Let’s conclude with some Football Daily. Pep’s ‘happy flowers’ quote was always going to pique John Brewin’s interest. Right, thanks for reading everyone and enjoy the weekend!
Who’s injured? Who’s suspended? Who looks likely to get a start? It’s all here!
An important read here from Sanjay Bhandari, the chair of Kick It Out.
Staying with Chelsea, here’s a hot-off-the-press Nick Ames column with some background on Chelsea’s new £89m signing, Mykhailo Mudryk.
“His pace was unreal,” Litovka says. “Really, really high speed and very, very good dribbling that reminded me of Ronaldinho.”
Mason Mount to Liverpool this summer? That’s an interesting one given that Chelsea visit Anfield on Saturday.
Here’s Jacob Steinberg’s exclusive on Chelsea stepping up their attempts to keep Mount at Stamford Bridge.
Southampton have turned a corner with three straight wins over Premier League teams although two of those were in cup competitions. It means they’re still bottom of the table so Nathan Jones’ next trick is to get them above the line marked ‘relegation zone’. Looking at the table, if Saints beat Aston Villa and all other results go their way they could end the weekend in 14th!
Here’s Jones: “That is the first psychological barrier really, just to get above the line, and that is what we want to do. We would have liked to have done it by now, but it gives us an opportunity this weekend against a very, very tough side, and that is probably our motivation now.
“We all know that, it is the first psychological barrier and then you can start to build. At the minute we are playing catch up, but we want to get past that and get our head above water. But we don’t get too low when we lose or too high when we win, we have to keep an equilibrium and that is what we have kept.
“It is a big couple of weeks coming up in terms of three competitions, but we are excited by that. It is a challenge we want to have. Yes the last three results have helped to galvanise everyone, helped to give everyone a little bit of a boost and for everyone to really believe in the work that we are doing inside and out. But we haven’t rested on our laurels this week, we have had a real hard week.”
John Baine writes in with a topical song. To the tune of Abba’s Fernando I think! Take it away…
“You had an agent who was talking shite, a common plight, Leandro
He just cared about the transfer fee, quite obviously, Leandro
Since you didn’t sign for the Blues, there’s no regrets
And you’ll be able to speak lots of French while on the bench, Leandro”
Very good! But then again I’m pretty sure John is also the performance poet and musician Atilla the Stockbroker. And therefore a Brighton fan! I bought a football-themed indie compilation called ‘Bananas’ back in the day and he was on that. To help date it, I Ludicrous had a wonderfully-titled song called Moynihan Brings Out The Hooligan In Me. Half Man Half Biscuit’s I Was a Teenage Armchair Honved Fan also featured.
As it explained on the cover: ‘A Long Playing Compilation Record Protesting About The Introduction Of Identity Cards For Football Supporters’. Who was in charge of the country at the time? Hmmm, let me think.
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More Arsenal v Man Utd build-up. Some facts and stats from Opta.
Arsenal have won five of their last seven home Premier League games against Manchester United (D1 L1), winning 3-1 at the Emirates last season.
This is just the third time Arsenal are hosting Manchester United in a Premier League match while top of the table, with the previous two meetings ending in draws – 1-1 in March 2004 and 2-2 in November 2007.
65% of Arsenal’s Premier League victories over the Red Devils have been in Sunday games (11/17).
And here’s another fact, as well as a dig at Joni Mitchell.
Sunderland won the FA Cup twice in the 1970s. Well, sort of. With Arsenal taking on Manchester United this weekend, what’s your most vivid/favourite memory of the fixture. I’ll go with the Wembley thriller.
As for the Leandro Trossard transfer fee, reports suggest £21m plus add-ons. Bargain? Or about right now that we all realise he’s 28 not 25?
All five of Nottingham Forest's Premier League wins this season have been to nil. But they’ll have to do without goalkeeper Dean Henderson for the trip to Bournemouth this weekend as the Trees stopper is set to miss up to five weeks with a thigh problem. After the trip to the south coast, Forest have their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United and then Premier League games against Leeds (h), Fulham (a), Man City (h) and West Ham (a). The latter fixture is on February 25 so Henderson may be back for that one.
Boss Steve Cooper feels he has an able deputy in Welsh international Wayne Hennessey. “He is such a professional he prepares for every game as if he is going to start anyway. That won’t change too much,” said Cooper.
“He will play on Saturday so his mind will be a little bit different but he has got so much experience at club and international level that we really back him to do well for us. It has been business as usual in terms of the preparation.”
Forest have brought in Chris Wood from Newcastle on a loan deal that could become permanent in the summer. The New Zealander has trained just once with Forest so looks unlikely to feature at the weekend.
Cartoonist Pete Sibley reflects on the last few days with his football mash-ups. Although, isn’t that just David Crosby?
Kloppwork Orange pic.twitter.com/pB02KuYzdA
— Pete Sibley (@442Wide) January 19, 2023
Crosbyano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/n5Zx1ZcuLC
— Pete Sibley (@442Wide) January 20, 2023
Eric Cartona pic.twitter.com/D6sCHOdKTQ
— Pete Sibley (@442Wide) January 19, 2023
Narrative v facts. “There should be a cracking atmosphere under the lights when Crystal Palace host Newcastle on Saturday evening. Selhurst Park will be bouncing and that could make life difficult for the Magpies.”
Opta: Crystal Palace have lost their last eight home league games in the Saturday 5.30pm kick-off slot.
Oh!
Hayes repeats call for VAR in Women's Super League
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has reiterated her call for VAR to be introduced in the Women’s Super League, saying it would be a “major failure” if it has not happened by the start of next season.
The Blues’ 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last Sunday saw them fall behind to a Kim Little penalty which was awarded following a challenge by Niamh Charles on Caitlin Foord that began outside the box. Hayes said after the match that “VAR needs to be in the game, whether it’s to confirm it or deny it”.
And when asked about that at her press conference on Friday ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Liverpool, she said: “100 per cent (VAR needs to be introduced in the WSL) but I’ve been saying this for a long time. The investment’s there, the women’s game deserves it. I haven’t heard anything but I think it would be a major failure if it wasn’t in place for the beginning of next season. I hope (it will be).”
“As I’ve said before, there’s so many times very quick players in the league are faster than the people on the sidelines, the linespeople. It’s important from not just the perspective of a penalty or a goalscoring situation, but even things like offside – we have to support our officials to train with the same intensity and hard work that all the players and coaches have to do.
“We’re setting them up to fail if we don’t support them, to have a larger pool, that are more full-time, gaining more experience – plus having VAR to help them, much in the same way that takes place across the men’s game.”
(Via PA Media)
Arsenal complete signing of Leandro Trossard
It’s official. Arsenal have wrapped up the signing of Leandro Trossard from Brighton. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is delighted to have added the Belgian attacker to squad. “It is good work from everyone at the club to complete the signing of Leandro. He is a versatile player with high technical ability, intelligence and a great deal of experience in the Premier League and at international level. Leandro strengthens our squad as we head into the second part of the season and we’re all looking forward to working with him.”
Trossard, who has signed a long-term contract according to Arsenal, has scored seven times in 16 Premier League matches for Brighton this season. But a fallout with Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi persuaded the 28-year-old that his future lay elsewhere.
No fee has been confirmed yet but we do know his shirt number: 19.
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Punning machine Peter Oh reflects on West Ham’s capture of Danny Ings: “Moyes’ latest signing is a clear signal to the rest of the league that there will be Hammer Ings.” Is that for or against West Ham, Peter?
Liverpool’s home game with Chelsea will be Jürgen Klopp’s 1,000th match as a manager and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the press after they read their Opta handouts.
Some reminiscing here via PA Media:
The 55-year-old German began at Mainz in 2001, where he took charge for the first time on February 28, 2001 just one day after being promoted from the playing staff. His side beat MSV Duisburg 1-0 before going on to win six of his first seven games in charge as the club avoided relegation from the second tier. But Klopp believes his career could have taken a different direction had one of those matches gone the other way.
“From the first seven games I think we won six and if we lost one more I think we would have been relegated. To win five from the first seven would have been an outstanding number and no-one would have recognised it, you just go down to the third league and a promising coaching career would be finished before it really started. I was lucky that didn’t happen.
“It is a crazy number, honestly, 1,000. I never thought about these numbers and never thought I would be allowed to do it for that long, but it went really quick. The problems I had at that time are completely different to the ones I have today. The beard is now really grey, that was not the case when I arrived here. I’m not sure if that is because of the age or because of Liverpool.
“It was not for one second boring, that is the best thing you can say about your working life, and the best thing I can imagine to do. I am absolutely fine with the excitement, the pressure, the outstanding moments and the lesser good moments. It is part of the deal. Nobody wins all the time and I knew that early and so I don’t expect it, but I still try to do it as often as somehow possible.”
Klopp spent seven years at Mainz, whom he got promoted to the top flight, then moved to Borussia Dortmund, where he broke Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga stranglehold with back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. He brought up his 500th managerial game with a 5-0 win for over Freiburg September 28, 2013 but eventually left Dortmund in three years later.
After a short sabbatical he replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield, where he went on to win every major club honour, including a sixth Champions League and a first Premier League title, while also leading them to two other Champions League finals and two second-place league finishes, one with a record 97 points.
His Liverpool side have been pipped to the title by Manchester City twice by a point (in 2019 and 2022), but Klopp holds the record for winning more competitive games against Pep Guardiola (11) than any other coach.
Klopp’s overall win percentage across his career is 53.9 per cent, with his Liverpool record 60.7 per cent.
There’s a view that Chelsea have paid an awful lot for Mykhailo Mudryk. Plenty of regular Shakhtar watchers will know far more about him than me but I recall being very impressed by the winger when doing a live blog in their game against Celtic. I’ve just confirmed that with a quick check back at that MBM report.
35 min: Mudryk is leading this momentum swing as he again threatens to cause Celtic problems down the left. He’s snuffed out this time but the winger looks a huge danger.
51 min: Mudryk, who really does look a player, pings a 1-2 on the edge of the box but Celtic have numbers back. Postecoglou’s side will do well to keep the ball away from the dangerous Shakhtar No.10.
62 min: Still Celtic on the front foot here until the dangerman Mudryk breaks away down the left. He cuts infield and the move rather loses its momentum.
63 min: A double dragback from Mudryk is more for show than effect but it highlights how confident the No.10 is. Mark him, Celtic. Mark him!
And, of course, the equaliser.
GOAL! Shakhtar 1-1 Celtic (Mudryk 29)
Would you believe it! A classic Shakhtar goal as they completely do Celtic on the break. The ball is threaded through to Mudryk who shows great pace to drive into the box and blast his left-foot shot over Hart. 1-1. Hugely disappointing for Celtic to concede like that.
Thanks Will. Am enjoying the Chelsea transfer madness/music entries.
I’ll join in with a scenario where Ted Boehly is being offered a pair of Liverpool-era Martin Skrtel lookalikes.
Headline: Take The Skinheads Boehly
Perhaps that prankster fella who did the BBC sex noises could convince Ted that he better take swift gazumping action as Arsenal are about to sign Dutch winger Camper van Beethoven.
Updated
Right, it’s been good fun but it’s time for me to hand over to Dave Tindall. Keep the correspondence coming, though.
James Kelly, from Derry, writes in to respectfully disagree with Bob Coyne on the subject of The Beta Band Rap. “Happy Friday, Will.” And to you! “I’m with you on The Beta Band Rap, imagine not listening to a Beta Band track the whole way through? After 25 years I’m fed up with the pile on about their eponymous debut album. A fine album, [it] sampled Bonnie Tyler and the theme from The Black Hole for goodness’ sake. Though the band doing press for it might not have helped by saying it was shite, in fairness.
“Anyway, I’d nominate The Hour of Bewilderbeast as a concept album to sum up the Chelsea madness. Tracks such as Everybody’s Stalking, Another Pearl and Pissing in the Wind sound like they have a certain relevance.” James has also put forward a Super Furry Animals track, but I may have to censor that one and leave you guessing. “Love you all there. And, yes, I’m currently listening to It’s Not Too Beautiful by The Beta Band and skiving.”
Asked about Potter’s early struggles at Chelsea and how he dealt with the pressure when he arrived at Liverpool, Klopp was in a self-effacing mood. “I was blessed then because I didn’t speak much English, I didn’t understand what was said!” he laughed. “I tried to get used to it. If the owners aren’t happy they’ll tell you, so I didn’t worry too much. I just kept working. I know Graham will do that. To work for a big club is a massive task. You ignore the size in the best way possible. There is no advice I can give and he doesn’t need it, he’s a fantastic coach.”
Meandering back to Potter, he reckons Mykhailo Mudryk could make his debut at Anfield. “There’s a chance,” he said. “There is probably a role for him at some stage in the game. We’ve got to help him and everybody understand that he is coming from a different country and league and has to adapt. He is a young player who has a lot of potential and, at the same time, he has had good experience already and he is an exciting player. He’s trained very well and is very happy to be here. He is looking forward to his career here and is excited to get started.”
Meanwhile, Mark Hodkinson has strong feelings on lower-league sides trying to imitate their Premier League counterparts. No to anti-football! No to pointless tiki-taka! And, most of all, no to dull 1-0 wins against Gillingham!
A secret admirer of Darwin Núñez, but too afraid to say? Don’t worry, Ciaran McLoughlin has taken the plunge and predicted that it’s going to work out for him at Anfield. Here’s his verdict on the Uruguayan forward.
Jeff Sax has emailed in two concise proclamations of doom. On Chelsea: “Nothing will help them this season.” On Moyes and Lampard: “They both have to go ... the quicker, the better.” Terse, economical, straight to the point: it’s football analysis as it should be.
With Chelsea set to travel to Anfield on Saturday in the battle of the season’s big underachievers, Graham Potter has been asked about their seemingly endless transfer splurge. It will come to an end after all, apparently. “I don’t think there’ll be too many [more new arrivals] to be honest,” he said. “I’ve no complaints about the squad. January is very complex. You might want A, B and C but they are not available in terms of positional need.
“You are always looking to strengthen your squad and we have done that. When players come back we have an exciting squad of players. You’ve got to analyse the squad and analyse where it’s at. Sometimes it is adding and sometimes it’s moving out players. That is on a case-by-case basis and we’ll look at that as and when.”
Updated
Here’s our sports quiz of the week, courtesy of Paul Campbell. Includes questions on Jürgen Klopp, Salernitana, Ivan Toney and the Messi v Ronaldo glamour friendly in Saudi Arabia.
Moyes was also asked about the importance of a game which could well decide his future, as well as that of Frank Lampard. “I think it’s a bit of both in terms of feeling pressure and keeping smiling,” he said. “But it’s important to understand what pressure means. Tomorrow’s game means a lot and, from that point of view, we need to focus on getting three points. We’re halfway through the season, there’s a long way to go and we have to make sure we improve.”
David Moyes has been speaking ahead of the six-pointiest of six pointers between West Ham and Everton on Saturday. Unsurprisingly, the first question he fielded was on Danny Ings. “He is what we need,” he said. “We need someone who knows the league. We’ve had a look at a few players to strengthen, but I wanted to bring someone in who wasn’t a risk in terms of knowing the league. Danny is as good as it gets. The paperwork was done in time and we need to wait for the confirmation on registration.”
A message from our new No18 ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/5aRKOpeVpR
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 20, 2023
Richard Hirst has his own suggestion for the soundtrack to Boehlyball. “Surely it has to be (Money) Can’t Buy Me Love.”
Bob Coyne writes in. “Not an album but just one song sums up the madness at Chelsea, The Beta Band Rap. Try listening to that all the way through! Actually if you want an album it has to be Todd Rundgren’s A Wizard, A True Star.” I’ve just listened to the former and – can I just shock you? – I like it. Live blogging: it’s an education at times!
Depay swaps Barcelona for Atlético
Memphis Depay, youthful Manchester United misfit turned Netherlands stalwart and multilingual rapper, has left Barcelona for Atlético Madrid. He’s signed on a permanent deal until 2025 and will be unveiled at the Metropolitano later today.
🇳🇱 Memphis is a new Red & White player! 🔴⚪
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 20, 2023
🖊 The Dutch international has signed with our club for the remainder of the season and 2 more campaigns.
➡ https://t.co/W5naM1Pau8
👋 #WelcomeMemphis! pic.twitter.com/CbK3ko1n5x
Thanks, John. Who fancies a tasty transfer morsel for starters? Let’s face it, you’re not here for my razor-sharp wit and delicate prose.
It’s time for me to pass over the reins to Will Magee. Inundate him if you can.
Updated
Rick ‘Hot Rats’ Harris on the Chelsea-Boehly album: “The colossal price paid for a club that hasn’t returned an operating profit in two decades and Todd Boehly’s geographical location surely suggests Elton John’s aptly named ‘Madman Across The Water’. Neil Young’s ‘After the Goldrush’ is also a contender. My favourite has to be Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention 1968 classic ‘We’re only in it for the money’.”
Updated
A move to Scunthorpe United on the agenda for Danny Ings?
@JohnBrewin_ with Danny’s Ings moving to West Ham, is he collating as many claret and blue clubs as possible in his career? The premier league hat trick ticked off so far
— Stuart Jones (@StuartJones1984) January 20, 2023
Done deal: Danny Ings joins West Ham from Aston Villa
Next question: how long will David Moyes be his manager?
Aston Villa can confirm that Danny Ings has completed a permanent transfer to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 20, 2023
A popular member of the dressing room, everyone at Aston Villa would like to sincerely thank Danny for his service and wish him all the very best for the future.
Tim Bak’s been in touch from Philadelphia: “Hello John, can you relate Chelsea’s current state to a particular album in a music artist’s or group’s catalogue? For example, are they Bowie’s Lodger album in that they might be too complex a mix to function efficiently? I know Bowie wasn’t going for efficiency, perhaps Potter isn’t either.”
Lodger is an album I like the idea of, occasionally enjoy but other times have to turn off, so a fine analogy for current Chelsea. The big spending reminds of one of those millennial rap albums where every man and his dog is invited along, or perhaps All Things Must Pass, with signings like Aubameyang something of an Apple Jam, in that it’s worth a look or listen once, and then not bothering with. Or perhaps Def Leppard’s Hysteria, with Thomas Tuchel in the Jim Steinman role, now can G-Pott be Mutt Lange and deliver success? Or is he actually Steinman. At the moment, the way things are going, this could well be Guns N’ Roses – OK, Waxl – and Chinese Democracy.
Polish defender Jakub Kiwior set for Arsenal
More Arsenal news from our transfer guru.
Jakub Kiwior of Spezia, a left-footed centre-back, played all four matches for Poland at the World Cup. He will provide backup to the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba in defence as Mikel Arteta strengthens his squad. The word is that Kiwior will fly to London this weekend, and perhaps take in that Manchester United game.
Arsenal are closing in on deal to sign Polish centre back Jakub Kiwior from Spezia, here we go soon! Fee in excess of €20m, medical tests could take place this week 🚨⚪️🔴🇵🇱 #AFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 20, 2023
Deal very advanced, as per @wlodar85 — all parties hope to get it sealed soon. pic.twitter.com/BPk9wUamlA
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More meat on that Sheffield United transfer ban, per PA Media.
United have breached EFL Regulation 52.2.3, which states: “If a club is in default of payments due to another club under a transfer or compensation agreement the club shall be subject to a registration embargo, such that it shall not be permitted to register any player with that club without the prior written consent of the league until such times as the agreement is honoured.”
The PA news agency has asked the club to comment and understands the embargo will remain in place until the money owed has been paid.
The club’s Saudi owner, Prince Abdullah, is currently in talks with an unnamed party over a possible sale of the club, but the embargo is not connected to takeover talks. Prince Abdullah took sole control of the Blades in 2019 when a High Court ruling forced former co-owner Kevin McCabe to sell his 50 per cent share.
Paul Heckingbottom has steered United into the Championship’s second automatic-promotion place and they are 11 points clear of third-placed Watford.
Leandro Trossard will leave Brighton for Arsenal to the regret of his club’s manager, Roberto de Zerbi. A player out of contract in July is being cashed out, for £21m rising to £26m. Trossard looks like he could be ideal for Arsenal, providing cover across the front, and perhaps in midfield. Some Arsenal fans seem annoyed that Trossard is 28, but he will not be 29 until December 2023. That’s how it works.
The situation was difficult because I understood he wanted to leave. I’m sorry for the last period because I prefer when people are clear, not when there is some different behaviours. But we will see. I think we are a good team, we can play well with Leo or without Leo.
Newcastle, with financial regulations hampering their movements, may have some wriggle room with Chris Wood coming off the books with a move to Nottingham Forest imminent. Per PA Media.
Eddie Howe confirmed that Wood is having a medical with Nottingham Forest, with Forest looking to bring the New Zealand international in on loan. Wood joined the Magpies last January from Burnley for £25million, helping the club avoid relegation and Howe was full of praise for the forward’s contributions.
“He’s been a huge player for us,” Howe said. “I have to say he has been outstanding in every way because I think when we signed him we were in a very difficult league position, he’s played a huge part on the pitch to transform the team or help transform the team.
“Then this season he’s been excellent both on and off the pitch in terms of his leadership and positivity and when he’s not played, so you can’t underestimate the role he’s played.
“It was a difficult decision, taking into account the player and his wishes, but also I think it’s a good deal financially for the football club.”
Wood’s likely departure will leave Newcastle with Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson as their forward options and Howe stressed a new addition in the January transfer window must be “the right player”.
Big Jim Ratcliffe wants to buy Manchester United but already owns a football club, Nice, in Ligue 1. How’s that been going? Not great, according to Adam White.
Having taken two months to even attend a game after buying the club, Ratcliffe’s ownership of Nice can be described as “hands-off”. However, his decision-making over the last three years – although admittedly indirectly via Rivère, who remains something of a figurehead president, his brother and Brailsford – has led to Nice’s continued stagnation. The supposed aim of becoming PSG’s main rivals in Ligue 1 has never really looked like being realised. In the last 12 months alone, Ineos have sacked Fournier, Favre and Galtier, while also sidelining the popular and previously successful Rivère.
Working at Nice has been Iain Moody, who was a controversial figure at Cardiff City and Crystal Palace.
Updated
Full story on that Portsmouth appointment.
“Mousinho will relinquish his role as chairman of the PFA’s players’ board, which he has held since May 2021. Portsmouth said he would “soon be standing down from that position to fully focus on his new role”.”
Transfer news: Wolves attacker Goncalo Guedes has joined Benfica on loan for the rest of the season. The 26-year-old only moved to Molineux from Valencia for £27.5million in the summer but boss Julen Lopetegui has let him leave. That comes after 18 appearances, and two goals, including against Liverpool in the FA Cup game that saw a winning goal controversially ruled out.
Good luck at Benfica, Goncalo! 👊
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 20, 2023
Sheffield United placed under transfer embargo
Blades are well-placed for promotion and play Hull tonight.
Sheffield United have been placed under a transfer embargo for not paying money owed to another club. The club is now listed on the EFL website’s “Embargo Reporting Service”. They have two days to sort it out. pic.twitter.com/wO32qi0WBZ
— BBC Radio Sheffield (@BBCSheffield) January 20, 2023
From the EFL site itself.
In the interests of transparency and in line with the principles of good governance, in June 2021 EFL Clubs approved an amendment to the Regulations to allow the EFL to publish a list of those Clubs under registration embargoes on EFL.com.
Clubs under embargo will be named on this dedicated Embargo Reporting Service page, along with the reason the Club has been placed under embargo. For example, the regulation the Club has failed to comply with.
For more information on Embargoes.
Championship
Reading
Breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules
Sheffield United
Regulation 52.2.3
“The Return of Dango” will be a headline too good to resist for spaghetti western/ska fanatic sub-editors.
Talking of transfers, here’s some rumours. Michael Olise to play and supplant Lionel Messi? Why not? Even Messi would have celebrated that free-kick against United on Wednesday.
South Coast corner, and Portsmouth have appointed someone who sounds familiar and for whom fans might find it easy to find a chat to fit him. Mousinho, educated at Notre Dame in the US, the Fighting Irish, is the current chairman of the Professional Footballers Association – PFA, and a player-coach at Oxford United.
Introducing our new Head Coach...
— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) January 20, 2023
🔵 Welcome to #Pompey, John Mousinho
Plenty of transfer stories bubbling, and Trossard to Arsenal is a significant January move. Chelsea, of course Chelsea, are buying someone, Noni Madueke from PSV for £35m.
Leading the agenda at the moment is Pep Guardiola calling out the fans and players…of his own team.
Let’s begin with the 10 things, with Andy Hunter having this to say about Liverpool v Chelsea.
Shoots of recovery or a false dawn? Both Jürgen Klopp and Graham Potter will be desperately hoping their respective 1-0 wins last time out demonstrated the former. Liverpool versus Chelsea may lack its usual consequences, with the teams occupying ninth and 10th place in the table and a 10-point chasm between themselves and fourth place, but their managers would beg to differ. Klopp admitted there would have been genuine doubt around Anfield on Saturday had Liverpool repeated their tame efforts at Brighton in the FA Cup replay at Wolves. An improved display from a much-changed team at Molineux, particularly in terms of Liverpool’s pressing and energy, left Klopp with major selection dilemmas for Saturday as well as renewed optimism. Potter was simply relieved after Chelsea secured only a second win in 10 games last weekend against Crystal Palace. Mykhaylo Mudryk could be involved for the first time since his big-money arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk as the visitors strive for much-needed momentum. Andy Hunter
Preamble
Anyone remember the World Cup? Big matches, Lionel Messi, Gianni Infantino, the best World Cup ever supposedly, and only a month ago on Wednesday. And yet amid a blizzard of domestic football, it’s all but forgotten. Well, mostly. This is a BIG weekend, and one that closes with Arsenal v Manchester United on Sunday, a match that used to be the biggest in the Premier League but has lately lost its sheen compared to those Manchester City v Liverpool grand slams. Plenty to come on that, though a lack of Casemiro has that showpiece tipped towards the leaders.
What else? Only bloody Liverpool v Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime. Jurgen Klopp’s wounded animals against Todd Boehly’s all-stars. Then to the 3pms, with Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest a relegation six-pointer. Leicester v Brighton sees Brendan Rodgers’ team on the slide, and Brighton flying. Southampton v Aston Villa is the latest test of Nathan Jones’ revival act. West Ham v Everton is an actual battle of who loses, loses their job. Leeds v Brentford is battle of hustle and muscle, played at the same time of Manchester City v Wolves. Which brings us back to the big one at the Emirates.
All that to build up to, and transfer news piling in. This is massive.
