Football news LIVE: Arsenal and Tottenham reaction after derby thriller, Newcastle tear apart Sheffield United, Chelsea woes contine
talkSPORT.com brings you all the latest news and gossip from the world of football.
Today’s headlines:
- James Maddison has cheeky response to Bukayo Saka after he copied darts celebration
- Chelsea booed off as they go three games without scoring
- Mo Salah breaks Premier League record as Liverpool beat West Ham
Kylian Mbappe could be a doubt for Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash with Newcastle.
The superstar striker limped out of PSG’s 4-0 win over Marseille after just 32 minutes on Sunday night.
The Ligue 1 side face Newcastle at St James’ Park on October 4.
Eddie Howe hailed Anthony Gordon after his starring role in Newcastle’s 8-0 win over Sheffield United.
Gordon scored in the victory at Bramall Lane, with eight different players getting on the scoresheet.
Howe said: “I think that’s probably his best game for us. I thought he was very, very good, very direct. His goal was outstanding, he assisted at least one that I can remember. He just looked a real threat.
“He has so much ability and so much to give. And he has the attitude to go with it. His desire to improve, I see it every day in training. He’s usually one of the last off the training pitch and it’s great to see him rewarded.”
Ange Postecoglou hailed Tottenham’s bravery at Arsenal, but expressed his bemusement at the handball rule and joked “armless defenders” will be required after Cristian Romero gave away a penalty in the 2-2 draw.
Spurs grabbed a share of the north London derby spoils after captain Son Heung-min struck either side of half-time.
An own-goal from Romero in the 26th minute broke the deadlock at the Emirates, with the Argentina defender deflecting Bukayo Saka’s shot beyond team-mate Guglielmo Vicario.
Son fired home before half-time from James Maddison’s cross, but Arsenal made the perfect start following the restart when Romero was penalised for handball after he blocked Ben White’s shot from close proximity.
Saka rolled home the 54th-minute spot-kick but 108 seconds later Tottenham were level when Maddison won possession from Jorginho and played in Son, who netted his 150th Spurs goal.
“It’s not about being happy with the result, for me it was about the performance,” Postecoglou said.
“You can get a result here, a draw, and like I said before you can walk away knowing that ‘you know what, we escaped’, but I don’t have that feeling now.
“I think we went toe-to-toe with a top team and at times I thought we really asserted our dominance on the game. At times they did but that’s what happens when you face top sides.
“Even if we had lost today, and I don’t like losing, but for me to keep pushing these guys, they need to feel that out there that what we talk about and work on, they can see it come to fruition and when it does against a top team, being brave with our approach, that’s the key thing. For me I’m pleased.”
Mauricio Pochettino said his Chelsea players need to grow up as a team after they were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge by Aston Villa to fall to their third loss of the season.
The game turned with the sending off of Chelsea’s Malo Gusto after 58 minutes when the score was still 0-0. His challenge on Lucas Digne was late and caught the Villa defender on the ankle, and after a pitchside VAR review referee Jarred Gillett upgraded the initial yellow card to a red for dangerous play.
Pochettino brought on Ben Chilwell and moved Axel Disasi to right-back, but the dismissal did not much alter Chelsea’s attacking intent as they continued to seek out a winner.
It was a decision that would come to haunt them, as with the home side committed inside Villa’s half Moussa Diaby broke with the ball and fed Ollie Watkins, who after seeing his first shot blocked by Levi Colwill scored with his second, angling the ball beyond Robert Sanchez and in off the far post.
It was the second time in two seasons that Watkins has netted in a Villa victory at Stamford Bridge, as Unai Emery’s side took full advantage of Chelsea’s ongoing inability to turn promising situations in the final third into goals, before pouncing when their own moment came.
Striker Nicolas Jackson, who has scored just once since his £31million summer move from Villarreal, again cut a frustrated figure as he picked up his fifth booking of the season for attempting to block a Villa free-kick, incurring him a one-game ban.
Pochettino refused to criticise the officials and said it is the players that must take the rap for the team’s poor start to the season.
“It’s our responsibility and the players’ responsibility,” said Pochettino. “We can’t blame the VAR or the referee. The situation, we need to act different, in a different way. I’m not going to blame or say anything against Malo Gusto. Situations happen in football and they affect the game and the team in a negative way.
“We need to grow up like a team, not only in an individual way. A player like Nico (Jackson) that is so young, feeling the Premier League and he’s learning, he needs time. In this type of game, we’re competing and we want to win. But players, when they are young, need to learn with experience.
“That’s why we feel disappointed because we are playing too many situations like this. Another small detail and in the end we are losing the game. We are in a situation we need to change as soon as possible.”
That’s all for today’s liveblog, but be sure to join us tomorrow for what will surely be another day of jam-packed Premier League action…
Barcelona have announced a contract extension for manager Xavi Hernandez.
The club’s legendary former player will be hanging around until at least 2025.
Xavi got a kiss from president Joan Laporta upon the announcement, having won LaLiga last season.
Brad Friedel has told talkSPORT everything that’s going on with Arsenal right now is pointing towards Aaron Ramsdale leaving the club.
The former Tottenham and Liverpool goalkeeper played 450 games in the Premier League and knows all about the dynamic between a No.1 and No.2 two.
And he insists it just doesn’t work to have two No.1-quality keepers at the same club.
Speaking on Drivetime, the former United States international said: “I think David Raya was brought in as the new No.1 and Aaron Ramsdale will end up doing what Matt Ryan had to do at the end of last season, he’ll have to leave.
“Ramsdale will be really frustrated, but the good news for him is that he’ll find somewhere to land and it’ll be a top club.
“The No.1 needs to know he’s the No.1. Having two top class goalkeepers, it just doesn’t work.”
James Ward-Prowse has given West Ham ‘another dimension’ and could become as influential as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, according to boss David Moyes.
Ward-Prowse already looks like one of the bargains of the season with two goals and five assists in his first five appearances since a £30million switch from Southampton.
The 28-year-old has certainly softened the blow of West Ham losing captain Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105million earlier this summer.
Moyes likened Ward-Prowse to two former free-scoring England midfielders – and one Scot with an eye for goal – as he looks to build on a strong start to the season.
“I always thought from the start he would be ideal – I would never use the word replacement because I don’t think you can replace Declan with one player – but James has given us another dimension,” said Moyes.
“He’s played well. He’s added goals and assists. The top-scoring midfield players – maybe Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, I would go back longer to people like John Wark – and James might not get as many goals as them but he might get more assists than them so what he’s doing is really good for us.
“His delivery has been excellent over the last few years. We’ve been a decent side from set-pieces, maybe without the word ‘specialist’ delivery, and I think we’ve got a specialist now in Ward-Prowse.
“We need to get more free-kicks and more corners. He’s made big contributions in all the games. It’s been an amazing start really.
“I remember people asking the question after one or two games and it’s now five or six games and we’re still saying the same thing about him making a great contribution.”
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is feeling buoyant following the illness that forced him to miss his side’s trip to Aston Villa last weekend.
The 76-year-old felt unwell last Saturday morning before the Eagles’ 3-1 loss at Villa Park, but was back leading training on Tuesday ahead of Palace’s home clash with Fulham.
Hodgson had full faith in assistant manager Paddy McCarthy and long-time lieutenant Ray Lewington taking the reins, but technical difficulties presented him a different challenge when he tried to tune in from the hospital where he was being evaluated.
“I’m feeling good,” said Hodgson. “[The experience watching remotely was] not good. The link was sent to us, [me and] the young physiotherapist who was accompanying me, was keeping me company.
“We were sent the link but we couldn’t get it to work unfortunately, so we had the even worse experience of listening to it on the radio and that’s not something I would recommend.
“The performance, in my opinion, watching it back, was good. I thought it was, listening to the radio. I got quite good vibes, and when I spoke to Ray Lewington who came to the hospital directly afterwards he said he was very satisfied and pleased with the performance.
“I was expecting it to be quite good watching it back, but if anything it was better than I even could have expected.”
Mauricio Pochettino says Moises Caicedo will have to pass a late fitness check to be considered for Sunday’s meeting with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
The £115million summer signing missed last weekend’s bore goalless draw with Bournemouth after returning from Ecuador international duty with a knee injury.
Caicedo didn’t train with his teammates all week, but he was spotted back on the pitch at Cobham today.
But Pochettino provided an update on the midfielder’s fitness at his pre-match press conference.
“We need to assess Moises tomorrow,” said the Chelsea boss.
“He was training in a difficult way, not with the team, until today.
“We need to assess him tomorrow to see if he can be involved for Sunday.”
But Pochettino did reveal Armando Broja might be available for the Villa clash after recovering from the ACL injury that has kept him out since December.
“Broja will maybe be involved at the weekend,” he said. “But it’s after nine months that he’s not competing.
“We cannot expect Broja to arrive to score every single touch, he needs time to feel the competition and start to perform in the way we expect he can.”
There are reports of raised tensions between Thiago Silva and manager Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
The veteran centre-back has not disguised his frustration over the Blues’ poor start to the new campaign, with the 39-year-old even taking to Twitter to display his disappointment that he is not playing in the Champions League this season.
But the Daily Telegraph claim Silva’s frustrations are boiling over, so much so that Pochettino has had to step in.
Last weekend Silva was seen barking at this teammates during their 0-0 draw with Bournemouth.
The report notes that Silva, the elder statesman of the squad, is meant to be an example to his younger teammates, but it was Silva who Pochettino was forced to tell to calm down during that game.
It is claimed he is demanding on the training field and on the pitch and expects high standards from the rest of the team, but that often crosses the line into sulking when he feels they are not being met.
It’s also suggested he isn’t shy about telling managers his opinion about tactics and how to set up the team.
Silva is in the final year of his contract with the London club.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has backed Mikel Arteta’s decision to play David Raya in goal over Aaron Ramsdale.
As a member of the Gunners’ famous Invincibles side, Keown knows you have to be ruthless to win.
And he insists Arteta is doing just that as his side looks to battle Man City for the Premier League title again this season.
He also points out that he’s taking a leaf out of Pep Guardiola’s book…
“You have to keep raising the bar!” 📈
“It’s tough on Ramsdale, but you’re trying to take #MCFC on and become champions.”
Martin Keown backs Mikel Arteta ruthlessly making David Raya the new #AFC no. 1. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/xnBkyeknsM
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 22, 2023
Ex-Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara has admitted James Ward-Prowse would have been the perfect signing for Spurs as the midfielder continues to shine at West Ham.
“He’s a really good signing,” said O’Hara on The Sports Bar.
The midfielder provided two assists in West Ham’s 3-1 victory over Backa Topola in their Europa League opener and O’Hara was in awe of the midfielder’s ‘sensational’ delivery.
Ex-Chelsea man Jason Cundy added: “It’s also the consistency of his delivery – it’s not just once, it’s pretty much every ball, every free kick, isn’t it?”
But O’Hara’s praise did not stop there.
“He’s so much more than that as a player,” he added. “He gets labelled as a set-piece specialist, but genuinely, he’s got so much more to his game than people think.”
“I think he’s fantastic, I really do. I wish Tottenham had signed him,” added O’Hara.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has told Conor Gallagher he should not be surprised to be considered one of the captains.
Gallagher was named skipper against Bournemouth in a 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium last Sunday.
But the Chelsea star was shocked to learn that he had been given the armband before kick-off.
Reece James has taken on the role as captain since Cesar Azpilicueta’s departure, but he is out injured while vice-captain Ben Chilwell was on the bench.
And Pochettino has told Gallagher that his Chelsea roots have helped him earn the armband.
The Argentine coach said in his press conference on Friday: “He was captain against Wimbledon also. He is supposed to be captain. It’s nice.
“It is normal if you see the starting XI versus Bournemouth, he was also captain versus Wimbledon, it’s not a big thing to create a party.
“He can be a captain, he is from Chelsea and it is perfect for him to represent the team.”
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has provided an injury update on three first-team stars.
The Spurs manager has stated that Rodrigo Bentancur, Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso will all miss the north London derby against Arsenal on Sunday.
However they will be available for selection within the next three weeks.
He said in his press conference on Friday: “Everyone from last week is in a good space.
“In terms of longer ones, two or three weeks away.
“Bryan Gil, Lo Celso, Bentancur, hopefully over the next few weeks they will slowly get involved in training.”
Ten Hag was also asked if Jadon Sancho will play for Manchester United again.
The Dutchman said: “It depends on him.
“For the rest, we are preparing for Burnley and that’s our focus. He will not be in the squad.”
But one man who could be back in the squad is Harry Maguire.
The centre-back has returned to training following a niggle that kept him out of their Champions League trip to Munich, but Ten Hag suggested a decision has not been made over whether he is fit enough to be involved.
“As you say, Harry Maguire but we will see again after training,” he said.
“But Varane will train, we will see, Amrabat will train, we will see and Mount as well.
“But they didn’t play for short or longer-term. Varane, obviously, was the shortest out.”
Ten Hag was asked about the supposed dressing room leak in his press conference this afternoon.
“I don’t know if it’s a leak but I know opinion, I know my players,” said the Man United boss.
“Everyone can make suggestions, we are okay with it.
“At United, you have to win every game so it doesn’t change anything.
“As always, it’s about how we play against Burnley, there’s no easy game, definitely not against Burnley.”
Some Manchester United players do not agree with Erik ten Hag’s decision to banish Jadon Sancho from the first-team squad, talkSPORT understands.
A report claims a group of Red Devils stars are growing ‘weary’ of the manager’s criticism amid their poor run of form.
United have lost four of the six games they have played in all competitions this season, and Ten Hag bemoaned giving away ‘easy’ goals in their 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Manchester Evening News claim a ‘dressing room source’ has told them some United players are concerned about the head coach’s tactics and are also growing frustrated that his ‘favourites’ escape judgement while others in the squad are routinely criticised.
talkSPORT’s football correspondent Alex Crook has slammed these latest dressing room leaks and says whoever is giving up information from inside the United camp should look at themselves and stop blaming the coach.
“Certain Man United players really are gutless,” he said.
“It’s easier to pin the blame on yet another manager than admit their own shortcomings.
“You don’t need to be a detective to work out where the leak is, either. Cry me a river.
“I’m not saying Ten Hag is perfect, by the way, but this is a repetitive cycle and the common denominator is not the man in the dugout.”
Jack Grealish could make his return to action in Man City’s clash against Nottingham Forest tomorrow.
The England midfielder has missed City’s last three games with a knee problem, but Pep Guardiola says he’s in line to play this weekend.
Guardiola said at a press conference: “Jack is coming back, he has trained and maybe he can play some minutes.”
However, Bernardo Silva is not available after being forced off injured in the first-half of Tuesday’s Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade.
Guardiola says the problem is not serious but it will keep the Portuguese out for the next few games.
The City boss said: “It’s a little injury – for a week, ten days, two weeks he will be out.”
Liverpool have got to get their relentlessness back into their game to really challenge Man City for the Premier League title this season.
That’s according to former Reds striker Emile Heskey, who says Jurgen Klopp’s team still have a way to go to be considered genuine title contenders.
Asked he considers Liverpool to be City’s biggest threat in the title race this term, Heskey told Freebets.com: “Honestly? Probably not, but you can never say no.
“City are relentless, and I think there are a few areas with Liverpool that could be addressed, but they’ve got to be relentless in their drive to get back to where they were, where you were getting near on 100 points.
“You’ve got to have that drive.”
West Ham have been hit with a major blow with star forward Jarrod Bowen a doubt for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The Hammers will make the journey north to Anfield this weekend where they will face to unbeaten Reds.
And David Moyes has revealed he could be without one of his best players.
“Jarrod Bowen has had a virus, so we’ll need to see how he is,” Moyes said in a pre-match press conference.
“But the others, we seem okay.
“Aaron Cresswell felt his hamstring last night so we’ll see how he is today.
“But otherwise, we’re okay.”
The nominations for the 2023 Puskas Award have been revealed by FIFA, and there’s one Premier League goal in the mix for the gong.
Julio Enciso’s absolute screamer of a strike to finish off a stunning team move from Brighton against eventual champions Man City is one of 11 efforts put forward for voting.
Chelsea and Australia superstar Sam Kerr’s worldie against England at the Women’s World Cup is also one of strikes nominated for the ‘most beautiful’ goal of the calendar year – named in honour of Real Madrid and Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas.
You can watch Enciso’s goal below, and vote for your favourite HERE
Mikel Arteta has praised Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou’s impact at the club ahead of the north London derby on Sunday.
Postecoglou’s free-scoring Spurs have netted 13 times in five Premier League matches to make an unbeaten start to the top-flight campaign.
And Arsenal boss Arteta admitted he is a fan of the Australian ahead of this weekend’s showdown.
“They have a new challenge, a new opportunity, they have a new manager who is doing really well and he’s managed to change the vibe around the club and with a different style too, so we need to be ourselves and produce the performance to beat them,” Arteta said.
“I really like him. I have players who had him before and they always speak really highly of him, which is not a coincidence because straight away he’s fitting in the right way and that’s the beauty of the league where there are top managers, competition and every game is very difficult.
“The recent year has been beautiful [against Tottenham – Arsenal won twice last season] and it’s about being with our supporters when we manage to win the game and the satisfaction that you give to everyone. It’s a special day for everybody and hopefully we can do that again.
“They have many qualities [despite Kane’s departure] so it’s a big change but they have adapted well to it.”
Eddie Howe also revealed some Newcastle injury news, with Joe Willock and Joelinton still unavailable for their return to Premier League action against Sheffield United.
The Magpies boss also spoke about the team’s preparation for Sunday’s clash after their Champions League showdown with AC Milan, which he said was draining physically and mentally for the players.
“We’re still missing the two Joe’s in midfield, but apart from that I think we’re good,” Howe said in his pre-match press conference.
“We hope with Joelinton that he could possibly be back sooner, but with Joe Willock it will definitely be after the international break.
“It was a difficult game [against AC Milan], it’s a tough place to go. A good, direct team who will ask us questions physically. They’ve got lots of areas to their team that can hurt us.
Those that played haven’t trained. Physically they can’t — that would be negative taking more energy from them. We probably won’t train fully before Sunday.
“We will be ‘training’ — but not at maximum. I don’t think anyone can measure emotionally what Milan took out of us.
“We’re going to have to rotate the squad. We don’t want to make wholesale changes in any one game. I don’t think that does our rhythm any good. Tweaks as we go along.”
Eddie Howe has responded to the clip of Newcastle star Jacob Murphy that went viral around their Champions League clash with AC Milan.
The winger was a surprise pick for the starting XI for the huge European night, and a video showing a goosebump moment for the ace during the UEFA anthem trended on social media.
Murphy could be seen soaking up the atmosphere at the famous San Siro, as the Magpies players prepared to play in what was the club’s first Champions League fixture in 20 years.
And Howe loved it.
“Jacob was magnificent last year,” said the boss this morning.
“He’s very reliable, you know what you’re going to get from him. He did a really good job for the team.
“I’ve seen the video. I don’t know if he’s overwhelmed but he’s just taking it in.
“Rightly so, for a lot of our players. I think Jacob was savouring that moment.”
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