Leicester City vs Man United, Dimitar Berbatov predicts EPL clash

 

A former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker, Dimitar Berbatov, has predicted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to beat Leicester City on Boxing Day when both teams clash in the Premier League.

Berbatov believes both Man United and Leicester will score but the Red Devils would secure all three points against the host at the King Power Stadium.

Man United head to the game after beating Everton 2-0 in the Carabao Cup quarter-final encounter on Wednesday, while Leicester City defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the Premier League last Sunday.

“It’s a massive game between second and third in the Premier League,” Berbatov told Betfair.

“I can see both teams scoring but, if United start on the right foot, and don’t fall behind, then I think they will win this.

“I want to see Ole smiling at full-time and United closing in on the top spot. Leicester City 1, Manchester United 2.”

The kick-off time for Leicester vs Man United is 1:30 pm.

EPL, Michael Owen predicts Chelsea vs Arsenal, Leicester City vs Man United, others

 

A former Liverpool and Real Madrid player, Michael Owen has predicted Chelsea to beat Arsenal 2-0 when both teams clash in the Premier League on Saturday evening at the Emirates.

Owen also backed Leicester City and Manchester United to play a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

According to him, Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur will beat Wolves on Sunday night.

Providing his predictions, Owen told BetVictor: “Where to start with Arsenal? The Gunners are hapless at the moment. Mikel Arteta does not seem to know anywhere near what his best starting XI is, and there is no sign of their fortunes changing any time soon.

“Chelsea arrive here after a solid showing at home to West Ham, and I think the Blues should have more than enough going forward to win this against a side that are really struggling in every area. Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea.”

Commenting on the Wolves vs Tottenham game, Owen said: “Tottenham will want to forget last week fast and get back on track away to Wolves.

“Jose Mourinho’s sides’ title hopes took a huge dent, with a defeat to Liverpool and a home defeat to Leicester rubbing salt in their wounds.

“These are the types of fixtures where I really fancy Spurs. Wolves should come out and play, and if they do, I think the away side will take advantage on the counter. Wolves 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur.”

On the Leicester City vs Man United match, Owen said, “It is fair to say that Manchester United’s season has come alive in recent weeks.

“Leicester put their home defeat to Everton behind them with a fantastic away result at Tottenham, and for all they’ve been a bit inconsistent this season, they’ll be delighted with their 2nd place in the table just now.

“This one could be tight. I do not think there is much between the sides, and I reckon a draw could be the outcome with both sides scoring. Leicester City 1-1 Manchester United.”

The kick-off time for Arsenal vs Chelsea is 6:30 pm, Leicester vs Man United is 1:30 pm, while that of Wolves vs Tottenham is 8:15 pm.

LaLiga, Messi names best goalkeeper in the world

 

Barcelona king, Lionel Messi has named Atletico goalkeeper, Jan Oblak as one of the best in the game at the moment.

Messi admitted he relishes the challenge of trying to beat the Slovenia international
who joined Los Rojiblancos from Benfica in 2014.

Oblak has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in recent years, and remains a key performer for Diego Simeone’s side.

He has also kept nine clean sheets in his 13 top-flight matches this season.

He has a save percentage of 88.1 per cent, ahead of Sevilla shot-stopper Yassine Bounou on 80 per cent.

Oblak made four saves when Simeone’s men played Messi-led Barcelona and were defeated 1-0 in November, with the Argentine unable to score.

“He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment, and it’s always good to fight against the best ones,” Messi told Bud Football.

“It’s an extra motivation to be able to, or to try to, score a goal, with what it means and how hard it is, as he proves in every game he plays.

“So, it’s nice to see him outside but also face him in the games. It makes them more exciting.”

Barcelona face Eibar in their next league game on Tuesday, while Atletico Madrid with Oblak in goal, take on Getafe a day later.

FIFA cancels World Cups in 2021

 

FIFA has cancelled the U-17 and U-20 World Cups that were to hold in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U-17 World Cup was scheduled to take place in Peru and the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia.

FIFA, in a statement has confirmed both countries will now host the respective competitions in 2023.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges for the hosting of international sporting events and to have a restrictive effect on international travel.

“FIFA has therefore regularly consulted the relevant stakeholders, including the host member associations as well as the confederations involved in both tournaments originally scheduled to take place in 2021.

“In doing so, it became clear that the global situation has failed to normalize to a sufficient level to address the challenges associated with hosting both tournaments, including the feasibility of the relevant qualification pathways,” the statement read.

EPL, Ebere Eze admits he was in tears after Arsenal rejected him

 Crystal Palace midfielder, Ebere Eze, has revealed he was left in tears after Arsenal rejected him as a youngster.

Eze was let go by the Gunners when he was 13.

Now 22, he has impressed since making a £17million move to Palace from Queens Park Rangers in August.

However, success did not come easy for Eze, who thought he would make it big with the Gunners when he signed for them before his 16th birthday.

“I got scouted by a few clubs and that’s when I first went to Arsenal,” he told Premier League Productions.

“At a young age, it was hard, especially being released. Me and my mum cried, everyone was so upset – that’s all you know at that age.

“But looking back at it now, that’s the start of my journey and I’m grateful to God that’s how it went. If it wasn’t for that, I may not have got the resilience, bravery, to go and be who I want to be elsewhere. It’s shaped me to be who I am today.”

Eze played for Reading, Fulham and Millwall before joining QPR having left north London

APC accuses Gov Emmanuel of sharing COVID-19 palliatives to PDP as Christmas gifts

 

The All Progressives Congress, Akwa Ibom State, has accused Governor Udom Emmanuel of sharing COVID-19 palliatives as Christmas gifts to members of Peoples Democratic Party in the state

APC In a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Nkereuwem Enyongekere on Friday, the party said the COVID-19 food items were donated in July by a coalition of private sector players led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

According to the statement, ”Another end-of-year folly from the administration is its decision to share, as Christmas gifts, the truck loads of COVID-19 food items sent to the state since July by the nation’s private sector coalition led by Dangote Group and other donors.

”The sight of these food items being shared in the country home of the governor’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Ephraim Inyangeyen, to PDP members as Christmas gifts is galling. How selfish, mean and wicked could these people be to have hoarded these items since July, deny Akwa Ibom people of its use during the lockdown, and now turn around to share it to their party members only.

” We also recall that the federal government had sent a truckload of rice to the state earlier in the year. The governor had claimed in a radio interview then that the rice didn’t appear good for consumption, and that he was going to send it for laboratory tests. Is the test result out? We are sure that the rice has been surreptitiously distributed to PDP members in the state.”

But, the commissioner for information and strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong in reaction said the sharing of the palliatives has nothing to do with the yearly Christmas gifts.

In a press statement made available on Friday, Ememobong said, ”The State Government had earlier in November this year intimated on the arrival of palliative materials from CACOVID (Coalition Against COVID) which is a private sector driven corporate social responsibility contribution to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. It was also announced that when the full consignment from the donors berths in our state, distribution will commence.

”The structure for the distribution of these palliatives at the LGA level is very inclusive, having representation from people living with disabilities, women, youths, religious organizations, professional bodies and opposition parties under the platform of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee.

”This committee supervises the distribution of these palliatives to the people passing through the intermediary ward distribution structure. The distribution, which is largely decentralized to conform to COVID-19 protocols, has started and is ongoing.

”The focus of this batch of palliative distribution apart from the LGAs are media, orphanage homes, medical workers, security personnel, traders, Labour, entertainers and students.

”This distribution of palliative is clearly different from the usual end of year goodwill gift of rice to different categories of people.”

Egypt’s electoral commission head dies of COVID-19

 Lashin Ibrahim, Egypt’s head of electoral commission, has died of COVID-19 complications, Dpa reports.

Ibrahim was a deputy chief judge of the country’s top court

State-owned al-Ahram Online revealed that he tested positive for coronavirus 20 days ago.

Ibrahim had been in charge of the National Election Authority since 2017.

His last public appearance was on December 14, when he announced Egypt’s legislative polls results.

The electoral commission has confirmed his death.

The heads of Egypt’s two houses of parliament have expressed their condolences.

On Thursday, the country announced 1,021 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily rate in months.

Egypt has recorded nearly 130,000 cases, and 7,260 deaths.