Page 15 - English Premier League

EPL 2023-24: Can new look Man United under Ten Hag challenge Man City?

The stakes are higher for Erik ten Hag in his second season at Manchester United. A year into one of the most daunting jobs in world soccer, the Dutch coach has spent big and made some even bigger calls. As a result, he is now expected to bring the good times back to United. While Ten Hag's first season was a success on many levels, there were also blunt reminders of the work needed to be done to turn his team into a genuine Premier League title contender. He delivered his first trophy by winning the League Cup and also secured a return to the UEFA Champions League. There were notable wins against Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona, as well as a feel-good factor among supporters after a decade of decline since the retirement of United great Alex Ferguson. Under Ten Hag's guidance, Marcus Rashford scored a career-best 30 goals. Those were the highs. At the other end of the scale, there were humbling losses. United was routed 4-0 by Brentford, 6-3 by City and 7-0 b

EPL: Treble by his side, Man City's Guardiola eyes 4 league titles in a row

Ticker tape was still strewn across the field inside Istanbul's Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium and Manchester City fans weren't done partying in the stands when Pep Guardiola issued an ominous warning to his rivals. Far from feeling sated after finally transferring Man City's domestic dominance to Europe by winning the Champions League for the first time last season, the City manager was looking to build on his club's historic treble of trophies. "I don't want after one Champions League to disappear, so work harder next season and be in there." Guardiola had completed his ultimate mission by conquering Europe with City, having done so twice as coach of Barcelona, but he made it clear that his ambition was to achieve more. And there are new boundaries for him to break ahead of the new campaign. He can become the first manager to win four straight Premier League titles something even Alex Ferguson could not do during his dominance with Manchester United. Indeed, no team has ever won fou

EPL: Chelsea signs Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton

Chelsea signed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton and Hove Albion on a seven-year contract on Saturday. The transfer fee was reported to be 25 million pounds (USD 32 million) for the Spain international, who is expected to challenge Kepa Arrizabalaga for a starting spot. The 25-year-old Sanchez made 23 Premier League appearances last season. He joined Brighton as a teenager and progressed through the club's academy, becoming the Seagulls' first-choice goalkeeper during the 2020-21 season. Chelsea, which hosts Liverpool on August 13 in its season opener, has made seven summer signings under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

EPL: Manchester City signs Croatian center-back Joko Gvardiol from Leipzig

Manchester City signed Croatia center-back Joko Gvardiol from Leipzig for 90 million euros ($99.2 million) on Saturday, ranking him among the most expensive defenders in soccer history. The 21-year-old Gvardiol, known as Little Pep because of his name's likeness to City manager Pep Guardiola, is one of the most highly rated defenders in the world and enhanced his reputation with impressive performances for Croatia at the World Cup last year. He signed a five-year contract with City, which won a treble of trophies last season: the Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup. Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world," Gvardiol said. "To win the treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has. To be joining City is something very special for me and my family." At Leipzig, Gvardiol won the German Cup in back-to-back seasons and played in the Champions League. The transfer fee puts him among the likes of ...

EPL: Manchester City reportedly close to signing Croatia's Josko Gvardiol

Manchester City is ready to make a big move in the transfer market, days before the start of the new season. The English and European champions are set to sign Croatia center back Josko Gvardiol for a reported 90 million euros ($98.3 million) from German club Leipzig, making him one of the world's most expensive defenders. Neither City nor Leipzig have commented publicly about the deal for Gvardiol, who will reportedly undergo a medical examination this week. Manchester United's Harry Maguire cost 80 million pounds (then $97 million) when he joined from Leicester in 2019, while Virgil van Dijk moved from Southampton to Liverpool for 75 million pounds (then $100 million) in 2018. The 21-year-old Gvardiol, known as Little Pep because of his name's likeness to City manager Pep Guardiola, is one of the most highly rated defenders in the world and enhanced his reputation with impressive performances for Croatia at the World Cup last year. He has played for Leipzig for two seasons, havi

Premier League: Liverpool name defender Virgil van Dijk as new captain

Liverpool announce Alexander-Arnold as deputy to the captaincy, taking over the responsibility from James Milner

Biggest kit deal in EPL history: Man Utd, Adidas extend p'ship by 10 years

The 900 million pounds ($1.15 billion) deal has renewed the English club's partnership with its German kit supplier for 10 more years

Man United sign goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for $57 million

Manchester United completed the signing of goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for 51 million euros (USD 57 million) on Thursday, reuniting Erik ten Hag with a player with whom he won three Dutch titles at Ajax. Onana has joined on a five-year contract. There is also an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months and United will have to pay 4 million euros (USD 4.5 million) in add-ons, dependent on his success at the club. "To join Manchester United is an incredible honour and I have worked hard all my life to get to this moment, overcoming many obstacles along the way," the Cameroon goalkeeper said. Onana will join up with his new teammates on their preseason tour of the United States. He replaces David de Gea, who announced his departure from United after 12 years at the club earlier this month. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Onana should allow Ten Hag to implement his plans to build play from defense, which he struggled to do with De Gea last season. Onana's .

Bruno Fernandes replaces Harry Maguire as Manchester United's new captain

Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes is the new captain of Manchester United. The Premier League club announced the appointment on Thursday. Fernandes has scored 64 goals with 54 assists in 185 games since joining United in 2020 from Sporting Lisbon. Harry Maguire tweeted Sunday that he was no longer captain of United following talks with manager Erik ten Hag. The central defender made just eight league starts last season, leading to ongoing speculation over his future at Old Trafford. In Maguire's absence from the side last season, the 28-year-old Fernandes was most frequently appointed captain and had been widely expected to be given the permanent role. He featured in all but one of the team's league fixtures as United finished third to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2021. The squad arrived in the United States on Thursday for a 12-day tour, though Ten Hag will be without midfielder Fred who has remained in England because of personal reasons.

Jordan Henderson is closing in on a move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq

Jordan Henderson was a notable absentee as Liverpool beat Karlsruher 4-2 in a pre-season friendly as the England midfielder closes in on a move to Saudi Arabian team Al-Ettifaq. Liverpool has reportedly agreed in principle a deal worth 12 million pounds ($15.5 million) for its Premier League and Champions League-winning captain. The move would see Henderson link up with Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, who has just been hired as manager of the Saudi Pro League team. The potential signing of the 33-year-old Henderson is further evidence of the growing lure of Saudi soccer as the oil-rich kingdom targets leading players from Europe's top leagues. Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante are among the star names to have headed there during the offseason, with Riyad Mahrez also expected to move to Al-Ahli after Manchester City reportedly agreed deal worth up to 30 million pounds ($38.7 million) for its winger. Henderson's former Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino has joined Al-Ahli, while anothe

Premier League: Arsenal breaks record, signs Rice for 105 million pounds

This singing has broken the previous Arsenal record of 72m Pounds paid to sign Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019

Premier League: Arsenal breaks record, signs Rice for 105 million pounds

This singing has broken the previous Arsenal record of 72m Pounds paid to sign Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019

De Gea's Man Utd exit paves the way for Ten Hag's tactical transformation

Replacing David de Gea won't be easy. No Premier League goalkeeper kept more clean sheets last season than De Gea, who announced his departure on Saturday, and in 12 years at Manchester United he was named the club's player of the year on four occasions. He leaves United as a legend, having been part of its last league title-winning team and lifting four major trophies with the club. But his exit also paves the way for a transition that many fans feel is long overdue. At his best, De Gea was a match-winning shot-stopper with the agility and speed of reaction to pull off astounding saves. In recent years, however, he has looked like a player out of his time as soccer has demanded more from keepers, with Manchester City and Liverpool two standout examples of how the position has been transformed. England's two most dominant teams of the past five years have exploited the ball-playing qualities of their keepers. Ederson, at City, and Alisson, at Liverpool, look as comfortable with t

Man City celebrates winning treble win with open-top bus parade in rain

Champagne and rain poured as Manchester City's players celebrated winning the treble of major trophies with an open-top bus parade through the city centre in front of tens of thousands of fans. The start of the evening parade was delayed because of what City called "adverse weather conditions and lightning storms" but two blue buses complete with the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies aboard eventually wound their way through the city streets, with the players and cigar-smoking manager Pep Guardiola wearing T-shirts bearing the words "Treble Winners." "It had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise this is not Manchester," Guardiola said after the squad reached a stage on St. Peter's Square in the middle of Manchester, led by a shirtless Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias with three medals around his neck. We don't want sunshine, we want rain, so it was perfect." City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday to complete the .

Pep Guardiola wins the treble again: Is he the greatest football manager?

By winning the UEFA Champions League final with Manchester City against Inter Milan on June 11, 2023, Pep Guardiola has become the first player to win the treble twice with two different teams

English Premier League: Relegation rivals Leicester and Everton draw 2-2

Leicester and Everton remained in serious relegation danger in the English Premier League after their thrilling 2-2 draw. Alex Iwobi's 54th-minute volley on Monday secured a point for Everton, which stayed in next-to-last place with four matches left to play as the team bids to extend its 69-year stay in the top division. Leicester, the league champion only seven years ago, moved out of the bottom three but only on goal difference ahead of Leeds and Nottingham Forest, with all three teams a point clear of Everton. Forest dropped into the relegation zone. Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted a penalty he won himself after getting barged in the back by Timothy Castagne to put Everton ahead in the 15th minute. Caglar Soyuncu equalized in the 22nd, hooking in a finish as he slipped after fellow center back Wout Faes headed the ball back across the face of goal. Leicester took the lead for the first time in the 33rd when James Maddison slipped in Jamie Vardy, who ran behind Everton's defens

English Premier League: Landmark goals for Haaland, Kane; Man City on top

Erling Haaland's goals are propelling Manchester City toward a treble of trophies. Harry Kane, meanwhile, seems powerless to stop Tottenham's slide. English soccer's two most prolific strikers both scored landmark goals on Sunday. But while Haaland's 50th in all competitions this season helped City to go top of the table, Kane's 208th goal in the Premier League could not prevent Spurs from a third loss in four games, albeit in the most dramatic fashion in a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool. Kane is now tied with Wayne Rooney as the Premier League's second-highest scorer of all time, behind only Alan Shearer on 260. Trophies, however, continue to elude Kane, even in a season when he has become the all-time record scorer for England and Tottenham. It is a different story for Haaland, who seems destined to end his first year at City with both silverware and individual honors. The Norwegian's third minute penalty in City's 2-1 win at Fulham saw him score his 34th Premier League goal of the s

Ten Hag confirms Rashford to miss "several games" with groin injury

Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that England forward Marcus Rashford will miss "a few games" due to a groin injury, but added he will return before the end of the season.

Apple set to enter bidding war for English Premier League streaming rights

Tech giant Apple is preparing a bid for the rights to stream the English Premier League in the UK, the media reported

Chelsea fires coach Thomas Tuchel after poor start to Premier League

Thomas Tuchel was fired by Chelsea on Wednesday only one month into the season. The decision by Chelsea's new ownership came a day after the team lost to Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 in its first group match in the Champions League. Chelsea has lost two of its first six games in the Premier League. Chelsea was the highest-spending team in Europe during the transfer window with an outlay of nearly $300 million. Tuchel was in charge for a year and a half, winning the Champions League in his first season.