Arsenal eager to hunt down Foxes after derby despair

The Gunners have become synonymous with stability framework for French boss Arsene Wenger more than 18 years at the helm of the club.

Leicester, in contrast, have been forced to issue a statement Sunday night Nigel Pearson insists was still their manager.

A whirlwind 24 hours followed the defeat of the house of the city by Crystal Palace on Saturday that left them rooted to the foot of the Premier League table, with previous suggestions that their manager three and a half had been dismissed prove incorrect.

Both parties have something to prove, with Arsenal keen to revive their bid for a fourth place after falling to sixth after the 2-1 defeat at Spurs on Saturday.

The Gunners will be boosted by the return of Alexis Sanchez to the team after the Chile forward was forced to sit out the trip to White Hart Lane with a hamstring problem.

And they will draw some comfort from the fact Manchester United failed to beat West Ham on Sunday with a 1-1 draw ensure the fourth side of Louis Van Gaal remains touching distance, with just one standard colon separating the Arsenal team Dutchman.

On paper, Tuesday's game should be a routine win for Wenger side who won a 5-0 victory over Aston Villa in their last home exit.

But the Leicester events have added an element of uncertainty and Wenger was keen to see a positive response from his players.

"This is not the first time we lost a game but how we bounce back is to take the information from what we have and respond very quickly against Leicester. We must be ready to respond.

"Overall, there is a long way to go this season. I think we should just go ahead and recover quickly show a strong response and we see where we are after.

"We have to focus on us because there are many teams fighting to get in (the first four)."

Wenger was unsure whether Sanchez would be in the starting line or on the bench.

But his return in any capacity the first team will be allowed after Arsenal and England striker Danny Welbeck has admitted the Gunners fell short at the front against the Spurs.

Welbeck returned to Tottenham after a month and conceded that there was much room for improvement.

Football News Louis van Gaal says he thanked his Manchester United players for their second-half show at West Ham

Louis van Gaal said he personally thanked his Manchester United players for their second-half performance in the 1-1 draw at West Ham.

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Daley Blind’s late equaliser denied West Ham what would have been a deserved win after Cheikhou Kouyate’s opener, and despite the hosts having chances to win the game, the Dutchman was pleased with the second-half showing.

Van Gaal told Sky Sports: “I think we played very badly in the first half, but we showed a lot of fight and spirit in the second, especially after their goal.

“We gave it away, and then we played football, but you have to do it from the first minute.

Daley Blind gives his post-match reaction

“But I have to say what spirit my team showed after going behind, and I have thanked my players for that.”

Manchester United introduced Marouane Fellaini for the final stages at Upton Park, and the Belgian provided the assist for Blind’s equaliser by winning an aerial ball.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce claimed his side could not cope with “long ball United”, but Van Gaal returned the compliment by insisting he had prepared to face long balls from the hosts themselves.

“They are playing long balls, we know that in advance, but they won all the second balls.

"I think with Fellaini you have to change your style, and we did, and because of Fellaini we have created a lot of chances.”

United remain in fourth place in the Premier League, and have now lost just once in 17 games in all competitions. 

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Jamie Carragher News Radamel Falcao will not remain at Manchester United after poor display at West Ham, says Jamie Carragher

Radamel Falcao’s career at Manchester United appears to be in doubt and he won’t remain at the club past the end of the season, according to Jamie Carragher.

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Carragher gave his assessment on the Colombian international after United’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, a game which the Sky Sports pundit criticised their lack of movement and imagination going forward.

West Ham were without Winston Reid and James Collins at the heart of defence, and Carragher believes the United front line should have caused the Hammers more problems.

“I think Louis van Gaal has got a problem with his strike force,” Carragher told Super Sunday.

“I don’t see Falcao staying at the end of the season and it’s something Manchester United will have to address in the striking department.

"Van Persie and Falcao were just jogging up field, ambling up and they didn’t cause a make-shift West Ham back four enough problems. United have got big problems at that end of the pitch. There is not enough movement from the front two, there’s no sprint, spark or energy."

Carragher's damning assessment on United attack

“West Ham showed pace and energy through Sakho and Valencia in the first half to get in behind the United defence. But Falcao and Van Persie failed to exploit the same spaces.  

“They were just jogging up field, especially Van Persie, ambling up and they didn’t cause a make-shift West Ham back four enough problems.

“When United were in the wide areas, Falcao was ball-watching and that made him easy to mark. He should have been running down the channels. There is not enough movement from the front two, there’s no sprint, spark or energy and that was in complete contrast to West Ham.”

With his side trailing by a goal to nil. United manager Louis van Gaal opted to bring Marouane Fellaini on as they pushed for a route back into the game.

Rooney: Position not right, says Carragher

And while the substitute was involved in the build-up to Daley Blind’s equaliser, Carragher thought James Wilson, or the deployment of Wayne Rooney further forward, would have been better alternatives.

“United have got big problems at that end of the pitch,” Carragher added. “Everybody talks about United needing a centre back and that defensively they’re all over the place, but they’ve got one of the best defensive records in the league.

“Granted, a lot of that is down to the goalkeeper, but the problems are at the other end of the pitch and there’s no way I see Falcao staying.

“The position of Rooney is not right. He only touched the ball in the opposition’s box once or twice and he’s playing like a defensive midfield player.

"You wonder why Van Gaal doesn’t put Rooney up front in those positions to create and score goals because the two strikers, with their lack of movement, had less touches than De Gea and that tells the whole story.”

Sign in to watch highlights of West Ham v Manchester United here.

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Football News Premier League: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists increased lead means nothing after Aston Villa win

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists the Premier League title race is far from over, even though his side beat Aston Villa to extend their lead in the table.

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Branislav Ivanovic scored a stunning winner to give the Blues a 2-1 win at Villa Park, which saw them move seven points clear thanks to Manchester City’s draw at home to Hull.

But with 14 games to go the Blues boss insists there is plenty still to play for in such an unpredictable division.

"Seven points means seven points, we have 14 matches to go," said Mourinho. "We are speaking about 42 points to play for and in 42 we have a lead of seven. I think it's nothing.

Branislav Ivanovic scored a stunning goal to give all three points to Chelsea

"I would say in another league – done. In the Premier League, I would say far from done because the Premier League is the only league where any team can take points from the top teams.

"You go to other leagues and the teams from the second part of the table, they play the top teams and they lose, they lose easily with big results.

"We have 14 matches left and that’s a long way to go."

Mourinho also complemented the display from Aston Villa, who ended a run of six Premier League matches and almost 11 hours without scoring as Jores Okore netted early in the second half.

Stability

Paul Lambert’s men lie in 16th place - just two points out of the relegation zone - but the Chelsea manager, who won at Villa Park for the first time, is confident Villa will survive.

Phil Thompson gives his thoughts on Chelsea's 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

"A team with so many good players is not a team in trouble,” he added. “The teams in trouble are the ones without good players and Aston Villa’s is a squad filled with good players.

"They are a very good side, so for us to win here is very important – obviously it’s very difficult. The result says everything.

"I knew that they had a reaction and my players couldn’t cope. The good thing was that after that we had our reaction, we found our stability and we started going forwards.

"We went to try to win and, when we scored the second goal, after that I don’t remember a dangerous situation in our goal. We could control with stability."

listen to ‘Mourinho hails Ivanovic’ on audioBoom

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Liverpool News Everton 0-0 Liverpool: Jordon Ibe shows his class in Steven Gerrard's final Merseyside derby

Liverpool's Jordon Ibe showed his potential with a man of the match performance against Everton...

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In Steven Gerrard’s final Merseyside derby a Liverpool star of the future emerged: Jordon Ibe.

The 19-year-old is no secret weapon – he was recalled from his impressive loan spell with Derby after netting five times for the Championship title-chasers – but in just his second Premier League start for Liverpool, in the cauldron of a Merseyside derby, man-of-the-match Ibe showed his class.

Usually deployed on the right side of midfield, Ibe – who made his Reds debut in an end-of-season clash with QPR in 2013 - was used at right wing back at Goodison Park but slotted into Liverpool’s system with ease.

“There was a lot of young British talent out there but he can be a big player,” said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers after the game.

“He’s tactically very good, you can see his quality in the one v one, he can beat people, he puts a shift in, gets back and works and he’s only going to get better and stronger. He was outstanding.”

Steven Gerrard praises man of the match Jordon Ibe

In a game of few clear-cut chances Ibe looked the most likely to spark a breakthrough; the teenager smashed a long range shot against the post and nearly teed up Daniel Sturridge with a cut-back in the second half.

He was composed in possession, too, completing 94.4 per cent of his passes (only Alberto Moreno and John Stones were more accurate), while Jordan Henderson was the only Liverpool player to surpass the 10.99km he covered.

“He should be proud of his performance,” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.

“For a 19-year-old kid to make what you would class as his proper Premier League debut and produce the performance he did – going closest to scoring and closest to creating a goal – in an unnatural position, he should be very proud. He was one of the best players on the pitch today.”

Skipper Gerrard described Ibe’s efforts as “sensational” - especially as the youngster only found out he was starting on Friday - and the future seems bright for the England U20 international.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp praised his stunning strike which rattled the woodwork and says he expects to see Ibe excel up front in years to come – but warned he can pose a threat from out wide, too, given his pace and dribbling ability.

Brendan Rodgers says the least Liverpool deserved against Everton was a point

“What I really like about him is the way he strikes the ball,” said Redknapp. “This isn’t a fluke. Some players can do that. That’s a gift. Some players can hit the ball so cleanly. It’s something you can’t teach, it’s something you’re born with.

“But if you’re defending against him and show him down the line that’s exactly what he’ll do – and he’ll beat you with pace. And if you say to him come inside he goes and you can’t stop him.

“Do I think he’ll play wing back long term? No. I think he’ll be a central striker but at the moment, to be in the team, gaining experience is absolutely brilliant for that young man.”

As Gerrard prepares to hand over the baton to the next generation, the teenager he handed the man of the match prize to on Saturday night seems set to be among the leading lights of Liverpool's future.

listen to ‘Ibe steals the show’ on audioBoom

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Aston Villa News Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea: Jores Okore ends Paul Lambert's side's 659-minute wait for a goal

After 659 minutes without a goal, Aston Villa finally found the net on Saturday – but their drought goes down as the fourth-longest in Premier League history.

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Jores Okore’s backpost header, three minutes into the second half against Chelsea, was the first time Villa had scored in 10 hours and 59 minutes of top flight football.

That run stretches back to December 20, when Christian Benteke opened the scoring against Manchester United, 18 minutes into the eventual 1-1 draw at Villa Park.  

Paul Lambert’s side have drawn blanks against Swansea, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Leicester, Liverpool and Arsenal since then, although Villa did manage to beat the defences of Championship sides Blackpool and Bournemouth in the FA Cup during that time.

Paul Lambert had to wait almost 11 hours to see his side score

Against Chelsea, Villa passed three previous goal-drought milestones set by Everton (2005), Sheffield United (1993/94) and Everton (1993/94) but Okore’s equaliser to Eden Hazard’s opener meant Villa’s lean spell finished 180 minutes shy of Crystal Palace’s 1994/95 839-minute record.

Branislav Ivanovic’s superb strike curtailed celebrations from the home fans, though, and handed Jose Mourinho his first win at Villa Park.

Despite Okore's goal, Lambert’s side remain bottom of the pile in the Premier League in terms of total scored (12, eight fewer than West Brom), shots on target (63) and shooting accuracy (35.59 per cent).

Longest goal droughts in the Premier League

Crystal Palace – 839 minutes to January 14, 1995

Derby County – 777 minutes to December 8, 2007

Ipswich Town – 714 minutes to April 15, 1995

Aston Villa – 659 minutes to February 7, 2015

Everton – 641 minutes to January 3, 1994

Sheffield United – 621 minutes to January 1, 1994

Everton – 615 minutes to October 23, 2005

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Football News Tony Bellew and David Price remember Merseyside derbies that delivered the KO blow

Tony Bellew and David Price are chasing world title dreams in the ring.

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Everton vs Liverpool

February 7, 2015, 4:45pm

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But before both of them climb back between the ropes there is a small scrap to sort out, a domestic dust-up to deal with, one that neither will want to lose – the Merseyside derby.

In the blue corner, Bellew is a lifelong Everton fan who wears blue shorts, carries the club crest on his kit and walks in to the Z Cars theme tune.

In the red corner, Price is a 2008 Olympic bronze medallist who supports Liverpool and has had an Anfield season ticket.

Bellew is currently out in Philadelphia acting in Rocky spin-off Creed, while Price is two weeks away from a crucial fight in Germany that you can see live on Sky Sports. Both might be busy but will definitely be watching Saturday's match, so who better to set the scene before the first bell rings...

When was the first derby you went to?

Tony says: My eldest brother Craig snuck me in! He shouldn't even have snuck me out of the house because my dad is a Kopite! We definitely won and I am never going to forget that for those reasons alone. But Peter Beardsley scored, I know that much. (1992)

David says: My first one was unofficial. I lived opposite the Kop, literally a stone’s throw away. I must have been about seven and we used to run over when the gates opened to let the fans out. We ran over for the last 15 minutes of a derby that Liverpool won 3-2 in 1989. My next one was when we lost 2-0 at Goodison in 1994. I was in the front row of the highest stand. There were no safety nets and you were scared to stand up – but we lost anyway!

What's been your best derby day?

Andy Johnson: Scored two goals in a game Bellew loves, Price loathes!

Tony says: I've got plenty! We'll start off at Anfield, that night in 1999 when we beat them 1-0 and Kevin Campbell scored. Then there was the year, in 2006, when we absolutely trounced them 3-0. Andy Johnson scored two and we humiliated Pepe Reina which was quite good. There's been a lot of them. 

David says: I'd have to go for 'The Gary McAllister One' in 2001 but for some reason I wasn’t there. So the best game I was at was when we won 2-0 and Fernando Torres was on fire – he scored both. It was in September 2008 because I’d just got home from the Olympics and was invited as a guest to Goodison... and I was in the Everton end. But I celebrated anyway!

What about your worst one?

Bellew coaches Carragher

Tony says: Well, of course, there has been plenty of those too! That Steven Gerrard hat-trick at Anfield, in midweek a couple of years ago. To make it even worse, he scored that hat-trick goal in the last minute. It was one of the worst nights of my life, it really was. It still upsets me talking about it.

David says: It's got to be when they beat us 3-0 at Goodison in 2006. I was in the Everton end again but didn’t get to celebrate this time. And it was that bad I got off before the end. I remember Andy Johnson had scored one already but I'd left before he scored again.

The best derby goal you've seen?

Patrik Berger: Trickled one in to end Davis Price's dark school days...

Tony says: The one Olivier Dacourt scored at Liverpool back in 1999 was a blinder. Trouble was, he scored too early – inside the first minute I think – and we were beaten 3-2 in the end. But the one that will always stand out, even if I was way too young to be there, is that absolute screamer by Graeme Sharp, at Anfield, to beat them 1-0 in 1984.

David says: There’s been so many but there's one that means a lot to me. Back in 1999 we couldn’t beat Everton for love nor money and we’d argue at school about it all day long until we played on Easter Saturday. Steven Gerrard came on as sub and cleared the ball off the line with minutes to go – but the goal was by Patrik Berger and we won 3-2. He scored a volley from the edge of the box that trickled in and put us within touching distance of finally beating them.

Is this football's friendliest rivarly?

"There are a lot of bitter Evertonians! You get some who’d rather see Liverpool lose than Everton win."

David Price, Liverpool fan

Tony says: That's a tough one! There's no violence at derby games, well not on my side of things – and other members of my family, like my dad, and members of my girlfriend's family are Kopites so it's friendly in that respect. But trust me, there's no love lost on the day and I want to beat them more than anyone else. If you win, you go to work on Monday morning and you are gloating.

David says: On match days, no. It depends what type of person you’re dealing with because there are a lot of bitter Evertonians! You get some who’d rather see Liverpool lose than Everton win... and I'm not kidding either. But I know bitter Liverpudlians to be fair who love it when Everton are beaten, too. The rest of the year, we’re friends and a lot of the time, we are family.

Which derby foe have you feared down the years?

Andrei Kanchelskis: Was threat whenever he got the ball. against Liverpool, says Price

Tony says: Simple, Steven Gerrard. No doubt about it. He's the one that has broken my heart on too many occasions and he's the one that can do anything he wants once he's put his mind to it. As much as I am a crazy Blue, Steven Gerrard is an amazing player – and he has done it for years. He carried that club on his shoulders for a decade.

David says: Andrei Kanchelskis. When he was at Everton he was a top, top player and scored twice at Anfield once. He was one of those players that when the ball landed at his feet you’d expect something to happen. Duncan Ferguson as well, was always one you knew was going to do something. He was always a threat.

Which derby foe would you like to fight in the ring?

"Luis Suarez. No one comes close to that. I cannot stand him."

Tony Bellew, Everton fan

Tony says: Luis Suarez. No one comes close to that. I cannot stand him. And let's be honest, in a ring he could bite me all he likes – I would love to take him on. Let's leave it at that.

David says: Do you know who used to wind me up? David Unsworth, the defender. Because he thought he was a big hard-case and he wasn’t! Maybe he is, maybe he’s a dead nice fella! But on the pitch he got Robbie Fowler sent off once, who was my hero, and I didn’t like him for it. He’s the perfect height for me, a bit short, I’d keep him off with my jab!

How do you feel about Steven Gerrard's departure?

Steven Gerrard: Even Evertonian Tony Bellew will not be happy to see him leave Liverpool

Tony says: At the end of the day I try and seperate my emotions and football and Steven Gerrard is just a Scouser who has done really, really well. Good on him. He's an amazing footballer and meeting him for the first time last year – he's just a nice guy. I wouldn't say I'll be sad to see him go but I'm not going to say I'll be happy to see him go, either.

David says: I’m not happy but I understand why, on both sides. For his own reasons and the club’s reason. There comes a time when you have to draw a line under things. I think he can offer something to the team but the team can function without him. If he wanted to stay he should have able to because we owe him everything. The word is he wanted to stay so he deserved to. But he won’t regret the move because he’ll love California. Better standard of life, better weather, better everything.

Finally, the knockout punch... prediction time!

Tony says: I'm just worried to be totally honest. Daniel Sturridge is back and he's a massive player for them and they've got pace all over the all over the park – and I'm hoping Gerrard doesn't play. I'm a bit sceptical but if Romelu Lukaku is on his game and we can get Ross Barkley back to anything like his best and Kevin Mirallas firing on all cylinders, I'm hoping 1-0 Everton. But I am going for 1-1. 

David says: I usually sit on the fence in derbies but I can’t see Liverpool not winning. Sturridge is back, the whole team is starting to gel in the formation we’re playing. Everton have been poor, I know Evertonians who are panicking. To be honest, the way they behaved after Liverpool didn’t win the league last year, I wouldn’t shed a tear if they were relegated. 3-1 Liverpool.

Catch the Merseyside derby on Saturday at 5.30pm on Sky Sports 1 HD.

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