Manchester City’s convincing victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday propelled them to level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League, and while Jose Mourinho’s men have Monday’s match against Stoke City in hand, they’ll want to secure Christmas No. 1 with a victory.

The Blues travel to the Britannia Stadium in high spirits after three wins on the bounce, but Stoke are no strangers to pulling off a surprise result on their own patch, summed up by their recent 3-2 victory over Arsenal.

It’s difficult to see Chelsea slipping up in similar fashion, sure, but with City breathing down their necks and the Potters out to ruin Mourinho’s Christmas, the pressure is well and truly on.

Date: Monday, December 22

Time: 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET

Venue: Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Live Stream: Sky Go (U.K. only)/NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)

TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (U.K. only)/NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)

Chelsea Looking to Top the Charts at Christmas

While Chelsea have the advantage in the table after Weekend 17 of the Premier League, defeat by two or more goals will see Manchester City steal top spot before the busy Christmas and New Year schedule begins.

That much seems absolutely impossible with the way that Mourinho’s side have been conducting themselves this season, but let’s just cast our minds back 12 months…

Back in December 2013, Chelsea visited the Britannia Stadium once again off the back of three consecutive victories and were humbled by the Potters in a 3-2 defeat.

Oussama Assaidi scored a 90th-minute winner on that occasion, but you get the sense that the Blues are far more prepared for the trip to Staffordshire than they were last year.

Fielding a second-string side in the 3-1 Capital One Cup quarter-final victory over Derby County means that the majority of Mourinho’s first-choice 11 are fit, although the game may come too soon for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Petr Cech will deputise for the Belgian if he doesn’t pass a fitness test, while frontman Diego Costa will return to the side chasing his 13th league goal of the season.

Stoke, meanwhile, will be sweating on the fitness of their key man Bojan, who hobbled off in the Potters’ recent 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The Spaniard has been at the heart of everything positive for Stoke going forward this season, particularly against Arsenal, where radio presenter Adrian Durham felt that Stoke put together a superb team performance:

Bojan was a player with a great deal of potential during his time with Barcelona, and it was in those days where he gave the Chelsea boss a bit of a scare.

The 24-year-old scored what would have been a late winner for the Spanish side against Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final in 2010, but it was ruled out for offside—leading the Portuguese manager to joke that he almost had a heart attack, via ESPN’s Miguel Delaney:

Bojan will look to cause more drama for Mourinho once again, yet with a much more positive outcome this time around.

However, with Chelsea’s defence looking solid and the manger’s system working perfectly, it’s going to take something special for Bojan or anyone to breach the Blues’ back line.

Chelsea thoroughly deserve to lead the Premier League pack at Christmas, it’s just a case of staying there as the season goes on, and that much will be defined by avoiding potential banana skins like Monday’s trip to Stoke.

Prediction: Stoke City 1-3 Chelsea

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1sPfUth
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Arsenal are currently enduring a severely inconsistent season in the Premier League, but they still sit just two points off the top four in sixth place.

A run of decent form could see them move up the table and into the Champions League positions, and they can likely help themselves with a couple of astute signings when the January transfer window opens.

Here are the latest reports on the players Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal hierarchy are looking to bring to the Emirates in the new year.

Morgan Schneiderlin

Arsenal have long been without a proper defensive midfielder who can disrupt opposition attacks and distribute from deep.

They have very little protection in front of their back four, and this has, on a number of occasions this season, proved a major issue.

Southampton‘s Morgan Schneiderlin is one of the English top flight’s best in the deep-lying midfield role, and he has suggested in the past that he wants to move to a more high-profile club, per ITV Football:

The Frenchman has been linked with a move to join his former Saints boss, Mauricio Pochettino, at Tottenham, but according to Matt Law in the Telegraph, Spurs fear they may be beaten to the transfer by their north London rivals.

Law suggests that, should any indication appear that Schneiderlin will be allowed to leave St Mary’s, the Gunners will go all out to sign him up.

He would certainly be an ideal player for Arsenal as he has the necessary combative skill—he is terrific at disrupting attacks with strong tackling and interceptions—as well as the ability to start counter-attacks with a good range of passing.

Arsenal may also have the edge on Spurs if it does come down to a bidding war, Tottenham having been rejected in the summer in their pursuit of Schneiderlin and Arsenal more likely to be able to offer Champions League football in the long term.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Another potentially unsettled player looking for a move is Bayern Munich’s Xherdan Shaqiri, who has been unable to secure himself first-team football under Pep Guardiola—he has started just three Bundesliga games all season, per WhoScored.com.

Recent reports suggest Arsenal are leading the race to sign the Swiss international in January with Wenger supposedly prepared to meet the £10  million price tag placed on him, per Blick (h/t Chisanga Malata in the Daily Star).

However, Bayern boss Guardiola has also recently expressed his belief that Shaqiri will stay at the Allianz Arena, per Nicholas McGee on Goal.com:

“I think they [Shaqiri and Emile Hjojberg] will stay. If they want something then they need to speak to [Bayern sporting director] Matthias Sammer.”

There certainly seems a possibility that the 23-year-old Shaqiri may look to force a move, considering his lack of first-team opportunities, and Wenger would do well to push to sign him.

The Swiss attacking midfielder starred at the World Cup and has terrific passing skills as well as excellent attacking intent which could work very well in Arsenal’s fast-paced system.

Nikola Vlasic

Arsenal are reportedly leading the way to sign one of the hottest young prospects in Europe, Hajduk Split’s Nikola Vlasic, in January.

According to Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Anthony Chapman in the Express), Arsenal head Inter Milan in the race for the signature of a 17-year-old midfielder who has been favourably compared to compatriot Luka Modric.

Bleacher Report UK’s Aleksandar Holiga has previously waxed lyrical about Vlasic’s potential:

He has the technique AND the physique. While Vlasic’s skills with the ball and his understanding of the game look hugely promising, he is also incredibly strong for a teenager. […]

Hajduk have been using Vlasic as a midfielder, although he can play on either wing, as a second striker or as a false nine. Make no mistake, he is the real deal.

Certainly Vlasic seems like a very exciting prospect, and Wenger could no doubt mold him into a fantastic player, given his experience working with youth in his career.

Vlasic would likely not be set for first-team football right away at the Emirates but could well be a long-term Arsenal star if they can snap him up in January.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1GDcCkV
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is relaxed over speculation regarding a new contract for Eden Hazard and believes the Belgian can develop into one of the club’s all-time legends.

The Portuguese boss acknowledged Hazard’s future during his presser ahead of the Blues’ trip to Stoke, as noted by Chelsea’s official Twitter account: 

Hazard is reported to be on the verge of inking a new five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, as highlighted by The Sun‘s backpage (via Nick Sutton of BBC Radio 4):

Mourinho‘s side enter Monday’s match after getting back to winning ways against Hull City. Talk of an invincible season was ended by Newcastle United during their last Premier League away trip, but Mourinho‘s team have proved largely resilient across all competitions so far this season.

Stoke City beat Arsenal in a 3-2 thriller last time they stepped onto the Britannia Stadium turf, suggesting Mark Hughes’ men have the quality to further dent the Blues’ title credentials.

The in-form Peter Crouch scored when the Potters beat Chelsea by the same scoreline in last season’s corresponding fixture, with goals from Stephen Ireland and Oussama Assaidi overcoming Andre Schurrle’s double.

Chelsea’s social media feed remembered a more straightforward win for the side:

The club’s also highlighted a difficult run for the current leaders, while Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC provided an additional quote from Mourinho:

Delaney also tweeted a snippet of information which could prove pivotal this season:

Mourinho understands the dangers of facing Stoke and has earmarked former Barcelona star Bojan as one of their key threats. The manager remembered the Spaniard’s controversially disallowed goal against his Inter Milan side in 2010, per Delaney:

The boss believes Hughes had added to an already solid foundation at Stoke, per Chelsea’s account:

It’s likely Chelsea will head into this fixture with back-up players Kurt Zouma and Didier Drogba—both of whom were injured during the 3-1 Capital One Cup win over Derby County—back in the squad:

Thibaut Courtois‘ inclusion is yet to be confirmed and could go either way:

Mourinho‘s team will drop down to second on goal difference if Manchester City beat Crystal Palace by four clear goals on Saturday.

While Mourinho‘s squad have proven themselves to possess a focused mentality—their workmanlike efficiency often outshines the need for great style—Manuel Pellegrini’s side can put the pressure on with victory during Saturday’s early kick-off.

Stoke are no pushovers and have the natural grit, not to mention added skill this season, to cause an upset.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/16z5vxn
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Juventus moved provisionally four points clear atop Serie A with a 3-1 victory at Cagliari on Thursday.

Carlos Tevez fired the visitors ahead in just the third minute, Arturo Vidal doubling the lead 12 minutes later with a fine curling strike. Fernando Llorente netted Juve’s third in the 50th minute before Luca Rossettini pulled a goal back for Cagliari 15 minutes later.

The result took Juventus on to 39 points from 16 matches, extending the Bianconeri’s lead atop the Serie A table to four points over AS Roma. That four-point advantage will hold until at least Saturday, when Roma host AC Milan.

Regardless of the outcome of the Roma-Milan match, Juventus will head into the winter break in first place.

The Bianconeri’s next league match is set for Jan. 6, at home to Inter Milan. Nearing the halfway point of the season with just one loss, Massimiliano Allegri’s men are in a good position to claim a fourth consecutive Serie A title.

The home supporters at the Stadio Sant’Elia were in fine voice at kick-off, creating a noisy atmosphere for their illustrious opponents. Juventus silenced them quickly with a fast start and an early goal. 

The Bianconeri’s first chance came in the third minute as Llorente placed a low header on target from a Claudio Marchisio cross. Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno saved, pushing the ball around the post for a corner.

Juventus took the lead from the ensuing set piece. Andrea Pirlo took the corner short, trading passes with Arturo Vidal. The latter then played the ball into the box, where Angelo Ogbonna backheeled deftly into the goalmouth. Giorgio Chiellini was unable to turn the ball in at close range, but a mis-touch by Cragno sent the ball to Tevez, who swept in at the back post.

Gianluigi Buffon preserved Juve’s lead with a good save in the ninth minute, diving to his left to keep out an Albin Ekdal header after Victor Ibarbo crossed from deep on the left.

Six minutes later, it was 2-0. Juventus moved forward at pace, attacking down the left through Patrice Evra. The French full-back crossed into the middle, but the danger seemed to pass as Cagliari cleared. The ball rolled directly to Vidal, who curled his first-time shot around Cragno and into the net at the far post.

Leading comfortably by two goals, Juve cruised through the rest of the first half. Shortly after the restart, Ekdal had a curled shot deflected just wide of the bottom corner as Cagliari searched for a way back into the match.

Instead, Juventus netted for the third time in the 50th minute, taking advantage of another Cragno miscue. 

Pirlo played a pass over the top for Llorente, who held off his marker in the box, turned and shot low at Cragno. The Cagliari goalkeeper should have saved, but the ball trickled underneath him and crept into the net for a 3-0 Juve lead.

The visitors were in full control, but Cagliari pulled a goal back in the 65th minute. Andrea Cossu curled in a free-kick from the right, and Rossettini nodded in at the back post to give the hosts hope at 3-1.

At the other end, Cagliari’s Godfred Donsah made a timely interception in front of goal to cut out a dangerous Roberto Pereyra pass intended for Marchisio at the back post. In the 77th minute, Cragno saved at his near post to keep out Pereyra’s low drive.

Juve continued to attack as full-time approached, but with the result secure, the visitors were able to see out the final 10 minutes in relative comfort.

Grades

Reaction

To follow…

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1AkVUF0
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

With Southampton tentatively linked with a January move for Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder, this signing would significantly strengthen a stretched Southampton attack, but would not solve the problems manager Ronald Koeman has faced of late.

The report, courtesy of the Daily Mirror‘s Neil McLeman, claims that “Koeman shares an agent with his fellow Dutchman and Saints are ready to buy as five straight losses threaten to take the shine off their strong start.”

As this suggests the Saints have lost their last four Premier League games, as well as their recent Capital One Cup quarter-final against Sheffield United, in a run that has seen their stock dwindle.

Southampton now sit fifth in the Premier League table on 26 points, having relinquished their hold on the top four to Manchester United (31) and West Ham United (28).

A timely transfer window, then, and as McLeman claims “[Sneijder] is one of several Galatasaray players to have had issues with the club over their pay in recent weeks,” Koeman can capitalise on a unstable situation in Turkey.

Furthermore, Sneijder “is willing to be realistic about any wage demands in the Premier League.”

Although The Independent have since claimed “there is no chance Sneijder will be leaving Galatasaray for Southampton,” the move still remains an intriguing prospect.

This would surely sound like an attractive prospect to Koeman as he heads into the January transfer window, as Sneijder is a formidable talent with a pedigree in European football.

Wesley Sneijder

Sneijder was reportedly targeted by a plethora of top sides before making the move to Galatasaray in 2013.

The then-Inter Milan midfielder was highly touted with a transfer to Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, for example, with the Liverpool Echo reporting the club’s interest.

At the time, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard called Sneijder a “top player,” again per the Echo.

Gerrard continued: “I think we’ve seen at every major tournament he delivers. He’s done it in the Champions League for years.”

With this serving as one of the highest levels of praise, coming from such a successful and widely lauded contemporary, Sneijder has supplied the performances to back this up in the Super Lig.

Last season Sneijder scored 12 goals in 28 league games, per SoccerBase.com, including a hat-trick in Galatasaray‘s 6-0 victory over Bursaspor.

This season, Sneijder has scored just three in 14, but still possesses that flourish, as evidenced by an exceptional free-kick goal in the side’s 4-1 home loss to Arsenal in the Champions League.

A moment of pure brilliance, this is what a player of the calibre of Sneijder is regularly coveted for.

Furthermore, Sneijder is a capable creative talent, with his average of 1.8 key passes per Super Lig game this season second to only Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse in the Southampton squad.

Despite now being 30 years old, Sneijder can still cut it at the highest level, and would provide a welcome addition to an area of Koeman‘s system that has contributed to their recent poor form.

Supporting Graziano Pelle

Southampton’s early Premier League surge was aided by a great run of goalscoring form from striker Graziano Pelle, one of many summer signings which saw Koeman take to English football comfortably.

Pelle scored six goals in his first eight Premier League games, and Southampton soared.

But with the striker facing a major slump in form, with just one goal and one assist in the following eight league games, this points to a jaded lone figure lacking vital support.

Tadic, another summer acquisition, was a huge factor behind Pelle‘s early success, as the midfielder made six assists in those first eight league games, including a phenomenal showing in Southampton’s 8-0 mauling of Sunderland, where he created three goals and scored another.

But with the No. 11 failing to create anything of note since—with his zero assists in the last eight league games evidence of this—it is abundantly clear that Southampton cannot rely solely on the pair when it comes to goals.

Support from elsewhere came largely in the form of Shane Long, Steven Davis and Sadio Mane in the attacking-midfield positions, but each of these has suffered a dip in form that has coincided with the Saints’ overall slump.

Sneijder, with his abundant creative abilities and a knack for finding the back of the net, would both take the pressure off Pelle and Tadic, and could spark a return to form.

With Sneijder adding to the likes of Tadic, Long and Davis in supporting Pelle as Southampton’s lone striker, Koeman would expect a return to form in the new year; however, this doesn’t address one glaring issue.

Covering for Graziano Pelle

At this juncture, Pelle stands as Southampton’s only recognised, and trusted, centre-forward option.

Long started for the Saints in their recent 1-0 loss to Sheffield United and, despite the No. 7 being arguably the side’s best player on the night, he failed to truly cover for Pelle‘s absence.

The 27-year-old ably compensated for the lack of Pelle in terms of aerial prowess, winning an astonishing eight duels in that area, but he failed to make his mark on goal—Long made no attempts on goal on Tuesday night.

Long has proven to be an able foil for Pelle, and when played together they generally prosper, but he is an unlikely solution for when the Italian is out of the side or out of form.

In January, Southampton should make signing a back-up centre-forward a priority, and the signing of Sneijder fails to address this.

With Ward-Prowse impressing despite that cup loss this only further bolsters Koeman‘s midfield ranks, perhaps highlighting a need for focus elsewhere, although Mane will join the Senegal squad for January’s African Cup of Nations.

Either way, a player like Sneijder is hard to pass up, and he would surely boost Southampton in January.

With Koeman aiming for European qualification in the Premier League this season, claiming, per the Daily Mail that “maybe [the Europa League is] the realistic situation for our team,” such a signing would underline Southampton’s credentials.

But if Southampton are to sign Wesley Sneijder in the January transfer window, manager Ronald Koeman must add to his considerable creative, attacking talents with the signing of a back-up centre-forward to take the load off struggling striker Graziano Pelle.

Statistics via WhoScored.com, unless specified.

Follow @LusbyLatest

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1AuCf3G
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

With less than two weeks to go before the January transfer window opens, the rumour mill is working overtime, linking a host of players with moves to or away from Manchester City.

The defending Premier League champions are among the richest clubs in the world, and it would be a surprise not to see the Citizens complete at least two or three deals in January.

Whether those deals are for some of the players who are currently the subject of speculation remains to be seen, so let’s have a look at the latest rumours coming from the Etihad.

Wesley Sneijder‘s Annual Link to Manchester

Dutch international Wesley Sneijder is reportedly unhappy in Turkey and already involved in talks to move from Galatasaray to Manchester City, according to The Sun (h/t Daily Star‘s Nick Lustig).

The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to rivals Manchester United for the past several seasons, but the player’s agent is now reportedly talking to City to complete a transfer in January, for a fee well below his £12 million buyout clause.

The Dutch midfielder joined Galatasaray in January of last year, and with the Turks crashing out of Europe this campaign, it’s not inconceivable that he would want to leave for a new club.

A transfer to City appears unlikely, however. For starters, this is a rumour we see every year—it just happens to be the “other” part of Manchester that is being discussed right now, as shared by Jan Aage Fjortoft:

Sneijder is still a big name in world football, but the veteran midfielder is no longer the player he was three years ago. Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan told talkSPORT he believes Sneijder wants to leave, but he’s targeting a more realistic destination—Southampton:

I would not rule out Sneijder moving somewhere in the south where there is another Dutchman. Ronald Koeman could do with a player like Wesley Sneijder. He knows him, he has used him in the past. Don’t forget the agent who brought Koeman to Southampton happens to be the same agent to Wesley Sneijder.

Fernandinho and Yaya Toure have the central areas in Manuel Pellegrini‘s side locked down, and a healthy David Silva is the designated playmaker. Sneijder would join the club as little more than a bench player, and the Dutchman will likely be looking for a role as the star man if he leaves Turkey.

The Race for Ivan Rakitic

The Daily Express‘ Anthony Chapman believes Barcelona could be planning on moving summer signing Ivan Rakitic in January, after the Croatia international failed to make a big impression in his first few months at the club.

City and United are both ready to offer £20 million for the midfielder, who has started 11 of the club’s 15 La Liga fixtures so far, according to WhoScored.com.

There’s no denying Rakitic‘s first few months with the Blaugrana have been rough, but Bleacher Report’s Aleksandar Holiga believes many of his struggles have to do with Luis Enrique’s consistent changes to the club’s system and tactics:

Trying to find a remedy for this malaise surely was one of the reasons why Rakitic was bought—certainly not a better playmaker than Xavi was in his prime, but a more complete midfielder. If Barca persist on the midfield triangle and Dani Alves on the right, then they should probably persist in playing Rakitic and not Xavi as first choice, like they did at the start of the season.

The 26-year-old was always going to require time to adapt to Barcelona’s intricate way of playing the game, and as Xavi‘s replacement, it’s only a matter of time before the long-time club legend moves on and the spot in midfield becomes his, uncontested.

Barcelona will have no interest in giving up on one of their marquee signings of the summer after just half a season, and with the Catalans still facing a transfer ban, they have no way of replacing the Croat, either.

This transfer has about as much chance of happening as Sneijder‘s—little to none.

Matija Nastasic Rumours Gathering Pace

Italian newspaper Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) believe new Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has identified Matija Nastasic as his primary defensive target in January, opening the door for the Serbia international to return to the Peninsula.

The 21-year-old hasn’t seen the pitch since the Community Shield loss against Arsenal and is expected to leave the club in January, with a return to Serie A looking like the most realistic option.

At Fiorentina, he emerged as one of the world’s most promising young centre-backs, and as shared by StatsBomb’s Ted Knutson, he looked very impressive in his first season at the Etihad:

A series of injuries and the arrival of Manuel Pellegrini saw him tumble down the pecking order, however, and with the Chilean manager clearly not rating his young defender, Nastasic‘s time with the club appears all but over.

It’s a sad ending to what once looked like a perfect marriage, but the youngster is in need of a fresh start and will likely receive it come January.

Follow @ReverschPass

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1x0EvlR
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J