Premier League Sunday preview
Brighton host a struggling Everton while Southampton entertain Newcastle on Sunday.Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/video/3227454/premier-league-sunday-preview
Premier League Saturday preview
Man United and Man City feature on Saturday, but will Palace finally end its winless drought versus Chelsea?Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/video/3227453/premier-league-saturday-preview
Butt: A loss to Liverpool cuts deeper than most
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt discusses what it means to Manchester United to get a win over their rivals, Liverpool.Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/video/3227429/butt-a-loss-to-liverpool-cuts-deeper-than-most
Man United have more strength in depth than Liverpool... and it counts
Don Hutchison looks at how Manchester United will be able to secure an away win against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.
Don Hutchison discusses the three main things Liverpool will need to do in order to beat Jose Mourinho's Manchester United at Anfield.
Before Liverpool face Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday, in the 199th competitive meeting between English football's two most successful clubs, it is worth a brief history lesson about the changing face of a title-winning team.
Back in the 1980-81 season, Aston Villa ended the campaign as champions after using just 14 players during a 42-game top flight season, and seven of those played in every game.
When Liverpool last won the title in 1990, manager Kenny Dalglish used 21 players during...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/3227426/man-united-have-more-strength-in-depth-than-liverpool-and-it-counts
Pochettino fell asleep as Lionel Messi dragged Argentina into World Cup
The FC crew debate how much a World Cup should factor into Lionel Messi's standing among the greatest players of all time.
Max Bretos and Herculez Gomez evaluate Lionel Messi's impact on Argentina's qualification for the World Cup.
Jorge Sampaoli says he gets emotional coaching Lionel Messi, whom he calls the best player in history.
U2 front man Bono saluted Lionel Messi following his match winning performance against Ecuador. While most of those watching the heroic exploits of Lionel Messi were transfixed, at least one member of the audience for Argentina's World Cup-salvaging win over Ecuador struggled to maintain interest.
That man was Tottenham manager (and former Albiceleste international) Mauricio Pochettino, who has admitted that he "fell asleep" before Messi scored a match-winning hat trick to haul his country from the brink of elimination and into the hat for Russia 2018.
Still, the prospect of Argentina's do-or-die...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/3227427/pochettino-fell-asleep-as-lionel-messi-dragged-argentina-into-world-cup
Tottenham vs. Bournemouth could set Premier League attendance record
Kasey Keller says talk of a Wembley Stadium curse will subside once Tottenham string together two or three wins in a row.
The FC crew discuss Spurs' persisting struggles at Wembley and the differences playing there instead of White Hart Lane.
Tottenham Hotspur could break the 10-year-old Premier League attendance record when they host Bournemouth at Wembley on Saturday.
Club sources have told ESPN FC that ticket sales are progressing well and they are closing in on the previous record of 76,098 -- set when Manchester United beat Blackburn 4-1 at Old Trafford in March 2007.
Spurs came close to the record for the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in their first league match at Wembley in August, watched by 73,587, when tickets were on restricted general...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/tottenham-hotspur/story/3227418/tottenham-vs-bournemouth-could-set-premier-league-attendance-record
Chelsea's Marcos Alonso still has World Cup hopes despite Spain snub
Despite his current form with Man City, the FC crew say it made sense for Chelsea to let Kevin De Bruyne go when they did.
The FC panel look ahead at Chelsea's fixture list and examine the impact Alvaro Morata's hamstring injury may have on the team.
Marcos Alonso knows he must continue making headlines at Chelsea to boost his chances of representing Spain at the 2018 World Cup.
The left-back has had a strong start to the campaign with the Blues, scoring two goals in seven league starts.
"It would be a dream come true to play for Spain and help them do well at the World Cup next year," Alonso told Cadena Ser radio. "I've been doing the right things for some time and the news from Chelsea eventually gets there [to Spain]."
Alonso, 26, was a key...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/story/3227373/chelseas-marcos-alonso-still-has-world-cup-hopes-despite-spain-snub
Wenger: Ozil, Sanchez could leave in January
Arsene Wenger admits he may have to cut his losses and agree to sell both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in the January transfer window.Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/video/3227367/wenger-ozil-sanchez-could-leave-in-january
Antoine Griezmann's Man Utd link led to new Atletico contract - Filipe Luis
Filipe Luis has suggested that Antoine Griezmann's summer link with Manchester United was about getting a pay rise from Atletico Madrid, while adding that the France international is now settled at the club.
Griezmann had appeared close to joining United for €100 million, but eventually signed a new contract with Atletico in June, saying he could not leave the club when they were unable to sign a replacement due to a FIFA transfer ban.
Diego Costa's subsequent return to Atletico from Chelsea...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/atletico-madrid/story/3227369/antoine-griezmanns-man-united-link-led-to-new-atletico-contract-filipe-luis
Sergio Aguero: I'd love to see Lionel Messi join Manchester City
Jorge Sampaoli says he gets emotional coaching Lionel Messi, whom he calls the best player in history.
Sergio Aguero has said he would "love" Lionel Messi to join him at Manchester City but acknowledged that it would be difficult for his compatriot to leave Barcelona.
Messi has yet to sign a new contract at the Camp Nou despite reportedly agreeing terms on a three-year extension in the summer.
City chief executive Ferran Soriano has said he would "open the doors" to Messi if he ever decided to leave, but manager Pep Guardiola believes he will finish his career at Barca.
Aguero told TyC Sports: "Let's...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/story/3227357/sergio-aguero-id-love-to-see-lionel-messi-join-manchester-city
Pulis: I won't discuss Wales job
West Brom boss Tony Pulis insists it is unfair to discuss his link with the potential Wales job while Chris Coleman is still in charge.Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/video/3227354/pulis-i-wont-discuss-wales-job
Wenger: Mustafi out for 4-6 weeks
Arsene Wenger discusses how Arsenal suffered another injury setback as Shkodran Mustafi was injured during a World Cup qualifier for Germany.Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/video/3227346/wenger-mustafi-out-for-4-6-weeks
Shkodran Mustafi out for at least four weeks, Koscielny faces fitness test
The crew answer your tweets on Jurgen Klopp's job security, the hype surrounding Dele Alli and Carlo Ancelotti's chances of managing Arsenal.
LONDON -- Arsenal centre-back Shkodran Mustafi has been ruled out until the next international break, while Laurent Koscielny faces a late fitness test ahead of Saturday's game at Watford.
Arsenal could face a defensive crisis if Koscielny is unable to play at Watford as it would leave Arsene Wenger without his two top centre-backs.
Mustafi suffered a muscle tear in his thigh while playing for Germany during the recent international break and Wenger said he will be out for at least four weeks.
"I...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/arsenal/story/3227262/shkodran-mustafi-out-for-at-least-four-weeks-koscielny-faces-fitness-test
Flashback to Arsene Wenger's first Arsenal game, 21 years on
Arsenal's Arsene Wenger insists leaving Alexis Sanchez on the bench is based on the players fitness rather than transfers speculation.
Steve Nicol says Arsenal would be opting for mediocrity if Arsene Wenger considers dropping Mesut Ozil.
This article was first published on Oct. 12, 2016
Arsene Wenger's first game in charge of Arsenal was a fairly routine 2-0 victory at struggling Blackburn Rovers on Oct. 12, 1996. But it heralded a new era at the London club, and was the first step toward an unprecedented period of success for the Gunners.
On the 21st anniversary of that match, ESPN FC looks back at the victory and its significance.
The buildup
Former Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight boss Wenger had famously come in as a largely...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/arsenal/359/blog/post/2971039/flashback-to-arsene-wengers-first-arsenal-game-21-years-on
Arsene Wenger: Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil could leave Arsenal in January
Arsene Wenger discusses how Arsenal suffered another injury setback as Shkodran Mustafi was injured during a World Cup qualifier for Germany.
LONDON -- Arsene Wenger says Arsenal could cash in on Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez by selling them in January if there has not been a breakthrough in contract talks before then.
Sanchez and Ozil have both entered the final year of their contracts and Wenger told his news conference on Thursday morning it is "possible" they could be sold during the winter transfer window.
When asked whether he would contemplate a January sale, Wenger said: "Once you're in our kind of situation, you envisage every...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/story/3227245/arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger-its-possible-alexis-sanchez-and-mesut-ozil-could-go-in-january
Man United's Jose Mourinho will park the bus again at Liverpool - Dalglish
Steve Nicol explains why Liverpool could have a hard time coping without Sadio Mane, who picked up an injury with Senegal.
With Sadio Mane out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, Alejandro Moreno questions who will fill in for the striker.
Don Hutchison discusses the three main things Liverpool will need to do in order to beat Jose Mourinho's Manchester United at Anfield.
Kenny Dalglish expects Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho to adopt a similar defensive approach to last season when they play Liverpool on Saturday.
Mourinho's first encounter with Liverpool as United boss was a 0-0 draw at Anfield nearly 12 months ago, with the visitors having just 35 percent of possession -- at the time their lowest in a Premier League match since Opta began recording the data in 2003-04.
Former Liverpool player and manager Dalglish is predicting another close-fought encounter...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/liverpool/story/3227238/man-uniteds-jose-mourinho-will-park-the-bus-again-at-liverpool-dalglish
History gives still pointless Crystal Palace a chance at top-flight survival
How do you recover from losing your first seven games of a Premier League season? Crystal Palace spent the international break considering their wreckage of a season so far, and they did so in the knowledge that this is the worst start to a campaign in Premier League history.
Plenty of other teams have reached this point without winning a game -- one other has even lost all seven too -- but nobody has managed quite this level of calamity, completing seven fixtures without so much as a goal to their...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/3226934/history-gives-still-pointless-crystal-palace-a-chance-at-top-flight-survival
Manchester City make ex-Blackburn winger Jason Wilcox academy director
Former Blackburn winger Jason Wilcox has been appointed as Manchester City's academy director.
Wilcox, who won the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1995, had been in the role on an interim basis since June and has now take on the position on a full-time basis.
The 46-year-old, who also played for Leeds, Leicester and Blackpool, joined the City academy coaching staff five years ago, coaching the under-18s squad to a national championship title and two FA Youth Cup finals.
In the summer of 2016...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/manchester-city/story/3227187/manchester-city-make-jason-wilcox-academy-director
With Alvaro Morata out, will Chelsea turn to Michy Batshuayi to lead line?
The FC crew react to an atypical performance from Chelsea in their home defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester City.
With no official news yet regarding the severity of Alvaro Morata's hamstring injury, it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will be available for Chelsea during Saturday's London derby at Crystal Palace. With a Champions League clash against Roma looming next Wednesday, even if he was fit and available there is very little chance that Antonio Conte would risk his star striker.
The Chelsea manager therefore has a decision to make over who will constitute his attack at Selhurst Park...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/chelsea/363/blog/post/3226987/with-alvaro-morata-out-can-michy-batshuayi-capably-lead-the-chelsea-line
Hughes, Guardiola represent first and latest chapters of Man City revival
It is almost 10 years since Manchester City then-owner Thaksin Shinawatra received an offer to purchase the club from a hitherto unknown buyer calling itself Abu Dhabi United. In that time, the club has grown at breakneck speed and now sits proudly among the elite of the Premier League and the small group of clubs that have the wherewithal to win the Champions League.
When the initial investment came flooding in, the club was given an immediate boost, breaking the British transfer record on the...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/manchester-city/382/blog/post/3226997/hughes-guardiola-represent-first-and-latest-chapters-of-man-city-revival
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/index