Chelsea send out defensive duo on loan

Pressure is reportedly building on Javi Gracia, with Watford the only team in the Premier League left without a point after three matches.

Defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton and West Ham led the former Malaga boss to admit the dynamic is not good as he called for improvement.

The achievements of last season should buy him time to turn results around but scratch beneath the surface and ingrained shortcomings are evident.

An assessment of the Opta data portrays a misfiring team as being on the slide for longer than might have been assumed.

Early promise in Premier League

Gracia took charge of Watford mere hours after Marco Silva s acrimonious exit in January 2018 and, amid the maelstrom, proved a calming presence. 

The …

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is eager to return to his role as Italy head coach, according to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) commissioner Roberto Fabbricini.

FIGC is yet to replace Gian Piero Ventura, who presided over Italy s shock 1-0 aggregate defeat to Sweden in the World Cup qualifying play-off as the Azzurri failed to reach the showpiece tournament for the first time since 1958.

Italian quartet Conte, former Bayern Munich tactician Carlo Ancelotti, Zenit head coach Roberto Mancini and Nantes boss Claudio Ranieri have all been linked with the vacant post.

Conte was at the helm between 2014-16, guiding Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals before joining Chelsea, where he won the Premier League title last season and the 48-year-old – who is reportedly unh…

With the FA Cup make its return this weekend, we are offered a stacked schedule from up and down the country on Saturday afternoon. So, for those of you looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have searched far and wide to find you a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Saturday 23rd January 

BST 15:00 Barnsley vs Norwich City

Starting with Saturday s guests, putting in what was another professional display in midweek, there is no doubt that the mood in Norwich s camp should be at a red-hot high. Eventually leaving Carrow Road with what was a deserved 2-0 victory against Bristol City on home soil, it is no secret that Daniel Farke s men have an immediate Premier League return at the top of their agenda. Despite sacrificing their Prem…

Moussa Sissoko has been rewarded for his emergence as a key player at Tottenham with a new four-year contract, the club confirmed.

Sissoko, 30, joined Spurs from Newcastle United in 2016 for a then club-record fee and has steadily won over many of his detractors, becoming one of Mauricio Pochettino s most dependable players in midfield.

The France international made just 23 Premier League starts in his first two seasons at the club, with transfer rumours often linking him to an exit.

Criticism from some supporters centred on a perceived lack of technical ability, while even Pochettino accepted in November 2016 the reported £30million acquisition was failing to meet expectations.

I m very proud. At the beginning it was tough, but I never gave up and toda…

Liverpool are interested in signing Callum Hudson-Odoi from Premier League rivals Chelsea in the January transfer window, according to . It has been reported by the Italian news outlet that Liverpool are monitoring the situation of the 20-year-old winger and would like to bring him to Anfield as early as January.

Hudson-Odoi has come through the Chelsea youth academy and is now part of the first-team squad. However, the 20-year-old winger is not guaranteed a place in the starting lineup. The England international has played just in the Premier League so far this season. During the 2020-21 campaign, the youngster made 10 starts and 13 substitute appearances in the Premier League and played seven times in the Champions League.

Chelsea and Liverpool are Premier League tit…

Thomas Muller starred on a milestone appearance and Robert Lewandowski broke a long-standing Gerd Muller record as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich cruised to a 4-0 victory over Wolfsburg on Friday.

Muller marked his 400th top-flight outing for Bayern with the opening goal after seven minutes at the Allianz Arena, before the Germany international teed up Dayot Upamecano for a second after the interval.

Leroy Sane added a third for Julian Nagelsmann s side and Lewandowski was able to find a record 43rd league goal in 2021 to surpass Bayern legend s Gerd Muller s long-standing Bundesliga calendar-year scoring record as the hosts cruised to victory.
Leaders Bayern hold a nine-point advantage at the summit, with Dortmund – who play Hertha Berlin on Saturday – sat in sec…

Real Madrid keen on Barcelona starlet

Catalan daily that Real Madrid plan a summer swoop for Barcelona hotshot Gerard Deulofeu.

Deulofeu, 18, is widely regarded as the best player to have come out from La Masia since Leo Messi and has already been subject of bids from Manchester City and Espanyol.

Sport has suggested that Real Madrid are closely monitoring the talented forward and that los Blancos will attempt to lure the player to Santiago Bernabeu.

With the presidential elections set to be held later this year, Florentino Perez hopes to cement his position at Santiago Bernabeu by snatching one of Barcelona’s hottest prospects.

Deulofeu has a contract until June 2014 at Camp Nou and is set to be offered a new deal by the Catalans.

Des…

The 144th Tyne-Wear derby between rivals Newcastle and Sunderland on Sunday has a lot more riding on it than just local bragging rights.

Newcastle (36 points) find themselves only five points clear of the relegation zone in 13th position while Sunderland are clinging to safety by the skin of their teeth.

The 17th-placed Stadium of Light outfit (31 points) only have their heads above water because their goal difference (-11) is superior to Wigan (-20) who currently occupy the first relegation spot.

While Sunderland s chances of heading to the Championship next season are greater than Newcastle s, the latter would want to be careful and make every post a winner beginning with their age-old rivals this weekend.

And Newcastle will be looking to bounce back fr…