After the transfer deadline for Premier League clubs to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season passed on Thursday (Aug 9), AFP Sport looks at who enjoyed the best and worst of the transfer window: Missing piece? Alisson Becker is expected to help Liverpool provide a title challenge. (AFP/MANAN VATSYAYANA) WINNERS Liverpool In their quest to end a 29-year wait to win the title, Liverpool weren't just the biggest spenders, but got their business done early and improved the key areas of Jurgen Klopp's squad that needed strengthening. Two calamitous errors from Loris Karius in losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid in May made it clear an upgrade was needed in goal and €72.5 million (US$84 million) were splashed on Alisson Becker from Roma in a short-lived world-record fee for a goalkeeper. Fabinho and Naby Keita will add extra dynamism and depth to the midfield, while Xherdan Shaqiri offers better back-up to the prolific front three of Sadio Mane, … [Read more...] about Winners and losers from the Premier League transfer window
Premier league
Frenetic finale to Premier League transfer window expected
Frenetic finale to Premier League transfer window expectedThe Saigon Times Daily Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho before the match at Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany August 5, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS MANCHESTER (REUTERS) - The transfer deadline for Premier League clubs arrives on Thursday and given the shortened space for completing deals a late flurry of moves is expected to dominate the build-up to the new season. Premier League clubs voted last year to ensure the window, which had closed at the end of August, is finished before the action on the field begins but you would hardly know it from the relatively small amount of deals done. Manchester United and Leicester City kick off the new campaign at Old Trafford on Friday and in the coming days club officials will be frantically seeking to complete the paperwork on transfers and contracts and complete due diligence such as medical tests. The fact that the new system was introduced in a World Cup year made the … [Read more...] about Frenetic finale to Premier League transfer window expected
Manchester City smash Premier League points record
Manchester City crowned a remarkable Premier League season on Wednesday (May 9) by smashing records for points earned, goals scored and number of wins with a 3-1 victory against Brighton. Manchester City's Brazilian defender Danilo (centre) shoots and scores past Brighton's English defender Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League football match. (Paul ELLIS/AFP) City took their goals tally for the campaign to 105, their points total to 97 and their number of wins to 31, eclipsing previous best marks set by Chelsea. Pep Guardiola's team last month sealed the title with five matches to spare and are now a whopping 20 points ahead of nearest challengers Manchester United. City can become the first team to reach 100 points in an English top-flight season if they beat Southampton on the final day on Sunday. Veteran midfielder Yaya Toure was made captain for his final home appearance and goals from Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho ensured he finished on the winning side. … [Read more...] about Manchester City smash Premier League points record
West Brom relegated from Premier League, Southampton win
Viet Nam News LONDON — West Brom were relegated from the Premier League on Tuesday after Southampton took a huge step towards keeping their place in the English top flight by beating fellow strugglers Swansea. Darren Moore’s West Brom needed a draw between the Saints and Swans in south Wales to take their fight to avoid relegation into the final day of the season on Sunday. After more than 70 minutes of frenetic action, substitute Manolo Gabbiadini provided the decisive moment for Southampton when he reacted quickest to Charlie Austin’s parried shot in a crowded goalmouth. Gabbiadini had only been on the pitch for four minutes and it was only his fifth goal of a difficult season for the Italian. The result means Southampton move up to 16th in the table, three points clear of 18th-place Swansea, who are favourites to joint West Brom and Stoke in the Championship. Southampton’s win confirmed West Brom’s return to the English second tier after eight … [Read more...] about West Brom relegated from Premier League, Southampton win
Guardiola sets City’s sights on Premier League title defence
Pep Guardiola celebrated his first Premier League title, following Manchester City's goalless draw with Huddersfield Town on Sunday (May 6), by immediately turning his attention to defending the trophy next season. Manchester City players celebrating their title win with manager Pep Guardiola. (AFP/Oli SCARFF) The demanding City manager brought seven of his coaching staff onto the podium for his post-match press conference, a symbolic nod towards a close-knit group that has masterminded one of the most dominant league performances in history. Despite surprisingly failing to defeat struggling visitors Huddersfield, City still have two games left in which they can set new Premier League records for the most wins, points and goals in a single campaign. That target still inspires Guardiola, but so too does the prospect of trying to win the league title again next season. "We cannot deny it would be nice to set records but it's nicer when you win the Premier League," said … [Read more...] about Guardiola sets City’s sights on Premier League title defence
Slick City equal Premier League win record
Manchester City equalled the Premier League record for most wins in a season as the imperious champions powered to a 4-1 victory at West Ham on Sunday (Apr 29). Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho (C) celebrates scoring the champions' fourth goal during Sunday's 4-1 win over West Ham at The London Stadium AFP/Ben STANSALL Pep Guardiola's side now have 30 wins this term, matching the record set by Chelsea last season, and will take sole possession of the milestone with one more success in their last three games. Sweeping West Ham aside with their trademark swagger, City went ahead through Leroy Sane before an own goal from their former defender Pablo Zabaleta doubled the lead. Aaron Cresswell's free-kick reduced the deficit before half-time, but Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho netted for City after the interval. Simply untouchable for most of the season, City are bidding to cement their status as one of the all-time great Premier League teams by rewriting the record books. … [Read more...] about Slick City equal Premier League win record
Premier League concerned by children trafficked to UK by football ‘fraudsters’
Britain’s Premier League said on Monday it was concerned about “scammers and fraudsters” trafficking children to Britain with false promises of playing for leading football clubs, in a trend anti-slavery campaigners fear is going largely under the radar. Thousands of suspected child slaves from countries including Albania, Afghanistan, Sudan and Vietnam have been uncovered by the British government in recent years - with most trapped in forced labor, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. Many of them are first trafficked into Britain by men posing as agents and criminal networks that offer the children and their families the prospect of a lucrative footballing career abroad and a salary to send back home, according to activists. Instead of embarking on a career at a top club, many children are abandoned or enslaved after being taken to Britain in exchange for thousands of pounds - often their family’s savings - said anti-child trafficking charity ECPAT … [Read more...] about Premier League concerned by children trafficked to UK by football ‘fraudsters’
No VAR for 2018/19 Premier League season
The Video Assistant Referee system (VAR) will not be used during the 2018/19 English Premier League season, officials announced on Friday (Apr 12). German referee Deniz Aytekin studies the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) screen to see if Italy deserve a penalty against England. (Photo: AFP/Ian Kington) Trials of VAR in English cup competitions this season have proved controversial and even though the technology is set to be used during this year's World Cup in Russia, Premier League chiefs believe further tests are needed. The decision was made at a Premier League shareholders meeting in London on Friday, when all 20 top-flight clubs voted. "Premier League clubs have today agreed to continue advanced testing of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) throughout season 2018/19," said a league statement. "The decision came after comprehensive discussions regarding the progress made in VAR trials in English football, and key learnings from the many competitions using it elsewhere. "The … [Read more...] about No VAR for 2018/19 Premier League season
Man City on brink of Premier League glory as Man Utd visit
Manchester City players pose for a family photograph before the UEFA Champions League first leg quarter-final football match against Liverpool at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north west England on Apr 4, 2018. (Paul ELLIS/AFP) Pep Guardiola's men will become the first team in the league's 26-year history to wrap up the title with six games to spare if they beat United at the Etihad - a fitting end to a season of almost total dominance in the league. City are 16 points clear of Jose Mourinho's second-placed team so it is a matter of when rather than if they wrap up the Premier League title, the first of Guardiola's reign in England. The runaway leaders will be desperate to reassert themselves after their chastening 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions league quarter-final at Anfield. But the derby comes just three days before the return leg of their European tie and Guardiola faces a difficult balancing act, still believing he can overturn the Champions League deficit at … [Read more...] about Man City on brink of Premier League glory as Man Utd visit
Man City bearing down on title as Premier League returns
The Premier League roars back into action this weekend for the season's home straight after a two-week hiatus for the final international break of the campaign. Pep Guardiola / AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE With a maximum of eight games left, AFP Sport looks at what is still to be decided at both ends of the table. CITY'S TITLE TO LOSE Manchester City travel to Everton on Saturday looking to take the penultimate step towards a first Premier League title under Pep Guardiola and kick off a huge week in City's season in style. City lost 4-0 on their last visit to Goodison during a hugely disappointing first year under Guardiola but are a team transformed under the Catalan this season as they storm towards the title at a record-breaking pace. The runaway league leaders boast a 16-point lead over Manchester United and could seal the league in the sweetest fashion against their local rivals at the Etihad next weekend. However, Guardiola could have a daunting return to Liverpool at … [Read more...] about Man City bearing down on title as Premier League returns