Manchester City starlet Abdisalam Ibrahim says he is flattered to be linked with Liverpool and a host of other top clubs, according to Sky Sports.
The Reds are one of a number of clubs said to be keen on the midfielder who is currently on loan at Stromsgodset until the end of the Norwegian season and he has been earning rave reviews during his stint away from City.
The midfielder will be in action for Norway’s Under-21 side in the European Championship in Israel and is expected to move on from City over the summer.
Arsenal are the favourites to sign him but he himself says he will not make any decisions until he has met the new city boss.
“We will see what happens in the next couple of months about my future as I’m contracted to Manchester City for another year,” he said.
“I’m open to extending my new deal, but I’d like to meet the new manager if it’s [Manuel] Pelligrini and see what he has to say.
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“I’m 22 years old now and I want to be playing week in, week out in the Premier League.”
Liverpool travel to Rome in the Champions League on Wednesday night, knowing that anything but a complete collapse will see the Reds through after winning the first leg 5-2 at Anfield. But those two late goals from last month’s visitors give the Serie A side a glimmer of hope of defying the odds, and if we’ve learned anything from the current incarnation of the European Cup, it’s that luck plays a huge part in any successful campaign.
It can decimate teams at their absolute peak, or bring those at rock bottom back to an unassailable high, and Luis Garcia’s infamous ghost goal in the same round of the 2004/05 Champions League, which Liverpool would later go on to win, serves as a crucial, fitting reminder ahead of the Merseysiders’ showdown at the Stadio Olimpico.
Dominated by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich over the last four years – unquestionably the three biggest teams in Europe during that time – you might be forgiven for declaring the Champions League is the most accurate and purest barometer of club football quality.
Yet, every impressive Champions League campaign, whether ending in the trophy or not, has traces of incredible good fortune somewhere down the line. They often say you make your own luck in football, but some slices of fortune have a much bigger impact than others, especially in an all-or-nothing tournament between the best Europe has to offer. Liverpool’s 2004/05 Champions League bid represents a prime example.
After a bitter-fought scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea travelled to Anfield knowing an away goal would be enough to get them to the final in Istanbul. But just four minutes into the game, something extraordinary happened; Steven Gerrard flicked a pass into the path of an onrushing Milan Baros – who was actually fouled by Petr Cech in the penalty box, something that always goes unmentioned – leaving Garcia to latch onto a loose ball and prod it towards goal.
Football – Liverpool v Chelsea UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg – Anfield – 3/5/05 Luis Garcia scores the first goal for Liverpool Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Michael Regan Livepic
William Gallas rushed back to the goal line and hoofed the ball clear but, seemingly convinced by Garcia’s celebration, referee Lubos Michel awarded the goal. Replays failing to prove anything were shown time and again as Liverpool eked out a clean sheet and prevailed to the final.
And if that victory had a large element of fortune about it, what happened in Istanbul was something else altogether; coming back from three goals down against unquestionably the most talented side of its era, AC Milan’s Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Andriy Shevchenko, Jaap Stam, Cafu, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta super XI, to eventually win on penalties is beyond luck, it’s quite rightly referred to as the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’.
Of course, that’s not to discredit an incredible comeback, but the quality between the two sides speaks for itself – not to mention a fluffed save from Dida for Vladimir Smicer’s strike and Steven Gerrard winning the equalising penalty by tumbling to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Both instances could have easily swayed in AC Milan’s, rather than Liverpool’s, favour.
We’re not just picking on Liverpool here either; the last two English sides to lift Europe’s top honour have depended on luck as well. Manchester United’s title in 2007/08 required the most unexpected of slips from John Terry in the penalty shootout, his spooned effort cannoning off the post, whilst the Chelsea side that won it in 2011/12 were amongst the competition’s weakest ever victors, their starting XI including Ryan Bertrand making his CL debut at left wing, Salomon Kalou on the right and Jose Bosingwa behind him at full-back.
Even their progression through the semi-final hinged on the most incredible of lobs from Ramires and Fernando Torres scoring one of his only truly significant goals in a Blues shirt in a 30-second glut of the world-class Torres that once graced Anfield. Then there’s the small matter of Fergie’s first European title – two chaotic, last-minute goals from corners in a match Bayern Munich had completely dominated.
Branching further afield, Borussia Dortmund’s shock march to the 2012 final saw them beat Malaga in the quarter-finals by scoring twice in injury time, only for replays to show the winner was offside. Last season, meanwhile, as Real Madrid became the first ever club to lift consecutive titles, Zinedine Zidane’s side scraped through a quarter-final with Bayern Munich by scoring two offside goals, in a match that also saw Arturo Vidal miss a penalty and get sent off for a fair challenge.
Their meeting on Tuesday night too, was influenced by apparent protection from the footballing gods. Bayern completely dominated proceedings, but couldn’t convert enough of the chances that came their way to lose 4-3 on aggregate. Real Madrid now find themselves on course to clinch a third successive European crown, despite playing well below their usual standards for the vast majority of this Champions League campaign.
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The list goes on and on; pretty much every good run in the Champions League has hinged on fortune, a bizarre twist of fate or a complete karma curveball somewhere en route to the title. Luck favours the brave and all that, but from ghost goals to penalty slips, offside injury-time winners to Champions League debutants having the game of their lives, the idea that Europe’s most prestigious club tournament is decided by ability alone is clearly a complete fallacy. It’s simply a collection of football matches as unpredictable as any other – only the quality of the teams involved makes us think it’s something greater.
And that serves as a massive warning to Liverpool ahead of what will be a high-pressure affair. While they may have a three-goal lead, while Roma may not exactly represent the most fearsome of competition and while Mohamed Salah may well be the most in-form player in Europe right now, one moment of bad luck could quickly send Wednesday night’s encounter spiralling beyond their control. Roma are more than qualified to take advantage of that in front of a partisan crowd. So its not just Giallorossi the Reds must remain vigilant against on Wednesday night – it’s cruel fortune as well.
Liverpool summer arrival Divock Origi is adamant that the club can win the Premier League title next season, according to reports from talkSPORT.
Origi signed for the Merseyside club last summer, however spent the past year on loan at Lille following an impressive World Cup for Belgium.
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And the 20-year-old has seen the Reds suffer a miserable campaign when compared to that of last season, in which they finished a close second to Manchester City for the Premier League title.
However, Origi is defiant that Liverpool can challenge for trophies in the upcoming season, and that the squad he will be joining is capable of squaring up with the country’s best.
“I think Liverpool is a wonderful club that deserves to be at the top and to be honest with the players they have, with the quality they have, then they should be finishing at the top of the league,” he said.
The attacker has also revealed his excitement at working under manager Brendan Rodgers, and is keen to link up with his seniors.
“I’m very happy to be going there. Brendan Rodgers is a very good coach and he has proved that so it will be very exciting to work with a world-class coach,” he added.
“Most of all it is important to be at a good club where people believe in you and where you feel good and at Liverpool I had a really good feeling and they have experience of working with young players.
“It’s always nice to play with good players. The important thing is that I work hard and then I think everything will be okay.”
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Origi made 44 appearances in all competitions for Lille last season, scoring nine goals and supplying four assists.
insists his focus is on securing survival for Newcastle despite speculation he could move on in the summer.
The Frenchman has been linked with a summer exit after what has largely been a difficult second season in the Premier League, but with the club battling to preserve their top flight status the midfielder insists he is happy at St James’ Park and refused to discuss the speculation surrounding his future.
Cabaye told the Chronicle: “I have three years’ contract left and now my mind is just to save the club. We have two cup finals then it will be the holidays.
“But I am at Newcastle. I don’t want to think about the future with two games left. I am very, very happy to play for this club and these fans.”
Newcastle travel to already relegated QPR on Sunday and a point may be enough to ensure survival, if Wigan lose at Arsenal on Tuesday.
Cabaye is well aware that his side have not performed to the best of their abilities over the course of the campaign but is confident they can avoid the drop.
He added: “We all made some mistakes at the start of the season – that’s why we are fighting for relegation.
“But if we learn from our mistakes, no problem. We are only human and we all make mistakes, but now is time to learn and prepare.
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“We need to finish strongly and then prepare well for next season. We have to be ready to fight and play and be ready again in the Premier League, like we were last season.”
Everton fans aren’t particularly happy with Leighton Baines, after the veteran defender said Michael Keane has been “terrific” lately.
Outside of Jordan Pickford, none of Everton’s big summer signings have particularly impressed this season.
To be fair to Michael Keane though, he has showed glimpses of the form that earned him his big move from Burnley.
It’s not been an easy season for the 25 year-old though, and he has taken plenty of flak from fans despite starting 25 league games.
His form has certainly improved with the returns of Baines, Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman, and Baines is clearly impressed by the young defender.
“Michael’s form is brilliant, he has been fantastic for us in recent weeks,” the 33 year-old told evertontv. “The rest of us in the back four have played together a long time and that has helped settle us at times.
“But Michael’s form has been terrific in the past few weeks and it is good to see.
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“They (the summer signings) came in at a difficult time. We did not quite get things together and there was a lot of new signings.
“It has been more settled in recent weeks and Michael’s form in particular has been one of the huge positives from that.”
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Fans can surely sympathise with the fact that Keane has played most of his Goodison career alongside youngsters and Ashley Williams, and he has looked much better since the experienced heads returned from injury.
Still, fans are bashing Baines’ comments on Twitter, and most of them are still haunted by Keane’s absurd back pass in the draw at Swansea.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal has spoken out in support of his right hand man Ryan Giggs recently. He has claimed that Giggs should be the man to succeed him when he decides to stand down at Old Trafford, which will be his final managerial role.
But is Louis Van Gaal right to make this judgement? Is Giggs really up to the job?
Ryan Giggs and his involvement in the club is astonishing. He is one of the truly magnificent one club players, and his achievements speak for themselves – as a player. On the managerial side of things remember he has only managed four games himself. Last season he spent it as a player, not in the assistant managerial role he finds himself in now.
When Louis Van Gaal does decide to call time on his post at United, one thing the Red Devisl faithful will be looking for is experience, and particularly across the board.
David Moyes had plenty of experience in the Premier League but next to none in Europe; this raised issues for fans. Louis Van Gaal has experience in La Liga, the Bundesliga, the Champions League… the list goes on. United will need someone of that calibre to replace someone so great.
Can this be Ryan Giggs? Fans love him, and would love for him to succeed, but they also need to be realistic. Surely the best option for Ryan Giggs would be to get some more experience under his belt, and potentially in his own right.
Look at Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid. He was an outstanding player, and has plenty to show for it. But is he going to be replacing Carlo Ancelotti? Not any time soon. He is coaching Real Madrid Castilla, which is their ‘reserve’ team.
Should Ryan Giggs attempt to do something similar and coach the U21s? We all know a fair few of the first team will end up playing with them anyway, in order to integrate them back into playing following injury.
In an ideal world, the former Premier League champions would end up replacing Louis Van Gaal with Pep Guardiola. He is the best manager in the world right now, and would have a winning vision to get the club back at the top of the Premier League pretty quickly.
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He averages 20 games per title, the best out of any manager at present. Giggs’ time will come; but to attempt to succeed Van Gaal could be asking for trouble.
Everton manager David Moyes continues to put off deciding or even talking about his future until the end of the season, seemingly waiting to see if the club can match his own ambitions, but with this cordial brand of contractual brinkmanship carrying on for another couple of months, can the hierarchy that operate within the corridors of power at Goodison Park afford to wait that much longer before coming up with an alternative plan of their own?
Betting on where the 49-year-old will start next season would make even a pro gambler go flush in the face at the moment, as if to continue to metaphor a little further, Moyes is holding all of the cards extremely close to his chest. The club are indebted to him and in chairman Bill Kenwright, he is essentially guaranteed a job for life if he wants it, yet all the talk is based around money, ambition and where the club can go in the future – three factors you wouldn’t normally see as determining issues in Everton and Moyes’ relationship.
It seems as if Moyes has taken the attitude now that he’s not getting any younger, he’s put in his time, his pro bono work and now he wants to have some money to spend. He’s transformed Everton from a perennial relegation candidate to a consistent contender for the European spots, but lacking that crucial piece of silverware to validate the club’s undoubted progress under his tenure, remains reluctant to commit himself any further if things don’t drastically change and improve.
The club’s financial model, if you can call having no money a ‘model’, is predominantly geared around selling off a major playing asset for a substantial profit every year or so – Wayne Rooney, Joleon Lescott and Jack Rodwell have all walked through the exit door and this summer the battle looks certain to concern the respective futures’ of Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines. Should Kenwright sell one of those players, then Moyes would surely walk away from the club where he has spent the best part of over a decade.
Moyes stated in the aftermath of the club’s win that he didn’t have anything else lined up should he leave the club: “I want what’s best for Everton and if people say it is best for Everton that I stay, then I would agree, but I have to make sure Everton have the best opportunity to try and continue where they are, and push on from where they are. I’m waiting on some information coming back to me and we’ll talk again when we get all that information. I can’t say what the budget is and whether that will be enough until I get the breakdown and see how it will all work but what I have got to ensure is that, as a club, we achieve what we are capable of.
“I know what we are capable of – we have a really good squad, a small squad but one that is getting older and we need to replace that and change it around. Everybody knows that a decision will be made at the end of the season and that will be the time because we will see where we finish and where we go. I wouldn’t have thought that would be too much to ask for, really. I wouldn’t have thought that was a bad request, as I’ve been here 11 years. A sabbatical is not in my thoughts, I either stay or go to another job. They are the options I’ll consider but I am not planning to have time out. It may be that I’ll be in a position where I am out of work if I chose not to stay here at Everton, because I do not have a job to go to – there is nothing lined up.”
The news that club captain Phil Neville will move on at the end of the season further supporter Moyes’ assertion that this is a squad in dire need of investment and freshening up. The club have tried to play a more expansive brand of football this season, which has seen their defensive record suffer and draw become the norm just as much as wins.
In order to break through that glass ceiling of the top six which Everton have banged their head against so often only to come up short and with a sore head, they need fresh blood and of the club’s 27-man squad, which is generously padded out with six or so youngsters yet to feature this season, of the core group of around 20, nine of them are over the age of 30. There’s only so long even the most patient man is willing to operate under such strict financial constraints, working with limited, ageing resources.
After admitting that his current squad is far too thin to double up in both Europe and the top flight at the moment as it is, another implicit reminder that he would rather stay put at Everton, but only if the spending taps are turned on, Kenwright all but admitted that no contingency plan of any sort had even been put in place yet, which is a quite shocking revelation, telling Sky: “Does the phone ring? Yes. What is my response? My response is very simple – Everton Football Club has its manager.”
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While that sort of loyalty is all very admirable, and Moyes and Kenwright’s relationship seems to be one of genuine affection, another rarity in the modern game, the club simply can’t start planning for next season, something every rival will currently be doing from fitness regimes, pre-season tours to scouting departments, until they know who is leading from the top. It’s a strange scenario that Everton, a giant of English football, have become so beholden to one man. On the one hand, you can hardly blame him for wanting to test the waters and try and make some waves, but considering the club’s financial state, it’s simply unrealistic and deep down he probably knows it too.
The latest rumour doing the rounds is that Porto manager Vitor Pereira is thought to be on a two-man shortlist along with Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, both viable alternatives to Moyes. As the unexpected FA Cup defeat to Wigan at home last month showed, with supporters not shy in showing their displeasure at the man in the dugout, while his patience may have been tested, so is theirs and he could learn a lesson from Harry Redknapp, the man who had one job and nearly another but in the end talked himself out of both and had to settle for a relegation-threatened QPR instead. Goodison Park provides a unique working environment, but with Moyes getting increasingly itchy feet, perhaps it would be better he left than the club risk their financial footing in the pursuit of keeping him happy. It’s a difficult choice to make, but as the saying goes, no one man is bigger than the club.
Everton fans are in sheer disbelief with Sam Allardyce after the manager’s ridiculous comment about the derby draw with Liverpool.
The number of Everton fans that want Sam Allardyce out is growing by the day, and his latest comment has bemused fans, as the 63 year-old tried to put a positive spin on the bore draw with Liverpool.
Speaking after the 0-0 draw with a heavily rotated Liverpool side, Allardyce said Everton would have beaten Liverpool over both legs this season… if it were a Champions League tie.
Allardyce’s statement is of course correct, as the two clubs have battled out 1-1 and 0-0 draws in the league, meaning the Toffees would take a two-legged tie courtesy of Wayne Rooney’s away goal at Anfield.
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Still, fans are absolutely baffled by Big Sam’s attempt at propaganda, especially after drawing with a Liverpool side that were there for the taking.
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The Toffees looked extremely dangerous in the last ten minutes of the derby, and supporters are annoyed at the missed opportunity, given how weak the Liverpool lineup was.
Allardyce’s comments have only further angered fans, and some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Arsenal ace Tomas Rosicky has revealed that he was looking to leave the club during the January transfer window, according to reports from the Mirror.
Rosicky found it difficult to find regular playing time early in the season, failing to start a single league match in the first four months of the campaign.
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This resulted in the Czech Republic international considering his options, in which Rosicky held talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in regards to his future at the Emirates.
However, after an upturn in form since starting their Boxing Day clash against Queens Park Rangers, the 34-year-old has played 23 games and is now targeting a contract extension before the end of the campaign.
“Since the start of the year things have improved, the team has started to play better football and what’s more I’m playing. Compared to the first six months, it’s much better. We’ll see how it goes from here,” Rosicky said.
“I don’t really know [why I didn’t play]. It’s a good question, I would also like to know. The coach gave me a chance towards the end the year and then began to give me more playing time. I don’t know, maybe it was a watershed moment.”
“We had talked about [me leaving in January] in previous meetings back in September and October, but then the market closed and I couldn’t do anything.
“When you don’t play a single game in December and the market opens, [the prospect of leaving] is obviously on the agenda. Then you start to have second thoughts.
“It was an exception for me though, I really thought about it. Then Arsenal said stay and that was that.
“The rest of the season will go quickly, then we’ll look for a solution.
“Arsenal is still an option for me next season, the ball is in their court. When I get back from international duty we will start to talk about it.
“There are two options open to me [stay at Arsenal or go elsewhere]. At the moment I am in a situation where I make the decision.”
Rosicky’s current contract will expire this summer, and if no extension is agreed, he will be allowed to talk to other clubs as a free agent.
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The attacking midfielder arrived from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2006 for around £18million, playing 242 games for the Gunners, scoring 28 goals.
David Moyes has targeted at least nine points from Everton’s remaining eight games to secure qualification for Europe.
The Blues are still chasing a top-four finish this season and they sit just four points away from that target with the campaign heading towards its conclusion.
Moyes believes at least 60 points will be needed to get his side back into Europe next term – although that would only be likely to secure a Europa League place and not Champions League qualification – as they aim to finish the season well.
Everton play five of their eight remaining Premier league games away from home – which includes Sunday’s tough trip to Spurs, a Merseyside derby at Anfield, a visit to Arsenal and then Chelsea on the final day – so getting the points Moyes wants on the board may prove tricky.
The Scot said: “We have a tough run-in and with the league table still being tight I am hoping that we can do what we have done in the past and finish strongly.
“With eight games to go last season we had 40 points, this time around we have 51, and if we want to have any chance of getting close to Europe I feel we will certainly have to get above the 60-points mark.”
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