Crystal Palace v Wolves won’t quite be an end-of-season stroll, but both teams are drifting down the table yet still a full 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Both teams have plenty of injury concerns and have struggled for form lately, so I’m predicting a 3-3 draw.
Mixed injury news for Leicester, with Jamie Vardy recovering well from a hernia operation but Wilfred Ndidi out of Sunday’s home game against Leeds with a hamstring injury. The midfielder faces 10 days out, with Vardy set to return to training in a similar time frame.
As I mentioned here, Leicester are unbeaten this season when Ndidi and Youri Tielemans have started in midfield together, so his absence is a blow. Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa will again be without Diego Llorente, who picked up an injury 10 minutes into his comeback against Newcastle, and faces another month on the sidelines.
Some on-this-day action from 1949, when non-league Yeovil shocked Sunderland in the FA Cup. Yeovil won 2-1 despite playing 80 minutes with 10 men, after a player was injured early on. Substitutes weren’t allowed at all in English football until 1965.
Carlo Ancelotti has hinted he may rest Jordan Pickford against Newcastle, with Robin Olsen starting in goal instead, but the Everton manager has defended his first-choice keeper after another clanger against Leicester.
“He did a mistake and I think that we can say this, but this doesn’t change for me or his team-mates the confidence we have,” Ancelotti said. “There is absolutely no problem or doubt in his quality or his motivation. I think there is good competition there and the signing of Olsen helped him to be more motivated but also with less pressure.”
Here’s some more background on the new concussion substitutes protocol, set to feature in the Premier League from next weekend. The plans have met with criticism, with one brain injury specialist describing them as like “putting lipstick on a pig.”
The new rules, approved by Ifab last month, allow for two permanent concussion changes per game - with the opposition allowed to make an equivalent change. The players’ union Fifpro had been in favour of a 10-minute assessment for concussed players, with temporary substitutes allowed.
The FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has rejected suggestions that the new approach is a “cop-out. I see this as going further,” he said. “We’re taking any player that is suspected of concussion off the pitch.” To me, it feels a bit like the five substitutes rule returning through the back door, but is at least an overdue first step in taking concussion more seriously.
Some breaking news: the Premier League will allow concussion substitutes from 6 February, with teams able to make up to two additional changes per match. The new protocol will also be used in the FA Cup fifth round, and in the WSL and Championship from 6 February.
David Moyes has confirmed Jesse Lingard is heading to West Ham on loan, but says he doesn’t expect any more signings before the Monday deadline. Moyes had been in the market for a new striker after Sébastien Haller left for Ajax, with RB Leipzig’s Hwang Hee-chan one player linked.
I think Jesse will give us more attacking options in as far as he can play nearly all the positions along the front line, and he can play as a midfield player as well. I can’t deny we’d have liked another striker. We have made offers for one or two players we’d have liked to have got. But for different reasons they’ve not been gettable. Are we expecting any more incomings? At the moment, no.
Here’s more from David Hytner on Harry Kane’s impending injury absence, and how José Mourinho might manage the problem:
Our quiz of the sporting week, featuring Chelsea, big transfer fees and Martin Ødegaard:
Match preview time! Southampton host Aston Villa on Saturday evening, in a battle of teams with fading European ambitions. Southampton have slipped to 11th in the table after one win in seven league games, but Ralph Hasenhüttl isn’t too concerned.
“We have had wins in the Cup, [but] it’s important you are consistently taking points in the league. Everything is OK, we are where we deserve to be ... if we didn’t have so many injuries we could be higher in the table. We are [still] not an opponent who are easy to play against.”
Hasenhüttl also confirmed he is still chasing a loan signing, with the club linked to both Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Manchester United’s Brandon Williams this week. “We hope that we can get another signing here, maybe on loan, this is an opportunity we have, yes,” said Hasenhüttl.
With Newcastle going 11 games without a win in all competitions, Steve Bruce is a man under pressure - and accepts his job might be at risk if results don’t improve.
“I wouldn’t expect to be bulletproof. I haven’t had any assurances,” Bruce said. “We’re in the Premier League and we’re judged by results. They haven’t been good enough.” The Magpies go to Everton in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
Thanks, David. Let’s kick off with a big game this weekend - an all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final, between local rivals Santos and Palmeiras. What’s more, you can watch it for free on the BBC!
And with the final school lesson of the day now in play, I shall hand you over to Niall McVeigh...
This is what home schooling is all about - making Bradford City’s Valley Parade on Minecraft.
George of the North (@GoftNorth)
Eldest just sent me this #bcafc pic.twitter.com/KY9Y9hbwt1
January 28, 2021
Who needs Sergio Aguero when you have Ilkay Gündogan bagging braces?
Well, Manchester City still have no choice in the matter as the Argentine striker remains in self-isolation. He’s reportedly feeling fine but hasn’t been cleared to return to training. Guardiola, who also revealed that defender Nathan Ake is still out, said:
Sergio is not yet here. When he tests negative he will come back.
Time for some Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City manager, who described Sam Allardyce as a “genius” before making him look a chump during the 5-0 romp at West Brom on Tuesday, is also buttering up Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder ahead of Saturday’s game.
It is a team that is alive from their body language – that is not easy with the results they have got and it speaks incredibly well about (manager) Chris (Wilder), his staff and the players.
The United result speaks for itself. Everybody knows how difficult it is to win at Old Trafford.
Live news from Jesse Lingard’s medical at West Ham. West Ham boss David Moyes is playing his cards close to his chest.
He is here doing a medical but I can’t give you any more than that. Hopefully it will go through.
Solskjær has also spoken about Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial being sent racist abuse on social media following the 2-1 loss to Sheffield United.
It’s just incredible that we have these scenes still or this abuse in 2021.
We’ve been campaigning for a long time now with the Premier League and, to be honest, I think it’s working but there are still some people that haven’t got it, hide behind social media, be anonymous and it’s unacceptable.
It’s disgusting and the players and everyone… we’ve spoken to each other, of course, and they’re fine, to put it that way.
They’re not Man United fans in my head anyway when this happens. We’re all standing behind every single one of our players.
Asked how they are, Solskjaer added:
Axel is fine, I’ve spoken to him, and of course it’s not nice but he’s a strong boy, a strong character.
He’s got good support from his family and we’re a family in the club, his team-mates are family.
It’s something that you don’t expect to see now but you’re not really surprised once in a while when it happens because there’s still, as we’ve said, some people you feel sorry for because that’s what you have to do for these individuals.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær says Jesse Lingard can still have an impact at Manchester United despite sending him out on loan to West Ham for the rest of the season.
Lingard has played just three times in all competitions for the Red Devils this season.
Here’s the Old Trafford boss saying all the right things:
We want Jesse to come back here revitalised and having shown at West Ham how good a player he is, of course.
He’s just been unfortunate with a couple of issues – some periods that he had to stay away from us with the Covid and isolation, with the close contact.
The rest of the team has done well. We’ve had little to no injuries and he’s not forced his way into the team, unfortunately.
I just want him to go there and enjoy himself, show how good a player he is and come back. He’s a Man United player through and through.
What all transfer-hungry fans want to see - a new signing holding up the shirt. Bournemouth have just unveiled midfielder Ben Pearson, who has joined on a three-and-a-half year deal from Preston. The 26-year-old was on Manchester United’s books as a youngster.
Talking of Bournemouth, here’s a piece to warm the heart by Donald McRae.
A few Optas for the Man City v Sheffield Utd clash on Saturday. Starring Chris Wilder, Ilkay Gündogan and the Man City defence:
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 11 home games against Sheffield United in all competitions (W6 D5), since a 3-2 league defeat at Maine Road in October 1987, with Chris Wilder playing the full 90 minutes for the Blades.
- Man City’s Ilkay Gündogan is enjoying his best ever goalscoring season in his top-flight league career, netting seven Premier League goals so far this term. He could become the first German player to score in four consecutive Premier League appearances.
- Man City have kept a clean sheet in each of their last eight each home league matches against Sheffield United – in English league football, the last team to keep nine home clean sheets in a row against an opponent was Liverpool vs Stoke between 1983 and 2014.
- Manchester City have won their last 11 games in all competitions, conceding just three goals in that run. They’ve never won 12 in a row in their history, while the last top-flight team to do so was Arsenal between August-October 2007.
Having won at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, Sheffield United’s next assignment is a trip to leaders and title favourites Manchester City this weekend. Here’s Blades boss Chris Wilder on the prospect of what would be an extraordinary Manchester double.
We’ve taken major hits this season, more in the manner of the results rather than the performances – the late goals, individual errors and not taking big moments.
But we took them on Wednesday and it can only help the players, because it can’t be a one-off if we want to make it uncomfortable for the teams above.
But don’t get me wrong, we are not all of a sudden thinking we turn up at Manchester City and it is our game to lose.
There are small things we can take positives from and encouragement from, we will do that.
“But we know how difficult it is going to be, they seem to have hit top speed recently. It’s the nature of the league and we’d love to be in this position next year, going to Old Trafford and the Etihad, but there is a lot of work to do if we are to make that possible.
A bit more from Jurgen Klopp on the problems of trying to sign a new centre-back. At least Liverpool fans will be pleased to hear the intent is there.
I’m not sure there’s an £80million centre-back available at the moment. We need to find the right player, and it needs to suit our financial situation as well. I know players of this calibre, their teams wouldn’t sell them now. We will try.
My thoughts didn’t change. My words might have. Same situation. We work on this, if we don’t sleep, we work. We will see.
Everything is long-term. It’s about a solution, and that’s what we are working on. Usually, everything is kind of long-term. We had one half-year contract with Steven Caulker (in January 2016). It’s about solutions, that’s the first thing, and that’s what we are working on.
Thanks Tumaini. I’ll start with some Jose Mourinho, who is ruling out the idea of using Gareth Bale as a striker to cover for the injured Harry Kane.
Seems like the Welshman is quite specific as to where he wants to play, according to Jose.
Harry Kane is Harry Kane, you know. There are players in some teams, that are not replaceable.
I don’t think Gareth is a striker, I don’t think he likes to play as a striker. It was something that we spoke when we joined us, he was very objective with me, by saying he doesn’t feel he is a left winger like he was before, he doesn’t feel like he is a No 10 like he was before, too.
The position that he likes to play is the position where we are playing him every minute we give him, which is the right side of the attack. So when Gareth plays starting or coming from the bench, that’s his position in our game.
That is enough from me today. Thanks very much for following as usual. Dave Tindall will be taking over.
Olympique de Marseille have launched new OM Africa shirts, which “will support the #OMAfrica program by bringing together and unifying Marseille supporters by paying tribute to the city’s multicultural identity and the club’s historic roots on the African continent.”
Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English)
Inspired by Africa, designed for the Marseillais.#OMAfrica 💙🌍 ⎪@pumafootball pic.twitter.com/rcxEWE0B8P
January 29, 2021
Not exactly news, but an enjoyable answer from Jürgen Klopp on allowing young Liverpool players like Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Philipps to grow individually:
We speak constantly, but not the talks that you thin we have. It’s not like I explain the game to them every day. They are talented, really talented and they will have a proper, proper career so it’s all fine. Trust means as well [to] let them do in [their] way and not to judge everything: ‘If you do that, it would have been better than if you did that.’
So we’re all different and we do things differently. Some of the things we have to do exactly right because we do them together and some of things are individual. So, yes, we talk but it’s not like every day a book about playing centre half in the Premier League. It’s just, we have a lot of faith and trust in the boys.
For example, yesterday really tricky one. Nat coming on, early challenge, yellow card, and then staying calm, playing a really good game and helped us a lot.
Some quality viral content for today.
Here is the tragic panenka attempt in question.
C. (@Cxrly__)
Mind Jason Cummings tried a panenka, missed & said he only tried it because he had a new barnet and felt like Pirlo? Hahahahahaha unreal pic.twitter.com/4oPmKqgQ8n
January 28, 2021
Jürgen Klopp on Liverpool’s continued injury woes:
On Joel Matip’s ankle injury yesterday: “After the game, I was especially emotional just because [at] half time the boy was sitting there. Now there are glimpses of hope that it is not that serious. We don’t have the final result because the scan didn’t happen yet. And Fabinho? No chance for the weekend.”
On whether Liverpool will buy/loan before the end of the transfer window: “I don’t know. We’ll try. So, it would be funny when you all think ‘Liverpool is fine with the situation, they don’t care.’ We try! But there’s nothing to say until something happens so we will see. The situation yesterday didn’t make it easier, but it’s just, still, we try to do the right things. If that’s possible, we will do it. If not, then no.”
Dean Smith is satisfied with his Aston Villa squad despite a couple of frustrating results recently:
“We’re closer to the top four than the bottom four. We’ve added quality and started the season well. We’re still disappointed with results that have gone against us,” said Smith.
“We stayed up last season with the run that we had, then we’ve added quality and I think we’ve started the season well.
“We’re disappointed with some of the games we’ve been beaten in. We’ve had some referee’s decisions that have gone against us - Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham and Brighton to name four of them.
“It felt like we threw three points away [against Burnley] - that was my emotion after the game. You come back, you reflect, you review the game, and we were very good in the game and we deserved to win the game.
(via PA)
Here is the online story of West Brom contacting the police after Romaine Sawyers received racist abuse.
Manchester United vs Arsenal over the past couple of seasons:
- 5 Dec 2018: Manchester United 2-2 Arsenal
- 25 Jan 2019: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United (FA Cup)
- 10 Mar 2019: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
- 30 Sept 2019: Manchester United 1-1
- 1 Jan 2020: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
- 1 Nov 2020: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
3 Arsenal wins, 2 draws, 1 Manchester United win (FA Cup).
The FA Cup Fifth round schedule has been announced by the FA:
Tuesday 9 February
- 5.30pm: Burnley v AFC Bournemouth (BT Sport 1)
- 7.30pm: Manchester United v West Ham United (BBC One)
Wednesday 10 February
- 5.30pm: Swansea City v Manchester City (BT Sport 1)
- 7.30pm: Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion (BT Sport 2) & Sheffield United v Bristol City (BBC iPlayer)
- 8.15pm: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur (BT Sport 1)
Thursday 11 February
- 5.30pm: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton (BT Sport 1)
- 8pm: Barnsley v Chelsea (BBC One)
“Tottenham Women have announced the signing of the South Korea captain Cho So-hyun on loan from West Ham for the rest of the season with an option to make the loan permanent in the summer.”
Here is Jonathan Wilson on an encouraging performance from Liverpool against Tottenham.
Everybody is adapting, most notably and successfully Manchester City. Their resurgence remains to be tested against the highest level of opposition, but it’s possible that the difficulties of this season have been extremely beneficial to them and that, by being forced to take a more conservative approach to their pressing, they have found a balance that permits them to play with something close to the same attacking flair as they have always done at their best under Pep Guardiola, but without the vulnerability to balls played in behind their defensive line that has kept undermining Guardiola sides in Europe.
West Bromwich Albion say they have reported to the police a racist message directed to Romaine Sawyers. The message was sent to Sawyers after West Brom’s 5-0 loss to Manchester City on Tuesday. The club statement:
“The club has a proud history of confronting all forms of discrimination and will assist the authorities with their inquiries, seeking the toughest available legal punishment, as well as a lifetime ban from The Hawthorns for the individual responsible.
Albion will offer Romaine the relevant support required at this time and continues with its long-standing commitment to help rid football of racism.
There is No Room For Racism. Anywhere.
Challenge it, report it, change it.”
Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)
No Arsenal, no PSG and no other clubs involved as of today. Eric Garcia has a verbal agreement since December to join Barcelona as a free agent... and he’ll be Barça player. There’s no doubt. 🔵🔴 #fcb #mcfc https://t.co/DTuYHMK1nV
January 29, 2021
This is extremely pleasant. Yannick Bolasie’s loan with Middlesbrough was confirmed yesterday, meaning that his time at Everton will be over with the end of his contract in the summer. This was a message Séamus Coleman sent to Bolasie after he was left out of the Everton squad last year.
Yannick Bolasie (@YannickBolasie)
Will always be my guy 💙 Captain & Friend, this is what we spoke about in October & it’s never stopped...I believe in myself but when my teammates do as well it always gives you a different drive #ThankYouCapo pic.twitter.com/HReGF0AW9p
January 29, 2021
Fikayo Tomori, whose Milan debut was a 70 minute baptism of fire against Inter in the Coppa Italia quarterfinal on Tuesday, recently spoke about his arrival in Italy from Chelsea on loan.
“I want to help the team as much as I can and the best way to do that is on the pitch ... it was nice for me to play my first game. The game was a derby. When it’s a derby it’s very intense and very emotional, which is good.
“Obviously I’ve come to Italy and I don’t really know much Italian. When the manager speaks I’m trying to piece together what he’s saying. But everyone since I’ve been here has been helpful, helping me translate and helping me understand what the manager wants and what everyone is saying. So the transition hasn’t really been too hard.
“And I’ve always wanted to try something new. I know there’s more to life than the Premier League and England and everything like that. I was always ready to go abroad and to try something different and to improve myself and develop myself not only as a footballer but as a person. I know I’m in the right place to do that and probably one of the best places in the world to do so.”
Gareth Southgate has volunteered to be part of HEADING, a study looking into the potential links between dementia and football. (via AP)
“Having turned 50 last year, I am now eligible to take part in the HEADING study, which could provide crucial and valuable insight to help people who play the game now and in the future.
“I would encourage any former professional footballer who is willing and able to take part in the HEADING or the FOCUS study to do so.
Our involvement is absolutely essential if we are to have a greater understanding of this issue; and their support for the studies can be done from their home, either online or over the phone.”
Today marks a year since Bruno Fernandes joined Manchester United. Since then:
- United have won more points than any Premier League team.
- Fernandes has made 52 appearances with 28 goals and 17 assists.
- He has contributed more Premier League goals and assists (33) than anyone else.
- He has been named Premier League player of the month 4 times.
- He was named Manchester United’s player of the year.
There will be no new faces arriving at Aston Villa over the next few days and understandably so.
Football Daily (@footballdaily)
🗣 "We're not looking to, we have a healthy squad."
Dean Smith says Aston Villa won't be bringing in anymore players but doesn't rule out players leaving pic.twitter.com/lpTcPRed4H
January 29, 2021
Steve Bruce has confirmed his interest in Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury, who has been linked with Newcastle on loan.
“It’s somebody we’ve liked. It’s been reported, but I’m never going to speak about anybody else’s player, I think that would be wrong. But it’s somebody we do like, yes.”
New Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel on the “super-important” N’Golo Kante, who apparently has the mentality of a water-carrier:
“I think he’s the strongest in the double-six, in the centre, in the heart of the game,” said Tuchel.
“It gives him a little bit, for me, more freedom than when he plays as a single six.
“We can use his energy, the volume in his game and his ability to recuperate and recover balls everywhere on the pitch.
“He’s a guy who is a big, big helper for everybody, with a big potential, with a mentality of a water-carrier, but at the same time a world-class player who played a crucial role in the World Cup win for France.
“And that’s why it’s super-important to have him.”
[via PA]
Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford)
Brilliant Nuno @Wolves 👏🏾 https://t.co/9xuyrdO0Z2
January 29, 2021
UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
🇧🇷 Happy birthday to the legendary Romário! 🎉#UCL
January 29, 2021
West Ham have confirmed that Saïd Benrahma has completed his permanent move after initially joining on loan from Brentford in October. The 25 year-old has signed a contract with West Ham until 2026.
By freeing up loan space in their squad, West Ham can now proceed with their Jesse Lingard loan.
WhoScored.com (@WhoScored)
👀 Southampton (10), Aston Villa (10) and West Ham (9) ranked in the top four for most errors leading to an opposition goal in the Premier League last season
😏 Some turnaround... pic.twitter.com/LRG6qGOjMI
January 29, 2021
A concerning day or two for Tottenham as they assess the two ankle injuries sustained by Harry Kane last night against Liverpool.
“The second injury was worse than the first one,” the Spurs manager said. “For Harry to leave a game when the team is losing is not a nothing injury. There are some players you can’t replace. Both ankles getting big.”
Here is Rumour Mill with Gregg Bakowski, which leads with question marks over Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s immediate future.
Another 10 things to look out for this weekend.
Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)
Parma have reached a verbal agreement with Bayern Münich to sign Joshua Zirkzee, confirmed and here-we-go expected soon. 🤝
Work in progress on the contracts [yet to be signed]. Everton were trying to sign him but Parma are set to complete the deal in the coming hours. 🇳🇱 #efc https://t.co/XDvQtF3isO
January 29, 2021
Hello! Welcome to another weekend countdown ahead of both an overwhelming slate of games and the dying embers of the January transfer window. It is hard to believe that we are already on matchday 21, but we keep on moving. Tomorrow’s slate of games will begin with Everton vs Newcastle at 12:30pm, then Crystal Palace vs Wolves, Manchester City vs Sheffield United and West Brom vs Fulham.
Saturday will end with two major games from the top half of the table: another chapter in a classic rivalry as Arsenal host Manchester United and then a battle between two of the most improved teams over the past year in Southampton vs Aston Villa.
Sunday will see Chelsea vs Burnley, Leicester City, a clash between top four teams West Ham and Liverpool, then Brighton vs Tottenham.
There will be just one day of rest before we do it all again midweek. The transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, February 1st.
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