Category: Football (Premier League)

Top 10 Most Skillful Players in The Premier League 2022

Post author By Robert Jackson
Post date May 19, 2022
No Comments on Top 10 Most Skillful Players in The Premier League 2022

Most Skilful players in the Premier League

What makes a Player skillful? Everyone has their own definition of it. For us, it’s someone who lights up the football pitch and dazzles the audience with their trickery, talent, and vision. Football is a team game. But it is still just as much about individuals. Some individuals get people to watch them and as a result, demand attention and viewership. It wouldn’t be called the beautiful game without that, would it? Premier League is the best League in the world at the moment, and so has one of the best and most exciting set of players and a very exciting talent pool. Great teams with great individuals. Premier League is as competitive as it gets in football right now. Therefore has a lot of skillful players at the moment. Players that make you jump off your seat in awe and disbelief. Without further ado presenting the most skillful players in the Premier League this year.

Also Read: Top 10 Cheapest Football Transfers of All Time

10. Daniel Podence

The Portuguese talent pool is huge currently. And one of the most exciting players to come out of that is Daniel Podence. His ability to carry the ball is brilliant. He is a very good passer of the ball as well. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and is an absolute joy to watch with his brilliant dancing feet. The Wolves youngster makes 10th on this list of most skillful players in the Premier League.

9. Bukayo Saka

The young Arsenal sensation is one of the best young talents in the Premier League. And he is one of the brightest ray of light for the Arsenal supporters. He has absolutely lit up the Prem and has been a revelation under Mikel Arteta. The youngster has scored some beautiful goals this season. But what’s most impressive about his game is his dribbling. Just tiptoes his way through defenses. Terrorizing opposition defenders wherever he goes. An absolute nightmare to defend against. What a player he is, and is only going to get better. The future is bright for the English international. Hence, he ranks 9th in this list of the most skillful players in the Premier League.

8. Jadon Sancho

Sancho made his big-money move to Man United this season. With that came a lot of expectations. Sancho’s season has been a mixed bag. While he hasn’t been amongst the goals. The Englishman has impressed the crowd at Old Trafford and everyone watching him. He got off to a rocky start and hence had his doubters. But he has been proving them wrong recently. After finding form since the start of the season. He has been one of the saving graces for Man United, who are set to go another season trophyless. Sancho has managed to shine bright and is an absolute delight on the eyes.

7. Said Benrahma

West Ham are having a great season. David Moyes has done a brilliant job up to now for the Hammers. They have been highly consistent and now look set to get themselves a spot in a European competition for next year and are strong contenders for Europa League this season. Although, Benrahma hasn’t played as much as he would’ve liked this season. Everybody knows the ability he has. He is a crowd favorite and gets people off their feet. He is brilliant with the ball and does absolutely brilliantly in tight spaces, and is a great passer. And hence he ranks 7th on this list of most skillful players in the Premier League.

6. Bernardo Silva

The Portuguese that plays for Man City. The ball just sticks to his feet. Bernardo was set to be sold at the beginning of this season after having a fall out with the manager Pep Guardiola. But, this season has been a turnaround for him. He is one of the biggest reasons why City are top of the table. He is absolutely mesmerizing with his feet. And the most impressive part about his game is his work rate. He works his socks off, he fits perfectly into the midfield three of Pep. Bernardo has been sensational this season and is definitely City’s player of the year.

5. Thiago Alcantara

The central midfielder that Liverpool bought from Bayern in 19-20. Who was revered at that time as one of the best, if not the best, in the world in his position. His time at Liverpool has been hampered by Injuries. But, whenever he plays has a great effect on Liverpool. He makes them play well. And his passing range is superb. He has all the passes in the book. And he glides with the ball. His passing and dribbling makes him a joy to watch. He keeps possession brilliantly and will be an integral part of Liverpool come to the end of the season. And so, he makes 5th on this list of the most skillful players in the Premier League.

4. Mohammed Salah

Thiago’s teammate at Liverpool. The Egyptian King is the best player in the league and arguably the best player in the world at the moment. What makes him rank so high on this list is that he has everything you want from your forward. He is a brilliant passer of the ball, and he is magical at times with his feet. His left foot has terrorized every team in the country. And some of the goals he has scored this season give testament to how good a dribbler he is. The Egyptian King is the top goal scorer in the League and is the second top assister in the League. Salah has broken multiple records after coming to the League. And moreover, on his day, he is an absolute joy to watch a nightmare to defend against. Henceforth, The Egyptian King ranks 4th on this list of the most skillful players in the Premier League.

3. Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United hasn’t exactly been the fairytale it was destined to be. But, despite that, the Frenchman has shown his skillset at times. He is a very highly talented player. Pogba’s dribbling, physicality, and his passing sets him apart from others. Pogba just glides on the surface. On his day, no other midfielder can catch him. And, he is a brilliant striker of the ball. He has scored some beautiful long rangers during his time at Juve. And has scored some pearlers here at Manchester United as well. Pogba is a delight for the eyes when he is in form. You can’t take your eyes off him, and so can’t the opposition. Therefore, Pogba ranks 3rd on this list.

2. Luis Diaz

Another Liverpool player on this list. The Colombian was signed by Liverpool at the end of this year’s January transfer window. He has become the Anfield crowd’s favorite from his first touch of the ball. Diaz is a showstopper. And has the crowd on their feet every time he touches the ball. He has every trick up his sleeve. He makes defenders look clueless when he gets the ball. Players rarely come, and gel in Klopp’s system like Luis has. He is a very technically sound footballer. He is the perfect Klopp forward. Diaz has been dazzling the crowds all over the land. His skills and his no-look passes has you glued to your TV screens. The only criticism he has received so far is his lack of output. Which will get better when he has played in this Liverpool team longer. The magical Colombian ranks 2nd on this list of the most skillful players in the Premier League.

1. Allan Saint-Maximin

The Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin is a player of Newcastle. He is the heart and soul of the club right now. He is absolutely adored by the supporters of Newcastle. Allan gets the crowd off their feet with his every touch. He is just mesmerizing to watch and a nightmare to defend against. The man has been terrorizing defenses all over the country for some seasons now. He was carrying Newcastle on his back before the new transfers, and now he has a good supporting cast alongside him. And this will only get better in the upcoming seasons due to the inflation of cash provided by the takeover. But, when Newcastle were terrible, he was their only saving grace and has earned himself a special place in their hearts. Allan Saint-Maximin is probably the toughest player for a fullback to come up again. His magical feet leave a defender regretting coming to play against him. He is magical by the definition of the word. And, hence he ranks 1st and completes this list of the most skillful players in the Premier League in 2022.

Also Read: Top 10 Fastest Sprinters in Football

Tags Arsenal, Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Wolves

Football (Premier League)

Top 10 Fastest Sprinters in Football

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date May 19, 2022
No Comments on Top 10 Fastest Sprinters in Football

TOP 10 FASTEST FOOTBALLERS — Fastest Sprinters in Football

With the popularization of counter-attacking football, the need for fast and nimble players who could outrun the defenders became necessary. This gave rise to players who are extremely fast on their feet and possess the ability to leave the defenders tasting their dirt. The marauding runs of these players often lead to deadly attack combinations which are almost crucial for any dominating side today. Additionally, these fast-paced sprinters are not only useful while attacking, but their ability to track back and provide goal-saving tackles has proven to be a blessing to the team and fans alike. Nonetheless, these sprinters are always a joy to watch rip and tear through the defense or save the day with their trackback tackles. Here are the top 10 fastest sprinters in world football.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest Players in Football Ranked in 2022

10) Kyle Walker: Top speed- 35.71 km/h

We start off our list with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker. Currently one of the fastest right-backs in world football, Walker’s speed is terrifyingly impressive. Fellow speedsters, Mbappe and Trent-Alexander Arnold have both described him as a “tank”. It is mainly owed to the sheer speed combined with the raw power he brings to the encounter. Kyle Walker has saved his team numerous times with those match-saving tackles, and he places 10th on our list of the top 10 fastest sprinters in world football today.

Kyle Walker is impressively 10th on the fastest sprinters list — Kyle Walker with his marauding runs or track backs is one of the fastest players in the Premier League today.

9) Erling Haaland: Top Speed- 36.04 km/h

The ‘machine’ Erling Haaland graces us with the 9th spot on our list. Clocking in a speed of 36.04 km/h, it is a terrifying sight for defenders to watch Haaland rampage through the defense and score past everybody. The feat is especially impressive for the fact that a player of his size, standing in at 6 ft 4 in tall, the 21-year-old finds it incredibly easy to impact the game in such a manner. Erling Haaland owing to his speed and skill is one of the most sought-after strikers in the world right now.

Haaland is one of the fastest strikers in the world — Erling Braut Haaland owing to his speed and power is one of the most sought after strikers in the world today.

8) Ibrahima Konate: Top speed- 36.20 km/h

One of the fastest players in RB Leipzig, Ibrahima Konate joined Liverpool in 2021. The fact that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool prefers a high defense line because of their “gegenpressing”, Konate’s ability and pace to track back suits the criteria perfectly. This allows the Liverpool team some sense of security, as playing a high line can often lead to blistering counterattacks. Luckily if you have a player like Konate on your side, you can rest a bit easily. Clocking in at an impressive 36.20 km/h, Ibrahima Konate is 8th on our list of top 10 fastest sprinters in football.

Konate as one of the fastest defenders in the league. — A valuable addition for the Liverpool back-line, Ibrahima Konate’s pace can outrun most strikers in the game today.

7) Achraf Hakimi: Top speed- 36.48 km/h

Achraf Hakimi, who is now plying his trade at Paris Saint Germain, is a nightmare for defenders. Being a right-back himself, his marauding runs on the fringes often leave the defenders tasting dirt. His time at Borrusia Dortmund was preferably memorable since he broke his own Bundesliga speed record in a match against Union Berlin in 2020. Hakimi’s dynamic style of play and pace to outrun most players place him 7th on our list.

Hakimi is one of the fastest players in the league. — Achraf Hakimi’s own Bundesliga speed record of 36.2 km/h was broken by him in a matter of 3 months when he clocked in 36.48 km/h in a match against Union Berlin.

6) Alphonso Davies: Top speed- 36.51 km/h

The Canadian-born Alphonso Davies is no slouch when it comes to outpacing defenders and putting in a valuable cross. His explosive runs are seldom caught on and any team who lacks the proper speed is sure to fall into its speed trap. His top speed was clocked in a match against Werder Bremen on June 16, 2020. However, this turned out to be a record-breaking speed in Bundesliga, when he broke Achraf’s Hakimi’s previous record. Davies’ record-breaking speed places him just below Hakimi on our list.

Davies is one of the fastest footballers — Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich at just 21 years of age is one of the finest prospects of world football.

5) Adama Traore: Top speed- 36.60 km/h

Adama Traore’s powerful and pacy sprints on the wings are a joy to watch. The entertaining aspects aside, his rampaging runs often strike fear in the hearts of defenders and opposing fans alike. An amazing combination of power and speed makes Adama Traore an individual to be afraid of in a football duel. His time with Wolverhampton Wanderers was nothing short of impressive owing to the blistering runs through the defenders. Now, on a loan at Barcelona and paired with Aubameyang, who is no stranger in the speed department, Barcelona has a terrifying attacking duo on their hands. Clocking in at 36.60 km/h, Adama Traore is 5th on our list of top 10 fastest sprinters in the football world today.

Adama Traore is one of the fastest in the league — Adama Traore who is now plying is trade at Barcelona, is considered as one of the fastest players in the world.

4) Mohamed Salah: Top speed- 36.60 km/h

The Egyptian magician, Mohamed Salah has been integral for Liverpool since the day he joined them. He is currently one of the centerpieces of the Liverpool attack. His blistering pace coupled with his impeccable footwork often leaves the defenders bamboozled. Clocking in an amazing 36.60 km/h speed, his nimble foot coupled with breakneck speed is a manager’s dream and opposition’s nightmare. Jurgen Klopp struck gold with this signing. Salah has since massively turned around his career after a shaky start with Chelsea. His pace puts him at 4th on our list of fastest sprinters in football.

Salah is one of the fastest sprinters in the premier league — After a shaky start at Chelsea, Mohamed Salah redeemed himself when he came back to the Premier League and was instrumental for the success of Liverpool.

3) Antonio Rudiger: Top speed- 36.70 km/h

Recently, Antonio Rudiger was recorded by Opta, with the highest speed in Premier League, beating the likes of Salah and Traore. Antonio Rudiger of Chelsea plays at the center back position. As Thomas Tuchel described his pace is one of the best assets of the defender. He clocked in a massive 36.70 km/h in a match against Brighton this season. He places 3rd on our list of top 10 fastest sprinters in football.

Rudiger recently has been deemed the fastest player in Premier League — Antonio Rudiger recently confirmed by Opta to be the fastest player in the Premier League today.

2) Gareth Bale: Top speed- 36.90 km/h

In his prime, Gareth Bale would leave defenders behind and by the time they reacted, he was already celebrating the goal. Bale started off his career as a left-back. However, soon transitioned to one of the best left-wingers of the generation. His maximum speed of a massive 36.90 km/h is a sight to behold. Nobody could forget his run against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, 2014 when he left Marc Batra embarrassed. An absolute legend in the speed department, Bale comes in 2nd on our list.

Gareth Bale is the second fastest sprinter on our list. — Gareth Bale in his prime was unmatched when it came to raw speed.

1) Kylian Mbappe: Top Speed- 38.00 km/h

Kylian Mbappe is currently the fastest football player in football today. Clocking in an incredible 38 km/h, Mbappe’s superhuman speed was in full display in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His speeding run broke through Argentina’s defense and eventually helped France win the World Cup. Nobody at the time had an answer for his speed and even today. Many defenders find it incredibly difficult to defend against him. With Real Madrid supposedly looking to sign him this summer for a free transfer, Kylian Mbappe brilliantly leads our list and certainly has an exciting future to look forward to.

Also Read: Top 10 Greatest Manchester United Players of All Time

Tags Barcelona, PSG

Football (Premier League)

Top 10 Greatest Manchester United Players of All Time

Post author By Robert Jackson
Post date May 17, 2022
No Comments on Top 10 Greatest Manchester United Players of All Time

Manchester United A.K.A “The Red Devils” are one of the biggest clubs in the world. And, they are the second biggest club in England. The red side of Manchester has seen them lift Three champions league. United have won the most league titles in England, which is 20. A club that saw its most successful period under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex made United a force to be reckoned with in all of Europe. And as a result cemented his legacy as one of the, if not the greatest manager in the history of the Beautiful Game. United haven’t won a league title since Sir Alex retired from management. They have seen a downfall over the last 9 years due to bad management and recruitment systems. But you can’t keep a club of their stature down for long. They will rise again and challenge for the titles in the upcoming seasons. So, presenting here a list of the Top 10 greatest Manchester United Players of All Time.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo

When United signed this 18-year-old skillful Portuguese winger, no one would’ve known how great he’ll end up being. Regarded by many as the greatest player to have ever played the game. Cristiano arrived at United with expectations you don’t normally associate with a teenager, but boy did he shatter those expectations and more. The great man is the highest scorer in the history of football. He has netted 807 goals* for club and country. He is the top goal scorer in international football, and is only a short matter of time before he becomes the highest at the club level as well. The man has won Five champions league and Five Ballon D’or s. And won three league titles in a row at Manchester United. The young winger was a joy to behold at Man United. He had everything: skillful dribbling, long-range goals, headers, weak foot goals; furthermore he used to be a mesmerizing free-kick taker. His free-kick highlight at United is still an absolute joy for the eyes. Ronaldo won a Ballon D’or at United, nobody has won it in the Premier League since then.

Now 37 years old, he has returned to United again to help them back into glory days, but they will be going trophy-less this season as well. Although, the great man will try to will them to trophies in the upcoming season. He ranks 10th on this list of the greatest Manchester United Players of All Time.

9. Roy Keane

Former captain of the club. The man left everything out on the pitch. Definition of the word “professional”. He is the joint-most successful Irish player of all time. Keane was inducted in the Premier League hall of fame in 2021, cementing his place among the greats. Seven premier leagues, 4 FA Cups, and a Champions League at United. And that famous treble in 1999. Roy Keane, with his great legacy and all his accolades, ranks 9th in this list of the greatest Manchester United Players of All Time.

8. Peter Schmeichel

The big Dane was an integral part of the United setup. His insane reach and reflexes separated him from his peers. A goalkeeping legend, still to this day the only goalkeeper to have won Prem player of the season. Thus, cementing his legacy as one of the greats of the game. Peter has everything you wanted from your keeper. He made great saves and was a great leader at the back. It is safe to say that United wouldn’t have won what they won had it not been for the colossus Dane at the back.

Peter Schmeichel

Also Read: Top 10 Greatest Barcelona Players of All Time

7. Dennis Law

Dennis Law was named the Lawman and the King by the united faithful. The man that is the only Scottish player to win the Ballon D’or. The third-highest scorer in the history of the club after Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney. He netted 237 times in 404 appearances for them. One of the part of the United ‘Holy Trinity’. You have to be really special for a statue of yours to be erected as a united player after having played for City. That should give you an idea of how special Dennis Law was. A great player and a great goal-scorer.

6. Eric Cantona

Who doesn’t know about Eric Cantona. The man that started United’s dominance. The French was a joy to watch on the ball. He demanded attention. He won 4 league titles in his five years at United. Cantona wore the iconic No.7 jersey for the red devils. Nicknamed ‘King Eric’ by the Old Trafford faithful. Set against his achievements was a poor disciplinary records. He once assaulted a Crystal Palace supporter and was sentenced to an 8-month break from football and a community service. The charismatic Frenchman announced his retirement from football aged just 30 to pursue a career in acting. He ranks 6th on this list of the greatest Manchester United Players of All Time.

EricCantona celebrating after scoring a goal — Cantona celebrating after scoring a goal

5. Paul Scholes

The midfielder was also one of the ‘class of 92’. One of the best all-round passer the game has ever seen. And one of the best passers in the English game. He was also a part of the ‘Golden generation’ of England. Also, one of the finest midfielders of the generation. The United game went through him, he was the maestro that ran the whole show. He controlled the whole game and had great vision. Scholes was a great striker of the ball, his long-range goals were a thing of beauty. Furthermore, he could strike it with great power making it unable for the goalkeeper to save. The man was a genius and a half.

4. Ryan Giggs

The quick and skillful winger. Ryan is a premier league legend and holds the record for the most assists in PL history. And he is second on the list of all-time appearances in PL history. He is the player with the most number of Premier league titles in history. He was a part of all of the 13 title-winning sides. Giggs was also an integral part of the treble-winning side of ’99. And is the record appearance maker for the club. It can conclude that he is one of the greatest Welsh players of all time. And, with all that, he ranks 3rd on this list of the greatest Manchester United Players of All Time.

3. Sir Bobby Charlton

The legendary player is the second part of United’s famous ‘Holy Trinity’. Sir Bobby is the second-highest goal-scorer in the history of the club. His record which stood for years before a certain Wayne Rooney broke it in 2017. He is also the second-highest goal-scorer for England, another record which stood for years before being broken by Wayne Rooney in 2015. The man was also the highest appearance maker in the history of the club before Ryan Giggs broke that record. He was an integral part of the England’s World Cup winning squad in 1966, also the year he won the Ballon D’or. There is a stand in Old Trafford after him. He captained Manchester United to their first European cup. Sir Bobby scored twice in the final to help them lift it, becoming the first English club to win the cup. He is an all-time great of the game and an all-time Manchester United legend, thus being 3rd on this list of the greatest Manchester United Players of All Time.

Bobby Charlton Wayne Rooney — Sir Bobby handing Rooney the golden boot after becoming United’s top gal-scorer

2. Wayne Rooney

The “White Pele”. Wayne Rooney is the definition of a once in a generational talent. He is one of the most talented teenagers football has ever seen and certainly the most talented English teenager ever. He had everything you wanted from your forward, he was direct, had immense strength, courage, unrivaled work-rate, and an unparalleled talent and love for the game. The boy born and brought up in a small town named Croxteth. Wayne was brilliant, he was dubbed the ‘White Pele’ by the Evertonians, and the name caught on from there. To give a testament to how good he was, the whole of England had their expectations on him to bring the Euros home in 2004 when he was just 18. Wayne is the highest goal-scorer for England and also the highest goal-scorer in the history of Manchester United.

Rooney’s stellar career would’ve been more great had it not been for injuries. To get a more detailed look into Rooney’s life, watch his documentary on amazon prime by clicking here.

1. George Best

The final member of the ‘Holy Trinity’, George Best is an absolutely adored player by the United faithful. He was an insanely talented player and could work wonders with the ball at his feet. He went past players as if they weren’t there. The man also won a Ballon D’or while at the club. He didn’t live a long life but a rich life. He enjoyed every moment and lived in every moment, and he was absolutely admired for that. The way he played brought in people. People would buy tickets just to watch him play. The man that made the number 7 shirt famous. All this should be enough evidence to tell how great a player he was.

And so this concludes the list of the top 10 Greatest Manchester United Players of All Time.

Also Read: Top 10 Cheapest Football Transfers of All Time

Tags Manchester United, Ronaldo

Football (Premier League)

Top 10 Cheapest Football Transfers of All Time

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date May 17, 2022
No Comments on Top 10 Cheapest Football Transfers of All Time

The transfer market of football today is dominated by the notion of high-caliber players having astronomical. However, there are times when a superstar player rejects a renewed contract or the undervaluation of a young player by the club, leads to a transfer that would be considered a bargain. These players have proved their bang for their buck. Here, we take a look at the greatest top 10 cheapest football transfers of all time.

10. Andy Robertson – Hull City to Liverpool, 2017 – (£8m)

We start this list with Andy Robertson. The left-back joined the Liverpool side in 2017 on a transfer fee of £8m from Hull City. Initially meant as a back-up for Alberto Moreno, Robertson soon started proving his worth with a man-of-the-match performance against Crystal Palace in his debut match. As luck would have it, the injury of Alberto Moreno further allowed him an increased game time. Later, his partnership later with Trent-Alexander Arnold proved lethal and decisive in the wings for the Liverpool side which complimented their “gegenpressing” style of play. He went on to win the Premier League title, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and the EFL Cup with Liverpool making it one of the cheapest yet influential signings in recent years. He places 10th on our list of the top 10 cheapest football transfers of all time.

Robertson as the 10th cheapest transfers of all time — Robertson’s arrival and partnership with Trent Alexander Arnold in the wing-back position proved crucial for Liverpool.

9. Sol Campbell – Tottenham to Arsenal, 2001 – (Free)

Sol Campbell’s transfer to eternal rivals Arsenal, shocked every Spurs fan to their core. The transfer news was so unusually unexpected since Campbell had on previous records mentioned he would never play for Arsenal. His relationship with the Tottenham fans was destroyed beyond repair. He is still considered a ‘Judas’ by some to this day. However, his wish of playing in the UEFA Champions League and along with that winning the Premier League title twice, in hindsight would not bother the defender too much about his betrayal. Sol Campbell’s shock-free transfer allowed the Arsenal team to have solidity in the back, which propelled them with league title wins. He places 9th on our list of top 10 cheapest transfers in football.

Sol campbell places 9th on the top cheapest transfers list — Sol Campbell’s shock transfer from Tottenham to Arsenal did not sit well with the fans, but helped him win trophies.

8. Edwin van der Sar – Fulham to Manchester United, 2005 – (£2m)

At the time, Edvin Van der Sar was 33 when he moved from Fulham to Manchester United. A direct replacement for Roy Carrol, Edwin van der Sar proved to be one of the best Manchester United keepers in history. His record of 1,311 minutes without conceding in the Premier League still stands today. A testament to the quality of the Sir Alex Fergusson era, van der Sar proved every penny for his worth helping the squad with his clean sheets and winning the Premier League 4 times and the UEFA Champions League once. Edwin van der Sar is 8th on our list of bargain buys.

van der sar is 8th — Edwin van der Sar arrived at Manchester United when he was 33 years old and soon cemented his legacy as one of the best keepers to ever play for Manchester United.

7. N’Golo Kante – Caen to Leicester City, 2015 – (£5.6m)

Nobody expected the impact the humble N’Golo Kante would have on the Premier League when he arrived from Caen. Today he is considered the ideal defensive midfield player by pundits and fans alike. His work ethic and box-to-box playstyle are often described as the benchmark for the position. Kante proved to be an invaluable asset for Leicester City in 2015 when they shocked the footballing world and lifted the Premier League title beating the “big 6” of the league. With Leicester, he managed to win the Premier League and was included in the PFA Team of the Year. His career would take off after that, with a transfer to Chelsea in the next season and going on to win the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and even winning the World Cup with France. N’Golo Kante is 7th on our list.

ngolo kante is 7th on our list — An integral part of every squad he has been a part of, N’Golo Kante’s arrival from Caen certainly proved to be a game changer for Leicester CIty.

6. Robin van Persie – Feyenoord to Arsenal, 2004 – (£2.75m)

“The Flying Dutchman” Robin Van Persie, moved to Arsenal in 2004 for just £2.75m. Arsenal were looking for somebody to replace the legendary Denis Bergkamp and they tried to transfer van Persie in 2003. However the clubs could not come to a proper resolution. Nonetheless, next season Arsenal did manage to nab him for almost half the original price of £5m. Robin van Persie had some big shoes to fill and he did deliver. He went on to become one of the prolific strikers in the Premier League. Even though he only managed to lift the FA Cup and FA Community Shield at Arsenal, his contribution to the club and the league in general cannot be overlooked. Robin van Persie set a bar for the other strikers who would later replace him. Considering his impact and the cheap price tag, Robin van Persie is 6th on our list.

The flying dutchman flies into 6th place — Robin van Persie’s arrival in the Premier League saw him become one of the most prolific strikers in the world.

5. Patrick Vieira – AC Milan to Arsenal, 1996 – (£3.5m)

Patrick Viera is regarded as one of the best midfield players to grace his generation. He was recently inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame and is considered as one of the greatest Arsenal players of the generation. Viera was unable to secure a starting spot in the AC Milan team, which led to his departure and Arsenal picking him up for a meagre value of £3.5m. Patrick Viera went on to cement his legacy in Arsenal, eventually being captain of the team, part of the 2003-04 “Invincibles” and winning the Premier League title 3 times. A bargain buy to say the least. With the accomplishments in tow, his transfer from Milan to Arsenal places him 5th on our list of top 10 cheapest football transfers of all time.

Viera is the 5th cheapest transfers list — Patrick Viera guided Arsenal to countless victories and is a bonafide club legend.

4. Alessandro Del Piero – Padova to Juventus, 1993 – (£421,000)

Alessandro Del Piero is certainly one of the greatest players of Juventus. Having joined Padova for only £421,000, he became one of the leaders behind the success of Juventus. Del Pierro spent 19 years at the club. Making a record 705 appearances and also holds the record for being all time leading goal scorer with 290 goals to his name. The impact of Del Pierro cannot be overstated. The fact that Juventus were able to win the Serie A league 6 times, Supercoppa Italiana 4 times, and were a UEFA Champions League winner in 1995-96 is a testament.

His loyalty to the club was another matter of importance. It was tested when the Juventus side was relegated to Serie B. Notable players like Patrick Vieira, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Fabio Cannavaro left the club. However, Del Pierro did not choose to abandon the “Old Lady” and bought the club back in Serie A in the next season. Considering his contributions to the success of the club, Alessandro Del Pierro has been one of the Juventus greats. He places 4th on our list as one of the top 10 cheapest transfers in football history.

Del pierro is 4th on our list — Alessandro Del Pierro spent 19 years with Juventus through thick and thin, winning numerous trophies and is a club legend to say the least.

3. Raul – Atletico Madrid to Real Madrid, 1992 – (Free)

Raul left the youth academy of Atletico Madrid on a free transfer in 1992. It was due to Atletico Madrid closing their youth academy to cut costs. The decision proved costly, as Raul went on to become one of the most prolific strikers in the world. He also joined Atletico’s derby rivals Real Madrid. He was promoted to the senior team in 1994 and the rest is history. With Real Madrid, Raul won the La Liga 6 times and the UEFA Champions League 3 times. With 323 goals he is also the club’s record second all-time goal scorer. Raul places 3rd on our list of top 10 cheapest transfers in football history.

Raul is one of the great galacticos — Raul will go down in history as one of the great Real Madrid players.

Also Read: List of Top Footballers Who Wore Number 10

2. Robert Lewandowski – Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich, 2014 – (Free)

Robert Lewandowski is another player on our list who joined the rival club for a record bargain. In 2014, after a career-defining and trophy-winning stint at Dortmund, Lewandowski joined the Bayern Munich side on a free transfer. The move came as a surprise and shock to many Dortmund fans. However, the move to Bayern Munich helped him solidify his place as one of the best pure strikers in the game today. Having won the Bundesliga 7 times and a UEFA Champions League winner, Robert Lewandowski’s transfer was certainly a good business for both parties involved. His success and contributions in the team land him the 2nd spot on our list of top 10 cheapest transfers.

Lewandowski's transfer was a good business — Robert Lewandowski proved to be a lethal addition to the Bayern Munich side and integral part of their Champions League winning run.

1. Eric Cantona – Leeds United to Manchester United, 1996 – (£1.2m)

Finally, Eric Cantona’s transfer from Leeds United was certainly met with hostile reactions from the Leeds fans. After a strenuous relationship with the team and coaching staff at Leeds, his transfer to Manchester United was seen as a good business for Leeds United. However, his arrival at Manchester United coupled with his volatile and aggressive behavior on the pitch propelled his infamy to greater heights. Fans soon took a liking to him due to his confrontational nature and domineering style of play. He went on to win the Premier League title with Manchester United for 4 times. Further, cemented his legacy as one of the greats to ever lace-up boots for Manchester United. Eric Cantona’s impact in the footballing world and the club after the transfer from Leeds places him at the top of the list of top bargain buys.

Also Read: Real Madrid is not ready to pay €150 Million for Declan Rice

Tags Arsenal, Football, Lewandowski, Manchester United, Real Madrid

Football (Premier League)

Top 10 Greatest Barcelona Players of All Time

Post author By Robert Jackson
Post date May 16, 2022
No Comments on Top 10 Greatest Barcelona Players of All Time

Barca — Barcelona's famous logo Mes que un club

One of the biggest clubs in the history of the game. The greatest of history and legacies. With several once-in-a-lifetime players. The Spanish giants Futbol Club Barcelona. F.C.B was founded in 1899. Across its 122 years of existence, the club has seen some legends of the game. And as a result, has seen huge amounts of success. The Catalan club has won a record number of Copa Del Rey’s, 5 Champions League, and the second-most league titles in Spain (behind Real Madrid). Although, the club has seen a fall from grace in the past few years. Owing to the problems on the field and off the field. Barca went into a financial turmoil under previous leadership. As a result, they have been suffering currently, and owing to the shambles of a wage structure and sizeable debt, they had to let go of Lionel Messi. Barcelona are currently on the rise again under Xavi. As we know, you can’t keep a giant like Barcelona sleeping for long. On that note, here are the Top 10 Greatest Barcelona Players of All Time.

10. Luis Suarez

61 Goals (114 Appearances)

Not to be mistaken with the other Luis Suarez, who also played for Barcelona. Suarez was a Spanish midfielder. And is widely regarded as the greatest Spanish player of all time. To this date, he is the only Spanish player to win the Ballon D’or. And was the first Barcelona player to do so. Luis scored over 60 goals for the great club. Suarez was a key figure in their domestic double in 1959 and fell just short of European glory as they lost the final to Benfica in 1961. The Spanish great ranks 10th on this list of the Top 10 Greatest Barcelona players of all time.

9. Sergio Busquets

16 Goals (670* Appearances)

“Underrated” “Underappreciated” are the sort of words you would associate with the Spaniard. Busquets doesn’t have the plaudits the other two of his midfield partners, Xavi and Iniesta, received, but Sergio was just as important to the team’s success as the other two were. One of the greatest CDM’s the game has ever seen. Sergio has won every trophy at the club level with the Catalans. Furthermore, he has won the World Cup and the Euros with Spain. He was an integral part of one of the greatest club team’s ever assembled, and one of the greatest National team’s ever assembled. You don’t walk into those teams’ if you are not ‘World Class’. As a result, he ranks 9th in the top 10 Greatest Barcelona players of all-time list.

8. Ronald Koeman

106 Goals (350 Appearances)

A goal tally that would put forwards to shame. Ronald Koeman was an integral part of the 90’s Barca dream team. The team that won their first European cup. It was his goal that won Barca their first European title and as a result, secured his legendary status at the club. He was a “sweeper” defender. Would just stay in front of the defense and clear every threat. The masterful Dutch was quite good at it as well. He was a great threat at set pieces. He was a great Penalty tacker and a great Free Kick taker as well. ‘Tin-tin’ Koeman has scored 60 Free Kicks for club and country, to put that into perspective, that is more than what Cristiano and Messi have scored throughout their careers. He also tried as a manager for the club, but that didn’t work out well for him. But, his managerial stint at the club doesn’t tarnish his legacy as a Barca legend and a great of the game.

Barcelona players of all time — Luis Suarez’s trademark celebration

7. Luis Suarez

210 Goals (300 Appearances).

‘El Pistolero’ is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the greatest strikers this game has ever seen. His time at Barcelona was phenomenal, to say the least. A testament to his skill and ability is that he won a golden boot during the Cristiano and Messi era. As lethal as he is in front of the goal, he is a great passer as well as a great space creator for others to benefit from. Luis Suarez is as complete a striker as you can get. Wonder goals, tap-ins, solo goals, dribbling, passing, you name the attribute you want out of a striker, and it is a guarantee that Suarez possessed that. Suarez is the third top scorer in Barca’s rich history. And on top of that, he is also the second-highest assist maker of all time. In his prime, Luis was an absolute joy to watch. He is 34 now, and as a result, he is not the same player anymore and has slowed down a bit. But, nevertheless, he is still balling in La Liga with Atletico de Madrid.

6. Ladislao Kubala

281 Goals (357 Appearances)

His story is something straight out of a movie. In 1949 Kubala fled socialist Hungary in the back of a truck. In May 1949, he agreed to play for Torino but pulled out due to a family emergency, which in turn saved his life as the plane crashed on its way back from Lisbon, killing everyone inside it. Laszlo was the first ‘megastar’ that Barca had. And they needed that to combat against Real Madrid’s Alfredo di Stefano. He brought a magical time at the club. With him, the team won absolutely everything there was to win in 1951 season. He was an entertainer. He attracted crowds. When he played suddenly, the 60,000 seats weren’t enough. And, so they began the construction of the 93,000 seater Camp Nou. As a tribute to the great, there is Bronze statue erected outside the stadium.

5. Ronaldinho

110 Goals (250 Appearances)

Football became blessed when Ronaldinho started playing it. He always had a smile on his face. He is the greatest entertainer in the history of the game. The man with virtually zero haters across the globe. He was so good, he once received a standing ovation from the Bernabeu crowd. When Dinho was on the ball, you just had to sit back and enjoy the ride. The man that kickstarted the new Barca era. The biggest piece in the project. Ronaldinho has practically won everything there is to win in football. Scorer of some great goals, a genuine genius of the sport. There aren’t enough words to describe how mesmerizing Ronaldinho was. He won Barca their second Champions League. And he won a Ballon D’or in 2005, as a result cementing his legendary status in the sport. Ronaldinho ranks 5th on this list of Top 10 Barcelona players of all time.

4. Johan Cruyff

86 Goals (231 Appearances)

One of the greatest players of all time. Johan Cruyff put Barcelona on the world map. Football would never be the same after Johan Cruyff. Cruyff revolutionized modern football. The man that introduced ‘Total Football’, which would hone how football will be played for generations to come. To this day, Cruyff’s ideals are what governs the managerial aspect of the game. He is the one that made Pep Guardiola who he is today. Johan won three Ballon D’or throughout his stellar career.

3. Andres Iniesta

66 Goals (758 Appearances)

Andres Iniesta is one of the greatest midfielders of this generation. The magician was an absolute joy to watch on the ball. He glided on the pitch and went past players as it they weren’t there. And, he had perfected the weight of the pass. He was an absolute joy to watch on the ball. A big-game player if there ever was one. He scored in Spain’s victory against Netherlands in the final to give his country their first-ever world cup. He is currently playing in the Japanese league. Iniesta has a street named after him and a statue of his World Cup-winning goal in his hometown.

2. Xavi Hernandez

97 Goals (869 Appearances)

Xavi Hernandez read the game like no one else. He saw the pass before anyone else did. He and Iniesta formed the greatest midfield partnership of all time. The game ran through him. He was a master of the art of ‘scanning’ a pitch. Which meant knowing the positions of your players and the oppositions’ and where the space would be empty. The record appearance holder for the club. Xavi Hernandez was a brilliant football player and a genius by the definition of the word. The man won everything in a Barcelona shirt and also in a Spanish shirt. And he is currently managing Barca. Under his management, Barca are looking at a new dawn and, as a result, a brighter future for the club.

Barcelona greatest player of all time — Messi’s celebration after PSG comeback

1. Lionel Messi

672 Goals (778 Appearances)

No surprises, who is on the top of the list of the top 10 greatest Barcelona Players of All time: Lionel Andres Messi. The man who is widely considered as the Greatest Player of All Time. The magician is an absolute joy to watch. Messi is the record goal scorer for the club, for La Liga, for Argentina in El Clasico’s, etc. etc., etc. Covering Messi’s records would take up all week. The man is too good. Leo has won everything there is to win at the club with Barcelona. Two trebles with the club. And a record 7 Ballon D’ors And, he finally won the thing which eluded him the most in his career, an international trophy. As he won a Copa America with Argentina this year. Hence, cementing his place in the Argentinian history books as well. Due to the financial aspects of the game, he had to forcibly leave the club this season. It is going to be a very, very sad day when Lionel Messi announces his retirement from the beautiful game. So, enjoy him as long as you all can.

Also Read: Top 10 Most Expensive IPL Players of All Time

Tags Barcelona, Messi, Suarez, Xavi

Football (Premier League)

Top 10 El Clásico of All Time

Post author By Robert Jackson
Post date May 15, 2022
No Comments on Top 10 El Clásico of All Time

The greatest rivalry in the history of the beautiful game. Real Madrid vs F.C. Barcelona AKA The El Clasico. The rivalry of two of the biggest clubs in the history of football. Certainly, the biggest clubs in Spain. It is often the most anticipated and most viewed fixture in club football. Two clubs with the biggest of legacies and the biggest of legends the game has ever seen all over the pitch, makes it a spectacle you wouldn’t want to keep your eyes away from even for a second. The games can get a bit ugly, fights would break between the sets of players due to the intense rivalry. But, no matter what happens, this fixture comes with a full-fledge guarantee of entertainment.

Real Madrid is currently ahead with 100 Wins, followed closely by Barca at 97. While over the past three years, this fixture has dropped a bit in quality due to the departures of some greats in Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by Luis Suarez, Ramos, and then most recently Lionel Messi, it still is one of the most-watched games of club football season. Now, here is the list of our top 10 El Clasico’s of All Time.

10. Real Madrid 4-2 Barcelona (10 April 2005)

The win that helped Real secure the first La Liga title of their Galactico era. A star-studded Real Madrid with the likes of Ronaldo de Lima, Beckham, Raul, Owen, Zidane, and Roberto Carlos dominated a Barca that featured a young Andres Iniesta, Samuel Eto, Xavi, and the magician Ronaldinho. Zidane opened the scoring through a header in the 6th minute, and then Ronaldo scored to make it 2-0. It looked like there was no way back then Eto brought one back through a brilliant solo goal. Raul and Owen scored in the second half to put it past Barcelona’s reach. Ronaldinho stole the show with a magnificent Free Kick in the 73rd minute to make it 4-2. This classic and breathtaking Clasico makes 10th on this list of top 10 El Clasico’s of all time.

9. Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid (21 April 2012)

When Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona met Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, everyone just knew they were in for a treat. Icons of the game on either side of the pitch. Ballers wherever you looked. That season Real Madrid under Jose was an unstoppable counter-attacking machine. That team hit an unprecedented 100 points in the league that season. Pep’s Barcelona consisting of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Dani Alves, Busquets, and prime Lionel Messi facing Mourinho’s Real that had a strike force of Ozil, Benzema, Angel di Maria led by a Cristiano Ronaldo in his prime. The game promised to be a great spectacle, and boy, did it deliver. The game began with chances at both ends, with Khedira opening the scoring after kicking home a rebound. The game went on with both sets of players creating half-chances at both ends. Alexis Sanchez finally equalized for Barca with a scrappy goal sending the home crowd into ecstasy. Their joy was soon deflated when Cristiano Ronaldo slotted home a brilliant finish to an exquisite through ball by Mesut and hitting the home supporters with the famous ‘Calma’ celebration.

Ronaldo and Ozil — Ronaldo’s famous ‘Calma’ celebration

8. Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid (29 November 2010)

The biggest Clasico win in Barca’s history. A scoreline that describes utter domination. One of the most unexpected games ever played in this famous fixture. When the line-ups were announced, the general consensus was that this game would also be a nail-biter, will be a classic. As it turned out, it was a classic, just not what everyone thought and certainly not what the Madrid fans would’ve hoped for. Although Messi didn’t score in that game, he was unplayable that game. He provided two assists for Catalans. Xavi opened the scoring, and then Pedro scored the second to end a 25-pass move. El Clasico wouldn’t be an El Clasico without a fight breaking down between the players. Ronaldo pushed their manager Pep, and that enraged the Barca side erupting a fight between the players. The second half was a total onslaught by Barca, they scored three in that half to put Real Madrid out of sight and out of mind. A night the Culers will never forget.

7. Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid ( 14 August 2017)

Barcelona invited Real Madrid to Camp Nou for the Supercopa de Espana. The game began with chances at both ends, with the first half stayed level at 0-0. Five minutes into the second half, the UCL holders take the lead through a Pique own goal. Messi leveled the scoring in the 77th minute by slotting home a penalty given against Navas by a foul on Suarez. The score didn’t stay level for too long, though, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a wonder goal, flooring Pique and curling it into the top corner in the 80th minute. He celebrated that by removing his shirt to enrage the home supporters. He then got a red card in the 83rd minute, making the match tougher for Real. But, Marco Asensio came in clutch by sending home a thunderous strike in the 90th minute to end the game 1-3 in the favour of Madrid.

Barca 1-3 Real — Ronaldo shirtless celebration

6. Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona (16 April 2014)

Before the game, Barcelona were favorite to win the game due to the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was suffering from an injury. But Gareth Bale had other plans. Angel Di Maria opened the scoring at the end of a fiercely quick and an exquisite counterattack. The first half saw plenty of chances for either side, and Bale had himself a goal disallowed. Barcelona equalized through a Batra header in the second half. In the 85th minute, Gareth Bale switched on his engine and went on a run to slot home a brilliant solo goal and win Real Madrid the Copa Del Rey.

5. Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona ( 27th April 2011)

A champions league semi-final first leg match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, there isn’t anything bigger that club football can promise you. Another Jose vs Pep classic encounter. Jose’s tactics to frustrate Pep didn’t work out for him on this occasion. Lionel Messi had different plans to those of Jose’s. Pepe got sent off in the 61st minute, making it a colossal task for the men in the royal white to keep a clean sheet. Messi opened the scoring in the 77th minute. But, his second goal is the one that is known throughout the world. Messi tore apart the Madrid defense skipping past 4 players to score his second. And, who can forget Peter Drury’s iconic commentary to it, “Away from two, three, four wonderful wonderful wonderful.” An aggregate advantage of 3-1 sent Barcelona in the finals.

4. Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid ( 7 October 2012)

If an example was to be given of a perfect Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo encounter, then this game would be the top contender. The two of the greatest ever and the greatest of our generation going head to head always resulted in a beautiful spectacle. Ronaldo opened the scoring by firing home a thunderbolt from his weak foot past Valdes. Messi equalized after Pepe miscued his clearance, and Messi fired home a simple finish. Messi scored a scintillating free kick in the second half to put Barca ahead. And not a long time after, Cristiano finishes his second to draw the game level through a Mesut assist. A pure exhibition of football.

The Goats — Messi and Ronaldo shaking hands

3. Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid ( 10 March 2007)

The game that announced the arrival of the great Lionel Messi to the world. A game that had stars all over the pitch. But, the headlines were stolen by a 19-year-old from Argentina. Ruud Van Nistelrooy opened the scoring for Real, Messi sent home the equalizer soon, although. Nistelrooy slotted home his penalty to give the visitors the lead. Messi equalized it again to cancel out the pen. Ramos scored to give Real the lead again. When it looked like Real were gonna win this one, Messi popped up again and sent home a brilliant goal in the 92nd minute to send the crowd into ecstasy, and the game ended at an astonishing 3-3.

2. Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona ( 23 April 2017)

Another game where Messi haunted the Bernabeu crowd. It was a pretty equal game until Casemiro tapped in an open goal to give Real the lead. Messi then scored as beautiful goal to level the game. Rakitic scored in the second half to give Barca the lead. But Rodriguez scored in the 85th minute to equalize it for Real, and they thought that was the end of it. But, Leo Messi had different plans. He sent home a brilliant finish through his magical left foot in the dying minutes of the game to give Barca the lead and then removing his jersey and showing it to the Bernabeu folk. One of the most iconic celebrations ever in an El Clasico.

1. Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona ( 23 March 2014)

It was an easy choice for the number 1 pick. This game had everything: Red Cards, Penalties, Hattrick. Iniesta opened the scoring by a Messi through ball. Benzema headed home the equalizer to tie the game for a while. Benzema scored soon again to give Carlo Ancelotti’s men the lead. Messi popped up to score his first and tie the game. Ronaldo slotted home the penalty to put Real in front. Ramos then brought Neymar down in the box and got himself sent off. Messi slotted that pen past Casillas to level the game at 3-3. Iniesta won Barca another penalty, and the main man sent that pen in the net as well to win the game for the Catalans.

Also Read: Dwayne Bravo’s Net Worth: How Rich Does The Trinidadian Cricketer

Tags Barcelona, Messi, Real Madrid, Ronaldo, Xavi

Football (Premier League)

Cristiano Ronaldo Scored His 60th Hat-Trick

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date May 14, 2022
No Comments on Cristiano Ronaldo Scored His 60th Hat-Trick

Cristiano Ronaldo is aging like fine wine at the moment. Just off scoring his career 60th hat-trick, Cristiano Ronaldo is a man on a mission. The 37-year-old footballer helped Manchester United escape a cagey affair against Norwich in the Premier League. Manchester United is currently locked in a race for the top 4 with teams like Tottenham Hotspurs, West Ham United, and Arsenal. As opposed to Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal both lost their respective matches this week. This gives Manchester United a boost to their chances to secure a top 4 spot. It was all made possible after an inspiring performance by Ronaldo, saving United from the clutches of defeat.

Ronaldo even addressed the victory and his hat-trick on his Instagram, saying, “Very happy with this win and for getting us back on track in the Premier League.”. Further, regarding his 60th hat-trick, he elucidated the importance behind the feat by saying, “The 60th hat-trick in my career is so much more important because it brought us the 3 points.”.

The start of his astonishing hat-trick began when Anthony Elanga caught capitalized on Ben Gibson in possession near the Norwich penalty box to beautifully set up Ronaldo for an easy shot from close range. Soon he doubled his tally from a corner by Alex Telles, and put it brilliantly slotted it past Tim Krul. However, all hope seemed lost when defensive errors caused Norwich to pull two goals back. However, in the 76th minute, after Manchester United were awarded a freekick, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and delivered a brutal knuckleball past Norwich to finally put Manchester United in front and get the 3 valuable points for the team. Apart from Ronaldo and David de Gea, the rest of the team put in a sub-par performance and were considered lucky to get away with the win.

According to Statman Dave on Twitter, Ronaldo’s stats against Norwich were ridiculous, to say the least:

Cristiano Ronaldo’s game by numbers vs Norwich:

https://twitter.com/StatmanDave/status/1515359238649954306?s=20&t=zkJ_RXQhc1bHCkvZP4fkbg

David de Gea, after the match, emphasized the importance of the win, as this victory keeps United’s hope alive for a top-four finish. However, he also implored his side to contribute more to the matches. He was quoted saying, “We should control the game more against Norwich at home. A massive win for us. We still have a chance to finish top four, and we have to fight for it.”
With just 3 points behind the Spurs in the Premier League table, Manchester United will certainly put everything behind in these last few remaining games. With a spectacular performance, Ronaldo seems adamant to finish in the top 4 and qualify for Champions League next season. Additionally, this was his 3rd hat-trick in United colors and 2nd hat-trick this season. With 21 goals in his bag from 34 games this season, Ronaldo is proving every doubter wrong. United are poised to face Liverpool at Anfield in their next match. With the form Ronaldo is in currently, Liverpool needs to be wary of him.

Also Read: Deion Sanders : Only player to have appeared in a Super Bowl and World Series.

Tags Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo

Football (Premier League)

Champions League Semi Finals: Dates, Teams and Much More

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date May 14, 2022
No Comments on Champions League Semi Finals: Dates, Teams and Much More

With the epic conclusion to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, we determined our semi-finalists. Real Madrid, Villarreal, Manchester City, and Liverpool. A battle between Spain and England ultimately determines this year’s champion. The final of the Champions League is on May 28th at the Saint-Denis stadium (France). However, before that, the four teams will battle out in the Champions League Semi-Finals to determine this year’s finalists. Earlier, the finals were going to be played in St. Petersburg. However, UEFA Sanctions against Russia prompted the new location to be in Paris. Let us take a look at the teams which have qualified for the Champions League Semi-Finals.

Villarreal

The giant killers of this year’s Champions League. Unai Emery’s Villarreal pulled off the impossible when they ousted giants Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Just 10 years ago, Villarreal was relegated to the Spanish second division. The amount of suffering endured by the club has been an arduous journey. Nevertheless, they have certainly surprised everybody and punched way above their weight to be successful. Passion and hard work did pay off, and they will now face Liverpool in the Champions League Semi-Finals. True underdogs of the competition, their grit and tenacity certainly propel them towards success. Nonetheless, it is poised to be an interesting match-up. David vs. Goliath on the football pitch. Our minds say Liverpool, but the heart certainly loves to root for the underdogs.

Liverpool

The Goliath to Villarreal’s David. Jurgen Klopp’s rock and roll football has dominated the opposition throughout the competition. Now with a healthy squad, Liverpool seems destined to once again lift the trophy. It will certainly be on their list to go for the treble. With FA Cup and Premier League on the horizon, Klopp’s Liverpool will be looking to make history. Having faced tough competition throughout, Liverpool has a clear destination in sight. With Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, and Roberto Firmino all firing their cylinders, the tournament needs to be wary of the domination of Liverpool.

Real Madrid

The legendary Real Madrid are once again looking to regain their former glory. With the departure of key players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid looked like a shell of its former glory. However, with the departure of their talisman in Ronaldo, and captain Ramos, Karim Benzema stepped up to the plate encompassing both the qualities in one. Currently, Benzema seems unstoppable. Scoring 2 back to back hat tricks in the Champion’s League, Benzema looks determined to bring Real Madrid back to European glory all by himself. Vinicius and Benzema in the front have wreaked havoc on teams like PSG and Chelsea. They are facing another megastar in the Champions League Semi-Finals in the form of Manchester City. An epic duel awaits the arena when these two gladiators will collide.

Manchester City

Perhaps this will finally be the year Pep Guardiola can guide Manchester City to their first-ever European glory. They have all the means necessary to triumph the best of the best. However, European success has forever eluded the Premier League giants. This year they are scheduled to face Real Madrid in the Champions League Semi-Finals. A tough task, to say the least. Even more, since Karim Benzema has found his new one-man army form and has been unstoppable. Additionally, a couple of injury scares in the form of Kevin De Bruyne, and Kyle Walker dampens their chances a bit. Nevertheless, the squad depth and the genius tactical mind of Pep Guardiola can certainly conjure up backup plans to overcome these odds. Nevertheless, Real Madrid vs. Manchester City will be a spectacle to witness, and we are all for it.

Time and Date of the Champions League Semi-Finals

The first leg of the Champions League Semi-Finals will be contested on the 27th and 28th of April. With the second leg contested on the 4th and 5th of May.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: 27th April (First Leg) | 5th May (Second Leg)

Liverpool vs. Villarreal: 28th April (First Leg) | 4th May (Second Leg)

Where to watch

The rights to show UEFA Champions League matches in India belong to Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN). They will be streaming the match on the SONY LIV app, and it will be broadcast on Sony TEN 1 and Sony TEN 2. Additionally, it will also be streaming on the JioTV app.

Fans in the USA can catch the broadcast on CBS and TUDN Deportes. For fans in the UK, it will be broadcast specifically on the BT Sport channel.

Also Read: Ajay Devgan’s Sports Drama Film ‘Maidaan’ Is A Must Watch

Tags Champions League, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, UEFA champions league

Football (Premier League)

Manchester City vs Liverpool: Who Will Win The Match? FA Cup Match Predictions and Much More

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date May 14, 2022
No Comments on Manchester City vs Liverpool: Who Will Win The Match? FA Cup Match Predictions and Much More

The rivalry encompassing the two footballing giants has been nothing short of mesmerizing this season. Manchester City vs Liverpool seem like they are destined to clash many more times this season. However, the surest fixture they are scheduled to face off is this Saturday, on the 16th of April to book a place in the finals of the FA Cup. Given the spectacle we witnessed this past week when they squared off against each other in the Premier League, we are sure to be in for a treat come this Saturday.

The unmatchable intensity of Jurgen Klopp will challenge the genius of Pep Guardiola. It will be interesting to see which team comes out on top after their last match which ended in a draw. Nonetheless, given the occasion of the spectacle, let us all take out our prediction hats and analyze which team has a better chance of triumph.

Manchester City vs Liverpool will clash again — Liverpool and Manchester City are poised to clash once again in an epic battle. This time to decide their future in the FA Cup tournament.

Date, Kick-off, Venue

The semi-finals of the FA Cup between Manchester City vs Liverpool take place this Saturday, 16th April 2022, and are scheduled for 3:30pm BST and 8:00pm IST. The match will be played at The Ethihad Stadium in Manchester.

Team News

After the conclusion of the UCL quarter-finals, we now know that both Manchester City and Liverpool have moved on to the semi-finals. However, the clash came at a heavy price specifically for Manchester City. The match between Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid ended in a draw, but in the process lost Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker to injuries. This puts a damper on the hopes of City when they clash with Liverpool this Saturday. In the post-match conference, Pep Guardiola admitted to being in “big trouble” after the confirmation of the injuries. It would certainly be interesting to see how Pep will manage without the expertise of De Bruyne and Walker.

In our opinion, the most logical replacement would be Bernado Silva. He is one of City’s most tactically adept players and can fill in the role of De Bruyne adequately. Additionally, John Stones would be the most probable replacement for Walker if he is unable to play on Saturday. We suspect, Pep Guardiola will field a strong team despite losing De Bryune and Walker. With Silva filling in for KDB and Stones in place of Walker, we can also bank on Sterling starting to cause problems in the wings.

Regarding Liverpool, Diogo Jota picked up a knock against Benfica this past week. He was replaced for a short period by Mohamed Salah. However, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed via the post-match conference that Diogo Jota has not picked up any significant injury and will be available for selection this Saturday. Virgil Van Dijk was also rested for the UCL clash against Benfica. Overall, we assume Klopp will deploy the same team which faced Manchester City in the Premier League this month.

Prediction

Manchester City vs Liverpool is set for another epic encounter. After their previous encounters this season, we can bet this will be a tight match. Both teams will be facing the brunt of the UEFA Champions League matches against their respective rivals. It will come down to perseverance and a stroke of inspiration to pull off a win. However, luck seems to be a bit out of hand for the Cityzens as their talisman Kevin De Bruyne and the reliable Kyle Walker succumbed to injuries. Nonetheless, the squad depth of Manchester City is nothing to scoff at. Liverpool on the other hand will employ their fundamental ethos of going big and hard. Jurgen Klopp will look to implement his “Rock ‘n’ Roll” football to ruin City’s chances. We predict after a hard-fought battle, Pep Guardiola will edge out a victory.

Score Prediction: 1:0 Manchester City

Where to Watch

The FA Cup will be broadcast on BBC One in the UK. Viewers in the USA can watch it on ESPN and will be streaming live for ESPN+ subscribers.

In India, the FA Cup will be broadcast on SONY TEN 2. It will also be streaming live on the JioTV and SONY LIV applications.

Also Read: Sergi Roberto Has An Offer From Atletico Madrid

Tags FA Cup, Liverpool, Manchester City

Football (Premier League)

Sergi Roberto Has An Offer From Atletico Madrid

Post author By Robert Jackson
Post date March 20, 2022
No Comments on Sergi Roberto Has An Offer From Atletico Madrid

Reports are flying out from Spain that Sergi Roberto is looking for a move away from the Spanish giants F.C. Barcelona. And the likely destination at this point seems to be one of their rivals and another Spanish giant in Atletico de Madrid. Reports claim that Sergi Roberto has an offer from Atletico de Madrid. The contract talks seem to have come to a halt at Barcelona and it is looking more likelier by each passing day that the once reputed defender will leave as a free transfer at the end of this season. His contract is set to expire by June, 2022. Then he will be free to negotiate a transfer with anyone with no association to Barcelona whatsoever. The 30 year old defender is currently recovering from an injury he suffered to his rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh. He is set to undergo a surgery in the coming days. If the terms of the offer from Atletico are acceptable to Sergi then it will be a good move for him as he’ll be moving to another title challenging squad.

A chance to revive his career

A move away from Barcelona might just be the kickstart he needs to get his career back on track. A move to Atletico might just be the best option for the defender. At the Wanda he is one of the targets on the list. Ans, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to get him since he will be on a free and Atletico have the resources to easily match the salary he is currently earning at Barcelona. In the Atleti camp they see him as a great recruitment due to his experience and versatility. He can play almost all of the positions on a football field, which makes him the perfect Simeone player out there. His career has gone through a bit of a downward trajectory in the past few years. Precisely after ‘that’ 90+6 winner against Paris Saint German to cap off one of the greatest comebacks and games in Champions League history. The 6-1 score line is astonishing enough as it is nevermind the fact that it cancelled out a 4-0 deficit. Playing under Diego Simeone might just revive his career and make him reach the heights that his potential warranted. If this deal happens it won’t be the first time a club legend from Barcelona has moved to Atletico on a free and found success there, case in point: Luis Suarez. Sergi Roberto has gone from starting in one of the greatest Barcelona teams ever to being a bench warmer at one of the worst Barcelona teams in the 21st century in the 2020-21 season.

He was asked to take a pay cut by the club last se

Barca Psg — Sergi Roberto’s game winner against PSG

ason, to which he refused. He is currently earning a reported 224,000 dollars per week. Which shouldn’t be a problem for a club of Atletico Madrid’s stature and financial stability. Barcelona are in a financial turmoil due to the dealings of their previous president and have been offloading players and are looking to further offload players to shorten their wage bill. Because if they don’t they will be unable to register any future signings they will make or they want to make due to the regulations set by La Liga and it’s president Javier Tebas. The inability to register players is the reason they had to let the great Lionel Messi go on a free to Paris Saint Germain F.C.

He is a product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy and has made 316 appearances for the senior team according to the official Barcelona website. Just to provide an example of his versatility, the Spanish international has made appearances for the club at seven different positions. Luis Enrique once praised him saying “In a team like ours, except in goal, he could play in any position, it’s no surprise. The most difficult thing is doing it well all over the field and Sergi Roberto does that.”

The 30 year old feels that he isn’t valued at the club anymore as Barca are building a team for the future with a young core. If the rumours are true then it will be a great move for all the parties involved as Sergi will get another chance at his career and Atleti will get an experienced presence in the dressing room. And, who knows this might be the opportunity he needs to break into Spain’s national side again.

Tags Barcelona

Football (Premier League)

UEFA Champions League Round Complete Schedule:

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date February 26, 2022
No Comments on UEFA Champions League Round Complete Schedule:

The decision to reverse the draw for the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League was made following the outcry and controversy it caused. Due to the errors that were made in the previous draw, the Round of 16 was re-arranged to ensure that the best possible matchup was presented to the fans.

The first match up will be between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, which will be held on February 15, 2019. It will be Lionel Messi’s first encounter with the Catalan team.

Each match will be played over two legs. The teams with the most goals will advance to the quarterfinals.

For the first time in almost five decades, no goals will be scored away from home during the second leg of a tie in the Round of 16. This rule change was also implemented to prevent a shootout.

The first leg will be played on February 16 to 23 and the second leg on February 26 to 27. The winner of the group will host the second leg as it’s considered an advantage to have home advantage. It will determine the remaining 16 teams in the tournament.

Champions League Round of 16 schedule

Round of 16 – 1st Legs

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Tues, Feb. 15	PSG 1, Real Madrid 0	3 p.m.
Tues, Feb. 15	Sporting CP 0, Man City 5	3 p.m.
Wed, Feb. 16	Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 2	3 p.m.
Wed, Feb. 16	RB Salzburg 1, Bayern Munich 1	3 p.m.
Tues, Feb. 22	Chelsea vs. LOSC Lille	3 p.m.
Tues, Feb. 22	Villarreal CF vs. Juventus	3 p.m.
Wed, Feb. 23	Atletico Madrid vs. Man United	3 p.m.
Wed, Feb. 23	Benfica vs. Ajax	3 p.m.

Round of 16 – 2nd Legs

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Tues, March 8	Bayern Munich vs. RB Salzburg	3 p.m.
Tues, March 8	Liverpool vs. Inter Milan	3 p.m.
Wed, March 9	Man City vs. Sporting CP	3 p.m.
Wed, March 9	Real Madrid vs. PSG	4 p.m.
Tues, March 15	Ajax vs. Benfica	4 p.m.
Tues, March 15	Man United vs. Atletico Madrid	4 p.m.
Wed, March 16	Juventus vs. Villarreal	4 p.m.
Wed, March 16	LOSC Lille vs. Chelsea	4 p.m.

Quarterfinal draw !

After the Round of 16’s winners are confirmed, the draw for the quarterfinals will be held on March 18. Unlike the Round of 16, the teams from the same country will not be placed in the same bracket.It will determine the remaining 16 teams in the tournament.

The knockout stages will be played according to the same rules as the Round of 16. If both teams are level after the first leg, 30 minutes of extra time will be allotted to determine the winner.

Quarterfinals: April 5-6, April 12-13

Semifinals: April 26-27, May 3-4

Final: May 28, 2022

How to watch?

The knockout stages of the 2021-22 European Champions League are broadcasted in the US by CBS Sports and Univision.

CBS Sports has a live studio show called UEFA Champions League Today that can be streamed on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. The remaining matches of the Champions League can be streamed through fuboTV with a free trial. To watch the games, Univision will also stream them on its free ad-supported platform, PrendeTV.

Football (Premier League)

Liverpool vs Arsenal Carabao Cup Semi-Final Predictions, Team News

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date January 12, 2022
No Comments on Liverpool vs Arsenal Carabao Cup Semi-Final Predictions, Team News

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool is all set to host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Anfield for the first leg of the Carabao Cup Semi-Final. It is indeed the clash of the heavyweights of English football. Anfield was supposed to host the second leg earlier in the month. But the Liverpool camp was hit with an apparent COVID 19 outbreak. Jurgen Klopp later announced to defend the postponement. Stating there were “a lot of false-positive cases” and was indeed scared to go ahead with any sort of gameplay. Hence, the second leg will be played on the 21st of Jan 2022 in the Emirates Stadium. This post will contain Liverpool vs Arsenal Carabao Cup Semi-Final Predictions, Team News.

This season these two teams have already met two times and both times Klopp has managed to outsmart Arteta comprehensively. It is with persistence, Mikel Arteta has managed to push fuel into his team. It brought the best out of all his players in the English Premier League. Whereas, Jurgen Klopp and his team are going through a rather rough patch in the Premier League with no wins in the last three matches. Recently, Liverpool bounced back showing some form and winning 4-1 against Shrewsbury in an important knockout FA Cup tie. Arsenal is known for its brilliance and consistency in FA Cup. But getting knocked out by Nottingham Forest, suffering a close yet historic 1-0 defeat by them did not help their cause.

Arteta vs Klopp — *Mikel Arteta vs Jurgen Klopp*

Date, Time, and Where to watch Liverpool vs Arsenal?

Liverpool vs Arsenal at Anfield is scheduled on 14th Jan 2022, 1:15 AM (IST). To watch the match live, Indian fans can tune into MTV, and to stream it online, one can finish their hunt on Voot Select or Jio TV.

Whereas for the British fans, the scheduled kick-off time is at 8 pm GMT on Thursday, January 13, 2022. Will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event.

Also read, List Of Top Footballers Who Wore Number 19

Line-Up Predictions

Liverpool:

Alisson Becker will be back to his keeping duties after recovering from illness
Trent Alexander Arnold has tested positive for COVID 19, confirmed by Klopp
Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita, Sadio Mane are out on International break (AFCON)
Harvey Elliot, Thiago Alcantara, Nathaniel Phillips, and Divock Origi are out due to injury

Probable Playing XI – Alisson, Bradley, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson, Fabinho, Jones, Gordon, Jota, Minamino/Firmino

Arsenal:

Nicolas Pepe, Thomas Partey, and Mohamed Elneny are out on an International break (AFCON)
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang remains dropped from the squad
Granit Xhaka is out after testing positive with COVID 19
Emile Smith Rowe might miss the match due to a groin injury
Takehiro Tomiyasu is ready to come back after the calf injury
Alexandre Lacazette might get the nod replacing Eddie Nketiah from the FA Cup tie.
Gabriel is all set to return to the playing XI

Probable Playing XI – Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Patino, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette

Players to watch out for:

Both Arsenal and Liverpool will be missing a few of their in-form players. It is observed that both the teams can cope-up well in the absence of their talismans. There are a few players who will get the nod for this tie and may outshine everyone else on-field.

For Liverpool – In absence of the goal-scoring duo, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, there is another duo that might get the goal count moving, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino. Expectations are high from both these forwards to peak their gameplay against the Gunners and the records say that Jota (5) and Firmino (7) love to score against Arsenal too.

Jota and Firmino — *Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino*

For Arsenal – The absence of the talismanic Emile Smith Rowe is going to make some fans nervous about this tie. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli both have found some sort of goalscoring form in the past few games. So putting all the money on these two youngsters to be the pocket dynamites of this clash.

Liverpool vs Arsenal Score Line Prediction

The current form of both the teams is very uncertain, one might outperform another on any given day. Jurgen Klopp is still figuring out certain combinations when it comes to chopping and changing the playing XI and Mikel Arteta is still searching for a resting ground after the shock exit from the FA Cup. Though it will not be a shocker if Liverpool manages to squeeze in a comfortable 2-0 win over Arsenal on this given day, with respect to their home advantage. But, if there is a team that can surprise anyone this season, then that would be Arsenal. So it will be only fair to say that the clash of the English footballing titans is set to be out and out thrilling to watch.