Arsenal are reportedly set to hold talks over a potential transfer deal for Barcelona attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho in the coming days. The Gunners are seemingly stepping up their interest as Mikel Arteta is said to have given the green light for club chiefs to negotiate this signing, according to Todo Fichajes. Coutinho has struggled in his time at Barcelona, but previously shone a...Full Story »

Former Juventus coach Fabio Capello believes the squad has lost quality this season. Capello has also questioned the tactics of coach Max Allegri since his return. He said, "The team have decent values, certainly not the ones Juve are used to. Take Cuadrado and Alex Sandro. They used to give me the impression they push hard, now they don't change their pace anymore. Of course, Cuadrado alway...Full Story »

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admitted he took a fitness risk with Romelu Lukaku after the striker’s game-changing impact at Aston Villa.The forward came off the bench at the break with the score locked at 1-1 to inspire the visitors to a 3-1 win on Sunday.His first Premier League goal since September’s brace against Villa put Chelsea ahead and he then won an added-time penalty for Jorg...Full Story »

First-team coach Andy Parkinson praised Tranmere’s resilience following a fifth successive Sky Bet League Two win that lifted Rovers into the top three.Nicky Maynard’s seventh-minute opener and an 85th-minute effort from Kieron Morris secured a 2-0 win for the Prenton Park side.“In between the two goals was a battle where we had to show resilience which we did really well,&rdqu...Full Story »

Romelu Lukaku climbed off the bench to inspire Chelsea’s comeback victory as he continued to haunt Aston Villa.The striker scored his first Premier League goal since a September brace against the same opposition as the visitors came from behind to win 3-1.Lukaku has now scored nine goals in his last 10 top-flight appearances against Villa and also caused havoc to win a stoppage-time penalt...Full Story »

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough was delighted his gamble of making sure the game went ahead, despite a depleted side, paid off as the Stags came from 2-0 down to beat Hartlepool 3-2 in thick Nottinghamshire fog.Already shorn of four key players, Clough lost another four with positive Covid tests.But, from 2-0 down, three goals in 11 second-half minutes saw them home for a 10th win in 11 games.&ldquo...Full Story »

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City were never in control against Leicester after a frantic Boxing Day contest ended in a 6-3 win for his side.The champions raced into a 4-0 lead at the Etihad Stadium but were pegged back to 4-3 before producing a strong finish to settle a Premier League classic.The victory was City’s ninth in succession and opened up a six-point lead at the top of the ...Full Story »

Norwich head coach Dean Smith was left bemoaning individual errors as he admitted standards had “dropped massively” following a Boxing Day thrashing at the hands of Arsenal.A brace from Bukayo Saka either side of a rare Kieran Tierney strike had the Gunners on course for three points before a late Alexandre Lacazette penalty and a goal for substitute Emile Smith Rowe secured a comfor...Full Story »

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson admits the lack of supporters played its part as his team faced a nervy ending to their 2-1 Boxing Day victory over Ross County.The hosts came flying out of the blocks at an empty Tynecastle – where Hearts opted not to open the doors to a reduced 500 crowd for logistical reasons – and opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Michael Smith.Neilson&...Full Story »

Crystal Palace assistant manager Osian Roberts said the absence of Patrick Vieira was a big factor in the 3-0 loss at Tottenham.Vieira was not in the dugout in north London after testing positive for coronavirus, one of a number of cases in the Palace camp which saw them try to get the Boxing Day game called off.The Premier League refused their request and Spurs piled on the misery as goals from...Full Story »

Kelty Hearts suffered their first cinch League Two defeat of the season as they lost 5-1 at Annan.Nathan Austin put the league leaders ahead after 36 minutes, but the two teams went into half-time level after Owen Moxon’s equaliser, while the visitors had Jordon Forster sent off following an incident as the teams left the field.Michael Garrity’s strike just after the break and a hat-...Full Story »

Dundee manager James McPake felt the SPFL put both sides at risk by rejecting a request for their cinch Premiership trip to Aberdeen to be postponed.The Dens Park side travelled north with a depleted squad after a positive Covid-19 test in their camp, with five further players deemed to be close contacts and also ruled out.McPake refused to use the decision as an excuse for his side’s 2-1 ...Full Story »

Manager Steven Schumacher hailed the professionalism of his Plymouth players after they claimed a 2-0 win at Cheltenham.A goal in each half for Panutche Camara and Jordon Garrick ensured Argyle maintained their promotion push with a second successive victory.“Professional is probably the best word to describe the way we played,” Schumacher said.“We produced two moments of good ...Full Story »

Steve Cotterill was delighted that his Shrewsbury side finally got their just rewards on the road after they claimed a 3-0 win at Fleetwood.The Shrews went ahead through Ryan Bowman five minutes into the second half, with Josh Vela doubling the lead in the 72nd minute.Daniel Udoh hit an unstoppable third with 10 minutes left to seal their first away league win of the season.Cotterill felt his te...Full Story »

Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal coasted to a 5-0 Boxing Day victory at Norwich to strengthen their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish.The Gunners have been able to fulfil all of their fixtures of late as others in the table see games postponed due to Covid cases and Mikel Arteta’s side made light work of rock-bottom Norwich at Carrow Road.Saka scored in both halves, his brace co...Full Story »

A late goal from Jan Bednarek secured a rare away-day victory for Southampton as West Ham’s slump continued.Bednarek’s header condemned the Hammers to a 3-2 Premier League defeat, their third straight loss, and earned Saints only their second win on the road this season.West Ham’s hopes of a place in the top four now look increasingly forlorn after another below-par display at ...Full Story »

Lucas Moura scored one and made two more as Tottenham piled on the Boxing Day misery for Crystal Palace with a 3-0 win.Palace had failed in their attempts to get the game called off after a coronavirus outbreak in their squad, with manager Patrick Vieira one of those affected by a positive test and absent in north London.And, after the Premier League ruled the game should go ahead, Moura made ma...Full Story »

Antoni Sarcevic claimed his maiden Stockport strike as County thrashed Altrincham 5-1 in the National League.Will Collar netted his fourth goal in three games as County ran riot in the first half at Edgeley Park, with Paddy Madden, Scott Quigley and Ollie Crankshaw also finding the net.County returned to winning ways in the league in style, following their 2-1 reverse at Torquay last time out.Al...Full Story »

Two late penalties forced Aldershot and Woking to share the spoils as they drew 1-1 in the Vanarama National League.Corie Andrews’ 85th-minute spot-kick put 10-man Aldershot ahead, but the Cardinals were also awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time and Max Kretzschmar pulled one back to force a draw.Woking had good chance just before half-time when Tahvon Campbell came down the left and ...Full Story »

Sorba Thomas’ brace lifted Huddersfield into the Sky Bet Championship play-off positions following a thrilling 3-2 win over 10-man Blackpool.The former Boreham Wood winger struck twice in four minutes after Jordan Gabriel’s red card just past the hour mark proved the game’s turning point.Blackpool were leading 2-1 when Gabriel was sent off after strikers Jerry Yates and Gary Ma...Full Story »