For a team as rich in history as Liverpool F.C, there hasn’t half been some tosh pull on the famous red shirt and walk past the ‘This is Anfield’ sign. Although the Reds might have picked up seven domestic trophies and three European ones since the inception of the Premier League, they have never quite managed to pull off the big one, indeed their last league title came under Kenny Dalglish in 1990.
Although there have been some great players turning out for the club in the Premier League era, think Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia or Robbie Fowler, some of their other signings have been simply miserable. Old boss Rafa Benitez had a reputation for loading his squad with unheard-of, and often useless players, while more recently, Kenny Dalglish went the other way, paying big fees for overrated talent.
There are a lot of contenders for such a team, but we’ve selected the worst XI signings to play for Liverpool in the Premier League era. See if you agree:
Click on Paul Konchesky to unveil the XI
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Newly promoted Cardiff City are set to bid for Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones in order to add Premier League experience to their squad this summer according to the Daily Mirror.
The Bluebirds are set to spend big but wisely this summer with owner Vincent Tan backing boss Malky Mackay.
Cardiff are not blessed with a whole host of Premier League stars and so a building job will have to be done this summer to prevent them turning into a one hit wonder along the lines of Reading.
Stoke are willing to allow Jones to leave the Britannia Stadium this summer after his impact was limited this season and the lack of goals for the Potters has been a real worry.
Cardiff may have to cough up almost £7million to sign the Trinidad and Tobago striker who has netted just once in his past 21 games.
Stoke are looking to add at least one striker to their squad this summer too.
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Whilst at this time of the year it may always seem more glamorous to focus on a club’s potential incoming transfers, in order to make space for new recruits, other players must always be tossed to the wayside.
Perhaps that is a rather coarse manner of describing a necessary part of the beautiful game, but nonetheless, there will be several Premier League players this summer who will be in search for a new club, having currently fallen out of favour or become surplus to requirements at their own.
It will be the same case with Tottenham Hotspur – a club traditionally known for it’s stockpiling of deadwood and unwanted players, but in recent years has been streamlined into a team capable of challenging for Champions League qualification.
Andre Villas-Boas will be determined not to let the North Londoners slip back into their old ways, and thus, we take a look at the five Tottenham players who will be politely moved on in the summer.
Click Here or on Kyle Naughton to reveal the Five Spurs stars set for the transfer list.
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Transfers are a funny old thing at Real Madrid. Rather than basing decisions on who should play and who should be thrown on the scrap heap on form or complimentary statistics, the constant turn-around of elected club Presidents in addition to changes in management appears to be the main motivation behind moving players on from the Bernabeu.
It’s good news for clubs of lesser stature however, such as Tottenham and Liverpool, who are both looking to improve their squads in order to break into the Premier League’s top four this season. Los Blancos have a lot of talent in the squad that is simply being wasted, but could bring considerable improvement and a wealth of experience to the Reds or Spurs.
With that in mind,we’ve compiled a list of the FIVE Bernabeu men who either club should seek to snap up this summer.
Click on Kaka to reveal the FIVE Madrid stars Liverpool and Spurs should plunder
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Is this the charm of the Premier League at work? The most obvious may come out on top in May, but despite this season still being somewhat in its infancy, we really don’t have a clear cut winner marked out.
Even with Manchester City getting all their business done early, bar the throwaway signing of Martin Demichelis, they’ve been unable to avoid any problems early on. The loss away to Cardiff City may be seen as a fluke, a one off, but it would be wise to analyse the problems that lie far deeper than a simple bad day at the office.
It’s proof that getting all your business done early can count for very little, although maybe that’s just a further test of the Premier League. Good footballing sides won’t always win the day. City dismantled Newcastle on the opening weekend, and despite the problems Alan Pardew’s side faced, you’d expect nothing else from a squad as a strong and capable as the one at Manuel Pellegrini’s disposal.
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So when some sections thought it became clear that the wholesale changes in the City attack would allow Chelsea to step forward – in comparison, Jose Mourinho’s side made tweaks rather than major changes – the loss at Everton offered another early glimpse as to how difficult it can be for even the strongest to go through the first five or six games of the season with a 100 per cent record. The fact that Liverpool are top of the table, a team without European football this season, and Arsenal, the club in perennial crisis, in second, will offer further weight to the notion that England’s product is best. We want unpredictability and curveballs, right?
This is all great for the neutrals, although I’d really, really love to meet these ‘neutrals’ that are so often discussed. Let’s be honest, it’s a myth, isn’t it? Everyone has an agenda, one way or another. There’s always something riding on a match which features a pair of teams which you have no affiliation with. Arsenal fans would have backed Swansea in their 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Monday night, a great advert for the Premier League (another tired and ridiculous cliché), simply because they had an interest in staying top.
But the point is, the “rigours of the Premier League” isn’t a myth, unless teams really screw up their chances of landing the league title, such as last season, offering United a clear run. Managers are right when they say you don’t achieve your targets by the business you do in July and August. We should be impressed by Tottenham’s business, right? But what if Liverpool finish above them? What if City and all their spending early on prove to be little in the way of competition for Manchester United, who we all can assume at present are not really favourites to retain the title?
It’s a good thing for English football. Some people like equilibrium and the maintaining of balance; La Liga, therefore, is an attractive product with one or two surprises along the way, just to keep you young. The Premier League in contrast, and by compensating for a lack of a really eye-catching and attractive football throughout – whether it’s Southampton vs. West Ham or Manchester United vs. Chelsea – keeps people guessing. Yes it is a charm in a way. It’s sports that occasionally steps over the boundary into entertainment – and no, not like Vince McMahon’s lot.
It can be boring and anti-climactic when pundits talk up a season as the best ever. Manchester City’s late snatch of the title from United wasn’t really groundbreaking, was it? Just as always, it was two teams fighting for the title. The circumstances may have been entertaining, but it wasn’t really different. This season, however, there could be legs in the idea that the title could go more than one of two ways. Maybe not four or five, but you’d bet that six teams will be in the mix for the top four. That’s the near certainty and the entertainment factor of this season. The surprise at the end of the campaign in the form of a league champion is the bonus. In theory, of course.
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Will this be the most entertaining Premier League season?
Former Manchester United coach Carlos Queiroz is in the frame to replace Andre Villas-Boas as Tottenham manager, according to the Daily Star.
Queiroz is said to have revealed his interest in the vacancy, and Tottenham are understood to have enquired about his availability.
When asked whether the Tottenham job is something he would be interested in, Queiroz responded: “Absolutely. Tottenham is a club I really appreciate a lot and I have great admiration for.”
Iran chief Queiroz is eager for a Premier League return and has some ‘private connections’ with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
“One of my coaching dreams is to get back to English football,” Queiroz added.
Tottenham bounced back from their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool a week ago, by beating Southampton 3-2 at St Mary’s.
Interim manager Tim Sherwood spoke after the game about his desire to take on the job full time.
“I don’t want the job for 10 minutes. I want it long term or not at all,” the former Spurs midfielder said.
“I enjoyed it today, but one swallow does not make a summer. If we lose on Boxing Day, it is all doom and gloom again.
“I will talk to the chairman to see what happens. It has to be right for the club first, then worry about me.”
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Dutch pair Ronald Koeman and Frank de Boer have also been linked with the vacant manager’s post, along with former England bosses Glenn Hoddle and Fabio Capello.
The Sky Blue half of one of England’s biggest cities has long lived in the shadow of its neighbours, but now City have recently emerged as, arguably, Manchester’s top force.
Their route to success has been fast-tracked by huge injections of money and the introduction of some of the planet’s finest talent – something that in the modern game is inevitable.
But lets get away from that, and focus on how good it must be to be a fan of City now. As mentioned before, dedicated followers of the Etihad Stadium side have been through the ringer over the years. City have long been nearly men, with promotion followed by relegation and off-field drama preventing them from taking their chances in the past.
All of this has occurred while across town United were scooping up lorry-loads of trophies and gracing television sets in some of European football’s top games and competitions. It must have been galling to turn up to work the next day to be confronted by a grinning United fan while your side was battling it out in the lower echelons of the game.
Thaksin Shinawatra’s takeover of the club in 2007 promised much, but ultimately failed to deliver, so City supporters were forgiven for greeting Sheikh Mansour’s arrival with a little pessimism. Yet, the Abu Dhabi billionaire has transformed the club with his vast resources, making them one of Europe’s strongest sides.
We can gloss over the FA Cup and Premier League wins – because lets face it if you follow football Sergio Aguero’s heroics are burned into your memory – and focus on where the club could be going ahead of the Capital One Cup Final.
As City prepare for their Wembley encounter with Sunderland, they are presented with the chance to lift the one English trophy that has evaded them since the new era began, and has actually not graced their trophy cabinet since the 70’s.
Manuel Pellegrini looks to be the manager they have long craved, and if he can nick a piece of silverware at the first time of asking, then it will surely serve to be a massive confidence boost for the Chilean himself and his talented squad.
Capital One Cup glory could really signal the start of a new phase in City’s development. The quadruple, albeit a distant dream, will still be alive, and in keeping such hopes burning then they really will have something to fight for between now and the end of the season
There is much to be excited about when it comes to this Man City team. The Capital One Cup could prove to be a turning point when we eventually look back on the Citizens story in the future – maybe this is when a footballing dynasty is born.
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10 years on from the great ‘Invincibles’ side and Arsenal fans had begun to let themselves believe again. But their predicted season decline is underway, and they’re going to have to go some to stymie it. The doubters have been out in force all season, and following this weekend’s demoralising 1-0 loss at the hands of Stoke their voices are as strong as ever.
With Chelsea and Liverpool cruising to Premier League victories and the wayward Roberto Soldado giving Spurs three points, Arsenal find themselves desperately clinging to the coat-tails of those just above. But much worse, they hang over the Thursday night abyss as the Spurs sharks snap at their dangling nether regions. One more slip-up, and they’ll be within biting range.
The general consensus is that Arsenal crumble towards the end of the season. Their record over the past two seasons would put this strongly into disrepute. 2012-13 saw them pick up 26 out of a possible 30 points to pip Spurs to fourth place while in 2011-12 they put a run together to overtake their North London rivals into third place.
Arsene Wenger has maintained all season that the spirit within the squad is strong enough to see them through the toughest of times. It’s often said that the measure of a great side is how they respond to adversity. So far, if we are to accept this, Arsenal have proven themselves. The team went on a nine-game unbeaten run following the opening day defeat at home to Villa. They responded to an away loss at Old Trafford by beating an in-form Southampton side. And after a 6-3 loss to Manchester City they went on an eight-game league run, winning six. So far so good right?
The team has struggled to respond since THAT day at Anfield. The inability to beat what is probably the worst Manchester United side in Premier League history was disheartening. But the impotence of the defeat at Stoke this weekend was a real low point. Points that, despite history telling us otherwise, Arsenal should and need to be winning were allowed to drift away without a hint of fight.
When it comes to the crunch Wenger’s teams have a history of crumbling. February 2008 saw Arsenal placed a solid five points clear. Following a 2-2 draw against Birmingham, famous for Eduardo’s horrific leg-break, the Gunners went a further four games without victory and essentially waved goodbye to their title dreams.
In 2010 they once again self-combusted, seeing themselves slip from within touching distance of leaders Chelsea in March to 11 points back come May.
In 2011, the Gunners won just three of their last 11 Premier League fixtures after their last-minute defeat to Birmingham City in the League Cup final. Having once more been within touching distance of the leaders at the start of March they once again found themselves falling away without a trace. Beginning to see a pattern?
Since losing to Liverpool, Arsenal have drawn, won and lost. From being at their their slick, free-flowing, dominant best against Sunderland they quickly shifted to their impotent and one-dimensional worst away to Stoke.
The rot is beginning to set in. Mesut Ozil is struggling to recapture the form of his first months at the Emirates. Olivier Giroud hasn’t managed to accrue the number of goals a Premier League-winning side would like, nor has he managed to stamp his mark physically on games as he did in the early months of the season. Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, the club’s next best goalscorers have been absent.
With away fixtures at Tottenham and Chelsea, followed up by a key home tie against the newly-crowned Capital One Cup winners Manchester City, the Gunners have a crucial month ahead. Sadly for Arsenal fans, they don’t boast a great record against the very best. Arsenal haven’t won at White Hart Lane in the league since 2007 and have yet to defeat a Mourinho side.
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This weekend coming they have a pivotal FA Cup quarter-final against Everton side who have proven at times to be tricky for the top dogs this season. Lose that and their bouncebackability won’t have a greater test than what lies ahead. Wenger may dispute the notion that Arsenal finish badly, but when it comes to the crunch in a title race, they inevitably come up short.
Think England can do it? Click below to get a 20% bonus on the World Cup winner!
Arsenal are supposedly planning a major summer rebuild after a roller coaster 2013/14 campaign, and PSG’s Italian wonder kid Marco Verratti should be at the top Arsene Wenger’s shopping list.
This season, Arsenal’s form in the Premier League has been about as consistent as David Moyes’ team selection. They have embodied the extreme oscillations in form and bizarre scorelines that have punctuated this bizarre Premier League campaign, and have once again lived up to their reputation as the division’s biggest bottlers.
They started the season in mouth-watering fashion, unbeaten in their first thirteen games, and sat very comfortably at the top of the Premier league pile in cruise control. Since then, things have characteristically taken a turn for the worse, and they now sit in fourth scrapping nervously for a Champions League qualification spot.
Evidently, inconsistency never arises without a reason: and for Arsenal, their disparate league form has originated out of, quite simply, inconsistency in team selection. Injury has been a key reason for this, with Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and until-recently, Aaron Ramsey, all experiencing the roubles of lengthy absences.
Furthermore, Ozil has come under fire this year for failing to deliver performances that live up to his billing, and he’s in desperate need of a dynamism that can take some of the heat off the German next year. Elsewhere, Mikel Arteta and Matthieu Flamini, though reliable, lack any sense of scare factor, and are not Premier League-winning midfielders.
Football – Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea – UEFA Champions League Quarter Final First Leg – Parc des Princes, Paris, France – 13/14 – 2/4/14Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti Mandatory Credit: Action Images / John SibleyEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
To that end, the midfield is an area that does need strengthening, and PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, is supposedly being lined up as the answer.
The 21-year-old Italian took Ligue 1 by storm with his impressive, eye-catching performances during his debut season in the French capital, helping guide PSG to their first Championnat since 1994. And now in his second season, the former Pescara man is once again displaying just why he is considered to be one of the most talented young midfielders in European and world football.
A stylish and intelligent player, Verratti provides an effortless creativity that has complemented the workmanship style of the PSG midfield. Despite being just 21 years of age, he backs up this variety of passing with a calmness on the ball that belies his young age.
In PSG’s Champions League Round of 16 clash against Bayer Leverkusen, he completed 102 of 107 passes, and stood out as one of the French club’s star players, despite being the youngest. Many in France and Italy have compared him to Milan and Juventus legend Andrea Pirlo, which is by no means a small compliment.
When PSG signed French international Yohan Cabaye in January, many believed the former Lille midfielder would force his way into the side at Verratti’s expense. But the fact that Verratti is keeping an admired midfield maestro like Cabaye among the substitutes is arguably the biggest tribute that can be paid to him.
There is no doubt that Arsenal need to make changes to a squad that is looking increasingly tired; their resources are slowly being exhausted, and the team lacks the exciting dimension to their game that typified their style of play in the early 2000s.
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You would be hard-pressed to call Arsenal a step up from PSG in terms of quality at the moment. Nevertheless, if Arsenal were to make changes across the whole board, bring in quality up front, as well as in defence, Verratti may well be persuaded to cross the channel and join up with fellow Italian Emiliano Viviano, currently on loan from Serie B side Palermo.
An appearance and strong showing at the World Cup will unquestionably further Verratti’s already substantial standing in world football, and if Arsenal were to coax the youngster away from the French capital this Summer, they would have one hell of a player on their hands.
After weeks of speculation, news finally emerged yesterday that Arsenal had confirmed the outright sale of Carlos Vela to Real Sociedad. The 25 year old Mexican forward has signed a four year contract with the La Liga outfit after a fee of £8.8 million was enough to convince the Gunners to renounce their modest buyback clause.
Having netted 47 times in 126 matches for Sociedad, there was a clamour amongst some sections of the Arsenal support for Arsene Wenger to bring Vela back to the Emirates Stadium. However, the forward himself has admitted in recent times that his game is not suited to the pace and physicality of the Premier League.
With the World Cup still rumbling on, Wenger will likely have to wait and operate in an inflated market to land an alternative wide forward. But the tournament is currently providing an excellent showcase for attacking talent and the stunning capture of Mesut Ozil last summer proves that the Frenchman is now willing to splash the cash on the right player.
Bearing this all in mind, here are SIX World Cup alternatives to Vela at Arsenal this summer.
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Click on Alexis Sanchez to start
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ALEXIS SANCHEZ
One of the most in-demand performers at the World Cup right now, Sanchez has been linked with a host of leading Premier League sides. Reportedly tired of playing second fiddle to Lionel Messi and Neymar at Barcelona, the Chilean forward is believed to be actively seeking a transfer away from the Camp Nou this summer.
The 25 year old is an exceptional individual talent, as Netherlands forward Jeremain Lens found out yesterday.
Despite having limited starts with the Catalan giants, Sanchez still scored an incredible 19 goals in La Liga last season. //www.youtube.com/embed/sOluboSGqQU It isn’t often that a player of the Chilean’s calibre becomes available and Wenger should do all he can to convince the 25 year old that his future lies at the Emirates Stadium.
JUAN CUADRADO
One of Colombia’s most impressive performers in Brazil so far, Cuadrado’s lightning pace has certainly caught the eye. Indeed, many newspapers are suggesting that Wenger is already trying to negotiate a deal for the 26 year old currently plying his trade with Fiorentina. Judging by this effort and spectacular celebration against Udinese, Cuadrado has a clear eye for goal. //www.youtube.com/embed/L8lOauNKeWM The Colombian notched 11 goals and 5 assists in Serie A this season, form which has inevitably attracted attention from across Europe. Having only recently acquired full ownership of the player from Udinese, Fiorentina are under no pressure to sell on the cheap. With Barcelona reportedly keen, Wenger would have to spend big if he was to land the 26 year old’s signature.
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN
There is the widespread belief that the Vela deal may help facilitate Wenger’s move for Real Sociedad’s Griezmann. Capable of operating on the left or right, the Frenchman helped himself to 16 goals in La Liga this season. //www.youtube.com/embed/mzcPUNgZ5AA Judging by the Gunners’ fans reaction on Twitter, Griezmann would be a popular signing this summer.
For a reported £18 million, the 23 year old also represents one of the most affordable options on this list too.
NANI
Arsenal fans may be shaking their head at this suggestion but it wasn’t long ago that Nani was one of the most promising wingers in European football. However, having fallen out with Sir Alex Ferguson and seemingly failed to impress David Moyes, the 27 year old has been on the periphery at Old Trafford for over a year now. Despite this, the Portuguese winger has proven pedigree in the Premier League and could be a relatively easy target for Wenger to obtain, despite the club’s storied rivalry. //www.youtube.com/embed/1bw-8KtVI_Q Although he wouldn’t be a popular choice, Nani could prove an astute acquisition for Arsenal should their pursuit of more high-profile targets fall through.
ANGEL DI MARIA
It seems impossible that Real Madrid would even contemplate selling Di Maria this summer, considering the Argentine’s form this season. In Ozil’s absence, the 26 year old evidently assumed a more creative responsibility in the side, racking up an impressive 17 assists in La Liga. Although Di Maria is certainly in the shadow of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo at the club, the Argentine still pops up with crucial goals and man of the match performances in the big occasions. The Welshman’s winner in the Copa Del Rey final got all of the attention but it was actually the 26 year old who gave his side the lead. //www.youtube.com/embed/-BYHw0FFo2g Recent comments attributed to Di Maria indicate that the player is uncertain of what the immediate future holds. But if Madrid do decide that the winger is surplus to requirements, Wenger should do all he can to lure the Argentine to Arsenal. Even if it is just to make sure this one fan delivers on his promise.
LOIC REMY
Having netted 14 times in an impotent Newcastle side this season, Remy has no shortage of suitors in the Premier League and abroad. Although QPR have bounced back at the first opportunity, it seems unlikely that Harry Redknapp will be able to convince the striker to remain at Loftus Road.
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//www.youtube.com/embed/yIBzkBxpsss
Although there are plenty of interested parties, it seems unlikely that any will be able to match the appeal of a move to the Emirates. With a rumoured buyout clause of just £10 million, Remy would provide a versatile attacking threat more than capable of delivering in the Premier League.