Month: October 2022

England/Premier League
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Brighton defeat Chelsea by 4 goals to 1

by marina
Brighton players celebrating after scoring against Chelsea. Credits: CBS

Graham Porter was on the road for the first time to face his former side since his move to Chelsea. The Blues boss anticipated a memorable return with a win against the Seagulls on their own ground. Having played nine games under Porter without losing a single match, Chelsea were confident to walk back home with all 3 points. They would have loved to shake off their disappointment against Manchester United, missing the win by a whisker in that game.

Brighton, on the other hand, had played 5 games under De Zerbi without a single win. There was a little bit of worry on the ground that the team was missing their former manager. However, with difficult first fixtures for De Zerbi, there was no desperation to amass victories. Brighton were coming into this match as the underdogs. Anything but a win was the expected outcome for the Seagulls.

Brighton dominant in first half

Following an enthralling encounter between the two sides, Brighton emerged victorious thrashing Chelsea 4 goals to 1. Trossard opened the scoring for Brighton before own goals from Loftus-Cheek and Chalobah saw the Seagulls go three nil up. All these came in the first half, with Brighton exhibiting a dominant display against the Blues.

Brighton winger Leandro Trossard celebrates after opening the scoring. Image: Brighton
Brighton winger Leandro Trossard celebrates after opening the scoring. Image: Brighton

Game evens out in the second half

The beginning of the second half saw the introduction of Mendy, with Kepa staying in the dugout injured. Chelsea started out with a resurgent mood, with Havertz scoring to reward their renewed attitude. The Blues kept on knocking on the door forcing Sanchez to make good saves to keep Brighton’s lead secure. De Zerbi’s men managed to whither the storm and keep Chelsea at bay for the remainder of the match. Towards the dying embers of the game, Gross finished a rebound shot parried by Mendy to make it 4 goals for the Seagulls.

What this outcome means

This defeat makes it the first for Potter as Chelsea manager while handing De Zerbi his first win as Brighton coach. Brighton needed a win to herald them in the right direction, and this win will do just that. Chelsea will have to go back to the drawing board as their previous displays have been far from set standards. Their defeat today is a culmination of successive underwhelming performances, and Potter would want to correct that.

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UEFA Champions League
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Champions League knock-outs: Barcelona kicked out

by marina
Distraught Xavi following Barca's elimination from the Champions League

During the early kick-off game, Inter Milan beat Viktoria Plzen. The Nerazzurri won the match by four goals sinking Barcelona’s hope to qualify for the round of sixteen.

The win cemented their spot in the UCL round of sixteen together with Bayern Munich, who played Barcelona later and won 3 nil.

Bayern's Benjamin Pavard, left, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League Group C soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Bayern’s Benjamin Pavard, left, celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Champions League Group C soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Despite having invested heavily in the summer by bringing in Lewandowski, Kounde, and Raphinha, the Blaugrana couldn’t make it in their group.

Barca president urges fans to back the team

Barcelona’s president Laporta backed Xavi, saying they are still in the process of rebuilding the team and urging the fans to support them during their ups and downs since they are still rebuilding their squad. Notwithstanding their underwhelming CL performance, Barcelona is doing great in La Liga and is second behind Real Madrid.

Barcelona’s rivalry with Chelsea

The elimination of Barcelona brought so much joy to Chelsea fans; before the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, the blues sat last in their group, having lost their first UCL game. Jules Kounde, Chelsea’s summer target, posted on his IG story, “I almost joined them,” referring to Chelsea, who lost their UCL match.

Only Real Madrid qualified as the only Spanish team for the round of sixteen. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid also dropped to play in the Europa League after finishing third in their groups. Atletico had a good chance to keep fighting for the second spot, but Yannick Carrasco missed a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, which denied them three points; the game ended in a stalemate.

Juventus decline

Juventus has been really bad this season in the league and the UCL. They are last in their UCL group after playing five games and eighth in Serie A. Allegri, Juventus’ coach, has a bad record playing against top teams in Europe.

EPL teams shine in the UCL

Three of the four premier league teams have already qualified for the next round; only Tottenham remained since they have to play their last game. Their group has been the toughest: going into the final match to determine the qualifiers. Manchester City and Chelsea topped their group after playing five games. Liverpool finished second behind Napoli.

Ajax dropped to Europa League after losing against Liverpool and Napoli in both legs. Napoli have been so brilliant this season. They topped their UCL group and have not lost any UCL matches; they are also top of the Serie A table.

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Premier League
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Haaland goals guide City to a comfortable win against Brighton

by marina
Haaland celebrating with teammates in Brighton match. Credits: Reuters

Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of their game against Brighton, following a long cross from Ederson. The Norwegian star scored a brace after a Brighton player fouled Bernardo Silva, and the City awarded a penalty. After scoring two goals, Haaland has now scored seventeen premier league goals, making him the top goal scorer this season.

Haaland celebrating his first goal against Brighton.
Haaland celebrating his first goal against Brighton. (Image: Man City)

Brighton fail the Manchester City test

Leandro Trossard later gave Brighton hope of equalizing after scoring a long-range. The Belgian winger has been sensational this season for Brighton scoring six goals and assisting 1 for the Seagulls. His Belgium teammate, Kevin De Bruyne, would later equalize on the other end to put the game to bed.

Brighton are finding it increasingly difficult to win matches under De Zerbi, with this match marking his fifth as Brighton manager without a win.

Haaland continues with his brilliant scoring form

Erling Haaland has been the leading man in the City team. He scored seventeen goals in eleven PL matches and five in the champions league. He only needs to score five more goals to equal last season’s Premier League top scorer; City still have 27 games to go.

Manchester City’s win keeps them closer to the top spot

Manchester City welcomed Brighton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, as anticipated by many to be a tough match since Brighton started the season with impressive wins, thanks to Haaland, who scored a brace and helped the City beat Brighton three goals to one. On the other end, City has been impressive this season, second in the premier league table behind Arsenal with only two points after Arsenal drew away at Southampton.

Will Haaland help city win its first UCL trophy?

Last season Manchester city failed to reach the UCL final after Real Madrid eliminated them in the semifinal during the last minute of the game. Pep Guardiola argued that they couldn’t compete for the cup without having a natural goal scorer, which led to the transfer of Haaland from BVB after Manchester city activated Haaland’s release clause, which was 60 million Euros. So far, Haaland has repaid the trust his coach had in him after having a brilliant start to the season. Manchester City has not lost their four opening games in the champions league, and Haaland has scored in all the matches he has started for City in the champions league.

Haaland ridiculous form

The Norwegian star has scored and assisted in all his premier league games except the match against Liverpool. So far, Haaland has three hat tricks in the premier league, having broken the record for the most hat tricks scored in the premier league after ten games going with his current form, Haaland can score 66 goals this season in the premier league after three seasons he can equal Alan shearer all-time premier league top scorer.

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Sean Dyche: The sweet and sour chronicles of sit back and defend coaches.

Premier League
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Chelsea ready to battle Man United for victory

by marina

The blues are set to welcome the red devils at Stamford bridge for the first time this season. Following a draw against Brentford, Chelsea look to bounce back this weekend when they face Manchester United, who beat Tottenham two goals to nil in the previous match.

Photo Credits: Jeremy/Getty Images
Photo Credits: Jeremy/Getty Images

Chelsea plagued with injuries with United looking strong

However, Chelsea are faced with a series of injuries, following the latest Reece James injury when they played Ac Milan in the champions league. Reece James has been arguably the best Chelsea player this season and will be missed by Chelsea and England fans since he won’t be available for the world cup, which will start in a month’s time. Also, Ng’olo Kante will be out following an injury setback while training. Wesley Fofana will also not feature due to an injury he faced while playing AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League group contest.

Chelsea's Reece James lying down injured in the game against AC Milan. Photo Credits: Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
Chelsea’s Reece James lying down injured in the game against AC Milan. Photo Credits: Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

 On the other end, Manchester United look comfortable with an almost fully-fit squad. Christian Eriksen returned to United’s squad midweek against Spurs. Antony Martial and Harry Maguire have been ruled out again, joining Aaron Wan-Bissaka as the only absentees. Their most important players will be in the contest against Chelsea apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, who Eric Ten Hag suspended for walking down the tunnel before the full time and refused to be substituted in the ninetieth minute against Spurs.

The dynamic of the game

 The two teams have drawn in their last four games, so it won’t be an easy game to predict. The Blues aim to maintain their number four spot if they beat or even get a draw against the red devils. Manchester United will have to beat Chelsea, who are above them with one point in the EPL, and claim the number four spot.

Reece James’ spot might be covered by Cesar Azpilicueta or Ruben Loftus Cheek, who has also been brilliant in the Right wing-back position. However, none of them will actually offer what Reece James offered; that’s why James will be a big miss. Whoever plays in that spot will have to face Manchester United wingers, who are pacey and have great dribbling attributes.

Diogo Dalot has been so brilliant this season for Manchester United clocking the third-highest top speed in the premier league. That comes in the face of some spectacular displays from him at right-back this season. The right side of Manchester united seems sorted since Diogo and Antony Santos have both been brilliant this season, and we expect them to cause Chelsea much trouble.

Casemiro also seems to have jelled perfectly well with the team. His link-up with Fred in the midfield worked out so well against the Spurs. Whether Ten Hag decides to pair him with Eriksen or Fred, that midfield will be a recipe for serious danger.

Since the appointment of Graham Potter as Chelsea’s head coach, the English man has never lost in his last seven outings, having won five and drawn two games. Kepa has also been brilliant in the past games, only conceding two goals in their last seven games and having higher expected goals saves than any other keeper in the premier league. Whoever starts up front for Manchester United will have to face Kepa’s test. The blues goalkeeper has been pivotal for Graham Potter and has secured them important points due to his prodigiousness in goal.

On the other hand, Manchester United have won three of the last five games in the premier league, drawing one against Newcastle and losing one to Manchester City. In their last two games, however, they have displayed promising consistency.

The game will kick off at 1730 hours UK time, and the ground is set for yet another thrilling encounter from these two well-matched outfits.

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Liverpool gain all 3 points in a thrilling contest with City

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England/Premier League
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Liverpool gain all 3 points in a thrilling contest with City

by marina

The Premier League encounter between Manchester City and Liverpool took off to a pulsating start, with both teams looking to walk away with 3 points. For Liverpool, a win would have reinvigorated the deteriorating mood in the club. Given their recent run of form, defeat in this match would have been a huge blow to Klopp and his men in their pursuit for the top four. On the other hand, City needed to close in on Arsenal, who look set to compete for the title this season. 

Jurgen Klopp having an exchange with Pep Guardiola in their past Premier League match whereby Liverpool won by one goal to nil. Photo Credits: Premier League
Jurgen Klopp having an exchange with Pep Guardiola in their past Premier League match whereby Liverpool won by one goal to nil. Photo Credits: Premier League

The action-packed match ended in a one-nil win for the home team, with Klopp’s men showing real character to put up a fight in such an infirm state. Salah scored the only goal in the match, with Liverpool having a couple of opportunities to kill off the game. Foden scored on the other end before VAR asked Antony Taylor to look back at a tackle committed by Haaland in the build-up to the goal.

Haaland pulled Fabinho’s shirt in a 50-50 duel before passing to De Bruyne, who then slid him in with yet another incisive pass. Foden capitalized on the scramble between Haaland and Allison to strike the ball that deflected into the net from Gomez’s legs. Taylor ruled out the goal that then allowed Liverpool to grow back into the game, and ended up scoring their own. 

Klopp received a red card towards the end of the match as his furious reaction towards the referees was interpreted as inexcusable dissent. This was in response to the tackles that flew in, many of which Taylor let go.  

Darwin Nunez failed to find Mohammed Salah in an open opportunity in the match. Photo Credits: Premier League
Darwin Nunez failed to find Mohammed Salah in an open opportunity in the match. Photo Credits: Premier League

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UEFA Champions League vs. Premier League? One pick

Sean Dyche: The sweet and sour chronicles of sit back and defend coaches.

Hope of brighter days?

This defeat now means City lose their unbeaten status this season, with Arsenal going four points clear of them at the top of the table. For Liverpool, the win recaptures a mood in these parts not felt for quite a while. The Reds now have the opportunity to re-establish their dominance with their talisman, Mohammed Salah, slowly regaining his goal-scoring form. Will the Egyptian forward net more goals in the coming chances?

Salah celebrating after scoring the only goal versus Manchester City at the Anfield versus Manchester City. Photo Credits: Liverpool FC
Salah celebrating after scoring the only goal versus Manchester City at the Anfield versus Manchester City. Photo Credits: Liverpool FC