Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Korede James Liverpool secured a comfortable 4-0 victory against League One outfit Accrington Stanley in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup at Anfield on Saturday. Arne Slot’s men went into Saturday’s early kick-off Cup tie on the back of a defeat and a draw in their last two games. After playing a 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the English Premier League, the Reds lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final first leg of the Carabao Cup. Goals from Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa sealed the dominant win for the Reds on…
Everton have re-appointed David Moyes as their manager, the English Premier League club confirmed in a statement on Saturday. “Everton Football Club is delighted to welcome back David Moyes as their new Manager, effective immediately,” the club announced. “David is widely recognised as one of the Premier League’s most experienced and accomplished managers, having led Everton for more than 500 matches from 2002 to 2013. “As a driving force behind taking Everton to the 2009 FA Cup Final and four European campaigns, he has also managed Manchester United and West Ham United, where he notably won the UEFA Europa Conference…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has revealed that Altay Bayindir will start in goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup third round tie at the Emirates on Sunday. Bayindir replaced Andre Onana in the 4-3 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup and it will be the same situation this weekend against the Gunners. Speaking at his press conference to preview the game on Friday, Amorim said:”I don’t rotate because I want to rotate, I’m trying to find the best solutions to win the game. “I put the guys in who are more fresh to cope with the demands…
By Korede James Super Eagles stars Nathan Tella and William Troost-Ekong played key roles on Friday night to inspire their clubs to victories in Germany and Saudi Arabia. While forward Tella netted one of the goals that earned Bayer Leverkusen a 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund, centre-back Troost-Ekong provided the assist for the winning goal in Al Kholood’s victory by the same margin over Al Ettifaq. Tella, filling in for his injured Nigeria international teammate Victor Boniface, stunned the home crowd in Dortmund in the first minute, rifling home his first goal of the Bundesliga campaign in his 12th appearance…
Mikel Arteta is keen on securing another FA Cup troohy at Arsenal as he prepares his side to face rivals Manchester United in the third round on Sunday at the Emirates. Arteta’s first trophy at Arsenal as a player was the FA Cup in 2014 whey defeated Hull City in the final. It was also his first as a manager back in 2020, when the Gunners beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final at Wembley. Despite Arsenal not going beyond the fourth round since lifting the trophy for a record 14th time five years ago, Arteta insists his team is fully…
Jannik Sinner will launch his Australian Open title defence under a stubborn doping cloud but the whiff of scandal may do little to halt the Italian juggernaut. Sinner remains the man to beat at Melbourne Park even as doping officials seek a two-year ban for the world number one for failing two drugs tests last March. The saga failed to derail Sinner during a stellar season as he put the distractions aside to win eight titles, including a second Grand Slam crown at the U.S. Open and a maiden ATP Finals trophy. Sinner may face a cooler reception than usual for…
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been named the English Premier League Player of the Month for December. This is the first time Isak will claim the prize. The Sweden striker, 25, was announced the winner in a statement by the Premier League on Friday. Isak topped an eight-man shortlist, which included Liverpool’s in-form forward Mohamed Salah, after the public’s votes on the EA SPORTS website were combined with those of a panel of football experts. The former Real Sociedad star won the award after an incredible month for Newcastle United, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in six…
By Korede James Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke returned to full training with Sevilla on Thursday after being sidelined for over two months with a hamstring injury. Ejuke got injured in Sevilla’s LaLiga fixture against Barcelona on October 20 last year. In a video posted on the club’s X handle on Thursday, the 27-year-old was welcomed back by his teammates with a guard of honour. Sevilla coach Garcia Pimienta had suggested the winger would be back soon after he began light training in December. “Ejuke could be training with us in mid-January and, if all goes well, he will participate…
By Korede James Italian clubs Cagliari and Empoli have been linked to January transfer moves for Rangers’ Nigeria international Cyriel Dessers. The Super Eagles striker spent the 2022-2023 season in Italy with Cremonese, who sold him to Rangers after just one year for €5m following their relegation to Serie B. During his time at Cremonense, 30-year-old Dessers scored six goals in 26 Serie A games. So far this season the striker has registered 12 goals and four assists in 30 games for Rangers, including one in the UEFA Europa League. However, he has dropped down the pecking order in recent…
By Korede James Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo was on target for Al Wehda in their 2-1 win away to Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday. Ighalo has now scored in back-to-back matches after also netting in Al Wehda’s 3-2 home defeat to Al Akhdoud on December 5 before the league went on break. The former Nigeria international netted in the 26th minute on Thursday to put his side 2-0 up against Al Fateh. Craig Goodwin had opened the scoring for Al Wehda in the 14th minute. Sofiane Bendebka pulled a goal back for Al Fateh…