Exclusive: Viktor Gyokeres ready to make decision over Sporting Lisbon future, Arsenal and Liverpool keen

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 02, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is ready to make a decision over his future at the Portuguese club.

With the Premier League transfer window closing on Friday, former Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres is set to remain in Portugal this summer after teams from England’s top division were keen on the Swedish striker.

HITC had reported that Arsenal had watched Gyokeres during a league game for Sporting Lisbon with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea and Arne Slot’s Liverpool also keen.

With the calibre of players interested in the Swedish forward, it would be natural to assume that Gyokeres may become unsettled but he has made a decision about his future.

Viktor Gyokeres ready to commit future to Sporting Lisbon

HITC has been told that Sporting Lisbon star Gyokeres is ready to sign a new long-term deal with the club.

Gyokeres emerged last season as one of Europe’s most feared strikers and he was strongly linked with a move this summer.

HITC understands that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all looked closely at him in the summer and watched him intently last season.

Indeed, Chelsea and Liverpool were of particular interest at one point when both showed an interest in Sporting’s head coach Ruben Amorim.

Prior to Liverpool settling on Slot for the difficult task of replacing the iconic manager in Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, the Reds were keen on Amorim.

Indeed, the Reds were interested in the Portuguese manager but the Lisbon boss came out and publicly denied reports that a deal had been agreed.

Ruben Amorim’s summer decision could play key role in Gyokeres’ future

HITC believes that Amorim’s decision to stay in Lisbon, rather than potentially move to the Premier League this summer, has played a major role in Gyokeres not leaving the club.

Indeed, Amorim has managed to hold on to all of his star names including Gyokeres – who is now in line to possibly sign a new deal.

Last season for the Portuguese side, Gyokeres performed incredibly with the Swedish striker scoring an incredible 43 times in 50 games in all competitions for Sporting.

This season, it looks to be much the same for the former Coventry City ace with seven goals from five games this campaign.

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'He doesn't like it': Michael Owen noticed Slot 'grimacing' at Liverpool player's passing at Old Trafford

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 02, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Arne Slot has introduced himself to the Liverpool fans following his side’s 3-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday at Old Trafford.

Under Jurgen Klopp, everyone knew what Liverpool would dish out and there was a lot of in-your-face type of football.

But under Slot, the style of play is far more controlled and the players are much calmer in possession as they have displayed in their first three matches.

Michael Owen stated that Slot doesn’t want any risky football and he noticed how he would react to any risks being taken whilst he was stood on the touchline at Old Trafford.

Even though Liverpool outclassed Manchester United, their tempo didn’t change at all and they always played the game like it was 0-0.

One man who has made a fantastic start under Slot is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been used in his usual right-back role, despite calls for his new manager to play him in midfield.

Under Klopp, Alexander-Arnold showcased his Kevin de Bruyne-esque qualities on the ball and would ping passes around for fun.

But Owen stated that Slot was ‘grimacing’ any time the England international tried to play a ‘risky’ ball against Manchester United, as he told Premier League Productions (01/09/24 at 5:00 pm).

Overall, Alexander-Arnold produced a strong defensive display and had a goal disallowed before being subbed off after 76 minutes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold under Arne Slot

“It has been quite telling in front of us, Arne Slot,” said Owen. “I mean, any risky ball and he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like it at all.

“As soon as Trent decides to take his foot back to ping one across the pitch, he is grimacing. He just wants safe play. In this second half, there is no need for risk now. I think he will be drumming it into them there ‘even safer, keep the ball and take the sting out of the crowd’.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract

Real Madrid are knocking for Alexander-Arnold and you have to worry if you are a Liverpool fan because he has less than 12 months remaining on his contract.

Conor Bradley is Alexander-Arnold’s back-up, and whilst he is showing huge promise, there isn’t a replacement in the building for their star man on the right.

READ MORE: Star gets ‘better and better’ after Liverpool sale as he impresses manager on full debut

But the Liverpool academy product isn’t the only one who could head for the exit door and you fear the club have some huge calls to make.

If, at a minimum, the team can secure Champions League football this season and then tie down Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah to new deals, then it would be a brilliant sign for the club’s future post-Klopp.

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‘After watching’: Paul Scholes changes his mind about Arsenal and Liverpool title challenge

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 02, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all battled it out for the Premier League title last season.

Liverpool will be annoyed they didn’t win the title because they were sitting top for large parts, only to collapse and open the door to Pep Guardiola’s side.

When Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool, many were questioning what the team would produce and questioned if they would challenge for the big prize.

Many were backing Manchester City to be pushed by Arsenal only before a ball was kicking, including Paul Scholes thinking that the London club would go on to win it.

But after Liverpool beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, the legendary midfielder is starting to share a different view.

Yes, it’s only three games and a lot could change after the international break, but Scholes likes what he sees from this new-look Liverpool side.

Added to that, Arsenal dropped points to Brighton on Saturday, only a week after being lucky to win at Villa Park.

On the eye, Manchester City and Liverpool have looked far better and that seems to be changing Scholes’ mind as well, as he told Premier League Productions (01/09/24 at 6:10 pm).

Plus, Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa to boost an already-strong forward line, as Scholes shared his thoughts on the title battle.

Who will win the Premier League title?

“There is a real dominance about that Liverpool squad, they could really challenge for that title,” said Scholes.

“Before a ball was kicked, I thought Arsenal, it might be their year to give Manchester City a real go and possibly go on to win it.

“But after watching the first three games, I think Liverpool could go past Arsenal. They were up there for a long part of the season last year. They only fell away in the last few games. But if they keep that squad together and the majority of that fit, I think that’s a team that could challenge Manchester City, without a doubt.”

More pressure on Arsenal than Liverpool

If Klopp was still in charge, then it would be a different story, but you feel there is more pressure on Arsenal this season than Liverpool.

Given that Slot is new to the dugout, he will be given time, whether they do or don’t challenge for the big honours.

But you sense Mikel Arteta has to deliver something sooner rather than later, or else, he will have a lot of verbal stick coming his way.

Arsenal have spent again in the summer transfer market, so it’s not like he isn’t being backed.

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'I have no idea': Shay Given blasts £42m Tottenham star who went on a 'mad one' during Newcastle defeat

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 01, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Tottenham will be kicking themselves for their missed opportunities after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou will be wondering. How did we lose that one? But in truth, it has now become an unfortunate common theme during his stewardship.

A lot of talk is around Tottenham’s very poor finishing and that was on display in bucket loads at St James’ Park, but so was their abject defending.

This wasn’t like Spurs defeat to Newcastle during their last two visits – that was truly embarrassing of the highest order – but there were moments where their defence let them down again.

Harvey Barnes opened the scoring for Newcastle with a clever finish just before half-time, but a lot of it could and should been avoided.

Micky van de Ven was absent for Tottenham, which meant that Cristian Romero was partnering back-up option Radu Dragusin at the heart of the defence.

But for the opening goal Spurs conceded, Romero proceeded to go out of position, chase the ball towards the halfway line, fail to win it and it then put his backline under immense pressure.

Shay Given stated that Romero went on a ‘mad one’ and it put many things out of place for the London club, including leaving goalscorer Barnes unmarked inside the penalty area.

The former goalkeeper pointed out that the World Cup winner is supposed to be the ‘main man’ for his team and the ‘leader’ at the back, yet he didn’t showcase it, as he told Match of the Day 2.

Cristian Romero’s defending

“There were question marks over the defence, definitely,” said Given. “This is a straightforward ball from Nick Pope, you see the back four, they aren’t together and there is no leadership. They should be together as a back four, with the two centre-halves pushed up. It’s just a clearance from Nick Pope up the field, a brilliant touch from Anthony Gordon, but now they are in trouble. Chasing back from their own goal. This was a warning.

“This was the first goal. We highlight Romero here, who is your main centre-half, the main leader at the back. He just goes on a mad one here. I have no idea where he is going, to be honest. He chases down twice and there is no real action to get back into defensive shape.

“We highlight Bissouma, he now needs to get back and cover for his centre-half because he sees Isak in a dangerous position. I think Bissouma would be in the position Barnes is (instead of having to mark Isak) if Romero didn’t go on a mad one. And he scores. It goes back to leadership at the back. Leadership as a team.”

Tottenham’s defensive issues

Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at Leicester on the opening weekend of the new season was just the same and it isn’t a good look for the team.

Romero was criticised for his performance then, as Postecoglou needs to sort out his team’s away performances and results.

READ MORE: Ian Wright has made an early Raheem Sterling & Tottenham prediction after Arsenal move

It would be helpful if players like Romero could showcase some maturity and consistency in their game because the £42 million signing is proving to be costly on many occasions.

On his day, Spurs fans know that he is one of the best in the Premier League, but there are far too many performances that leave fans frustrated.

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Frank Lampard baffled by 'strange' actions of Tottenham star against Newcastle

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 01, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Tottenham shot themselves in the foot again as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Sunday at St James’ Park.

Ange Postecoglou has been here many times before, his team created enough chances to win three or four games, yet they come out of it with zero points.

Frank Lampard was critical of Tottenham‘s finishing and how it was their issue that they didn’t score rather than very good Newcastle defending.

One man he singled out was captain Son Heung-min and his performance as that number nine for Spurs, with Dominic Solanke injured.

Harvey Barnes opened the scoring for Newcastle, but for the rest of the game, the home team were under severe pressure, especially in the second half.

It eventually resulted in Dan Burn firing the ball into his own net and it felt like there was only going to be one winner after that.

But Alexander Isak scored again against Spurs following a devastating counter-attack, with Spurs fans understandably frustrated with their team.

Lampard pin-pointed the type of finishes the Spurs players were attempting and also the movement of their players which was proving to be an issue.

The former Chelsea midfielder highlighted Son’s ‘strange’ movement during the game and how he should have been in the six-yard box to tap home a Brennan Johnson cross.

But instead, he was just inside the opposition area waiting for a cut-back, with Tottenham’s new boy Wilson Odobert also missing a big chance at the far post, as he told Match of the Day 2.

Tottenham’s lack of finishing

“They could definitely say that,” said Lampard about the defenders saying to the attackers ‘you lot could have scored more’.

“If you are talking about risk and reward. And style of play, then Tottenham do stay true to themselves. We know how they want to play. One of the effective things they do is get lots of players forward in and around the box, with their fullbacks and Porro joining in all the time. We saw it was an afternoon of a lot of opportunities and they spurned, for whatever reason. Whether it be the execution, the finish or the decision-making. 

“This one here (Odobert chance at the far post after Brennan Johnson cross). I think it’s decision-making, in terms of, you have to head that. When that ball drops down there, it’s really hard to stay on top of the ball with your knee, which he ends up doing. You have to head that. It’s a big, big massive chance.

“After that, it was a moment of getting a lot of numbers forward. For whatever reason, not getting the right finish. Newcastle, yes, a lot of bodies behind the ball, but this wasn’t so much good Newcastle defending. I think it was Tottenham not making most of the chances. This is a strange movement from Son (as Johnson is going to cross the ball from the right flank). When he is the one striker and number nine in the box. It might be because he’s not an out-an-out striker. He goes for the cut-back when he should be getting into the six-yard box, so it’s an afternoon of those things and it not going right for them.”

Dominic Solanke return

Solanke showed positive signs on his Tottenham debut, but he has been sidelined since and he needs to return as soon as possible.

Spurs just need that focal figure up front, which would then allow Son to operate on the left flank, in a position where he can get the best out of himself.

READ MORE: Sebastien Bassong says Ange Postecoglou has the ‘perfect’ player at Tottenham

It’s the small matter of the north London derby after the international break and if Solanke is fit, then there is no better game to score your first goal.

Raheem Sterling could also make his Arsenal debut, so there are a lot of potential stories to be written here and headlines to be made.

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'I would hate': Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher react to Declan Rice’s red card for Arsenal

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 01, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Declan Rice’s red card for Arsenal during their draw against Brighton has been a major talking point this weekend.

Mikel Arteta is fully aware that his team simply can’t drop many points given what they are up against regarding Manchester City.

But Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton already feels like a body blow for the team, especially given that Pep Guardiola’s side and Liverpool have made a 100% start to the new Premier League season.

However, Erling Haaland slammed what he was hearing about Arsenal and he defended the London club amid their frustration from the Brighton game.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher shared their thoughts on Rice’s red card because it has divided opinion.

The England midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the second half for kicking the ball away and not allowing Brighton to take a quick free kick.

But the gripe from Arsenal fans is that Joao Pedro booted the ball away in the first half, and despite protests, nothing was given and he wasn’t carded.

Neville admitted that the call to send Rice off was ‘soft’ and he would have ‘hated’ to have got sent off for such an action.

The Manchester United legend explained that Rice kicking the ball away was ‘a little tap’, even though the letter of the law states the official was right to make the call.

Jamie Carragher thinks Rice can have no arguments, but he did think Rice and Joel Veltman were trying to get each sent off at that moment, as he told Sky Sports. 

Should Declan Rice have been sent off against Brighton?

“You can’t argue when you look at the letter of the law,” said Carragher. “I would have liked to have seen the referee use a bit of game management. Get the two of them together really quickly. Get the game going and I don’t think anyone would have made too big a deal about the fact that neither of them had been booked.

“I think Declan Rice went down a little bit too easily. The player from Brighton knew there wasn’t really a pass on. Almost trying to get each other booked. I don’t think they can argue, but I would have liked to have seen a bit of better game management from the referee.”

Neville added: “I thought it was soft. I used to get frustrated by delaying the game – if a player kicks it away in anger against a referee’s decision, then I think it should be a booking. If a player really prolongs or there is a delay and you can see them booting it away. I think it’s so quick and it’s just a reaction. It’s a little tap. I don’t know. I know you can’t differentiate sometimes between it and I know it’s the law. It did feel soft, for me. That sending off. The reality of it is, it is what it is. We are all going to get bad decisions in a season, but Arsenal, I think, their fans are going to be aggrieved. They are aggrieved. The manager would be. I would hate to get sent off for that.”

Declan Rice suspended for Tottenham game

After the international break, it’s the small matter of the north London derby, with Arsenal making the short trip to Tottenham.

Arsenal will be without Rice against Spurs, with Jorginho probably expected to come in for the Englishman, even though they aren’t like-for-like players. 

READ MORE: Danny Murphy makes bold prediction for Arsenal summer signing after ‘incredible’ deal

Tottenham were beaten at Newcastle on Sunday at St James’ Park, so they aren’t exactly going into the game full of confidence.

But they should take it as a plus that Rice won’t be available, with both teams just unable to drop points or lose this fixture.

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‘Look at that’: Ian Wright hits out at Arsenal player for ‘jogging’ after Declan Rice’s red card

By: Muhammad Saeed on September 01, 2024 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Ian Wright wasn’t best pleased after Arsenal dropped points at home to Brighton on Saturday.

From Wright’s perspective, even though Arsenal didn’t win, he sees it as a point gained because Mikel Arteta’s side were down to ten men.

Declan Rice was sent off early in the second half for a second bookable offence for kicking the ball away.

That call infuriated the Arsenal supporters, with Arteta making his feelings clear about Rice’s red card and the inconsistency around it all.

Joao Pedro scored Brighton’s equalising goal and he too kicked the ball away in the first half, but nothing was given, so you can understand their frustration.

But that wasn’t the only thing that frustrated Wright, it’s how certain players reacted when such a key figure like Rice had to leave the pitch.

Brighton are a naturally attacking side, they like to keep possession, they have made a 100% start to the new season, so their tails are up and they were going to put pressure on the title chasers.

But that doesn’t stop you from doing the basics right and one man, in particular, was singled out by the Arsenal legend.

For Brighton’s goal, Wright noticed Thomas Partey ‘jogging’ and not picking up the run of Pedro, who in the end, would score from inside the box following a rebound.

Wright made it clear that ‘could have been avoided’ because they should have ‘put pressure’ on Lewis Dunk as well who passed the ball forward, as he told Premier League Productions (31/08/24 at 2:40 pm).

Thomas Partey slammed after Arsenal draw against Brighton

“When you look at that and the play from there, you look at Thomas Partey,” said Wright. “He (Joao Pedro) has literally run past him.

“Thomas Partey also has to recognise, in that instance, he has to go all the way with Pedro. At least make a challenge, when Pedro just blasts past him and he is kind of jogging back.

“Those are the things, when you look back at that, you say ‘that could have been avoided’. Maybe you could have put more pressure on Lewis Dunk. He has the capability. Put more pressure on that. Cut that angle off him and then I think Partey has to cover Pedro.”

Arsenal against Tottenham

After the international break, it’s the small matter of the north London derby at Tottenham’s stadium and this is going to be huge for both teams.

Tottenham lost to Newcastle on Sunday and they go into that game with extra pressure on their shoulders.

READ MORE: Danny Murphy makes bold prediction for Arsenal summer signing after ‘incredible’ deal

But Rice will be suspended for the Tottenham game, so that should be a boost for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Although, Arsenal could hand a debut to Raheem Sterling against Spurs, as more drama awaits in the next edition of the north London derby. 

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