It’s that magical moment of any English football season – the Third Round FA Cup draw. The stand-out ties are high-flying Leicester City’s visit to Spurs, and Dagenham & Redbridge or Whitehawk enjoying a lucrative day at Goodison Park. Salford City got a derby, but not the one they were after. They will play Derby County […]

11 years ago

Carlo Ancelotti has given his clearest indication yet that he would be interested in replacing Louis van Gaal at Man United. The current Old Trafford boss is under increasing pressure from the club’s fans, who are growing tired of his patient, conservative style of play. Ancelotti’s name has been touted a number of times in […]

11 years ago

If you thought Man United fans had it in for City/Liverpool/Arsenal/Chelsea supporters, you should see how they treat their own. Whether at the pub or on social media, the number of burning issues that have the fans constantly in-fighting is endless. Here are just a few of the topics that have fellow reds at each other’s […]

11 years ago

There is a scene from 2014’s darkly twisted Nightcrawler in which Louis Bloom, played by a gaunt Jake Gyllenhaal, is the first to an LA crime scene. He is an ‘ambulance chaser’ who uses his radio scanner and camcorder to beat the emergency services to bloody incidents and film the action. He finds a dead body […]

11 years ago

We’re not sure this is the best way to stay trim on your day off… Wayne Rooney was ruled out of Man United’s home game with West Ham on Saturday with an ankle injury, but as per club protocol, he was present for the goalless draw. He watched from the stands with his son, and was spotted […]

11 years ago

Michael Owen has out-Michael Owen’d himself. On the same day that the former England striker started babbling random noises live on TV, he came out with the most inane, pointless, vacuous comment of his long and (less than) distinguished stint as a football pundit. ‘Analysing’ Man City’s 2-0 defeat to a very impressive Stoke side, Owen bemoaned the fact that the […]

11 years ago

Marko Arnautovic was on fire for Stoke against Man City for the Saturday lunchtime kickoff. Not only did the Australian striker score a brace within 16 minutes – causing my fantasy league managers to rue the fact they didn’t pick him – but he was a constant menace throughout the game. With the supreme talents […]

11 years ago

Stoke started their Saturday lunchtime game with Man City like men possessed. The Potters came bursting out of the blocks against their Mancunian rivals, with Xherdan Shaqiri in particular in blistering form. They were 2-0 up within the first 16 minutes, with the Swiss pocket rocket setting up a clinical Marko Arnautovic, who scored both goals in a […]

11 years ago

John Terry may be seen as ‘Mr Chelsea’ now, but there a point in time when a move to Manchester looked a real possibility. In 2009, it was widely reported that Man City were desperate to sign the former England captain, and that the player was very tempted with the prospect of wearing a paler […]

11 years ago

It was bound to happen one day. Autobot Michael Owen has been present on our screens for some time now, providing moderate insights and semi-relevant comments on the human pastime of football. Many had long suspected that the BT Sport droid was more machine than man, and sadly on Saturday morning it was all too evident, as the MO3000 […]

11 years ago

What is it with Arsenal and injuries? Just when they’re on the verge of kicking on and dominating a Premier League that is crying out for someone to take control, they suffer a number of vital injuries that derail their challenge. As well as losing Alexis Sanchez to a hamstring strain, and a plethora of other […]

11 years ago

Remember that time Sir Alex Ferguson said Swansea City’s Ashley Williams could have ended Robin van Persie’s life by kicking the ball at him? Well this is First Blood Part II. Arsene Wenger is still right royally p*ssed off with last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City, and the fact that Alexis Sanchez suffered an injury to […]

11 years ago

Holy sh*tting hell. What a mistake to make. Lenny Henry received a knighthood today for his services to drama and charity. Now Sir Lenny has worked tirelessly for charity – including his sterling Red Nose efforts – for decades. He was also a seminal figure in seventies and eighties’ comedy, becoming one of the first black comedians […]

11 years ago

The Ballon d’Or seems to have a poison all of its own. It used to a simple if prestigious award for the player deemed to be the best in the world for that particular year. Nice, but largely just a gesture of appreciation. No more. Now it is the all-consuming symbol of personal ambition in a team […]

11 years ago

Liverpool may be flying high under the charismatic leadership of Jurgen Klopp, but attention must now turn to new recruits to bolster their side. The German has a history of prudent and inspired signings over the years at Borussia Dortmund, but has some extra cash and cache to play with at Anfield. Indeed he may […]

11 years ago

It wasn’t long ago that some Man United fans were scratching their heads at supposed interest. Not any more. Sadio Mane was linked to a move to Old Trafford in the summer, and there were plenty of sniffy noises coming out of the Red Devil fanbase. Many wondered why United were being linked to such […]

11 years ago

If you’re still reeling from the fact that they’ll be no more Gary Neville on Monday Night Football, imagine how Sky Sports feel. The former Man United right-back has won the nation over – and many needed winning – through his insightful football analysis and impartial views since joining the Sky team. But now he must […]

11 years ago

Now we know it has been done to death. We’re well aware that it’s incredibly obvious. But then so is Arsenal players getting injured for long spells. There have been numerous spoofs of Bruno Ganz’s now famous scene playing a dismayed and furious Adolf Hitler in the 2005 movie Downfall. Somehow, when done well, it’s […]

11 years ago

Everyone is divided about it!

11 years ago

Whisper it around Old Trafford, but perhaps Man United fans are beginning to wish they had Jurgen Klopp as manager instead of Louis van Gaal. The likeable German is walking the walk as well as talking the talk at Anfield, bringing with him an attractive brand of dynamic, attacking football to Liverpool – precisely the […]

11 years ago

The new Batman v Superman trailer has dropped and online fans aren’t happy at all. If previous short teasers were vague, often bootleg, snippets of the much-awaited superhero mashup, the new trailer perhaps gives a little too much away. This is the preview they’re all talking about… "The greatest gladiator match in the history of the world" […]

11 years ago

Real Madrid right royally f*cked up in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday evening – by playing an ineligible player. Russian winger Denis Cheryshev started the game against Cadiz, and indeed vindicated his selection – from a footballing point of view at least – by scoring Real’s opener. However, the 24-year-old should not have been anywhere near […]

11 years ago

Liverpool were clinical. Six goals from seven shots on target says it all. Southampton took the lead with a Sadio Mane header, but they must have wished they hadn’t bothered. It only served to awaken in Liverpool a resolve to right things in the most emphatic manner. Jurgen Klopp has quickly fashioned a side in […]

11 years ago

Poor Wayne Rooney. He even gets the p*ss ripped out of him when he’s not playing. Daniel Sturridge scored a fine brace against Southampton in the Capital One Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night, in what was his first start under Jurgen Klopp… 2-1 STUDGE! WHAT A PASS! pic.twitter.com/t7UpgatAQh — Liverpool Gifs (@LiverpoolGifs) December 2, 2015 Despite […]

11 years ago

At bloody last! Daniel Sturridge starts for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp for the very first time against Southampton in the League Cup quarter-final. It has been a long time coming – Sturridge last started a game back on October 4 – but Klopp can finally select the England striker in his first XI. Predictably, Twitter has […]

11 years ago

Manuel Pellegrini really doesn’t deserve this. Man City’s manager is the very personification of quiet endeavour and good-mannered grace. Unlike many of his peers, he is not one to entertain vanity or needless self-promotion. Nor does he tend to get embroiled in the usual ‘mind games’ with his direct rivals. Since taking over at the Eastlands […]

11 years ago

Dads embarrass their sons – it is what they are meant to do. Since time immemorial, young lads have attempted to navigate their way to full adulthood by playing it cool and putting on a veneer of aloof confidence to mask their insecurities. And for just as long, there’s been an annoying dad about to nip any […]

11 years ago

You can knock it, you can rock it, you can go to Timbuktu, but you’ll never find a nessie in the zoo… There was time when the opening theme of your favourite cartoon or kids show was a thing of beauty. They were at least 30 seconds long and you enjoyed them almost as much as they actual […]

11 years ago

FIFPro – the worldwide players’ union – has announced its 55-man shortlist for the FIFA FIFPro World XI. Nearly 25,000 players voted in this year’s ballot for their world team based on a 4-3-3 formation. The final XI will be announced at a glittering do in Zurich on January 11. Ten English-based players make the cut – Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero, […]

11 years ago

Why on earth would you want to create your own fire-nado? For the intrepid The Slow Mo Guys, it’s a case of flip-reversing that simple question and asking why not? They like fire, they like tornados, so it was a matter of time before they put those dangerous elements together in a terrifying package. With the […]

11 years ago

First of all, let’s catch up on the facts. Police say a heavy goods vehicle lost a wheel and jackknifed on the East Lancs Road (A580) – the main trunk road between Liverpool and Salford – spilling the ketchup all across the westbound carriageway. Thankfully the lorry driver came away with only ‘bumps and bruises’ after the […]

11 years ago

Man United needed to win at home to PSV to secure qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League. They failed. The game petered out to a 0-0 stalemate and the supporters were not impressed. The club’s future in the competition now rests on their toughest game of Group B. They will qualify if they beat […]

11 years ago

Man United starting XI: De Gea At what point is De Gea so good it's technically cheating? The best keeper in the world at the moment. #MUFC — Manchester United (@ManUnitedWorld) November 25, 2015 Darmian Darmian with more crosses than a catholic priest — kenna (@kennagq) November 25, 2015 Smalling Smalling handled that attacker like […]

11 years ago

He did it. He only went and did it. A part of us wishes Jurgen Klopp would stop being so loveable. He’s just too darn charismatic and likeable. By now, you’ll no doubt have seen the Liverpool manager’s charming exchange with Kop Kid Isaac. The 9-year-old was on a mission to teach Klopp some Scouse […]

11 years ago

Paul Pogba makes a mockery out of the old saying ‘good touch for a big man’. The 22-year-old Juve man may tower over six foot, but he has such deft mastery of the ball and such exquisite footwork that it belies his gangly frame. Against Man City in the Champions League he was in imperious form, showing […]

11 years ago

When he’s not the king of the understatement, Paul Scholes generally speaks his mind as a football pundit. He has questioned Louis van Gaal’s management on more than one occasion, whilst suggesting that the extremely popular Bastian Schweinsteiger has flattered to deceive since joining Man United. But when he’s got nothing to say, he’s got […]

11 years ago

Louis van Gaal welcomes back some of his star forwards for the visit of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial return, joining former PSV star Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard in attack. Despite injury concerns, Bastian Schweinsteiger takes his place beside Morgan Schneiderlin in midfield, although there is no Ander Herrera. The […]

11 years ago

Amidst all the goals and majestic skills on display during Tuesday night’s round of Champions League games, it was two moments of control that caught the eye. In both instances, each divinely talented player was in showboating mood, with their respective teams in full control of the game’s outcome. And each had a rather unique and innovative way of […]

11 years ago

4-0. At the Bernabeu. It was the stuff of dreams for Barcelona, and a catastrophe for Real Madrid. The home side were humiliated in front of hundreds of millions of football fans around the world, and on their own patch too. Why, how and why are the Catalans lording it over their Spanish foes to […]

11 years ago

This is either bad news or very bad news for Rafa Benitez. Real Madrid announced on Monday morning that they will hold a press conference in the evening. This after Los Blancos were outplayed and thrashed 4-0 on the own turf by a rampant Barcelona. “President of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, will appear today before […]

11 years ago

This may be an offer that the authorities find hard to refuse. After the tragic events in Paris on November 13, New York is on red alert as a previous target for fanatical terrorism. But whilst the FBI and Homeland Security seek to ensure any attack would be thwarted, the local mafia are ready to take matters […]

11 years ago

Man United’s backline could be about to get a whole lot more handsome. Reports in Spain claim that Barcelona’s highly-rated and ridiculously good-looking Marc Bartra could be tempted away from Catalonia, due to a lack of first team opportunities. The graduate of Barca’s famous La Masia academy is a popular figure amongst fans with his superb […]

11 years ago

This will not go down well at West Ham. Manuel Lanzini has been in sparkling form for the Hammers this season. He has already found the net four times, including a stunning consolation against Spurs. Not surprisingly, his form has attracted covetous eyes. Lanzini is currently on loan from Al Jazira Club, and West Ham are understandably keen on making his stay […]

11 years ago

Martin Skrtel’s stunning strike against Man City on Saturday was an unexpected as it was spectacular. It was the icing on the cake for Liverpool, on the way to a famous 4-1 victory away from home to the Premier League favourites. One intrepid reds fan was so desperate to watch the game that he blagged himself a […]

11 years ago

It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s wet. It’s only bloody Monday again. There’s nothing quite like waking up at an ungodly hour and realising you’ve got the whole working week ahead of you. But hey! We’re here to cheer you up by sharing someone else’s embarrassment with you! Inter Milan thrashed Frosinone 4-0 on Sunday, and so […]

11 years ago

He wasn’t the first and he won’t be the last. Poor Santi Cazorla. When Alexis Sanchez was brought down in the area by Chris Brunt in the 83rd minute, many thought it was a mere formality. Cazorla needs to take this penalty — MerciWenger (@stock_novice) November 21, 2015 penalty!!! cazorla please — Atif Fazal (@AtifFazal11) November […]

11 years ago

This is why Man United fans love Ander Herrera. As well as being wonderfully talented and a superb technician, the Basque midfielder is know for his total commitment and extraordinary passion. He loves being at Old Trafford, never complaints about a lack of starts and desperately wants his team to succeed, whether he is involved […]

11 years ago

What the f*ck?! Bastian Schweinsteiger helped Manchester United snatch an injury time victory against poor Watford with an effort that Troy Deeney scrambled into his own net. The German is an incredibly popular character at Old Trafford and so United fans were understandably giddy at what they thought was his first goal for the club. It was […]

11 years ago

Due to the international break, Saturday saw the first set of Premier League fixtures since the tragic events in Paris just over a week ago. As a tribute to those who lost their lives, and by way of solidarity with the mourning nation of France, it was decided that La Marseillaise would be played before each weekend fixture. The […]

11 years ago

David James believes the signing of Anthony Martial has taken some of the shine off Memphis Depay’s first few months at Man United. Speaking on BT Sport before their coverage of United’s visit to Watford, James said that signing the exciting Martial from Monaco may have had a negative effect on Memphis’ mental state. The […]

11 years ago