Carlo Ancelotti can win the battle with Pep Guardiola in their Champions League showdown (Picture: Copa/Getty Images) Manchester City’s eye-popping 4-0 victory against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday was the perfect tonic ahead of their daunting trip to the Bernabeu Stadium to face Real Madrid in a must-win Champions League blockbuster. But trailing 3-2 after the first leg of their play-off duel when they continued a worrying trend of surrendering late goals, memories are still painfully fresh of their struggle to overcome League One Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, the 5-1 battering by Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, the 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain and the 2-2…

Chelsea are enduring a tough run of form under Enzo Maresca (Picture: Getty) Troy Deeney reckons that Chelsea may find it difficult to keep Cole Palmer happy at the club if they don’t qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea enjoyed a fast start this season under new boss Enzo Maresca and were even briefly considered as challengers for the Premier League title. However, a disappointing run of just two wins from their last nine league fixtures has seen the Blues not only tumble out of title contention but also the top four. Maresca repeatedly dismissed the notion that Chelsea could contend for the league this season, but the Italian has…

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has suffered a drastic decline in form in recent months (Picture: Getty) Mario Melchiot says Ruben Amorim is faced with a ‘big problem’ at Manchester United, with ‘incredible’ players like Alejandro Garnacho appearing ‘lost’ since he took charge. Amorim has found himself under mounting pressure at Old Trafford in recent weeks having failed to steady the ship since taking over the reins from Erik ten Hag back in November. Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Ange Postecoglou’s depleted Tottenham side, United’s eighth loss in the Premier League under Amorim, left the club stranded down in 15th place, just 12 points above the relegation zone.…

Raheem Sterling was criticised for his performance against Leicester City last weekend (Credits: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock) Raheem Sterling has been told to take a look in the mirror in a bid to turn his dismal Arsenal loan spell around. The 30-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements by Chelsea in the summer before joining the Gunners on deadline day on loan. Sterling announced ‘you’re about to see the best of me’ upon his arrival at the Emirates Stadium where he was reunited with Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal boss was credited in playing a key role in Sterling’s development at Manchester City where he cemented a reputation as one of European football’s most…

Merino the new solution up front (Picture: NurPhoto via Getty Images) Arsenal have found a solution to their problems up top as they welcome West Ham United to the Emirates this weekend. With Kai Havertz joining Gabriel Jesus in being ruled out for the rest of the season, Mikel Arteta was forced to experiment with his side last weekend against Leicester. With Leandro Trossard failing to finding his way through in a central role and Raheem Sterling ineffective on the left, Mikel Merino was called upon in another roll of the dice. This time, it worked. With Trossard pushed wide and Merino operating as a makeshift centre forward, the Spaniard…

Everton are the league’s in-form team (Picture: Visionhaus) David Moyes will look to inflict more misery on his former side when Everton host Manchester United in Premier League action this weekend. The Toffees have enjoyed a marvellous turnaround since the Scot returned to Goodison Park for a second stint. Sat 16th, one point off the relegation zone, Everton have morphed into the league’s in-form side, picking up 13 points with four wins in six matches. Everton have eased above United in the table with their relegation fears surely over. Goodison will still be bouncing after last week’s Merseyside derby thriller with United reeling from defeat at Tottenham on Sunday and…

Cody Gakpo has been in impressive form this season (Picture: Getty Images) Cody Gakpo is close to a return from injury but will not be available for Liverpool’s trip to Aston Villa, confirms Arne Slot. The in-form forward picked up a minor injury in the 2-2 draw with Everton and sat out the win over Wolves at the weekend as a result. There was some hope that Gakpo could recover from the knock in time for the trip to Villa Park in midweek, but Slot has confirmed that he will not be available. The Reds are still in pretty good shape in terms of injuries, with Joe Gomez the only…

Ethan Nwaneri has a similar mentality to a young Cesc Fabregas, says Arsene Wenger (Picture: Getty) Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Mikel Arteta has a ‘special talent’ on his hands in Ethan Nwaneri, comparing the teenager’s mentality to that of a young Cesc Fabregas. Nwaneri, 17, has burst onto the scene at Arsenal this season and established himself as one of the finest young talents in European football, alongside fellow Hale End academy product Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18. The pair have quickly asserted themselves as first-team regulars under Arteta and both are being tipped for possible call-ups in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad despite their tender years. Nwaneri stepped up…