Premier League revs up for Demolition Derbies

The Premier League season is only two games old, but two of the top flight's biggest games are already upon us on Sunday.

Off the back of a pair of victories, Liverpool renew their storied rivalry with reigning champions Manchester United, who could be without Wayne Rooney due to a head injury.

The clash at Anfield is sure to be scintillating, but faces competition for game of the day from the north London derby.

A new-look Tottenham, who added Vlad Chiriches, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen to their overhauled squad on Friday, take on an Arsenal side who have been buoyed by three convincing victories in all competitions after an opening day defeat to Aston Villa.

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Will.I.Am?! Mourinho sneaks in to gazump Spurs & AVB

Tottenham looked certain to sign Willian from Anzhi this week, as the Brazilian flew to London for a medical in north London.

But Spurs appear to have been trumped at the last moment, when Chelsea and Jose Mourinho swooped in for the forward, capturing him from right under their rivals' noses.

"He’s an extra target [to Rooney]," Mourinho told reporters when asked about the deal. "We have to do a medical.

"I am happy with my squad but every one of us says we are happy. We always want something more and never close the door."

With Gareth Bale looking increasingly likely to join Real Madrid, Tottenham are once again forced to look for an alternative.

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Premier League managers shop at La Liga supermarket

 

Premier League managers are filling their squads with top Spanish talent this summer.

17 players have left La Liga for England already this summer, with Manchester City signing Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo, while Brendan Rodgers has brought Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto to Liverpool.

The spending appears unlikely to stop, as Manchester United continue to pursue Cesc Fabregas, and Arsenal remain in the hunt for Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid.

And with Tottenham in talks to sign Roberto Soldado from Valencia, there could still be more Spanish flavour heading to the Premier League this summer. 

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The Special Don: Mourinho wants to be the Premier League’s Godfather

 

On arriving at Chelsea first time around Jose Mourinho famously announced himself as the ‘Special One’.

The Portuguese has now returned to Stamford Bridge for a second spell and says he wants to be the “Godfather” of the Premier League.

After the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, it was pointed out to Mourinho that he is the only Premier League manager to have won the Champions League, leading him to announce: "I am just going to be The Godfather". 

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Mkhitaryan and Villa snub Premier League

 

Activity in the summer transfer window is starting to hot up with two of Europe’s most wanted men announcing they are on the move.

Barcelona striker David Villa is heading for Atletico Madrid after the two clubs agreed a deal for the Spain international.

The transfer is likely to disappoint many, but particularly Tottenham fans who were hoping to see the striker in Premier League action at White Hart Lane.

Over at Liverpool there is also bad news after Borussia Dortmund confirmed Henrikh Mkhitaryan has completed a move from Shakhtar Donetsk, preferring the Champions League runners-up to Brendan Rodgers' side. 

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Blanc rides in for PSG talks

 

Hold your horses! Paris Saint Germain's search for a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti could be over.

Former France boss Laurent Blanc looks set to be the man to occupy the saddle once, as expected, Ancelotti exits the Parc des Prances club and heads for the bright lights of Madrid.

After weeks of speculation it appears the finishing post is finally in sight for those anxious PSG supporters, with Blanc himself confirming that talks would get underway with the Ligue 1 champions on Monday. 

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Arshavin & Gallas lead way as Premier League rejects run wild & free

 

Andrey Arshavin, William Gallas and Florent Malouda were among the names on the Premier League's list of released players which was revealed on Friday.

All will be looking for new clubs this summer, and while some may still have something to offer to the Premier League, others could be plying their trade abroad next term. 

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Rosicky orchestrates Arsenal top-four surge

 

The race for the top four intensified this weekend as ten-men Arsenal clung on to claim three huge points against West Brom, pushing them into the top four at the expense of Chelsea.

The Gunners' unsung squad players have driven the club forward in recent weeks, with Gervinho and 'Little Mozart' Tomas Rosicky combining well at the Hawthorns to narrow the gap to third-placed Tottenham to just a single point.

With Gareth Bale injured and Chelsea in the middle of a tiring and congested fixture list, Arsenal - who have picked up 22 points from a possible 27 in their last nine games - have the other Champions League contenders running scared.

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Tottenham hope for lucky Bale break

 

If having to come back from two goals down to salvage a draw against Basel on Thursday night wasn't bad enough for Tottenham, they were left with hearts in mouths late on as Gareth Bale crumpled to the turf, clutching his ankle and was stretchered off.

The Welshman has been Spurs' leading light this season, netting 17 Premier League goals as Andre Villas-Boas looks to steer the north London side back into the Champions League.

With many scoffing that Spurs were a one-man team with Bale in the side, many at White Hart Lane will be praying for a miraculous recovery, to avoid becoming a no-man outfit. 

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Chelsea & Benitez crack in top four hunt

 

Rafa Benitez isn't having a good time of it at the moment, and his Chelsea side suffered another setback in the race for the top four with a 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday.

Benitez elected to shuffle his pack for the trip to the south coast to take on the Saints, resting Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, but the gamble backfired as a makeshift Blues side delivered a lacklustre display.

Chelsea have now won just four of their last nine matches in all competitions, and lie only two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal with eight matches left to play.

And so while his side may deliver some late cheer with an FA Cup qaurter-final victory over Manchester United on Monday evening, at present it's looking like an unhappy easter for Rafa and his men. 

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Football is back!

 

The international break. It was good while it lasted, but we're all jumping for joy its over. Why? Because it means the real action is back and we're now at the business end of the season.

In the Premier Leaugue, Manchester United look to continue their march to the Premier League title against Sunderland, while Chelsea take on Southampton in the first of four games in a week for Rafa Benitez's men.

Across the continent, Bayern Munich can wrap up the Bundesliga title with seven games to go should results go their way, while Tito Vilanova returns to Barcelona, Real Madrid face Zaragoza and Inter take on Juventus in stellar clash in Serie A.

Football is back alright, and with a BANG! 

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Villas-Boas at a loss as wheels come off Spurs bandwagon

 

It couldn't happen again, could it? Tottenham's bid for a Champions League place is threatening to unravel for a second successive season after the club slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Fulham on Sunday.

Alarm bells may be starting to ring for Tottenham fans who, under Harry Redknapp last year, saw their side secure just six points from a possible 27 between February 25 and April 21 and squander their hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League.

It is now back-to-back losses for Andre Villas-Boas, a record which the 35-year-old has not experienced since November, and with Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton all winning over the weekend, Spurs need to pick up their form in order to avoid a repeat of last season. 

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Tottenham tumble over San Siro finish line

 

They made tough work of it, but Tottenham stumbled over the Europa League last-16 finishing line after sneaking an away goal past Inter in extra time on Thursday evening.

Andrea Stramaccioni's side had battled back from a 3-0 first-leg defeat to even the aggregate score at San Siro and take the tie to extra time. But Emmanuel Adebayor had the final say as his goal fired Spurs through to a quarter-final clash Swiss side FC Basel. 

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Changing of the guard: Spurs revel in north London derby glory

 

Tottenham extended their lead over rivals Arsenal to seven points by securing a 2-1 victory in a pulsating north London derby on Sunday afternoon that many believe represented a shift in the balance of power between the two clubs.

Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon ensured that Per Mertesacker's goal proved only a consolation for the Gunners, who have already suffered disappointing defeats in the FA Cup and Capital One Cup, with a Champions League exit in the coming weeks likely.

Spurs rose back above Chelsea into third place and took another step under Andre Villas-Boas towards changing the guard in the north of the capital as they seek to return to Europe's top competition. 

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AVB battles to fend off Barca & Real interest in Bale

 

Gareth Bale's superb Premier League form may be a dream for Andre Villas-Boas this season as Tottenham battle to earn a Champions League spot, but come the summer, the Welshman could be his biggest headache.

La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have long been credited with interest in the 23-year-old, and his return of 10 goals since the start of 2013 will have only strengthened their resolve to sign the attacker.

Yet Villas-Boas has moved to persuade Bale not only to reject a switch to either of the Spanish sides, but also a move away from the Premier League, insisting the English top-flight is the best place for him to fulfill his potential...
 

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Beckham takes centre-stage amid Deadline Day madness

 

In a typically entertaining and frantic January transfer window, if not a spending one, there were many sagas and late deals that caught the eye.

Peter Odemwingie tried, but ultimately failed, to take his transfer into his own hands by effectively abandoning West Brom, only to be refused entry to QPR - despite Harry Redknapp showing his desire to flash the cash once again.
Tottenham's chase for a striker was unsuccessful, though north London rivals Arsenal managed to sneak a late signing in the shape of full-back Nacho Monreal, while Anzhi proved their muscle with a deal for Willian which broke the £30 million barrier.

However, there was only ever going to be one winner for the move of the window award when PSG announced that David Beckham was joining them until the end of the season - and is donating the wages from his five-month contract to charity.
 

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Premier League casualties pile up during week of Cup giant-killings

 

It may well be a cliche but the 'magic of the FA Cup' returned with a vengeance at the weekend as Premier League clubs far and wide found themselves dumped out of the competition by lower league opposition.

Millwall got things started on Friday night, adding to Aston Villa's woes by sending Paul Lambert's men packing with a 2-1 win at The Den.
Saturday saw yet more surprises with MK Dons thrashing QPR and non-league Luton upsetting Norwich at Carrow Road.

And Sunday saw yet more shocks with Leeds humbling Tottenham, Brentford holding European champions Chelsea and Liverpool booted out of the competition by Oldham.
 

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