Arsenal 2-1 Brentford: Smith Rowe and Saka nudge Arsenal closer to top four

Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka were on target as Arsenal made it back-to-back Premier League wins with a 2-1 success over Brentford.

Smith Rowe took his tally for the season to 10 in all competitions with a fine individual effort in the 48th minute at Emirates Stadium.

And Saka secured the points for Mikel Arteta’s side when he drilled home with 11 minutes remaining, before Christian Norgaard s consolation in the dying moments.

While the Gunners remain sixth in the table, they closed the gap on fourth-placed Manchester United to a single point and still have two games in hand.

Arsenal, unbeaten in their previous 32 home Premier League games against promoted sides, dominated from the start, with Saka s deflected strike testing David Raya before Alexand…

Bruce, Nuno, Farke: Who are the Premier League managers leading the sack race?

With Newcastle s controversial finally completed last week, all eyes are firmly on who could be the next manager taking up the hot seat at St. James Park.

However, while Mikel Arteta might have eased some of the pressure on his shoulders as he claimed September s Manager of the Month award, a host of Premier League bosses remain under real scrutiny.

Watching replace now-former boss Xisco Munoz as the Spaniard was given his marching orders by Watford last week, we have taken a look at three other managers who could be facing the axe.

Steve Bruce Newcastle

With Newcastle s blockbuster £305million takeover finally announced amidst huge controversy last week, there is no doubt that Steve Bruce s days at St. James Park are coming to an end.

Already announ…

It´s ´vital´ Tottenham keep Eriksen – Rose

Tottenham defender Danny Rose thinks it is vital the club keep playmaker Christian Eriksen at the club as speculation continues to mount about the Dane s future.

Eriksen joined Spurs from Ajax in 2013 and swiftly established himself, going on to become one of the Premier League s best playmakers.

But the midfielder has just over a year on his contract and does not appear to be any closer to signing a new deal, though Mauricio Pochettino said Tottenham were so open to discussions after Spurs 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, in which Eriksen scored the late winner.

Spurs and Eriksen have long been in negotiations, according to reports, but Real Madrid and Barcelona are rumoured to be interested.

Rose thinks it is crucial Eriksen stays, however, and…

Rashford played like a child – Keane slams ´heartless, soulless´ Man Utd

Marcus Rashford played like a child in Manchester United s defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday, according to a despairing Roy Keane. 

A toothless United succumbed to a 4-0 defeat at Anfield that enabled rivals Liverpool, who are still chasing an unprecedented quadruple, to go top of the Premier League. 

Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah put Jurgen Klopp s side in command as the Red Devils produced an abject first-half display in which they failed to attempt a single shot. That had not happened in the top flight since a 3-2 win over Manchester City in April 2018.

Rashford managed just nine touches in the opening period and had only two in Liverpool s box across the entire 90 minutes, with Sadio Mane and a second from Salah consigning United to a resounding loss.

I…

Ronaldo defying age and critics to lead Portugal in Russia

Rewind to late 2017 and suggestions of a Cristiano Ronaldo decline were in full swing.

Ronaldo managed just four goals in LaLiga heading into this year as Barcelona ran away with the title, though he did net nine times in the Champions League.

Criticism and claims the end could be nigh did not go down well with the 33-year-old superstar.

I don t agree with what people are saying about me, Ronaldo told L Equipe in November. People don t know the difference between playing well, playing okay and not scoring goals.

I m looked at as a goal machine, like a guy who has to score all the time. If that isn t the case, nobody cares if I ve played well or not, I m only judged on scoring.

I accept the criticism, but I don t agree with it. That s why I av…

Kreis appointed Orlando City coach

Orlando City have ended their search for a new coach, appointing MLS-winning boss Jason Kreis on Tuesday.

Kreis takes the reins after Orlando City parted with long-serving coach Adrian Heath earlier in July, with the club hovering outside the play-off places in the Eastern Conference.

The 43-year-old Kreis won the 2009 MLS Cup with Real Salt Lake, whom he guided to the post-season in every year from 2008 to 2013, as well as securing a CONCACAF Champions League final appearance in 2011.

Kreis MLS sixth all-time leading goalscorer was last in charge of New York City in their inaugural season in 2015 but he was sacked after missing out on the play-offs.

Welcome to Orlando, !

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC)

We are very excited that we …

Liverpool face Everton in FA Cup third round, holders Manchester City host Port Vale

Liverpool have been drawn at home to Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Cup third round, while holders Manchester City will start the defence of their title at home to third-tier Port Vale.

The Toffees face Jurgen Klopp s side on Wednesday in the Premier League and will make the short trip to Anfield for a second time this season during the first week of January.

Pep Guardiola s City thumped Watford 6-0 in last season s final and have been given a favourable draw to kick-start their 2019-20 campaign, with John Askey s League Two side pitching up at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester United face a difficult away tie against Premier League rivals Wolves, who knocked them out of the competition last season s quarter-finals, while Arsenal welcome Championship leaders Le…

The Bale Sales: Gareth´s options as Zidane shows Real Madrid forward the door

Gareth Bale s days at Real Madrid appear to be numbered after head coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed the club are working on a transfer for the forward.

Zidane was billed a disgrace by Bale s agent Jonathan Barnett, who has previously confirmed the coach and player have a fraught relationship, with the Frenchman seemingly not valuing Bale s ability despite his contribution to three consecutive Champions League titles.

It was Bale s double that sealed Madrid s last European crown a year ago, a stunning overhead kick contributing to a 3-1 defeat of Liverpool in Kiev that proved Zidane s last match in charge soon after he announced his shock resignation.

But Zidane is back and seemingly set on selling Bale, so what are the options available to the Wales international…

VAR may have to go amid Premier League, Champions League controversies, says Anderton

VAR will have to be removed from football if officials cannot find ways to use the technology more effectively, says former England midfielder Darren Anderton.

The use of video assistant referees has come under the spotlight this season, with a series of high-profile errors marring games in the Premier League and across Europe.

In September, Luis Diaz was incorrectly denied a goal in Liverpool s loss to Tottenham due to a significant human error which refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) subsequently apologised for.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta made headlines when he described the decision to allow Newcastle United s winning goal against Arsenal as a disgrace , while Wolves boss Gary O Neil said he had finally turned against VAR on Monday …

Prediction: Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig

Verdict: Bayern/Bayern

Best Odds:

Bookmaker:

Few people would have imagined this particular matchup would end up being a title challenge and that RB Leipzig would go on to become such a huge title contender in their first season in the Bundesliga.

Bayern Munich

Having won four Bundesliga titles on the trot, Bayern Munich headed into the new 2016-17 season with a new manager at help and with a new set of ambitions which extend far beyond the domestic dominance. Carlo Ancelotti has hit a few bumps on the road but remains on course towards the Bundesliga title and Champions League glory. The Bavarians overcame the November slump which saw them draw against Hoffenheim and suffer consecutive defeats at the hands of Dortmund in the league and FK Rostov in E…