Derby premier league

When the Premier League resumes at the weekend all eyes will be on Old Trafford to see whether Manchester United can become the first team to take points off Liverpool. On the face of it such an outcome seems unlikely, even if derbies often have a life of their own. United have been terrible in the last few weeks, leading to fevered speculation over Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s future and the wisdom of appointing him in the first place, while Liverpool have sailed on so serenely that Jürgen Klopp’s team building and tactics are now attracting more attention than Pep Guardiola’s at Manchester City. As a long-established football cliché would have it City are looking for a favour from United on Sunday, in which case they might be looking in entirely the wrong place. United are struggling to do themselves any favours at the moment, and after City’s second defeat of the season arrived at the hands of Wolves the defending champions have yet to prove they are … [Read more...] about Liverpool stride out of City’s shadow but can they win from the front?

Manchester City must privately have known the game had been up for a while, but this was dismal confirmation their title defence has been curtailed, buried for good in the joyous din that erupted in this corner of south London. Manuel Pellegrini’s team are nine points from Chelsea and will limp into Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford after three successive away league defeats and languishing in fourth. The manager is in denial if he thinks his own position will not come under more scrutiny than ever in the weeks ahead. That their ambitions have now in effect switched from hoisting silverware to securing an automatic Champions League place, without the need for a qualifying round in August, is damning. Yet that is the grim reality. This campaign has unravelled and, while they could justifiably depart here bemoaning the non-award of a second-half penalty and even disputing the validity of Crystal Palace’s opening goal, this was all too frenzied and untidy for comfort. The … [Read more...] about Crystal Palace’s Jason Puncheon leaves Manchester City in disarray

Rebekah Vardy looked emotional as she was supported by husband Jamie at a friend's wedding in  Leicester on Monday, amid her ongoing war with Coleen Rooney. The pregnant WAG, 37, appeared tense as she climbed out of a car and was shielded from the rain by a minder, with footballer Jamie, 32, wrapping an arm around her as they entered the venue.  Rebekah has recently returned to the UK from Dubai after being accused by Coleen of leaking stories about her to The Sun newspaper, which the expectant I'm A Celebrity star has fiercely denied.  Drama: Rebekah Vardy looked emotional as she attended a friend's wedding in Leicester on Monday, amid her ongoing war with Coleen Rooney There for you: The star's husband, footballer Jamie Vardy, 32, appeared to wrap an arm around his wife as they walked into the venue. Appearing to fight back tears as she arrived, Rebekah failed to raise a smile as she spoke with Jamie briefly before hurrying away from the car park. The … [Read more...] about PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Pregnant Rebekah Vardy looks emotional as she is supported by husband Jamie at a friend’s wedding in Leicester… after jetting back to the UK in tears amid WAG war with Coleen Rooney