Five things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend: A top of the table clash, Mourinho under pressure, and Cardiff scoring off set-pieces September 13, 2018 Can Liverpool prove their title credentials at Wembley? Last season Liverpool were outplayed at Tottenham’s temporary home, losing 4-1 after Mauricio Pochettino’s side put on a vibrant, attacking display which highlighted clear deficiencies in Liverpool's backline. Things have changed since then and Jurgen Klopp’s side have breezed through their opening four games, collecting a maximum [...]
Tottenham’s trip to Barcelona may be a must-win match but the result isn’t everything for Spurs December 10, 2018 A trip to the home of the defining team of the 21st century, a chance to pull off one of the most famous triumphs in the club’s history, a shot at a kind of immortality; there is every reason for Tottenham to savour this week's Champions League fixture against Barcelona. The challenge is as steep [...]
KSI v Logan Paul: What traditional sport can learn from the online influencers’ boxing match September 5, 2018 Just over a week ago, 20,000 fans packed into Manchester Arena to watch one of the most talked about UK boxing events in recent history. Several million more watched online. This wasn’t a professional fight, however; rather a white-collar event involving two of the world’s biggest YouTubers and online influencers, KSI – real name Olajide [...]
Trevor Steven: Jamie Vardy’s England retirement is a mistake but it opens door for exceptional talent Phil Foden August 28, 2018 Tinker, modify and ask how you can improve, by all means, but I don’t think Gareth Southgate should chop and change too much when he names his first England squad of the season on Thursday. The opening match of the new Nations League against Spain on Saturday week and a friendly with Switzerland three days [...]
Big-spending Everton still seeking lift-off in mission to challenge Big Six September 27, 2018 When Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri purchased a 49.9 per cent share in Everton two and a half years ago, his intention was to ensure the club challenge for Champions League football. Yet as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stroked home Arsenal's second goal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday and condemned the Blues to their second Premier League [...]
Problems mounting for stubborn Maurizio Sarri as his footballing philosophy shows its weaknesses at Chelsea January 31, 2019 On the face of things Chelsea are far from a club in crisis. They sit outside of the Premier League’s top four on goal difference and are still in all four competitions, having progressed to the final of the Carabao Cup and the fifth round of the FA Cup in the last eight days. The [...]
Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend: Arsenal win leaves Emery with conundrum; Spurs fall at fortress Vicarage Road; and Alisson gaffe masks Liverpool progress September 2, 2018 Unai Emery heeded calls to fit both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into his starting XI today at Cardiff and the move paid off in a breathless 3-2 win. Lacazette was deployed centrally and thrived on the greater degree of involvement, setting up Aubameyang’s goal and smashing the late winner. Aaron Ramsey also revelled through [...]
Cut taxes for new firms in towns under threat from robot revolution, says report September 27, 2018 Tax breaks should be handed to businesses setting up in 'left behind' towns vulnerable to the rise of automation, according to a new report. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) believes entrepreneurs should be handed financial incentives to attract them to ten northern towns at risk of further decline thanks to the impending technological [...]
The Hut Group wards off potential buyers as it gears up for Acheson & Acheson takeover September 3, 2018 Online beauty retail company The Hut Group (THG) has rebuffed a series of takeover deals as it looks to expand its own acquisition spending spree. A number of offers valuing the firm at almost £4bn have been turned away by the fast-growing technology company, according to reports from Sky News last night. While strategic and [...]
Looking back on my year as lord mayor, I am fully optimistic about London’s future October 29, 2018 As I approach the end of my year as lord mayor, the pace of activity across the City is accelerating rather than slowing down This week, the governor of Tokyo will visit the Square Mile, further strengthening ties with our Japanese friends after my trip earlier this year. This visit follows the Dutch King and [...]