Arsenal have been given a huge boost in their chase to sign Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk after he revealed that being linked with the Gunners is a great feeling, Metro reports.
The 23-year-old defender is also being tracked by Everton and Sunderland is currently rated at about £10million by his club Celtic with the player said to be keen on a switch to the Premier League.
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“I have recently been thinking a bit about it [his career]. I am now 23 and have played at Willem II, FC Groningen and Celtic and am now linked to clubs like Arsenal. Isn’t that great?
“There are a lot of clubs interested, but Celtic is holding onto a big transfer fee. The club is clear: they don’t want to let me go in the winter, because we’re playing for four trophies.
“I understand the point of view from the club and I see it as a compliment that they don’t want to let me go.
“But we have to be realistic. If there’s a nice club from England, we have to talk. I want to develop myself as a player, that’s for sure.”
Arsene Wenger’s side have been rattled by a number of defensive injuries with Mathieu Debuchy being the latest victim to join the list as he is now deemed out for three months due to a shoulder injury.
The addition of another centre-back will be a lift for the Gunners as they currently only have two experienced centre-backs, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.
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Earlier in the season, Wenger was forced to use a number of his wingers in the middle of his defence when Koscielny was unavailable, prompting his search for a key defender to be a top priority this month.
Joe Cole has revealed it was difficult turning down his old manager Harry Redknapp at QPR before opting to sign for West Ham.
Cole, 31, completed his move from Liverpool to Upton Park on Friday morning, signing an 18-month contract with Sam Allardyce’s side.
The former England international midfielder broke onto the Premier League scene at West Ham under Redknapp, who handed him his debut in the top flight, aged just 17, after spending four years at the club’s youth academy.
And Cole had the chance to reunite with Redknapp at a struggling QPR side during this January transfer window, but while he admits he owes a lot to Redknapp, he says he could not resist the opportunity to return to his boyhood club.
“That was the hardest thing for me,” Cole explained to London 24, “because Harry gave me my first chance and I will be forever indebted to him, but there was too much here at West Ham for me to say no.
“The only hard thing was turning down Harry because I love him and I would not be the player I was if it wasn’t for him.”
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce feels the former Chelsea man can now push on at Upton Park and force his way back into the England set-up.
But Cole, who has 56 caps for his country, is concentrating on regaining form for West Ham first.
“I need to get playing first, and probably will need three or four matches to get back to top level,” he said.
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“I will always harbour those ambitions because I love playing for my country, but it will be down to performance.”
Leeds United announced via their official club Twitter account on Monday that midfielder Ronaldo Vieira had been called up by the England Under-20 side for their friendly match against Portugal on Tuesday, and Whites fans were quick to react to the news.
Despite being a key player under the leadership of former boss Garry Monk last season – he made 38 appearances in all competitions – the 19-year-old has found starts harder to come by under Thomas Christiansen and now Paul Heckingbottom in the league this term.
The Guinea-born midfielder has been an unused substitute in the Yorkshire outfit’s previous three Championship fixtures with the likes of Adam Forshaw, Kalvin Phillips and Eunan O’Kane – who has been heavily criticised by the Elland Road faithful for his displays – preferred ahead of him.
Leeds supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the call-up, and while one said: “How? He can’t get in our squad ahead of O’Kane”, another said “but we continue to play O’Kane”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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Liverpool’s 2014 has been one of contrast and change. The year started so well as Brendan Rodgers’ Reds went on a stunning winning run to almost clinch a first ever Premier League title, playing some of the best football in the English top flight along the way.
Then came the summer… Luis Suarez’s bite on Giorgio Chiellini was swiftly followed by his move to Barcelona, and Liverpool have not been the same side since. The Merseysiders are currently 19 points down on the tally they had this time last year, and the top four quest looks like it may be a tricky one for Rodgers this time around.
We’ve stuck with the Anfielders through the thick and thin, and here are the ten best articles from the 2014 journey…
Could this be the transfer coup of the season for Liverpool?
It may look like a bullet dodged now, but Liverpool really, really, REALLY wanted this Egyptian – who was tipped for the top…
Amid the chaos of any transfer window you’re always likely to get your high profile moves, but at the same time it is often those that slip the radar that prove to be the most successful.
Mohamed Salah is hardly a household name in England, but those that saw him play against Tottenham and Chelsea in the last couple of years will realise what a talent the Egyptian looks set to be. At 21 he has all the pace you would expect from an incisive wide man, but what separates him from many of the other quality wingers is his technical ability and all round attacking craft.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON…
Three transfer ‘ins and outs’ at Liverpool this January
With January now on the agenda, let’s look back at the issues facing Liverpool last time around…
The January window is well under way, and despite the regular criticism the winter market often gets in England, there’s no doubting it’s utility to Premier League clubs.
The mid-season window gives managers the chance to add reinforcements for the season’s final run-in, and attempt to get some of the deadwood off the wage bill.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON…
Six marquee signings in Liverpool’s summer plans
A ‘marquee’ man has always been Rodgers’ wish, and here are six that may have been better than Balotelli
To sum up Liverpool’s transfer activities from last summer in a nutshell; there was a lot of tents, some very snazzy and well-priced tents, but no genuine marquee.
Their efforts in the January window shared a similar fate, with Mohamed Salah rejecting a move to Anfield in favour of a Chelsea switch and the Reds’ late attempts to sign for Dnipro’s Yevhen Konoplyanka ending in failure.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON…
Barca’s loss Liverpool’s gain… six players that could be heading to Anfield
Ironically it was Barca who raided Liverpool in the end, but it looked, initially, as if the Reds would profit from their proposed ban…
The coming transfer window was billed as a huge one for Spanish powerhouses Barcelona. With Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol both planning to leave the club, and concerns over ageing midfield duo Xavi and Andreas Iniesta, the Catalans were expected to significantly strengthen in several key areas at the end of the season.
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Six to follow Moreno to Liverpool
Alberto Moreno was one of the Reds’ high profile summer signings, and it was predicted that a few more big names could follow
According to the ever-reliable Daily Mail, following his impressive display in the Europa League final,Liverpool are set to launch a swoop for Sevilla starlet Alberto Moreno.
With Jose Enrique a rather ordinary defender and Aly Cissokho’s loan spell unlikely to become a permanent deal at Anfield, the highly-rated Spaniard would certainly address the Reds’ need for a new left-back ahead of next season.
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Six deals Liverpool could make before the World Cup
The World Cup presented an odd transfer embargo for clubs, but Liverpool were linked with a host of stars before a ball was kicked in Brazil.
Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers will want to be quick in putting the title disappointment of this past season behind them and move on to preparing for the next campaign.
While the team were praised throughout the season for their brand of football, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure next year is equally as successful, if not more.
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Five signings to convince Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool
We all now how this one ended… but Liverpool did try to keep their man
Liverpool currently sit on top of the Premier League table with 80 points and are in the running to end their 24-year league trophy drought. And a big part to their success this season has undoubtedly been down to the talents of Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan has just received the PFA Player of the Year award after scoring 30 goals in just 31 appearances this season.
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Five reasons to be excited about Balotelli…
Erm… it looked positive initially!
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Oh Mario Balotelli… how we’ve missed you so.
When Balotelli left Manchester City back in the January of 2013, the Premier League lost one of the world’s most enigmatic characters in football.
But after just a year in a half back in Serie A with AC Milan, the Italian superstar is returning to the English top flight this time playing in the red of Liverpool.
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Bring him back! Liverpool ace makes case for re-call
Aspas was a disaster last season, but he’s impressing over in Spain this time around…
Liverpool’s attacking prowess this season is a far cry from their ruthlessness in front of goal last season.
That is partly down to Daniel Sturridge being sidelined with a calf injury and mostly because Luis Suarez was allowed to leave after enjoying the best season of his career.
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A step in the wrong direction for Liverpool?
Where did it all go wrong?
There are the transfers that shock because you didn’t think they were possible – Torres to Chelsea for £50m. And there are those that shock by virtue of their sheer size – Bale to Real Madrid for £86m. But every now and again a transfer shocks because it’s just plain bizarre.
He went from hero to jobless in a matter of weeks at Newcastle, but since then a lot has changed for Chris Hughton and he inevitably found himself back in the Premier League spotlight. In the wake of his former side’s current plight did the Magpies miss a trick by letting Hughton go?
The path he has taken since initially suggests they may have done. He did a tremendous job with Birmingham City to get a disjointed squad into the Championship playoffs. He also provided a respectable Europa League campaign, including a 2-1 victory in Brugge as a cherry on top of the cake for the Blues fans. He has shown that he has the capability of ensuring unity in his squads that can enable them to go on runs just as Norwich have. There were doubters of the Canaries as they struggled for early season form now they are on their best run in their Premier League history. The manager takes huge credit for that and rightly so.
I raise a smile at Hughton establishing himself as a Premier League manager. Newcastle fans nostalgically call upon the 5-1 Halloween demolition of Sunderland at St. James’s Park. No supporter on Tyneside will forget the day when Kevin Nolan caused havoc chicken clucking around as he put a hatrick past his team’s bitter rivals. There was the feeling that this alone would be spare Hughton a lot of time, and that a popular manager can finally settle. The lacklustre performance at the Hawthorns in his last game in charge was not an indicator of a departure. Nobody expected him to go when he did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.
Now you look back you can see why his partnership with Newcastle United came to an end. Hughton was destined to leave for the reason that he may have been a great coach but his existence was not very much beyond that. I am not ignorant to assume that all he did was coach, but he was an isolated figure even if the fans never wanted to admit it. Newcastle supporters are correct to say he was unfortunate to be sacked, but the board knew exactly what he brought to the table. He was a motivator and encouraged a fantastic team spirit. This wasn’t enough; they did not have the confidence that he was the face they could put their trust in. The turbulent spell like they are facing now needs a strong personality to take the criticism in his stride and ability to see the vision of the board before the supporters. The quiet unassuming figure of Hughton was not what the Newcastle decision makers wanted to work with.
Ashley was all too aware having a manager in charge that was seen as a fans messiah was dangerous. He knew from when Kevin Keegan was installed due to fan power that this can only end one way, in tears. The Owner could not take the risk that Hughton could use the fans as a weapon against him. There was no communication between Chris Hughton and the board they were separate entities and for this reason they had to split.
Mike Ashley was rarely given credit for his meticulous business planning before the days of Pardew. This is because any manager’s positive image was done individually and did not include the main man in charge upstairs, which would have made the fans appreciate the board. Alan Pardew instantly spoke about working with the board as a unit. The 41 year old has marketed Newcastle as a brand run by the club’s hierarchy, rather than promoting his personal image of Mr Pardew being Mr Newcastle United. This was a perfect scenario for Ashley because he knew any popularity Pardew would gain he would benefit from too.
This is demonstrated when Alan Pardew explained about the club’s transfer failings he mentions the five man hierarchy getting it wrong with himself and chief scout Graham Carr included. The affiliation of blame to two popular characters in his honest appraisal draws in an acceptance from the fans. It deflects blame away from Ashley rather than venom and spite in his direction, which is essential. The owner knows that Pardew will work his visions around what is dictated to him and this is pivotal for any working relationship. Mike Ashley is the ultimate boss, because it is his money that goes in and Pardew understands this loud and clear. This is why he was so handsomely rewarded with an 8 year deal. The Sports Direct owner is sure to make some ruthless business calls on player sales and purchases in the future but the fact that this won’t be a surprise to Pardew is a massive boost.
Newcastle experienced a stormy spell when Carroll left for £35 million. A fan backlash then has prepared the former Southampton boss for this current wave of frustration. He answers to the board before the fans though and the unity this provides will ensure Newcastle remains a strong unit for the foreseeable future. If Pardew plays by Ashley’s rules he will be rewarded, and given opportunity to sign players to improve the team under a suitable structure.
Pardew and the club’s hierarchy have been on the same page since day one; he was wanted and had utmost respect from the owner. He is a channel of communication between the fans and the owner that had never existed under Hughton. How Hughton was viewed upstairs was always shrouded in controversy. He ended up in charge purely as an agreement of convenience in the Championship and because he got the Magpies promoted he had to stay, in the same way Abramovich was obligated to keep Di Matteo.
Alan Pardew is a completely different kettle of fish to what Hughton was. He buys into the Ashley plan and he doesn’t appear to be left in the dark on subjects and can usually shed light on issues between board and fans. I am convinced that results would not have been all too dissimilar under Hughton or ‘Pardiola’, but the current boss was brought in to guide the ship at times just like now. It is why the fans remain patient that he will turn it round once again and few fans have called for his head.
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While the split with Hughton was unfortunate and messy for the fans, essentially the board certainly understood why they sacked him, and what they wanted from a manager. The timing was difficult but when was a good time to ever sack a fans favourite. There may be a clamour from fans to recall Hughton’s great exploits and yearn for the days he was here. Those who do that though will miss the point of the way the Newcastle hierarchy has to run if the club is to have a long term future.
Leeds fans have been reacting to the news that Liam Cooper and Andy Lonergan will miss Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
Centre back Liam Cooper and goalkeeper Andy Lonergan are both set to be out for extended periods, says Leeds manager Paul Heckingbottom.
Cooper was enduring a poor spell of form and taking plenty of stick from fans, and sustained his injury in the loss against Wolves. The captain was clattered by his own player, suffering a severe dead leg. Fans don’t seem all that sympathetic about the injury.
Lonergan had missed several games with a neck injury, and is now set for a longer spell on the sidelines after aggravating the injury. The 34 year-old probably doesn’t hold much hope of getting back in the team now, after the sudden emergence of Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Leeds host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, still seeking their second win in the calendar year. The injury to Lonergan won’t impact the lineup, but Cooper’s injury means Everton loanee Matthew Pennington will likely keep his place.
Fans have been reacting to the injury news on Twitter, and we don’t think Liam Cooper will want to check his social media this morning…
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The Manchester Derby is another hugely anticipated match in the English Premier League as two teams from Manchester go head to head for bragging rights.
With City currently ahead of United in recent seasons, Louis van Gaal will need to unleash his squad’s full potential in order to overcome their neighbours at the Etihad.
So, with that in mind, here are FIVE things the Red Devils need to do if they are going to have a chance of picking up three points against Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
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CLICK ON WAYNE ROONEY TO SEE THE FULL LIST
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Force Manchester City to defend
In recent matches between the two teams, Manchester City’s attacking presence has always gotten the better of Manchester United due to their quick and intricate passing. Even with key playmaker David Silva injured, they will still keep the same playing style.
If Louis van Gaal wants to avoid unnecessary pressure, he will need to encourage his side to be continuously attack their opponents rather than sit back and hope to break on the counter attacks. With such a lethal strike force, the Red Devils will need to make the best out of their chances.
Keep Sergio Aguero in line
Manchester United will already know that if they give Sergio Aguero any sort of room anywhere in or around the penalty area, they will surely be punished given the Argentine’s lethal form. With an out-of-form Yaya Toure and an injured David Silva, all the Manchester City players will be pushing the ball to Aguero.
This means United will have to be in constant communication over his movements as Daley Blind will need to be on the top of defensive game when tracking back to aid the squad’s defence. If the players can frustrate him enough and keep his impact at a minimum, they will surely avoid a losing unnecessary goals.
Unleash the Manchester United Galacticos
Although Manchester United are struggling defensively, they have one of the most feared front lines in the Premier League. If Louis van Gaal can unleash the likes of Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, and Robin van Persie against Manchester City, they could actually come away with three points.
Given the fact that City were unable to fend off Newcastle United at home, they could have defensive troubles of their own as Van Gaal will have to urge his players to attack Joe Hart’s goal. The four superstars in the squad are proven world class players and will need to be at the top of their game to ensure that Manuel Pellegrini will register his third consecutive defeat.
Manchester United need to keep their defensive composure
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Even though David De Gea is currently in amazing form, he cannot keep out every opportunity that comes his way. This means the back four, along with the midfield players will need to work together in order to ensure their goalkeeper is not over-exposed in any way.
It is known that Manchester United have been struggling defensively throughout the season, so if they can reproduce a similar performance to the one that kept Chelsea at bay, it could just be enough to ensure a tight scoreline. With Manchester City enjoying their attacks from the sides, players like Rafael and Luke Shaw will especially have to be at the top of their game.
Manchester United need Wayne Rooney to continue his derby form
If Wayne Rooney is full fit for the clash, Manchester City wills surely have something to fear because the Manchester United captain has already recorded 11 goals in this derby fixture. It is still unknown whether he will play a part given his latest injury, but knowing Rooney, he will do all he can to take part.
With the England man in the squad, United will have another devastating outlet in the attack as he joins Angel Di Maria as the link between the midfield and the attack. In addition to this, his never give up mentality will be a huge asset as he leads his teammates to track back and make sure everyone gives it their all.
Ipswich Town yet again failed to put in a good performance when fellow strugglers Peterborough United came to Portman Road on Saturday.
If the Tractor Boys were playing against a better side then it could have been another thrashing but thankfully the visitors were just as poor as the home team.
I have no idea what the Ipswich defence were doing when Lee Tomlin broke into the box. No matter how many times I watch the goal I can’t work out how they managed to let Tomlin have so much space to shoot. Ipswich did not even have a shot on target in the first half and if it wasn’t for Peterborough’s equally poor play then Ipswich would have never got back into the game. Perhaps the away side will feel like they could have won the game as Mick McCarthy’s side never looked like winning it.
Peterborough are mine and probably everyone else’s favorites to be relegated. The fact that Ipswich looked second best to a team destined for League One worries me greatly.
We can perhaps forgive the team for getting thumped by teams like Leicester, Blackpool and Crystal Palace because they are decent sides, but when they get showed up by the divisions weaker sides we have to draw the line and say that it is completely unacceptable.
You have to look at the likes of Lee Martin and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who get paid above average wages for those at Championship level and think what do they do to deserve those wages? Of course it is unfair to just single out two players but they are two prime examples of players that look like they don’t even care about their careers, let alone Ipswich’s league position.
Thankfully, Lee Martin’s contract is up in the summer so he will either be leaving or he will be signing a new contract on lower wages. I know a lot of fans think he has the potential to set the Championship alight but personally I would not have a problem with the club letting him go, even if it is for nothing. Yes he did win us a penalty and yes he may have the occasional good run of form once a season where he looks like one of our best players, but that is not really enough to justify having him around. With a bit more consistency I would consider him an average player at this level but nothing more than that. Most of the time he looks uninterested and it is a shame that he is letting what talent he has go to waste.
In fairness the same could be said for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas as the tricky winger has been far from his best this season. JET has always lacked consistency and even more importantly lacked composure in the final third of the pitch. It is exciting to see the former Arsenal player’s fancy footwork, weaving in and out of defenders to break into the box, but his inability to provide a decent cross or shot really lets him down.
Sometimes you get the impression that JET is really fired up for the game and defenders panic any time he gets near them. However once the winger knows he has a regular place in the team he starts to slack off, losing his enthusiasm and flair. Recently he has started on the bench and looks more up for games when he eventually does come on but why should we keep a highly paid player at the club who can never maintain a regular starting role?
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Like I mentioned before, these two players are not the only ones failing to pull their weight but they summarise the kind of players that are at Ipswich. If they don’t even care about their own careers then the club has no chance of getting the best out of them. January can’t come soon enough, hopefully McCarthy will get the money to bring some real footballers into the club.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s World Cup campaign has once again contained impressive doses of enormous potential, even if the Chelsea youngster still doesn’t appear the finished article. But that’s perhaps because it’s still not quite clear what type of midfielder the 22-year-old really is, and which part of the engine room his future ultimately resides in.
Following a season in which roaming No.8s were instrumental aspects of Manchester City’s domineering Premier League title win and Liverpool’s cavalier run to the Champions League final, it feels as if Loftus-Cheek is emerging at the perfect time. Gareth Southgate has carved out similar roles in England’s midfield as part of his 3-1-4-2 setup, taking advantage of a new breed of midfielder that are part No.8 and part No.10, and that’s the position Loftus-Cheek has taken up throughout the World Cup bid – including against Belgium on Thursday night.
With five dribbles to his name, there were plenty of instances in which Loftus-Cheek showed how effective he can be in that role, driving on from the engine room to become part of the forward line. His size wreaks havoc and when he manages to build up speed, he can be unstoppable on the counter – something Roy Hodgson tapped into with great effect at Crystal Palace last season.
But when compared with Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli, there is a key difference. Loftus-Cheek isn’t quite as nimble or offensively threatening. Perhaps his game will get to that point on the latter front – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provides a great example of a player whose output was questioned but has really exploded into life over the last twelve months – but in his early 20s, the Blues starlet probably won’t become much more agile or faster than he is right now. Growing in strength and power seems more likely.
And thus, moving into a deeper role would perhaps be a better fit for Loftus-Cheek in the long-term. He’s got the strength, dribbling ability and composure to act almost like Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele at No.6 – receiving the ball and moving it forward wisely with effortless elegance. Particularly in the Champions League last season, it was Dembele who gave Spurs the platform to launch attacks from that deep-lying pocket, combining his capacity to muscle opponents off the ball with the technical quality to shift it onto an open man.
[brid playlist=”4766″ player=”12034″ title=”World Cup 2018″]
For that kind of transition though, other aspects of Loftus-Cheek’s game still require improvement. He was dispossessed five times by Belgium – for Dembele to do that at the base of Tottenham’s midfield would be sacrilege. Likewise, his passing accuracy was just 78%; Dembele’s in the Premier League last season was 92%, and for Belgium on Thursday night it was 99%. Although that’s no doubt influenced by the obligation for Loftus-Cheek to play riskier passes in a more offensive role, the difference remains distinctly noticeable.
Is this the best World Cup ever? Give us your thoughts here and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.
So, what do you see as Loftus-Cheek’s ultimate position? Should he continued to be used as a powerful and dynamic no.8, or would moving him into a deeper role truly see him thrive in the years to come? Let us know by voting below…
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Chelsea find themselves doing a bit of soul searching today after a humbling experience against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Although the players were only following the instructions of their manager, the passive manner of the performance in the 1-0 defeat has inevitably left a sour taste – and it’s also telling of how Antonio Conte views his current squad in terms of quality.
Following Sunday’s clash, we asked Chelsea fans to give individual performance ratings out of ten for each player involved in the meeting with the Citizens and it appears there are four, excluding substitutes, that disappointed Blues supporters most.
While midfield pairing Cesc Fabregas and Danny Drinkwater picked up an average rating of just 4/10, two Chelsea players actually fared worse than that. Wing-back Victor Moses received a mere 3.7 rating, while attacking midfielder Pedro – who failed to make any use of what little of the ball he received – had the worst rating of just 3.6.
Were these performances simply a one-off, Chelsea fans, or would you like to see some of the aforementioned quartet axed from the starting XI for the Blues’ next game? Let us know by commenting below…
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