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Tottenham Hotspur came back from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw with their bitter rivals Arsenal in the north London derby at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A second half Harry Kane penalty cancelled out Aaron Ramsey’s early strike.

However, for a long time, it looked as though the goal that Spurs so desperately needed would never come.

On the chalkboard

For much of the match the Gunners were able to contain Mauricio Pochettino’s side with relative ease. Spurs’ midfield pairing of Moussa Sissoko and Victor Wanyama brought plenty of defensive diligence and physicality to the middle of the park, but they lacked forward drive, creativity and penetration in the final third.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Ben Senior will never win the Champions League for one reason only. Find out what in the video below…

The hosts struggled to carve out genuine goalscoring opportunities and looked devoid of ideas. The back three system was hampering them as it deprived them of an extra attacker. However, in the 59th minute, with his side chasing the game, Pochettino made the chance that would turn the tide of the match by replacing Wanyama with attacker Erik Lamela.

Following this substitution, Lamela joined the front line and Spurs switched to a back four, with left wing-back Danny Rose taking up a central midfield berth and centre-back Jan Vertonghen filling in at left-back.

Changing the game

Rose is not known for his ability to thrive in the middle of the park. However, the 28-year-old brought the kind of pace, drive and dynamism that had previously been lacking for Spurs in this part of the pitch. 

All of a sudden, Spurs were able to commit more numbers forward, whilst in the midfield they had a player in Rose willing to surge forward with pace and directness. This transition into a more aggressive approach brought on the pressure that ultimately led to Kane’s penalty. It was all facilitated by Rose’s change in role though, which Pochettino deserves huge credit for instigating.

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Hopeful West Ham United fans have been reacting on Twitter to news that striker Andy Carroll could be leaving at the end of the season when his contract at the London Stadium expires, per The Daily Mail.

Post-match comments made by Manuel Pellegrini after the defeat to Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon suggest that the injury-prone striker has another knock, having been left out of the matchday squad, and it’s not known when he will return.

Carroll has made just three league starts this campaign under the Chilean and with fans getting increasingly impatient with the tall forward’s injury record and poor form, it’s understood that the club are not so keen on renewing his contract at the end of 2018/2019. Not least because it would involve giving the 30-year-old a substantial pay rise.

Since joining the Hammers at the start of the 2012/2013 season, initially on loan, the 6 foot 4 frontman has made just 142 appearances and frustrated the club no end with his continuing injury woes.

This, coupled with the pay rise and the fact that he’s netted just once in all competitions in the best part of a year, fails to make a contract renewal an attractive proposition for Pellegrini.

Check out some of the best Twitter reactions from mostly-joyous Hammers, below…

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has played down suggestions that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be facing another spell on the sidelines.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has not played for Liverpool’s first team since picking up a severe knee injury almost 12 months ago against Roma.

The Englishman represented the club’s Under-23 side on Friday, though, playing 40 minutes of their clash with Derby County Under-23s.

The former Southampton youngster was replaced before the interval after feeling his hamstring, but Klopp has insisted that he has no concerns over the 25-year-old.

It remains to be seen when the midfielder is ready to turn out for Liverpool’s first team, but the club’s fans have been left pleased with Klopp’s latest update.

Indeed, there was a genuine fear that Oxlade-Chamberlain could be heading for another spell on the treatment table, but those concerns have been eased.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Merseyside club’s fans can be seen below:

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West Ham have made enquiries about the availability of Lyon manager Bruno Genesio, according to RMC Sport.

The Hammers are currently 11th in the Premier League, five points behind seventh-placed Wolves.

What’s the word?

West Ham have enjoyed something of a middling season, winning 12 and losing 14 of their 32 games thus far this term.

There is the distant prospect that a seventh-placed finish could see them qualify for the Europa League but to do so they would have to overhaul an impressive Wolves team.

And RMC Sport claim that the club have started putting feelers out regarding the possibility of appointing Genesio, who currently has Lyon in third-place in Ligue 1.

The report states that the club have made an enquiry for the 52-year-old, who has seen his side lose just six times this season.

However, he is said to be remaining focused on the finish to Lyon’s campaign, with the club still in with a chance of finishing second behind the irrepressible PSG.

Penny has dropped

The penny appears to have dropped with David Gold and David Sullivan after a season of inconsistency – perhaps Manuel Pellegrini isn’t the man to take them forward after all.

West Ham have been unsuccessful in their attempts to become a genuine force under him and they may well need a new boss to see their ambitions realised.

The Chilean and former Manchester City boss is not getting any younger, either, at the age of 65.

Genesio is 52, and a coach who is threatening to restore Lyon to their former glories.

It would be very interesting to see what he could achieve at the London Stadium.

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Northern Ireland secured their second win in as many Euro 2020 qualifying games on Sunday, but Rangers ace Kyle Lafferty had an absolute nightmare.

Josh Magennis scored a later winner for Northern Ireland on Sunday as they made it six points from six in their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

Jonny Evans had given the hosts an early lead at Windsor Park, and they were by far the better team through most of the match.

Lafferty was one of several who spurned chances though, and Igor Stasevich’s equaliser looked to have robbed a point for the visitors until Magennis’ late goal.

Loads of fans have been running the rule over the game, and they can’t understand how Lafferty gets the nod up front.

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Since joining Rangers for the second time, he has managed just seven goals in 35 showings, and barely even gets in the Gers’ team anymore.

The 31 year-old has well and truly flopped in his second spell at Ibrox, and the reactions to his national team performance do not make pretty reading either. Have a read below…

يأمل منتخب الأرجنتين في مواصلة الفوز في مشواره بالتصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2022، بعد فوزه على الإكوادور 1-0 يوم الجمعة.

ويستعد منتخب الأرجنتين لمواجهة بوليفيا، غدًا الثلاثاء، وللعب على ارتفاع 12 ألف قدم تقريبًا فوق مستوى سطح البحر في لاباز، الأمر الذي يتسبب في معاناة بعض الرياضيين الزائرين بسبب الضغط الجوي.

الأفراد غير المتأقلمين يعانون من ضيق التنفس بشكل أسرع في مثل هذه الارتفاعات، مما يمنح بوليفيا ميزة كبيرة في بعض المباريات على أرضهم.

وقال سكالوني في تصريحات نشرها موقع “جول” العالمي: “سأتحدث عن ذلك مع اللاعبين واحدًا تلو الآخر، وسنقوم بتقييم الجميع”.

وأضاف: “قبل أن نصل إلى أرض الملعب، لن ندرك كيف سيتفاعل اللاعبون، وقررنا المجيء قبل موعد المباراة بيومين لملاحظة التأثيرات على اللاعبين”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. المنتخب الأرجنتيني يكشف آخر تطورات حالة ديبالا

وأردف سكالوني: “نحن بحاجة إلى لاعبين جاهزين بنسبة 100 بالمائة، إذا لم يكونوا كذلك، فسأتحدث معهم وأتخذ القرار الأفضل للفريق”.

وأكمل: “سواء أتيت في اليوم السابق للمباراة أو قبلها بيومين، عليك أن تقضي 20 يومًا في التدريب حتى تكون حالتك البدنية مساوية لحالة لاعبي بوليفيا”.

واستطرد مدرب الأرجنتين: “الأمر مثل الغرق، كل اللاعبين سيغرقون، المشكلة هي الشعور الذي ينتاب كل لاعب، نحن نفعل كل شيء ممكن حتى يتمكنوا من الوصول إلى المباراة بأفضل حال”.

وعن حديثه مع لاعبيه، أوضح سكالوني: تحدثت مع الجميع ومع ليونيل ميسي على وجه الخصوص، هناك لاعبون يعانون أكثر، وآخرون يعانون أقل بسبب مشاكل بدنية وتدريبية، نحن نعد المباراة بطريقة نعتقد أنها يمكن أن تسير على ما يرام”.

وشدد سكالوني: “علينا استخدام كل أسلحتنا، نحاول التخلص من القلق، لدينا ما يكفي للمجيء إلى هنا ونكون على ارتفاع 3000 متر، وكلما حصلت على الكرة أكثر، كان ذلك أفضل”.

وأتم: “عندما فزنا في 2005 سجلنا أهدافًا من الركلات الثابتة، كانت مواقف محددة وتم تحديد سيناريو المباراة هناك”.

التقت الأرجنتين وبوليفيا 20 مرة في تصفيات كأس العالم، وكل الانتصارات الخمسة للأخيرة جاءت على أرضها.

وبالمثل، فازت الأرجنتين فقط في ثلاث من رحلاتها العشر إلى لاباز وكانت الهزيمة 6-1 قبل 11 عامًا هي أكبر هزيمة في تاريخها.

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Manchester United fans have taken to Twitter to discuss Barcelona’s injury problems ahead of the Champions League quarter-final tie between the two teams.

The Red Devils welcome the Spanish champions to Old Trafford on the 10th April, before heading to the Camp Nou just six days later with a place in the semi-finals at stake as well as the fate of your William Hill bonus code for the tie.

Watch the video below to find out what Jesse Lingard is like off the pitch in the latest Match Of The Bae with Emma Conybeare…

Interestingly, however, Ernesto Valverde’s side could be without Luis Suarez for the first leg, after the Uruguay international sprained his ankle – they will definitely be without Ousmane Dembele, who tore his hamstring in the last 16 against Lyon.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men fought back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Paris Saint-Germain and make the quarter-finals, which they are set to be the underdogs in against Barcelona.

With the latest fitness update, however, United have been handed a lifeline.

The Red Devils’ fans on Twitter are obviously happy to hear the news, and have taken to Twitter to react with jubilation…

The impact that Steve Bruce has been nothing short of breath-taking, wouldn’t you agree? It might have taken a while to get him through the door but the former Aston Villa boss is certainly proving worth the wait. 

Under the former Manchester United skipper, they look a completely different side to come up against, one that will put up a fight against any team in the league.

And whilst it’s probably too late to strive for a play-off place, if Bruce can take his side’s form into next season, they will be in a terrific place to achieve great things. That of course, is resting on the potential signings Sheffield Wednesday may recruit over the summer, with Brighton’s Beram Kayal a player that could be of interest to them.

Kayal, (who is valued at £1.3 million on Transfermarkt) has rarely been used for Brighton this season, which could lead to the midfielder eyeing a move away this summer. Surely he’s too good to sit on the bench.

With just seven Premier League starts to his name, the 30-year-old could be forced to look elsewhere to get regular game-time as he gets nearer the end of his career than the start point.

Sheffield Wednesday would surely be grateful recipients of such an influential player, one who could perfectly fit into their system.

Whether he adopts a more defensive or attacking role, Kayal is a player that would improve the Owls overall squad and with one year left on his contract, may not be costly either.

Steve Bruce currently has a number of different midfield options he could turn to but with the Championship being 46 games long, plus cup competitions, a big competitive squad will be ideal for him.

Do you agree that Beram Kayal would make a good signing? If not, why not? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Sky Sports pundit Danny Murphy has praised the impact of Lucas Moura on Tottenham Hotspur after his cameo against Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The Brazil international replaced Harry Kane after the Spurs striker sustained a potentially serious ankle injury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What’s he said?

Lucas came on in the 58th-minute following Kane’s injury.

Per WhoScored, the former PSG attacker completed two dribbles after coming on, made one tackle and, despite his diminutive frame, won two aerial duels.

And Murphy was impressed with the forward, who last completed 90 minutes in the Premier League in December, in the 5-0 win over AFC Bournemouth.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Debate podcast (08:33), he said: “I actually think Lucas Moura deserved credit.

“He was great when he came on. He’s a talented player.”

Deserves a chance

Lucas has been something of a bit-part player this season.

Clearly talented on the ball and blessed with genuinely explosive pace, he has completed 90 minutes just nine times in all-competitions this season.

He has been a European super-sub before, coming off the bench to score the equaliser in the brave 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Camp Nou that sealed Spurs’ qualification to the knockout stages.

With Kane surely set for a lengthy period on the sidelines, giving Lucas a chance makes all the sense in the world for Pochettino.

Pairing him with Son Heung-Min up front allows for a greater degree of tactical flexibility and could bamboozle opposition defences both at home and abroad.

The time, surely, is now.

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Birmingham fans have been left to ponder the potential consequences of an EFL hearing after John Percy of the Telegraph reported the club are finally set to face a commission after a breach of spending rules.

The result could see the Blues hit with a 12 point deduction which would plunder them deep into relegation trouble, but one supporter used the opportunity to look forward to another possible final day survival scenario, rather than be dampened by the situation.

It’s news that has left other fans fearing the worst, claiming they are often punished harder than any other team.

Garry Monk’s side were previously put under a transfer embargo for exceeding the permitted monetary losses allowed over a three year period and a topic of discussion has also been the signing of Kristian Pedersen, a player who arrived whilst under that embargo.

However, one fan seems to think being banned from signing players would be better than losing points, suggesting that a punishment similar to Chelsea’s two window ban would be more fitting.

Reaction from the St Andrews faithful wasn’t all damning. In fact, one individual commented that it was a positive update that they’ll receive a verdict. Another suggested it wasn’t worth worrying about.

It’s a week that’s gone from bad to worse for Birmingham after the club was charged for failing to control their supporters following an assault on Jack Grealish. This was a further issue raised by a fan who was keen to stamp down on the negativity that had been spread.

Here’s the best of what was said on Twitter.