LONELY

Liverpool travel to the Emirates stadium this week and recent history favours the Reds, with the Gunners failing to beat them in any of the last six meetings. Team News Jordan Henderson and Nabi Keita might have to miss out once again through injury. Apart from that Jurgen Klopp has no real injury concerns at the moment. Liverpool will be well rested and can deploy their strongest side against the Gunners. Predicted Liverpool XI Manager: Jurgen Klopp Formation: 4-2-3-1 Alisson Becker (GK) The Brazilian may finally have some work to do in this game. He has been a lonely figure over the last two weeks. Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) Alexander-Arnold’s crosses can cause all sorts of problems for Arsenal. Joe Gomez (CB) Joe Gomez should take Dejan Lovren’s place in the line-up and has been simply superb this season. Virgil van Dijk (CB) No team has conceded fewer than Liverpool since van Dijk’s arrival and that is why he is so vital to this team. Andrew Robertson (LB) Robertson will b...

The 13-game unbeaten streak of Arsenal will be put through a serious test when they welcome Liverpool at the Emirates stadium this weekend. The Gunners have won seven of their previous eight league games, and look a better unit under the new manager. They now face a tough test against the Reds, who are second in the table and are behind Manchester City on goal difference. Team News Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac will go through a late fitness test before the Liverpool game. Same is the case with Hector Bellerin. Mohamed Elneny is injured and out for a few weeks. Meanwhile, Laurent Koscielny is still far away from the first-team action. Predicted Arsenal XI Formation – 4-2-3-1 Manager – Unai Emery Bernd Leno (GK) The German has done well ever since he replaced Petr Cech in goal and should continue his good form against Liverpool. Stephan Lichtsteiner (RB) With Bellerin’s involvement under a scanner, Lichtsteiner could start at right-back against a dangerous Liverpool attack. Sokra...

A former governor of Bauchi state, Mallam Isa Yuguda has dumped the Green Party of Nigeria for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Yuguda decamped with about 5000 of his supporters into the ruling party. This development was made public by his former commissioner for Information and chairman, Yuguda Alheri Movement, Alhaji Salisu Barau Wakos at a press conference. Wakos said; “I want to declare that from today henceforth, Yuguda is a bonafide card-carrying member of the APC, including all his supporters in Nigeria. The defection is aimed at giving APC maximum support ahead of 2019.” “By this declaration, Yuguda has urged all his supporters to canvass votes for President Buhari and Governor Mohammed Abubakar’s re-election bid come 2019,” Wakos added.

Arsenal have been drawn to play Tottenham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup but favourites Manchester City and Chelsea have been kept apart. The Gunners booked their place in the last-8 with a narrow 2-1 win over Blackpool on Wednesday night with youngster Emile Smith Rowe scoring what turned out to be the winning goal at the Emirates. Tottenham eased in to the next round of the competition with a 3-1 victory at West Ham thanks largely to a brace from Hueng-min Son and they’ve been rewarded with an exciting trip to north London rivals Arsenal in the quarter finals. Chelsea were made to work by Derby County as they needed two own goals and a Cesc Fabregas winner to beat Frank Lampard’s side 3-2 in a thriller at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. The Blues have now been drawn at home to face Bournemouth in the last-8 after they beat Norwich City 2-1 on Tuesday night while Middlesbrough will host Burton after they edged past Crystal Palace 1-0. Manchester City are most bo...

Frank Lampard had a very memorable return to Chelsea stopped just short of perfect by the man who helped replace him at Stamford Bridge. Cesc Fabregas scored to cap a wild first half, and Chelsea knocked off Derby County 3-2 in the League Cup on Wednesday to set up a quarterfinal date with Bournemouth. But Lampard’s Rams put a real scare into his former side, twice equalizing Chelsea goals in the first half hour of play. Along the way, Chelsea supporters unfurled a giant TiFo display of Lampard and serenaded their longtime hero. From the BBC: “I’m so thankful to the Chelsea fans. I left through the back door and it upset me at the time but I have nothing but great memories of this place and they thank me like that. I’m a lucky man to have a night like that and I feel it.” Derby is sixth in the Championship, just four points back of the top and two shy of the second automatic promotion place. Lampard will be a legend at both clubs if he can prod the perennial also-rans over the li...

Chelsea ready to welcome a hero, an old friend and a legend of theirs in Frank Lampard when they host Derby County in the EFL Cup round of 16 tie on Wednesday night. Frank Lampard who played for Chelsea FC for over a decade during his glorious career and it will be an emotional homecoming for the 40-year-old derby manager. Chelsea will be aware that Derby knocked Manchester United out in the previous round and cannot afford to take the Rams lightly. Chelsea team news Chelsea’s assistant manager Gianfranco Zola confirmed that Eden Hazard will not be taking part against Derby this week. Ethan Ampadu in back in training but he will take some to get match fit while both Olivier Giroud (fatigue) and Pedro will be assessed before the game. Defence Kepa Arrizabalaga has not been tested as Chelsea have done well at the back. He should keep his place in goal. Maurizio Sarri is expected to reshuffle his entire backline with Davide Zappacosta replacing Cesar Azpilicueta as the right-back ...

Maurizio Sarri has set a new record as the first Chelsea manager ever to go unbeaten in his opening 10 Premier League games. The former Empoli and Napoli Coach still hasn’t tasted defeat in the tournament since replacing Antonio Conte this season. Today’s 4-0 demolition of Burnley was achieved without star man Eden Hazard, who was left behind due to an injury. Sarri has won seven of his first 10 Premier League games, drawing the other three. Chelsea also won their three Europa League matches and beat Liverpool to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. The one and only loss suffered by Sarri on the Blues bench was his first, the 2-0 Charity Shield against Manchester City on August 5.