Isco’s future on the agenda for Real ahead of Valencia visit
LIVERPOOL and Arsenal put lengthy unbeaten Premier League runs on the line this weekend when they host their bitter rivals.
Liverpool take on Everton in the Merseyside derby while Arsenal roll out the red carpet for Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool are undefeated in the league and sit two points behind champions Manchester City at the top of the table.
The Reds are coming off a 2-1 loss at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday that left their Champions League status hanging in the balance.
But there’s no need to use that as motivation, according to manager Jurgen Klopp, pictured.
“Come on, it’s a derby, we don’t have to show a reaction,” he said after the PSG game.
“This game is isolated from the season: it’s a derby, it’s at home.
“Everton are doing really well this season, they’re a completely different cup of tea, I would say, to the last few years so it will be a tough one.”
Everton are winless in 17 games overall against Liverpool and haven’t won at Anfield since September 1999.
But the Toffees are in good form themselves, having lost just one of seven in the league to climb up to sixth.
“I think all the boys have been looking forward to the derby since the start of the season and that feeling has grown with the performances we have been putting together over the past couple of months,” said Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Arsenal are unbeaten on two fronts: 11 games in the league and 17 overall heading into Thursday’s Europa League game at Vorskla.
But they’ve won just one of their last eight league meetings with Tottenham, that coming last season at home.
Spurs will be looking to continue an impressive run in which they handed Chelsea their first league defeat and beat Inter Milan to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
“We know it is more than a game for both clubs and for both [sets of] fans,” goalkeeper Hugo Lloris told Sky Sports.
“Now we have time to recover and to prepare as well as possible but that type of game you play more with passion and desire.”
City look to continue their undefeated start when they host Bournemouth, while Chelsea try to bounce back from their loss to Spurs when they host bottom side Fulham.
The Cottagers made a winning start under new manager Claudio Ranieri last week.
“We know it’s a big game for both the club and the fans as well,” winger Ryan Sessegnon said.
“We also have to look at it as another Premier League game where we can get three points.
“The win was a massive boost of confidence for everyone involved, and we all know we have to use this victory to kick-on now against Chelsea.”
Cardiff host Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley visit Crystal Palace, Huddersfield face Brighton, Watford are at Leicester, Newcastle take on West Ham and Manchester United area away to Southampton in the other games. |
dpa
A cloud remains over struggling Real Madrid ahead of this weekend’s La Liga action, with the future of Spain midfielder Isco to the fore.
Real sit sixth in the table, behind the likes of Espanyol and Alaves, six points off league leaders Sevilla, while tomorrow’s opponents Valencia are 11th.
Isco, who captained his country earlier this month, did not start last weekend’s 3-0 humbling at Eibar, and was left out of the squad completely for Tuesday’s Champions League victory at Roma. The defeat to Eibar was Real’s fifth in 13 La Liga matches this season, just one fewer than they suffered in the whole of the last campaign.
Local media have reported that Isco has fallen out with new coach Santiago Solari, who has not named him in the starting lineup for any of his six matches in charge at the Bernabeu.
The situation surrounding the talented playmaker, who has previously been linked with moves a host of Europe’s top clubs, has caused consternation among the club’s fans.
It remains to be seen whether or not he is involved this weekend when Valencia visit the capital.
“They’re decisions you take in the moment for certain situations. We’re here to make those decisions and that’s that,” Solari said when quizzed on Isco’s absence in Rome.
“Decisions are almost always sporting, except in exceptional circumstances – which is not the case here.
“Starting or being on the bench is a problem that doesn’t exist. We’re here to give our all, 100 percent and to get picked that way. I’ve always seen it like that and I’m not giving it more importance. We’ve a squad of 24 players.”
Valencia, where Isco started his career but failed to nail down a firstteam spot before moving to Malaga, come to the Bernabeu on the back of Champions League elimination.
They are, however, returning to form in the league, winning their last two games after picking up just one victory in their first 11.
Games between the two clubs are notoriously tight, with Real needing a late goal to secure a 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture last season.
Barcelona, who lost top spot to Sevilla last weekend after drawing away at Atletico, host Villarreal on Sunday before the league leaders visit fourth-placed Alaves, who could go top themselves if they win and other results go their way.
Meanwhile, the postponed second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca Juniors will be played at Real Madrid’s stadium next Sunday, Argentine and Spanish media reported yesterday.
Argentina’s two biggest teams drew the first leg 2-2 at Boca’s ground and were due to play the second match in South America’s equivalent of the Champions League final at River’s Monumental stadium last Saturday.
However, Boca’s players were hurt when River fans attacked their coach and the game was postponed indefinitely. | Reuters