The knockout
phase of the EFL cup resumed in midweek, with a place in the quarterfinals of
the competition, been reward for teams who made it through. The knockout phase showcased
some mouthwatering encounters, with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool sweeping aside
Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, while Jose Mourinho's United edged out Manchester city in
the local derby. Elsewhere, Arsenal made light work of championship side
Reading, as the big boys jostle for glory. Here Econsport turns the spotlight on the major
talking points.
LIVERPOOL GLIDING THROUGH MAJESTICALLY
When Jurgen
Klopp took over at Liverpool, just over a year ago, the club's fortunes was
dwindling fast, as results coupled with team performances were not up to scratch
under the now ousted Brendan Rodgers. The arrival of German tactician Klopp,
and his famed "heavy-metal football", however, has brought a new wave of optimism
to the club. A year down the road, and Liverpool are currently joint top of the
premier league, with goal difference the only blockade between Klopp's men and
the EPL summit. Good but underperforming players-- like Benteke, enigmatic
Mario Balotelli, Skrtel, Kolo Toure etal-- have been moved on, with high
quality replacement im the mould of Sadio Mane, Joel Matip, Klavan, brought in. At
Anfield on Tuesday, Klopp made wholesale changes, and gave his younger
stalwarts a chance, but it mattered little, as a youthful Liverpool side took
their North London opponents to the cleaners. "You will never walk alone", the
club's motto goes, and with manager and club pulling in the same direction,
Liverpool are very much on the ascending path to the top.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates with his players after their victory over Tottenham Hotspur in mid-week
ARSENALS OXLADE PUTS READING IN THE BOX, AS HE PUSHES
FOR FIRST TEAM START.
It is fair to
say that Arsenal player, Alex Chamberlain's career at Arsenal has been every
inch a stop-start one. Having arrived at the gunners in 2011, as one of
England's most promising talents, his development has stagnated somewhat.
Injuries, loss of form, bad luck, and probably, mentality of player, have all
played their part in a player still trying to find his feet. Having come out
last week, to voice his need for more first team opportunities, and on the back
of his recent good performance against Ludogorets in the Champions league, and
to some extent Middlesbrough, this was a chance to lay down a marker. Chance
gleefully accepted. As Arsene Wenger fielded a very much second string side,
Chamberlain was clearly a class above all. Always seeking the ball, popping up
in between the lines, with verve and gusto, he was brimming with confidence.
Two goals scored, and progression to the next round secured, the Ox certainly
gave his manager a food for thought. On this evidence, and with consistent
displays, such as this, it is fair to say that it won't be long before he finds
himself in the first team reckoning.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (center) scored twice as Arsenal swept aside Reading at the Emirates stadium
UNITED PAINT MANCHESTER RED
Few victories
would have pleased United manager Jose Mourinho more, in the way and manner,
this--against Manchester city--did. Eliminating their "noisy neighbours"(as United fans love to call them)
from a major cup competition, and in the process extending arch rival, Pep
Guardiola's winless run to six games, couldn't have been more gratifying. What
was more pleasing however, was the nature,
and circumstances surrounding the victory. On the back of a hiding his
team suffered against Chelsea over the weekend--a 4 nil loss at the bridge--that kept his side six points off table toppers Man city, the self-proclaimed
special one was under enormous pressure to deliver. And deliver he did.
Juan Mata scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United defeated neighbours Manchester City in the EFL cup tie at Old Trafford
A clash
against old foe Pep Guardiola offered Mourinho the chance to get one over his
rival, as well as send United progressing through the cup tie at the expense of
the citizens. There was much at stake for both sides. For City, they had gone
on a five game winless streak prior to the match—now stands at six—and so
Guardiola’s men came into the tie, aiming to stop the rot. Arguably though, of
both managers, Mourinho was most under pressure, after all it was his team that
lay six points behind their rivals in the Premier League table. The team
selection mirrored that, as his selection largely comprised of first-teamers,
while City boss Guardiola rotated his charges, handing starts to the likes of
Alex Garcia and Maffeo, with Iheanacho leading the attack in place of talisman,
Sergio Aguero. But Mourinho, being who he is, won’t care one bit. A victory is
a victory, especially when it knocks your rival out of a major competition. With
a clean sheet, and Manchester city not even having a single shot on target,
Mourinho must have left Old Trafford on Wednesday night a happy man—at least
for now.
Marcus Rashford, and Ander Herrera celebrate with goalscorer Juan Mata
PEP’S ROUGH PATCH; TALK OF A CRISIS BREWING?
If there is
anything that English football has taught us over the past years—aside from the
lackluster performances of her teams at major international tournaments—it is
the fact that the ever competitive cut-throat nature of the Premier League is
hardy rivalled. Though some might argue that the league is technically and
tactically inferior to Spain’s primera division, its all-action, energetic and
enthralling feel stands tall among all. And so has Pep Guardiola found out.
Manchester city manager Pep Guardiola has to work out a way to get his team back to winning ways, as a disconsolate Willy Caballero (pictured in background) looks on.
The
Manchester City boss is in the worst spell of his managerial career. Put
simply, across his eight year managerial career, his teams have not found it
this difficult to claim three points—to win a match. Six games and counting now
for Guardiola’s side, since his team last drank from the sweet chalice of
victory. Despite City being top of the Premier League table, talk over the
suitability of his coaching methods to the rigours of domestic English football
has gathered pace. And adding salt to injury, the fixtures are coming thick and
fast. Next up is a trip to the hawthorns, to face Westbrom in the League.
Failure to win on Saturday, and his team will go into their all-important clash
with Spanish giants Barcelona, completely drained of any noticeable signs of
confidence. Indeed the pressure stakes are high, and the sooner the winless
spell comes to an end, the better for the team from the blue half of
Manchester.
CHELSEA’S SHALLOW SQUAD; CONTE NEEDS REINFORCEMENT
Over the weekend
at the bridge, Chelsea served up one of their best performances of the season under Conte, and what a meal it
was. Rich, exciting and near perfect, the Blues’ their opponents—oh Manchester United—to
the sword. Fast-forward 72 hours, and the blues were dumped out of the League
cup by Slaven Bilic’s West ham United. Does this then make the victory over
Mnachester United just a charade? Certainly not. What the loss against the
hammers’ buttressed however was the lack of squad options at Conte’s disposal.
Chelsea were sent packing out of the EFL cup by West ham, as the hammers' players(pictured above) celebrate their goal.
Cheikhou Kouyate's exquisite looping header left Chelsea goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, with no chance, as West ham surged ahead in the game.
Shorn of wing-backs Marcos Alonso, and Nigerian Victor Moses, the blues’
tactical 3-4-3 system failed to come up with the goods. Ola Aina and
Azpilicueta, playing as wing-backs on the day, found the role beyond reach. It
was putting square pegs in round holes. Even the second half introduction of
Pedro and Hazard couldn’t spark the blues to life. The game was already lost by
then. Hence the crucial need for Chelsea to strengthen their player ranks in
the forthcoming January transfer window, while praying for Mother luck to cast
a favourable light on them—by avoiding injuries to key personnel. In a grueling season up ahead, with over thirty games still to come, what will happen if key
men, without replacements suffer the scourge of injuries? Chelsea and Conte
more than anyone else wouldn’t want to experience the nature of the answer.
And while we are at it;
In Spain, Real
Madrid secured a 7-1 win over lower league side Cultural Leonesa in the Copa Del
Rey on Wednesday. Seems routine right? But the absolute peach of a goal scored
by defender Nacho, was out of this world. Like none ever seen. Straight out of
the blue. The Spanish defender executed
a perfectly timed scissor-kick volley, and sent the ball arrowing into
the top corner like a missile. Safe to say, the goalkeeper stood absolutely no chance of stopping that. Strikes like his, make the beautiful game what
it is—spectacular.
Real Madrid defender, Nacho, incredibly executed an inch perfect scissor-kick volley in their Copa Del Rey encounter. The goal was one made from heaven.
Back in England,
dramatic scenes marred the English league cup tie between West ham United and
Chelsea, at the London stadium—now home to West ham. Having moved over from
Upton park at the end of last season, it
was always going to be difficult for the hammers to adapt seamlessly to life in
their new stadium. But that doesn’t make up for the violent clashes that are
threatening to become a regular occurrence in football matches played at the
stadium.
West ham's victory against Chelsea was marred by skirmishes between both sets of club supporters.
The fans should embrace the beautiful game for what it is, as fighting
and sports are like oil and water—they don’t go together. To clamp down on
these acts of violence, the FA should adopt
tougher stance on issues such as this, and those set of fans found
culpable, should be made to dance to the tune of the music.
Meanwhile, it
promises to be an all-action packed weekend of football across Europe. Enjoy.
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