Well that was easier than the weekend, wasn’t it? Leeds trampled over Reading on Tuesday, and it proved their form is peaking in the period it’s faltered in previous years – the most important time.

After a nervy 1-0 victory against Bristol at the weekend, Leeds proved they can win in both scrappy and emphatic styles as the final few months of the season rumble on. If Saturday proved their grit, then Tuesday showed off their flair, brushing past Reading as if the Whites were already a top-flight team.

The game was finished by half time, with all three goals coming before the 43rdminute, and that’s also a key target that must be achieved more regularly by Marcelo Bielsa’s team. With games coming thick and fast, the squad need to be as fit as possible to take on every challenge, and by killing games against weaker opposition in the first half, it gives them chance to relax.

Saturday’s game was gruelling and will have taken every inch of Leeds’ energy to hold on to the win, so to see them so dominant just three days later proves the resilience and determination required to earn that promotion they’ve craved for over 15 years now. Their 62 per cent possession and almost double Reading’s passing numbers, 369-604, illustrates this perfectly.

They play third-placed Sheffield United at Elland Road on Saturday and Bielsa will be happy with the way the team are heading into the promotion six-pointer. Emphatic victories like the one against Reading really get the confidence high for the big games and the squad will now truly believe they deserve their place in next season’s Premier League.

The Blades are only two points behind Leeds after their 2-0 win against Brentford on Tuesday, so they’ll be confident too, but the Whites’ momentum might just be too much for them to handle.

Leeds fans, how do you think your club will fare against Sheffield United this weekend? Join the discussion by commenting below.

علّق جيمي باتشيكو المدير الفني الجديد لفريق الكرة بالزمالك على توليه مهمته مع القلعة البيضاء خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وكان مجلس إدارة الزمالك برئاسة مرتضى منصور قد اتفق مع باتشيكو لتولي المهمة الفنية للقلعة البيضاء، خلفًا للفرنسي باتريس كارتيرون بعد رحيل الأخير لتدريب التعاون السعودي.

وقال باتشيكو في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “الزمالك”: “مرت سنوات على رحيلي من نادي الزمالك، وأبناءك أصدقاء جيدين لي”.

طالع.. مرتضى منصور: اخترنا باتشيكو بين 25 مدربًا.. وأغلقنا صفحة الماضي

وأكمل: “أشكر مرتضى منصور وإدارة الزمالك وجماهيره على أنكم أعطوتني الفرصة مرة أخرى”.

وتابع: “أول مرة لي مع الزمالك كان معي مجموعة جيدة، وهذه المرة مجموعة ممتازة، هدفي مع الزمالك هو تحقيق بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا”.

طالع | آس: ناديان إسبانيان يتنافسان على ضم مصطفى محمد

واختتم: “أشعر بالفخر والسعادة أن أكون جزءً من أسرة الزمالك والتواجد مع القلعة البيضاء”.

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On-loan Aston Villa forward Tammy Abraham has revealed that he is desperate to become part of the Chelsea first team for the 2019-2020 campaign.

What’s the word, then?

Abraham told Sky Sports:

“That’s the aim going into next season. As a young kid, I’ve always believed I will play for Chelsea. I always believe that. I think I have the ability to. I just have to, when I get the opportunity, grab it with two hands.”

The 21-year-old joined Villa in last summer’s transfer window and he has been in excellent form for the Championship outfit this season.

Indeed, the two-time senior England international has scored 21 times in 31 Championship matches thus far.

Only Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki and Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp have found the back of the net on more occasions in the second tier than Abraham this term.

The striker has revealed that he is desperate to become a first-team player at Chelsea next season, though, and his words are a blow to Villa.

Have Villa got a chance of keeping him?

If they remain in the Championship then it is an obvious no.

Abraham will feel that he has now had enough football in the second tier, having also starred at Bristol City during the 2016-17 season.

It is worth remembering that the striker spent last season in the Premier League with Swansea City, but dropped back to the Championship last summer.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Villa are currently in the playoff positions following an excellent run of form and will be looking to Abraham for more goals before the end of the campaign.

Even if Dean Smith’s side are promoted, though, it seems extremely unlikely that they will be able to re-sign the attacker for the 2019-2020 season.

Chelsea are short of strike options and with a two-window transfer ban looming, it looks as though they’ll be forced to finally maximise the potential of their vast loan army – in which Abraham is a part of.

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Sheffield United picked up a huge win in the Championship on Saturday, with Kieran Dowell scoring the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win away to West Bromwich Albion.

The Blades currently sit second in the table, just two points off leaders Norwich City, although third-placed Leeds United do have a game in hand.

It was a huge performance from the visitors at the Hawthorns and the type of result that showed their credentials.

Dowell grabbed the headlines with his goal, but it would be fair to say that the Sheffield United fans were delighted with what they saw from defender Enda Stevens during the 90 minutes.

According to WhoScored, Stevens – a 2017 arrival on a free transfer – won three headers and made three tackles against the Baggies.

Sheffield United’s official Twitter account drew attention to Stevens after the match, which led to a host of the club’s supporters revealing their views on the 28-year-old.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Loads of Everton fans have been giving their verdict on the fantastic form of Mason Holgate, as the youngster continues to impress on loan with West Brom.

Holgate always looked a little out of place at Everton, as the 22 year-old is clearly immensely talented, with all the technique and athleticism needed to make it at the top level, but yet he just couldn’t put it all together in a blue shirt.

That now appears to be down to various managers’ team selection rather than the player’s own shortcomings though, and he is excelling in a new role for West Brom, who he joined on loan in January.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Though he did occasionally feature on the flank at Goodison, the majority of his time was spent at centre back, where he was often bullied by physical strikers.

Now playing right-back at the Hawthorns, he is proving himself more than capable of holding his own physically against any winger, and is also showing the attacking instincts required to be a modern day full-back.

The youngster assisted Jake Livermore’s late winner in a 3-2 win against QPR on Tuesday night, which takes his tally to three assists in just seven Championship starts.

Fans are impressed by his form, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

تقام قرعة دور المجموعات لمنافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا 2020-2021، اليوم الخميس، بجانب حفل جوائز الأفضل عن الموسم الماضي في جنيف.

وستبدأ المنافسة في 20-21 أكتوبر، على أن تكون مباراة النهائي في 29 مايو 2021، في ملعب أتاتورك الأولمبي في اسطنبول (تركيا).

ويشهد دوري أبطال أوروبا 2020-21 العديد من المستجدات بعد انتهاء بطولة 2019-20 في 23 أغسطس، ستكون مواعيد مرحلة المجموعات أكثر ضغطًا، وسيتم لعب المباريات الآن من نهاية أكتوبر إلى منتصف ديسمبر.

تعرف على الفرق المتأهلة إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا 2020/2021

وستقام باقي مباريات المسابقة (دور الـ16 وربع النهائي ونصف النهائي والنهائي) في المواعيد المعتادة، في حال عدم حدوث مستجدات تؤدي إلى توقف المسابقة، كما حدث في النسخة الماضية بسبب وباء كورونا.

طالع تصنيف الفرق في قرعة دور المجموعات من دوري أبطال أوروبا 2020-2021 موعد قرعة دوري أبطال أوروبا 2020-2021

تقام القرعة في تمام الخامسة مساء اليوم الخميس بتوقيت القاهرة، السادسة بتوقيت السعودية.

طالع أيضًا.. نتائج قرعة دور مجموعات دوري أبطال أوروبا 2020/2021 | برشلونة يصطدم بـ يوفنتوس في مجموعة نارية

ستُذاع قرعة دوري أبطال أوروبا 2021 وحفل جوائز الأفضل في أوروبا 2020-2021 على قناة بي إن سبورتس الإخبارية.

سيمنح الاتحاد الأوروبي، على هامش القرعة، جوائز أفضل اللاعبين في أوروبا موسم 2019/2020، وأفضل مدرب أيضًا.

ويتنافس على الجوائز:

جائزة أفضل لاعب: روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، مانويل نوير (بايرن ميونخ)، كيفين دي بروين (مانشستر سيتي).

جائزة أفضل مدافع: جوشوا كيميتش، ألفونسو ديفيز، ديفيد ألابا (بايرن ميونخ).

جائزة أفضل لاعب خط وسط: تياجو ألكانتارا(بايرن ميونخ – ليفربول)توماس مولر (بايرن ميونخ)، كيفين دي بروين (مانشستر سيتي).

جائزة أفضل مهاجم: روبرت ليفاندوفسكي (بايرن ميونخ)، نيمار دا سيلفا، كيليان مبابي (باريس سان جيرمان).

جائزة أفضل مدرب: يورجن كلوب (ليفربول)، ناجليسمان (لايبزيج)، فليك (بايرن ميونخ).

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting to the weekend’s action, and they’re once again absolutely full of praise for summer signing Alisson Becker.

Liverpool were forced to settle for a draw at Old Trafford on Sunday, spurning a golden opportunity to move three points clear of Manchester City.

The Reds started brightly against their old foes, but completely lost their rhythm as the game waned on, failing to create any clear-cut chances.

The Red Devils weren’t exactly carving their opponents up either, as they were limited to just one golden chance.

Romelu Lukaku’s smart pass found Jesse Lingard six yards out, but Liverpool’s Brazilian shot-stopper smothered it instantly and expertly, looking completely comfortable in an extremely hostile atmosphere.

Alisson arrived at Anfield last summer for a fee worth up to £66.8m, per BBC, and the 26 year-old has fixed perhaps the club’s most long-running weak spot in the squad.

He has 15 clean sheets already in the Premier League this season, just two less than the last Liverpool goalkeeper to win the league’s Golden Glove award – Pepe Reina kept 15 clean sheets in the 09/10 season.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans have highlighted the number 13 as Sunday’s silver lining…

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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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According to a report in The Daily Mail, Leeds United have postponed new contract talks with top goalscorer Kemar Roofe until the summer when he will only have 12 month remaining on his deal, and they will live to regret it.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Daily Mail says that owner Andrea Radrizzani could be forced to sell unless the Yorkshire outfit win promotion this term, but their financial concerns with the Yorkshire outfit reportedly going “all in” on going up is behind the club policy to delay contract talks.

As a result, the Whites are clearly willing to let Roofe’s deal continue to run down rather than acting and rewarding him for his performances this season now.

The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in 26 Championship appearances for Leeds during the current campaign, although he is out for the foreseeable future after suffering a knee injury.

What happens in the summer?

Well, according to The Daily Mail report it seems clear that the attacker’s situation will be resolved when it is clear what division the Yorkshire club find themselves in for the 2019/2020 season.

It is hardly a good sign for Roofe however that such an important player finds himself with just one year remaining on his contract come the summer, and there are certainly more than a few parallels to the fiasco regarding Chris Wood in the summer of 2017, when he was offered new terms on a soon-to-be ending deal before leaving for Burnley.

In addition, the marksman was linked with a number of Premier League teams including Newcastle United during the January transfer window, and whether the Whites return to the ‘promised land’ or not come what May, he could be tempted to take one of them if there is still interest later this year.

Tottenham have seen their title challenge typically ripped apart over the last seven days, and it proves why their biggest stars need to move on before they win silverware.

Losses to Burnley and Chelsea and a draw against Arsenal on Saturday took them from being almost two points behind then leaders Man City to now being 10 points behind them. It’s been followed by an exclusive in the Sunday Mirror claiming Real Madrid are prepared to use Gareth Bale as a makeweight to brink Spurs maestro Christian Eriksen to the Bernabeu.

This move would be ideal for the Dane, who must be getting rather disillusioned at spending the prime of his career at a club who can’t even organise the building of a stadium, nevermind win a trophy. This is probably the reason he’s reportedly stalled on signing a new deal at the club, and who could blame him if he leaves?

Harry Kane is the other star who simply needs to be playing for one of the best clubs in world football and not one that can’t even mount a challenge of a domestic trophy. In the opinion of most, he’s the best striker in the world at the moment, but the game is fickle and he could quickly be overshadowed by another fresh talent in the years to come.

He, like Eriksen, needs to make a move now.

Madrid would be ideal for both considering the club are going through what they’d probably deem as a crisis at the moment, because they’re not in line for any trophies the way they’re playing. However, it just proves the difference between them and Manchester United compared to Spurs who are applauded when they come close to challenging.

The gap is huge, and it’s too huge for even those two great players to fill.

It would be a huge shame if they both wasted their careers merely competing in competitions rather than challenging to win them, but that appears to be what they’d be resigned to if they stay loyal to Spurs.

What do you think is the next best step for Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane?