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Everton reportedly win the race for Atsu loan

Roberto Martinez has reportedly convinced Jose Mourinho that Cristian Atsu will get enough playing time at Goodison Park to make the deal worthwhile for Chelsea.

Atsu's long-anticipated move to Everton had hit a snag in recent days over Jose Mourinho's demand for guaranteed playing time to help his player develop. Roberto Martinez wisely refused a specific guarantee but apparently was able to convince Mourinho that the left-sided midfielder/attacker would see enough time between the Premier League, cup competitions and the Europa League to push the deal through. Confirmation is imminent according to The Mirror.

Source: The Mirror

Fri, Aug 8, 2014 09:16:00 AM

Foxes send Liverpool packing in Carabao Cup

Leicester City overcame the absence of Jamie Vardy and a torrid first-half performance as they beat Liverpool 2-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

It was true game of two halves for Craig Shakespeare's side. Liverpool dominated the opening 45 minutes, creating chance after change, but were unable to put the ball in the back of the net. Having kept the match level despite conceding 18 shots in the first period, the tide turn with the second half introduction of Shinji Okazaki. The Japan international gave the Foxes the lead in the 66th minute before Islam Slimani sent the King Power Stadium into a frenzy with a stunning strike from the substitute's pass. While the result sends Leicester into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 2010, the two sides will meet again on Saturday in the Premier League.

Source: Sky Sports

Sep 19 - 6:43 PM

West Ham cruise in Carabao Cup 3-0

West Ham secured their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup by defeating League One side Bolton 3-0 at the London Stadium on Tuesday.

Slaven Bilic made 10 changes to his side who drew 0-0 with West Brom at the weekend, handing Montenegro international Sead Haksabanovic his debut and Marko Arnautovic his first start since being sent off against Southampton in late August. Signed from Stoke City for £25m this summer, Arnautovic put in his best effort as a Hammer, providing a free-kick for Angelo Ogbonna's powerful header to opening the score and set up Diafra Sahka in the 31st minute. The second half saw the Hammers struggle to find chances until Arthur Masuaku blasted a thunderous strike into the top corner from 25 yards in stoppage time. The cup win also marked the return of captain Mark Noble, who missed the last two league matches with a hamstring injury, and winger Nathan Holland's first-team debut off the bench.

Source: West Ham United Website

Sep 19 - 7:31 PM

Potters crash out of Carabao Cup 2-0

Stoke City fielded a predominantly first team line-up but couldn't overcome Championship club Bristol City as they fell 2-0 while conceding more shots and shots on target to their lower league opponents.

Mark Hughes side have apparently grown comfortable picking up points off of the famous clubs of the Premier League while failing to do their business against the lesser lights. Hughes picked a strong squad against Bristol City but to no avail as goals in the 50th and 60th minutes dropped the Potters out of the League Cup in the third round. Kurt Zouma, Bruno Martins Indi, Kevin Wimmer, Darren Fletcher, Glen Johnson, and Maxim Choupo-Moting were among the regulars who started supplemented by one-time starters like Peter Crouch, Lee Grant, Charlie Adam. Hughes can't say he fielded a line-up of kids as Josh Tymon and Ramadan Sobhi were the only two youngsters who featured.

Source: espnfc.com

Sep 19 - 4:56 PM

Terriers short strikers for Carabao Cup clash

Huddersfield Town will be without striker Steve Mounie and deploy a much-changed side for tonight's Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace.

Huddersfield will give some regulars a rest for the clash at Selhurst Park, making nine changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Leicester City this weekend. Collin Quaner (calf), Steve Mounié (heel), Jon Gorenc Stanković (knee) and Kasey Palmer (hamstring) are all absent from David Wagner’s First Team squad through injury. The manager revealed Mounie will not travel for the match as he is still struggling with a heel problem that forced him to miss out this weekend and fellow forward Quaner will be sidelined for 10-14 days, due to a calf injury, meaning Elias Kachunga will start upfront. Right-back Florent Hadergjonaj will make his first Terrier start since arriving from FC Ingolstadt, while Martin Cranie (hip) and Jonathan Hogg (ankle) will make their first starts of the season after recovering from injuries.

Source: Huddersfield Town Official Website

Sep 19 - 2:23 PM

Ibe needs to be consistent to reach potential

Jordan Ibe has "immense potential" according to his manager Eddie Howe, but the winger needs to be consistent if he's going to reach it.

Ahead of his side's Carabao Cup third round clash with Brighton, Eddie Howe expressed his delight to the media about Ibe's intervention off the bench at the weekend: "This time, you actually had some end product to [Ibe's performance], which was the pleasing thing. It was great to see him come on and have that impact at a time when we really needed it. He was there to ignite the spark we needed." however, the caveat in that statement was clear. Ibe has all the tools at his disposal to be a main man for Bournemouth but he has yet to show it often enough. Ibe, who signed from Liverpool for £15 million in the summer of 2016 had a poor first season with the Cherries, losing his place in the first team having began as a starter. He admitted in the summer he needs to "buck up [his] ideas" in order to get minutes. Howe added that he has been impressed by Ibe's focus and maturity so far this season.

Source: Bournemouth Echo

Sep 19 - 11:44 AM

Stanislas "closer" to return but not ready

Junior Stanislas is back training with Bournemouth's first team but is not likely to return to action in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday against Brighton.

The winger has not yet played this season after undergoing surgery on a groin problem in the summer. Manager Eddie Howe said he was pleased by his player's condition upon his return to the training ground: "He has looked after himself during his injury and he looks fit, so we will wait and see." Questions also surround the fitness of Cherries defender Steve Cook who missed the Brighton win last Friday through injury. Howe was a bit uncertain about the player's condition, explaining that the setback is not a serious one though Cook may not be fit to face the Seagulls in the cup.

Source: Bournemouth Echo

Sep 19 - 11:50 AM

Kids to replace Seagulls' Propper midfield

Brighton are set to protect midfield duo Dale Stephens and Davy Propper and start with youngsters in the Carabao Cup against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Under 23 prospect Dessie Hutchinson and fellow youthful Irishman Jayson Molumby, the latter of whom impressed in the last round of the Carabao Cup against Barnet, are set to deputise. Steve Sidwell and Beram Kayal are both currently sidelined while Pascal Gross is unlikely to be risked. Gaetan Bong is also fit and may be given a chance to impress while record signing José Izquierdo is also expected to line out for the Seagulls.

Source: The Argus

Sep 19 - 12:06 PM

Vardy expected to return for weekend

Leicester City will have to do with star forward Jamie Vardy for the club's match against Liverpool tonight.

Despite his recent scoring run, Vardy has struggled with a groin injury in recent weeks. Manager Craig Shakespeare confirmed that he will rest the striker for the League Cup match tonight, along with Matty James and Christian Fuchs, in order to have him ready for the weekend match against Huddersfield. "I will give him every opportunity. He has a tight groin, and that is why he came off at Huddersfield. He has had continuous treatment and we will give him every opportunity to be fit but he won’t be one to risk. We will assess him tomorrow morning, but I am very confident he will be fit for Saturday."

Source: Leicester Mercury

Sep 19 - 1:06 PM

Welbeck ruled out for at least three weeks

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on Tuesday that Danny Welbeck is facing a spell on the sidelines.

The forward suffered a groin injury in the 0-0 draw against Chelsea this weekend and will now be out for at least the next three weeks with Wenger saying he won't be available until after the upcoming international break. That means Alexis Sanchez is likely to come back into the starting lineup with Olivier Giroud also in line for more playing time. Said Wenger: "Danny has a scan today, we don’t know how bad his groin injury is but he will certainly be out until the international break. Coquelin as well. Debuchy is coming back slowly...Mesut is training again, but for tomorrow no [he will not feature]. He has a little inflammation of his knee."

Source: Arsenal website

Sep 19 - 1:13 PM

Sakho, Souare set to start for Palace

Crystal Palace is nearly back to full fitness with the return of defender Pape Souare and Mamadou Sakho tonight.

New manager Roy Hodgson said he expects to name both defenders in the starting lineup for their first appearance of the season against Huddersfield Town in the League Cup tonight. Sakho has missed the last five months after sustaining a knee injury while on loan at Palace last season, before the Eagles bought him from Liverpool on Deadline Day last month. Meanwhile, Souare has progressed through a remarkable recovery after a car accident last September left his career in jeopardy.

Source: Crystal Palace website

Sep 19 - 1:16 PM

Positive news on the injury front for Collins

James Collins is set for a spell on the sidelines but the news is a lot better than initially feared.

The West Ham defender sustained an ankle injury on Saturday forcing him off just 13 minutes into the second half. Slaven Bilic was preparing himself for the worst "it looked like being a few months" but fortunately, scan results confirm Collins will only miss a couple of weeks. Head of Medical Services Gary Lewin said: "It’s good news for James in the sense that it is not long-term or as serious as it perhaps looked at the time. We will manage him very carefully and ensure he returns when the time is right." The Hammers entertain London rivals Tottenham in the early kick-off this weekend and go into the game on an upward curve following a bad start to the season. Consecutive clean-sheets have helped West Ham move out of the Bottom Three but the injury to Collins could mean a change of formation with Zabaleta and Cresswell dropping in to make a back four.

Source: West Ham FC Website

Sep 19 - 5:53 AM