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Norwich v Leeds – Preview, Betting, Probable Starting Teams

Rock bottom Norwich city take on Marcelo Bielsa’s relegation-threatened Leeds in week ten of the Premier League this Sunday

Norwich v Leeds United will kick off at 14:00 on Sunday, 31 October in Carrow Road. Referee Anthony Taylor will take charge of the tie.

The match will also be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League Ireland with the build-up beginning at 13:30.

Norwich is rock bottom of the Premier League and has shown little life of securing any points. After six straight losses, they managed two draws on the bounce against Burnley and Brighton. They have since gone on to lose embarrassingly 7-0 to Chelsea in Stamford Bridge.

One of the Canaries’ biggest problems is their lack of goal threat. In nine games, their main striker Teemu Pukki has scored two goals and no one else on the team has found the back of the net.

Leeds United, on the other hand, has been rather unfortunate this season through tight losses and injury problems. They currently sit one place above the drop zone but with a three-point buffer for their safety.

Now with the side hoping to have Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips back in their matchday squads, this will be a must-win game for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.

This fixture has been very evenly matched in recent years with these two sides facing off in only Championship and EFL Cup football. In their last 11 meetings, Norwich and Leeds have both won three games while five games ended in draws.

Their last match against each other was back in 2019 where Norwich won 3-1 in Elland Road with very different squads to the ones they have today.

Norwich v Leeds Probable Starting Teams

Norwich

Formation

3-5-2

Probable Starting 11

Krul (GK), Kabak, Hanley, Omobamidele, Williams, McLean, Normann, Lees-Melou, Idah, Pukki.

Injuries / Suspensions

Zimmerman (Ankle), Placheta (Overload), Byram (Hamstring), Cantwell (Achilles tendon), Gibson (Suspended)

 

Leeds United

Formation

4-1-4-1

Probable Starting 11

Meslier (GK), Dallas, Cooper, Llorente, Shackleton, Phillips, Harrison, Klich, Gelhardt, James, Rodrigo.

Injuries / Suspensions

Ayling (Knee), Bamford (Ankle), Koch (Groin)

Norwich v Leeds Match Betting

Norwich to win: 12/5

Draw: 5/2

Leeds United to win: 21/20

 

Score Prediction

This is a very important game for Leeds, a victory will pull them away from the threat of relegation. They should win as they face the bottom-table side that looks like they are incapable of winning at all this season.

Expect this game to end 2-0 to Leeds.

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Premier League and international club football news, click here.

Newcastle v Chelsea – Preview, Betting, Probable Starting Teams

Thomas Tuchel’s men will want to make a big impression this weekend and keep themselves flying high on top of the table

Newcastle v Chelsea will kick off at 15:00 on Saturday, 30th October in St James’ Park. Referee Paul Tierney will take charge of the tie.

Newcastle is well and truly under new ownership but they are still yet to grab their first victory of the season. They currently sit in 19th place on four points which is three away from getting out of the relegation zone.

Last weekend they completed a comeback draw away against Crystal Palace after an outstanding Callum Wilson bicycle kick. More flair and creativity will be needed to secure any points tomorrow.

Chelsea is still flying high on top of the Premier League table, now unbeaten in five games in all competitions. They are only one point ahead of their closest competitors, Liverpool so a victory is still very essential.

Injuries are the main problem for the team as their captain Cesar Azpilicueta and strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner will most likely miss the game with knocks.

The Blues are still in good form after winning their cup tie against Southampton again with a penalty shootout.

This fixture has been surprisingly close in the last ten years. Over 22 matches, Chelsea has won 12 while Newcastle has managed seven victories, and three games ending in draws.

Last season, the Blues were the dominant force winning both fixtures, home and away, 2-0.

Newcastle v Chelsea Probable Starting Teams

Newcastle

Formation

5-3-2

Probable Starting 11

Darlow (GK), Ritchie, Clark, Lascelles, Schar, Manquillo, Willock, Longstaff, Almiron, Saint-Maximim, Wilson

Injuries / Suspensions

Dubravka (Foot), Dummett (Calf)

 

Chelsea

Formation

3-4-2-1

Probable Starting 11

Mendy (GK), Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kovacic, James, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz.

Injuries / Suspensions

Christensen (Toothache), Azpilicueta (Shoulder), Pulisic (Ankle), KantĂŠ (Muscle injury), Lukaku (Sprained ankle), Loftus-Cheek (Hip), Werner (Hamstring)

Newcastle v Chelsea Match Betting

Newcastle to win: 15/2

Draw: 15/4

Chelsea to win: 1/3

 

Score Prediction

Newcastle’s newfound money and impending transfer rumors will not help them in this fixture on Saturday. Tuchel’s men should have enough strength and depth to secure a comfortable victory this weekend even without their two starting strikers.

Expect the game to end 4-1 to Chelsea.

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Premier League and international club football news, click here.

Leicester v Arsenal – Preview, Betting Probable Starting Teams

Level on points, ninth place Leicester take on tenth place Arsenal in week ten of the Premier League this weekend

Leicester v Arsenal will kick off at 12:30 on Sunday, 30th October in the King Power Stadium. English referee Michael Oliver will take charge of the tie.

Leicester comes into this tie after beating Brighton in a penalty shootout midweek in the EFL Cup. Their starting team will be much changed along with the injuries to Jamie Vardy and Wesley Fofana.

The Foxes currently sit in ninth place, unbeaten in five games. Brendan Rodgers will have his team pumped for this match in hopes of another important victory.

Mikel Arteta has turned his squad into a force to be reckoned with. They are now eight games unbeaten, winning their last two games. The Gunners were also victorious in the EFL Cup after they beat Leeds United at home 2-0 on Tuesday.

The London club will be hoping that two of their injury worries will be fit to play this match. Midfielder Martin Odegaard and defender Kieren Tierney both missed this week’s cup game with knocks.

This has been a hotly contested affair in the last few years with both sides sharing victories. Over the last ten years, Arsenal has won eight of their 15 meetings while Leicester has managed four wins, and there have been three draws.

Last season, the away team won each fixture with the Gunners most recently winning 3-1 at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester v Arsenal Probable Starting Teams

Leicester

Formation

3-4-1-2

Probable Starting 11

Schmeichel (GK), Soyuncu, Evans, Amartey, Castagne, SoumarĂŠ, Tielemans, Pereira, Maddison, Iheanacho, Daka.

Injuries / Suspensions

Justin (Cruciate ligament), Vardy (Knee), Albrighton (Knock), Mendy (Groin), Ndidi (Hamstring), Fofana (Ankle)

 

Arsenal

Formation

4-2-3-1

Probable Starting 11

Ramsdale (GK), Soares, White, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Lokonga, Saka, Smith-Rowe, PĂŠpĂŠ, Aubameyang

Injuries / Suspensions

Xhaka (Knee), Tierney (Knock), Odegaard (Knock)

Leicester v Arsenal Match Betting

Leicester to win: 7/5

Draw: 12/5

Arsenal to win: 9/5

 

Score Prediction

This will be the most evenly matched affair of the weekend but it will not end in a draw. Neither manager will be happy with a loss tomorrow but this is a major chance for both teams to jump into the European places.

Expect the game to end 2-1 to Rodger’s Leicester.

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Premier League and international club football news, click here.

World champion takes lead in Laser Radial at Irish Sailing Youth Nationals

True to her pre-event billing as the favourite, Howth’s Eve McMahon established an early overall lead in the ILCA 6 event at the Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships on Cork Harbour today.

The ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) Youth World Champion delivered two first places and a second in winds ranging from light to medium on the Curlane Bank racecourse.

Howth Yacht Club’s Rocco Wright took the other race win though had a mixed set of results to lie seventh overall.

Michael Crosbie of the hosting Royal Cork YC leads the chasing pack in seventh but is still some ten points behind McMahon.

Meanwhile, in another strong showing for north Dublin clubs, Malahide’s Imogen Hauer with Hugo Micka have a narrow overnight lead in the 420 class as a tight top three battle is already emerging.  Lough Ree’s Eoghan Duffy with Conor Paul are a point behind the Dublin crew but only on tie-break from Jack McDowell with Henry Thompson, a Malahide and Wexford Harbour combination.

“It was a tricky opening day with a switch in conditions after the first race,” said Sean Evans, Irish Sailing’s Youth Academy Manager. “We had a tidal effect as well which made laylines interesting.

“There were quite a few very strong performances with plenty of battles at the front of the fleet although the result of the day came from Eve McMahon in the ILCA 6 class.”

The four-day event steps up a gear on Friday when the remaining classes start racing for the 29er, ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) and Topper fleets that will bring the turnout up to 130 sailors.

The championship is normally sailed over the Easter school holidays but was postponed to the Autumn mid-term break due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

To see all the results from day one of the Irish Sailing Youth National Championships, click here.

Rodgers: Leicester win was ‘great education for academy boys’

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has said that his side’s win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup was a good experience for the academy players that made an appearance.

The Foxes won 4-2 on penalties after Graham Potter’s Seagulls had equalised twice in the game’s 90 minutes.

Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman had twice put Leicester ahead but Adam Webster and Enock Mwepu brought their side level.

Mwepu missed the deciding penalty as Wales number one Danny Ward denied him to help his side progress to the quarter-finals.

“It was a good victory for us,” the Northern Irishman told LCFC TV at full-time. “Of course, whenever you’ve got lots of players coming in who haven’t had a lot of game time, I thought we looked a little tired in the second half.

“But what you can’t question is the players’ mentality and their spirit. They showed great qualities, especially when they got the equaliser and we were able to score straight away. I’m delighted for the guys. They had to work very, very hard for it.

“Brighton are a good side, you can see they pass the ball well, but we always looked a threat. Your spirit can never be broken. There are some teams that can get pegged back and just don’t have that belief.

“Given everything, we had five Academy boys within the game, so that’s great to see them getting that experience. That’s a great education for them.

“We’ve always said our mindset is: ‘Listen, you’re never going to have it all your own way’. If you do go behind, or you do go level in the game, you keep pushing right to the very end.”

Andy Farrell: ‘Why can’t we dare to dream?’

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has said that there is no reason for his side not to relish their chances two years out from the next Rugby World Cup in 2023.

Farrell was part of the backroom that led Ireland into the last Rugby World Cup in Tokyo in which they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage once again after being underwhelming.

The Englishman then took the reins after Joe Schmidt left the role and has been building towards France 2023 since.

The former England defence coach has spoken about the tournament, 23 months out from it’s first match.

“Like I said before, why can’t we dare to dream?” Farrell said at this afternoon’s press conference.

“Why can’t we? I’m sure that there’s five or six or seven teams, it might be 10 teams that’ll be in the same position by the World Cup but why don’t we embrace the challenge and use that challenge to better our journey along the way?

“That’s the message to the players, so let’s get started on that.”

The side are using the competition as motivation on the road to it but the Ireland boss does not believe the players will look at their short-term goals differently as a result.

The team have three Autumn internationals to look forward to this November, including a first game against the All Blacks since the Rugby World Cup in Japan and a first fixture between the sides in Dublin since Ireland’s famous victory over them in the year before.

Sexton and co. also have trips to Twickenham and the Stade de France to focus on in next year’s Six Nations.

“If you look at the challenges that we’ve got again this year, obviously I’ve just gone through the three campaigns, but at the same time we go to Twickenham, we go to Paris for two away games as well.

“They’re all going to be opportunities for us to learn, and yes, along this journey there’s going to be bumps, but that’s great for our learning, our experiences, and our memory along the way to get there.

“The pressures of players desperately wanting to represent their country in a World Cup is how it should be, and I’m sure some fall by the wayside over the next two years but hopefully most of them will flourish.”

Four uncapped players in Ireland Women’s EuroBasket Qualifiers squad

Ireland senior women’s head coach James Weldon has named four uncapped players in his extended 17-person squad for the upcoming FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers.

The national side come into the qualifiers off the back of a second-place finish at the FIBA Women’s European Championship for Small Countries earlier this year.

Ulster University’s Abigail Rafferty and WIT Waterford Wildcats player Kate Hickey both represented Ireland at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Challengers in Hungary during the summer.

On top of this, Trinity Meteors power forward Sarah Kenny has also previously been capped at underage level.

Maura Fitzpatrick has been called up for the first time, with the Connecticut native currently playing for Gloucester City Queens in the WBBL.

Fitzpatrick is not the only overseas-based player in the squad – Anna Kelly, who is with Belgian club Spirou Ladies Charleroi, has also been selected.

12 Irish clubs are represented in the squad, with three players from DCU Mercy, and two each from Trinity Meteors, Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics and WIT Waterford Wildcats.

Ireland will play their opening qualifier against the Netherlands in Amsterdam in two weeks time, on November 11th, followed by a match against the Czech Republic on November 14th at the National Basketball Arena, in Dublin.

Ireland are in Group I of qualifying which also contains Belarus, who they will face in the second FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers window, in November 2022.

Speaking on the announcement, head coach James Weldon said: “The team are excited to be back playing at the highest level internationally, but are also keenly aware of the formidable challenges that lie ahead.

“We are looking forward to getting the team together during the international break in November. The process of rebuilding the team will continue over the three international windows as players learn to play at this elite level.”

Ireland Women’s Squad – FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers

PG – Anna Kelly (Spirou Ladies Charleroi)

PG – Edel Thornton (Singleton SuperValu Brunell)

SG – Dayna Finn (Trinity Meteors)

SG – Lynn Tunnah (Griffith College Templeogue)

SG – Maeve Phelan (DCU Mercy)

SG – Sorcha Tiernan (Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtic)

C – Claire Melia (UCC Glanmire)

C – Hannah Thornton (DCU Mercy)

C – Stephanie O’Shea (WIT Waterford Wildcats)

SF – Kate Hickey (WIT Waterford Wildcats)

SF – Maura Fitzpatrick (Gloucester City Queens)

SF – Michelle Clark (Killester)

PF – Abigail Rafferty (Ulster University)

PF – Áine O’Connor (Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtic)

PF – GrĂĄinne Dwyer (Fr. Matthews)

PF – Rachel Huijsdens (DCU Mercy)

PF – Sarah Kenny (Trinity Meteors)

Guardiola vows that City ‘will be back’ after Carabao Cup loss to West Ham

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has vowed that his side “will be back” after their fourth-round exit from this year’s Carabao Cup.

The holders were beaten 5-3 on penalties by West Ham United after an inspired Alphonse Areola kept them at bay.

Phil Foden and missed their penalties, which allowed Said Benrahma to score the winning spot kick and take David Moyes’ men into the next round.

The loss means that City’s five-year run without a defeat in the competition, as well as their streak of four Carabao Cups in a row, has come to an end.

“An incredible run has finished [but] we finished in a good way,” said the City boss.

“We played in a really good way, creating chances against a team who defended deep.

“On penalties, they were better. Congratulations to West Ham. Next year we will be back.”

City have dominated the competition under Pep Guardiola, beating Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur on the way to each other four they have picked up under the Catalan coach.

Their last loss in the competition came in the 2016-17 season when they were narrowly beaten by rivals and eventual victors Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Citizens have been lauded for their squad depth throughout their period of dominance in the League Cup as the side have several great players at their disposal in each position.

Their period of dominance led to them joining Liverpool as the record holders of the League Cup with eight each.

Guardiola praised West Ham’s performance in the game and said that they brought out a good performance from his side in return.

“Not just this season, the previous one [too],” Guardiola said of West Ham’s progress under Moyes.

“One of the toughest games we played at home when one side was better than us last season was West Ham.

“They’re doing well in the Premier League and the Europa League and now they are in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

“Fantastic team, fantastic manager. We knew it. We did our game. I didn’t see the stats, but I thought we did a good game.

“Sometimes it happens. Next season we will be back.”

Arsenal interested in free Zakaria move

Rumours have circulated that Mikel Arteta is very impressed with Bundesliga midfielder Denis Zakaria and could sign him for free

This move sounds very familiar. Arsenal are interested in a young, fierce defensive midfielder that plays for Borussia Monchengladbach and the Switzerland national team.

Although former captain Granit Xhaka has split the opinions of much of the Gunners fanbase there is no doubt that Zakaria is a very promising talent.

The 24-year-old born in Genf in Switzerland has been a very bright spark in the Monchengladbach defense since he broke onto the scene a few years ago.

He is currently valued at around €30 million but BILD reports that could be looking to sign a pre-contract with the player. His contract runs out at the end of the next season so this deal would suit each club best.

This is not the first time that the London club have been linked with the midfielder. Arsenal attempted to sign Zakaria during the summer transfer window but a deal did not materialize.

The Swiss player made a good start to the season, scoring two goals in seven league games. These are strong numbers for a player capable of playing center back as well as central midfield.

Last season was not as productive for the Swiss man. He only made 15 starts and scored one goal as Monchengladbach finished eighth.

The young player first made his name at Servette in Switzerland before moving to Young Boys. He has been with the Gladbach since 2017, making 136 appearances.

Mikel Arteta will have to compete with Athletico Madrid and AS Roma if they want his signature. This could be a very promising move for Arsenal if they can pull it through.

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Premier League and international club football news, click here.

Klopp impressed with youngsters after Liverpool’s win in Preston

Jurgen Klopp has praised the youngsters that played for Liverpool against Preston North End in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals after a 2-0 victory in a match that saw two youngsters earn their first starts for the senior team and others get game time off the bench.

The German manager was impressed once again by 18-year-old Tyler Morton, who had previously made his debut for the club in the third round of the competition against Norwich City.

Morton earned his first start for the side at the base of the midfield three and his passing and vision helped Liverpool to fashion chances and find the net.

“Tyler is obviously a real talent, a real smart footballer. You can see this,” Klopp said after the match. “His natural movements, natural positions, are really good, so he is a real football-smart boy and the technique is really good.

“Now we have to make sure we help him with getting a body for football – he is not too small and not too skinny, but there is still a little bit to come and we have to make him ready for all that. It was a very positive impact again tonight.”

Harvey Blair was taken off at half-time after Liverpool struggled to string chances together but Conor Bradley came on in his place, pushing Neco Williams to the right wing.

The Northern Irish right-back produced a solid performance and Williams shone in the new role.

Klopp sees the upcoming international break as a chance for these youngsters to prove themselves.

“Elijah [Dixon-Bonnar (substitute)], for example, did exactly that. In the last international break he was incredible.

“He’s been long in the club already but was not really on the radar – and now all of a sudden he is there. He deserved these three or four minutes tonight.

“For a young boy, it’s a massive thing to play your first game for the first team and I’m really happy for him that we could give him the opportunity.

“So, there’s always a spot for these young boys. Owen Beck obviously impressed a lot in the pre-season, like Conor did. It’s good to have them.

“The problem is in the international break some of them are as well on tour with the national teams, so then they cannot train with us. But the others can and that’s good.”

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