April 26, 2023 - Matchplug Blog

Liverpool interested in Manchester City Outcast

Liverpool are reportedly looking to make a shock move for Manchester City star Kalvin Phillips this summer.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are planning a summer rebuild and are keen to add at least three midfielders to their ageing midfield.

Jude Bellingham was their primary target for the season, but the Borussia Dortmund sensation is considered too pricey. So the Reds are looking for cheaper alternatives and have identified Phillips as one.

The midfielder joined Manchester City last summer but has yet to enjoy his time at the Etihad.

Injuries and a loss of form have seen him make just seven Premier League appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side. But, per the Mirror report, he is open to leaving the Etihad this summer and would ‘relish’ the chance of playing under Jurgen Klopp, per a report.

City signed the former Leeds United favourite for £45m (including add-ons) last summer and might be willing to sell him slightly for less that amount.

Apart from Phillips, Liverpool have also been linked with Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Ryan Gravenberch and Nicolo Barella, to name just six.

West Ham United vs Liverpool: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Liverpool will look to make it three wins in three Premier League games when they travel to London to face West Ham United.

Meanwhile, David Moyes’ side are looking to make it two wins in two league games and to keep their chances of survival alive in this game.

The Hammers took a giant leap towards Premier League survival with a massive 4-0 win over fellow relegation candidates Bournemouth last time. The win made it five games without defeat for the hosts (W3, D2).

The result also saw them score four goals for the second consecutive game after a 4-1 win against Belgian side Gent in the Europa Conference League.

They now sit six points ahead of the relegation zone and will be hoping to keep their run going when Liverpool visits. However, keeping the Reds at bay will be a tall order, considering that only two of West Ham’s last 20 encounters with opposition starting the day in the top half ended in victory (D5, L13).

Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in twelve of the last 13 head-to-head meetings (W10, D2), although that only loss did come in this fixture last season.

They will look to win here and keep their dreams alive for an unlikely top-four finish. A miraculous 3-2 against Nottingham Forest at the weekend ensured they remained within striking distance of the top four places.

But there is still work to be done to salvage something tangible from the season, as they currently sit seventh in the table.

Meanwhile, West Ham are one of three Premier League teams this season yet to experience a 0-0 draw. So we can expect goals when both teams meet.

Therefore a BTTS/GG prediction would not be out of place.

Tottenham in DISARRAY as they SACK second coach this season

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked acting head coach Cristian Stellini following their embarrassing loss to Newcastle United on Sunday.

The North London side were humiliated as they were beaten 6-1 at Newcastle on Sunday. Stellini described the performance as the worst he has ever seen, but he has now paid for the display with his job.

Spurs released a statement on Monday night to confirm the decision, with club chairman Daniel Levy wishing the Italian well in his future endeavours.

“Cristian will leave his current role along with his coaching staff,” the statement said.

“Cristian stepped in at a difficult point in our season, and I want to thank him for the professional manner in which he and his coaching staff have conducted themselves during such a challenging time. We wish him and his staff well.”

Ryan Mason, a coach under Stellini, will take over first-team management. The 31-year-old is understood to have significant support from Spurs’ players to take the team until the end of the season.

This will be the second time he is acting in that capacity, having also acted as interim head coach in 2021 after Jose Mourinho was sacked.

“Ryan Mason will take over head coach duties with immediate effect. Ryan knows the club and the players well. We shall update further on his coaching staff in due course,” Levy’s statement continued.

“I met with the player committee today – the squad is determined to pull together to ensure the strongest possible finish to the season.

“We are all clear we need to deliver performances which earn your amazing support.”

Stellini is the second coach Spurs is sacking this season following the dismissal of Antonio Conte late last month. The Italian lasted for just four games, with a record of one win, two losses and one draw.

Manchester City vs Arsenal: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Manchester City and Arsenal will go head-to-head this Wednesday in arguably the biggest game of the Premier League season for a top-of-the-table clash that could decide where the title will end this season.

Both sides are in a heated title race, with Pep Guardiola hoping to ensure his mentee and former assistant Mikel Arteta does not end their run to a third straight Premier League title.

After slipping up, Guardiola’s side has fought well to keep up with Arsenal, thanks to a strong run of six straight Premier League wins.

They have done so while keeping their quest for a historic treble alive. They saw off Bayern Munich last week ( 4-1 on aggregate) to reach the Champions League semi-finals before beating Sheffield United (3-0) last weekend to book a place in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

So they come into this time in solid shape as they attempt to close Arsenal’s five-point gap at the top of the table, knowing they still have two games in hand.

Their form at the Etihad will give them belief here, as the Cityzens have won each of their last six home PL fixtures by at least a two-goal margin, even though only two came with a clean sheet.

But Arsenal could struggle to score here as the hosts haven’t conceded in any of the last four head-to-head meetings (W4). The North London side have had terrible outings in their recent visits to the Etihad and cannot afford another poor result as that will take the title destiny out of their hands.

Although they are five points ahead of City, they have played two more games and must win this game to ensure that the title destiny is still in their hands at the end of this round.

They could have been okay with a draw if they hadn’t shot themselves in the leg with three straight draws in which they conceded seven goals.

They travel to the Etihad without a clean sheet in their last six games and must sort out their terrible defence to get all three points in this game and keep their title quest alive.

Meanwhile, this season, Man City’s Premier League home games have produced a league-high average of 2.2 goals per first half.

So we expect a high-scoring game at the Etihad, with over 2.5 goals a high possibility.

Day: April 26, 2023

Liverpool interested in Manchester City Outcast

West Ham United vs Liverpool: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Tottenham in DISARRAY as they SACK second coach this season

Manchester City vs Arsenal: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

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