Key events
The name’s Bord, James Bord. An interesting story from Matt Hughes about the poker player interested in buying Sheffield Wednesday, with links to their cross-city rivals.
A few Premier League managers spoke to the media on Thursday, including the man with football’s most exceptional voice, Daniel Farke. He takes his Leeds side to Everton on Monday night, and isn’t planning to make any big January signings beyond the loan move for Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte.
“We want to keep the group tight. We want to keep our togetherness and our unity. If we got the feeling there was an option that makes us better, then we would do it. But you also know my attitude – I think the January market is a difficult one, and for that, we are not in panic mode, not under any pressure to do something.”
Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler is the first Premier League manager facing the press today, with Eddie Howe following at 9.30am (GMT) and Arne Slot at 10am. Then the lunchtime rush will see Andoni Iraola and Pep Guardiola front up at 12.30pm, Rob Edwards at 1pm and six different managers at 1.30pm – Michael Carrick, Mikel Arteta, Liam Rosenior, Oliver Glasner, David Moyes and Marco Silva.
Emery laughs off touchline spat with Tielemans
Aston Villa sealed a top-eight finish in the Europa League after Jadon Sancho’s first goal for the club gave them a 1-0 win over Fenerbahce in Turkey. But the Villa manager, Unai Emery, was involved in a touchline spat with Youri Tielemans after the midfielder was substituted in stoppage time. Emery, who appeared to shove Tielemans as the Belgian left the pitch, appeared to laugh off the incident saying: “He’s my son. He’s my son.” Emery went on to say he was pleased to secure progress to the last 16, and said: “Europa League is important for us and we have got in the top eight. Building the team with some circumstances not helping us but next week we can finish the transfer window and hopefully we can get everything we need to complete the squad for the competitions we have.”
Preamble
No Premier League team has a win streak longer than one game, and a turbulent month shows no sign of settling down. Manchester United are enjoying a rare spell as the form side in their city after a derby demolition – Sunday’s trip to leaders Arsenal, fresh off two goalless draws in a row, feels less daunting than it might for Michael Carrick’s men.
As for City, their Arctic meltdown in midweek gives a home tie against spirited Wolves an unexpected edge. Will Marc Guéhi be parachuted straight into their threadbare defence? And what next for Palace, with players jumping ship and their manager starting fires? It may depend which version of Chelsea turn up at Selhurst Park.
The only team with two league defeats in a row – Thomas Frank’s Spurs! – got a big win at home to Dortmund, but any goodwill gained will be obliterated by defeat at Burnley. Was West Ham’s away win a blip, or is a great escape on the cards? We’ll get an idea in their early kick-off tomorrow, at home to Sunderland.
We’ll have all the latest from today’s press conferences, transfer updates and will also look ahead to a big WSL weekend, as Chelsea host Arsenal on Saturday and hope for Manchester City to slip up at London City Lionesses on Sunday. Here we go …
