard)

Eight of Fortuna Sittard’s 25 goals this term have come courtesy of Burak Yilmaz who signed from Lille ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The 77-cap Turkish international has transformed Sittard’s fortunes after they finished 15th last term.

Yilmaz lifted the Ligue 1 title during his spell in France and the veteran 37-year-old will use all his experience to continue his goalscoring exploits.

Orkun Kokcu (Feyenoord)

Yilmaz’s international team-mate Okrun Kokcu is our final participant in the hotly-contested race.

Feyenoord’s No10 has eight goals and one assist in 18 Eredivisie appearances this season.

An academy product, the central midfielder is a crucial component to Arne Slot’s bid to lead the Rotterdam outfit to glory this season.

– Second meets third in Scotland
– Rangers won last meeting 1-0 in November
– Recommended bet: Tie/Rangers in Half Time/Full Time

Rangers edged past Hearts 1-0 at Ibrox in their most recent Scottish Premiership meeting in November and they face a tough trip to Tynecastle to take on a confident Jambos side on Wednesday.

The loss in Glasgow was Hearts’ only defeat in their last 12 league matches and that run has helped them take charge of the race for third place behind the Old Firm duo.

The Gers have nine points to make up on runaway leaders Celtic at the top so cannot afford any more slip-ups in the league this term but they are also in fine form, winning their last four away matches in the Scottish top flight.

Team news

Hearts trio Craig Gordon, Liam Boyce and Beni Baningime are sidelined and Cammy Devlin came off injured in the first half of Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Livingston. 

Jorge Grant could replace Devlin in midfield and striker Lawrence Shankland will be looking to add to his tally of 20 goals this season.

Rangers were without Steven Davis, Filip Helander, Tom Lawrence and Ridvan Yilmaz for the weekend win over St Johnstone but Ianis Hagi was fit enough to come on for the final 20 minutes and midfielder Todd Cantwell made his first start after signing from Norwich.

The stats

Hearts lost 4-0 to Rangers in their first meeting of the season but they go into Wednesday’s clash in great shape, unbeaten in nine league matches and having won their last three home games to nil.

The hosts have been starting games strongly, conceding only two first-half goals in their last 11 league fixtures. They have a first-half goal difference of plus 12 this season but it is minus one in the second half.

Rangers have been drawing at half-time in five of their last 10 Premiership victories, including November’s home win over Hearts in which Malik Tillman scored the only goal of the game in the 66th minute.

The Gers have won four matches by a 4-0 scoreline in the league this term, also racking up three 3-2 victories.

The Glasgow giants have won seven of their last eight league games, with the only exception being a 2-2 draw with rivals Celtic in their first fixture of 2023.

Prediction

Hearts have put together an impressive unbeaten run since their defeat at Ibrox, although there is still a gulf between the third-best team in the Premiership and the ever-dominant top two.

The Jambos have lost all four of their league meetings with Rangers and Celtic this season and their fine run may come to an end against Rangers on Wednesday evening.

It should be a competitive contest, however, as Hearts have not conceded a first-half goal in any of their last six home league games. 

Their defensive standards tend to drop after the break and 22 of the 31 goals they have let in this term have come in the second half so if Rangers remain patient they should create chances as the game goes on. 

The tie-Rangers selection in the Half Time/Full Time market was a winning bet at Ibrox in November and it could land again in this week’s rematch.

Back Tie/Rangers Half Time/Full Time, available at 10/3 with LiveScore Bet.

Erling Haaland needs support from his Manchester City team-mates to deliver the Premier League title, says Sergio Aguero, who believes only Lionel Messi can carry a side to major honours on his own.

Haaland reached 25 goals for the Premier League season with a hat-trick as City thrashed Wolves 3-0 in their most recent outing in the competition.

The Norwegian’s fourth Premier League treble took him beyond the tally of 23 goals managed by last term’s joint Golden Boot winners Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min with 18 games of the campaign remaining. 

Despite Haaland’s exploits, Pep Guardiola’s side trail league leaders Arsenal by five points having played an additional game, and City great Aguero says the striker cannot do it alone.

Asked whether Haaland can inspire City to a fifth league title in six seasons, Aguero told Stake.com: “We’ll have to see that yet.

“There’s still plenty of the season to go. Haaland, who has been racking up numbers that will break historical records, will play a major part in it. 

“In any case, except Leo, there’s no one player who can win a league on their own. 

“It’s about the team, and City have got a very talented roster and exceptional staff. They’ve given plenty of evidence of their great stature, and you know they’ll fight until the very end.”

While City have struggled to keep pace with Arsenal so far this season, five-time Premier League winner Aguero remains confident Guardiola’s men can overturn the Gunners’ lead.

“I wouldn’t say that Man City aren’t clicking. The Premier League is the most competitive league there is,” he continued. 

“It’s perfectly normal to see the top contenders get reinforcements and go back to their historical standards. 

“City have won four out of the last five Premier Leagues. They’re still in the fight, and that needs to be recognised. [They are] prowling from the second position, ready to strike. Anything can happen.”

City will travel to Arsenal for the duo’s first league meeting of the season on February 15, after facing Tottenham and Aston Villa in their next two fixtures.

Everton have looked like a team lacking cohesion this season but they have appointed a master organiser in Sean Dyche.

The Englishman’s Burnley were one of the Premier League’s most stubborn outfits during the bulk of his Turf Moor tenure, constantly performing better than the sum of their parts.

With limited time left in the January transfer window, Dyche must quickly galvanise a Toffees squad low on confidence who find themselves embroiled in a wide-open relegation battle.

We take a closer look at how the 51-year-old will go about his work at Goodison Park.

Underestimated

During his time in East Lancashire, Dyche forged a reputation as an efficient coach who often found a way to get positive results even if his football was not easy on the eye.

Though pundits often praised his achievements at Burnley, their assessments often underplayed the level of tactical intelligence the Kettering-born boss clearly possesses.

Perhaps that is because the man himself chooses to keep things simple.

Asked about his footballing philosophy in October 2020, Dyche said: “We are a football club. Using the word philosophy, I mean, it’s pseudo-intellect, isn’t it? It is putting yourself in a bracket of deep, guru-type thinking.

“It is just a bit of a grand term for someone who is talking about football. A lot of how we work is just good common sense.”

Keeping it simple

Dyche has not reinvented the wheel when it comes to his playing style but his success has not come about by accident either.

Meticulous planning is at the heart of everything he does. Countless former players have spoken of being given clear and concise briefings on their roles prior to every match in no-nonsense fashion.

In terms of formation, however, Dyche has shown himself to be flexible.

His Burnley side became synonymous with a rigid 4-4-2 shape. However, he also oversaw a well-drilled 4-3-3 during his time in charge of Watford.

Regardless, the key principle remains the same — disciplined defending from front to back when not in possession.

That will be music to the ears of Everton fans, who have seen their side’s backline breached 23 times in their last nine outings across all competitions.

No fear

While Dyche may not have the pedigree of a Carlo Ancelotti or a Rafa Benitez, the Toffees will fear no opponent under his stewardship.

His Burnley qualified for Europe against all odds in a memorable 2017-18 campaign, while two years ago they ended Liverpool’s remarkable 68-game Premier League undefeated streak at Anfield.

Speaking about that iconic victory in detail on The Coaches’ Voice YouTube channel, Dyche explained: “When you come across a result like that, you’re not really bothered about how many games they’ve gone without losing at home — that’s not of my concern.

“It’s a feather in your cap to a point but I’d been in the Premier League long enough to have a few of them. We’d beaten Manchester City at home, Chelsea away, Liverpool at home.

“But that kind of result builds belief in the players, belief in what you’re doing and you need that kind of result occasionally in a group to revive the confidence in what you’re doing.

“Ultimately it’s nice for the fans though, and good for football to occasionally take these giants on and get a win.”

Tough start

Dyche’s Everton era will begin in the toughest possible fashion when league leaders Arsenal visit Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime. 

In front of raucous home support, however, it also represents a free hit for the new Toffees boss to add yet another feather to that cap of his.

Upon being appointed, Dyche explained: “We want to bring back a good feeling. We need the fans, we need unity and we need everyone aligned. That starts with us as staff and players.

“Our aim is to put out a team that works, that fights and wears the badge with pride. The connection with the fans can then grow very quickly because they’re so passionate.

“There is quality in this squad. But we have to make them shine. That’s the job of me and my staff.”

Dyche’s last five meetings with the Gunners as Burnley boss resulted in one win, one loss and three draws in what were all extremely tight encounters.

Do not be surprised to see similar again this weekend.

– Manchester United hold a 3-0 advantage over Nottingham Forest
– Erik ten Hag is likely to rotate with eight matches in 26 days in February 
– Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals

Last week’s trip to the City Ground looked a tricky test for Manchester United against an in-form Nottingham Forest, but they passed with flying colours and now look nailed on for a place in the Carabao Cup final.

While we are only halfway through this semi-final, a 3-0 home defeat looks all but impossible for Forest to recover from, given their unconvincing away form.

Steve Cooper’s men have been impressive when roared on by their home support, going unbeaten in eight matches at the City Ground before last week, but have remained vulnerable on the road all season.

Overcoming a three-goal deficit looks beyond his players and perhaps the limit of Forest’s ambitions in the second leg will be to keep things respectable, especially as they have twice lost 3-0 to United since Christmas.

Team news

Ten Hag has several concerns within his squad and, with United in a dominant position in this tie, he is unlikely to risk any players who are not fully fit.

Christian Eriksen picked up an ankle injury against Reading in the FA Cup over the weekend and is highly unlikely to feature, while striker Anthony Martial and full-back Diogo Dalot also look set to miss out with thigh injuries.

Jadon Sancho remains unavailable and attacking midfielder Donny van de Beek has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

Midfielder Scott McTominay and left-back Luke Shaw are also both significant doubts, albeit Shaw may return to the squad if he has recovered from his recent illness.

Nottingham Forest loanee Dean Henderson is ineligible against his parent club and the goalkeeper is recovering from a thigh tear anyway, while midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is a significant doubt after picking up an ankle injury in the first leg.

Defender Giulian Biancone is out for the season with an ACL injury and neither striker Taiwo Awoniyi nor midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate are expected back until March.

Left-back Omar Richards and centre-back Moussa Niakhate are closing in on returns from long-term injuries but this match comes too soon for both.

The stats

While Nottingham Forest have edged away from the Premier League relegation places on the back of their vastly-improved home form, Cooper’s men remain unconvincing on the road.

A record of just two wins — one in the Carabao Cup against second-tier Blackburn — and six defeats in their last 10 away games suggests they will again struggle at Old Trafford, where they lost 3-0 in the league in late December.

Forest failed to score in six of those 10 away games and only scored more than once on one occasion — the 4-1 rout of Blackburn.

Manchester United have also been markedly better at home than away this season, beating only Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol by more than a single goal away from home this season until last week’s 3-0 win at the City Ground, which was their biggest away victory in any competition in 15 months.

At home, however, United have been dominant of late, winning each of their last 11 games at Old Trafford and scoring three or more goals in seven of those.

Prediction

While Manchester United’s free-scoring displays on home soil and back-to-back 3-0 defeats of Cooper’s side tempt a bet at another high-scoring victory, it might be best to go the other way given the situation of this tie.

There is almost no chance that Forest can stun the Red Devils on home soil to overturn the 3-0 first-leg deficit and, despite what both are likely to say publicly, both managers will know that.

Therefore it seems likely that both Ten Hag and Cooper will rest some of their key men ahead of another important Premier League weekend.

If wholesale changes are made in both camps, a second-string United side should still be strong enough to see off Forest’s reserves, but it could be a solid rather than spectacular home win on the night as they wrap up a routine qualification to the final.

Back under 2.5 goals, available at 21/20 with LiveScore Bet.