Frank Lampard admits it is no coincidence Chelsea s disappointing form has coincided with Hakim Ziyech s absence, with the winger potentially returning to face Manchester City. 

Ziyech has missed Chelsea s last six matches in all competitions due to a hamstring injury sustained in the 3-1 victory over Leeds United on December 5. 

That win lifted Chelsea to the top of the Premier League but they have won only one of their five top-flight games since, leaving them six points adrift of leaders Liverpool having also played a game more than the reigning champions. 

The Blues have a 27 per cent win rate in the 11 Premier League games Ziyech has not started this term, compared to 80 per cent in the five games he has featured from the beginning. 

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With the title races from across Europe appearing to go down to the wire, neutrals look set for yet another stacked schedule this weekend. So, for those of you who are looking to stick on a Saturday accumulator, we have found a few helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Saturday April 21st
BST 15:00 Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

While Liverpool might need a minor miracle if they’re to claim a top-four finish this season, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be boosted by a rampant display earlier in the week. Eventually storming their way to what was a stellar 6-1 romp away at relegation scrappers Leeds, Saturday’s hosts are now desperate to find some much-needed stability. Smelling the chance to claim back-t-back Premier League victories this weekend, there …

Frank Lampard praised the form of Trevoh Chalobah during his spell as Chelsea interim manager after the defender put in a fine all-round display in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

The 23-year-old academy graduate has featured in all eight of Lampard’s games in charge including five starts, becoming a dependable presence amidst the team’s struggles for performances and results.

He has been used both at right-back and on the right of a back three as Lampard has shuffled between systems, and has been the club’s most visible homegrown product since owner Todd Boehly’s whirlwind January transfer spend.

We go again. Lets finish strong.

— Trevoh Chalobah (@TrevohChalobah)

This has been Chalobah’s second season in Chelsea’s f…

The pressure is firmly on Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid heading into Saturday s Clasico at Barcelona.

Madrid were crowned LaLiga champions just three months ago, but recent results have altered the narrative considerably prior to the clash at Camp Nou.

Los Blancos lost to Cadiz in the league last week and then on Wednesday suffered a remarkable Champions League reverse at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk, who were missing 10 first-team players due to coronavirus.

These defeats followed the closing of a transfer window in which Madrid did not make a single signing, leaving Zidane short on options.

1- Real Madrid have lost their opening Champions League home game for the first time ever, after winning each of their previous 12 such games in the competition. …

Emma Hayes is a visionary leader who has figured out her lane and nailed it , and will inspire more women to strive for similar positions, according to Portland Thorns general manager Karina LeBlanc.

The 47-year-old recently took charge of the United States following a decorated 12-year spell with Chelsea, who she guided to seven Women s Super League titles and five FA Cup triumphs.

Hayes has certainly hit the ground running with the Stars and Stripes, leading them to a record-extending fifth Olympic gold in Paris last month with victory over Brazil in the final after an undefeated tournament.

But LeBlanc believes Hayes successful impact will extend much further than just on the football pitch.

Speaking at the Thinking Football Summit organised by Liga P…

German players are unlikely to make any major political statements at Euro 2024 after their World Cup protest in Qatar was met with a tepid domestic reception, ex-international Thomas Hitzlsperger has predicted.

Seven European nations at the 2022 global showpiece – including England – initially planned to wear ‘OneLove’ anti-discrimination armbands but were dissuaded following the threat of sporting sanctions from FIFA.

Instead, the Germans covered their mouths for a World Cup team photograph in protest, while the tournament remained overshadowed by the host nation’s record on human rights, from its treatment of migrant workers to the criminalisation of same-sex relationships.

We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we h…

Arsenal regained top spot from Manchester City heading into the final week of the Premier League season with a 1-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday.

Leandro Trossard scored the decisive goal at Old Trafford with 20 minutes on the clock as Kai Havertz profited from an intercepted Andre Onana pass to tee up the Belgian s simple finish.

The Gunners move one point clear of City, who thrashed Fulham 4-0 on Saturday and still have a game in hand at Arsenal s fierce rivals Tottenham on Tuesday, meaning the title remains in the hands of Pep Guardiola s side.

City then host West Ham on the final day, while Arsenal are at home to Everton.

United, beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace on Monday and now with just one win in their last eight in the competition, stay eighth i…

Bayern Munich produced a much-improved second-half showing to overcome Hertha Berlin 4-0 at the Olympiastadion and climb into second place in the Bundesliga.

Hertha entered Sunday s game unbeaten in four matches, keeping a clean sheet in three of those, and they held firm until the hour mark on Sunday when Thomas Muller opened the scoring.

Robert Lewandowski added another goal to his tally from the penalty spot and Thiago Alcantara scored a thunderous third as the reigning champions turned on the style in the capital.

A fourth top-flight win in a row was rounded off by Ivan Perisic s late header as Hansi Flick s men recorded back-to-back away league wins for the first time since March and leapfrogged Borussia Monchengladbach into second spot, four points behind…

Market: Both teams to score No

Odds: 8/11 @

Looking to make another World Cup qualifying statement on Thursday night, Venezuela will welcome Ecuador to Maturin.

Starting with the hosts, while Venezuela might have opened their World Cup qualifying adventure with a toothless 1-0 loss away at Colombia on September 8th, La Vinotinto have come roaring back in some style. Last seen putting in a stunning performance on home soil as they signed off October’s international break with a 3-0 romp against South American giants Chile, Fernando Batista should find the mood in his camp at a real high. With their eye-catching purple patch also highlighted by a 1-0 win against Paraguay on September 12th, Venezuela have collected seven points from their previous three World Cup…

Cristiano Ronaldo s performance against Chelsea on Thursday proved he can still be a great help to Manchester United next season under Erik ten Hag, according to interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

United were generally tame once again in the 1-1 draw, but Ronaldo did at least ensure the Red Devils avoided suffering three successive Premier League defeats for the first time since 2015.

Just 119 seconds after Marcos Alonso had put Chelsea in front at Old Trafford, Ronaldo latched on to Nemanja Matic s scooped pass over the defence and drilled home.

Ronaldo has now scored eight of United s nine most recent goals in the Premier League, with Fred the only other player to net for the club this month.

Thursday s goal took Ronaldo to 17 for the season in the league, …