Ipswich have ´so many positives to take´ from Villa draw – McKenna

Kieran McKenna believes Ipswich Town can take so many positives from their 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

The Tractor Boys, who are back in the Premier League after 22 years away, extended their unbeaten league streak to four matches, after Liam Delap s strike secured a share of the spoils at Portman Road.

Delap had given Ipswich an eighth-minute lead, but goals from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins saw Villa turn the match on its head just after the half-hour mark.

Nevertheless, the hosts dug deep with Delap levelling in the 72nd minute to secure their fourth successive draw, which moves them out of the relegation zone to 15th place.

And McKenna was thrilled with the character his players demonstrated.

I think we created the better chances in the …

Liverpool spirit pleases Klopp: It´s all about showing a reaction

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is pleased with how his players have responded to recent setbacks but warned them not to take anything for granted against Midtjylland.

The Premier League champions were sensationally hammered 7-2 by Aston Villa prior to the October international break, then lost Virgil van Dijk to a serious knee injury on their return to action.

Defender Van Dijk was hurt in the early stages of the 2-2 draw with Merseyside rivals Everton, a game the Reds twice led before eventually having to settle for a point.

However, since then Liverpool have recorded a win away at Ajax in the Champions League and also fought back from a goal down to beat Sheffield United.

It s all about showing a reaction you cannot influence the things that have happene…

Copa America: Messi, Suarez, Martins and the golden oldies

Before every major tournament, eyes are trained on the next generation of stars set to take the football world by storm.

This year s rescheduled Copa America is no different with the likes of Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo, Brazil right-back Emerson Royal and Colombia forward Jaminton Campaz on the scene.

But there is still no changing of the guard as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, among others, continue to dominate on the international stage.

Stats Perform looks at six players above the age of 30 and their eye-catching numbers heading into the 47th edition of the Copa America.

ROMPIERON REDES 

¿Lo sabías? ​
Estos son los máximos goleadores de cada selección en las CONMEBOL ​

ELES TÊM FARO DE GOL 

Chelsea 4-2 Gent: Veiga and Dewsbury-Hall off the mark in Conference League cracker

Renato Veiga and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall each scored their first Chelsea goals in a cracking 4-2 victory over Gent in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Enzo Maresca decided to make wholesale changes in the Blues opening match of the league phase of Europe s third-tier competition, but they were still a class above their Belgian opponents.

Full-back Veiga headed Chelsea into a 12th-minute lead after Mykhailo Mudryk stood up a brilliant cross from the right and Dewsbury-Hall fired into the side-netting when he ought to have scored soon after.

Despite their domination of the ball, it took the Blues until the 46th minute to double their lead when Pedro Neto took hold of Axel Disasi s long punt and fired into the roof of the goal.

Some slack Chelsea defe…

Analysis of how relegated Premier League trio may fare as EFL fixtures released

The three teams relegated from the Premier League have been handed a seemingly-comfortable start to the new season after Thursday’s release of the new campaign’s EFL fixtures.

Leicester, Leeds and Southampton will begin life back in the Championship under new managers with their sights set on an immediate return, and the fixture computer looks to have been kind – at least in the early stages.

The PA news agency has analysed the three divisions’ schedules using an aggregation of leading bookmakers’ odds and identified the most notable runs.

Settling-in period

Leicester boss Enzo Maresca faces Coventry in his first game in charge and, while the Sky Blues reached last season’s play-off final, they are ranked only 11th in the aggregated promotion odds th…

Marco Silva knows he faces a challenge to strengthen striker-light Fulham

Marco Silva admitted it will be really difficult to replace Aleksandar Mitrovic and to strengthen his squad as Fulham’s hunt for new players hots up ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline.

The Cottagers will be without the Serbian striker, who netted 14 goals in the Premier League last season, after they sold him for a club-record fee to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

Silva hinted Fulham have left it too late to find the right profile of players to fill his under-sized squad with just one week before the market closes until January.

On the squad: We have a great group of players. They are always giving their maximum for the shirt.

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC)

“In this moment in the market I have to say it is really difficult (t…

Premier League data dive: Liverpool jolted by Spurs draw, but it could be worse… just ask Man Utd!

Liverpool s title hopes were hit as Tottenham raided Anfield for a point on Saturday, snatching a 1-1 draw that made Manchester City the big winners of the day without kicking a ball.

City will go three points clear, with three games remaining, if they beat Newcastle United on Sunday. 

Brighton inflicted fresh humiliation on a Manchester United side who must be used to it by now, crushing Ralf Rangnick s travel-sick Red Devils 4-0 at the Amex Stadium.

Watford s relegation was confirmed by a 1-0 defeat for Roy Hodgson s team at Crystal Palace, while Chelsea frailties were exposed in a 2-2 draw with Wolves.

After a compelling Saturday of action, Stats Perform looks at key Opta facts from four key games.

12 17 Tottenham s Son Heung-Min has both sc…

Gareth Southgate defends going public with Ben White’s England rejection

Gareth Southgate is aware Ben White could face a backlash after he made himself unavailable for England duty but felt it was “impossible” to conceal the reason behind Thursday’s omission.

White has starred for Premier League leaders Arsenal this season and was set to be part of this month’s 25-man squad for the friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.

However, Arsenal sporting director Edu informed John McDermott, technical director at the Football Association, last week that White does not want to be currently considered for England squads, having not been called-up since he was sent home early from the 2022 World Cup.

White left Qatar for what the Football Association called “personal reasons” but reports later emerged of an alleged bust-up with England …

Prediction: Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad

Best odds: 7/5

Bookmaker:

On Tuesday evening, Celta Vigo is set to host Real Sociedad at Balaidos for the second time in a matter of days.

Following their loss in the league meeting on Saturday, the hosts will seek revenge as they go head-to-head with the Basque side in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey.

Celta Vigo

Celta Vigo find themselves in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time since the 2016/17 season following a 3-1 victory over Valencia in the previous round. Despite entering the weekend on the back of a four-game unbeaten run across all competitions, their positive momentum was halted by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad.

With the loss, Os Celestes remain in 16th place in La Liga, just two points above the rele…

February 17th: Saturday’s Premier League Accumulator – 7/1

With the Premier League title scrap reaching a boiling point, we have a string of heavyweight affairs throughout Saturday afternoon.

With all three of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal stealing centre stage, we could be set for a season-defining weekend of top-flight action.

So, for those of you who are looking to stick on a Saturday flutter, we have found a trio of helpful Premier League betting markets that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Saturday, February 17th
BST 15:00 Burnley vs Arsenal 

Making what was an empathic statement last weekend as they stormed their way to a stellar 6-0 romp away at West Ham, Arsenal are enjoying quite the purple patch. Firmly battling it out at the top of the Premier League table and looking to get their hands…