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Premier League predictions: Gameweek 24

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Premier League action continues to captivate audiences around the world with the tantalising prospect of a three-horse race for the 2023/24 title. Arsenal delivered a mighty blow last weekend by downing Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, with the pair now separated by just two points while Manchester City prowl ominously in second. It's the Cityzens who kick off Game week 24 with a home clash against Everton before nine more fascinating fixtures from England's top flight. Here's how 90min sees this weekend's slate of games panning out. Saturday Guardiola's City are firing on all cylinders / Vince Mignott/MB Media/GettyImages Manchester City should hit the top of the Premier League table if they beat Everton as expected in Saturday's early kick-off. The Toffees haven't won a league Game at the Etihad since 2010, though did manage a draw on New Year's Eve last season. Fulham and Bournemouth have been opponents in the Premier League and Championship...

Football transfer rumours: Real Madrid's Mbappe stumbling block; Varane's £50m Al Nassr offer

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90min rounds up the latest  transfer news , rumours and gossip circulating around the world... Real Madrid have not yet agreed personal terms and wages with Kylian Mbappe over a proposed free transfer from PSG this summer. The deal is still expected to go through regardless, particularly with Arsenal and Liverpool backing away from the forward over his salary demands. ( Independent ) In addition to Mbappe, Real Madrid are also interested in signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle. Chelsea and Liverpool are keen on the midfielder too. ( Fichajes - Spain ) Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane is not considering a summer move to Barcelona , though has not shut the door on a potential return to the Premier League amid interest from Liverpool . ( SPORT - Spain ) Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian winger Savio , who is currently on loan at Girona, from Troyes this summer. Both Girona and Troyes are part of the City Football Group. ( Fabrizio Romano ) Barcelona have...

Ghana aiming to beat England to Kobbie Mainoo call-up

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Kobbie Mainoo will be offered the chance to play for Ghana's national team as opposed to England following his rapid emergence with Manchester United. The 18-year-old midfielder has been a bright spark in what's been a rather dismal season for the Red Devils so far. He most recently scored a stunning 97th-minute winner in a dramatic 4-3 victory at Wolves on Thursday. Mainoo has represented England at three different youth levels but has already been tipped to force his way into Gareth Southgate's thoughts ahead of Euro 2024 this summer. Though Mainoo was born and raised in Stockport, Greater Manchester, his parents hail from Ghana, and the Black Stars have made no secret of their desire to have the midfielder represent them instead of the Three Lions. Speaking to The Times , Randy Abbey, a member of the executive council of the Ghana FA, said: "The Ghana Football Association is interested in monitoring, attracting, and persuading all eligible talents for its various n...

Jurgen Klopp hits back at 'misunderstanding' over Mohamed Salah injury

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has ruled Mohamed Salah out of this week's Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal, suggesting there must have been a ' misunderstanding ' due to constant questions surrounding him. Salah sustained a hamstring injury earlier this month while at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. He returned to Liverpool to undergo tests and treatment, and though he planned to return to his national team setup later in the tournament if they were still competing, the problem was found to be worse than first feared. The forward was initially ruled out until the end of February, but there have been suggestions this week a return to face Arsenal on Sunday was not out of the question. But at a pre-match press conference prior to Wednesday's meeting with Chelsea, Klopp definitively ruled out a premature return for Salah. Klopp was firm on his Salah stance / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages "Mo is not ready for this Game , not ready for the ne...

Jurgen Klopp gives injury update on star midfielder after FA Cup absence

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Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Alexis Mac Allister "should be ready" for Liverpool's Premier League clash with Chelsea on Wednesday after an injury kept him out of the squad to face Norwich City in the FA Cup. Mac Allister was a surprise exclusion from the Reds matchday squad to face Norwich City in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday, with debutant James McConnell filling in at the heart of the Reds midfield due to the World Cup winner's absence. Despite missing their starting holding midfielder , Liverpool were able to progress comfortably through to the quarter-finals thanks to a thumping 5-2 win over Norwich City at Anfield - Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch got the goals for the home side. Speaking after the Game , Liverpool manager Klopp was keen to provide clarity on Mac Allister's exclusion on Sunday, confirming to the press that the midfielder had suffered a slight injury :  "Alexis, I would say [if it was t...

Virgil van Dijk opens up on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool departure

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Virgil van Dijk has insisted he and his teammates are determined to end Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp era on a high after he announced his decision to leave the club. Klopp will stand down from his role as the Reds' manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, and his side have the opportunity to win four more trophies in that time. Liverpool are through to the final of the Carabao Cup where they will face Chelsea, while they also sit top of the Premier League and are going strong in the FA Cup and Europa League. In an interview with Liverpool's club channels, Van Dijk revealed he was shocked by the news but said there is new motivation for the team to win as much silverware as possible. "It's a hard one to take, because the manager means so much for us, to me, to the club, to the whole Premier League I think. But he made the decision for him and his family. It was always going to be a tough one and it was definitely the case," Van Dijk said. "He told us in pri...

What Mikel Arteta said about Arsenal's striker hunt amid Ivan Toney return

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had already dampened hopes that the Gunners might bring Brentford striker Ivan Toney – or indeed any other new 'number nine' – to the club before the end the England international made a triumphant return to action on Saturday . In tandem with sporting director Edu, Arteta has overseen the redevelopment of the Arsenal squad in recent years, return ing the club to the Premier League title race. But the squad still lacks a consistent goalscorer a la Thierry Henry or Ian Wright from years gone by. No Arsenal player scored more than 15 times in all com Pet itions last season and those that reached 15 – Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard – are wingers and midfielders. Strikers Gabriel Jesus, who has admitted scoring isn't his strength, and Eddie Nketiah got 20 between them. The Gunners are interested in signing Toney, who made a scoring return for Brentford on Saturday following an eight-month ban for breaching FA betting rules, b...

Pep Guardiola named 2023 The Best FIFA Men's Coach

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Pep Guardiola has won the 2023 The Best FIFA Men's Coach award after leading Manchester City to their epic treble last season. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss oversaw a superstar squad including the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne as the Cityzens were successful in the Premier League , FA Cup and the Champions League. Guardiola saw off com Pet ition from Inter boss Simone Inzaghi and Napoli title winner Luciano Spalletti, now in charge of the Italy national men's team. He also became the first coach to win two European trebles, having won it all back in 2009 with Barca. Guardiola won the treble with Man City / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages Current Blaugrana boss Xavi was previously shortlisted before the final three were picked, while Ange Postecoglou was also recognised for winning a domestic treble with Celtic before joining Tottenham Hotspur. It is the first time Guardiola has won the prize, having finished second in 2019 and third in both 2021 a...

Mauricio Pochettino responds to Chelsea links with Evan Ferguson

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Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has played down links with Brighton & Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson, while he also refuted suggestions he is looking to sign a new striker. The Blues only have two natural centre forwards in their senior ranks this season - 22-year-olds Armando Broja and Nicolas Jackson, the latter of which is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Chelsea have repeatedly been linked with moves for Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney, while Ferguson of Brighton has also been tipped to make the move to Stamford Bridge in recent days. But when asked in his press conference after Saturday's 1-0 win against Fulham is there was anything to these rumours, Pochettino was in no mood to divulge. "No, you know very well I'm not going to talk about rumours, I'm not going to talk about players that are in a different club, I am so respectful," Pochettino said. "We are not talking. We are assessing the squad and if...

Erik ten Hag explains fatal Kobbie Mainoo substitution in Notts Forest defeat

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Erik ten Hag has revealed he substituted young star Kobbie Mainoo at half-time due to concerns over his workload before Manchester United were beaten 2-1 by Nottingham Forest on Saturday night. 18-year-old Mainoo impressed during pre-season before picking up an injury but has since earned six starts in the Premier League. The central midfielder was hauled off for Scott McTominay as the Red Devils lost control in the second half. While Marcus Rashford equalised after Nicolas Dominguez's opener, Morgan Gibbs-White's 82nd-minute winner consigned Man Utd to their ninth Premier League defeat of the season. Mainoo in particular struggled with the attention paid to him by Gibbs-White, who pressed and harried the youngster so vociferously that his participation came to an end at the break. Man Utd suffered another dispiriting defeat / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages Asked if Mainoo's withdrawal was an enforced change, Ten Hag replied: "No, but he played a third game in a row in ...

FPL Gameweek 20: Top captain picks

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Fantasy Football Hub is purpose-built to turn FPL managers into FPL winners. From their industry-leading AI to the experts who reveal their teams every Game week, it's no surprise tens of thousands of managers gain the edge with the Hub every season. Join the Hub  today and, if you don't win your mini-league, you'll get your money back.  Terms and Conditions apply . Gameweek 20 provides favourable options for many people's go-to Fantasy Premier League captains, with the disappointment of recent blanks made up for by some juicy looking home fixtures. Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min and Bukayo Saka all failed to get on the scoresheet in Gameweek 19 - Spurs' captain and new talisman the only to bag an attacking return in the form of an assist. With the help of Fantasy Football Hub's powerful AI Points Predictions tool , here are the best captain choices for your side heading into the new year fixtures. Son Heung-min Son was frustrated against Brighton but still manag...